Should Elected Officials be Required to take Standardized Tests?

A well designed test, or series of tests, could give us an indicator if we are dealing with a mediocre mind with a god complex or an honest, intelligent leader with vision who can understand complex situations and work to deliver real solutions. We have many examples of standardized tests and evaluations to start from, such as SAT, ACT, GRE, IQ Test, EQ Test, and Myers Briggs Type indicator.



It seems in this day in age, anyone with the financial backing and a shrewd marketing team can take a shot at office, yet we have no quantitative measurement for their ability to understand complex social, economic, and environmental problems and negotiate solutions. To make them feel comfortable, we can even call it a 'profile evaluation' instead of a test--there are no right or wrong answers, just 'suggestions.' "Your profile is below average intelligence, below average character, and below average work ethic. Perhaps you should consider selling snake oil instead of running for president."Should Elected Officials be Required to take Standardized Tests?Absolutely, I agree with you completely. Politicans are supposed to give up their lives completely for their people and be willing to lay down their lives for the continuation of freedom and justice. That is what leaders do.Should Elected Officials be Required to take Standardized Tests?
i remember when standardized tests became mandatory in private schools and my town lost the greatest teacher because she taught and loved our children as if they were her own but she couldn't pass that government test.

i'll take a great person who delivers the goods

over anyone else who is just a good test taker any old day.Should Elected Officials be Required to take Standardized Tests?sure why notShould Elected Officials be Required to take Standardized Tests?
Candidates must be tested for honesty, leadership and intelligence in order that people will choose whom they want.Should Elected Officials be Required to take Standardized Tests?There are too many variables. First of all, who would create the standardized test? Neither party would come to a consensus. Many of the "issues" that are debated are more for low-brow attention and don't actually reflect what type of leader the individual would be. For example, why are people flipping out because Romney changed his stance on abortion? Who cares????? What Romney would do in response to a terrorist attack, an oil shortage, a natural disaster, etc. is far more important. And like we learned with Bush, you won't really know the answer until he is faced with the situation.



Also, I don't think the qualities of a good leader can necessarily be quantified. Good leaders have to have a combination of talent and skills which can't all be put down on paper. We get screwed because there are rarely good leaders to choose from in either political party.Should Elected Officials be Required to take Standardized Tests?
Only the ones who voted for "No Child Left Behind" should be forced to take standardized tests.