Start Cramming Now - Let's Test Everybody for Citizenship

One of the odder moments in this incessant campaign season was when John McCain's status as a real American became a question. I don't mean that anyone doubted his patriotism or citizenship or anything like that. I'm referring to the skepticism expressed over whether his birthplace (a military base in the Panama Canal zone) fulfills the U.S. Constitution's requirement that the president be a "natural-born citizen."

It would indeed be a soul-crusher for Republicans if the guy pulls an upset in November, only to be ruled ineligible come Inauguration Day. Either scenario, by the way, is highly unlikely.

In any case, conservatives want to change the Constitution (that non-living document) by adding the "Schwarzenegger amendment," so that any naturalized citizen can become president. But while they're at it, they also want to amend the Constitution so that being born in America is not sufficient for citizenship.

The thinking here is that too many pregnant Hispanic women are dragging their huge bellies across the border, just so they can spit out a little nino or nina on U.S. soil. Doing so, of course, ensures American citizenship for their offspring.

I happen to agree with these proposed changes, especially amending the Constitution so that people born in America are not automatically made U.S. citizens. In fact, my compliant with this proposal is not that it is unfair or radical, but that it doesn't go far enough.

So if we're going to do this, let's do it correctly:

Amend the Constitution so that no one can become a citizen until he/she passes a basic test. I mean nobody gets citizenship by virtue of where they're born or their parents' status. Everybody has to earn it.

This is where most conservatives pull back. They just want Diego and Maria denied rights because their parents don't speak English. They certainly aren't talking about limiting the status of their own ninth-generation offspring.

It's not just selfishness. We have this mindset that people whose roots go back farther are better Americans. But individuals whose ancestors fought at Valley Forge are not inherently more patriotic than immigrants. In fact, I would argue that people who spend time, money, and effort to study our culture -- then prove they know what they're talking about - are more committed to, and knowledgeable about our nation than the millions of Americans who slept though high school history.

To be fair, I have a bias. Several members of my family have had to pass the test. I was born here, so I didn't have to put myself on the line. But my mother, aunt, and several cousins have had to step up and say, "Hell yeah, I had to work for this." And don't we always appreciate things that we have earned more than gifts that are just handed to us?

And what's so intimidating about a basic test, anyway? I'm not talking about forcing people to answer questions like "Explain U.S. monetary policy on a macroeconomic level." The citizenship test, as I understand it, asks people things like "Why do some states have more representatives in Congress?" I find it difficult to believe that this is a harmful thing for citizens to know.

If we had informed citizens -- people who really strived to be active members of this country -- maybe America wouldn't elect leaders based on how cute they are or, Lord help us, whether the majority wanted to have an imaginary beer with them.

An objection to this idea is the status of children. Are we to educate every child with the knowledge that come adulthood, many of them will be, at best, legal residents and never become citizens? Well, that's hardly scary, because we do that now. Furthermore, I would argue for the intrinsic benefit of putting all kids on an even playing field -- one where every child is a future potential president -rather than subdividing children into "natural-born citizens" and interlopers.

So what are the objections to this idea? Are they based on the principles of fairness and history, on the norms of our culture? Or perhaps we react negatively because of fear, the itchy suspicion that many of us have no idea what all those stars and stripes on the flag actually symbolize.

Comments

[Daniel Cubias - Huffpost Blogger]

If this immodest proposal is akin to the old literacy tests for voting, then this country is more hypocritical than I thought. After all, millions of immigrants have taken these tests and continue to do so, which means that if the test is unconstitutional, we"re trampling on people"s rights every day and have no intention of fixing the situation.

So let"s assume that testing is appropriate and fair for immigrants. In that case, I don"t see why native-born people can"t handle it.

[radmul]

Perhaps while we are at it we can bring back the literacy test for voting?

[texanna]

We used to have this test, it was called the final exam for a civics course that pretty much every kid in America had to take. This course was usually taught at the sophomore or junior level of high school and has been eliminated from curricula for no known reason. It wasn't an elective, either, no, it was a required course. All I know is that I took this course and 25 years later when my kids were in high school it was not offered even as an elective! Maybe it was thought that civics and history could be combined, but that's not the case. Whatever the reason, it would be a great service to this country and its citizens if civics was put back into the core curriculum for high school students.

[NYCSocialWork]

I'm always amazed...on the way to work I regularly ride along with 2 newly citizens, one from India, the other from Haiti (my boss is also Haitian)- they are WAY more knowledgeable and better informed about our political process and history (not to mention foreign policy) than most of my friends who were born and raised here.

It just goes to show that we need BETTER EDUCATION in this country!!!!!

[riko]

First of all the question of foreign birth was settled in the late '60's when George Romney (Mitt's father) ran for president. He was born in Mexico where his parents lived by their free choice. MaCain's parents lived in Panama because of the military.

As an Army brat myself I grew up with many kids who were born in Japan, Germany et al. You would suggest we are not intitled to full citizenship?

[trishinpitt]

did you even read this article????

[Halminbar]

I understand that this modest proposal is not serious, but for those readers who actually consider the suggestion. realize that this is nothing more than a resurrection of the old-style literacy tests that potential voters in the South needed to pass before they were registered.

[Jaidit]

I know it's meant as snark, but...

Don't even go there.

I think we are smart to use both of the typical sources of citizenship: citizenship of the blood and citizenship of the soil.

Every country has a means by which people are guaranteed citizenship. No one should be at risk of being left without a country.

[Herrington]

"I know of no safe depository for the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion." ----- Thomas Jefferson 1820

[cocodee]

In the interest of education:
The number of members of the House of Representatives is determined by the population of each state. (California has the most people, therefore the most reprsentatives.)
The number of Senators is fixed at two per state.
This reflects England's House of Lords and House of Commons.
The provision to be born in the United States was important to circumvent the possibility that a person born in England would come into power and, with dual citizenship, have dual allegiance. This was a reasonable concern given the shakey ground on which the new nation stood.

[Yermammy]

Let's do it tomorrow. That would instantly disqualify half of this country. Send those to Guatemala (sorry to the Guatemalan's, I couldn't think of anyplace further away). Bring in our friends in Mexico (and Guatemala too, relax) and any other country that still believes this to be a good place to live. With all of the conservative people gone (the rich, entitled, elites who own land through inheritance and power), we can start over with human beings. I'm so tired of people in this country that think they're born better than others (racially or class wise).

Barack and Joe (for us real human beings)

[Badger84]

Daniel:

I know it isn't PC but, at this point, after listening to countless diatribes from right-wing know-nothings, I believe that Democrats would win by a landslide if we instituted literacy tests for voting.

[Alexandro]

Republicans have no intention in having decently educated citizens around them - their shady politics, questionable moral, unethical behavior and bad character would be exposed all too fast. It would be clear and they would be as much history as Kings and Queens are today.

Let's hope that all this ends on Nov 4th. - probably not all of it, but it seems to be a good start.

[tel8034]

McCain needs to take the test, because at the rate he's going in dividing the country with hate and racism, he obviously doesn't realize that the President of the United States, is the PRESIDENT OF ALL AMERICANS, and not just those Republicans who hate everyone who is non-white, is highly educated, has a world view, believes in ALL freedoms guaranteed by the constitution, and is not an evangelical.

[ToniChicago]

As a recent (white, English-speaking) naturalized American, I am here to tell you that learning the 100 civics questions that was required of me was fairly pointless. As with any other cramming, you retain it for about 48 hours, then it's gone for good. Anyone who, like me, can memorize facts and regurgitate them in a test, could pass - unless of course you only mean to target those who don't speak English as their first language?

[LoveLifeLightLaughter]

You must have taken the old test... I've read through the questions on the new test (both old and new are available till next year for those that have applied to take it), and the new test asks more "what does this mean" questions than the old test's "how many stars are on the US flag" kind of thing. I think the new test makes potential citizens try to actually retain some of what they study, because it makes them think, rather than regurgitate. Not perfect, of course, but better.

[RickO]

I'd suggest at least the test to get your voter ID. You have to pass a driving test to make sure you are not a road hazard, why not a test to ensure you are not a democracy hazard.

[Alexandro]

over half of the country would fail..... and the Republican party would be virtually wiped out over night.

[RightWingMarine]

I agree but I have my own bias. I believe that before anyone should be permitted to take the test they should put in some years of service either in the military or as a police or firefighter. Obviously the system isn't perfect as there are people with physical limitations that would prevent them from doing any service and I don't have an answer for that. But then this idea isn't likely to be implemented anyway so I'm not going to spend too much time concerning myself on how to make it fair.

[PDinCA]

Service doesn't have to be military, or even physical. How about some kind of teaching?

[MagisterLudi]

"before anyone should be permitted to take the test they should put in some years of service either in the military or as a police or firefighter."
Even old people??? mmmm... little basic thinking is in order here, don't you think?.

[RightWingMarine]

as I said the plan isn't perfect but since it is unlikely to be implemented I won't stress over it too much but if you insist. The law becomes active on Jan 1 of some future year. If a person is 18 or older on Dec 31 of the previous year then they can retain their citizenship assuming they have already attained it. For persons 17 or younger on that date they are required to put in 4 years of service in one of the three occupations I listed if they are able.

Again obviously this plan isn't perfect as immigrants coming to this country maybe too old at the outset to have the physical ability to serve or may be of a highly educated nature and it would be a detrimet to society to have this person waste time doing service, such as a research scientist. Since this plan isn't likely to be implemented I haven't bothered to come up with a solution to these problems.

[joebiz]

Baring physical limitations, how does arresting people (read: eating donuts) and putting out fires qualify one as an American?

Imagine the millions of police and firefighters taxing the public system. We would generate a totalitarian police state, a la 1984.

Let's discuss ideas that can only be implemented, 'cause they work.

[RightWingMarine]

it's not the action itself of being in any of these occupations and it wouldn't have to be a career decision just say 4 years but the act of having to make sacrifices while in this occupation. Military service isn't easy and requires large blocks of time away from home for the protection of the country. (Regardless of how anyone here views any of the wars we are fighting or have fought the explicit purpose of the military is to defend the nation. If they are used appropriately or not is a matter for another debate.) While I have never been a police officer or firefighter from what I can see they too make sacrifices to help their fellow countrymen. At the same time I believe we would all learn to have less patience with people who feel that something is owed to them for whatever reason and this would in turn create rather conservative nation which is my secret agenda. But since my plan isn't likely to be implemented I'll share it with you all here.

[FLGuardsman]

I agree. Some sort of shared sacrifice should be a requirement of citizenship. But, it is just wishfull thinking. As JFK said "Ask not what your country can do for you; but, what you can do for your country." Unfortunately, too many our "Elites" on both the Left and the Right don't or won't server their country, or let their children serve their country. Service to country doesn't have to be in a military capacity. Service could be teaching students in inner-cities, or rural remote communities. Serving as a Doctor in Remote locations, serving in the Peace Corps, Americorps, the State Department. Some type of Service, any type of Service....just put your country first, and not your own interests. (That sounds like a McCain campaign slogan)