Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for October 03, 2023

That’s how the Constitution works. Congress sets the rules for citizenship naturalization. The Congress can’t change the rules for qualification for office with changing the Constitution.

I often think that people who were born here should take citizenship tests too.

That’s why we need more immigrants; to offset the ignorant citizens.

People born here take civics classes in school. Whether they learn and remember anything is doubtful. I doubt the newly appointed senator for California can pass the basic citizenship test. Yikes!

A total moron that belongs in prison, already owns his own prisoner identification number, is losing his rights to do business in NY, etc etc….. er…….nothing!

It doesn’t have to be a matter of law. A consortium of scholars and journalist could offer to stage a real-time “college bowl” for perspective candidates for offices like president and senate. Just like debates, a candidate could decline to attend. But the knowledgeable would want to show off their knowledge and therefore accept. I think the public would be interested and if the idea became entrenched, we might move to a post-moron era.

we are all being tested right now!

Most of the elected officials have not been morons until this last round. The problem is critical thinking is not taught in our schools. A third of the people are easily manipulated and follow the person making the most compelling speech. Compare the speeches made by Hitler and Trump and see how alike they are, for instance.

Must have been talking with Vivek.

“All the things I thought I knew, I’m learning again.” — Don Henley, “The Heart of the Matter”

And that, dear Pig, counts as you passing the test.

Naturalized immigrants can run for most offices.

Can be morons? I thought that was a requirement.

Do illegal immigrant need to takes tests too?

I’m afraid we’re all in the same boat, Pig.

another reason the federal govt is in a mess. Politicians would flunk the civics test because they don’t seem to realize the balance and checks system of having 3 different branches of govt and how their processes are supposed to function in set manners/timelines not run out and use the judicial system to shank legislative branch and/or executive branch immediately when something they don’t like pops up.

By having an educated electorate we were hoping to avoid electing those morons. But… the best laid plans and all that. We’ve elected only morons for the last two presidential bids

And a whole lot of them are!

i’ve had enough of Wiseass, can we have Guard Duck back please…even Mr Snuffles!

Actually, nowadays, an immigrant just has to cross the border, and they are home free: no tests, just free room and board and education for your kids, all on the U.S. Taxpayers’ dime. Shockingly, there is now forming an endless line of people eager to take advantage of this offer.

Could we just please make English the country’s official language?

Yeah, the people who were born here (and by “here” I mean practically any democracy that you choose to name) can be total morons too.

Personal magnetism can overshadow knowledge, intelligence and experience. A manipulative charmer depends on groupthink to build a loyal base that doubles down rather than admit to being misguided. It’s textbook strategy for winning regardless of party affiliation. Many (most?) voters aren’t applying critical thinking and that’s frightening.

So true.

right?

I feel that particular issue should be solved by the voters.

it feels as if I’m in Mexico

Sometimes, I wonder if we even need an electoral office at all.

Should be a language requirement too, and therefore no need to print ballots in different languages.

I hate politics is like pick your poison. All the options are bad, just choose the least bad option.

same actually… sometimes the more you know, the less you wished you didn’t want to know. :L

It IS a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world.

Me too! Especially political want to be’s.

Explains soooo much

Oh you understand.

Same deal with congressional hearings. Only the witness has to take an oath to tell the truth.

I often wonder if Biden suffer from dementia…

Is there a way to make voters and votees not be morons? Asking for a friend….

I am not confident I would have passed a citizenship test when I first voted at the age of 18. I learned more and more as I aged, and thankfully, not just about citizenship things.

Obviously, a fire alarm test is not a requirement for congress

Voters need to LISTEN to what the candidates are saying. Pay attention! More often than not, they will let us know how intelligent they are, their motivations, morals and ethics and what their intentions are and policies they support. Pick the candidates accordingly, that will help our people, economy and nation instead of sabotaging it for the sake of power.

Join the club, Pig.

good point!

Walt Kelly proposed candidates take a sanity test. We should have listened.

Hooray for Stephan! Tell it the way it is! This is a huge problem and too many are not paying attention! Thank you!

Today’s administration (or lack of) is a prime example.

At the rate politics are going today, congress needs to take a few tests

Me too pig. Me too.

When I was in 9th grade, one of my required classes was called Civics. I still remember reading the Constitution and all its Amendments and learning how each applied to current government and law. One of my favorite classes.

and yet somehow that makes sense

and yet somehow that makes sense

Back in the mid ‘50s, our Civics teacher told us to learn names, locations, and a little history of all 72 counties. She never lived up to it, but did catch a note from my honey replying to something naughty. And I’m still working on the county assignment.

Gee, this is really what we need nowadays, Pastis, More government bashing! Really unites the country-brings us together, doesn’t it?

Dear Leader Trump not only scored high on the moron scale, he retired the trophy.

This is probably a riff on Ramaswamy’s proposal to require a civics test to vote – for citizens 18-24. I’ve seen a “voting literacy” test which was nothing more than a weapon to take away voting rights. Why should we expect this time to be any different?

Not that I disagree with the “moron” part, other than that it attributes to stupidity what can better be explained by malice.

I can only assume knowledgeable was misspelled on purpose as an inside joke… or maybe an outside joke

This explains Trump and his followers!

Given what’s happening in the House of Representatives, today’s strip seems particularly appropriate.

And they ARE total morons…oh,indeedy!!

Essentially, anyone wanting to become a naturalized citizen has to know more about American history and government than the majority of Americans. No wonder some of the latter hate immigration so much. :-)

I want to join the party with the least hateful adherents…

Citizenship by birth confers infused knowledge.

On the contrary, Pig; this should help you understand where we are now in our governance….

We all need civics education. Regardless of age. And to be tested regularly.

Nicely done, Stephan!

A felon can’t vote but a felon can run for president.

In fairness, if the voters were better educated, the morons would never get elected. Unless (point 2) it’s only morons who are running for office, in which case…

“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” (HL Mencken, who would have been sad to see how true his prophecy turned out to be)

Non-immigrants can continue to be as ignorant of government structures (and why) as they want.