A good question.

Someone posed a question to me and others as to what should be done,if anything, to straighten out the American GOV.

As complex as the question is, as there are so many angles to come from, ill start the conversation by giveing my input.

I think first and foremost should be Election Reform.

Big Bussiness needs to be out of American Politics. It creates biased situations based on greed and power, and in no small part is helping the shrinkage of the modern middle class.

To accomplish this, elections should be publically funded, and each candidate is to be given the same amount of funds in which to run their campaighn.

All those meeting the requirements to run for President, based on the current perameters required, and chooseing to run, will be given these funds and equal air time in all debates aired on any network.

No fees are to be paid by the taxpayers for this air time, as I am sure corp advertiseing dollars would more than fill the network coffers. But under no circumstances will any network be allowed to deny any candidate access to the debates.

What is accomplished by doing this?

Well for one it evens the playing feild for all involved, less funding for mudslinging, and it would bring new perspectives to the political ring. Also provides a wider choice for the people to choose from other than the standard two choices between bad and bad.

Second, no electorial college, elections should be based on popular vote, and popular vote alone, this makes every vote count.

Third, there is nothing wrong with counting votes by hand, technology is not needed in this regard. Further more with the Corporations out of elections it becomes harder for funding to become available to rig elections.

I am a firm believer in fixing the foundation instead of painting over cracked walls, and I think our election process is the foundation that needs to be repaired.

Lets open the door now to comments should anyone choose to make them.

No flames no name calling, lets have an adult conversation.

Peace.:smokin:

Well lets see here..............

1) President is limited to two terms....so should Congress and Senate
2) NO MORE special interest groups

....a)No more donations to a party but to a fund for ALL parties to equally divide...NO running over budget or your man/woman is OUT OF THERE!
....b)TV stations will provide FREE EQUAL coverage for each party (politicians supply ratings with news.....it would be a nice gesture to give a lil' back for the ratings)

3) Each state will be worth 100 points.....the candidates for President will recieve a certain percentage based on STATE popular vote. This will keep the states in an equal playing field so the coastal states don't determine the outcome for the country.

4) If all else fails....make me the Dictator!:D

Have a good one!:thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Psycho4Bud

Well lets see here..............

4) If all else fails....make me the Dictator!:D

Have a good one!:thumbsup:

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HELL YEAH!!

i choose option 4,

if i was ur advisor i say for everyones b-day the get a free gram of P91:rasta:

I would say...a working class revolution to overthrow capitalism and the state, establishing a society in which the means of production belong to all and decisions are made in a directly democratic manner by people working as free associations of equal individuals, without need for bosses or legislators. Power corrupts, so let's get rid of power and try equality instead.

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Originally Posted by Oneironaut

I would say...a working class revolution to overthrow capitalism and the state, establishing a society in which the means of production belong to all and decisions are made in a directly democratic manner by people working as free associations of equal individuals, without need for bosses or legislators. Power corrupts, so let's get rid of power and try equality instead.

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In theory that works. But society isnt ready to govern itself yet. For that to happen each and every person must mind his actions and such. Unfortunately many people just cannot do that.

Also we should become self sufficient. Each community, city and/or town must be completely self sufficient and not depend on another community for survival because this creates an imbalance of power if one community can control another through trade.

The family should be the most important. The family is the core of a society. When families start to fall apart so does society. People learn more in their family than they do at school. I know i did when i was a young child although i cant say the same for my friends with divorced parents:( .

And as for government i would go with an athenian democracy. Where everybody gets a chance to govern, not just those who have the funds to run.

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Originally Posted by halo

In theory that works. But society isnt ready to govern itself yet. For that to happen each and every person must mind his actions and such. Unfortunately many people just cannot do that.

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Huh? What about a directly democratic society would keep us from punishing people who harm or exploit others?

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Also we should become self sufficient. Each community, city and/or town must be completely self sufficient and not depend on another community for survival because this creates an imbalance of power if one community can control another through trade.

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Only in a profit-driven economy. Hence the stress on solidarity, cooperation and mutual aid.

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The family should be the most important. The family is the core of a society. When families start to fall apart so does society. People learn more in their family than they do at school. I know i did when i was a young child although i cant say the same for my friends with divorced parents:( .

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I take it you have not studied anthropology in depth. You might be surprised to know that some cultures don't even have a concept like "family". Children in such cultures are raised by the community and taken care of by all. And what's worse for a child, living with two divorced parents or two parents who are married but don't want to be? Relationships go sour; not all families are perfect, and they never will be. But that is irrelevant to the idea of overthrowing capitalism and the state anyhow.

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And as for government i would go with an athenian democracy. Where everybody gets a chance to govern, not just those who have the funds to run.

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Ah yes, just like in good old sexist slave-owning Athens, where everybody was equal, but some people were more equal than others.

Hats off to you, MM, good thread, and practical set of priorities.

I suppose I'd stop short of fomenting revolution... today, anyway ;)

I'd do the following:

1) Outlaw corporate/commercial access to elected offices; like you, MM, my top priority. But I'd have stiff penalties, like public executions on Wall Street... No more Enron CEOs getting off easy with massive heart attacks while on vacation in Aspen.

2) Enforce the constitution and get God away from our rights and freedom

3) Like PB4 said, term limits

4) Make viable options to the two party system (although, the one party system seems to work well in the vote counting ;) )

5) Keep the Kennedys away from girls, booze, drugs and automobiles

6) And will someone give Bush a blow job so we can impeach his ass...

Peace!

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Originally Posted by Oneironaut

Huh? What about a directly democratic society would keep us from punishing people who harm or exploit others?
The people who develop the "rules" are going to exploit worst than the former leaders did.

Only in a profit-driven economy. Hence the stress on solidarity, cooperation and mutual aid.
There is no motivation in a completely non-profit driven society. It never works, and probably never will.

I take it you have not studied anthropology in depth. You might be surprised to know that some cultures don't even have a concept like "family". Children in such cultures are raised by the community and taken care of by all. And what's worse for a child, living with two divorced parents or two parents who are married but don't want to be? Relationships go sour; not all families are perfect, and they never will be. But that is irrelevant to the idea of overthrowing capitalism and the state anyhow.
Those "societies" never progress past the stone age. I have no desire to have any kids, either, and I certainly will never take care of the offspring of other people. It's bad enough that there's overpopulation in the first place.

Ah yes, just like in good old sexist slave-owning Athens, where everybody was equal, but some people were more equal than others.

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The above posting is a good example of collectivist thinking. In this type of Utopia, the individual only exists for the good of the whole, and will never rise to meet challenges with solutions that are uniquely his. It is a self-defeating way of living because there is no motivation to create things that are going to help mankind.

A well-designed, materialist capitalist society is far better for the world - and the future Those that produce reward themselves, and the sky is the limit if their mind and energy is up to it. Collectivism is never going to work, because people are NOT all equal. They must have equal rights, and social justice, but the right to make profit from an enterprise is central to progress.

Individualism makes for progress and betterment of the human race. Collectivism hinders both.

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Originally Posted by graymatter

6) And will someone give Bush a blow job so we can impeach his ass...

Peace!

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LOL I choked on my pasta!

To graymatter....that was classic!!!:D

Have a good one!:thumbsup: