The Great Debators © discussion

Try from 5.

like 15..

Yeah.. the question is IF u can do that....

Im just saying most kids txt while driving... bad decision!!!!!!!!

Yeah...... i did a science project on that.... it was fun... we got to talk and do mario kart and then we watched my dad and my friends dad try to txt will driving.... we actually had one person do better talking... cuz they had never done it and they got the hang of it..... sorta

Yeah.... exactly..

There shouldn't be an age limit, instead there should be an involved rigorous exam designed around understanding the constitution, the election system in the U.S., the methods of making laws, understanding the written law as it is, etc.

Adam wrote: "There shouldn't be an age limit, instead there should be an involved rigorous exam designed around understanding the constitution, the election system in the U.S., the methods of making laws, under..."

So you think only immigrants should vote?

Alan wrote: "Adam wrote: "There shouldn't be an age limit, instead there should be an involved rigorous exam designed around understanding the constitution, the election system in the U.S., the methods of makin..."

haha I didn't say that... but scarily this might be the outcome! I never thought of that.

Christeen wrote: "Alan wrote: "Adam wrote: "There shouldn't be an age limit, instead there should be an involved rigorous exam designed around understanding the constitution, the election system in the U.S., the met..."

I made it up based on listening to a lot of nonsense commentary that citizens in the U.S. don't actually know how government works.

Kira wrote: "@Alan

He never said that..."

Do they have jokes, among your people?

I think there should be a test of government in order to vote, but then of course that hearkens back to the days of poll taxes and no one liked that. People will resent the fact only an elite few can make a decision for them, even though those few are more qualified.

Lauren wrote: "I think there should be a test of government in order to vote, but then of course that hearkens back to the days of poll taxes and no one liked that. People will resent the fact only an elite few c..."

Yeah, which is something I don't understand. Who doesn't want to be informed on a topic? Especially one they apparently CARE about participating in!

Because we live in a republic. The natural assumption is everyone has a voice. Taking away that voice is taking away what we have deemed is a right. And everyone love their rights. Right to bear arms, right to have 12 kids...but I digress.

Informed voters would be nice, but that was the whole point of electing representatives and having an electoral college - it's not something you can count on. Further, being informed and educated doesn't necessarily mean capable of making good decisions. Congress is, presumably, well informed and educated.

I've often suggested-- only half jokingly-- that we should choose our government by lottery. Got a government issued ID? Constitutionally old enough to hold the office? You're entered in the drawing. If your name comes up, you serve.

They could just co-opt the jury duty system!

That could be potentially awesome/hilarious. I wonder if more would get done?

It would arguably be more democratic. If the state population is small enough, and its legislature large enough, you'd get a good statistical sample of the population in the legislature. Probably wouldn't work as well with a sample of 435 out of a population of 310 million, and would be worse in the Senate. Still, it's occasionally a fun position to argue.

"You're entered in the drawing. If your name comes up, you serve."

lol. But the people who don't want to serve would ruin it by doing stupid stuff on purpose.

Kira wrote: "No, I have never heard a joke in my life. I live a dull boring life under a rock. -_-"

that's what people keep telling me about my life!