Don’t be so quick to criticize McCrory’s young appointees

by Richard Dietz, Charlotte Observer, August 25, 2013.

Edmund Burke, the famous Irishman who supported the American Revolution, said that “the arrogance of age must submit to be taught by youth.” Opponents of Gov. Pat McCrory apparently take the opposite view – that youth can’t teach us anything.

After the McCrory administration promoted two talented young people, Ricky Diaz and Matt McKillip, to important, higher-paying jobs in state government, the administration’s opponents loudly objected. It wasn’t that these new appointees were paid more than their predecessors (they weren’t), it was their young age and lack of credentials. It was, simply put, an elitist notion that young people aren’t ready for positions of power.

This notion is certainly at odds with our history. America started producing brilliant 20-year-olds before it was even formed. Alexander Hamilton was in his 20s when he began work on the Federalist Papers. Thomas Jefferson was barely 30 when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. If young people can draft the core tenets of American government, surely they can help run a state agency.

Of course, we don’t need to go back to the American Revolution to find extraordinary young people. Theaters across America are airing a biopic of Steve Jobs, a college dropout who founded Apple at age 21. Countless other successful leaders didn’t need fancy resumes or years behind a desk to make their visions reality.

Is it really fair to compare the McCrory administration’s new appointees to legendary figures like Thomas Jefferson or Steve Jobs? Well, we don’t know. The criticism of these young people is completely detached from their job performance. Critics have attacked the new appointees’ slender resumes, pointing out their lack of advanced degrees and experience, but declined to address their work performance and innate talent. The governor and his staff, who have worked closely with these young appointees and know them best, describe them as superstars who are well qualified for the posts.

Gov. McCrory campaigned on a promise to bring a fresh perspective to Raleigh and to look beyond the establishment mindset that can infect big organizations. It should be no surprise that young people play a big role in the governor’s strategy. Big ideas and groundbreaking innovation have long been a specialty of youth. When those big ideas are making big progress for our state, the young people who dreamed them up ought to be rewarded for it.

Of course, the notion that our best and brightest deserve to be rewarded shouldn’t be limited to political appointees. Other stand-out state workers – especially teachers – need to be paid more for their exceptional work. We can get there, but not if we treat age as a disqualifier.

We all agree that North Carolina has what it takes to be a major player in the new global economy. But to succeed, we need to send the message that we value talent, not lines on a resume. We need to empower young people and encourage them to think big. And we need to celebrate and reward success, not grumble when that success comes to those of a younger generation.