Ideal government?

We are obviously all adept at arguing points about what we DON'T want in government. But what if I were to ask what is it that you DO want?

What is your view of an ideal government? How would it be ruled? Why type of overall government system would it have(keep in mind it doesn't have to fit a specific category and can mix multiple views)? What kind of economic system? What rights would the people have? Hwo would you keep people in check(justice system)? What power would the government have? How much power does the leader have in the government and how will it be managed (if any) ?

Sidenote: (feel free to add more criteria if you wish, this was just to ask some broad questions to give you a start)

Remember this is your IDEAL governement. A system you think must be better than all others. Please think of it as a blank slate, you get to create your own government in todays modern age, away from outside influence and start fresh for your civilization. Please don't try to stick to one previously devised system as an easy definition unless you truly believe that is your ideal view.


(Credit to Ikari for this restriction): Please keep to the idea that this would need to be a functioning society in todays modern age with realistic (non-perfect) people.

Well?
:2wave:

When you say ideal, are we opening the philosophical flood gates? As in, we can choose an answer which is not functional in the real world? Idealize all the parameters, sort of speak, and work on the base philosophy of the ideal?

In that light, my ideal government is anarchy.

Ikari said:

When you say ideal, are we opening the philosophical flood gates? As in, we can choose an answer which is not functional in the real world? Idealize all the parameters, sort of speak, and work on the base philosophy of the ideal?

In that light, my ideal government is anarchy.

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Alright fair enough. I'll add a restriction limiting it to a realistic form of government that would work in today's society with normal non-perfect people that would not be able to function (well) in a total anarchy.

Chaz said:

Alright fair enough. I'll add a restriction limiting it to a realistic form of government that would work in today's society with normal non-perfect people that would not be able to function (well) in a total anarchy.

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In that case, a democratic Republic with laws based upon the rights and liberties of the individual.

Ikari said:

In that case, a democratic Republic with laws based upon the rights and liberties of the individual.

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So the american ideal before all the (supposed) corruption?

Chaz said:

So the american ideal before all the (supposed) corruption?

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Essentially, yes. It's the one built for the maximization of freedom, which is what I look for.

Ikari said:

Essentially, yes. It's the one built for the maximization of freedom, which is what I look for.

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I am all for freedom so long as it does not impede on the rights of others. My only problem with america is that sometimes it just feels like we are all over the place. So many people who will debate so long and furiously over the interpretation of a specific instance in the constitution. So much tug of war and stalemates in congress they can't get anything done. So little room for an independant candidate who just flat out will say it how it is instead of saying "I am a republican" or " I am a democrat" as a summary of their political belief. And sooooo many people who either do not take part in their government or just vote blindly. We just don't feel united.

Also we need more roman/greek architecture. I don't know why. It's just a preference

Note: I am actually about to attend a lecture in National Government I will no doubt have issues with. So I will return to this later. eace

The computers that run the world in the last story in I, Robot. The book, not the movie.

In a more serious answer, kinda what Ikari said. Representative government and maximization of personal freedom are some of the best ideas we've ever had. But it must be acknowledged that some expressions of personal freedom and drastically inhibit the freedom of others. The freedom to vote on who can or cannot marry, for example. Or the freedom to use one's wealth to lobby in government get financial regulations changed. The maximization of freedoms does not mean getting rid of the rules and letting everyone run amok. Some behaviors (especially ruthless profiteering) must be curtailed so that the freedom of the few do not come at the cost of the freedom of the many. No one truly has the right to exploit others like that.

We need a system that promotes political tolerance...a system where we respect...or at least tolerate...other people's values. We can create such a system simply by allowing taxpayers to directly allocate their individual taxes among the various government organizations. This would force taxpayers to consider the opportunity costs of their tax allocation decisions.

My ideal government would be a pure technocracy. The means of production would be controlled by a paramilitary hierarchy that promotes from within; every position of leadership would be elected by its immediate superiors and immediate subordinates, with political leadership and human resources occupying their own hierarchy that is elected by representatives from the other departments.

"Democracy is the worst form of government - except for all the rest." - Winston Churchill.

1 vote for liberal democracy.