TEST THE CANDIDATES: spot the numbskulls

Here we are justdays before the presidential election and we still can't adequately compare the candidates But there is a way to add very materially to our knowledge.  Require standardized testing of every person who running for public office. Require each and every one of them to take standardized tests on subjects such as: the U.S. Constitution, Federal law, American history, basic economics and climate science. Then grade their tests and publish each and every one of their scores. 

Before being allowed again run for President, for example, Trump would have had to take this test battery and have his scores made public knowledge. Kamala too would have had to take them and have her scores reported. Hopefully, performing badly on these tests would help eliminate ignorant blowhards and garden variety numbskulls from the list of candidates. 

We could employ a professional testing corporation such as the Educational Testing Service to devise these tests. It's fun to imagine possible questions. Here's a few that I would like asked:

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Given an enormous federal budget deficit, which of the following would be best?

a. borrow still more money 

b. cut taxes for the middle class 

c. cut taxes for the super rich 

d. spend only what is taken in 

2. If an attractive female intern offers oral sex, a male public official should: 

a. quickly agree before she changes her mind 

b. make sure she doesn't keep the dress afterwards

c. politely decline 

d. ask her what she means by "sex." 

3. Should our schools decide to emphasize “good character,” the best person to exemplify good character would be: 

a. J. Edgar Hoover 

b. Richard Nixon 

c. Bill Clinton 

d. none of the above 

4. If a terrorist attack on the U.S. originates in country A, the best U.S. course of action would be to: 

a. turn the other cheek 

b. invade country C 

c. invade country B 

d. none of the above

5. The Second Amendment is predicated on the necessity of :

a. self-defense

b. maintaining a well-regulated militia

c. preserving a viable small arms industry

d. none of the above 

TRUE FALSE:

6. With the exception of James Buchanan, every U. S. President played par golf

7.  Mexico is actually paying for "the wall," but in small, secret installments

8.   James Madison, the man behind the US Constitution, barred any and all Christian elements from that document.

9.  During the Trump administration, Denmark really did have Greenland up for sale

 

10. The Bill of Rights contains a total of 12 Constitutional amendments

We might also want to test all potential appointees to key administrative offices. Secretary of Agriculture or the Treasury, for example. The tests would be keyed to their anticipated areas of responsibility. For instance, every aspiring state Secretary of Education would have to pass the same battery of tests required of aspiring teachers. 

If we use Pennsylvania as a model, for example, the candidate would have to pass separate NTE tests in Reading, Writing, Listening Skills, Mathematics and Principles of Teaching and Learning. We might also want to add a content specialty test in their college major -- aspiring secondary educators have to take one of these. We could even also require standardized tests in Elementary Education Content and Curriculum. After all, officials in the Department of Education tell teachers at every level what to do. 

Some wannabe chief state school officers could not pass such examinations, because they are politically connected B.S. artists, not professionally trained educators. They would be disqualified. A change that  would be most welcome.   

Of course, in any test of aspiring politicians or potential office holders, cheating will be an especially significant problem. Safeguards are absolutely required. At a minimum we must have different forms of the test in order to eliminate would-be candidates from copying each other's work. We also must put the tests under the tightest possible pre-use security.  Remember we're usually dealing with would-be politicians and their minions!

That, in broad outline, is the plan. But it needs filling in. That’s where you can help. Tell us what you think. Should aspirants for and holders of public office be required to take pass standardized content area tests? If so should we also measure wisdom, rectitude, practical knowledge, educational expertise, sexual predilictions, or what? Additionally, should we test just once, or test longitudinally every year that the person is in office? (Longitudinal testing has the obvious advantage of measuring whether or not the subject is learning while “serving.”) 

 You might like to suggest specific test items. They need not be multiple choice or true/false as exemplified in this commentary. Any type of questions typically found on standardized tests are welcome. Short answer, etc, Rush your comments and suggestions to the Worm Turns Foundation. org, or post them here. 

 To examine like issues, see articles at www.newfoundations.com