The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that would force President Joe Biden to send weapons to Israel, seeking to rebuke the Democrat for delaying bomb shipments as he urges Israel to do more to protect civilians during its war with Hamas.

The Israel Security Assistance Support Act was approved 224 to 187, largely along party lines. Sixteen Democrats joined most Republicans in voting yes, and three Republicans joined most Democrats in opposing the measure.

The act is not expected to become law, but its passage underscored the deep U.S. election-year divide over Israel policy as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government seeks to wipe out militants who attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

  • ZaktorEnglish
    11·
    6 months ago

    I can’t imagine how such tests would be fair and not abused. It might make for a more effective electorate if there weren’t so many poorly informed votes in the mix, but making that happen is almost certain to lead to abuse and very unlikely to produce the desired result.

    • fuckingkangaroos@lemm.ee
      2·
      6 months ago

      making that happen is almost certain to lead to abuse and very unlikely to produce the desired result.

      Lead to abuse agreed, but why do you think it’s very unlikely to produce the desired result?

      • ZaktorEnglish
        41·
        6 months ago

        Two reasons:

        1. Because it will lead to abuse and thus not try to measure political knowledge.
        2. Because a reasonably accessible test can’t really measure political knowledge. Even defining “politically knowledgeable” is hard. Do you need to watch Trump rally speeches to be politically knowledgeable? Do you need to know the three branches of government? Are we a democracy? Do we have free and fair elections? Can you be a single-issue voter, or do you need to prove you know all the other stuff?
        • fuckingkangaroos@lemm.ee
          1·
          6 months ago

          Fair enough, I think I agree anyway, but the idea of an unbiased test that filters out ignorant people is appealing.

          Frankly, democracy in it’s current form is struggling, so it seems like we need to make some serious adjustments.

          • ZaktorEnglish
            1·
            6 months ago

            How does a civics test prove competency to vote. And do you bar someone from voting for not knowing what the three branches of government are? What’s the correct answer to “are we a democracy”? Is there a reason a single-issue voter shouldn’t be able to vote if they don’t know things irrelevant to their single issue?

            • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
              11·
              6 months ago

              And do you bar someone from voting for not knowing what the three branches of government are?

              Yes.

              What’s the correct answer to “are we a democracy”?

              Matter of opinion.

              Is there a reason a single-issue voter shouldn’t be able to vote if they don’t know things irrelevant to their single issue?

              No.

              A civics test would confirm you understand how government functions. Not that you have the right opinions.

    • Clent@lemmy.world
      21·
      6 months ago

      My proposal was sardonic. The right has tried to revive anti-voter measures but none that would reduce the ability of their halfwit supporters to cast their ballots.