Great LTE in today's Detroit Free Press
" Require testing of all elected officials
As I sat at a board of education meeting for Redford Union recently, I was told that if I didn’t like what the board was doing, elections come up every two years and to vote. As I had voted, I felt extremely miffed, because I voted based on statements made during the campaign process.
I (and other voters) have no way of knowing if a candidate has two brain cells to rub together and how ethical that candidate is.
As I sat there with those words still ringing in my ears, I thought that voters have no guarantees when they vote. There are no proficiency and ethical exams required of any candidate to assure voters that this person can think creatively and that he or she will do what is right by those who voted that person in.
I look at our elected officials in Michigan, and I see the same thing. The candidates require no qualifications. They aren’t required to get degrees in history, economics, constitutional law or, most important, ethics. The only thing they are required to have is money — money to get elected.
Why in this day and age are we attacking teachers, who are certified, when we aren’t certifying elected officials, yearly, before they are allowed to run for office?
It seems that we need to rethink the election process. Shouldn’t all elected officials have to pass proficiency and ethics tests before they run? Teachers, nurses, etc. need to pass tests; even students must pass proficiency exams to get funding. Why are we not requiring at least that of our elected officials?
XXXX, Redford"
I agree wholeheartedly.
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