DoomedOne
Apr 17 2007, 12:48 AM
I figure everybody gets ideas on what they would try to implement if they got to be the big main dude. Balances of Power aside, what main laws and projects would you implement or at least try to implement.
If I were President, I'd be elected on Friday, assassinated on Saturday, buried on Sunday. Couldn't resist. Anyway, firstly I hate my country's budget. I would make our military budget 1/10th what it is currently and focus most of that money on improving technology and training making instead of recruitment, keeping our aircraft carriers running on securing oil fields. I would put more money into education and being resubsidizing college to help expand the middle class in this country. I would spend a ton of money on technology development to help reduce green gas emission. I would cut the FBI budget in half, and cut the CIA and NSA out of the picture. Furthermore, because global warming will be in full swing populaces around the globe will need to be relocated constantly. A lot of money will have to go into that. It's okay though, if the military budget was cut we'd have the money. Also, public transportation would get a lot of money, too.
I would completely reformat our foreign policy so we have to respect sovereignty. Everything about Foreign Policy will change, especially how we trade with people. I would put a trade embargo on all nations that did not have living-wage laws. I would up our own minimum wage ot a living one. I would invest in study abroad programs because the best way to end racial/regional ignorance (which feeds support of wars in foreign countries) is to justg force people to deal with all types of people all the time.
90% of all undeveloped land would be declared untouchable national forests. Polution laws would go into effect far sgtricter than any we've seen before, pesticides would become illegal as well as synthetic nitrogen and other environmentally damaging addatives. Subsidies would be given to companies that implemented environmentally friendly technology and sold environmentally friendly products. Magnet trains and electric buses would slowly replace cars, etc...
NAFTA would be completely disbanded and rewritten in corrodination with the workers and environmental activists this time around. And if I really could, I'd disband company farms and help family farms replace them.
Zelda_Zealot
Apr 17 2007, 02:12 AM
Well that works for me, you get my vote.

Personally, I don't want to be in any position of power, so I don't know what I would do as President. One question, what is NAFTA?
Dantrag
Apr 17 2007, 02:24 AM
NAFTA = North American Free Trade Agreement.
I actually agree with that one, though I will concede that it has been misused in many cases. (But what hasn't on this earth?)
EDIT: I'll come back with my 'if i were king' post
Zelda_Zealot
Apr 17 2007, 02:27 AM
Gum, how can you misuse gum? Back on topic, what exactly does NAFTA do?
Lord Revan
Apr 17 2007, 02:35 AM
NAFTA is made up of the U.S.A, Canada, and Mexico. We have a trade agreement amongst ourselves. Thus Mexico is our.... second? greatest trading partner. I'm not sure on the specifics, although we had to study it last year.
Dantrag
Apr 17 2007, 02:43 AM
QUOTE(Zelda_Zealot @ Apr 16 2007, 09:27 PM)

Gum, how can you misuse gum? Back on topic, what exactly does NAFTA do?
put it in someone's hair.
Lord Revan
Apr 17 2007, 02:54 AM
If I were president (United States) I would absolutely be conservitive. Forget the liberals! The auto industry would be pushed to increase public transportation and decrease production of cars. (Come on, most families in foreign countries only have
one car as opposed to three).
Hydroponics (in-door agriculture) would be encouraged, and the construction of Agri-platforms on the Pacific coast would become a major project. Prototype solar arrays would be tested for quaility, and space elevators would be invested to replace space shuttles.
I would set up a program within law enforcement that calls for bonuses and incentives for ex-army men to protect the homefront. Fema would be reformed (as of now it's pretty much a joke) with higher standards.
Money would be invested in hightening the living condition of Mexico (Heh, if we're willing to go help countries across the world.... And besides the EU did the same thing with Spain and everyone got something out of it!)
Foriegn languages courses would be incouraged, and the customary system of measurment will be replaced with the metric system (we tried to shift years ago but quit). Stricter use of government money will be required (look at the retirment of all the baby boomers, it will probably ruin our economy with all the insurance we're promising.
...... I'll come up with more later.
Dantrag
Apr 17 2007, 03:48 AM
If I were President...
On the foreign front, I would not pull troops from Iraq, merely because we would be putting them in a terrible situation. I would try to use some funding to build different community type centers over there, in cooperation with their officials. Schools, hospitals, etc. Of course, we would still have to provide some defense, but I think that if the Iraqi people saw some good coming from our occupation, things would be smoother.
On the homefront, I would start by immediately repealing the Patriot Act. It's a terrible violation of our right to privacy. I'd try also to put forth more strict environmental laws as far as factories and automobiles go. I would also put more funding towards the research of alternate fuels.
I don't know how well this would work out, but I would also try to amend the Constitution so that elections were decided by popular vote instead of the electoral college (that would be abolished altogether) It's an outdated system anyway, designed to keep the educated landowners in power and the poor peasants out of it.
That's all I got for now.
Pisces
Apr 17 2007, 03:57 AM
I'd remove taxes from the first $10'000 of income, put on carbon taxes, make it compulsory to pay for rubbish desposal rather than having it state funded, I don't see why small families pay so big buisness can put rubbish in their backyard, decreasing their property value and health. Make people have to pay for any other types of pollution equal to the damage they are doing (soil, water, air, chemical/health). Note this will increase cost of animal products.
Decriminalise using weed, meaning you can still get prosecuted for using weed so its still illegal, but you can't get a criminal record from prosecutions unless your doing something like dealing or supplying, seeing how that goes I would legalise its use for over 18s in cafes and allow it to be sold in small quantities per person for over 20s at liqour stores, still illegal to sell otherwise but obviously legal to grow to sell to cafes and liqour stores. Cafes would require a certain % of their profit to be from food/drink and couldn't sell weed past 9pm. Most of this is aimed at changing the drinking culture rather than to restrict weed.
Ban bottom trawling and put further restrictions on bycatch.
Ban the mining of coal and phase out coal sales, the coal industry is a SOE anyway so its not like I'm crushing any companies, and I'd put subsidies on renewable energy, especially solar water heating.
I'd move the oil to becoming a SOE so I can stop pollution be keep oil if we need it for something like a space project, I'd have no idea how NZ would get money for a space project but I'm thinking ahead.
Invest in developing green transportation technology, biofuel planes etc. This is important for NZ as although currently it takes less carbon to produce food in NZ and shipping it to US or UK than it does to produce food in the US or UK and supply locally, it won't stop the UK and US (err, UK, US isn't that progressive) putting food mile taxes on to reduce their carbon, punishing the good NZ for the actions of their own bad industry. It may shock all you to know that it is possible to power ships without carbon, yes I know, modern magic has allowed ships to be powered by...you won't believe this...WIND!!!

Of course instead of sails a series of wind turbines across the ship as well as solar panels on the top to power electic engines.
I'd put a series of moves to ban slave made goods, alternatively I could legalise slavery, but its kinda silly having it in the middle like it is right now. I'd put in measures to increase fairly traded goods.
I'd increase animal rights, especially caged hens; and probably look at way at making meat industry more accountable, no kosher slaughterhouses killing meat in non kosher ways.
I'd put taxes on rainforest wood, and probably make a SOE looking into making a native forest industry (not in areas which already are native forest obviously).
If I were to disregard the public completely I would ban meat completely and use all the extra land as forest.
Oh, and of course I would ban anyone opposing me, declare war on outerspace and put a land claim on all other countries.
Priest of Sithis
Apr 17 2007, 04:24 PM
If I were President, I'd be elected on Friday, assassinated on Saturday, buried on Sunday...(Wyclef John)
For real though, I would initiate War, until war destroyed itself, then humanity would revert back to its natural state. Only the strong survive. Leastways, only the strong with guns survive...
jack cloudy
Apr 17 2007, 04:35 PM
Me, president? It would be the end of the world, period. Or the end of me, whatever comes first. I can't handle the press and the resulting stress not to mention I have no useable knowledge regarding politics whatsoever. Oh, and I'll either need sunglasses or ban the use of the flash in cameras.
DoomedOne
Apr 17 2007, 11:19 PM
I kind of want to talk about what I'd do about drugs now.
All, even the most dangerous substances, will be legal, just some will only be legal with a prescription. Coca leaves would be legal in their natural form but the extracted form with the chemical addatives (i.e. cocaine) would remain illegal to purchase and own but there would be no punishment on anyone for owning a personal amount of any drug.
Drug use in public would remain illegal. There would be specific places meant for smoking marijuana, aptly named Joints. The FDA (which I would also overhaul because... it's rotten to the core) would test and control all recreational drugs to help inform the public on safe use and precautions. They'd be taxed and certified so you could make sure of certain things, like that medical marijuana for patients with low white blood cell counts doesn't contain any mold. Growing would be controlled so we wouldn't get Big Cannabis Companies like we have with Tobacco.
Priest of Sithis
Apr 18 2007, 02:29 AM
Presidentiality or whatever you want to call it, is a troublesome thing.
Here are a few things I've thought about that humanity has lost in this day and age:
1)resiliency
2)closeness
3)dependency
4)loyalty, to some extent
5)freedom
These (objects) are what we could regain if an Anarchist State was achieved. However, I am no martyr or activist, simply an observer, and plus the Anarchist State is a paradox. Anyways, humanity is no longer the glorious success of reproduction, it is the gunk that stinks to the bottom of subway cars.
(I have very little faith in our Race)
Pisces
Apr 18 2007, 04:13 AM
QUOTE(Priest of Sithis @ Apr 18 2007, 01:29 PM)

Presidentiality or whatever you want to call it, is a troublesome thing.
Here are a few things I've thought about that humanity has lost in this day and age:
1)resiliency
2)closeness
3)dependency
4)loyalty, to some extent
5)freedom
These (objects) are what we could regain if an Anarchist State was achieved. However, I am no martyr or activist, simply an observer, and plus the Anarchist State is a paradox. Anyways, humanity is no longer the glorious success of reproduction, it is the gunk that stinks to the bottom of subway cars.
(I have very little faith in our Race)
I also have little faith in our race, if we can't even feed ourselves when we have the food then we aren't exactly advanced and we still haven't escaped our basic animal instincts, philosophy my boat, sheep have more civil thoughts. But as for your list, anarchism is just tyrany and I haven't seen a good arguement for tyrany yet. Resilience has changed in its manor, don't forget how long people live these days in the developed world. Closeness, I think your ideals about a anarchial state is just ideals, I think you would find that people aren't anywhere near as close as you believe. Depedency, well, what do you call specialisation, or do you mean we have lost the ability to be helpless. Loyality, another thing where reality isn't the same as the ideal. Freedom, the only freedom we have lost is the freedom to use land, the amount of freedom in land use is obviously linked to how many people are using that freedom, in an anarchial state you can not do anything you want, who the hell is going to feed you for sitting around on a computer all day or learning to fly a plane, if you want to move country, you will die on the way.
Another thing I would do as Prime Minister is require a licence to own pet mammals with their genitals intact, any poor doggy walking about with his panda bear flopping inbetween his legs will be assumed to be stray. This is to reduce strays and the animal rights atrocities which go with strays, all land mammals are pests here, we can't have an ecosystem and strays so one has to go.
milanius
Apr 22 2007, 06:14 PM
This one's simple.
If I was a Prezzie, I'd thoroughly hamster everything up & leave for Caribbeans with substantial amount of $$$ before my head got chopped off by angry mob.
GunsnArmor
May 25 2007, 11:21 PM
If I were president...
First thign I would focus on is polution. Any polluting of plastic, alluminum, rubber, glass, and cigaretts are a fine from 50$ to even 200$ (cigarettes being the highest). I would also invest in making a more efficient and none-polluting feul. Ethanol is not a worhty feul. If all fields in the United States were used to produce ethanol, it would only satisfy 12% of oil need in America. All it does is make the little people poor and ethanol producers rich.
I might invest in battery powered cars. A battery with enough electricity to carry a car as far as gasoline.
Secondly, I'd upgrade all oil factories while in wait for the electric-runned cars. In order to help lower the price and need of gas. I think it would be absolutely needed.
And damnit, MORE COWBELL!!!!
Channler
May 30 2007, 09:46 PM
If I Were President
A short essay by Channler.
If I were President, I'd be lying, because I would be a dictator. Its silly to think that people can actually agree on something without the use, or the threatened use, or the combined use of force. Regardless...
People would be made accountable for their decisions. I am in no means saying that we should essential kill people by staving off their supply of food, but force them to actually earn it. You don't work, you don't eat. You don't feed your kids, then face the consequences of effective action. National project would be abound, like FDR's New Deal projects. We would erect statues, and build parks, dams, public transportation, etc. to earn your "living wage". After all, you do not no one should "give" you anything. Public transportation would be completely overhauled, and the Confederate Railways will be abolished.. because they are slow and inefficient.
A fair tax would be established upon the population, not related to your income. It is not right that someone who works hard for their money should have it taken away and given to someone who refuses to work. Equal percentage tax all the same. Big business however will be regulated and severely restriction if they do not comply with guidelines. IE: Oil companies and their "record profits" will loose their "record profits" for price gouging the population.
People convicted of crimes and serving in prison will be required to work in a job suitable to their crime. Petty theft = simple work with regular people. Murder = Any type of dangerous job we can find em'. Prisons will be self supportive by numerous means such as, but not limited too, farming, car repairs, laundry services, etc. By and through this prisoners will be educated and receive money upon their parole.
I do say with great regret, that militarily the budget will be lessened somewhat. Currently there are to many pork barrel projects that have limited use. The wars of the future will not be like that of the past and a new, smaller, better trained and equipped force is needed, not the large soviet era force. Start a SPARTAN program.
Diplomatically I honesty say, your either with me, or your against me. It makes no since to look out for those that want your neck, and therefor we won't. We would pull out of the UN, or threaten them severely with it (note: look and see how much the US pays the UN a year...) if offenders of human rights still get the head of the human rights committees (Chavez? Saddam?.. Thats like making Hitler in charge of it..).
Oh yea, and annex Mexico.. If they really want to come over here, don't worry, we'll come over there. I would shorten up the time it takes to become a US citizen. 10 years is way to long, 1 or 2 with a visa during that time seems great.
Theres prob more but I'm bored.
Dantrag
Jun 2 2007, 07:34 AM
I would also pull out of the UN. What it was created for is great, what it actually does isn't so great. First, nobody respects the UN because it's a joke.
Bush went against the UN, nothing happened.
Hussein violated tons of UN resolutions; Bush happened.
Did the UN do anything? Nope. I think that the UN should have some sort of power so that people like Bush don't go rogue and ruin a country.
Lord Revan
Jun 2 2007, 07:40 AM
Two words gentlemen: extraterrestrial intervention. Nothing brings people together like a third tyran... erm, player that kills both original sides. "Tyrants need bigger tyrants to stay in power".... or something like that *goes off to consult the book I read that quote from*
Pisces
Jun 2 2007, 09:38 AM
Channler: Your policies seem extremely right wing and I can't help noticing that you are concerned about high unemployment. Right wing governments increase unemployment and left wing governments decrease unemployment, even in your policies I can see some which will increase unemployment.
QUOTE(Dantrag @ Jun 2 2007, 06:34 PM)

I would also pull out of the UN. What it was created for is great, what it actually does isn't so great. First, nobody respects the UN because it's a joke.
Bush went against the UN, nothing happened.
Hussein violated tons of UN resolutions; Bush happened.
Did the UN do anything? Nope. I think that the UN should have some sort of power so that people like Bush don't go rogue and ruin a country.
The UN does extremely good work inspite of the US. If the UN hadn't been there then Hussein wouldn't have been held accountable for anything and invading Iraq would have resulted in a nuclear bomb being dropped on the invading forces. You want power taken away from voters and given to a cooperative of governments? Its not the UN's fault that the US voters don't hold their government accountable for breaches of common sense and good grace.
Rane
Jun 2 2007, 10:33 AM
If I were president, my country would be completely and utterly screwed.
The end.
Channler
Jun 2 2007, 05:44 PM
QUOTE(Pisces @ Jun 2 2007, 04:38 AM)

Channler: Your policies seem extremely right wing and I can't help noticing that you are concerned about high unemployment. Right wing governments increase unemployment and left wing governments decrease unemployment, even in your policies I can see some which will increase unemployment.
QUOTE(Dantrag @ Jun 2 2007, 06:34 PM)

I would also pull out of the UN. What it was created for is great, what it actually does isn't so great. First, nobody respects the UN because it's a joke.
Bush went against the UN, nothing happened.
Hussein violated tons of UN resolutions; Bush happened.
Did the UN do anything? Nope. I think that the UN should have some sort of power so that people like Bush don't go rogue and ruin a country.
The UN does extremely good work inspite of the US. If the UN hadn't been there then Hussein wouldn't have been held accountable for anything and invading Iraq would have resulted in a nuclear bomb being dropped on the invading forces. You want power taken away from voters and given to a cooperative of governments? Its not the UN's fault that the US voters don't hold their government accountable for breaches of common sense and good grace.
I know my policies seem far right, however I do believe in restricting big business, and I for major national works projects.. Something that Roosevelt did. (he was a democrat, but a 1940 liberal = a modern day conservative) I believe in personal responsibility and the value of hard work above all.
The only thing I will say about the UN is that it has been proven to be corrupt (all governments are corrupt) and weak on the enforcement policies. How comes the UN isn't stepping in Darfur? Wait.. Because China has business there so they'll veto anything! Sounds like its pointless to be apart of an organization that cannot do anything.
Pisces
Jun 3 2007, 04:28 AM
There are more things happening in the world than Dafur. Is the US willing to go against China? Does the US even want to go against China? Everything civil in modern civilisation has stemed out of the UN. If members don't want to do what you want there is not a structure in the world which could make them.
I don't see the US (or any other country) stepping up to the plate and putting forth significant resources into Dafur, its not that the UN hasn't asked (because it has), its that the world hasn't responded.
Also, the US wouldn't dare leave the UN as it would cripple their economy.
Dantrag
Jun 3 2007, 05:47 AM
QUOTE(Pisces @ Jun 2 2007, 04:38 AM)

The UN does extremely good work inspite of the US. If the UN hadn't been there then Hussein wouldn't have been held accountable for anything and invading Iraq would have resulted in a nuclear bomb being dropped on the invading forces. You want power taken away from voters and given to a cooperative of governments? Its not the UN's fault that the US voters don't hold their government accountable for breaches of common sense and good grace.
1. Hussein was captured by the US; I'm willing to bet the US would've held him accountable had the UN not. And think about it; had the US not captured him, the UN would have never charged him. The UN doesn't take action when it counts, which is my main complaint.
2. Who would've dropped a nuke? Most certainly not Iraq, which is devoid of all wmds.
Channler
Jun 3 2007, 02:30 PM
QUOTE(Dantrag @ Jun 3 2007, 12:47 AM)

2. Who would've dropped a nuke? Most certainly not Iraq, which is devoid of all wmds.
Yea really.. lol
The UN is just an organization.. Its power comes from those that make up the body. When the body falls apart, the power wanes. Picture the UN as the Holy Roman Empire.. It was a loosely organized organization that was "united" for similar purposes.
The HRE fell apart, and guess what? Germany is stronger because of it.
Pisces
Jun 6 2007, 09:32 AM
QUOTE(Dantrag @ Jun 3 2007, 04:47 PM)

2. Who would've dropped a nuke? Most certainly not Iraq, which is devoid of all wmds.
Ever asked why? Thats my point.
Priest of Sithis
Jun 6 2007, 01:13 PM
I think it is too easy to rag on the UN, from them not having an army to their levies and trade blockades.
Politics aren't my speciality, but i believe that the UN deserves credit for standing up to Super Powers.... Go Djibouti!!!
Channler
Jun 6 2007, 04:21 PM
QUOTE(Priest of Sithis @ Jun 6 2007, 08:13 AM)

I think it is too easy to rag on the UN, from them not having an army to their levies and trade blockades.
Politics aren't my speciality, but i believe that the UN deserves credit for standing up to Super Powers.... Go Djibouti!!!
You all seem to think that the UN is a super power of its own. Consider it like a less centralized United States.. or maybe United Kingdom.
The power it has comes from its "super powers". The UN doesn't have an army, it has the United States, United Kingdoms, Germany's etc etc. army. It doesn't make money, it get money from its member states. The fact of the matter is the amount of effort, money, and lives, that is being put into this wonderful little endeavor is being waisted by its inability to do anything useful.
Now I realize that there are a few things that the UN was and is good for, but in the whole picture those seem few and far between. Don't you think we would of acted on a UN mandate if we actually appreciated what the organization meant? I'm going to say many people want reform, but thats going to be impossible unless its broken down and started again.
Dantrag
Jun 7 2007, 06:01 AM
What the UN was designed to do, and what it does are totally different. Creating a unified global anything is nearly impossible when every element of the union has different and completely separate interests.
To me, it's like communism; good idea, but unrealistic.
Pisces
Jun 7 2007, 11:12 AM
Better than bad idea and worse in reality *cough*neo-liberalism*cough*
QUOTE(Channler @ Jun 7 2007, 03:21 AM)

QUOTE(Priest of Sithis @ Jun 6 2007, 08:13 AM)

I think it is too easy to rag on the UN, from them not having an army to their levies and trade blockades.
Politics aren't my speciality, but i believe that the UN deserves credit for standing up to Super Powers.... Go Djibouti!!!
You all seem to think that the UN is a super power of its own. Consider it like a less centralized United States.. or maybe United Kingdom.
The power it has comes from its "super powers". The UN doesn't have an army, it has the United States, United Kingdoms, Germany's etc etc. army. It doesn't make money, it get money from its member states. The fact of the matter is the amount of effort, money, and lives, that is being put into this wonderful little endeavor is being waisted by its inability to do anything useful.
Now I realize that there are a few things that the UN was and is good for, but in the whole picture those seem few and far between. Don't you think we would of acted on a UN mandate if we actually appreciated what the organization meant? I'm going to say many people want reform, but thats going to be impossible unless its broken down and started again.
Free trade? Health care? Arms treaties? Electoral transparency? Conflict resolution? Unbiased observation? None of this means anything to you? Do you know anything that the UN does? Do you know how many operations the UN does? Quite frankly, if you think the UN is useless because it can't clean up after generalized 'your' mess then perhaps you should look at your country or get a view beyond your window.
Priest of Sithis
Jun 7 2007, 01:15 PM
Pisces is right... But do I sense a little anit-American feeling coming from him...
The UN has always been and always will be a bluff to hide behind. Why do you think there is the Five Permanent Members of the Security Council? China, France, United States, Russia, UK,? All the countries with surplus of warheads? And how about the five seats that rotate every some odd years... That is a tool to control the other countries into believing they have power. When you have countries springing into their nuclear programs, what does everyone else do? They panic and start a fuss becuase some country now (probably) has nuclear capability. Did anyone check their own back yard? I think the dog fell down the silo.....
Dantrag
Jun 7 2007, 04:39 PM
somehow missed this post.
QUOTE(Pisces @ Jun 2 2007, 11:28 PM)

I don't see the US (or any other country) stepping up to the plate and putting forth significant resources into Dafur, its not that the UN hasn't asked (because it has), its that the world hasn't responded.
Also, the US wouldn't dare leave the UN as it would cripple their economy.
1. Since the UN is a pretty big chunk of world leaders, I'm going to say that the UN delegates didn't respond; not the world.
2. If the US left the UN, the economy would be fine, because as much as we depend on foreign imports, other ocuntries depend a bit more on our exports.
And don't get me wrong; I'm not completely against all things UN. I just think that it should be restructured so that it has a bit more power behind its words. For example, the only countries to ever volunteer peace-keeping soldiers are Canada and Portugal. I mean, come on, those countries barely have a military. If someone threatened to have Canadian and Portugese soldiers keep peace in the US, for example, we'd probably laugh.
And my point with Iraq was that if the UN had more say-so, then Hussein's inhumane rule would have been put in check, and his arms (had they existed) would have been under control. Then there would be no war right now.
Also, when the UN tried to send food to Somalia, the food was taken by local warlords. I mean, they tried to do something, but didn't have the force to even complete it.
not to mention the Srebrenica Massacre, Rwandan Genocide...
Channler
Jun 8 2007, 05:24 AM
Which is a nice way to say that for every 10 good/bad things you do, 1 of the good things go public, and 9 of the bad things go public.
Thats how it always is.. I promise you Pisces, you may not want to know this but not all of us Americans are gun totting rednecks with vendettas against minorities. Really were not. Some possibly, but every country has its population.
Pisces
Jun 8 2007, 06:08 AM
QUOTE(Dantrag @ Jun 8 2007, 03:39 AM)

somehow missed this post.
QUOTE(Pisces @ Jun 2 2007, 11:28 PM)

I don't see the US (or any other country) stepping up to the plate and putting forth significant resources into Dafur, its not that the UN hasn't asked (because it has), its that the world hasn't responded.
Also, the US wouldn't dare leave the UN as it would cripple their economy.
1. Since the UN is a pretty big chunk of world leaders, I'm going to say that the UN delegates didn't respond; not the world.
2. If the US left the UN, the economy would be fine, because as much as we depend on foreign imports, other ocuntries depend a bit more on our exports.
And my point with Iraq was that if the UN had more say-so, then Hussein's inhumane rule would have been put in check, and his arms (had they existed) would have been under control. Then there would be no war right now.
Also, when the UN tried to send food to Somalia, the food was taken by local warlords. I mean, they tried to do something, but didn't have the force to even complete it.
not to mention the Srebrenica Massacre, Rwandan Genocide...
1. Right world leaders, if only the US and Europe was democratic!
2. Who do you think negotiates trade disputes? Do you know how many pieces of paper flies around the world because an apple got bruised and someone mistook it for fireblight? Do you think industry will just settle down and reach a comprimise or that US diplomats are so incrediably loved that if the US tripled the numbers then they would be listened to by everyone? Without 3rd party negotiation speculation alone would cause a market collapse, not to mention how strongly the US depends on trade agreements, esp. with periphery states.
Hussein who was put in place by the US, the US having the veto, so a person who likes have their writing stamped with veto is going to suggest that motion?
You should see what happens to the food not brought by the UN. Crime is a problem, I don't know a country exempt so what would you expect going into a country without any infrastructure.
In Srebrenica there was 400 lightly armed Dutch troops vs an army of 1000-2000, US did not contribute anything, the Dutch requested assistance from NATO, NATO did not assist, the Dutch reported they were under attack to NATO, NATO did not assist, the Dutch reported the massacre, NATO did not assist. Then NATO continued to not assist for months after, not to mention the years before.
Rwanda there was a motion passed to increase the UN presence prior to the genocide, US vetoed, the US didn't even acknowledge it was genocide afterwards, I'm not sure if the US government has even openly stated it yet.
Yes I think the UN should have more power too but first of all, who is going to give it and second of all, who is going to cede it.
Oh and btw, I have plenty of ammo on Britian, France, Russia, China, Japan, Indonesia and pretty much wherever else too. Including my own selfish country which free rides off other country's militaries.
gamer10
Jun 8 2007, 07:34 PM
superficial
QUOTE(Channler @ Jun 8 2007, 12:24 AM)

you may not want to know this but not all of us Americans are gun totting rednecks with vendettas against minorities. Really were not. Some possibly, but every country has its population.

Almost every country anyway, except Luxembourg. Those guys have got it down.
Anyway, I suppose I'll do the whole "If I were president thing", and yes, I'm going to make a list.
1.) FOREIGN POLICY: I believe that the United States needs to forge more solid, dependable relationships with nations outside of Europe. Although Japan is a strong economic partner, in fact one of our key partners, its capabilities do not currently extend beyond shaking its finger. We have also a very strong economic relationship with China, despite political and social differences, but those differences are strong enough to keep us away from anything closer. India currently accounts for a small amount of US trade, and although this is rapidly changing, it is unlikely that anything significant will happen in the next 15 years. Pakistan is only our partner at the moment because we have some use for them. After President Bush's term ends, things might suddenly shift another direction. Look at Africa. Sure, they've got their own rulers often screwing them over, but they've got a lot of untapped resources (I'm talking about people). The market for labor there is huge, and I think the United States should cozy up to Africa, seeing as how China already beat us to it.
2.)AT HOME: Well, for one thing, there seems to be a big stink about issues like abortion and homosexual relationships. I say let the states decide, as those issues should not consume much of the federal governments time. Illegal immigration is overplayed. Mexico is considered to be one the largest developing nations in the world, and its economy is growing stably. It has an income per capita almost twice that of China's, and many Mexicans are now being employed by multinational service companies, particularly from other developing countries. In twenty years or so I'm fairly certain we will see a drastic drop in immigration to the United States through our Southern border. We're not going to be run dry anytime soon by fifteen or so million people seeking a better life. As with issues such as sex education, come on. I mean, we're worrying about teaching children how to put on a condom when we STILL teach them that a guy from Spain “discovered America” and that Westernization means modernization. We've got a lot of social issues, and though sex education is no the least of which, it stands small in comparison to many other issues with our education system.
And lastly, I'd eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of chocolate milk . . . mmmmmmm.
Thats about it, short list eh? My fingers are tired.
ShogunSniper
Jun 8 2007, 08:44 PM
huh. well look who it is.
to make this post legal, im one of the people who would probably crash the country into the ground if i took control...
yeah ima hippy.
Channler
Jun 9 2007, 12:16 AM
QUOTE(ShogunSniper @ Jun 8 2007, 03:44 PM)

huh. well look who it is.
to make this post legal, im one of the people who would probably crash the country into the ground if i took control...
yeah ima hippy.
Damn hippies! Get off me lawn!
oh and..
Holy compassion batman, its gamer!
DoomedOne
Jun 15 2007, 07:20 PM
I wouldn't pull out of the U.N., but without putting this on my platform when I'm running after my first weeks I'd propose World Peace to the U.N. in a process that would take several steps
1. The U.N. was built for a specific purpose. This purpose must change, as must the UNs laws. In essence, it must be replaced with the next incarnation of Global Government. The new UN would have no security council with 1 vote vetoes so countries like France, the USSR and ourselves would no longer be able to veto security issues. I mean, the security council formed during a very delicate time when it came to international relations, so the balance of power had to fall awkwardly and now policy that has long lost its meaning is still being manipulated.
2. The new U.N. would have to include every single country on Earth. From the warlords the West would like to pretend it didn't place in power to all other leaders, and all the leaders would work together to create a U.N. we can all compromise on, just like the creation of the constitution.
3. Since the United States has basically the same number of nukes as the rest of the world combined, my disarmorment plan would promise that for every disarmed nuke in the rest of the world, we'd disarm one. ANd I'd set it up in schedules, for instance India and Pakistan would have to disarm at the same time.
No, this would never pass, but not because the plan doesn't work, people are just too myopic and selfish. I mean, at least 70% of the United States couldn't be happier that we're a hegemon, eve though if you look at ecolnomics extensively enough, the choice is really between hegemony and survival, as Noam Chompsky put it.
Of course, I do forsee problems in the plan. For one, leaders do not act in their people's best interest. Even the founding fathers inserted a few little things in there to ensure the upper class got to stay upper class. I mean, the Bush Administration has used the Iraq war to make companies like Halliburton billions of dollars, and that won't stop.
But that just reminds me of a few more things:
Abortion - My compromise with pro-life America is that as soon as you can help me find a home for every unwanted child after its born, I will help make sure it has a home before its born.
Free Trade - It's a foundation of our country. I believe competition brings out the strongest of us and free-trade does the same for our economy. How ever businesses should out compete each other based on efficiency, ingenuity and franly the best product NOT on how low they are willing to stoop. Because corporations have no sightlines outside of the bottom-line, it's our responsibility to enforce some ethics. Like I said, trade embargo on all businesses that don't pay their employees living wages. GMOs would be taken off the market because they pose such a dangerous threat to the ecosystem. Pollution laws would be so strict that auto companies who aren't mass producing electric cars by the first two years I'm in office will all be out of business.
Oh yeah and privacy will be respected again. No one will be labeled a sex offender before at least trying or providing evidence that they were going to try to offend some sex... and at that point we would cut their balls off. This government is currently developing a machine that can read people's individual magnetic fields or some compassion that has to do with energy given off by the circular system, it's like scanning your thumb print except you won't even get a chance to refuse. That's one thing I would be very big one holding onto, one human being's right to say no.
think about it
"No Officer I will not move five blocks down, I am going to protest here under my constitutional right."
Now that I'm getting wound up, I really want to talk about the importance of government funding college too, but I won't. Oh but hey we won't get attacked by terrorists because one of my goals would be
1. End United States occuption of foreign soil so no one gets all pissed off and starts anymore terrorist cells
2. Hunt down and kill the rest, instead of hiring mercenaries to sit outside of a hamster cave cave for months on end while my army's off fighting for my immoral Chairmen associates. I mean, the United States has been a terrorist state since Reagan supported that bloody coup in Nicaragua. That's not just my opinion, that's the World Court's. Our bloody rampage across the impoverished world needs to stop now or we're going to get attacked again.
gamer10
Jun 17 2007, 06:49 AM
QUOTE(DoomedOne @ Jun 15 2007, 02:20 PM)

1. The U.N. was built for a specific purpose. This purpose must change, as must the UNs laws. In essence, it must be replaced with the next incarnation of Global Government. The new UN would have no security council with 1 vote vetoes so countries like France, the USSR and ourselves would no longer be able to veto security issues. I mean, the security council formed during a very delicate time when it came to international relations, so the balance of power had to fall awkwardly and now policy that has long lost its meaning is still being manipulated.
I agree with your opinion on the removal of the security council.
Although I like to see my country have some special veto power, it causes a headache, a terrible one.
Anyway, I think the UN should become strongly democratic (I've gone over this somewhere else, I just know it). The UN should be based on a point system. For every million inhabitants, a country would have a vote worth 1 point. If it has less than a million inhabitants, then it would be a fraction of a point, etc. Anyway, the problem with this is that non-democratic nations would be abusing their people whenver they cast a vote, as their people would provide them their sway in the UN. As soon as democracy finds its place in every nation, which I don't see happening in my lifetime, this system might have some credibility.
DoomedOne
Jun 17 2007, 11:23 PM
Doesn't work at all, suddenly all the power falls to China, India, Indonesia... I mean come on. A World Constitution would have to be all inclusive, because everyone has accept it an sign in the end, compromising some of their power over to this bill, in essence. If any (very probably ourselves) don't like what votes against us, we'll simply ignore it.
Agent Griff
Jun 20 2007, 10:41 AM
If I'd be the president of my own country, it would do several things typical of Romanian leaders. Almost every Romanian leader out there is trying to make as much money as he can, as fast as possible, before their term ends. This can be done in a great number of ways. Anyway, this is my shortlist.
1) Since Romania is an ex-Soviet country, we have the CNSAS. It's a society which has acces to the secret files of the former Secret Police. These files have a plethora of information about Romanian politicians and how they spied on their fellow Romanians for the Secret Police. I would use files from the CNSAS to blackmail my political rivals. I would also use the Romanian Justice system to attack my political rivals, since every politician in Romania has done something illegal in the past.
2) I would sell former factories to foreign investors for very small prices and keep a lot of money for myself. This is a highly popular way of earning money in Romania. You get to keep most of the money for yourself, and the workers who used to work at the factory are ussually fired by the new investors. Not everybody wins but you come on top and that's what matters!
3) I would legalize prostitution to a certain extent so Romania can get rid of the road-side hookers who wave at you from the side of the road at night. There's a high risk to get infected with Aids while doing that kind of stuff. Better to have it legalized and taking place in a clean brothel. And if it's legalized, then perhaps I could find a way to make illegal money out of it!
4) I would radically restructure the Romanian police, since more than 50% of Romanian policemen have desk jobs. I find that unnaceptable. I would also equip most policemen with adequate firearms, not 10-year old pop-guns from the Soviet Era. There would also be strict training programs to enforce discipline.
5) I would radically update the Constitution since we have the same Constitution from the year 1883, with little added updates. A lot of words are archaic and hard to understand for the general populace of Romania.
That's a general shortlist. You might say that my way of doing things is very corrupt but that's how things are done in Romania. It's been like this since the fall of Communism in 1989, when the guy who led a rebellion against our Communist leader, himself a well-known member of the Communist Party, took over power and made Romania a "democracy". My country is really f****d up and I can't wait to leave it.
Ibis
Jul 3 2007, 02:32 PM
If I were Madame President, everyone would walk, bicycle or ride motorcycles EVERYWHERE. Mom's with babes & children could have covered sidecars or trikes. There would be buses, semi-trucks & most all transporting of goods would be done on raillcars. Any cars allowed would be no bigger than fiats or VW bugs or mini-coopers. The exception would be govt. carpool vehicles .. which would be like Arnold's greened-out hummer.
No nuclear energy = Philadelphia's model of encouraging customers to install wind and solar energy and then the power company buying back their excess energy and distributing it locally would be followed. Also in coastal and lake states - tidal and wave energy would be used.
No pesticides exceopt approved natural remedies would be allowed. ABSOLUTELY no lawn fertilizer of any kind so our lakes can recover from runoff. People would be encouraged to have lawns either natural to their own area, or zen rock sand gardens or rock gardens. Recycling waterfalls and speculation pools could also irrigate one's own property.
All babies and children would be FULL citizens, not slaves or property of their parents until age 18. They could file lawsuits if mistreated by anyone ... parent, teacher, neighbor, bully, etc. Jerry Springer would be Prime Minister since he did so well as Mayor of Cinncinnati and sorting people out on TV. His enforcer Steve would be Secretary of Defense. Arnold Swarzenegger would be Vice President, Hillary would be Secretary of State and Bruce Springstien would be Labor Union National Administrator. There would be National Health Care for All and deportation to India, China, Africa, S. America to any who don't want to work ... that is our national welfare policy. Our chief foriegn policy would be to unite the whole worlds efforts into reaching Mars, Saturn, Ios and then beyond Galaxy. No real estate off=Earth could be individually owned - it would be declared its own space and especially our Moon would be ecologically protected.
All Earthly and galactic wildlife would be protected. As would crops and vegetation. All birds will be respected as if on the Endangered List. Vegetation and animals native to one region, will not be transplanted to another region due to unbalancing nature.
AAALLL US corporations would be forced to return to and operate and hire American and pay taxes ON American soil or they will blacklisted from selling in and entering the United States. However free travel will go on between the North and South Americas. Our borders will be guarded enforce with every technology available. Any illegal who commits a crime, even traffic infraction, will have their whole family deported with them back to their homeland immediately and without a costly trial. Our jails will become total rehabilitation centers: our mental hospitals will become training grounds for jobs like janitor, kiosk clerk, dishwasher, etc. Any US soldier who is permanently injured either wartime or peactime will have his/her entire nuclear family supported for life.
People will be encouraged to worship God on the Sabbath ... but totally free to follow their own religion, as long as it is not a harmful one. The constitution and all it embodies will be upheld. Customer rights will be heavily stressed over corporate interests. There will be a tank on every corner enforcing these laws and traffic light cameras watching you'alls every move.
Oh right ... Angelina Jolie will be Peace Ambassadress and Keanu Reeves will be my Personal Secretary.