Originally posted by: PrinceofWands
Government exists to protect all citizens. They need protection from outside aggressors and inside abusers. Government is there to facilitate "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". We need an infrastructure that encourages and allows for those things. Government is a tool and extension of, by, and for the people. Nothing the government does should be above us, or kept from us.
1) Federal government is NOT State or local government. We are NOT a singular nation, but a republic of individual states. We have obviously forgotten that. The federal government should deal directly with only the things that involve other countries or more than one state: international trade, diplomacy, external military, regulation of interstate affairs, interstate transportation, protection of universal rights/liberties, interstate or international crime, etc. Beyond that their role should be merely that of facilitator to assist the states. The states should bear the responsibility for all other governance.
2) The government should have ZERO regulatory authority over moral affairs. No involvement in sex, marriage, religion, philosophy, self-medication, ideology, etc. None. Zero. Ever. Period. The rule of government interference should be 'do whatever you want as long as it doesn't adversely affect another living thing without their consent.
3) The ONLY things that shouldn't be public record are codes, frequencies, lawful troop movements, undercover identities, etc. Absolutely EVERYTHING else the government does should have real time oversight by anyone who chooses to take a look.
4) Politics should be a calling, not a career choice. If you want to be in politics it should be because you want to serve, not because of elite status, income, benefits, or anything else. If you wouldn't do the job for minimum wage or less you have no business taking it for more.
5) Government is NOT a business and should NOT be getting involved in economic affairs. No national bank, no money making ventures, no market involvement, etc. The TOTAL sum of interaction between government and commerce should be:
a) taxation
b) tariffs
c) printing of national currency
d) granting of government contracts
1. for such services as the government is allowed to participate in
2. when such appropriations have been approved by the house
3. after a period of open bidding
4. after impartial review and oversight by an elected citizen watchdog group
e) final neutral arbiter in interstate or international commerce disputes
f) paying wages and benefits to government employees and officials
1. wages of officials should be fixed to a scale tied into median individual income
2. wages of employees should be reasonable but moderate, and subject to review
g) regulation and oversight of business to prevent abuse or exploitation of workers, consumers, or citizens
Money is NOT everything and should not hold the central focus it does in our lives. Except during time of ACTUAL war (not this terror BS) deficit spending should not be allowed. In any year that the US holds a national debt all government expenditures should require a special session of Congress for approval and all government wages should be fixed at a minimum.
6) The 'environment' exists for all mankind and is globally tied. No individual liberty or happiness is possible in a polluted or dangerous environment. Therefore the protection of the environment against pollution or needless destruction is a duty of the government.
7) While not everyone requires education at the same level, a basic education is a societal necessity and therefore falls under the purview of government regulation. However, it is important that this be designed as general education to create functional individuals, and NOT as a method to create future workers or patriotic nationalists. Since people will hold different beliefs in education, some form of voucher method is necessary to allow people to find alternative schooling if the public options aren't acceptable.
8) Health care (especially including mental health care) is a basic necessity of life and therefore is completely within the scope of government control and regulation. Failure of citizens to have access to preventative and emergency care (but NOT cosmetic BS) WILL cause harm to society and other citizens, and must therefore be avoided. This is simply the cost of living in a society and is non-negotiable. There are a number of ways for this to be accomplished (single payer with guaranteed loans, public option, etc), but it must be done. Oh, and insurance is NOT an option.
9) A stable, affordable energy source is essential to a functional nation and to individual happiness. Therefore the government has a role in the creation, oversight, and regulation of a public energy grid.
10) Communication is necessary to individual safety and fulfillment, and therefore a public communication system is required. This should include radio, tv, telephone, and internet communication options for public use. It is NOT the governments role to regulate what goes over these lines of public communication; only that they are available and maintained.
11) Police, fire, and other emergency services. Obviously these are infrastructure requirements and covered under the government umbrella. They need citizen oversight, just like all parts of government, but they're definitely a requirement.
More as I think of them.
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