A suggestion for an Election

I've posted this over at NewMars.

It's about the Democracy/Efficiency tradeoff. Basically, when voting for a candidate (for instance, it could be a bill or proposition as well) you have to answer a short, multiple choice/true or false quiz on their policies. If you completely fail the test and only get questions right due to seer luck, your vote won't be counted (or will be counted, but as 1/10 of a normal vote, with the worth of your vote rising the better your score is). To use the recent election candidates as an example: when entering the electoral booth, voters would have had a quiz on the policies of McCain and Obama. If they voted Obama, but got all his policies wrong, then their vote wouldn't be counted for much. Likewise with McCain. It would help remove those pesky votes of the ignorant Plato warned us about, and bring the system closer to the optimum trade of between Democracy and Efficiency.

I like the idea, but I'm wondering if it would cause any issues with universal suffrage. Perhaps if you added "bonus votes" for getting correct answers that might reduce the negative connotation.

So simply repharase it?

Precisely

For too long now special interest, lobbyist and lawyers have had more influence in Washington than the average citizen. The following is an outline of ideas I have for legislation that will help to rebuild this country. The first two are the most important ones. I know that they may sound harsh, but I believe this is what is best for our country.

1. No Senator or Representative shall accept any campaign contribution from anyone who is not a proper registered voter of their district or state. Contributions can be no more than $2,000 per year. No corporation may give any type of gift, trip, item, or anything of value to any elected official. This legislation MUST be air tight with no loopholes what so ever! The Congress must be made to answer to the people of their districts and ONLY to the people of their districts. Corporations are granted no rights of access to the Congress under our Constitution.
2. No Senator or Representative may serve more than 12 consecutive years in either house. After 12 years they must sit out for at least 5 years before running for their old seat, or for the other chamber. No Senator or Representative shall be eligible to work for any lobbying firm until after 5 years from their leaving Congress. This is going to be very hard to push, but if enough of the people get behind it, it just may work. Congress will not do this unless the people demand it, but it will take someone brave to offer the legislation and get the ball rolling.
3. All federal spending on welfare and social programs will be frozen at current levels for all individuals currently receiving benefits. No increases will be given for more children. Welfare payments once set for an individual shall not be increased and shall allow for only 2 children. As of a certain date, all foreign non-citizens are ineligible for any benefits.
4. As of a certain date, say 5 years in the future, all government social service expenditures that are not Social Security related shall be capped to no more than 25 % of federal revenue. Not the budget, but what the government actually takes in for taxes.

These are just a few items I have thought of. Energy independence, taxation and regulation that brings back America’s manufacturing base home, a simplified flat tax, or sales tax, and the government only spending more than it takes in with taxes in time of war, will help the Republicans gain back the confidence of the people and Restore our Republic. We don’t want socialism nor do we want run away capitalism that throws away workers to move overseas for a profit or to escape regulation. Real American’s want to work for a fair wage, get a reasonable wage, and retire at around 60 or 65. We want a responsible, honest government that enforces our laws and protects us from foreign aggression.

Interesting ideas. Perhaps they could be implemented for the Congress of the CSCS.

With regards to my original post, maybe we could then allow everyone a vote? The test wouldn't be available before the voting - it could probably be computer generated on the day, with everyone recieving a different quiz - so we wouldn't have the prolem of children being told 'A, C, D, B, B, C, and D, then vote Obamacles/Crustaceus/Palina/Tarq/Stalin/Benito/Yasser/[insert name of other politican, ad infinitum]'.