Here's a "Flaming Arrow Idea" to fix the government...
("Flaming Arrow Idea" = destined to go down in flames but, while it's up, it might shed some light on the subject)
I want to be America's Benign Dictator - eliminate all the Cabinets except Secretaries of Nuclear Devastation, Homeland KGB, State (with no foreign aid budget), Treasury (who's first act will be the elimination of the Federal Reserve), and the Attorney General. Every Federal law, regulation, and license will be eliminated if not clearly and specifically provided for in the constitution. States rights, individual rights, and property rights will be sacrosanct and anyone suggesting otherwise will be summarily executed. States are free to do whatever they want so the best states can win, as was intended in the constitution (unless they do something I don't like - they will then be told to knock it off and, if ignored, their largest city will be demolished).
The IRS and every Federal tax will be instantly eliminated and replaced with a 15% National Sales Tax. Any new taxes or fees will require a 75% majority vote, be valid for one year, and require a 75% majority vote for renewal. Congressional terms to be for one 4 year stint for the House and one 6 year stint in the Senate. Congress, of course, is only allowed to make recommendations to me and is limited to one 4 month session per year unless I decide to haul them back to the capital (which will be moved to Austin after I remove all the liberals). Our borders will be secured with technology; trespassers will be shot on sight. A one-time survey of all residents in the United States will be conducted and everyone will be required to prove their citizenship or they will be immediately deported. If their native country won't take them back, we will drop them in a dingy in international waters just outside of their country. Their alternative will be a parachute drop or deportation to Antarctica. Any illegal dropping of an anchor baby in the U.S.A, will NOT get citizenship for the kid - mother and child will be immediately deported. Immigration policy will be revised back to the standards 0f the 1950's when we took in ONLY the best of the world (it was nicknamed "brain drain"). Entry requirements include fluency in English and an oath of allegiance to our constitution. They will be on probation for the rest of their life that will result in deportation if t
All prisons will be converted to contract labor manufacturing facilities. All welfare cases will live in reopened military bases. They will comply with the following rules: You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair. Your "home" will be subject to inspections anytime and possessions will be inventoried. If you want your own place, get a job. Everyone eats at the chow hall. If you want a Big Mac, get a job. You will either present a paycheck stub from a job each week or you will report for work call or sick call. Work may be maintaining the base, working in the chow hall, cleaning the roads of trash, working in base factories...whatever we assign to you. You will receive a token pay for your work to enable you to purchase small personal items at the base commissary. You will be educated in basic living requirements and can attend classes to teach you a trade. As a ward of the state, you will not be allowed to vote and you are required to turn over whatever assets you might have, personal items excluded. We will sell your low-rider auto, your blasting stereo, your plasma TV's, and your bling and we will put that money into the base's operating budget. Before you complain that we're violating your civil rights, remember that all of the above is voluntary. If you don't like it, don't ask for welfare. Our money; our rules.
Allen—I enjoyed reading your “Flaming Arrow Idea” and found some of it humorous and other parts of it thought provoking. I found your description of the “Flaming Arrow” as being destined to go down burning but to shed light on the subject in the process, to be apropos to what followed. The commentary began with your notion of a benign dictator and the remainder shed light on why there is never going to be a benign dictator. (Parents try to be benevolent dictators but that’s not really what is being considered here.)
I understand that the point was to express your feelings about some of the things that are wrong with today’s government and the direction that government has taken. But it also demonstrated how easy it is for a pendulum to swing too far in other direction. And it highlighted the tendency of any dictator who has control of the public purse to begin thinking of that purse as being his own to use as he pleases. By your comment, “Our money; our rules.”, I think you really meant, “The people’s money, my rules” which quickly becomes, "My money; my rules.".
I’ll not attempt to address all of your proposed pronouncements but I will touch on the subject of the welfare cases. I would declare that charity is not a proper function of the government and leave such cases to the goodwill of the American people, allowing every individual the freedom to make their own choices about who needs their help and who does not. Charity is a matter of the conscience. Not of the state.
I think that from time to time most of us try to envision what the County would be like and how the government would function if “ I ” was in control. I believe it is good mental exercise of the civic mindset to do so, and I think you for throwing your thoughts out here for the rest of to compare against our own.
PS--Please don't take my meaning wrong here; I agree with your assessment of the problems. This country is messed up in a lot of ways.
-- Edited by FOTH on Monday 11th of March 2013 08:48:36 PM
