Steve Hawley wrote:
Personally i am VERY leery of a professional political class
I hear you. My first in-person experience with the professional political class was when a (Federal) Congressman toured by grad student lab. Made my skin crawl, with the bizarre entourage and fakery. (and I have no recollection what political party it was.).
But on the other hand, throwing well-intentioned amateurs up against all the global challenges we have doesn't sound that great either.