Just for the hell of it, redesign the country you live in. Copy the numbered points and address how you would improve or maintain them. The order presented below is arbitrary; it has little to do with the aspects' importance.

1) Healthcare
2) Legal issues
3) Civil rights
4) Economy/Taxation
5) Military
6) Foreign policy
7) Education
8) Immigration
9) Other

I smell a term paper someone forgot to do (

The United States of America:
1) Healthcare
All health services would be made public and free. Drug users/alcoholics would have low priority and be ineligible for transplants unless there is a surplus of a given organ.

2) Legal issues
The entire system would be revamped. Only public attorneys would be allowed for defense in criminal cases for any criminal - no more Chewbacca defense for the rich. Increased pay and regular competency testing for these public attorneys. (A transition to such a system would take maybe a decade - this is an "ideal" realistic scenario). Penalties for anyone proven guilty would be draconian - death for any first degree murder/treason/maybe serial rape, and much heavier sentences, with prisons being mostly replaced with shorter sentences of forced labor. Drugs would be legalized, but any crime committed under the influence thereof would be punished more harshly. A high school education would be a prerequisite for jury duty.

3) Civil rights
Voting, jury duty, and several other aspects of citizenship require the completion of high school. Gun control, beyond a ban on privately owned automatics, would be left up to state legislatures. Patriot act repealed. "Cruel and unusual punishment" clause repealed, with a photo of Lorena Bobbitt holding scissors added to the document.

4) Economy/Taxation
The US would follow Japan's example in most aspects - it's not necessarily fair, but it works. Taxes would remain roughly the same or increase slightly. Moving corporations out of the nation would be made unprofitable (I'm no economist yet, beats me as to how exactly it should be done). No more welfare, and social security eventually phased out.

5) Military
Reduce forces by about 30% and withdraw the troops from Germany, Japan, SK, etc. Cold war's over, cover your own asses as you see fit, please. Cut research and development slightly. Extend Selective Service to women or end it altogether.

6) Foreign policy
Finish up in Iraq/Afghanistan and pull the hell out. The government will leave foreign aid to private organizations - our tax money stays at home.

7) Education
Extensive reform and added funding to convert the system into something like Kinuvan described a few months ago, although with less emphasis on local history and foreign languages. Nonmandatory after the completion of eighth grade, but again, a high school diploma is required for a lot more things.

8) Immigration
"Get yer ass back to Eurasia!" -Moe Scyzlak
Limited (hypocritical on my part, and I'll admit as much). Qualified teachers and their immediate families would be welcomed to move here; other than that, it would be maintained at its current level or so. Illegals have basically same rights as legals but lower priority in terms of any noneducational public services.

9) Other
Environment - "We got rid of it in Texas, and it made all of us a whole lot richer!" -Rich Texan from Simpsons. Nothing specific in mind right now.
Affirmative action - ended.
Can't really think of anything else right now.

Edit: Beo, I'd have said as much if I did :p Slacking is nothing to be ashamed of. But this is purely out of interest.

Pretty much all Willgatus said would be good for any country.

Only thing id change is how we treat prisoners. I say we ship em all to some prisons in Alaska/Groenland and only give them the minimum required as food, with no entertainment possible while there. People would probably think twice before commiting crimes. And give them the same kind of treatments regardless if theyre rich/famous or not.

Esbatonia:
1) Civil Rights: Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness > all. However, some form of paid civil service (be it serving in the army, building roads, whatever) would be mandatory for two years. Thid duty would have to be discharged before the age of 25. People would only be allowed to vote after they completed this obligation. Other (career) civil employees would be paid a competative wage.
2) Economy/Taxation: Free market economy with a flat tax rate on income, property and sales/services. Maybe something else would work better, but if I was running a country, I'd have experts to help with this.
3) Education: Mandatory education through age 14: after that mandatory tracks for tradeskills or college based on aptitude and individual desire. English would be made the official language, but a second language would be required.
4) Military: Any country worth living is is worth defending. Military spending would be a set rate of all income tax collected, but would never exceed education.
5) Healtcare: Socialized healthcare. Again, experts to help with this.
6) Legal issues: I rather liked what Willgatus said. However, I'd add that the appeals process would be streamlined so that a trial and all of the appeals would be over within 18 months.
7) Immigration: More relaxed immigration laws. Integrate and get people playing taxes as soon as possible. A longer mandatory civil service term would be required (5 years) to become a citizen, regardless of age.
8> Foreign Policy: Centered so that the homeland would be taken care of before other lands. Also, be less antagonistic and take a longer view.
9) Other: Forget everything I said and leave it up to someone who knows what they are talking about

See below post
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V

Dear Willgatus, I live in reality. In all honesty, if this were a perfect world your scheme would work... but then Socialism would also be a perfect utopia and the Soviet Union would have been a model nation for the world to awe at. But again, this is roleplaying, so I'll roleplay as a devil's adovocate.

You say... All health services would be made public and free
But later go on to say...Taxes would remain roughly the same or increase slightly

Wow, that sounds like a great idea. Oh wow! I just pulled a $100 bill out of my ass too! Come on... think about that one.

This kind of upset me as well... and I consider myself fairly conservative.
No more welfare

Now see, the Welfare system is something we should keep, but reform. You sit in your nice house, reading your paper about all these (don't get mad at the stereotype) single African-American mothers trying to raise children on their own, but taking their welfare checks to buy crack cocaine instead of bread, cheese and what other sorts of shit kids need to survive. The welfare system does in reality help a lot of people that don't have much or are going through tough times. Just many bad apples screw it up for them and put a bad name that plagues the whole system as dysfunctional. That's probably the main reason the United States government as a whole has kept it in action, yeah some people are fucking shit up for others, but it does help some people that genuinely need it.

As much as I enjoy Simpsons quotes, I'm glad Matt Groening doesn't run our country.

Shew, this is marginally realistic, and assumes a transition. A truly ideal system would be libertarianism + draconian punitive measures, or something out of Heinlein - Esbat's on the right track toward the latter :)

Sweden:
1) Healthcare
- Healthcare should be released to private entrepeuners and governmental costs cut to a bare minimum. Costs for the common man would be pressed down using subvensional system akin to what is currently used on the Swedish medical market. A max-cost system would be put into place. A system would be put into place which would subject said entrepeuners to intense scrutiny.
- State monopoly should be encouraged, but not forced, on medical distrubition. Allow private entrepeneurs to fire up their own pharmacies, but under severe and extremely strict conditions.

2) Legal issues
- Get rid of the monarchy. Yes, I like the monarchy of today, but in an optimized state it doesn't belong as far as I'm concerned.
- Police officers required to pass armed/unarmed combat trials every second year to remain on active duty.
- Current court-process remains current (judge + 3 "jurors" confer in order to determine guilt/penalty)
- Increase penalties for most crimes. Sweden is extremely lenient, our max incarceration period is ten years. Kick it up to around 50 years. Repeat sex offenders / serial killers who by an overwhelming psychiatric expertise is deemed uncurable, or un-reinsertable into society should be executed. Double any second-offense penalties from the above categories. Triple any third offense... and so forth.
- Criminals sentenced to prison more than once before the age of 18 loses the right to vote, criminals sentenced thrice loses the right to vote at any point in their life.
Etc... you can see where this is going.

3) Civil rights
- To vote you need a passing grade in social studies (currently a mandatory course in our equivalent of highscool), you also need a passing grade in a new course that I'd pre-emptively label "domestic politics" in order to gain a basic understanding of the current system.
- To collect retirement stipends from governmental funds , and to qualify for certain aspects of the healthcare / civil rights areas, you need to complete two years of community service. This can be, but is not restricted to, military service.
- Harder restrictions on who qualifies for welfare, better education for the socialworkers in charge of welfare (they suck currently).

4) Economy/Taxation
- State releases all but key companies, state bans market-cooperation between state/free companies (Telia / Telia-soneras cooperation to corner the internet market being one example).
- Other than that, keep it as it is.

5) Military
- Push for a united EU military force, this would increase the military protection for Sweden by hundredfolds as well as drive down costs. Sweden is currently one, if not the, most technically capable army in the world with extremely advanced equipment. But our defensive qualities are crippled by government cutbacks and our low manpower.
- Every able citizen (including women) is required 8-15 months of military service. Currently, most are discharged at the first convenience. Oh, you're allergic to cats, reserves for you my friend, we'll call you if there's a war heading our way.

6) Foreign policy
- Dump the hypocritical neutrality act. We're not fooling anyone, we've always been pro-western throughout our history. However, agression just isn't an option for us.

7) Education
- Remains free. Sweden's educational system is the best there is.

8) Immigration
- Keep immigration as open as it is, require passed written & oral exams on swedish or english to be allowed citizenship.
- Citizenship not granted until after the aforementioned two years of community service has been completed.

These two in my eyes would present the perfect opportunity to be inserted into the swedish society. During the community service the immigrant is not only granted a wage, it's also contributing to society and gets a chance to learn the language at the same time.

9) Other

say we ship em all to some prisons in Alaska

NO way dont want the scum here. Send em to California

Only public attorneys would be allowed for defense in criminal cases for any criminal


HEHE,until they come drag YOU out your house for a triple murder based on the testimony of a drunk and 3 80 year old nuns.

I'd live in a towering cloud capped castle, and sweep out among the populace with my warlords every so often to instill fear and capture the latest daughters of peasants for proper training until harem age.

My perfect society..

Healthcare. Everyone has healthcare. It is free and supplied by the State. We will especially be effiecent with mental health systems. We will ensure that everyone is happy with a barrage of regular tests and medications. Failure to comply with our set standards means a person is living unhealthy and creating a greater burden on the shared system. Such people will be eligible to participate in our free re-education camps until such time as they learn to comply and be happy.

My Justice system will be quick and efficent. If you fuck up.. if we *think* you fuck up, if you fail to report someone that might have fucked up.. You disappear, maybe for a "vacation " to one of our re-education camps.. maybe for other parts.
Sometimes when its quiet, we will pick someone at random and make them disappear, just to remind people that it can happen at any time.

Civil Rights. All are equal. Men and women. There will be no racism or sexism allowed. Births and Marriages will be arrainged by the State to bring people most compatible together. If you start thinking in a wrong or bad way, you will be found out by my secret police and taken for re-education. We encourage people to report their friends, family and co-workers who may have said a comment or remark that might have been construed as racist. In fact, if you have never reported someone, it must naturally be because you are too busy concealing your own thought crimes.

Economy/Taxation. There is no Taxation, we all work the greater glory of the State. You will work without pay because the state will supply you with all you need. We of course, will make the judgements of what you need.

Miltary. Being as we are in a constant state of war with Nations that want to destroy our way of Life or we are trying to liberate oppressed people, our society is totally dedicated to our fighting forces. The Safety of the State is crucial. Because our enemies have spies everywhere... we need to maintain a large and efficent Secret Police force to ferret out spies, or people who are weak and potential targets for recruitment by enemy spies. This week we are at war with Eurasia, last week they were our Allies..

Foreign Policy.
See Above.

Education. Because education is such a huge priority and sometime parents arent able to give some children the attention they need, the State will take full control and custody of all children at Birth. We will ensure they recieve proper education and care. Births will be regulated by the State, since we have been forced to take responsiblitie of children, and only people selected and matched will be allowed to mate.

Immigration. We are currently in a struggle to liberate all other nations from their repressive governments. Once that is accomplished, we will all be united and there will be nowhere to go. There will be no escape.

Other.
My picture of the perfect society is a Jackboot smashing endllessly into a human face.

Das Kapital meets Heinlein?

I'm surprised by some of your ideas Kivorn, pleasantly I might add.

Psy/Vas

Well... he is a Butabi. Even though he gayed out on Team Pink.

1) Healthcare: There should be a solid system of basic healthcare that is state provided BUT there should also be incentive for innovation that only the profit motive can provide. Health needs a happy balance struck. Perhaps a national health insurance in which every person pays into like social security (which would be gone) to cover those that can't afford the basics. Unfornately, that really doesn't fix the real problem. The problems lay in price gouging done by drug manufacturers, and high insurance premiums paid by doctors, hospitals and other care providers due to huge punitive monetary awards being levied against malpractice suits.

2) Legal issues: Do away with pointless and exploitive litigation by only allowing a prison sentence to be awarded. Time taken from your life is not so easily replaced as money, which for many offers an easy way out. Equate real hard time with civial litigation and you might force people to be less greedy and alot more honest.

3) Civil rights: Pure Equality. Being that everyone has the same chance to succeed or fail through the merit of their own actions. No one should be able to blame anyone but theirselves.

4) Economy/Taxation: Total restructuring of energy policy by phasing out the use of petroleum and any other energy source that is not derived from a source that isn't readily available as a domestic product and immediately renewable. Some project that the known petroleum reserves will be exhausted in 20-30 years "at the current rate of consumption". It sure would suck to have all this shit powered by oil when it runs out. As for other aspects, no more social security or welfare. That money would go to healthcare instead. Flat tax.

5) Military: Develop the technology so that there would be no need to forward deploy. One means might be hypersonic transport aircraft. End dependancy on petroleum fuels. Place more emphesis on small unit combat tactics using the best communications and weapons available. Streamline the logistics and you can reduce the size of the military sustantially.

6) Foreign policy: see Teddy Roosevelt. Don't start no shit....but don't take any either.

7) Education: Find some broader way of paying for it on a national level other than through offsets of local property taxes. As for colleges: Those that exploit the fruits of the research of students should perhaps contribute more to ffset their education....cough!..corperations...cough!

8) Immigration: Come on in, but, learn English AND Spanish first reguardless of where you are from. Know enough to function well and contribute. Become a citizen before you tap into the system. Otherwise, you arn't getting shit.

9) Other: In todays world, you can't be an island fortress. Those days are over.

A lot of these ideas are fun but very few present HOW you are going to do this and who is going to pay for it. That is the crux in any state government. Not the idealistic views but how you could actually do that.

How the fuck should I know. I would let my staff figure all those details out. I just provide...THE VISION! :)