Do you think that publicly elected officials should have to take a test on laws of their nation and be current?

[Caughtulookin]

Many jobs that require certifications have this policy why not the government?

[Syntosi]

No. Many reasons why that is not a good idea. First of all, it feels like virtue signaling. Secondly, it can be used by the government to prevent others from challenging them for arbitrary reasons simply by lying and say that they failed the test. Thirdly, believe it or not but its technically not the job of elected officials to understand law even if they are supposed to write them. After all, there are staff for that.

If anything, the thing that you should test elected officials on is how faithfully they are representing their constituents. But as before, you can't have a normal test because that would allow the government to abuse that power to go after political enemies. Luckily we live in a democracy which means that it is the duty of the voters to hold their elected officials to account. Sadly, the voters are neglecting their duty. They are the problem.

Of course it is the politicians who are corrupt but if the voters did their job then that would never have been an issue.

[Effably]

To some extent. For some positions yes, havibg a finance minister with a degree in politics and no real understanding of finance is for example very risky.

In general I believe we should offer, and demand completion of, a simplified course on the things they do. So they at the very least have a working understanding of it.

Since elections are popularity contests, saying that only smart kids can run for it would change the whole thing.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

While that’s a well-intended suggestion, it’s also a short-sighted one that guarantees a level of elitism in political leadership and also makes it that much easier to eliminate the middle class until you have only the poor and the upper class.

[Chazmatazz269]

It’s not elected officials’ job to know anything except what their constituents tell them. It’s not their job to do anything except what their constituents demand of them. Any moron can do the work. 100% of corruption in government is caused by public servants failing to serve their public, usually in the interests of themselves and private parties and organizations seeking to empower or enrich themselves.

[Shiprex]

Yes the US especially. They've put up a couple of whoppers for president who shouldn't run a raffle let alone the worlds most expensive military industrial complex

[Caughtulookin]

I ask mainly because a couple elected officials along with a pastor i believe made a mockery of themselves not understanding Commander in chief. This is a very known and simple truth.

[Shiprex]

The CinC himself could tell journalists what the constitution was. Now they've quit logging and publishing everything the Clownshoes in Charge buffoon says because it will then become public records that' show howdumb he is.

[exitseven]

I do not think it would do any good. The thing that would , work is if they got caught taking a bribe they would have a hand chopped off/

[jshm2]

LOL, you're not the brightest.

Politics and democracy don't work that way.