[DannyTN]

1) So politicians could off-shore all the jobs in my area, and disenfranchise me from voting? No thanks. You're assumption that everybody that didn't pay taxes is voluntarily out of work is not a good one. What about elderly? You're going to disenfranchise them? What about disabled veterans? You're going to disenfranchise them too?

2) Be careful what you ask for. Who makes the current events test? While the concept seems good, the devil's in the implementation. You're likely to end up with questions that have liberal talking points as answers instead of well rounded current events?

• Which party violated the Logan act and interfered with Presidential negotiations with Iran?
• Which party wants to cut food stamps?
• Which party wants to deport undocumented Mexican workers who have married American citizens and have children?
• Which President started the Iraq and Afghanistan wars?
• Which President got us out of Iraq?
• WHich President passed the Affordable Health Care Act?

  See what I mean?

[aimhigh]

2) Be careful what you ask for. Who makes the current events test?

From the Democrats, I'd expect questions like:

1. What are Kim Kardassian's hip measurements?
2. Who much money do the stars on Big Bang make each episode?
3. What religion does Tom Cruise belong to?
4. Who was the last Bachelorette?

[econjack]

I’m elderly and I still pay taxes, both on SS and earned income. I’m not sure about the tax status of disability benefits. As to the current events tests, what I was really looking for is what the current batch of candidates stand for...what’s their stance on issues of the day. I don’t know who would make up the questions, but I guess it would be some bi-partisan group. Regardless, I’m hard-pressed to understand why my tax dollars are used to buy cell phones for people, unless it’s to buy votes. The recipients’ extent of knowledge often seems to be: “Who do I get the most free stuff from?” and politicians behave accordingly.

As to the income restriction, maybe we draw on Neal Bortz idea that everyone gets one vote, but for every $10K you pay in taxes, you get another vote, up to a max of, say, 5 votes. The Constitution originally restricted voting to property owners, mainly because of vested rights. I’m not as sure as you that they were wrong.