Ibon wrote:Newfie challenges me to specify the mechanism that could one day after the bottle neck of collapse create a more sustainable society, I have to ask you the same. Please specify the mechanism or pathway to turn this global juggernaut of mediocrity around toward a more enlightened society.
How do you take this utopian ideal and execute it?
I don't believe I ever claimed that the existing structure will disappear. It is too entrenched, and will not go away without bloodshed. And I agree, that another similar structure will probably replace it.
If we wanted to work in that direction, however:
Require that ALL political donations go into a joint fund, to be allocated equally to all parties that make the ballot. Initiate some fair requirement for making the ballot.
Require that all elected officials reside on a military base, with conditions similar to that of military officers.
Initiate firm, 4 year term limits for all offices.
Require that all lawmaker contact with lobbyists take place in a monitored conference room with recorded audio visual media available to all through the internet. Forbid any contact other than that.
Show before and after financial sheets on all candidates for any public office. Maintain and publish those sheets for 10 years after the official leaves office. Prosecute anyone who is shown to profit from his knowledge of, or influence on, the political process.
Institute a 3% interest rate (fixed) for any loan, to any person or corporate entity. Any loan for anything other than that rate, would be basis for prosecution. No free loans.
Require that all advertising be devoid of emotional tags. Must be factual only. Create a panel to insure this.
Require a 2 year public or military service period for any person who wants to vote.
Require that all persons running for election be eligible to vote.
Initiate free internet schools with accredited testing for any field of knowledge. All education would be free, but ability to benefit from some types of advanced education would be reviewed. Everyone would not be able to study particle physics at CERN.
Provide acknowledgement and certs to any and all that complete a certain number of hours of accredited education per year. This would be from birth to death. Have panels made up of educators and out of work advertising agents to push this lifelong education.
Convert existing colleges and universities to testing centers, and lab and/or hands-on learning centers.
Require a one month school on parenting for anyone desiring a marriage license. No pass, no license. Any child born to parents not passing the test would be subject to weekly social services reviews.
Either declare any real estate property as abandoned after 1 year of non use, and auction it off via gov auctions, or add a federal property tax increasing at 50% per year of non use. All proceeds to go to general fund.
Eliminate income taxes for anyone making other than a certain minimum - set a percentage figure for all other persons and corporations. No deductions.
Eliminate property taxes for any owner over 65 (for the home they live in only).
Change corporate structures to insure that any corporate illegal behavior will result in prosecution and punishment of major corporate officers, and the entire board of directors.
Change corporate pay structures to forbid payment in stock options, or perks (free use of corp jets, company assigned BMW's, etc) All incomes to be subject to income tax, if over the minimum.
Oh boy, this has been fun, but now I have to go buy a new pickup truck. My 2014 Toyota is grey, and I just hate that color.