In what forum today are politicians given an opportunity to speak/write intellectually?
Sadly too, there has been for some time an under current of anti-intellectualism in politics. It is my understanding that Barack Obama, as an example, is highly educated, no doubt could engage in lofty discussions… that would be political suicide.
> In what forum today are politicians given an opportunity to speak/write intellectually?
That quote is from a letter from Jefferson to Madison.
Barack Obama famously wrote a book. A "leader" leads by example. So I have a different take than your "sadly politicians are discouraged from thinking" and it goes like this:
Patronizing and conditioning the political discourse to be at the level of 'high school civics class' is a powerful mechanism for keeping actual thinkers away from politics.
Sadly too, there has been for some time an under current of anti-intellectualism in politics. It is my understanding that Barack Obama, as an example, is highly educated, no doubt could engage in lofty discussions… that would be political suicide.