Tim_Tex
Professor Hineybottom
Joined: Jul 03, 2004
Age: 33
Posts: 41865
Location: Houston, Texas
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 Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:38 am Post subject: If you ran the country... |
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On the PPR forum, I sometimes notice massive disagreements among people on here, that occasionally leads to name-calling and mud-slinging. Plus some people like to take a DIY approach to government.
So, I decided to create a thread to see how each of you would run your country, if you were the head of state. What issues would you address, and what would your vision of your country be?
Please, no name-calling or mud-slinging.
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thedaywalker
Phoenix
Joined: Nov 27, 2008
Age: 20
Posts: 716
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:05 am Post subject: |
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| legalize psychedelics and watch what happens |
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johansen
Deinonychus
Joined: May 16, 2011
Age: 24
Posts: 321
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:18 am Post subject: |
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I would cease the collection of all forms of taxation, and end the printing of 80 million checks per month.
(talking about the usa federal government here) |
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ruveyn
Phoenix
Joined: Sep 22, 2008
Age: 76
Posts: 29309
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:49 am Post subject: |
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My first official act would be to resign.
ruveyn |
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visagrunt
Polymath
Joined: Oct 17, 2009
Age: 45
Posts: 5754
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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If I were Head of State here, it would be the end of the monarchy. There is no way that I could do what the Queen has been doing for sixty years.
If I were Head of Government, on the other hand, I would be limited to one term--and probably a short one at that. My caucus would probably turn on me as soon as it became apparant that my fiscal and legislative agendas were grounded in the long term, rather than in the next election cycle.
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clthomps
Blue Jay
Joined: Jan 23, 2012
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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One word....
Eugenics |
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Thom_Fuleri
Phoenix
Joined: Mar 08, 2010
Posts: 801
Location: Leicestershire, UK
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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(1) I would install myself as absolute ruler. My word is law.
(2) I would take control of the rail networks and bus companies; water, power and gas companies; internet and telephone services.
(3) I would take control of all major media outlets.
(4) All land in the country would belong to me, with individuals and companies leasing areas of land out. Improper usage or maintenance of that land would result in government seizure.
(5) Education would be overhauled, with children streamed according to ability. Rather than slowing down the brighter students to let the weaker ones catch up, the weaker students would be separated out. They can then be more gainfully employed according to their skills.
(6) Welfare programs would be overhauled. The unemployed will not be given free money, but instead will have access to basic food and clothing and encouraged to find work. Government workhouse programs will provide options to earn cash in temporary and hard-to-fill positions, such as menial labour or cleaning jobs.
(7) All citizens to undertake parenting exams. Unsuitable parents to be sterilised (reversible, in case they pass on retakes). Unlawful children to be taken into care.
(8 ) Government projects would be created, for which citizens will be expected to contribute. These could include a space program, upgrading infrastructure, research projects and so on. These would soak up any economic surplus and prevent inflation/recession.
(9) Tight immigration and emigration controls, to ensure minimal interference from the outside world.
(10) The identification and execution of those that threaten the peace. If the perpetrators of crimes cannot be located, their family/friends/people will be randomly executed in their place.
(11) The construction of a series of orbital weapons to destroy enemy nations. By now we'll probably have a lot of enemies. They're just jealous.
(12) I move to the orbital weapons installation as my seat of government.
(13) From my position on high, now fully self sufficient, I launch nuclear armageddon and destroy the entire human race. Mission accomplished. |
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abacacus
Rock 'N Roll Outlaw
Joined: Apr 16, 2007
Age: 21
Posts: 3316
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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| johansen wrote: | I would cease the collection of all forms of taxation, and end the printing of 80 million checks per month.
(talking about the usa federal government here) |
You're country would last a few months at the very most. 
I would implement a more heavily Socialist economic system, overhaul the voting system, cut away the politicians pension plan (in Canada, it's insane), and start heavily pushing sustainable energy sources (wind, tide, solar, etc).
That'd be a decent amount of work for the first day or so.
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meems
Overlord of Entropy
Joined: Dec 02, 2010
Posts: 1600
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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If I were head of state in the united states I would have such limited powers, (I don't think many Americans realize how little power the president has) so I guess I'd go the way of ruveyn and resign.
I wouldn't have an easy time serving in a government system for a country like America because Americans are arguably completely out of touch with the government, and neglect their responsibility as citizens etc.
We blame the far right, the far left, the moderates, the president, the media, etc. I've met so many people that didn't know they could vote in anything other than presidential elections.
I almost see no point in the work I've done on various congressional campaigns, with the amount of people I encounter who not only don't know what district they live in, but don't really know what congress is either. |
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CrazyCatLord
Phoenix
Joined: Oct 25, 2011
Posts: 2177
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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| I would be terribly afraid to mess things up and have one stress-induced nervous breakdown after another. I don't think I would get anything done. |
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kestrel
Phoenix
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Joined: Jan 14, 2012
Posts: 574
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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The first law I would pass would be a restriction on the amount of laws that can be passed. The prohibition would allow new laws to be passed after reaching the quota, but only after rescinding an existing law first. Of course, the first law would be untouchable and remain a constant, only applying to any laws passed after it.
The rest follows from there. |
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TeaEarlGreyHot
Your Maya
Joined: Jul 05, 2010
Age: 30
Posts: 28105
Location: California
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | If you ran the country... |
I'd be forcibly removed from office.
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Declension
Phoenix
Joined: Jan 21, 2012
Posts: 1653
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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If I were the Head of State of New Zealand, then I would be the King of the Commonwealth Realms. As such, I would have no political power. 
If I were the Prime Minister of New Zealand, then I would be quite socialist in my leanings, with a strong emphasis on the environment. I would make the Capital Gains Tax much harsher.
If possible, I would also support the Constitution being clarified, with a very broad interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi made into supreme law. |
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Declension
Phoenix
Joined: Jan 21, 2012
Posts: 1653
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Thom_Fuleri wrote: | | (1) I would install myself as absolute ruler. My word is law. |
Um... how exactly would you do this? You would be the powerless Monarch of the Commonwealth Realms. Even if we're not being pedantic, and you get to be the Prime Minister, how would you do this?
I'm not saying it's impossible, I just want to hear your plan.  |
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Thom_Fuleri
Phoenix
Joined: Mar 08, 2010
Posts: 801
Location: Leicestershire, UK
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