In my media studies class last week only two students (including myself) knew what an MP was... I was the only person who knew who the MP for my area is. How can people who don't even know those simple things vote on who will run our bloody country? Almost all of my year group have no idea of current political events and what people do know, they've got from glancing at the Metro once a week.  

There should be some test when you register to vote...

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If nothing we do matters
then all that matters is what we do.

The least they could do is have an understanding of the Constitution I would think.

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16, British (formally) and gay until I am 18  

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Democrats would never let that happen. The Democratic ticket thrives off of the mexican immigration vote and passing an act like that would cut a big hole in the liberal demographic.

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Way to be a fucking racist.

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I needed to think about last night. So I galloped into a wooded glen,
and after punch-dancing out my rage,
and suffering an extremely long and very painful fall,
I realized what has to be done.

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And thats the reason why bush was voted in for four years.

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Claiming stupidity and ignorance is a very easy shot to take at Americans. It doesn't take much, if any, knowledge or intellect.

Congratulations.

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It may be true that you can't fool all the people
all the time, but you can fool enough of them to rule a
large country. -- Will Durant

In a democratic society, those who are of eligible age are allowed to vote. You start going against that and becoming corrupt if you add a test.

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Quote: from Miden at 9:37 am on Dec. 18, 2008

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Democrats would never let that happen. The Democratic ticket thrives off of the mexican immigration vote and passing an act like that would cut a big hole in the liberal demographic.  

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Way to be a fucking racist.

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Racist...how? immigrants from Mexico would be much less likely to know about American government or procedures, and would thus not be declared qualified to vote in the American elections.

Its called facts...Its usually better to know what your talking about before you make harsh claims against another person. If you dont, it usually just makes you look foolish.

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It may be true that you can't fool all the people
all the time, but you can fool enough of them to rule a
large country. -- Will Durant

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Quote: from blackbandaid at 2:38 pm on Dec. 17, 2008

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Quote: from Miden at 9:37 am on Dec. 18, 2008

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Democrats would never let that happen. The Democratic ticket thrives off of the mexican immigration vote and passing an act like that would cut a big hole in the liberal demographic.

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 Way to be a fucking racist.

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Racist...how? immigrants from Mexico would be much less likely to know about American government or procedures, and would thus not be declared qualified to vote in the American elections.

Its called facts...Its usually better to know what your talking about before you make harsh claims against another person. If you dont, it usually just makes you look foolish.

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God you're smug.
Your statement made the assumption that all Mexican immigrants would be too stupid to be allowed to vote if there were a test. It is true that they may not know much, if anything, about the American system. But that's not to say that they don't know what they want, or couldn't learn about their new countries system.
I understand what you mean now. But what you said did sound racist.

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I needed to think about last night. So I galloped into a wooded glen,
and after punch-dancing out my rage,
and suffering an extremely long and very painful fall,
I realized what has to be done.

---

 
Racist...how? immigrants from Mexico would be much less likely to know about American government or procedures, and would thus not be declared qualified to vote in the American elections.

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I'm not sure this matters.

If you don't exactly know how the government works, but if you understand the platform of a candidate, does that mean you aren't qualified to vote?

I bet you the vast majority of Americans don't understand the finer points of how their government operates, a county, state or federal level.

Most accountants don't even understand their own state's CAFR. Don't even start on the regular folk.

A test in general is in theory not a bad idea.

The problem is what goes on the test and whole controls the content.

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"I give the probability of this working at zero" - Dan DeMatteo

There used to be tests to vote, it kept blacks out of the polls.

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Why don't we just line up soldiers and have the beat the hell out of anyone who looks like the might vote for the wrong parties based on their ignorance of the government?  

There used to be tests to vote, it kept blacks out of the polls.  

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