Letters to the editor: Wisdom doesn't come from education

A reader says wisdom may be missing from our academically qualified leadership. Photo / File

The Rotorua Daily Post (February 22) notes the higher education standards of MPs with some 90 per cent having a university degree whereas the general public sport only about 25 per cent with similar qualifications.

This note was tucked away in the briefly side column, perhaps, to avoid the peels of hilarity that such revelation deserves, newsworthy as it may be.

I thought, well, if education is the main qualification for public service how come we seem to be in such a quagmire morally and financially without a visible wisely constructed pathway forward?

We have academically qualified leadership, steering an amazingly blessed, fertile country well able to feed, house and sustain employment for our small population and still provide an export surplus to ensure prosperity.

So, where's the hiccup? It could be that there's some real wisdom missing. Wisdom is never gained solely from education, but needs to be mixed with a large dose of real-world experience and so takes time.

Some are wise earlier than others, so youth doesn't always spell foolishness and grey hair does not automatically denote wisdom.

Let's elect people with proven ability, perhaps from industry or social services ahead of the silver-tongued popularists.

John Williams
Ngongotahā

Slings and arrows

Your headline, Scolding Aussies nicely rounds off Ardern brand, speaks the truth in a nutshell (Opinion, February 22).

A truer word has seldom been written.

Making a lot of noise with no positive result.

Builds the David and Goliath image.

The only thing wrong with that image is that Goliath wins.

AD Kirby
Pāpāmoa

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