intelligence tests, built in minimum standards, selection criteria, a "school" with ethics, the idle rich, how do we make it?" implementable?

emigrate to Afghanistan.

I believe if an aptitude test is the answer then it must've been a silly question.
It seems to me that being a politician is/should be a skilled position.
As such they should be trained before they stand.
I have no problems with a real politics degree that focuses on ethics, the constitution, law, the functions of the bureaucracy, courts, states, public administration, business big and small etc. Specialising on specific areas (i.e. health, technology, defence etc.) in the final year. Pass mark of 75% + to warrant the degree. The unsuccessful electoral aspirants and others can apply for appropriate jobs in the PS.
The idea is to get the brightest/most competent into public service/parliament.

Parties, should be forced to present and advertise their candidates experience and educational suitability . With EC approved thumb-nail sketch on all literature, ads and the ballot . Everyone knows the party policies and what they say they're going to do locally but what we need to know is the competence of the potential members. I have problems with current system of members (“represent” ?) in safe seats.

Ministers must have relevant backgrounds and education (last year degree specialisations in relevant portfolio) and their proposed hierarchy stated on their ballot (i.e. Joe Smith Xy party, 2nd choice for ministry of W Qualifications B. Politics Hon in W ) .
What should be avoided is currant reward system of that allows union heavyweights, Drs/historians, lawyers etc. being in charge of Dept of Defence etc.

I argue that we don't pay ministers to learn at their wage levels. Anywhere else it is assumed they are competent before gaining a promotion/position. Likewise the public has a right to know before the election who is likely to do what In cabinet.

If in the case a minister is found deficient/inappropriate he/she must be replaced by someone with the appropriate qualifications from the same party's back bench or be forced to risk an early election.

It will therefore be appropriate to have more than one qualified person in each discipline in parliament.

This might raise the quality in the parliament.

bottom line is if you're not happy with the quality of representation in the parliament then go get elected yourself.

subject your views on filtering canditature to what you consider is intelligent to public ballot.

good luck!

wooops, the person next to you just got elected on the platform that you're not very intelligent at all.

you don't get to stand for election after all, sorry.

i can only agree egsaminator...but i think we should get ride of the big fish,..[able to do big evils]..and have a form of govt that works locally[but is watched over federally]

so each town/region..has an elected god head..[dictator]..that runs his/her fiefdom..[but as a benevolent dictator...he/she says yes or no..keeps the beuro-roc-rats in line and follows the plan he outlined in his electoral nominated plan, can be appealed to as the supreem power[over all maters in his/her juristiction]

he she is overseen by all his/her neighbouring 'godheads'...and they are called into account for any failings occuring on their watch..federally they hire and fire the god heads..[according as the votes their electorral plan outlined and defined].

...they are fully accountable for any govt mandated services in their district going awary[any appeals are made direct to their office[who manditorally report directly to the fede level[and all their neighbouring juristictions..the neighbours sort the issue out and submit their follow up reports within 7 days

for this service they live in the best houses get treated like gods[but under the auspiciouses of to whom much is given much is expected[with full accountability//[but you do good service..you get to keep your honarium title for life..[and thus become a candidate for higher offices

[nationally and internationally..[eventually to the highest office the sovereign united nations [s.u.n.]..body and its overseeing instrumrents of international governance bodies of commerce...finance law and medicine etc..internationally overseeing all human activity

at the federal level we all get to nominate a truelly representative rep[right wing and or left]for each major demographic in the world

One quote for you Whistler, very applicable in your case I feel....

"There are none so blind as those who WILL not see"