Do you think the U.S. should institute a civics exam to be able to vote?

[Jac de Molay]

Well not knowing what your state capital is, would be most ridiculous, you'd have to be living in the stone age for that..

You have no idea of the depths of ignorance that the average, American high school student can reach. .

Even a lot of college students dont know who anyone is under Bush.

[DaShi]

Bet they all knew who was under Clinton.

[Skyjack666]

"Should there be a civics exam to vote?"

How whould the Dems ever win?

[DaShi]

By running DLs, of course.

[Kontiki]

A test sounds like a good idea in theory, but in practice I see at least two huge problems (I'm sure there are many other issues too):

1) Voter turnout is already painfully low, and not just in the US. I don't think you need to give people another reason to not vote.

2) Having said test doesn't really adress the issue of voter ignorance. Presumably, everyone would know that they have to take the test, so they could just "cram" for it right before, which does nothing towards making an informed political decision.

There's also the possibility of comprehension problems based on language/education level, but I guess if you made the test easy enough, these could be largely avoided. Then again, if you make the test that easy, you're not really getting a better standard of voter, now are you.

[DarthVeda]

Hell yeah... you can say good bye to the Democrats if we do!

[Carver]

Originally posted by DarthVeda
Hell yeah... you can say good bye to the Democrats if we do!

It's Republican voters that need an education, they are the ones who vote against their own interests. Especially true with white blue-collar workers in the South who have been trending Republican even though all their economic interests are better represented by the Democrats.

[Ben Kenobi]

The minute you try and curtail the franchise is the minute I make lots of political allies.

Indeed.

You don't want to see me on the same side as the communists.

I say no, because to raise the standards will favour whites over blacks, distorting the franchise.

I agree that the US school system should do a better job with civics, but the voting booth is not the place to teach people.

[Guynemer]

Absolutely not. People have a RIGHT to vote; it's not dependant on IQ or social status or keeping up on current events. It is a basic right.

Christ, you people scare me.

[SlowwHand]

No one is suggesting a poll tax, Guynemer.


Also of note:
Sure a lot of not-American people spouting what should be.

[GePap]

I don't think the NASCAR crowd is well versed in civics: good bye Republicans!

Anyway: I say no. As much as the utter lack of civics and hisotircal knowledge among our youth despairs me, we can't talke steps to limit voting rights. Even someone ignorant of the structures of power has the ability to make sound judgement if given good impartial sources of info. You want a better educated public, reform the way in which they recieve political messages.

It would make as much sense, eprhaps more, to demand intelliegence tests before voting, and yet this is just as bad as civis exams.

[Imran Siddiqui]

It's Republican voters that need an education, they are the ones who vote against their own interests. Especially true with white blue-collar workers in the South who have been trending Republican even though all their economic interests are better represented by the Democrats.

You are making the assumption that the blue collar workers in the South would agree with a Democratic economic policy (which most of them don't). Perhaps they believe in a certain economic system (lower taxes and smaller goverment), even if it may not help them as much in the short term? Perhaps there are other interests they vote on?

Perhaps you are lacking in knowledge (or should I say, education), on the interests of those workers and how high they rate them?

--

Instead of a test, I say that we should have civics/current event classes EVERY year of school.

[SlowwHand]

Agree with Imran.

GePap, you're a red-neck bigot.

[Traianvs]

Like I said, oblige everyone to vote, and make them fill in a simple test about the party they are going to vote on... the ppl who don't want to vote just leave the exam blanco and voila everybody is happy

[Guynemer]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
No one is suggesting a poll tax, Guynemer.

Doesn't matter, Sloww.

Citizens have the right to vote, period.