Are we really a model for good democracy?

With all of the election energy flowing it is probably treacherous to ask the question John Stossel raised in his October 20/20 piece “Voting for Dummies” : Is the American public qualified to vote for a leader?

I think that the founding fathers had the right idea. There should be conditions set forth to be a voter.

As to what those conditions are….. that is for someone smarter than me to answer.

I am not doctor, lawyer or a soldier. I do not study politics. I am, by all accounts, an average person-neither exceptional nor deficient. I am an average American.

I teach high school. I see the new crop of young voters walking through my door on a daily basis. Some of these voters cannot read, pronounce the word “accepted”, or follow basic protocol for taking a 15 minute break. Some cannot even define the term “theme”. 3 out of 13 seniors know what Roe vs Wade is “about“.

Only about 80% of these seniors will go on to post-secondary education.

I am by no means passing judgement on their character. They are decent, well-intending citizens. However, I am very reluctant to throw my lot in with them. I am older, wiser, and don’t trust them to make rational decisions.

According to www.centerforpubliceducation.org (garhhh….. I cited sources) There were close to 4 million 9th graders in 1999 and of that same graduating class in 2003 only 70% remained (2.7 mil). Leaving roughly 1.3 million voters who did not finish, what we as a society considers, basic education in 2003. The Current US population is said to be around 300 million. The 2007 US census cited 222 million people over the age of 18, of which, 189 million have at least a high school diploma. Approx. 70 million just have a high school diploma. Approx. 76.7 million hold an advanced degree.

According to these figures, only 1/4 of the total population currently has an education past high school. Add to those numbers 1.3 million (and growing) high school drop-out voters each year.

I’ve said it before: We send cops to cops school. Lawyers to law school. Doctors to medical school. Soldiers to the Armed Forces. Each area has it’s own expertise. By the current model of voter rights-I should be allowed to vote on strategic maneuvers of military units. I should be allowed to directly vote for police and fire department chiefs, policies, and procedures. These are entities funded by citizens for their protection. Just like the very government we embrace.

Obviously this is a ridiculous concept….or is it?

The qualifications to vote: 1) be a citizen 2) be 18.

Our current election model assumes voters are qualified to be decision-makers.

Does anyone really believe that a 22 year old meth addict has the same voter qualification as a 45 year old librarian? Or perhaps a 18 year old fast food employee has the same understanding of domestic policy as a 65 year old business analyst. Of course not.

We are founded on a system where every citizen has a voice. What happens when the majority of voters become under-educated on the vast issues, solutions, and key considerations facing the nation?

What is the collective vote of 14 million drug users and 6 million high school drop-outs worth?

The same as 20 million teachers, firemen, lawyers, and small business owners.

Imagine this:

If we took the total number of drug users and high school drop outs it would equal the populations of:Alaska,Delaware, DC, Montana,N. Dakota,S.Dakota,Vermont,Wyoming,Hawaii,Idaho,Maine,Nebraska,Rhode Island,West Virginia, and maybe Mississippi combined. These would be state full of drug users and high school drop outs. Redistribute the numbers other places and it might look just shy of the entire state of Texas. or a little more than Florida.

Like I said; I’m just an average American. But it seems maybe I’m becoming exceptional by default.

I believe in freedom and equality, but let’s face it: some people make really, really,really bad decisions with their lives and should not be given the power to affect other peoples’ through selecting our government.