We Need A Civics Test

Here's what it might look like

When you look at American politics, you’ll notice that there are a few smart people on either side who agree on the basic facts, with everyone else basically being a hyper-partisan populist moron. Bentham refers to the good group as the “Lives In Reality Caucus”.

The country would be much better off if we could handicap the idiots and empower the people living in reality. I think the best way to quickly do that is to implement a civics test that you have to pass in order to vote.

Now, you’re probably thinking that I’m some racist trying to keep black people from voting, because that is definitely what the civics test used to do. But that’s not my goal at all. My goal is to keep idiots from voting. I couldn’t care less if you're white, black, brown, or pink. If you’re an idiot, I don’t want you to fuck things up for the rest of us.

You might also be thinking that it’s not fair to disenfranchise people on the basis of being stupid. We are a democracy, after all? To that I will retort that we already restrict voting to people over 18, and we do that because it’s a very important act that can really change the trajectory of the country. If we don’t trust a 17 year old to vote, why should we trust someone who can’t pass a basic civics test?

So, here is my proposed test.

1. Can you yell fire in a crowded theater?

2. Is hate speech protected?

3. How does rent control affect the price of housing?

4. Do imports lower GDP?

If you can’t answer these questions, then you have no business voting.