An incredible truth today in the Bible regarding putting the wrong people in positions of authority for whatever reason.  

This can be in government or the workplace, where someone is running the show, and just doesn’t have the experience or wisdom to manage others and make decisions:

Ecc 10:5  There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler—

Ecc 10:6  folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.

Ecc 10:7  I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

To simplify this, Solomon is saying it is a huge mistake that heads of state make, when they put fools in positions of power, and meanwhile the more qualified people are on the low end of the totem pole.  

This is another instance that we have seen play out many times, especially in democracies.  An election comes around, and one candidate needs desperately needs to win, so they take bribes.  It might not always be money, some times it’s promising a job for support, or a cabinet position for lots of support.  The favor gets called in when the election is over, and the next thing we know, someone who was a “hanger-on” during a campaign, is suddenly in control of massive budgets and managing 10s, hundreds or even thousands of employees when they are completely unqualified to do so!

The leader, governor or President doesn’t care at this point though, because they are already elected, meanwhile the people suffer at the hands of incompetent department heads while the smarter, more experienced and educated ones that should have gotten the job, are relegated to paper pushing.  

Solomon said that this was an egregious offense for a leader to make, delegating incompetent people for whatever reason, while the wiser, more qualified folks could and should be doing the job.