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Hi Life,
That's easy, every state has 2 senators. Massachusetts has Ted Kennedy and John Kerry. I'm a fellow poli sci grad as well. Go ahead, try to stump me!
However, I would have to disagree with your analysis of stupid people voting. Any form of poll testing would be either intentionally or unintentionally a form of segregation, especially in urban areas. Generally minority and lower income schools do not fare as well as the typical middle and upper class schools. Schools in lower class neighborhoods do not perform as well as their middle and upper class counterparts. Since there is an overwhelming minority population in lower income schools, you could draw the conclusion that since minority schools do not perform as well, their students do not know as much. It would then be descrimination and segregation to bring back poll tests because minorities would have trouble passing them.
Any person, stupid or smart, should have the right to vote. Yes I have worked in retail and I am quite familiar with what you are describing. I'm not relying on some of the "morons" to do my taxes or perform a medical procedure. I assure you though, just because someone doesn't seem educated, doesn't mean they are not as up to date or involved as you think.
Take for instance the Civil Rights movement. How many of the protester and marchers from the South could have named their senators? Probably not many, considering they came from poor, segregated schools. Even though they didn't have a first rate, or even second rate education, they were still able to determine that an injustice had been done to them and they took action. People have an inherent sense of when their rights are infringed upon.
Let me ask you a question. Say that there was a poll test implemented, and 50% of registered voters didn't pass it and were unable to vote. Do you think it would be fair to continue to tax them without proper representation? How about change some social policy that effects the nation as a whole? Or better yet, let's start a draft and send everyone, if you can vote or not, off to war. Doesn't seem fair does it? Anyone that meets the basic age requirements should be able to vote freely and express their choice under any circumstances.
"No taxation without representation." I'll agree with you, if you can't pass a test you can't vote. But I won't expect those being denied to vote to obey the laws or pay any taxes.
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