US Politics on Sidechat | Trump recently said that presidential candidates should have to pass cognitive exams. I’m not opposed to Congress actually making that a law, but I think there are some implications to consider (see comments). What do you all think abt the subject?

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US Politics 1w

Trump recently said that presidential candidates should have to pass cognitive exams. I’m not opposed to Congress actually making that a law, but I think there are some implications to consider (see comments). What do you all think abt the subject?

Anonymous 1w

we have a mechanism for removing unfit presidents. congress has to impeach and remove

Anonymous 1w

I saw that post and him rambling about something like “I did perfect on my cognitive exam. They said that never happens. I am one of the few most mentally perfect people. That is what they said. -DONALD J TRUMP PRESIDENT”

Anonymous 1w

The biggest problem I could see would be HIPAA. Forcing anybody to share their private medical information is not entirely ethical, but then again this is the president of the United States we’re talking about here. It’s the kind of job that NEEDS a sharp individual. I also could see issues with who exams candidates. It shouldn’t be just anyone, esp. not someone affiliated with any party. Congress would have to designate a specialist or organization that would be impartial.

Anonymous

OP 1w

Perhaps the cognitive exams could be performed by the third party and the results are shared only with Congress. That way the info isn’t publicly available and people with security clearance have incentive to keep their mouths shut. What what if someone doesn’t pass? Congress can’t just publicly announce that because of privacy laws, right? I’m loving this thought experiment, sorry for my rambling

Anonymous

#1 1w

Except Congress cares more about partisan politics than having a functional government

Anonymous

#1 1w

Trump argued that all candidates should pass cognitive exams before the election even happens. When the exam takes place, idk, but I think it’s more about vetting people who are running so that Congress doesn’t have to impeach anybody or use the 25th amendment after someone lacking hypothetically wins an election

Anonymous

#2 1w

I agree completely, Congress hasn’t done anything even when the evidence clearly screams that we have an incompetent president. My thought experiment here is entirely fantasy because there’s no way in hell this actually gets enacted (maybe a few decades from now after Trump is gone, but certainly not now), I’m more just having fun spitballing ideas

Anonymous

OP 1w

I mean we already force people to do this depending on the occupation, you wanna be a pilot or an air traffic controller? You must disclose your entire medical history from diagnosis, injury’s, current medications both OTC and prescription for your entire life to the federal government before they’ll license you to start pilot training or ATC. If they need that much information to give you the responsibilities in aviation I don’t see why a president can’t be held to the same standard

Anonymous

#3 1w

Very true! I hadn’t thought about that at all. There certainly is precedent for it. If we were to examine candidates, do you think those results should be made publicly accessible? Or should it be more like how companies do it, where the information is kept strictly private and only used for vetting people to get the job?

Anonymous

#4 1w

Yeahhhh,,, if we were to actually implement cognitive exams it would HAVE to be done by a trusted third party and not whoever the hell Trump paid to be his yes-men