The Laquedem High-Test Plan to Evaluate Politicos

Let's expand the idea of testing our high school students (and by inference, their teachers) and give the same test to candidates for paying public office.  There would be no passing grade, but the candidates' scores would appear on the ballot next to their names, much like the octane ratings on gasoline pumps.  For the reading comprehension portion of the test, I'd use a public-private partnership agreement (such as the one that is bringing a change of soccer league to Civic Stadium).  For the mathematics portion of the test, I'd use a recent school district budget.  One advantage of using standardized high school tests is that we've already paid the consultants who designed the test, and the marginal cost would be simply to print a few more copies and hire some impartial graders.  In fairness the candidates who take the test should be given their scores privately first, and a chance to withdraw from the competition without their scores being published.  And voters might cast a warier eye on a prospective Solon's promises of fiscal responsibility if they come from someone who scored only 24% on the math test.  If the plan works out, we could later on hire Consumer Reports to rate our legislators.