# What "radical" ideas/laws would you enact if "king for a day" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 29, 2012, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669 "2012-06-29T07:06:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/41 "2012-06-30T20:28:09Z")
Failing to take the right-of-way when it’s your turn will be a hanging offense. It’s a four-way stop. It’s not that difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/42 "2012-06-30T21:18:37Z")
> [@Mdcastleman](#): > > 1.) Abortion is illegal for any reason > 2.) Teaching evolution is illegal > 3) Singapore style caning is implemented. Do something wrong, get your butt shredded instead of rotting in jail at taxpayer expense. Coporal punishment returns to schools. > … > > 1. Goverment subsidizes gasoline until it’s under $2.00 a gallon. Well, you certainly do seem to have thought of everything. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/43 "2012-06-30T21:31:55Z")
Manufacturers of small, consumable items would no longer be allowed to manipulate the end user in mean and petty ways. For instance, they wouldn’t be allowed to put it in packages that are completely opaque near the bottom so you can’t see how much product you have left. Deodorant sticks would have flat tops so you can store them upside down when the deodorant it’s nearly gone. (I’ve always suspected that “tippy” and opaque packages are a subtle ploy to get consumers to buy more, sooner. Brainless design flaws would be felonies. This means all houses and apartments will have outdoor power outlets in their yards or on their terraces. What? We’ve had electricity in houses for a century or more, but few builders seem to realize that we might want to use a lamp or a power tool outdoors. All toilet paper dispensers in public restrooms should have flat tops, so you can put your keys, change, etc., on them (or there should be a shelf that doesn’t require a heavy object to stay down.) ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/44 "2012-06-30T22:39:08Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > -Order all new architecture be built in Victorian styles You’re like Ron Paul, An awesome idea surrounded by a bunch o’ crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Enuma\_Elish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5e9695/32.png) [@Enuma\_Elish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enuma_Elish)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/45 "2012-06-30T23:04:09Z")
I would enact worldwide Jubilee, where every law, every border, every government, and every legal authority (except for me) was immediately eliminated. I would allow one year of complete anarchy before borders, countries, and laws could be rebuilt. When the time came to rebuild, no more than one law per day could be enacted. Jubilee would be a recurring event every 25 years. During the time of rebuilding, everyone in the world would be required to wear their underwear on the outside of their clothing until there was a consensus that there were enough laws. ---
**Author:** ![oreally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ab992/32.png) [@oreally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oreally)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/46 "2012-07-01T00:13:40Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Um. Who is going to do the raping? I have a hunch it won’t be too hard to find someone willing in the prisons. > [@](#): > > So “impossible to enforce” is not considered a barrier in this hypothetical? :rolleyes: Difficult at times for sure, but not impossible. PS because a solution isn’t perfect doesn’t mean it should be abandoned. I just thought of another one: no more anonymous posts on message boards. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/47 "2012-07-01T00:58:46Z")
Make a very hard test for true citizenship so that only ~5% of the population is able to pass it. The test will include a lot of ethics. Only true citizens can vote. They are required to spend a minimum of 10 hours a week studying something useful, but are paid for this time and get great fringe benefits. Any real world ethical violation is permanent revocation of citizenship. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/48 "2012-07-01T03:43:29Z")
> [@oreally](#): > > That’s what I’d do to cell phones. Or maybe make them so the only thing you can dial/connect to is 911. No more idiots walking around w/those damn things glued to their faces 24/7. Yay! 🙂 What is it to you or me if they do this? ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/49 "2012-07-01T04:46:17Z")
Everybody has to wear a hat, unless it causes any danger (driving, using machinery etc) Supermarkets give away free potatoes, up to 1lb each, per day. All debts are forgiven. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/50 "2012-07-02T10:46:14Z")
I thought of a couple more: I would build a brand-new, state-of-the-art automobile factory in every state. Then I would split up the Big Three automakers into 50 smaller companies, each headquartered in a different state. That way, if one company or one region ran into trouble, it would pose less danger to the national economy. Likewise, any financial institution that requires a federal bailout, will be split up into 50 smaller companies, each headquartered in a different state. If a bank executive wishes to make large bets on risky derivatives, he will find himself back in the minor leagues, where he belongs. Oh, and in my universal healthcare system, medical records will be kept by the FBI. If you want Big Brother changing your diapers, then you should be willing to let him snoop. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/51 "2012-07-02T14:36:20Z")
> [@SnakesCatLady](#): > > Failure to spay/neuter pets will result is large fines. Ten out of 10 veterinarians say spaying or neutering guppies is 100-per-cent fatal. (Budgies don’t like it either, but they can at least try to talk you out of it.) ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/52 "2012-07-02T15:41:13Z")
My answer hasn’t changed: > [@Two songs that sound better together](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-songs-that-sound-better-together/568419/12): > > I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Once I’m named Supreme Highlord, one of my first acts will make it a felony (punishable by not less than 10 years in my slave mines) for any DJ to play the _Live At Budokan_ version of _I Want You To Want Me_ without letting it play through to _Surrender_. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/53 "2012-07-02T18:28:39Z")
**Taxes:** First, some boring common-sense things we used to do back in the day: Restructure the tax code so we have an additional bracket for each order of magnitude income. Windfalls, prize money, etc., may be calculated as if they were received over three years instead of all at once. All capital gains count as regular income. –and then– Taxable income will be defined as the sum of wages, salaries, prize monies, inheritance, commissions, etc. (taxable income now) plus\* net\* capital gains. If one has capital losses, his taxable income will be negative, and he may collect a refund from the government. Institute a redistribution tax: every adult person, every minor youth with income above 1/2 per capita GDP, and every business owes a 25% income surtax; every natural person gets a refundable tax credit of 25% of per capita GDP. (Yes, corporate incomes would drop, but the persons who make up those corporations would get some money back.) Property taxes will be levied on net worth, not only on real and personal property. Thus a business deep in hock would actually owe negative property tax and get a theoretically refundable deduction from the government, while a wealthy person with lots of bonds would have to pay a tax on all those financial assets. **Environmental law:** EPA has enforcement powers, and lots of staff. Willful defiance of pollution standards carries a possible penalty of total forfeiture of one’s business on conviction. Poachers are shot on sight. Ocean fisheries will require specific licenses, and violators will be sunk on sight. **Technological development:** The government will have extensive research and development institutes set up for (for a start) biological, medical, chemical engineering, civil engineering, and agricultural purposes. Everything they produce will be public domain. Anything taken out of the public domain by law in the last 40 years will be returned to the public domain. The legislators and civil servants responsible will be tracked down and made to spend a few days in stocks on the Mall. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/54 "2012-07-02T18:35:33Z")
Oh, and Delaware,\* if it actually exists,\* is on its own. Expel it from the union so it has to make its own way, and so we can engage in trade war against it. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/55 "2012-07-02T19:34:25Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Poachers are shot on sight. What if the alleged poacher, now dead at the hands of an enemy or righteously indignant slobbering mouth-breather, wasn’t a poacher? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/56 "2012-07-02T19:41:49Z")
First command: Everyone must refer to me as King Cole Second command: All cabbage must be mixed with mayo and consumed at every meal. Third command: When you order it from the menu, it must be labeled as King Cole’s Law. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/57 "2012-07-02T19:54:10Z")
A crowd-sourced violation reporting system for vehicles. Anyone registered on the system could report other vehicles anonymously, one time per day per vehicle. Once a vehicle exceeds a certain threshold of reports per day/week/month, it gets impounded. All non-essential food additives would be banned. Nothing would be added to food as filler, preservatives, or anything else unless it was absolutely necessary. Political campaigns would be funded entirely with minimal public money. No more raising tens of millions of dollars. All candidates with the required number of signatures get the same amount of money to work with. That will get them used to dealing with limited funds, which will be reality once they’re in office. Congressmen would not be allowed to vote on any matter that personally benefited them. They are never allowed to make rules or laws on their pay or benefits. Bills will be written in simple concise language, and only concern one item per bill, not multiple items. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669/58 "2012-07-02T21:45:22Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > What if the alleged poacher, now dead at the hands of an enemy or righteously indignant slobbering mouth-breather, wasn’t a poacher? Fine. Arrested promptly. With death penalty on conviction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-radical-ideas-laws-would-you-enact-if-king-for-a-day/626669.md?page=2)