Poll: Ideal America (adapt to your own country)

In My Humble Opinion
1

What’s your ideal America? Please, no debating, no arguing, no sniping. We can start new threads for that.

Stance on:

Internet - The internet, by design, is unregulate-able, and I believe that the American government has no right to regulate what the American populace thinks. The internet could be described as the world’s collective conciousness. Goods sold on the internet would be regulated as they are now, but not taxed. The courts have no place deciding the structure or powers of the internet. Foolish as my views may seem, they are what they are.

“Big Business” - I do not believe business should be allowed to bloat as it has. Time/Warner - AOL. NO. Whether it controls an entire industry or not, a business of this size and with reaches this far has no place in a ‘free’ market. A business should not control every aspect of a product. Advertising is also way too rampant in every aspect of the American life. Bah on that!

Drugs - I believe that ‘soft’ drugs, such as marijuana, mushrooms, and LSD should be legal but highly regulated, and sold only to persons 18 or over, with sharp penalties for DUI.

Alcohol - Maintain current standards, quash .08 and lower movements, as the huge majority of wrecks/deaths are by persons with WAY over .01% BAC. We should concentrate more on solving that problem, and less on fines/jailtime for those lightly or unimpaired.

Tobacco - Strong sanctions against ‘big tobacco’ for it’s aggressive marketing towards the underage, and for lying and covering up years of documented proof of damages.

Schools - Concentrate on the disease, not the symptoms. Control the bullies, you stop the violence. Persons should NOT be allowed to prey on those weaker then themselves, be it physically or mentally.

Crime - Death penalty for murder, attempted murder, rape, child molestation, repeat violent offenders (3 strikes), armed robbery, many violent crimes but not manslaughter, possible for second degree (crimes of passion) depending on circumstances. Executions within 5 years of sentence. Very, very aggressive and stiff. White collar crimes receive stiff sentances in medium security prisons (no resorts bullshit), work-camps, road-crews, etc., treatment for drug use/abuse, fines for possession with jail time for repeat offenders (hard drugs: heroin, cocaine, crack, etc.)

Abortion - Only if the child is a danger for the mother, voluntary only if it would be completely and totally unable to support itself in any way (minor brain function, complete physical and mental impairment). Forced adoption placement for ‘unwanted’ children, unreversible unless agreed to by adoptive parents. You don’t want kids? Use birth control, or don’t fuck. Accident? Your problem. Put it up for adoption. Millions want kids, waiting lists are years long, but we continue to execute innocent babies that would be loved and cared for by adoptive parents.

China - This and other inhumanitarian countries with such little respect for intrinsic human rights would face complete economic sanction. Immigration would be allowed. Revolution would be encouraged.

Welfare - Much revamped. Mandatory work, unless physically or mentally unable. Much tighter control on families, and a time limit on the dole. In severly economically stricken areas (Ozarks, f’rinstance), instead of doling out money, attempts would be made to create industry or some other form of stable working environments for the massive groups of people.

Science - Money saved in welfare reform would go to science and technology research and development, to be shared with American allies and companies.

Military - Increased military spending, with much overflow from increased R&D&T grants.

God/Religion - Left up to the states. Amendment 10.

Speech - Complete freedom of speech. “Offense” or some such charges in court cases would not be allowed. You don’t like it? Big fucking deal. Lots of people don’t like what you have to say, either. We are born with the ability and RIGHT to say whatever we want, be it true or false. Action or inaction based upon this freedom, though, would be regulated. You have freedom of speech, not action. In this, I am talking hate groups, abortion clinic bombings, etc., not peaceful demonstrations and such.

Guns - Relaxed gun control. It has been debated time and time again on this board, and I am of the opinion that American history and culture is so steeped in guns and self defense that it would be unhealthy and impossible at this point to divide the two.

Trade - Stiff social and economic sanctions against aggressive or unfriendly countries.

UN - Strong withdrawl from the UN. Not complete, just in large portion. We should deal with our own problems before attempting to fix East Khazhkahisjfristanaljkgs’s problems.

I believe that my country should strive for a tolerance of other persons and beliefs, regardless of (usual list). I believe that America should concentrate on fixing it’s own rotting core before attempting to shim up other nations. I believe that America is overridden by corporate influence in every aspect of life. I belive that America should strive to further itself in the aspects of science, technology, space exploration, biology, medicine, and other intellectual and humanitarian pursuits. I also believe that until the American populace GETS OFF IT’S COLLECTIVE FAT, COMFORTABLE ASSES AND MAKES A FUCKING DIFFERENCE not a God-damned thing will change.

Well, there’s my stances, explained. I’m sure I’ve forgotten some, and I’ll likely be back to elaborate more later. Please feel free to post your own views on anything you wish. You don’t have to follow my format, or stick to my topics, but that IS encouraged.

The first snipe or argument I see, I shall ask this thread be closed, and I will disavow any connections with it. Mercy kill, as Slythe calls them.

–Tim

2

Guns – Either kept out of the hands of private citizens altogether, or licensed and STRICTLY regulated (at a minimum, I’d require everybody to complete a training course similar to driver’s ed before they could own one).

Alcohol & drugs – I’d institute a reasonable drinking age (no higher than 18), with exceptions for drinks consumed at home under parental supervision (so parents can teach teenagers how to drink responsibly without breaking the law). Marijuana would be legal, subject to the same restrictions as alcohol and tobacco. Haven’t made up my mind about harder drugs, but in any case I think inflicting stiff penalties on users is not the way to go.

Capital punishment – Abolished. Instead, murderers and rapists would be sentenced to life in prison, and it would MEAN life.

Public transit – Would be greatly improved where it does exist, and instituted where it doesn’t. I would support taxing gasoline heavily in order to encourage people to use their cars less, but only AFTER there’s an adequate transit system in place. Also, towns would be laid out so that people can walk to work, shopping centers, etc.

Public schools – Would be well funded and physically attractive. The best and brightest college grads would be strongly encouraged to become teachers. Parents and other members of the community would be involved in the schools to a much greater extent than they are now. Foreign language education would begin in elementary school. Teachers would place much greater emphasis on critical thinking and less on following rules.

Universities, libraries, and museums – Would also be well funded and accessible to people from all walks of life.

Culture – I’d like to see a more laid-back and less career-driven culture replace the one we have. There would be less pressure to have the suburban, 2-child, 2-income, white-picket-fence and SUV lifestyle. Employers would offer more vacation time (at least 4 weeks/year). College graduates would be encouraged to take a year off to travel or volunteer; sabbaticals would not be considered a blot on one’s employment record. People would go out in the evenings instead of collapsing in exhaustion. Waiters would be perfectly happy to bring customers more wine or coffee while they sit around chatting all evening, and would not try to hustle them out of the way to make room for the next party.

I guess what I’m really saying is that my ideal America would be Europe. Sigh.

3

Internet: Look over every once in awhile to make sure Big Corporations aren’t co-opting it for their own private playground, like Microsoft wants to now. Otherwise, don’t bother.
Drugs: Illegal. Have classes of penalties. Marijuana would be at the probation/community service end, with LSD, Crack and the like at the Jail time end. Selling and Distrubting are felonies with stiff Jail time.
Tort Reform: If you spill coffee on yourself, it’s your fracking fault!!. Unless criminally neglient, compainies wouldn’t have to have fine print on, say, toothpicks.
Guns: Fine as it is. Offenders using guns would be felons, automatically. No pleading down. No light sentences.
Education: Teach, don’t try to uplift everyone’s self esteem.
UN/Foreign Affairs: We stay in to keep track of everyone. We don’t deal with China, regardless.
Defense: Fund it well, with emphasis on what works, not geewhiz keen gadgets that never will.
Capital Punishment: I don’t see it stemming the tide of crime, so why waste time and money on killing them one person at a time?
Freedom of Speech: is just that, freedom of Speech. You don’t burn crosses in peoples front yard and claim “Freedom of Expression”. That’s not in the constution.
Space: Fund it! We will never get anywhere with the spare change from the defense budget.
Big Business: Dudes, this is to ya’ll who engineer the TimeWarner/AOL/Netscape/EMI/NBC/Gannett News Corp type megamergers. No. I’m sorry, but you will not control everything from making the news to reporting it to selling pop music decrying the mass produced culture your advertising departments eagerly foist off on us. Nor will we consider tax breaks for Pharmaceutical companies makes Zillions on medicine that dying people need. You’ve got the cash, pay up. Nor shall we allow our corporations to violate the rights of others overseas and in other countries.

Sounds good for now.

4

In my ideal country there would be plenty of pretty girls, some with big luscious boobs, others with tiny perky tits, and they would all be desirous to go out with me on dates. You can understand then that, in my ideal country, I wouldn’t care much about corporate greed, guns, or, frankly, anything else. I’d be too busy having a good time.

5

Sailor, you make a good point.

–Tim

6

Complete and total democracy – A representative republic was a great idea 200 years ago when it was not possible to get a reply from everyone, but now it is possible to have a true democracy