I know in the past few years a lot of things have been occuring in our government that have been less than appealing. We have to worry constantly about terrorist demands, disappearances of weapons of mass destruction, as well as our economic situations and relations with other countries as well as being shot in the face by the VP. I want change. I want our country to change. I want us to be understanding and cooperative. I want us to focus on our own problems and have nations figure out their own. We don't need to get involved in their wars. We don't need weapons, we need words. We need communication. Between any healthy relationship, whether it be between lovers, parents and children, or diplomats, communication and understanding play a huge part in that and if those two things break down, the relationship fails. We need to do the same.
I think we need civil service exams. Test those in office for their knowledge in history, politics, mathematics, literature, as well as other things. This would hopefully lead to more well rounded politicians and more intelligent ones. Not only would they be tested on these things, but tested in other ways as well. Tested in character and leadership capabilities. And these exams would be open to everyone. Anyone who wanted to take these exams could, and put on a campaign roster for a position they wanted. Whether it be local or national. There would be funds for all the campaigners and they would go around to all areas together. As a group. These people would campaign and promote their views to all. And the press would be obligated to post the views and plans of each candidate without bias. Which is basically a response to every issue from the campaigners, to questions of importance of the time period. Abortion, same sex marriage, evolution, war, economic policies, etc. Than they'd have one week to prepare for their own debates. No aides, or helpers, just them and access to libraries, news articles and the internet. They'd be watched, to make sure no outside sources help them. Than they'd debate.
Secondly, there needs to be a council that openly discusses the decisions of the government towards the people. It also checks the morality behind decisions and takes into consideration how to make it benefit all people, not just one. It can over rule or veto decisions made by the Congress. It also has access to Congressional sources, who ever provides them money is carefully monitored as well as agendas of each official is carefully recorded. These people will have no need for money because their position will allow several benefits denying them the need for money. So greed could hopefully be kept in check. As for other vices, they'd be harder to keep a check on. These people would be well off and comfortable. Living situations appropriate for their lifestyle, if they're single, they live in a smaller place than someone with a family or spouse.
I'm still thinking about all these, inspired mainly by Sun Yat-sen and his 5 branch government policies for reform.
I feel taxes should be reflective more upon income. There should be no tax brackets, it should be somewhat even. If you make less than $50,000 a year, you should be able to keep most of that so taxes removed from it are less than/equal to a grand, especially if the area you are in is getting expensive and you don't have enough to move out. People making 10 times more than that should be paying as much as half in income tax and people paying 100 times more than that should be paying 75% of that. This would allow more money to be put into the government which could hopefully spend it on more useful things like helping bring up the poorer school districts, putting public works projects into place to employ people, spend more into health programs, welfare programs, and other internal reforms. Architects and developers should start focusing on fixing old warehouses. They should remodel them and turn them into low income housing or offices. We have tons of space going to waste because they've been abandoned. And if you turned them into low income housing, it would make people less desperate. And I mean low-low income housing. This way their lower income tax and lower property taxes can allow them to afford things in life, turning them away from acts of crime based on desperation. These lower income housing developments could encourage more communal growth. As well as putting in recreational centers. This would allow people to save money as well and put more money into taxes so their schools could benefit from it as well. If you lower the income tax on lower incomes it allows for greater economic independence. Which helps the economy because these people have more money to spend. This would help lower crime as well because it would hopefully make stronger communities. Not to forget, corporations should be taxed similar to the way people would be taxed on their incomes. These reforms would hopefully eventually push everyone into one economic class or at least a slightly varied one. Which would hopefully create some of the following about our culture. It'd be even more competitive because everyone would have the same chances as everyone else so they'd be encouraged to do better than those around them. It might focus on people to be more creative. Everyone might be more unified because they'd have the same economic experiences as everyone else. Everyone would still be able to unique, because they could use their opportunities differently. As I read this over I fear it would make everyone the same, but at the same time, I feel it wouldn't. I'm still thinking about all this. Let me know your thoughts.
