Elect More Astronauts
Astronauts are highly trained experts who are used to thinking things through, acting calmly, and making good decisions under pressure. Let's elect more astronauts.
I don't like writing about politics. But I do like writing about astronauts. So let's talk about astronaut skills and why we should elect more of them to public office.
Historical context: an 81 year old politician is retiring. This has made some people scared, worried, excited, or curious about who should step up to replace them.
I have no dog in this fight. But there is one unassuming possible candidate who could become a Vice President. They are already a senator with several years of experience. And they happen to have logged 54 days living in literal outer space.
Astronauts Are Highly Skilled
In his book "An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth", Commander Chris Hadfield describes the type of highly qualified people that all show up applying to be an astronaut. Everyone shows up already being great. Top of their class. Honours and distinctions. Most of them have advanced training - "PhDs are table stakes" - before they even get to astronaut training.
Astronauts know, learn, and excel at a wide variety of skills and situations. They can pilot high speed fighter jets. Shoot a gun. Perform dental surgery. Survive in the wilderness. Repair engines and electronics. Be personable and get along with people. Understand psychology and human behavior. Excel at a long term mission with limited supplies and support. Lead a team. Be inspiring. Design and carry out an experiment. They can handle a press conference. They speak multiple languages. All while staying cool and calm under pressure, and actually performing well.
Basically: Astronauts represent the best of humans. They show how much we can be capable of. They're something we can aspire to. And astronauts actually do it.
But Also Humble And Helpful
But you'll find something else in Hadfield's book, and hopefully in the attitude of most spacewalkers - humility, and collaboration. "Putting the needs of the group first". "Never expecting any recognition for doing the extra, important work". "We work on behalf of everyone in the country, so we should behave the same way whether we're meeting with a head of state or a seventh-grade science class".
How refreshing to combine critical thinking, competence, humility, and hard work. How many politicians do that?
Astronauts Have The Ultimate Perspective
If they've been to space, astronauts also have *perspective*. The biggest perspective it is possible for a human to have so far. You know the saying "the world is a book, and if you don't travel you have only read one page". Traveling and gaining exposure to other people, cultures, and ways of doing things is healthy and expansive for our brains. It shows us how other things are possible, so we can learn and keep that in mind. This can help you to stay calmer. To make more informed decisions. To make better judgments. And those are all things we should want in *all* of our politicians.
I'll let Hadfield say it better:
> How did your time [in space] change your perspective?**
You start to think of all humans as “us”. Witnessing the repeated pattern of human existence and how we live across the planet. I would see a city that I knew well and then just 30 minutes later see the exact same pattern of settlement in a city I had never heard of. It forced me to face the commonality of the human experience, and our shared hopes and desires.
We are all “us”: crewmates on the same big ship, working and hoping for a little joy, some grace, and better opportunities for our children. All of us.
We would be * lucky* to have more people like that helping to direct and improve our species and our planet. We should be begging them to do so. What a great deal for all of us.
The Financial Case: More Return On Investment
Countries with astronauts spend millions and billions of dollars developing their space programs, and just as much time and effort training, teaching, and helping astronauts to improve - specifically so they can be the best and succeed in any situation. If there are only three humans on the ISS, and you need it to work and failure is expensive, these humans need to be great. "Our expertise is the result of training provided by thousands of experts around the world".
This is an *enormous* investment of public tax money. Given that these countries have already invested it, wouldn't it be helpful - and a higher return on your investment - to have those highly trained experts give back to the public, by using their skills to help and serve their country? Why spend so much money training someone and then "throw that money away" by having the astronaut retire? Why not see more from your effort by getting both an astronaut to help push the limits of human knowledge and exploration, *and then also* get an extremely competent and skilled statesman?
What Is The Ideal Skillset?
When astronauts go to space they have to be great at many skills. They have to make good decisions, quickly, with incomplete information, and be able to handle anything while getting to success.
So what are the ideal qualities of a leader and elected politician? Someone we would put in charge of a country to do well.
We'd probably want someone who has great mastery and excellence at many skills. Someone with humility, perspective, and a strong work ethic. Who can make good decisions, quickly, under pressure, with incomplete information. And guide the whole country toward reasoned improvement and success.
Hey, that sounds familiar.
Astronauts represent the best qualities of human achievement. They are a living example of how good and skilled humans can be. They represent our highest potential. An astronaut is a showcase of something we can all aspire to.
How fortunate we should be to have the best, most skilled humans helping to build and guide our future.
Let's elect more astronauts.
More Info
The Smithsonian - A Brief History Of Astronauts In Congress. This article says that four astronauts have been elected in the history of the United States. One of them died before they could take office. In addition - three other astronauts ran for office but did not win election. Thanks Wikipedia.