# Sould we adopt my system of government for America? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 12, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760 "2003-11-12T04:19:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![sealamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@sealamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sealamp)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/81 "2003-11-14T03:23:26Z")
Hydrocortisone: Your idea sucks, and so you will be processed. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/82 "2003-11-14T03:27:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TVAA \* > \*\* > What’s the one thing **Hydro** left out of his plans? He didn’t make any provision for eating the Irish! 🙂 \*\* Do you really want all your meals to taste like beer and potatos? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hydrocortisone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e19b73/32.png) [@Hydrocortisone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hydrocortisone)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/83 "2003-11-14T05:08:17Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. The author has no morals or ethics, and little grasp of logic(though superhuman amounts of idealism). Morals are created by society. > [@](#): > > First of all Hydro seems to have no idea what the word “freedom” means. It means to be able to choose one’s own path, not to be subject to constraints. Free speech for example means I can say what I want, subject only to minimal common sense constraints (fire in a crowded theatre etc.). > How can people be free in this society where every single decision is made for them by some sort of governing counsel and if they disobey they will be transformed into Soup. You think people are free now? People are too confused with greed to be free. We all exist in a construct created by society. My society is created in such a way as to allow people to become free through their service to the society as a whole. As to there not being any babies because social interaction will be eliminated, woman can be impregnated without sex/ ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/84 "2003-11-14T05:18:35Z")
I’m sorry, **Hydrocortisone** , but the council of workers and peasants has deemed that your contributions to society fall below the minimum required to justify your continued existence. Please report to the joy center nearest you for processing, where you shall become a refreshing bisque. We know you are looking forward to this oportunity to serve our glorious state!! ---
**Author:** ![Hydrocortisone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e19b73/32.png) [@Hydrocortisone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hydrocortisone)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/85 "2003-11-14T05:38:49Z")
If you don’t want to seriously debate the issue at hand, don’t post here. Do I come into your thread and shit all over it? ---
**Author:** ![Ewiser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Ewiser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ewiser)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/86 "2003-11-14T06:35:33Z")
The problem you’re having (in case you didn’t notice) is that your positions are so unrealistic, people don’t think you are serious. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/87 "2003-11-14T06:59:03Z")
Your OP is like a nightmare conglomeration of various SciFi movies like Logans Run combined with The Matrix, various radical totalatarian regimes in history (Germany, Soviet Union, Cambodia, etc), and Plato’s Republic…all wrapped up in what you obviously think is a neat package. Surely, just looking at the replies to your OP, you can see that NO ONE, reguardless of their political strip, is going for this thing in any way, shape or form. Hell, most people (myself included) figured you did this as either a joke or a bust against America. I’m still half convinced you aren’t serious in fact… However, if you ARE serious, then the responses you got should tell you that some, er, modifications are necessary to your grand plan. A good place to start would be a better understanding of human nature. Maybe you could capture some live humans and take them up to the mother ship? If not, then get some books on the subject and study them. Next, maybe look at the totalitarial regimes you modeled your perfect world after. How did they fair? What went wrong? Why? Then look at some of the governments that have been sucessful (maybe, you know, actually study American history before trying to change it would be a good idea) and ask the same questions…what did they do wrong, what did they do right? Why? THEN come back with some modifications to your perfect plan that are more reflective of reality, especially of human nature, and post them…and maybe we can have a rational discussion. Or, just keep basing your ideas on the aliens you grew up with and scratching your head at these damn humans and their pecular ways. The choice is yours. 🙂 Oh, and stop watching The Matrix…its not doing you any good at all. -XT ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/88 "2003-11-14T12:19:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HPL \* > \*\*Do you really want all your meals to taste like beer and potatos? 🙂 \*\* Well, yes, actually, that would be lovely. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/89 "2003-11-14T12:23:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HPL \* > \*\*Do you really want all your meals to taste like beer and potatos? 🙂 \*\* Only if we can combine it with some Germans so I can get some bratwurst as well. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/90 "2003-11-14T13:46:31Z")
> [@](#): > > If you don’t want to seriously debate the issue at hand, don’t post here. Do I come into your thread and shit all over it? You just shit all over the forum. [Not seriously] Please send me you name, number, and address, along with a time when you expect to be at home sleeping. I’ll be happy to come by and, err… “process” you. But don’t worry, I’ll mke sure your meat does not go to waste and achieves new value to America as canned dog food. 😉 Obviously, people would be so much more free if they never got to do anything but labor and sleep. Because, as we all know, its those things like free time and wealth that imprison people. ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/91 "2003-11-14T15:31:48Z")
[Arbeit Macht Frei](http://www.rudyfoto.com/hol/arbeit.html). Or is that too, too obvious? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/92 "2003-11-14T17:02:12Z")
I think that pretty much sums it up, **Papermache Prince** ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/93 "2003-11-14T18:15:30Z")
So what’s the deal, Hydrocortisone? You were so enthralled by the distopian societies depicted in Brave New World, 1984, Soylant Green, with a dash of Logans Run and a side of Borg collectivism that you want to model our society after them? Was there something appealing about the societies created by Stalin, Hitler and Pol Pot that you felt worth emulating? > [@](#): > > You think people are free now? People are too confused with greed to be free. We all exist in a construct created by society. My society is created in such a way as to allow people to become free through their service to the society as a whole. This is a largely meaningless statement. People are free to do as they please provided they do not interfear with other’s freedoms and can support themselves somehow. Your society basically replaces the present constructs with a diferent set of worse constructs that remove any freedom. Simply stateing that it is “free” because you think it is so is blantantly false doublespeak by any accepted definition of the word “free”. It should be obvious to you that most people find your idea repulsive. Your society is perhaps more suited to a society of mindless automatons (robots for example) or perhaps a colony of ants. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/94 "2003-11-14T19:13:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hydrocortisone \* > \*\*As to there not being any babies because social interaction will be eliminated, woman can be impregnated without sex/ \*\* Oh yeah, I’m sure women will be lining up to get knocked up…:rolleyes: I can hear them say in unison “Over my soylent green!” The Law of Diminishing Returns will then take over and your little governmental experiment will have a bunch of old men clammering over the “Good Old Days”… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/95 "2003-11-14T19:28:17Z")
What I find most amusing is the idea expressed in the OP that a few constitutional amanedments will be required. Ya _think?_ ---
**Author:** ![Hydrocortisone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e19b73/32.png) [@Hydrocortisone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hydrocortisone)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/96 "2003-11-14T19:28:41Z")
Ok, think about this. In this country alone 1% of the people control over 1/3 of the wealth. Throughout the world it is even worse. We need a new system that will protect **everyone**. We need a system that will let everyone be **free**. What percentage of the world is straving right now? What percentage of the world will go to bed hungary tonight? Do you call these people free? The new system must start in the United States or it will be crushed. We can save the world together or let thousands of children continue to die day after day. Their blood is on your hands. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/97 "2003-11-14T19:47:05Z")
And with your plan, in my gut. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/98 "2003-11-14T19:52:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Ok, think about this. In this country alone 1% of the people control over 1/3 of the wealth. Throughout the world it is even worse. WHy should I care? It is of no consequence to me hether one man alone controls 99% of the world’s wealth. I can earn wealth for myself, regardless of other people’s cash flow. > [@](#): > > We need a new system that will protect everyone. Yes, by not letting them do anything they would like to do. Protect them from thought, hope, and joy. > [@](#): > > We need a system that will let everyone be free. Yes. Free to work until they die. Since you are obviously using your free time to post this, report to your liquification center for orderly disposal immediately! > [@](#): > > Their blood is on your hands. But of course, all the blood that would be on your hands is perfectly alright. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/99 "2003-11-14T19:58:35Z")
Ya know, wealth /= energy or something. One person having it does not automatically deprive another person of it, like the Hope Diamond. It can multiply like amoebas. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760/100 "2003-11-14T20:04:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > **What I find most amusing is the idea expressed in the OP that a few constitutional amanedments will be required.** I can see it now: H. Con Res 1: In the Constitution, strike all after the enacting clause, and insert, “Amendment the First: War is Peace…” I cannot help but wonder if anyone who would suggest such a system has actually tried to carry it out in their own personal lives… that is, no joy but work, no sexual contact whatsoever, and abandonment of their artificially-conceived children so that they may be raised in an impartial, efficient manner by total strangers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sould-we-adopt-my-system-of-government-for-america/212760.md?page=6)