Are you experienced?

More importantly, does it matter? Looking at our leaders, the experience trope has been inconsistent at best.

On the national level, touting her experience hasn’t worked at all for Hillary Clinton, and experience was not required of George W. Bush.

Governor Chris Gregoire has been working in the public sector, for state government, since the 1970’s – experience that her opponent cites as a negative. Attorney General Rob McKenna has never argued before a jury, and four-term State Auditor Brian Sonntag is not a CPA.

Patty Murray went from the local school board to the U.S. Senate by exploiting her experience as a “mom in tennis shoes.” Representative Doc Hastings has no degree that would qualify him as a “doc.” Representative Adam Smith was elected to the state Senate at 25, making him the youngest state senator in the nation. Representative Brian Baird worked in psychiatric hospitals – which puts him in the unique position of actually being prepared for Congress.

Experience is an easy hit if your opponent doesn’t have any, and candidates hit on change if the opposite is true. Voters should take a hint from the hedge fund managers – past experience is no guarantee of future performance.