If you want to drive, you must pass a test proving you are capable and know the rules of the road.
If you want to be a teacher, a lawyer, a doctor, a firefighter, a police officer, etc., you must have the qualifications for the job and the credentials showing your training and education.
There are only three requirements to be president of the United States: You must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, you must be at least 35 years of age and you must have lived in the U.S. for 14 years.
Where are the qualifications and credentials for the most important job in the U.S.?
It would take a constitutional amendment to change the process to require verifiable qualifications, which could lead to a slippery slope away from the democratic process.
However, it could be worth consideration, since the current, seriously flawed process has produced Donald Trump as a major-party nominee for the office.
Beth Addison
Portland
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