Competence
What would be the issue of having a competence test rather than a voting age?
I just want to just a bit of a rebuttal. What makes a voting age better than a competence test? Is there anything wrong with using a competence test to decide who votes?
Well, the snippy answer is that it’s unconstitutional. 
The practical but still snippy answer is that it’s not practical, since no one would vote for any such legislation… even if it was well-thought-out, which it won’t be.
The discussion is thus: it’s probably a good Idea, but it is NOT in tune with the spirit of democracy. Voters need not show any level of competence, nor should they have to. Studies have shown that crowds are smarter than you think, when they speak as one voice. While an informed constituency sounds great, remember that no constituency is ever *truly* informed — hell, our congressmen and senators don’t even read the bills they pass (or reject) anymore! There are millions who trust in common knowledge* and street Wisdom; sometimes the view from the ground really does work.
The idealist’s answer? Yes, we should have a very basic competence test – so basic that smart children as young as 10 or 12 should be able to vote. Answer like 5 questions including “who is the current President?” (And if you think that’s too easy, you haven’t seen Jay Leno’s ‘Jaywalking’.) Any more complicated than that and it’s discrimination based on intellect. The competence test is testing ENGAGEMENT; as in, are you informed and interested enough to participate in democracy? If children vote, they’re far far far far more likely to be engaged as adults, which will give you a more informed constituency in a few decades. Problem solved.
Multicultural Competence
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How To Speak Up, Set Limits and Say No Without Losing Your Job or Friends … |
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Economist Style Guide $16.5 New – The ability to communicate effectively in writing is a core management skill, as important as the ability to delegate, negotiate or manage time. Misspelt words and faulty grammar will cast doubt on the writer’s educational standards, if not intellectual standing. Conversely, documents that are concise, clear and well laid out convey an impression of professionalism and competence. This guide also contains a section on Americanization and a style manual for word processor users. |
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