If it ain't broke...

There is this myth out there that if you work hard in America, you can make something of yourself. Sadly, that age is rapidly coming to an end. As we move more towards the establishment of an aristocracy in this country, we see less and less room for hard work - it is all about who you know these days. Add the foreign service to that list.

For generations, the United States has selected its diplomats through a two-stage test seen as a model of merit-based rigor. Pass hundreds of questions in a dozen subject areas and a day-long oral grilling by Foreign Service officers, and join the ranks. Fail, and find a different line of work.

No more. In a proposed overhaul of its hiring process slated for next year and to be announced to employees in coming days, the State Department would weigh resumes, references and intangibles such as "team-building skills" in choosing who represents the United States abroad, according to three people involved in the process. The written test would survive, but in a shortened form that would not be treated as the key first hurdle it has been for more than 70 years.

As the lack of respect for knowledge continues to worsen, this nation gets dumber and dumber, and now, it appears we will be dumbing down our diplomatic corps as well, politicizing it, which always rewards the rich kids.