I propose a friendly debate.
prejudicial for or against candidates from such highly competitive areas such as Northern Virginia or Southern California?
And why?
I've been considering this question since coming home from church this morning and had some great but conflicting thoughts. I know USNA69 is throwing out the line for the rest of us to hang ourselves with! Especially the oral exam gotcha "And Why?"
All political misgivings aside, there are 425 Congresional Representitive districts in the United States. Each of these representatives "serve" approximately the same number of registered voters in each district. Every State has two Senators that don't serve the same number of registered voters: ie, A Senator from Rhode Island has far fewer voters he's responsilbe to "serve" than a Senator from, Northern VA, Southern California, OR NEW JERSEY (you left me out!).
Since I don't have the actual breakdown of where the 12,000 applicants hail from each year (I'm sure that the question asker does!) I will have to make some basic asumptions for the Naval Academy only:
1. Seaborne military will attract more applicants from states that border an ocean.
2. Applicants that are located geographically near an Naval installations will have more contact and information regarding that service's academy.
3. Applicants geographical location to the Academy.
Are the current laws "fair" with the selection: Yes. The Naval Academy is the
United States Naval Academy. They are charged by Congress to attract Midshipmen from every corner of the country. Does the Academy lose high quality prospects from those high density areas? Probably. Is there a way to correct the preceived inequity? Probably not and still maintain a high confidence of integrety in the process.
Congress has insured itself a part of the process of selection of future officers by insisting on the nomination proceedure. Is the political injection into the process the best way? Does the CGA do a better job in collecting the best and the brightest? Probably not. They still must pass muster in attracting candidates from all over the nation. I'll bet they turn away large numbers of qualified kids from the New England area.
Perhaps the 500 Senatorial seats at the Academy should turned over to the Academy for Ad Hoc National Pool appointment. I don't believe they are "representatives" of the people since each Senator has such dramatically different numbers of voters in their states that they "serve". Will the politicians give up this power for the good of the institution? Yea right!
"It is what it is" I know there are better ways. I also know that it's not gonna change between now and the Appointments for the Class of 2012. You have to embrace the policies that are in place and not blue sky about the way it should be. Maybe some day we can effect change but it won't happen in the next 10 months.
Go ahead USNA69, haul in the halyard and hang me high!