Monday, August 11, 2008
Doug Patton speaks true truth to power
Doug Patton, a regular contributor over at GOPUSA, hits a big ol' nail on its big ol' head:
I have never been an advocate of the popular notion that "everyone should vote." Some people look at me as if I am somehow un-American when I say that I am not in favor of encouraging people to vote who would otherwise never darken the door of a polling place. I really don't want someone on the streets of Hollywood, who just failed to identify the vice president of the United States on one of Jay Leno's "Jay-Walking" segments, helping to select the person who will lead my government for the next four years.
Patton then gives us a "basic, common-sense" test that every American wishing to vote should have to answer before he or she could enter a voting booth. Here 'tis:
1. Name the three branches of the federal government.
2. Name the current president and vice president of the United States.
3. How long have they served?
4. How long are the president and vice president allowed to serve?
5. How many members are there in the U.S. House of Representatives?
6. How are House Members chosen?
7. How long is their term in office?
8. How long are they allowed to serve?
9. Name the current speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
10. Which party currently holds the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives?
11. How many members are there in the U.S. Senate?
12. How are U.S. Senators normally chosen?
13. How long is a U.S. Senator's term in office?
14. How long are they allowed to serve?
15. Name the current majority leader of the U.S. Senate.
16. Which party currently holds the majority in the U.S. Senate?
17. How many individuals currently sit on the United States Supreme Court?
18. Name three of them.
19. How are members of the U.S. Supreme Court selected?
20. How long can Supreme Court Justices serve?
21. What is an electoral vote?
22. How many electoral votes are currently required in order to elect the president and vice president?
23. How is the president selected if he/she fails to receive the required number of electoral votes?
24. How is the vice president selected if he/she fails to receive the required number of electoral votes?
25. What is an executive order?
26. How is an amendment to the U.S. Constitution passed?
27. How many constitutional conventions has the United States had?
Patton adds:
If a potential voter could not answer at least 18 of these questions (two-thirds), he/she should not be allowed to vote.
If it were up to me, I'd add a few questions 'bout basic economics and make it a 30-question quiz. If a he or she can't show even a basic grasp of the laws of supply and demand, then he or she shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a voting booth. So there.
That said, I didn't miss a single question on Patton's quiz. How'd you do? Would you be able to vote if Doug Patton and Joltin' Django were runnin' things in the U.S.A.?!
Oh, answers are here.
I have never been an advocate of the popular notion that "everyone should vote." Some people look at me as if I am somehow un-American when I say that I am not in favor of encouraging people to vote who would otherwise never darken the door of a polling place. I really don't want someone on the streets of Hollywood, who just failed to identify the vice president of the United States on one of Jay Leno's "Jay-Walking" segments, helping to select the person who will lead my government for the next four years.
Patton then gives us a "basic, common-sense" test that every American wishing to vote should have to answer before he or she could enter a voting booth. Here 'tis:
1. Name the three branches of the federal government.
2. Name the current president and vice president of the United States.
3. How long have they served?
4. How long are the president and vice president allowed to serve?
5. How many members are there in the U.S. House of Representatives?
6. How are House Members chosen?
7. How long is their term in office?
8. How long are they allowed to serve?
9. Name the current speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
10. Which party currently holds the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives?
11. How many members are there in the U.S. Senate?
12. How are U.S. Senators normally chosen?
13. How long is a U.S. Senator's term in office?
14. How long are they allowed to serve?
15. Name the current majority leader of the U.S. Senate.
16. Which party currently holds the majority in the U.S. Senate?
17. How many individuals currently sit on the United States Supreme Court?
18. Name three of them.
19. How are members of the U.S. Supreme Court selected?
20. How long can Supreme Court Justices serve?
21. What is an electoral vote?
22. How many electoral votes are currently required in order to elect the president and vice president?
23. How is the president selected if he/she fails to receive the required number of electoral votes?
24. How is the vice president selected if he/she fails to receive the required number of electoral votes?
25. What is an executive order?
26. How is an amendment to the U.S. Constitution passed?
27. How many constitutional conventions has the United States had?
Patton adds:
If a potential voter could not answer at least 18 of these questions (two-thirds), he/she should not be allowed to vote.
If it were up to me, I'd add a few questions 'bout basic economics and make it a 30-question quiz. If a he or she can't show even a basic grasp of the laws of supply and demand, then he or she shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a voting booth. So there.
That said, I didn't miss a single question on Patton's quiz. How'd you do? Would you be able to vote if Doug Patton and Joltin' Django were runnin' things in the U.S.A.?!
Oh, answers are here.
# posted by Joltin' Django @ Monday, August 11, 2008 
