I do not feel it is appropriate for some construction worker with a GED education that spends his leisure watching baseball to have power to cast a vote for a President of the United States and for a Congressman based to a great extent on what he overheard his pastor saying on Sundays in Church. The majority of American voters are not far from this example.
Lets face it, most people either do not vote in the elections or don't have a clue beyond TV ads what any of the candidates is looking to do and what exactly is going on in the World.
More than that, mindless discussions about abortions, gays, and elusive universal health care take a big chunk of political debates election in and election out.
See, I would be in favor of Democracy if there were education and/or test requirements to vote in elections and the candidate manner and substance of discussion were more in tune with real life events.
You have a point, Big. I agree that we don't always get the best leaders because the criteria for election (appearance, charisma) and requirements (lots of money, party endorsement) aren't conducive to quality leadership. The alternative, however, would be a government which does not represent the will of all the people (or all of the people who care enough to get out and vote). If there were a test requirement for voting, many people would be disenfranchsed and the foundations of our country (for better or worse) would be violated: "all men are created equal," "a government of the people." I'd prefer the current system with its faults to one which selectively chooses who can and cannot vote.
I know you will argue the validity of "all men created equal," but this simply means that everyone is entitled to the same rights and protections, not that we are all clones with the same strengths and weaknesses.
I think that you have offended me. To imply that construction workers or baseball fans are not intelligent enough to ponder the issues and weigh pros and cons of the candidates is ver arrogant and ignorant and it makes me mad. You know everyone has their lot in life, not everybody is meant to or can have a college education. Hell not everybody wants a college education. It does not mean that those people are less in the society than some intelectual. You know my entire family has worked in construction including myself and being an iron worker was one of the most rewarding and difficult jobs I have done. You will never find a more patriotic group and most of the guys I worked with were Vetrens of the U.S. Military. You think that these people should not be aloud to vote because of the education they did not pursue. Well they may not be educated in a class room but they are educated in life and the real world and what it takes to make a country great, because it is not the intelectual, the Dr., the athlete or the scientist that make this country great. The only other thing I will say is that these people that you apparently look down on support a country that doesnt support them because all of the people on capitol hill are interested in is pleasing the lobbyist and could give two shits about us. All men are created equal and we all have a right to in this country to ellect our government. The Greatest generation you think they were all educated, think again.
Actually, i agree with Big, as ide from his characterization about construction workers. It offends me to think that some one who does not do their duty to be educated on the issues in our country is afforded the same opportunity in choosing our leaders as I am.
Should be an IQ test to get voting rights, no doubt
Why would they choose to fight and die to protect my rights if they aren't educated on what they are fighting and dying for?
Just because it is the right thing to do and all they care about is keeping this country free. Do you really think that an 18 year old high school kid just getting out of boot is all boned up on the latest politics.
Why I am against Western Democracy 
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