ROTHENBURGER – Should politicians have to take a test before they run?
(Image: CFJC Today)
WE SET VERY FEW standards for politicians in this country. Intelligence, for example, has never been a requirement for holding office. It’s part of democracy.
We can all think of examples when politicians have demonstrated a lack of cognitive ability — or, at least, wisdom — but there are certainly other factors in what makes someone fit for office.
To legally operate a motor vehicle, we must pass a test. We have to know the rules of the road and driving basics.
A test is also required to become a Canadian citizen. It’s often said new Canadians know more about the country than those who were born here.
To apply for a civil service job you must be tested. To sell mutual funds, you have to be certified. To jump out of an airplane, you need basic training. To practice law, you have to pass a bar exam.
Politicians, though, don’t have to do anything to prove they’re worthy of holding office, and sometimes spend most of their time after election proving they should never have been entrusted with the public’s business.
So, is there a better way?
Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Oompa Loompa doompadee doo
I’ve got another Council foible for you
Oompa Loompa doompadah dee
If you are wise you’ll listen to me
What do you get from a glut of Kamloops councillorees?
A pain in the neck and an IQ of three
Why don’t you try simply reading a book?
Or could you just not bear to look (at the email Reid sent you without a third party moderator)?
You’ll get no
You’ll get no
You’ll get no
You’ll get no
You’ll get no value for your tax dollar
Oompa Loompa Doompadee Dah
If you’re like reading FOI requests you will go far
You will live in happiness too
Like the Oompa
Oompa Loompa doompadee do!
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Out of 6 Renee is on the right track
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Lets change the first past the past electoral system for mayor in KAMLOOPS and apply the Single Transferable Vote.
I would splitting the vote would be a thing of the past.
As for a test there should be a mandatory drug test for all candidates who seek to run for office. At least that way you have a base line to see who’s under the influence when decisions are made.
Building overpass when a marked and control pedestrian intersection is steps away.
Cooper
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If you owned a company and wanted someone to run it, you would not just hire a guy off the street. You would draw up a job description which included qualifications as in education and experience. I do not for the life of me understand why that same thing doesn’t apply to politics look at Trump in the United States an absolute disaster, and here in Kamloops we have our new mayor who probably has some good intentions, but did not have an iota of background to be on counsel. At a bare minimum, the mayor should have held a council seat before being eligible to run for mayor.
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“What’s the difference between a treatment centre and a concentration camp?
a) One is good, one is very, very bad.”
I’m sorry, but before answering that, I think we should define the various connective relationships here, and eventually send the question to committee, so it can die an ignominious death on page 32 of the local newspaper … all say yay???
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I would fully support a proposal to have a test for politicians. However the test shouldn’t be written by conformists.
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Mel, I’m not sure there’s a better way. Lord knows I wish there were.
Looking at this council of lip flappers, one is immediately struck with the curious sight of a council releasing statements to the media that they are doing work. “Trust us, we are doing work.”. We gave the green light to a $100K temporary stage. We gave the green light to a million dollar pedestrian overpass that is only steps away from a perfectly functioning crosswalk.
I would put to the council and fine taxpayers of this city, that a council that is legitimately busy and doing work doesn’t have the time or the need to make statements to the media that they are busy and doing work. How many meetings did it take for them to draft this ridiculous PR attempt?
This has to be one of the most useless, embarrassing, shameful and unprofessional group of individuals to ever form a municipal government. I mean, this group is *really* special. Likely historically special.
Calling this a high school circus would be giving too much credit. This is a kindergarten and daycare operation. Delicate CAO must have supervised meetings with the mayor, must have emails vetted by a third party – another waste of taxpayer dollars. The mediator could be doing something better with their time, like doing actual work for the taxpayers of this community.
Mel, if we can’t kick these Oompaloompas out on their butts, maybe we can get you in there as a highly paid consultant to clean up shop?
Let’s strike a committee and discuss in 6 month?
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Yes, 100%.
Plus a Polygraph Exam to show their intent.
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