Which System Would You Choose?

[Minor Axis]

What is the best system of government? What do you think?

Most of my life I've chosen Democracy/Capitalism, because I've lead a pretty good life and I have benefited from Capitalism in the U.S. Maybe I was just born in the right place at the right time, to the right parents. I don't know. But I do know that Capitalism as most systems works and benefits people primarily based on ethics. Those in power have a huge influence on how beneficial the system is to the most or to the least people within the system and there is a balance to be maintained.

From what I've seen, in this country (U.S.A.), there has been a long slow slide from a high point just after WWII to today. Our Middle Class reached it's zenith in the 1950-60s and has been slowly unraveling in the last 50 years. I'm sure Globalization has something to do with it just as I am sure that greed in Corporate/Wallstreet/Banking America is raging out of control.

Should the system be free enough so that the smart individuals can not only be successful, but they can become fantastically wealthy, amassing great fortune at the expense of others? I've aksed on many occasions why should anyone need more than say $2 million a year to live on?

Or should the system be modeled to plow excess wealth back into the system for the common good? Yes, I am speaking of some kind of socialism.

The next question is, can a government be constructed that efficiently manage any system? The optimist in me says 'yes it can', but I realize that it is subject to failure. And I know many Libertarians in this forum who are convinced that government is doomed to failure and the only constraint should be 'free markets'.

Bottom line, I'm starting to view a socialistic system with individual perks for good performance as the only way forward for an advanced society. The problem is I don't see how we would get from point A to point B. Option two is to remain mired in the 'everyone for themselves mode' which seems primitive to me. Thoughts?

In the poll, picking a choice means you lean towards it, but you may not be convinced it's the best.

List of Government Types- at wikipedia.

 

[Peter Parka]

Where's the option for Democratic Socialism and Capitalism? It's pretty much how my country has been run for at least the last 60 odd years.

 

[HK]

I'm a fan of Monarchy. Not the current type we have but the old-fashioned, if-you-fuck-up-you-get-a-peasant-uprising kind, the sort of people who were involved thoroughly in their countries affairs rather than being figureheads like they are now.

 

[Minor Axis]

Where's the option for Democratic Socialism and Capitalism? It's pretty much how my country has been run for at least the last 60 odd years.

There are about 30 different forms of government listed on the Wiki list. In hind sight I should have included it. No offense intended. Please select 'other' and explain in a post. Thanks.

I'm a fan of Monarchy. Not the current type we have but the old-fashioned, if-you-fuck-up-you-get-a-peasant-uprising kind, the sort of people who were involved thoroughly in their countries affairs rather than being figureheads like they are now.

And what if you don't like your monarch, what then?

 

[Zorak]

.



And what if you don't like your monarch, what then?

What, like, if they're a catholic or something?

It's easier to depose a monarch than a president history has taught us.

 

[HK]

And what if you don't like your monarch, what then?

Then we move swiftly to the peasant uprising part

I don't like my current government much either, but suggesting we have them beheaded doesn't get you anywhere these days.

 

[TommyTooter]

looks like that 'other' system is winning big. can somebody teach us about the other politics and the other economics. maybe point out the differences between capitalism, socialism and otherism?

 

[HK]

maybe point out the differences between capitalism, socialism and otherism?

I just browsed the wikipedia link he included.

 

[TommyTooter]

What, like, if they're a catholic or something?

It's easier to depose a monarch than a president history has taught us.

cite examples please.

it's pretty easy to get rid of a US president at the polling place. our constitution is rigged and history has taught us if they fuck up bad enough we don't even have to wait the four years to ditch them like what happened in 1974. i'm pretty confident that obama is a one-term president unless something happens that the republithugs can't do any better than klondike barbie and the independents can't do any better than the hippie vermin supreme.

on the other hand, britain has been ruled by the same monarchic family for how long now?

 

[TommyTooter]

I just browsed the wikipedia link he included.

did it say anything about otherism? that seems to be the system of choice here.

will it help if i add one of these? :sarcasm

how about this one? :horse

i know you'll get the idea from this one: :24:

 

[HK]

on the other hand, britain has been ruled by the same monarchic family for how long now?

They hardly 'rule' in the old-fashioned sense. They're still around but their control is limited. We're definitely ruled by government here.

 

[Peter Parka]

There hasn't been absolute monarchy in the UK for nearly 500 years and the Monarch has virtually been powerless for nearly as long.

 

[TommyTooter]

looking closely, i see that representational constitutional republic' is not on the list and that's what the us is supposed to be; not the elitist authoritarian oligarchic capitalist democracy it has become.

i'd like to offer 1,000 tokenz to the person who can best distinguish anarchy from a representational constitutional republic.

i also have 1,000 tokenz for someone who can show me a democracy that survived at least 500 years.

 

[Zorak]

cite examples please.

it's pretty easy to get rid of a US president at the polling place. our constitution is rigged and history has taught us if they fuck up bad enough we don't even have to wait the four years to ditch them like what happened in 1974. i'm pretty confident that obama is a one-term president unless something happens that the republithugs can't do any better than klondike barbie and the independents can't do any better than the hippie vermin supreme.

on the other hand, britain has been ruled by the same monarchic family for how long now?

The Saxe-Coberg's I believe is the name of that family. That started with Prince Albert, husband to Victoria.

So about 100 years, but the UK hasn't been ruled by a monarch in the sense you are talking about for 200-300 years, Modern Britain was shaped by Lord Palmerstone, Pitt the Elder, Gladstone, Disraeli... Not Victoria or Edward(s)

 

[dkwrtw]

I would prefer a dictatorship to be honest. I'd rather have a capable person running the show than millions of imbeciles bickering over what needs to be done.

 

[Minor Axis]

They hardly 'rule' in the old-fashioned sense. They're still around but their control is limited. We're definitely ruled by government here.

The Royal Family hangs around mostly to preside over parades and such and drain the national treasury?

(trying to be funny, not mean and nasty.)

I would prefer a dictatorship to be honest. I'd rather have a capable person running the show than millions of imbeciles bickering over what needs to be done.

How about a dictator who could be voted out? To illustrate this, I'm imagining W running again as dictator and chief.

 

[HK]

The Royal Family hangs around mostly to preside over parades and such and drain the national treasury?

(trying to be funny, not mean and nasty.)

Hey I know your tone, don't worry

It's true though, they're mainly good for representing the country more than anything these days. It's nice that the princes have both trained up to be useful though, I'd feel worse about them if they just sat around living off their heritage.

And obviously, I'm really looking forward to the royal wedding

 

[dkwrtw]

How about a dictator who could be voted out? To illustrate this, I'm imagining W running again as dictator and chief.

Yeah I like the sound of that, like keep the 4 year term and the elections, but give the leader FULL AUTHORITY of the nation while he is in power.

 

[Minor Axis]

Yeah I like the sound of that, like keep the 4 year term and the elections, but give the leader FULL AUTHORITY of the nation while he is in power.

Just not W, Palin, O'Rielly, or the fat L, please...

 

[Kyle B]

Yeah I like the sound of that, like keep the 4 year term and the elections, but give the leader FULL AUTHORITY of the nation while he is in power.

Interestingly, the Romans did that during times of crisis.