| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"T. Brady Bunch" |
| Date: |
29 Oct 2003 02:01:02 PM |
| Object: |
A modest proposal to amend the Constitution of the United States |
The framers of the United States lived in a age when most individuals
eligible for political office were intelligent, thirstily autodidactic,
and knowledgeable. But in today's political milieu the participants
appear to be of much lower stature. How is it that individuals elected
to the highest offices in the United States aren't required to meet even
the most minimal standards other than age and residency?
I propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
requiring that any candidate for federal office take a test of general
knowledge and an IQ test. To be fair, the test results would only be
pass/fail and wouldn't disqualify a candidate from running for office.
Should the majority of the electorate vote an unqualified candidate into
high office ... well, the idea is that the voter be informed of his/her
candidate's qualifications.
I present these ideas in only the most skeletal form -- I'd like
contributions and additional ideas to this proposal in order that it be
presented with sufficient flesh.
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS, IQ test, intelligence
quotient) should be adequate for the IQ assessment with only a minimum
score of 110 (bright normal) required to pass. Should the bar be
higher? Lower? Comments?
More importantly the test of general knowledge would cover government,
economics, geography, grammar, mathematics, reading comprehension,
science, philosophy and other areas. What other areas should be
included? Which aren't necessary and why.
Those who hold public office are the servants of the people. Would you
really want to hire an attorney who didn't pass the Bar Examination.
Would you seek the services of a doctor who didn't attend medical school
and pass his/her exams? Do you really want the leader of the free world
to be less qualified than you?
.
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| User: "ZW" |
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| Title: Re: A modest proposal to amend the Constitution of the United States |
30 Oct 2003 07:48:57 AM |
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"T. Brady Bunch" <tbbunch@softhome.net> wrote in message news:<bnp6b1$13vuv2$1@ID-127661.news.uni-berlin.de>...
What you suggest is that the voters can't figure things out by
themselves. The real solution is to promote education and training.
This is the best garanty that you'll get that some "idiot" won't be
elected (BTW, GWB wasn't elected...).
I think it is easier to get the public support for puting more
priority on education than agree on an amendment to the constitution.
Besides, I agree with a post below, the real problem is corporate
money in campaign financing. Working on just that topic would
tremendously change the course of things.
The framers of the United States lived in a age when most individuals
eligible for political office were intelligent, thirstily autodidactic,
and knowledgeable. But in today's political milieu the participants
appear to be of much lower stature. How is it that individuals elected
to the highest offices in the United States aren't required to meet even
the most minimal standards other than age and residency?
I propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
requiring that any candidate for federal office take a test of general
knowledge and an IQ test. To be fair, the test results would only be
pass/fail and wouldn't disqualify a candidate from running for office.
Should the majority of the electorate vote an unqualified candidate into
high office ... well, the idea is that the voter be informed of his/her
candidate's qualifications.
I present these ideas in only the most skeletal form -- I'd like
contributions and additional ideas to this proposal in order that it be
presented with sufficient flesh.
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS, IQ test, intelligence
quotient) should be adequate for the IQ assessment with only a minimum
score of 110 (bright normal) required to pass. Should the bar be
higher? Lower? Comments?
More importantly the test of general knowledge would cover government,
economics, geography, grammar, mathematics, reading comprehension,
science, philosophy and other areas. What other areas should be
included? Which aren't necessary and why.
Those who hold public office are the servants of the people. Would you
really want to hire an attorney who didn't pass the Bar Examination.
Would you seek the services of a doctor who didn't attend medical school
and pass his/her exams? Do you really want the leader of the free world
to be less qualified than you?
.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: A modest proposal to amend the Constitution of the United States |
30 Oct 2003 09:57:05 AM |
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reOn 30 Oct 2003 05:48:57 -0800, (ZW) wrote:
"T. Brady Bunch" <tbbunch@softhome.net> wrote in message news:<bnp6b1$13vuv2$1@ID-127661.news.uni-berlin.de>...
What you suggest is that the voters can't figure things out by
themselves. The real solution is to promote education and training.
This is the best garanty that you'll get that some "idiot" won't be
elected (BTW, GWB wasn't elected...).
It is obvius that under your proposed amendment, this bozo would not
be eligible to run for office. He'd fail your intelligence test
because he can't get it through his thick head that PRESIDENT GEORGE
W. BUSH (all caps denoting respect) won the office of Preident of the
United States.
Have a nice day!!
Cheerio,
Dennis, Proud America-Loving NEOCON Finest Kind Irish/English
I think it is easier to get the public support for puting more
priority on education than agree on an amendment to the constitution.
Besides, I agree with a post below, the real problem is corporate
money in campaign financing. Working on just that topic would
tremendously change the course of things.
The framers of the United States lived in a age when most individuals
eligible for political office were intelligent, thirstily autodidactic,
and knowledgeable. But in today's political milieu the participants
appear to be of much lower stature. How is it that individuals elected
to the highest offices in the United States aren't required to meet even
the most minimal standards other than age and residency?
I propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
requiring that any candidate for federal office take a test of general
knowledge and an IQ test. To be fair, the test results would only be
pass/fail and wouldn't disqualify a candidate from running for office.
Should the majority of the electorate vote an unqualified candidate into
high office ... well, the idea is that the voter be informed of his/her
candidate's qualifications.
I present these ideas in only the most skeletal form -- I'd like
contributions and additional ideas to this proposal in order that it be
presented with sufficient flesh.
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS, IQ test, intelligence
quotient) should be adequate for the IQ assessment with only a minimum
score of 110 (bright normal) required to pass. Should the bar be
higher? Lower? Comments?
More importantly the test of general knowledge would cover government,
economics, geography, grammar, mathematics, reading comprehension,
science, philosophy and other areas. What other areas should be
included? Which aren't necessary and why.
Those who hold public office are the servants of the people. Would you
really want to hire an attorney who didn't pass the Bar Examination.
Would you seek the services of a doctor who didn't attend medical school
and pass his/her exams? Do you really want the leader of the free world
to be less qualified than you?
.
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| User: "Apache" |
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| Title: Re: A modest proposal to amend the Constitution of the United States |
29 Oct 2003 03:58:25 PM |
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"T. Brady Bunch" <tbbunch@softhome.net> wrote in news:bnp6b1$13vuv2$1@ID-
127661.news.uni-berlin.de:
The framers of the United States lived in a age when most individuals
eligible for political office were intelligent, thirstily autodidactic,
and knowledgeable. But in today's political milieu the participants
appear to be of much lower stature. How is it that individuals elected
to the highest offices in the United States aren't required to meet
even
the most minimal standards other than age and residency?
I propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
requiring that any candidate for federal office take a test of general
knowledge and an IQ test. To be fair, the test results would only be
pass/fail and wouldn't disqualify a candidate from running for office.
Should the majority of the electorate vote an unqualified candidate
into
high office ... well, the idea is that the voter be informed of his/her
candidate's qualifications.
I present these ideas in only the most skeletal form -- I'd like
contributions and additional ideas to this proposal in order that it be
presented with sufficient flesh.
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS, IQ test, intelligence
quotient) should be adequate for the IQ assessment with only a minimum
score of 110 (bright normal) required to pass. Should the bar be
higher? Lower? Comments?
More importantly the test of general knowledge would cover government,
economics, geography, grammar, mathematics, reading comprehension,
science, philosophy and other areas. What other areas should be
included? Which aren't necessary and why.
Those who hold public office are the servants of the people. Would you
really want to hire an attorney who didn't pass the Bar Examination.
Would you seek the services of a doctor who didn't attend medical
school
and pass his/her exams? Do you really want the leader of the free
world
to be less qualified than you?
Well, I'd agree except for one small problem. IQ tests measure potential.
Life doesn't wait for potential to be realized and many folks never reach
their potential. Everyone has known a High IQ person who you wouldn't
trust with a sharp knife much less nuclear weapons.
Here is a simplistic scale for classifing folks.
Motivated Smart Folks
Unmotivated Smart Folks
Unmotivated Idiots
Motivated Idiots
Smart IQ - 130 and higher
Idiot IQ - 129 to 100
Below 100 - Commonly refered to as 'Standins' in the movie industry. God
threw these folks in the mix just to make life interesting.
Motivated/Unmotivated - use driven/undriven.
Motivated Smart folks. These are the pearls of humanity. They are the
nobel prize winners, the inventors, the research folks, the finders of
knowledge. They account for most of human progress.
Unmotivated smart folks are folks like professors, writers, and artists.
They tend to be the commentators and recorders of human progress.
Motivated Idiots. These are our CEO's, politicians and lawyers. They live
off the fruits of the Motivated smart folks and Unmotivated smart folks.
They make the fruits of the smart folks obtainable and usable.
unMotivated Idiots. These are the folks who labor in all the necessary
jobs throughout society. They tend to be the 'heros', the life savers,
the soldiers and salesmen, homemakers and handymen. They make up the bulk
of humanity.
Of these groups, the ones to watch are the motivated idiots. They are
often driven in the wrong direction. Bush is a motivated idiot.
Of course there are exceptions. Some CEO's could be Motivated smart folks
and a motivated idiot could be an inventor and so on. So please don't
tell me about one guy that you think doesn't fit in the groups.
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| User: "Fredric L. Rice" |
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| Title: Re: A modest proposal to amend the Constitution of the United States |
02 Nov 2003 05:29:13 PM |
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"T. Brady Bunch" <tbbunch@softhome.net> wrote:
I propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
requiring that any candidate for federal office take a test of general
knowledge and an IQ test.
I would be all for that provided they also have to show that they're not
cocaine addled drunks with fascist ideologies that also harbor delusional
genocidal traits. Thius unelected fascist baby killer's problems only
started with cocaine and alcohol.
---
Yes, George W. Bush is an unelected baby killing fascist dictator.
Also: Scientology's International President (Audio files of this
nutter available at http://www.linkline.com/personal/frice )
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| User: "DJ" |
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| Title: Re: A modest proposal to amend the Constitution of the United States |
30 Oct 2003 12:25:40 PM |
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I propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
requiring that any candidate for federal office take a test of general
knowledge and an IQ test. To be fair, the test results would only be
Perhaps it is the voters that should be tested... This is one reason
we need a well-educated public that has a certain foundation of common
knowledge.
Don't you think intelligent people (emotional, common sense, brains),
ask more and better questions and also read more. They can
distinguish hype/marketing, from the real-thing/substance.
Do stupid people elect stupid representatives?
Dj
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| User: "PagCal" |
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| Title: Re: A modest proposal to amend the Constitution of the United States |
30 Oct 2003 05:01:32 AM |
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If you want to get rid of the graft in the system, go with public financing
of political campaigns.
Then, anyone could run, and make their case to the American people
directly.
Additionally, when they get into office, they won't be horing themselves
out to get the 10k or so per week they need to run again.
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| User: "Ed Medlin" |
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| Title: Re: A modest proposal to amend the Constitution of the United States |
30 Oct 2003 07:16:12 AM |
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This sounds a lot like a very good standardized test for ALL high school
students before they can graduate. At least give it to the ones that need it
most. The teachers.
EM
"T. Brady Bunch" <tbbunch@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:bnp6b1$13vuv2$1@ID-127661.news.uni-berlin.de...
The framers of the United States lived in a age when most individuals
eligible for political office were intelligent, thirstily autodidactic,
and knowledgeable. But in today's political milieu the participants
appear to be of much lower stature. How is it that individuals elected
to the highest offices in the United States aren't required to meet even
the most minimal standards other than age and residency?
I propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
requiring that any candidate for federal office take a test of general
knowledge and an IQ test. To be fair, the test results would only be
pass/fail and wouldn't disqualify a candidate from running for office.
Should the majority of the electorate vote an unqualified candidate into
high office ... well, the idea is that the voter be informed of his/her
candidate's qualifications.
I present these ideas in only the most skeletal form -- I'd like
contributions and additional ideas to this proposal in order that it be
presented with sufficient flesh.
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS, IQ test, intelligence
quotient) should be adequate for the IQ assessment with only a minimum
score of 110 (bright normal) required to pass. Should the bar be
higher? Lower? Comments?
More importantly the test of general knowledge would cover government,
economics, geography, grammar, mathematics, reading comprehension,
science, philosophy and other areas. What other areas should be
included? Which aren't necessary and why.
Those who hold public office are the servants of the people. Would you
really want to hire an attorney who didn't pass the Bar Examination.
Would you seek the services of a doctor who didn't attend medical school
and pass his/her exams? Do you really want the leader of the free world
to be less qualified than you?
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.532 / Virus Database: 326 - Release Date: 10/27/2003
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