Take a moment to re-create the government the way you would like it, and then post how you would change it.

I would like a small, minimalistic government with the main emphasis being on self-reliance. People should rely on themselves instead of having the government provide everything for them. There would be no direct federal-level taxes, but all taxation would be done at the state level, and the states would reallocate a portion to run the federal government.


The military would be a major focus of the federal govt. Any social services would be run at the state level. The Bill of rights would be preserved much as it is now (the second ammendment would be strengthened with a mandate that requires every adult with no mental ilness/past criminal record to keep a gun in their homes for security, and would require them to take safety and training courses before receiving the weapon), and the country would be under constitutional law with much less focus on wasteful bureaucracy like it is now.

There would be no long-term social security (people over 65 would receive checks as a transitional period, but that would stop when most of that generation dies. Instead, people would be encouraged to save some of what they earn in IRA accounts so they would have sustenance for retirement in addition to any pensions they might have. There would be a welfare system intended for use as a safety net, but it would be limited to 5 years maximum so lazy people could not leech off of it at the expense of hard working people. For the poor, there would be some sort of aid, but the main focus would be to help educate the poor and help them move up on the social ladder so they could take care of themselves. Nobody should have to rely on the governement long-term.

Anyone that I'm in charge of.

the smaller the better.

A partial democracy, where an intelligence test is required and only the top 25% get the right to vote, while only the top 1% are allowed to become polititians. Freedom is limited, and the bottom 25% have limited freedom of speech as well.

A mainly collectivist (i.e. anti-capitalist), small government. Full medical coverage is a must, military kept to a minimum.

I'd eliminate the 'professional' politicians, at least at the federal level, by limiting all offices to two terms. Also, I'd modify the electoral college by taking out the electors, and instead giving candidates votes based on the percent of the population they won in each state. So, if 75% of Kansans voted Republican and 25% voted Democratic, the Republican candidate would recieve 4.5 votes, while the Democratic would recieve 1.5.

move to canada? :p

Add to that mandatory sterilization for those in the bottom 50%, and you'd have my ideal government.

I would love to speculate, but I would have to take it issue by issue. There are just some thing are so complex that it would take essays to explain.

I suppose I can touch on some issues.

Taxation: I would tax people according to their income bracket, with rich paying the highest percentage(though ideally not the majority of their income). The poor would pay next to nothing and would be the first to receive tax returns.

National Service: There would be a 2 years mandatory term for some kind of service to your community and nation. This can range from joining the military, going on religious missions, becoming apart of mentoring groups like Big Brother/Big Sister, or pretty much anything where you are broadening your horizons.

Gun Control: Pretty much the way it is now with background checks required on everyone wanting to own a gun and private ownership of full-auto assault rifles outlawed(with the exception of gun show companies).

Gay marriage: I would allow civil unions of gays and take the legal term of "Married" from straight couples and give them the legal term "civil unions" as well. Whither a couple is "married" or not is up to their church and would be no more than a formal title.

Affirmative action: I'd redefine it so it doesn't affect minorities, but affects people that are poor.

Electoral college: States would be able to split up their votes according to what precentage of the votes each candidate got.

Military: A large and substantial chunk of funds would go to the military, with even more going to both government and private sector R&D. People in the active military would no longer fill in absentee ballots for their respective states but the military would have their own electoral votes.

If I think of anything else I'll post.

Something like the U.S. system, except elections are done by electoral votes instead of states.

Dictatorship of Mikus.

No government.

...

Except with lower taxes, and a better economy. :p

<3

Well, that's what the SWAT team is for.

I would keep the government structure, but give the central government less power, and the states more. That would dictate national policy, which would be mandatory for
all states. The only policies that the central government could make though, would be wars, foreign affairs and a very limited, predefined area of social affairs. Social policies would be resolved by individual states, unless a situation arouse where one state was interfering directly in another state's affairs. There would be a flat 10% federal tax for the sole purpose of maintaining a military.

Issues like homosexuality, state taxes, and schooling would all be decided by individual states. The Constitution would be edited to redefine human life as beginning at conception. Abortion would be illegal except in the case of the death of both the parent and infant. As now, the Constitution would take precedence over any other forms of government, so gun control would be illegal. Gambling I would make illegal, and I would make drugs legal, unless a state chose to make them illegal by an 80% majority vote.

Voting: No electoral college. No division by states. Just a straight tally of every legal voter (i.e., everyone over 18 or 16 or whatever is chosen). I would have a mix of the US and Australian systems; the AU method of "preferential voting" (so 3rd parties have worth) and the US's less stringent "party lines". You can get expelled from your party in Australia for voting against the party, and when you have one party with a majority, they aren't going to get much opposition while they're in power...

States: demolish them. They're a pointless relic from when this country was founded, and unnecessary (and anti-democratic) concessions were given to them in order for them to Federate. No person's vote should be worth more than another's.

Life Itself: I value equality more than freedom. So corporations should not be free to run amok simply because they have more power. There should not be people living in the street when there are means of helping them, and getting productive work out of them in return. However, there ARE freedoms that are paramount; the freedom of speech, freedom of information, freedom from oppressive corporations, freedom from torture and/or wrongful imprisonment, freedom of privacy, etc. But in some cases, the right to NOT have something done to you overrides the other person's right to do it. So, no smoking in public places.

Gay marriage: Yes. None of this "civil union" malarky. It's twice as many syllables, no one will use the term, and it's just creating useless "separate but equal" divisions.

Gun Control: No guns for anyone who is not a police officer or part of the military. You don't need 'em, you won't be overthrowing the government with 'em, and we don't live in the wilds of Africa where you need to take down wild Rhinos with fully automatic weapons.

Military: Enough to defend the country and help defend countries nearby that are poorer. Not big enough where it needs to be sent off to fight in pointless foreign wars just so we can get our money's worth.

Taxation: Poor people pay no income tax. Rich people pay lots (50% of everything above $200,000, say, and it being progressively less until nothing at, say, $30,000). No GST, which is blatantly a method of transferring the burden of tax to the poor. Do have all those taxes that only affect the rich, such as speculative taxes, inheritance taxes, etc.

[edit: forgot to add.

Education: Education compulsory for 13 years. Theory and the Arts will be stressed over specific practical applications. Homework will be drastically lessened. People should be taught how to think, and to think critically. Textbooks should not be bland and unthreatening. Evolution is fact, get over it. Every country and every race has done really bad things to others over the thousands of years of civilisation. Gravity is fact, get over it. Heliocentrism is fact, get over it. the theory of maths should be taught more, so people have an understanding of what it is they're doing when they're manipulating numbers. I still have no idea what differentiation and integration ARE. I know what they DO, but I have no idea WHY or HOW.]

Aaron's World

I would be the supreme ruler of the world, with Matriarchs and Patriarchs governing my provinces (those are the titles I choose, and cannot be questioned!). These would form a high council that would meet at least once a week at my palace.

I would keep municipal governments as democracies, but have them closely monitored for signs of resistance. These municipalities could always bring issues to the governing official in their area. These issues would be reviewed by the council, and worked out as is best for everyone in my opinion.

If a protest broke out, I would consult my council as to how valid the argument was....unless it just outright pissed me off. Then I would have the protestors forcefully imprisoned for a day or two. I hate pointless protests; they're obstructive, and a wate of time.

My military force would be massive. I have to police the entire world, afterall. There would be no war. If a conflict broke out over something stupid like persecution, my military would go in and suppress the warring factions completely, imprisoning them for no less than 6 months. This would not be hard, since my eyes and ears would inform me of any brewing animosity well in advance. If after 6 months the aggressors renewed hostilities, they would be imprisoned for life. If they wanted their freedom (or as much of it as they would get from me), they wouldn't engage in stupid wars. I will have eliminated poverty, so seriously, what is there worth fighting about?

I could get into the intricate details, but there are too many. Sufficed to say, I have a very Rousseau-like philosophy. People are too stupid to govern themselves in masses, so they need one, all powerful person to do it for them. Since I wouldn't trust anyone else to rule over me like this, I would have to be in this position myself....with my trusted lieutenants under me.

This is my system that will never come to be. I guess people just like their freedom too much
:p

The Real Aaron's World:

A working Communist state with people capable of being uncorrupted. Without bastardizing the system, Communism would be a perfect state. Everybody equal, even the government officials. No rich Republican backwards ***-clowns, and no religious involvment in politics. That'd be great. Pinko all the way baby.

Brandon's ideal government: Plato's Republic

In short a governement of the intelligent/philosophers.

No such thing.. :p

But for kicks what would I do to change our (USA) government?

Education:
Kill the 'grade' system, do it by levels.. age in each level could vary greatly. Officail National tests to advance to the next level. Levels are just higher levels of each section. You could be in a low level Science, but a high level English, for example.
Education is not required, but I'm sure tons of jobs would require you a certain level of certain sections before they would hire you. Basic levels can be learned in normal schools, which would everything before College. To advance in higher levels you could go in a College that offers high levels of that section.
Empasizing on LANGUAGE Skills.

Before College everyone is require to put in THREE months of service. The service can be to better a community, in the military, or whatever.

Military/Weapons:
R&D only focuses on more EFFECIENT weapons, not more destructive.
Deadly Weapons are banned to Civilians, and military use is strictly regulated. Non-Leathal defence items could be obtained after proper training and evaluation.
Have the military focused on defence, but offence when nessessary.

Laws/Taxes:
Welfare my ***. Have "Communities" for people that cannot support them selves, they live in a mass population effecient building. They cook their own food, they clean their own building, they maintain it. They live in it, it's theirs. BUT - They will be used for civil work - Like contruction IE hard work few people want to do. They will never gain anything from this, but they will be able to live.

Meh.. I could go on but I gotta go. more later.

I would eliminate states altogether, because state governments are useless and I hate those squiggly lines on political maps. Road maintainance, school-building, public services and such would be the domain of an obscenely complex system of city-centered concentric spheres of influence funded with federal dollars and local sales taxes. The only legislative body would be federal, because any laws that are region-specific are obviously unnecessary for a non-intrusive government.

I would eliminate the standing military in favor of national health care and higher education and research institutions. And modify patent and copyright law to keep our brillant inventors and artists desperate and productive instead of fat and lazy (or, just as desperate and productive as they are now without making corporate masters fat and lazy and avoiding all the stale limits and caution fat corporate types bring with them) . With any luck, fear of our death rays, desire for our awesome technological toys, and our general non-involvement would preclude hostilities. Worst case, we'll have SCIENCE.

Matthew Pate and Ictus: Do you two live in Britian(wow...it's too early. I can't even tell if I spelled that right)?

Other way around. It's Britain.

Kiensland isn't really how I'd like to see a country, but I'm moderately undecided on what I would like. I guess a system similar to the UK would be good, so long as it was a UK without screwed railways, screwed healthcare, etc...

Nope, I've lived in the US my whole life. Arizona, Illinois, and North Carolina specifically.

I'd take a something similar to the US, subtract the FDA.

...

Then, we'd have lots of beer and hookers.
In fact, forget the country...
meh, screw the whole thing. Too much work.

Whatever makes you feel better about yourself. :p
If lack of government worked, early societies wouldn't have allowed them to form. Furthermore, we wouldn't still have them around.

So the powerful individuals take every thing from the weak individuals? We would then naturally default to a Feudal system, and it would become like the middle ages, with the rich grossly taking advantage of the poor.

I was under the impression that Matthew was from down unda.

/me copies Yecti

I would like....

A Utopia.

With Ninja's.

Hurray for Karl Marx.

My ideal government wouldn't be too terribly different from the one the US has now. I'd like the funding for local public schools to be reevaluated, maybe - especially with regard to property taxes. The basic system itself I would not change at all - whatever problems this country has, we do have a framework in which they can be resolved politically.

Just for the record, I would like to add my complete disgust and contempt for the people suggesting sterlization and limited voting rights. That sort of **** smacks of the communist and fascist and racist tripe that the rest of the sensible world threw out decades ago.

Really, Flexor, who's going to write your little "tests?" You? People in the American South tried that a while ago - they had a funny way of writing the tests that precluded certain segments of the population whose skin color they didn't care for from being able to vote. Don't flatter yourself by pretending your repugnant scheme is on a higher moral plane. Forget Nazi Germany - I won't even go there.

Was it you and I that attempted the Soviet Union II?

You guys should read The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress by Heinlen - it has a lot of really cool ideas for governmental structures. I found it interesting anyway.

This is one of the most horrible things I've ever read in my life.

Stinkywrix's Govermental Plan For World Domination.

Under any circumstance's should you reveal this document, you shall be shot, and survivors WILL be shot again.
This is mandatory.

With that over with...

Education-
First of all, everyone has to go to school.
No one is allowed to drop out unless they demonstrate they know the ropes, and can make their way in the economic world succesfully.
Like another persons idea, I shall drop the grade system and instead put it in levels.
As you start school, you are put in the basic level, and based upon your grades, you move up levels.
If you continually to do bad in school, you are dropped down a level.
At the most advanced level (college)
you are required to take a test, testing your ability on how you will do in the economy, wether you will have debt or not depending on the decisions you make.
If you fail the test, your are required to take an economic class on how not to fail.
Teachers will be required to have vast knowledge in their subjects, as they are required to not mess the future of this country up.


Economy-
Capitalism. All the way.
If they took the test and passed it, they should do fine.
If they failed the test and yet are still allowed to proceed further in life, they have two choices.
One: Choose a good career,work hard, and demonstrate in capitalism that either way, you have the decision to become rich or poor. You make the decision.
There shall be a yearly tax to make up for the funding of the goverment, and to make sure everyone is payed well.
Bill's come every six months, and usually consist of:
Electricity
Water Heating
Oil
Heat
Other.
Other is the other things, like internet or cable tv.
These are not allowed to skyrocket beyond believe, due to the fact you can have the three most important luxuries avaliable, however if you cannot pay for them you are not allowed to sign up for them.

Justice system-

The justice system shall go something like this:
First degree murder, all first degree's get death, however this is very hard to get, and involves multiple murders.
Second degree murder is life in prison.
Third degree murder can be anywhere from 20 years to 70 years in prison.
Public Decency is for like, nudists in a non nudist area.
6 months to one year.
Armed robbery is robbing with a gun, or knife.
Depending on how much you steal, one month to life in prison.
Assault will be looked at, whether the person who was caught fighting started it, or was simply defending himself/herself.
Six months to twenty years in prison.

Goverment system-
The system shall be set up like this

Senate=President.

That way, the senate is the president.
The senate shall be comprised of three hundred members, each can be from any party.
The senate has to reach a conclusion of three/fourths yes to pass a law, and they're shall be a special section of judge type people who handle court cases that go out of hand, made up of nine people, four from one party, four from another, and one from another.
The goverment shall not go against the freedom of expression, freedom of religon, and all votes shall be equal.
Electoral college shall be in place.
All people will be equal, and will be treated equal.
There shall be several states depending on how big the mass of the country is and it's population, and electoral college shall proceed.

Other-
People who want to be parents must take a efficency test to prove they can raise their kids in the best of environments.
People who fail the test are not allowed to have kids.
The drinking age shall be eighteen years, and driving shall be sixteen.
A legal adult is age eighteen, and thus are allowed to vote, drink, gamble, fight in wars, and smoke/buy pr0n.

I'm going to need another post soon...

Education:
Mandatory 12 year schooling
It would be illegal to drop out of elementary, middle or high school.
Teachers would get paid very well

Economy:
95% free market
5% government controlled

Justice:
Sort of like the US justice system
Death penalty can also go for arson, rape, a single particulary brutal murder and leaking highly sensetive government secrets
Capital offendors are generally executed within a month of sentencing, rather than a few months or years.
To avoid racial discrimination, the jury would consist of the same racial group as the defendant.

Morally questionable stuff:
Abortion: Banned except if mother's life is threatened by pregnancy
Gay Marraige: Banned, no questions asked
Alcohol: Banned until age 24
Tobacco: Banned, no questions asked
Pr0n: Banned, no questions asked
Drugs: Banned, except with a doctor's prescription

Social Security:
Mostly privatized, with the government just watching over the social security companies, making sure they are not corrupt.

Guns:
In order to own one, you must complete the 12 year school system, and receive proper gun training. Anyone under 24 must ALSO have parental consent, along with the other requirements. You must be innocent of any felony, and must be in good mental health. If you meet the above requirements, you can get any gun you want, including full-auto guns.

- EDIT - Changed the wording a little to avoid confusion

Military:
Very big and powerful, able to crush any enemy that stands before it.
Focus mainly on armor (tanks and mechs)

Welfare:
Instead of just giving people money, the government would find/give people jobs.

Religion:
You would be allowed to choose any religion you want, as long as it encourages kindness, equal racial and gender rights and personal freedom.

Voting:
Anyone age 20+ would be allowed to vote.
Presidential terms would be 5 years.

Diplomacy:
Would be allied mainly with the other powerful democratic nations such as the US, Britain, Japan, the EU and Israel.

Hate to break it to you, buddy, but that's not capitalism. You can't advocate free markets and then slap such stringent social and economic control on people.

Agreed. Aren't some of these the same people that are screaming about violations of people's civil rights?



Southern states used similar voting tests to keep blacks from voting as well. I suppose that was alright too.