Who writes and administers the test? And who ensures everyone has equal access to education so a non-voting underclass isn’t created?
The United States used to have a “voting literacy test” which effectively existed to keep non-whites from voting. It was practically impossible to pass, so it was at the clerk’s discretion who could or could not vote.
Just because it was misused before doesn’t mean it’s an unworkable idea. Would it really make things worse than the mess we have now?
Say, for example, you needed the support of a supermajority (67% or 75%) of the population to approve a test.
There are lots of potential flaws with the system, and lots of “attack vectors”. But, you don’t need to come up with a test that’s perfect, just one that improves the current situation, which is pretty dire.
I’m for it, assuming everyone has equal access to a robust, non-biased education and sufficient resources to have the time and energy to utilize it; the test isn’t designed to exclude by race, class, gender, etc.; and it is designed to simply ascertain whether or not a person is capable of self-directed, rational decision making versus voting for the prettiest or most charismatic candidate or the candidate who will “hurt the right people”.
Who writes and administers the test? And who ensures everyone has equal access to education so a non-voting underclass isn’t created?
The United States used to have a “voting literacy test” which effectively existed to keep non-whites from voting. It was practically impossible to pass, so it was at the clerk’s discretion who could or could not vote.
Just because it was misused before doesn’t mean it’s an unworkable idea. Would it really make things worse than the mess we have now?
Say, for example, you needed the support of a supermajority (67% or 75%) of the population to approve a test.
There are lots of potential flaws with the system, and lots of “attack vectors”. But, you don’t need to come up with a test that’s perfect, just one that improves the current situation, which is pretty dire.
If something can be misused for political leverage, it will be.
I am not saying it’s a good idea and implementation would be hard. But it is an idea
I’m for it, assuming everyone has equal access to a robust, non-biased education and sufficient resources to have the time and energy to utilize it; the test isn’t designed to exclude by race, class, gender, etc.; and it is designed to simply ascertain whether or not a person is capable of self-directed, rational decision making versus voting for the prettiest or most charismatic candidate or the candidate who will “hurt the right people”.
Many politicians would not want any of that.