Should running The United States really be a popularity contest?

Question

Should we not have some standardized test that you should need to pass . Just basics ;addition ,subtraction ,multiplication ,division reading and some basic science .
Seems that some people we have elected have forgotten these things ,never learned them or we would not be up to our collective eyeballs in debit .
Our leader should know more then just the right people to make deals with to get elected . They should actually have to balance a budget .
They should be able to make projections of the future wealth and health of this nation .
They should insure that anyone working forty hours makes a wage that can support Themselves ,without the aide of others ,in a safe environment . Not some 12 dollar a night flea bag motel that is filled with criminals .
On 10 dollars an hour it can not be done .rent is 700 utilities are another 100 minimum food is 100 car insurance is 200 car 189 and what about clothes and an evening out .

Something is wrong in america .
Anyone with a brain can see it

Answer 1

The elections for POTUS (and most of the Senate and Congress elections) are already a popularity contest. It's just a cut below "American Idol."

I wish we had a constitutional monarchy of some type. That way, we could have a figurehead leader, who we could vote in for being good-looking or "folksy" or whatever is in fashion this year.

And we could also have serious leaders who would truly represent our interests. In my ideal world, we would vote for them based on their intelligence.

I can dream, can't I? [LOL]

Answer 2

We could never agree to what should be on the test or what a passing grade should be.

Exactly where in the Constitution does it say that you have a right to a particular standard of living if you work 40 hours a week? I've read the constitution many times & don't recall seeing that.

Anyone with a brain knows that if you fix a price higher than it's free market price, you will have a surplus. In this case that means a surplus of low skill workers=higher unemployment for those you are trying to help.

Anyone past the age of 21 should know that projecting the future of our economy is no more accurate than projecting weather into the futer or predicting who will win the KY Derby 4 years from now.

Answer 3

We should not have "standardized tests" as they can be skewed to favor one person over another. Also they don't measure a candidate's creativity. In crisis, I want someone who can come up with solutions outside the box if necessary.

I'm fortunate to live in Iowa where anyone who wants to talk to a candidate (except Bush and Cheney whose campaign stops are by invitation only) can. I wish the media would report where the candidates stand on issues. I also wish the media would educate the public on how hard it is for a decent person to run for office. Candidates are forced to spend most of their time begging for money. They hate it but have no choice because of the cost of today's campaigns.

The media has a responsibilty to portray the candidates honestly. Talk about the issues, not about the trivia (who cares if Bush eats BBQ or Kerry likes to sail surf?). Stop fostering the image that all politicians are worse than pond scum. Does anyone care that we've lost our civil rights in the last 6 years? How often is it mentioned on the news?

The citizens must take a stand. They need to demand information from the candidates, the parties, and the press. They need to register to vote and then vote.
I've been priviliged to meet many national candidates away from the cameras. The majority of them serve because they care deeply about our country--I'm a liberal Democrat but I believe their passion and concern cuts across party lines.

Answer 4

Your popularity contest is called voting. I suppose you think we should just let a room of clever liberals like your self pick out the next president for us, since the rest of us obviously aren't smart enough for the task. A lot of people who don't like Bush immediately want to start calling him dumb. I will admit that his public speaking skills leave much to be desired, but calling him dumb is just ridiculous. The man has been accepted to Yale, and Harvard. I doubt you are half as smart as him on your best day. Going around accusing people that don't agree with your views of being stupid is just childish. I didn't often like Bill Clinton, but I never accused the man of being stupid. A little bit of a womanizer maybe, but definitely not stupid.

I'm afraid there is nothing any elected official can do to make sure you can support yourself. That is just something that you have to do on your own. If you can't earn anymore than $10 an hour maybe you should have applied yourself a little better in school. I only have an Associates degree and I get by just fine. I can't afford to buy all of the things that I would like to have, but how many people can really.

You are right about one thing. There is definitely something wrong in America, to many lazy people who want the Government to do ever thing for them and solve all of there problems.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

That's what the parties do. They're a pre-screening process. By the time the candidates are presented to us, the chaff has been removed. For example, anyone suggesting a minimum wage hike to well over $10/hour would never be put on the ballet due to their severe lack of understanding of basic economic realities. Seems to work pretty well the way it is to me.

Answer 7

Anyone with a BRAIN can see that the President has very little actual controll. But yes, it is a popularity contest, thats the IDEA behind a Democratic-Republic. The most POPULAR candidate receives the most votes.

But within all seriousness, little Bush Jr. doesn't run the U.S.A. his cabinet tells him how to run it.

Answer 8

Every President we have had can do that math if desired, A test would not be helpful at all.
Imagine if that brilliant astronaut became President after taking tests, she would be chasing all the Middle East with a spraycan:)

Answer 9

You took the words right out of my mouth.....now a days it seems like anyone with the money to run for president can do it, which is complete bullshit....many great human beings aren't wealthy. And I do think you should have a certain IQ to qualify for being the president....like Bush probably wouldnt qualify(no offense)

Answer 10

How about Honor, Courage, Commitment.
What else needs to be said.



We don't need a spline less, gutless, with no convictions leading our country.