Should the US implement a formal education requirement for congress?

[phk]

Some countries mandate a college bachelors degree minimum to run for parliament. Should the US adopt this formally?

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

No.

[Franzl]

Absolutely not, the whole point of representative democracy is to allow citizens to choose whichever person they consider best to be their representatives in Congress/Parliament/whatever.

Adding any requirement (beyond age perhaps....although even that I don't think is necessary) is a very bad idea.

[TheGreatOne]

At the minimum. 

[Хahar 🤔]

Funny how I'm the only one who voted No.

[Thomas D]

No.

[Free Palestine]

No (not an elitist)

[Zarn]

No!

No age requirement, either.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Absolutely not, the whole point of representative democracy is to allow citizens to choose whichever person they consider best to be their representatives in Congress/Parliament/whatever.

Adding any requirement (beyond age perhaps....although even that I don't think is necessary) is a very bad idea.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Absolutely not, the whole point of representative democracy is to allow citizens to choose whichever person they consider best to be their representatives in Congress/Parliament/whatever.

Adding any requirement (beyond age perhaps....although even that I don't think is necessary) is a very bad idea.

[fezzyfestoon]

Well, that wouldn't be very representative of the nation now would it?

[Sewer]

no

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I don't think we'd want to keep Bill Gates out of Congress on a technicality if he ever decided to run.  It's bad enough that so many of our Congresscritters are lawyers.

[Lief 🗽]

At the minimum. 

Yes, very true. Ideally all our representatives would be at least Masters but probably PhD-holding academics in various pertinent fields (economics, sociology, law, public health, etc.).

[Free Palestine]

At the minimum. 

Yes, very true. Ideally all our representatives would be at least Masters but probably PhD-holding academics in various pertinent fields (economics, sociology, law, public health, etc.).

Well, you've proven to be very predictable.

[Lief 🗽]

At the minimum. 

Yes, very true. Ideally all our representatives would be at least Masters but probably PhD-holding academics in various pertinent fields (economics, sociology, law, public health, etc.).

Well, you've proven to be very predictable.

Yes, I think it's important that the people writing our laws know what they're doing.

[Zarn]

At the minimum. 

Yes, very true. Ideally all our representatives would be at least Masters but probably PhD-holding academics in various pertinent fields (economics, sociology, law, public health, etc.).

Well, you've proven to be very predictable.

Yes, I think it's important that the people writing our laws know what they're doing.

That doesn't mean that they know what they are doing. You have to listen to what the person is saying.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Most people with Doctorates would rather attempt a little self-treppaning than run for office let alone take up formal leadership roles. You don't devote years and years to postgraduate study if you have any serious intention of climbing the greasy pole.

---

As to the question-as-posed... of course not. Implementing such qualifications is merely a way of making sure that politics remains the preserve of the 'right sort' of people. Speaking, you know, as someone with a degree and thus (presumably) the 'right sort' of person. Educational snobbery is disgusting and stupid.

[fezzyfestoon]

Yes, I think it's important that the people writing our laws know what they're doing.

So only the rich can represent us?

[Free Palestine]

At the minimum. 

Yes, very true. Ideally all our representatives would be at least Masters but probably PhD-holding academics in various pertinent fields (economics, sociology, law, public health, etc.).

Well, you've proven to be very predictable.

Yes, I think it's important that the people writing our laws know what they're doing.

You don't need a Bachelor's district to vote based on the best interests of your district.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

No - there are plenty of smart people who didn't go to college.  And honestly, how many people who didn't go to college have recently gotten elected?

[TheGreatOne]

I don't think we'd want to keep Bill Gates out of Congress on a technicality if he ever decided to run.  It's bad enough that so many of our Congresscritters are lawyers.

I got my bachelors in two years.  I don't think Bill Gates will have a problem. 

[TheGreatOne]

Yes, I think it's important that the people writing our laws know what they're doing.

So only the rich can represent us?

Are the rich the only ones who can go to college?  I missing something here.  Surely your not saying that a person can't take out a loan and go to college?

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Yes, I think it's important that the people writing our laws know what they're doing.

So only the rich can represent us?

Are the rich the only ones who can go to college?  I missing something here.  Surely your not saying that a person can't take out a loan and go to college?

Why should a person have to take out a loan and go to college just to represent the interests of the people in Congress?

There are already too many people who go into debt going to college just because that's what they think society expects of them.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Yes, I think it's important that the people writing our laws know what they're doing.

So only the rich can represent us?

Are the rich the only ones who can go to college?  I missing something here.  Surely your not saying that a person can't take out a loan and go to college?

Honestly, I think it's insulting to a lot of people who don't go to college that there's somehow shame in not going to college.  There are plenty of people who don't go to college that still lead very productive working lives.