License to vote? Here's a ballot in favor

Here's an idea whose time has come: a license to vote. After all, you need to pass a test to demonstrate that you have achieved some level of competence in order to obtain a driver's license (although in Arizona this is debatable), so it only seems logical that in order to weigh in on the critical issue of who should be allowed to govern, the same rules should apply.

At the very least, you should be able to name at least three candidates, their party affiliations and know something about their stand on the issues. Anything less and you should leave the voting to someone else.

It occurred to me that a license to vote might be more relevant than a voter registration card, something that allows you to vote, prepared or not. Anyone can stumble into a voting booth armed with their ID, a pen and a dazed expression. This usually indicates they have no idea who the candidates are or what they stand for, but they consider it their patriotic duty to vote. Yes, you too can cast your vote for the next leader of the free world, mayor, member of Congress, and so on, as long as you are at least 18 and have the ability to mark a ballot - a complicated task that involves drawing a line next to the candidate's name. Unlike high school, there are no penalties for wrong answers. You just have to live with the consequences for two to six years. Sometimes, it seems like a lifetime ( George Bush - 'nuff said).

People have given me a variety of reasons for supporting candidates over the years - most of them based on superficial assumptions rather than facts, logic and knowledge of issues. My choices are not influenced by advice from my friends, family, neighbors, the preferences of my cat, the voices in my head, activists screaming in my ear or campaign literature which is often long on distortions and short on facts. Reasons for selecting a candidate should not include:

Party affiliation. Republican or Democrat, makes no difference. Each party has had moments of greatness punctuated by even longer periods of mediocrity.

"But they have the most campaign signs." Campaign signs are an appeal to the shallow.

Candidate A is "cuter" than candidate B. Unless you are George Clooney, personal appearance is irrelevant.

My neighbor, friend, significant other told me to vote for... Remember mom's advice: "If Johnny told you to jump off a bridge, would you?"

One word: change. One response: specifics.

Littlefield told me to. 'Nuff said.

He promised to cut taxes. Gullible should be a four letter word.

So remember this election season to scratch below the surface to see what lies beneath. Beauty is only skin deep. A vote is a terrible thing to waste and sadly, given the recent history of national and local elections, it would appear that some folks have not done their homework.

Voting is a privilege and something that should not be left to your neighbors, friends or family. Don't allow the other guy to do your voting or your thinking for you, but more important, don't vote just because you can. The rest of us have to live with the consequences.

Lisa Haskell is a Scottsdale resident.