Is there still any point to the US President having to be a natural-born citizen of the United States?

[kentonio]

It seems like a bit of an anachronism to me. Surely the ideology behind America is opportunity? That any man or woman no matter how humble his or her background can work hard and achieve anything?

The idea of choice pervades everything, yet if someone chooses to move to America and become an American, and chooses to devote their life to public service, and then the US public choose to be represented by that person, that is not allowed due to a technicality of where that person was born.

I understand why it was originally a rule, because the founders were concerned about foreign powers gaining control of a country where democracy was still limited and where the spread of information to the public was extremely scarce. However various rules have changed over the years including the introduction of term limits. Is there still any reason for keeping the natural born rule?

*EDIT: Meant to add a yes/no poll but forgot because I'm an idiot.

[rah]

I see no reason for it anymore. Maybe a restriction saying you have to at least been a citizen x number of years.

[Ben Kenobi]

It seems like a bit of an anachronism to me. Surely the ideology behind America is opportunity? That any man or woman no matter how humble his or her background can work hard and achieve anything?

The ideology is American opportunity, not opportunity in general. When the Founders formed America, the concern was foriegn dominance and entanglements. Given what we've seen later on, it's a quite wise concern. Dropping this, I see no reason why American wouldn't just simply restore the Queen and form a constitutional monarchy.

[Ben Kenobi]

I see no reason for it anymore. Maybe a restriction saying you have to at least been a citizen x number of years.

Yeah, what could possibly go wrong with America ruled by a foreigner? I see no way this would end badly for the US.

[MikeH]

It stops Ben being President.

[kentonio]

But it's also stopping Arnie from fulfilling the Demolition Man prophecy.

[Sava]

I say get rid of the restriction. I mean, it didn't prevent OBAMA

[Ben Kenobi]

It stops Ben being President

You said it not me. If I wanted to be governed by a Canadian I'd live there.

[Asher]

You said it not me. If I wanted to be governed by a Canadian I'd live there.

Harper or Obama, which do you prefer?

[Colonâ„¢]

Sure, but not until the UK allows a Catholic on the throne.

[molly bloom]

Sure, but not until the UK allows a Catholic on the throne.

But Henry VIII was a Roman Catholic.

Then he had an idea, had a chat with the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, and became an Anglo-Catholic. He didn't get to wear a groovy Papal tiara like that Mrs. Pope in Rome, or those to die for vestments, and missed out on the hunky Swiss Guards, but on the other hand he did get to sh@g 4 more women after ditching the aged Spanish one, and have divorces and annulments and get his ulcerated leg looked after by someone named Culpeper, so win win, really.

[regexcellent]

Harper or Obama, which do you prefer?

Harper's a reasonably smart guy. I think he's probably more competent than Obama at any rate.

The original purpose of course was to prevent the European tomfoolery where the monarch's connection to the country could be rather loose. Today, it's an anachronism which will probably remain for the foreseeable future.

[kentonio]

Sure, but not until the UK allows a Catholic on the throne.

You mean one of the changes which has already received Royal Assent and which is now waiting on the other Commonwealth nations to approve? Yeah, it should be fixed within a couple of years.

[MikeH]

[Sava]

the only good monarch is a dead monarch