US Naturalization Oath

[ionelv]

I wonder how many naturally born US citizens would either balk or would break the naturalization oath if they were forced to take it (say when turning 18):

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

Comments

[thewayne]

Or sworn into public elected or appointed office. Personally I think elected and appointed officials (those requiring Senate approval) should be required to take C-SPAN-televised citizenship tests before being eligible for office. I can't imagine how many Congresscritters wouldn't be in office if that were a requirement, not to mention the current Orange Dumpling.

[ionelv]

Yeah, those tests would have winnowed out quite a few knuckleheads. And since we're talking about oaths, I think they should do away with the hand on the Bible performance, as it has become quite ridiculous in recent years. I am surprised that some of those that touched the bible while taking an oath did not instantaneously combust.

[ionelv]

Another test I’d like to see elected and appointed officials take is the Turing test with a few people representing all walks of life as the questioners. I think a lot of them would fail if they were required to pass ALL such tests. Also, these tests should be administered yearly as an automatic screening process and they should also submit to these tests hooked up to a polygraph machine that could disqualify them if they dissimulate and show signs of mental impairment.

[thewayne]

Too many people involved and too few polygraph examiners for the latter to be feasible.  I sat a poly exam for pre-employment back in '91 or '92 when I applied for my network admin job at the police department, it was an interesting experience.  Not the same sort of examination as a criminal one.