Should a functional literacy test be mandatory to earn the right to vote?

[Machjo]

Perhaps with the exception of those who are medically incapable of acquiring it, should proven literacy be a requirement to earn the right to vote?

In exchange for that, I'd even be willing to reduce the voting age to fifteen, but maybe raise the age to be elected to 21, and even extend the vote to any resident of Canada but in all cases, make proven literacy a requirement except for valid reason. Is functional literacy really too much to ask?

The literacy test could also test the ability to identify logical fallacies, such as ad hominems, non-sequiturs, circular reasoning, etc.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

No, that's a can of maggots you don't want to open. Functional illiteracy doesn't mean stupid, or uninformed, or incapable of having legitimate political opinions, and your last point would disqualify almost everybody. And who's going to pay for devising, administering, and grading these tests, and telling people who fail them that they can't vote? I don't think we want to go there. Besides, anything that has to be earned isn't a right.

 

[WLDB]

In exchange for that, I'd even be willing to reduce the voting age to fifteen, but maybe raise the age to be elected to 21, and even extend the vote to any resident of Canada but in all cases, make proven literacy a requirement except for valid reason. Is functional literacy really too much to ask?

That seems a bit arbitrary. All adult Canadian citizens who havent committed a crime should have the same rights. And really do you think totally illiterate people vote very often? You kind of have to be able to read to know where to mark the ballot in the first place.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Absolutely. It worked so well in the American South!

 

[SLM]

Perhaps with the exception of those who are medically incapable of acquiring it, should proven literacy be a requirement to earn the right to vote?

In exchange for that, I'd even be willing to reduce the voting age to fifteen, but maybe raise the age to be elected to 21, and even extend the vote to any resident of Canada but in all cases, make proven literacy a requirement except for valid reason. Is functional literacy really too much to ask?

The literacy test could also test the ability to identify logical fallacies, such as ad hominems, non-sequiturs, circular reasoning, etc.

Setting aside how one can even earn a right (a right by definition is not something that is earned but is bestowed/granted).....this is not the way to clean up politics or the discourse surrounding it. Don't begin by trying to fix something that isn't broken, instead don't let the status quo lead the way. Fight against that.

Complacency is far more problematic than literacy of the voting public.

 

[DaSleeper]

That seems a bit arbitrary. All adult Canadian citizens who havent committed a crime should have the same rights. And really do you think totally illiterate people vote very often? You kind of have to be able to read to know where to mark the ballot in the first place.

Huh?
Haven't you heard?, people in jail are allowed to vote, and I'm sure they must have committed some crime.

 

[WLDB]

Huh?
Haven't you heard?, people in jail are allowed to vote, and I'm sure they must have committed some crime.

Indeed, but they did lose a number of other rights as a result of committing a crime. Freedom being a big one.

 

[tay]

Perhaps with the exception of those who are medically incapable of acquiring it, should proven literacy be a requirement to earn the right to vote?

In exchange for that, I'd even be willing to reduce the voting age to fifteen, but maybe raise the age to be elected to 21, and even extend the vote to any resident of Canada but in all cases, make proven literacy a requirement except for valid reason. Is functional literacy really too much to ask?

The literacy test could also test the ability to identify logical fallacies, such as ad hominems, non-sequiturs, circular reasoning, etc.

I think you answered that question in this post........






http://forums.canadiancontent.net/canadian-politics/136434-i-dint-want-vote-anymore-new-post.html

 

[Corduroy]

If this literacy test requires a meta-understanding of argumentation, you could at the very least support your suggestion with some of your own reasoning. Why should the right to vote require a literacy test, Machjo?

 

[Machjo]

If this literacy test requires a meta-understanding of argumentation, you could at the very least support your suggestion with some of your own reasoning. Why should the right to vote require a literacy test, Machjo?

How can a functionally illiterate person be effectively informed as to public policy?

Okay, I grant that a functional illiterate might be highly intelligent in other ways, and a functional literate can be an idiot. I guess it's more a show of my frustration with the hyper partisan system in Canada today.

 

[Sons of Liberty]

How can a functionally illiterate person be effectively informed as to public policy?

There is more to being a citizen of a country than just "comprehending" public policies. You seem to forget politicians are voted in to serve the people, you're searching for a counter balance to oversee the overseers.

 

[damngrumpy]

The first voting rights came about in an era when most could not read and write.
Voting is aright of every citizen regardless of stature.
As for people in jail Yes they should have the right to vote and that right needs to
be maintained. People in prison need to kept close to fitting back into the society.
A person in prison has not given up their constitutional rights. Those in prison are
by definition of law still citizens. They are being punished not disowned.
As a citizen every citizen has the right to vote

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

How can a functionally illiterate person be effectively informed as to public policy?

Okay, I grant that a functional illiterate might be highly intelligent in other ways, and a functional literate can be an idiot. I guess it's more a show of my frustration with the hyper partisan system in Canada today.

With the internet and audio/video media, literacy is probably less important for becoming informed on issues and policies than it has been in several centuries.

You're on the slippery slope of deciding who's "worthy" of the franchise. Nothing good down that path.

 

[Corduroy]

How can a functionally illiterate person be effectively informed as to public policy?

Sound?

But that argument relies on a premise you haven't established. How is your right to vote dependent on how informed you are of public policy?

Presumably the right to vote relies on the principle that everyone has a certain autonomy within the society that affects their lives and so should have a say in how that society is managed. It's in the interests of that society that those with influence be intelligent and informed but does that overrule the natural right of society members to have a say in it? Seems like voting is an individual right and informing voters is a social responsibility.

To make your point I think you'd have to reconcile those two ideas or challenge the principle of people having the right to participate in the decision making of their society. At which point, you're no longer talking about democracy.

 

[Kreskin]

To have the right to vote musical literacy should be mandatory. If you can't sight read you're SOL.

 

[gerryh]

Perhaps with the exception of those who are medically incapable of acquiring it, should proven literacy be a requirement to earn the right to vote?

In exchange for that, I'd even be willing to reduce the voting age to fifteen, but maybe raise the age to be elected to 21, and even extend the vote to any resident of Canada but in all cases, make proven literacy a requirement except for valid reason. Is functional literacy really too much to ask?

The literacy test could also test the ability to identify logical fallacies, such as ad hominems, non-sequiturs, circular reasoning, etc.

I'm glad to see you have disqualified yourself from the voting rolls. It is one small thing off of my mind because the idea of you being able to vote and possibly change public policy in Canada has had me worried.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

To have the right to vote musical literacy should be mandatory. If you can't sight read you're SOL.

Complete crap. To have the right to vote, you should have to prove you can knit! Knitting provides all the necessary skills for intelligent exercise of the franchise.

 

[JamesBondo]

This must be a leftard socialist idea. I totally disagree with this idea.

If a blind person can vote, so can an illiterate person vote.

Clearly you are trying to spin this issue into something that it is not.

 

[Machjo]

This must be a leftard socialist idea. I totally disagree with this idea.

If a blind person can vote, so can an illiterate person vote.

Clearly you are trying to spin this issue into something that it is not.

I was just frustrated with all the mindless partisanship. Even I disagree with my OP. It's just my venting thread. And though ai used to consider myself more left-leaning, I now realism that I was just confusing the left with social libertarianism. Though the two aren't necessarily incompatible, neither are conservatism and social libertarianism.

 

[Ludlow]

only mensa members should be allowed to vote. Those on the lower rungs of the ideal societal order need not contaminate the process with their ignorance.

oh wait this in Canadian politics. never mind