How many viable candidates for President (regardless of party) were not previously “career politicians” (i.e. people who had spend a sizable portion of their adult working lives engaged in politics or political struggles)?

The only one who comes to mind is Trump. But he was hardly unfamiliar to most Americans.

Sanders is certainly a career politician. No matter whom you choose in the 2016 primary (except Lawrence Lessig, if you include the pre-primary), you would be restricted to a white, older (O’Malley was the youngest candidate at 53) career politician.

Career politician status holds true for most future candidates as well (e.g. the Squad, who will soon be — if they aren’t already — career politicians).

Politics is not about choosing the best person for each elected position, but about choosing the most familiar one (hence the number of yard signs for local races where no one has heard of the candidates).

It shouldn’t be that way. But I’m afraid it is. The best our Democratic primary could come up with in 2020 was the two oldest, whitest, male-est, most well-known candidates of the bunch.

It’s a crying shame.