[quote=markmax33]……Any president should be required to have spent 20 years studying economics before they can be elected. If they couldn’t predict economic trends they shouldn’t be allowed to run after the 20 years.[/quote]
Hey, markmax, i appreciate the sentiment, but be reasonable: today’s *economists* don’t appear to be able to predict economic trends.
I definitely agree that presidential candidates should possess certain levels of essential knowledge, including economics. But it’s becoming increasingly clear that for many individuals the point of attending college is the degree and not the actual education. It’s gotten to the point that people actually appear to believe that the conferring of a degree is synonymous with the learning of the course material and the ability to apply it to real-life challenges and situations. That it’s not necessary to actually learn the material because at the moment the dean hands you the diploma, all of the knowledge implied by the degree is magically transferred into your brain.
Yeah, sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it. In fact, it sounds exactly like the logic behind……No Child Left Behind!
Now what I suggest as a way to ensure good quality presidential candidates (in fact, lets throw Congressional candidates in there, too) is to create a Candidates Certification Exam. It should have questions (no multiple choice) on U.S. and world history, economics, finance, foreign relations, and other topics essential for those who have the safety and security and the future of our nation under their control, and it should be given over a five-day period. The test will not be a simple regurgitation of memorized facts, but will included questions that require application of knowledge to particular circumstances and situations.
Candidates do not need to possess a degree or attend classes as a prerequisite to sitting for the exam. However, they do need to achieve a 98% correct rate if they wish to run for office.
If they do not, they can choose to take the test one additional time. However, completion of 60 credits of college senior-level work on test topics with a 3.5 GPA is required before doing so. Once again, a minimum of 98% correct is required.
To those who believe that the rigor of the test will unfairly eliminate a significant portion of the population, I ask how many people have you met, or do you encounter in your daily life, to whom you would entrust the safety and security of the U.S.?
Of course, it will never happen. Look at who’s responsible for making the laws.
