Do you think you there should be an IQ requirment if you want to run for president?

Question

Right now, as long as you are the age of 36 and are born in the USA then you can run. But we dont want a person with an iq of 80 (silghtly above mentaly retarted) to run our country! I know bush isnt exactly the brightest man, but please no calling him dumb or using him as an example.

I agree with most of you, yes but IQ has nothing to do with it, you should have comon sense too. but heres my followup question please answer this: Do you think there should be a rule against running with a crimanal record? Bush got a DUI when he was 17 but htats not wat im talking about, i mean a big crimanal record, like served years in jail

Answer 1

Good idea, but then again, I know many people with high IQ's (170+) that are lacking in the common sense department. Perhaps a combination "test" is in order? IQ AND common sense test ... if the person is suppose to lead the country, lets make sure that they have the "brains" to know how to use their "brains"!

Answer 2

Originally, I think that the Constitution was written to allow for any common citizen, regardless of occupation or status, could be elected President. But the way our society is now, it seems that the more welathy citizens have the means to run a campaign for president. One could assume that those who have acquired wealth or government experience have done so through education and working their way up through local, state and federal governments. However, this is not always the case. But IQ does not necessarily make a leader. It takes qualities such as honesty, loyalty, courage, compassion, etc. to be an effective leader.

I guess I would say no to the IQ requirement. The people of America are capable of making good decisions.

Answer 3

Definitely not. The critical criterion for president is ideology, not brains. If I am looking for someone to work for NASA, smarts are paramount. But for the presidency, it his (or her) ideas that matter most. I personally think that Reagan was a great president, while Carter was a failure. Yet I'd wager Carter would score higher on an IQ test than Reagan. What made Reagan great (IMO) is that he knew that lowering taxes would spur economic growth, which in turn provided the revenue for the military buildup that bankrupted the USSR. And that is a question on principles, not IQ.

Answer 4

I'm not sure intelligence is the problem. I think common sense is a better quality. Someone that is willing to listen to the people and do the right thing. Also there should be good advisers and people behind him.
#1 With the cutthroat politicing I doubt someone could get elected with a bad criminal record
#2 If someone did their time that shouldn't be an issue

Answer 5

I found this interesting when I saw the title; I have recently been reading up on Geniocracy, a little-known philosophy in which one must be in the top 2 percentile, 133 and above, to enter politics. While IQ has little material value, and says less about actual ability than perceived, it might be reassuring to know with full confidence that global leaders have substantial mental capacity, if not much raw intelligence.

Answer 6

In a way, the idea appeals to me very strongly, as we have suffered greatly from the morons of the fifties, the eighties, and the aughts. But I think such a system would be prone to abuse.

Ultimately, I think the answer lies in Americans becoming less anti-intellectual -- and getting rid of the Electoral College system. But I don't see either of these happening soon.

You shouldn't have to pass an IQ test, but it would be nice if people took into account whether candidates have sufficient brains for such a complex job.

Answer 7

He saved or a$$ from more homeland attacks - how much more intelligence does he need?

Some of these idiots believe we should have sat on our a$$ and done nothing - then when more Americans died - it would have been all Bush's fault - well thank the man upstairs he has got more intelligence than these ignorant a$$holes! I would like to see them even try and do better.

Sorry for the %^#@ but I am sick and tired of these brainless dips sitting behind their keyboards and spreading garbage.

Answer 8

IQ has little to do wit it. If you noticed all of the candiates require supporters with deep pockets.
Also, politics is a thankless job. If someone wants to accomplish things, make money and spend time with their family then they wouldnt go into public service. The private sector is better suited for those things.

Answer 9

HA!! as though that jogging life insurance plans who holds down the surprising duty of being the vp is putting the bar too severe. Or the Marxist who sits interior the huge chair for that count. Intelligence is needless to say no longer required for the two place.

Answer 10

Since no one really knows what IQ tests measure, it doesn't make much sense to include it as a requirement for public office, or anything else.