Rep. Mary Miller ― a Republican from Illinois who once praised Adolf Hitler ― wrote, edited and ultimately deleted a social media post decrying “a Muslim” speaking in Congress.

“It’s deeply troubling that a Muslim was allowed to lead prayer in the House of Representatives this morning. This should have never been allowed to happen,” she wrote Friday. “American was founded as a Christian nation, and I believe our government should reflect that truth. May God have mercy!”

The man leading the prayer was guest chaplain Giani Singh, a follower of the Sikh faith, not Islam. Miller’s Republican colleague Rep. Jeff Van Drew (N.J.) introduced him as such on Friday.

  • wolfpack86@lemmy.world
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    14 hours ago

    I’m with you in your frustration, but this only furthers a class of elites being eligible to govern. The test needs to be at a level that anyone going through compulsory education could pass. Eg 8th grade.

    Additionally, I would do the test at candidate registration. There is no pass fail, but the electorate can decide if they’re qualified enough (as it’s the right of the electorate).

    Maybe it doesn’t fix it fully but we can directly point to who is a moron, and who voted for said morons.

    • barneypiccolo@lemm.ee
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      9 hours ago

      Valid suggestions. My suggestion was just a starting point, and yours offers some good adjustments. I worry the educational standards being different in all states may make it harder for those in some states to pass the test.

      Besides, I don’t think we want some schlub off the street that barely knows an 8th grade level of history/civics running our country. I want people who take it seriously, and have sought further knowledge, education, and insight into the government. I don’t see anything wrong with experts managing the country. Part of the problem we have now is that we have evil morons whose entire political and historical education has come from the Conservative Propaganda Machine, and believe that Intolerance is a virtue.

      I have always had a problem with the word “elites.” Somehow it has become a term of disparagement, often a dog whistle for Jews. Oxford dictionary defines it as:

      a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society.

      Isn’t that who we want running our country?