Political Forums

Freeman15 · 09-17-2007, 12:34 PM

Just and idea I'm throwing out, if you don't like it, throw it right back:

Before entering the ballot box, would it not be prudent to ensure that those voting actually KNEW for whom they were voting? I think so, and so I suggest a competency test needs to be passed with 80% or better in order to vote.

Nothing too difficult, just a multiple choice quiz of sorts.

Example:

Which of these candidates supports the shaving of puppies?
A) Mickey Mickleson (Q-TX)
B) Johnny Johnson (Z-NY)

This I believe would end the practice of campaigns waiting outside polling stations saying, "vote for #4" (it happens ALL the time), as educated voters don't fall for that sort of crap.

Thoughts?

mlurp · 09-17-2007, 11:43 PM

Well i failed so it is a mute issue for me to registar to vote. loooooooool

Curmudgeon · 09-18-2007, 02:41 AM

When I encounter the people outside the polls with signs and pamphlets, I tell them loud and proud that they are foolish for asking me to vote for their candidate! I have already studied the issues and the candidates and made up my mind long before going to the voting booth.

tvsej · 09-18-2007, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally stated by Freeman15

Just and idea I'm throwing out, if you don't like it, throw it right back:

Before entering the ballot box, would it not be prudent to ensure that those voting actually KNEW for whom they were voting? I think so, and so I suggest a competency test needs to be passed with 80% or better in order to vote.

Nothing too difficult, just a multiple choice quiz of sorts.

Example:

Which of these candidates supports the shaving of puppies?
A) Mickey Mickleson (Q-TX)
B) Johnny Johnson (Z-NY)

This I believe would end the practice of campaigns waiting outside polling stations saying, "vote for #4" (it happens ALL the time), as educated voters don't fall for that sort of crap.

Thoughts?

It would be nice to be surounded by average intelligent people where ever we went doing any number of activities. Most people of less intelligence would probably turn tail and run from the knowledge there is a test involved first. Or as many idiots did in school during SAT's, christmas tree it. That would really screw **** up.
The people outside saying vote for # 4 are just hoping half are influenced by it just being said and the other half have #4 as their favorite # and vote because of that. (somewhat joking)

Seriously, I would like to have more political education starting in school not for any parti just general knowledge. A test to determine the political knowledge of a voter is a good concept, just not applicable in my opinion. Good post Freeman!

Curmudgeon · 09-18-2007, 04:11 AM

When I went to school back in the dark ages, we did have very comprehensive social studies classes that addressed these subjects. I'm not sure why they are not being offered now.
A thinking voter can find info on all this with little effort these days, but many don't.

kmchugh · 09-18-2007, 04:38 AM

Freeman, I'd be in favor of such a test, but then I'd be even more in favor of a system of citizenship as proposed by Heinlein in the book Starship Troopers, a far better book than the movie, who's only resemblance to the book was the title.

But both of us know that any such proposal (yours or mine) would be quickly stricken down by the courts as unconstitutional. There have been many attempts in history to limit the voting population, and most of these were actually little disguised attempts to keep various groups (black, women, and others) from voting. Because of this historical record, any future attempts to ensure an informed voting populace will be doomed before it ever even gets on paper.

mlurp · 09-18-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally stated by Curmudgeon

When I went to school back in the dark ages, we did have very comprehensive social studies classes that addressed these subjects. I'm not sure why they are not being offered now.
A thinking voter can find info on all this with little effort these days, but many don't.

Same here. I did well back then. passed with B+. Now the same government is a different breed of heathens.
I'm for more in school about the nation and the world. take out the stupid sex classes where they teach Bill and Bob are great dads raising up little Johnny. Or the other way around. Now I am not speaking out against any life style. But dose every child in public school need to be shown this different lifestyle. When only about 10% (I hope that is the high mark) of them become members of this different lifestyle.

tvsej · 09-18-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally stated by mlurp

Same here. I did well back then. passed with B+. Now the same government is a different breed of heathens.
I'm for more in school about the nation and the world. take out the stupid sex classes where they teach Bill and Bob are great dads raising up little Johnny. Or the other way around. Now I am not speaking out against any life style. But dose every child in public school need to be shown this different lifestyle. When only about 10% (I hope that is the high mark) of them become members of this different lifestyle.

Do they really show a film like in the school today? I had no idea if so.

mlurp · 09-18-2007, 01:26 PM

Todays schools are a meeting place for our younger to plan parties and almost everything else besides learning the basic of when most of us went to school. Far to many teens who graduate can't even balance a check book. Understand the labels on anything in the stores. Or write a decent resume or spell word above the 50 cent ones. And that is the plan the Machiavellians have for the general population. You would be shocked if you sat in classes in todays schools from the 4th grade on to the 12th grade.
There is no real teaching of any core subject or mainstream subjects. The government is taking America for a slow trip to become a third world nation. Owners and workers. No social welfare or Medicare. And the sounds of silence are written on the subways and tenement walls!!!

09-17-2007, 12:34 PM	#1
Freeman15 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 751	Voter Competency Just and idea I'm throwing out, if you don't like it, throw it right back: Before entering the ballot box, would it not be prudent to ensure that those voting actually KNEW for whom they were voting? I think so, and so I suggest a competency test needs to be passed with 80% or better in order to vote. Nothing too difficult, just a multiple choice quiz of sorts. Example: Which of these candidates supports the shaving of puppies? A) Mickey Mickleson (Q-TX) B) Johnny Johnson (Z-NY) This I believe would end the practice of campaigns waiting outside polling stations saying, "vote for #4" (it happens ALL the time), as educated voters don't fall for that sort of crap. Thoughts? __________________ "Triumph isn't a motorcycle, it's a state of being." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muHg86Mys7I "If the founding fathers had all been "go with the flow" guys, we'd all be on CCTV with no guns, sipping tea, listening to Oasis right now" -92b16vx

09-17-2007, 11:43 PM	#2
mlurp It Don't Mean Nothing Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 951	Re: Voter Competency Well i failed so it is a mute issue for me to registar to vote. loooooooool __________________ Freedom has a price some pay others play! Sharing Together In His, Grace........

09-18-2007, 02:41 AM	#3
Curmudgeon Too old to be smart ? Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,379	Re: Voter Competency When I encounter the people outside the polls with signs and pamphlets, I tell them loud and proud that they are foolish for asking me to vote for their candidate! I have already studied the issues and the candidates and made up my mind long before going to the voting booth. __________________ Papawswrench Randomview PapawsImages "When you argue with a fool, be sure he isn't similarly engaged."

09-18-2007, 04:11 AM	#5
Curmudgeon Too old to be smart ? Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,379	Re: Voter Competency When I went to school back in the dark ages, we did have very comprehensive social studies classes that addressed these subjects. I'm not sure why they are not being offered now. A thinking voter can find info on all this with little effort these days, but many don't. __________________ Papawswrench Randomview PapawsImages "When you argue with a fool, be sure he isn't similarly engaged."

09-18-2007, 04:38 AM	#6
kmchugh Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 64	Re: Voter Competency Freeman, I'd be in favor of such a test, but then I'd be even more in favor of a system of citizenship as proposed by Heinlein in the book Starship Troopers, a far better book than the movie, who's only resemblance to the book was the title. But both of us know that any such proposal (yours or mine) would be quickly stricken down by the courts as unconstitutional. There have been many attempts in history to limit the voting population, and most of these were actually little disguised attempts to keep various groups (black, women, and others) from voting. Because of this historical record, any future attempts to ensure an informed voting populace will be doomed before it ever even gets on paper. __________________ There is no problem so large that it cannot be overcome by a suitable application of high explosives.

09-18-2007, 01:26 PM	#9
mlurp It Don't Mean Nothing Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 951	Re: Voter Competency Todays schools are a meeting place for our younger to plan parties and almost everything else besides learning the basic of when most of us went to school. Far to many teens who graduate can't even balance a check book. Understand the labels on anything in the stores. Or write a decent resume or spell word above the 50 cent ones. And that is the plan the Machiavellians have for the general population. You would be shocked if you sat in classes in todays schools from the 4th grade on to the 12th grade. There is no real teaching of any core subject or mainstream subjects. The government is taking America for a slow trip to become a third world nation. Owners and workers. No social welfare or Medicare. And the sounds of silence are written on the subways and tenement walls!!! __________________ Freedom has a price some pay others play! Sharing Together In His, Grace........

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