# Would the world be better if all political leaders were castrated? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 4, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559 "2007-10-04T22:02:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/1 "2007-10-04T22:02:51Z")
At least the male ones. Sounds crazy on the surface, but consider the pros: 1. Only the most motivated of individuals would undergo voluntary castration. So, you would have fewer selfish power-hungry egomaniacs running for office. Once in power, those leaders would have less war-mongering testosterone coursing through their system. 2. The public seems to have a problem with political leaders having non-societally approved sex. Castrating leaders would stop a lot of sex scandals. 3. Would encourage more women to run for office. 4. I think it’s globally enforceable. Would North Korean citizens risk their lives to defend their Dear Leader’s testicles? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/2 "2007-10-04T23:31:13Z")
I cannot even begin to conceive of why this would be a good idea. #1. I think your premise is false. In fact, anyone willing to get castrated to become a leader is showing me that he’s willing to do anything to acquire power. #2. Alexander the Great had a castrated male lover. What’s to stop castrated Bush from taking it up the butt or in the mouth? #3. Why should women get a pass? Let’s give them a double mastectomy or something. #4. You really think anyone is going to take up arms because the leader of North Korea doesn’t want his balls on a platter? I sure as hell won’t. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/3 "2007-10-04T23:37:29Z")
[QUOTE=MGibson] #3. Why should women get a pass? Let’s give them a double mastectomy or something. [/QUOTE] I think a hysterectomy would be in order. Not that it matters, this is still one of the worst ideas I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/4 "2007-10-05T00:22:29Z")
Even if there were no other problems with this proposal, the thought of a bunch of castrati yammering at each other in a debate would be an instant turn-off. ---
**Author:** ![George\_Kaplin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@George\_Kaplin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/George_Kaplin)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/5 "2007-10-05T00:46:30Z")
> [@MGibson](#): > > What’s to stop castrated Bush from taking it up the butt or in the mouth? Eeeww. Dude, _seriously!_ If anyone needs me I’ll be out the back scrubbing my retina’s with drano-saturated scouring pads and preparing to cut my own head off. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/6 "2007-10-05T00:49:25Z")
Where would we be? Up to our ankles in rich, white whang, is where. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/7 "2007-10-05T00:59:47Z")
[QUOTE=The Controvert] 1. Only the most motivated of individuals would undergo voluntary castration. [/QUOTE] Yes, but motivated by _what_? - insanity, in some cases. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/8 "2007-10-05T01:00:48Z")
Pay cuts as you rise through the ranks might be better. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/9 "2007-10-05T01:08:52Z")
Or we could chop off one finger for each increase in level of public service. Problem: Bush wants to veto your favorite bill. Solution: He can’t hold a pen anymore. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/10 "2007-10-05T01:17:38Z")
[QUOTE=Freddy the Pig] Even if there were no other problems with this proposal, the thought of a bunch of castrati yammering at each other in a debate would be an instant turn-off. [/QUOTE] Castration after puberty does not effect the voice. Back To The OP We can find historic examples of rulers who were puppets for eunuch advisors. Some of those advisors were quite warlike. Castration does not necessarily destroy the sex drive. The famous castrati Veluti had plenty of sex with admirers. What makes you think women are less inclined to start a war? ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/11 "2007-10-05T01:42:56Z")
[QUOTE=The Controvert] 1. Only the most motivated of individuals would undergo voluntary castration. So, you would have fewer selfish power-hungry egomaniacs running for office. [/QUOTE] Am I the only one who thinks that the first sentence proves the exact opposite of the second sentence here, as, without the selfish power-hunger, what man would accept? ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/12 "2007-10-05T01:46:48Z")
[QUOTE=The Controvert] At least the male ones. [/QUOTE] I think the female ones should probably get the same treatment. Not castration in their case, but let’s at least agree to call a spayed, a spayed. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/13 "2007-10-05T01:55:49Z")
Would the world be better if all political leaders were elected? Yes. (Since we haven’t achieved even that yet, I think your idea is impractical.) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/14 "2007-10-05T02:32:18Z")
Government power restricted to only those people who are so desperate for power that they’re willing to have their testicles cut off? I can see how this might be a bad idea. I’ve always prefered to try letting sane people run the world. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/15 "2007-10-05T02:38:13Z")
[QUOTE=The Controvert] Only the most motivated of individuals would undergo voluntary castration. So, you would have fewer selfish power-hungry egomaniacs running for office. [/QUOTE] Do you see the fact that Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and FDR all had balls as some kind of problem? ---
**Author:** ![Jaochai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2acd7d/32.png) [@Jaochai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaochai)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/16 "2007-10-05T03:03:27Z")
No, no. If the men are castrated, the women should be given clitorectomy. Fair is fair, after all. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/17 "2007-10-05T03:28:12Z")
Ok, so what if political leaders were castrated, _only during times of war_? So, there is a price to be paid to start or continue an armed conflict. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/18 "2007-10-05T03:32:32Z")
So we take your bad idea and apply it only a limited basis instead of worldwide? ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/19 "2007-10-05T03:36:20Z")
I posted elsewhere that it is times like the present that make me think that no one should be allowed to be President who hasn’t given birth. Women should have clits clipped only if they have ever participated in a clitorus measuring contest. To be fair, let’s not make this about gender. Let’s make it about certain levels of testosterone. (I believe we can find studies that link levels of testosterone with aggression.) Anyone – male or female – with a testosterone level above a certain point – should not be allowed to be President. I will determine a fair point (level) of course. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559/20 "2007-10-05T04:22:03Z")
Maybe **frustrated** testosterone is the real problem. I’ve heard it seriously suggested that a lot of power hungry dictators went into politics either to gain the status for sex, or as a substitute for sex. Maybe instead of despotic power, all they really needed was a few dozen beautiful and talented women. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559.md?page=2)