How about we begin teaching government ... in a meaningful way in the third grade -- if not earlier?
I, for one, have no objection. I dropped economics from the quote because I don't feel competent to have an opinion on the topic. The laws of economics that I learned on the farm have been bastardized beyond my limited capacity for understanding.
The rest of your comment deserves emphasis:
"If the basics are not second nature by the time they reach high school, if not junior high, most kids will have already found other things to interest them and many will never get it, much less care."
You are, of course, correct. My suggestion of starting in the third year of high school was specious.
Mandatory, provisional voter registration for high school students may be an excellent idea, but isn't that an implementation detail? Need we not always be concerned about having too many rules? When we integrate voter training curricula in our schools and make voting mandatory for all citizens, the electoral process will change from what we've grown used to. The change may introduce different problems and it might be best to not anticipate them.
I think I understand your objection to "Eliminating political parties". I don't believe you're suggesting that the existence of political parties is constitutionally guaranteed, for it's not. See, for example:
I think the constitutional issue you raise is our right to associate freely, and in that you are absolutely correct. We can not, nor have we any wish to, abridge our right to associate ourselves with others of like mind. I suspect, though, that the problem is more a matter of phrasing than of substance. Instead of:
* Eliminate political parties.
how about
* Make political parties unnecessary.
One way to accomplish that (however rude and oversimplified) is described in #msg-6311737. It's only a "rough draft" of an idea, but it incorporates several things you're mentioned. For example,
* It makes voting a mandatory obligation.
* It automatically ensures a bias in favor of experience in political or elected office.
* It rewards statesmanship, for that quality would surely aid in advancement.
* It automatically screens candidates for any elected office.
* It eliminates the power of money in the election process.
* It renders political parties moot.
... and it does these things, not by regulation, but by concept. Is it worthy of consideration as a place to start?
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