When I studied communications and culture at university, I often found it difficult to get involved in discussions as I often had not formed an opinion about the topics being discussed. A small group of students in my class had opinions about everything and were the ones leading the discussions while many others in the class just sat quietly and listened. Where did they get all the opinions and knowledge from?

As I have grown older, I've realised that many of our politicians’ function in much the same way. They have a clear idea about everything, but it turns out they're not actually that well informed. Sometimes, or even quite often, they are actually as stupid as I felt when at university. It is often more about self-confidence rather than knowledge, and it is often these people who we make our elected officials and who become leaders of many countries.

Now that I am much older, I have gained quite a lot of experience in life and my opinions have been formed from that. Today, it would be much easier for me to get involved in the discussions in the classroom during my university time. Now I can put my opinions into perspective and anchor them based on reality. I think many of our political leaders today around the world sound a lot like the students in the university classroom. They have opinions but nothing to anchor them in, and no experience of their own to draw upon, even a negative one. But they still rise to leading positions while the rest of us just sit quietly and listen. We may not agree anymore but we don't interact.

Right now it feels like we've reached a real low water mark in pure stupidity in the world. We let these narcissistic leaders fill us full of their lies with the result that democracy is further eroded; the same world in which it took so long to build free and democratic societies we enjoy today. Now this process is being shattered from country to country. I won't mention any names of the leaders who I believe are going in the wrong direction, but there are quite a few of them and we have several very clear examples.

A few weeks ago I visited the Steinexpo tradeshow in Germany. As usual, I was impressed by many manufacturers' smart solutions to increase the safety and efficiency of working with machines in the construction industry. You never cease to be impressed by the knowledge and ingenuity shown. A good example is the company Hammerglass' shatterproof glass in engine cabins that saves lives. I would like this desire to learn, and knowledge based on everyday reality to permeate our politicians to a much greater extent, and we should get rid of the politicians who are only after power and wealth. I would like to conclude by saying that there are actually good politicians who sincerely want to create a better world. But I'm afraid that with the developments we have today, they are fewer and fewer.

Jan Hermansson
Editor-in-Chief
jan.hermansson@pdworld.com