ChristianKl comments on Politics Discussion Thread January 2013 - Less Wrong
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The US didn't had an engineer as president since Herbert Hoover. China is currently run by Hu Jintao who studied hydraulic engineering. The president before Hu, Jiang Zemin got a degree in electrical engineering. China's current vice president studied chemical engineering.
Having more people with science and engineering backgrounds into political leadership positions seem like a good idea.
I'm not convinced.
In authoritarian countries, hi..storically, engining and science has provided some of the best independent thinkers.
In the US, I think we need much better education in science and engineering, including an appreciation for scientific thought processes and scientific culture -- not necessarily engineers in the White House, but somebody there who appreciates engineers and science.
And yet, it is the US that tends to be ahead of authoritarian countries in science and technology.