The Merit of the uneducated

A daily internal rant generally gets me through that monotonous time of the day where i have to walk 15 minutes from the dart to my house. I may be talking to the taoiseach, a radio show presenter or some opinionated workmate that is often too scary to criticise. I like these debates. I play out both sides and often I win. Who wouldn't like that. The fact of the matter is it is rare for me to have an actual debate like this in the everyday world with an everyday person and this evening I am wondering why. In today's world I am uneducated. I dont have a degree. i dont have a particular area of expertise or discipline but i argue that there is definitely merit in this. Think about it. Everybody that runs this country. Everybody you go to for professional advice has more than likely been through third level education. Now on no level am i saying this is a bad thing i am merely stating that there is also a lot to be taken from the person who hasnt. I often ask myself where do my ideas and opinions come from. Do I actually come up with them myself or am i simply reiterating what i have already read or which someone else deems to be true or fact. I think our current climate is a perfect example of how academia can stifle your creative and problem solving abilities and that at times we should look to the uneducated and unboxed individual for new and possible radical ideas. They are not bound by information on past examples and theories that have been "tried and tested" and instead have a wealth of unsolicited knowledge based on many different sources. Their ideas come not from text books but from songs, people, random thoughts, newspapers, eavesdropping and the ability to imagine and creatively create possible solutions. Contrary to what a lot of us where taught in school, imagination, intuition and creativity are absolutely needed in todays society and i feel that in a way education can actually mould people to think and live just like our neighbour. Never daring to question their perception. Dont get me wrong there are also many merits to having an education (I certainly wouldnt want my heart surgeon magically imagining or intuitively sculpting away at my aortic valve) however i am merely pointing out the possible merit of the uneducated. Something to think about maybe. I have.