I don't think the American political system can ever achieve what it was meant to do. Because, the way it is set up, only a person with an extremely competitive and ethically compromising personality can ever become President. In other words, the people who fall outside of the usual standards of the community's norms are the ones who are best-equipped to become President. Basic wisdom says that cannot endure indefinitely.

-Paraphrase of an Emmit Fox one-shot radio sermon around 1920

....but it depends on who designed it.

OMG, I've just realised I am UN-American. Hold the bus!

Whilst I agree people should understand the political system they live in, excluding people would probably just play into the hands of the powers that be. So let's educate and encourage participation and then there will be less 'Stupid'. As the shampoo add with Rachel Hunter taught me: 'It won't happen over night but it will happen.'

I once dated a woman who told me she voted for Clinton because 1. He was better looking than Dole, and 2. She liked his wife.

This is the basic problem with the current system. Where I work there are soooo many tools who just vote however the union tells them to, makes me sad.

Sometimes I think one should have to pass a basic civics test in order to vote. But then, it would just get dumbed down to a level that anyone could pass it. I don't know what the answer is, but I really do wish the clueless would stay home on voting day. Or at least be required to show proper id.....

I once dated a woman who told me she voted for Clinton because 1. He was better looking than Dole, and 2. She liked his wife.

This is the basic problem with the current system. Where I work there are soooo many tools who just vote however the union tells them to, makes me sad.

Sometimes I think one should have to pass a basic civics test in order to vote. But then, it would just get dumbed down to a level that anyone could pass it. I don't know what the answer is, but I really do wish the clueless would stay home on voting day. Or at least be required to show proper id.....

Where I come from the tools mostly vote the way their Church tell them.

Also, where I come from, we have to show a proper identification to vote. Sounds like your local voting process needs some revamping.

... I don't know what the answer is ...

The issue really is the quadjillionaires like the Koch Brothers giving unreal amounts of money to candidates who just play on people's fears of immigrants, socialized medicine, and "alternative lifestyles", and especially those horrified by women's choices about their physical bodies.

Benign candidates do not have anywhere near the equivalent funds to spread their message. It's already a lost cause. Warren Buffet can't save every election.

Sometimes individual freedoms need to be infringed upon for the good of the entire society; things like health care and education.

Oh no, it's the Koch brothers, who are unlike George Soros in everty way, lol.

So if I don't like your solution, or the solution provided by your politician of choice, you think it is ok to stick a gun in my face, either you doing it or some clown with an official hat?

So if I don't like your solution, or the solution provided by your politician of choice, you think it is ok to stick a gun in my face, either you doing it or some clown with an official hat?

LOL Holy crap that was funny. Stick a gun in your face? What? Go back to your survivalist compound cuz Obama's comin' fer yer gunz and them thar gays tryna turn you gay too.

WTF are you people talking about? I said that people should be forced

Stupid people should be forced to not be stupid. Cry all you want, but as long as the rest of us have to be forced to live among them, I fully support boots on the neck.

You take a driver's test to get a license. I don't see why you shouldn't have to pass a voter's test to vote. Voting should be a privilege, not a right.

Geez, take a chill dude. Panties are all up in a knot politically on a game forum.

LOL Holy crap that was funny. Stick a gun in your face? What? Go back to your survivalist compound cuz Obama's comin' fer yer gunz and them thar gays tryna turn you gay too.

And for those of you who are wondering about us crazy Americans, its attitudes like this that led me to become a life member of the NRA. You're not putting your boots on my neck, bubba.


Edit: I'm going to end up getting this thread locked, ain't I?

Here in 'murica, we used to have this really groovy set of laws affectionately know as "Jim Crow". One of the old Jim Crow laws stated that one needed to pass a literacy test before being able to vote.

So when Django goes to the poll to vote, Billy Bob throws down a Chinese newspaper and hollers "What's that say, boy?" To which Django replies, "It says negroes don't vote in Alabama!"

That's why you can't require a test for voters, much as most people would like the idea, myself included. The potential for abuse is too great.

As for forcing stupid people not to be stupid, good luck with that.