Should there be a Competency test for High Levels of Government before standard political debate ?
Someone noted to me that voters should have a similar requirement. Well in fact its difficult to get all that are eligible to vote. So it may in fact deter more people voting.
It strikes me as strange that discrimination and competency are somehow linked. The role of government is a form of employment with an enormous amount responsibility and power, not a volunteer turkey raffle.
No. It is illegal to have a requirement like that for voting because it could be used to discriminate against specific groups of people. Voting is considered a fundamental right of every adult American regardless of educational level. It would be illegal to use such a test for government office for the same reason.
Addendum: A test of any sort, whether it is one of political awareness or one of skin color, separates the people into two groups: the first-class citizens who can hold office, and the second-class citizens who cannot. This is not compatible with our notion of democracy.
No. It is illegal to have a requirement like that for voting because it could be used to discriminate against specific groups of people. Voting is considered a fundamental right of every adult American regardless of educational level. It would be illegal to use such a test for government office for the same reason.
Addendum: A test of any sort, whether it is one of political awareness or one of skin color, separates the people into two groups: the first-class citizens who can hold office, and the second-class citizens who cannot. This is not compatible with our notion of democracy.
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