Should there be an aptitude test for voters?

[muz379]

I feel the same way about this idea as I do about the Death penalty .

I can see why just using extreme cases people can justify it to themselves.

But for me the negative outcomes still far outweigh any benefit that can be claimed from it.

 

[SargeNpton]

I don’t think there should be an aptitude test, but there should be better political education in schools and better teaching of critical thinking. It’s quite incredible reading some of the misinformed comments on local Facebook residents groups - it’s both scary and fascinating to see how easily influenced people are.

Who sets the curriculum, and who polices the teachers?

I say this as, 40 odd years ago, my Sociology teacher said that we should all be objective in studying sociology - then subsequently told us why Labour ideology was better than that of the Tories.

 

[jfollows]

The government sets the curriculum, and that’s the problem.

Ministers like Gove set the curriculum to be about “three Rs”, for example.

So schools concentrate on meeting this mandate. Number of GCSE passes in English Language and Mathematics, for example.

And that’s fair enough in some way, but then how do our schools teach people to cook, manage money, understand the difference between civil and criminal law, for example? They have no time and they’re not measured on it.

But, equally, why should my priorities for schools be important? I’m not even elected.

 

[Ianigsy]

Absolutely not. At a national level you're really voting for the party you wish to form the government, you're not voting for the individual MP.

In the Isle of Man we have a system where there are no party affiliations and you vote for your MHK (MP). The MHKs then choose amongst themselves who will be our Chief Minister, who in turn then chooses the government. It doesn't really work.

My Manx uncle once described it as a cabal of farmers deciding among themselves how to divide up the subsidies and everything else came afterwards.

I think we’re now (in England) reaping the fruit of having an education system which prioritises box-ticking over producing rounded citizens of tomorrow.

And let’s not forget that almost half the population have below average intelligence!

 

[brad465]

Rather than aptitude tests for voters perhaps an aptitude test for would be MPs should be brought in!

I certainly think the standards MPs are held to need significant improvement. Misconduct and lack of dedication to the job (based on surgery and Westminster attendance) should lead to dismissal more rigorous than is the case currently. This would encourage parties to vet candidates better, as frequent dismissals will damage their reputation.

I don’t think there should be an aptitude test, but there should be better political education in schools and better teaching of critical thinking. It’s quite incredible reading some of the misinformed comments on local Facebook residents groups - it’s both scary and fascinating to see how easily influenced people are.

This is what I'd do for improving voter intellect, as it would have wider societal benefits without directly impacting authorisation to vote.

 

[deltic]

I certainly think the standards MPs are held to need significant improvement. Misconduct and lack of dedication to the job (based on surgery and Westminster attendance) should lead to dismissal more rigorous than is the case currently. This would encourage parties to vet candidates better, as frequent dismissals will damage their reputation.

MPs are meant to be considering issues of importance for the country as whole, they should be banned from dealing with local issues. We have ended up with MPs lobbying for their local hospital, rail service, trying to block housing development etc often against their own party's policies. Present government policy is to deliver 1.5m new homes, we had a local labour MP blocking the redevelopment of a car park into housing under the excuse it didnt include enougth affordable homes. MPs have turned into a citizens advice service.

 

[Tester]

MPs are meant to be considering issues of importance for the country as whole, they should be banned from dealing with local issues. We have ended up with MPs lobbying for their local hospital, rail service, trying to block housing development etc often against their own party's policies. Present government policy is to deliver 1.5m new homes, we had a local labour MP blocking the redevelopment of a car park into housing under the excuse it didnt include enougth affordable homes. MPs have turned into a citizens advice service.

Oh my goodness!

 

[brad465]

MPs are meant to be considering issues of importance for the country as whole, they should be banned from dealing with local issues. We have ended up with MPs lobbying for their local hospital, rail service, trying to block housing development etc often against their own party's policies. Present government policy is to deliver 1.5m new homes, we had a local labour MP blocking the redevelopment of a car park into housing under the excuse it didnt include enougth affordable homes. MPs have turned into a citizens advice service.

Yes this is where a federal system is needed: national government elected via PR to deal with national matters, and regional parliaments to manage local matters, but that's another matter entirely.