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Originally Posted by OpieCunningham
The key here is not to evaluate a potential voter based on literacy, education level or some other unrelated measure of intelligence. The issue is whether the potential voter has the current knowledge necessary to distinguish the basic differences between the various candidates.
When we test a potential driver, we do not care whether they can solve geometric problems or have knowledge of English literature or information on the current theories of the Big Bang - we ask them what a Yield sign means, what to do when changing lanes and whether they are able to parallel park - all aspects which are pertinent to the priviledge they are attempting to gain.
I see no reason a similar method of testing should be applied to potential voters. Asking basic questions such as:
"Who favors allowing workers to invest some of their Social Security contributions in the stock market?"
"Who urges Congress to extend the federal law banning assault weapons?"
"John Kerry says that he would eliminate the Bush tax cuts on those making how much money: Over 50 thousand a year, Over 100 thousand a year, Over 200 thousand a year, Over 500,000 a year?"
"Who is a former prosecutor?"
"Who favors making the recent tax cuts permanent?"
"Who wants to make it easier for labor unions to organize?"
Anyone not able to answer a majority of these questions likely does not have enough information to cast a valuable and informed vote.
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I personally know a number of people who can't answer any of those questions, but will be casting valuable votes nonetheless. They may not know the answer to those questions, but they are informed (by me) on a number of issues we feel are important to us.
Why do you feel those questions are even relevant to who our next president should be? Now I understand you were just making examples, but hopefully you will rethink your position in light of the realization that many people feel strongly about one or two issues--and they vote accordingly. If my father-in-law wants to vote solely on whether abortion should be criminalized, that's between him and his deity. It affects me as a member of the larger society, but so my vote affects him in similar ways. What you may feel to be relevant issues, may not be (and most likely will not be) to someone else.
Why did I bother to answer this? We already have a buffer against the unintelligent masses making choices that could prove detrimental to the nation--the electoral college. It's almost silly that someone would support a test on political knowledge before voting when that person would flunk it.