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ORIGINAL: ThatDamnedPanda
You know, if conservatives really want to require people to pass an intelligence test in order to be eligible to vote, I say go ahead - make my day. Goodbye Tea Party, hello 3 generations of unopposed Democratic governance.

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ORIGINAL: jlf1961

former Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo. said in his speech to the Tea Party Convention that President Obama won because "we do not have a civics, literacy test before people can vote."

He continued to say, "People who could not even spell the word 'vote' or say it in English put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House."

The literacy tests of which he spoke about during his speech this week were actually once used in our country's history in South to prevent blacks from voting.

The problem with such tests are that they are illegal in the US, and most adults could not pass them given the lack in depth civics courses in the American school system.

All in all, he was applauded for his comments which have racial overtones in American history, as recent as 1965 in fact.

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

What I mean is that there are a lot of people that never learned to read that still have enough brains to be able to vote in a coherent enough manner so as not to deny them the franchise... that's all...

example... some people have learning disabilities... this does not mean that they are cognitively so regressed as to be considered intellectually disabled....

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ORIGINAL: servantforuse

I think a test like that would be a good thing. If more voters knew how to read, McCain / Palin would be in office right now.

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unny but to become a naturalized citizen of the United States you must be able to speak English and pass a civics test...should not natural born citizens be required to as well?

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

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unny but to become a naturalized citizen of the United States you must be able to speak English and pass a civics test...should not natural born citizens be required to as well?

And what? Deport them if they can't pass? To where?

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

Hell, half the freshmen in college don't have a good command of English.

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ORIGINAL: servantforuse

I think a test like that would be a good thing. If more voters knew how to read, McCain / Palin would be in office right now.

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ORIGINAL: kdsub

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

What I mean is that there are a lot of people that never learned to read that still have enough brains to be able to vote in a coherent enough manner so as not to deny them the franchise... that's all...

example... some people have learning disabilities... this does not mean that they are cognitively so regressed as to be considered intellectually disabled....

Then why do we require immigrants who want to become voting citizens learn to read and write English and take a civics test?

Where I worked we required every new worker to take and pass a CDL- A test within 6 months before they could become full time employees. Some could not read so we provided them an employee to help them with study time and set up a verbal test with the state agency. There were no problems at all.

We also did our best to make adjustments that allowed the partially disabled to perform duties by modifying equipment… They make excellent employees and are usually quick learners. No problem at all

Just because some cannot read, or is disabled, does not mean they can’t, with help, pass a civics test.

Now I am not advocating this but it is not a racists comment in my opinion anyway and that is the only reason I commented in the first place… Just not realistic or practical… And I really do not like the Tea Beggars movement.

Butch

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Statistics indicating that the problem of illiteracy is lessening mask a greater problem--that of functional illiteracy. Functional illiterates may have some reading and writing skills but are not able to apply them as functioning members of society. A 1975 study using the most sophisticated instrument that had ever been used to determine illiteracy in the United States adult population indicated that 16% of white, 44% of black, and 56% of Spanish-speaking adults in the United States were unable to write a check, address an envelope, or calculate the amount of change they should receive from a purchase with a 20-dollar bill. Parents and students blame the educational system for this failure while educators blame the students themselves. Researchers contend that children are watching too much television and not reading enough. The cost of functional illiteracy to the national economy in decreased productivity and in social welfare expenses is estimated at six billion dollars a year, but it is difficult to determine how many aspects of economic life are linked, directly or indirectly, to functional illiteracy. A number of federal and state funded programs such as Title I and Right to Read have been initiated along with basic adult education and literacy training by employers. In addition, private organizations are working to stem the tide of functional illiteracy in the United States. (HTH)

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In the United States, according to Business magazine, an estimated 15 million functionally illiterate adults held jobs at the beginning of the 21st century. The American Council of Life Insurers reported that 75% of the Fortune 500 companies provide some level of remedial training for their workers. All over the U.S.A. 30 million (14% of adults) are unable to perform simple and everyday literacy activities.[1]

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

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ORIGINAL: kdsub

quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

What I mean is that there are a lot of people that never learned to read that still have enough brains to be able to vote in a coherent enough manner so as not to deny them the franchise... that's all...

example... some people have learning disabilities... this does not mean that they are cognitively so regressed as to be considered intellectually disabled....

Then why do we require immigrants who want to become voting citizens learn to read and write English and take a civics test?

Where I worked we required every new worker to take and pass a CDL- A test within 6 months before they could become full time employees. Some could not read so we provided them an employee to help them with study time and set up a verbal test with the state agency. There were no problems at all.

We also did our best to make adjustments that allowed the partially disabled to perform duties by modifying equipment… They make excellent employees and are usually quick learners. No problem at all

Just because some cannot read, or is disabled, does not mean they can’t, with help, pass a civics test.

Now I am not advocating this but it is not a racists comment in my opinion anyway and that is the only reason I commented in the first place… Just not realistic or practical… And I really do not like the Tea Beggars movement.

Butch

You do realize we have millions of functionally illiterate folks in this country

Found this link that broke it down by race in 1975... long ago, but still proportionately minorities still suffer from from functional illiteracy

quote:

Statistics indicating that the problem of illiteracy is lessening mask a greater problem--that of functional illiteracy. Functional illiterates may have some reading and writing skills but are not able to apply them as functioning members of society. A 1975 study using the most sophisticated instrument that had ever been used to determine illiteracy in the United States adult population indicated that 16% of white, 44% of black, and 56% of Spanish-speaking adults in the United States were unable to write a check, address an envelope, or calculate the amount of change they should receive from a purchase with a 20-dollar bill. Parents and students blame the educational system for this failure while educators blame the students themselves. Researchers contend that children are watching too much television and not reading enough. The cost of functional illiteracy to the national economy in decreased productivity and in social welfare expenses is estimated at six billion dollars a year, but it is difficult to determine how many aspects of economic life are linked, directly or indirectly, to functional illiteracy. A number of federal and state funded programs such as Title I and Right to Read have been initiated along with basic adult education and literacy training by employers. In addition, private organizations are working to stem the tide of functional illiteracy in the United States. (HTH)

http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED224030&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED224030

Then there is this

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In the United States, according to Business magazine, an estimated 15 million functionally illiterate adults held jobs at the beginning of the 21st century. The American Council of Life Insurers reported that 75% of the Fortune 500 companies provide some level of remedial training for their workers. All over the U.S.A. 30 million (14% of adults) are unable to perform simple and everyday literacy activities.[1]

Here is the thing, just because someone cannot read or write they still deserve the same shot at self determination that the rest of us have... they still pay their taxes and they still deserve representation... if not then this isn't America anymore

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Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, but since you've changed your avatar, I'm having difficulties maintaining focus on what's written in your posts.

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

So what are you saying, I should shy away from this look when presenting professional papers at academic conferences?

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ORIGINAL: Sanity


Not everyone watches tv all day, jlf.

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ORIGINAL: jlf1961

Here is your link, as you requested Full Article

Considering how well the statements were covered on cspan, and have brought up discussions on some of the news networks, I really didnt think anyone would have actually missed it.