if-i-had-a-country

[if-i-had-a-country]

No government officials would be allowed to get violent unless there is a physical threat.

If any of the people who are hired or elected to protect and help the community are caught being violent without violence first directed at them in a way that could cause long-term or permanent disability or death. If they are spit on, if someone passively resists arrest, or if they really dont like something the person is saying, they will be calmly dealt with without the need for violence.

I recently saw an old video where a person was being punched by a police officer, while other police officers held the person down. It was supposed to be a wellness check. The person was not actively resisting, not making threats, not doing anything other than refusing to be handcuffed by locking their arms. This should be news, but it barely makes the cut, because this happens in the US often. A musician made a song about it.

If your job is to protect and serve the people, that means ALL people. This includes the people who you don't like. The people who don't want your protection. The people who commit crimes. All actions of violence or harm that come by the hand of government employees or officials should be investigated. If you are found to have used excessive force you should lose your job and never be allowed in that position again.

[if-i-had-a-country]

I'd follow the "no taxation without representation"

If you are not eligible to vote, you are not eligible to be taxed. however you will also not be eligible to give money to any political party. This is to prevent us from say, working children for more taxes, or working prisoners and taking money from them, but not giving them a vote due to being in prison.

[if-i-had-a-country]

I'd make public documents actually public

We hear all about "public" documents from the government. But it always includes fees of some sort, or in the US needing a FOIA request. We should be able to view these documents for free, if they are truly "public." There would obviously be redactions or edits to protect victims, employees, or uninvolved 3rd parties. In the case of employees each would have a specific number to be referred to as in order to hold accountable if the public believes in wrongdoing.

I'd have a website and physical library where you can see these documents.

All government documents not involved with an open investigation or ongoing war should be public. Not, "wait 50 years" public, but actually public so if needed the public can hold their representatives accountable. We should be able to see exactly where each dollar they take goes. The government is for the people, not the people for the government.

[if-i-had-a-country]

I would expand protected classes

There are many laws about discrimination. We cant discriminate based on age, race, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or genetic information. However, I believe that we should also include sexuality, gender, language, education, financial status, and culture.

Many countries dont have a national language, including but not limited to, Australia, Eritrea, Luxembourg, Sweden, Tuvalu, the United Kingdom, and the United States. (source: google.) I'm not saying you should have to hire someone if you cant understand them, but both parties should put measures in place in order to effectively communicate.

I'm not saying to change things for people. If someone cant afford something, they cant afford something. If they don't have the minimum education necessary, they cant have the job. I'm saying to give everyone an equal chance, equal footing to be able to survive in the world we all live in.

[if-i-had-a-country]

All positions of power will have many rules and regulations to follow, as well as minimum levels they must meet.

You will need a relevant masters degree for the position you're being voted for. If education, you need a degree for education, ect. You will hold your position for 2-4 years, depending on your position. You will make minimum wage, with provided food, clothes, and housing. There will be a uniform. You will not be able to get money or supplies from sources outside of direct family or having a job. This is not a job, or a class, or a casual meeting over dinner. This is peoples lives you are effecting. You serve the people, they do not serve you.

[if-i-had-a-country]

There would be a list on every politician's page of who donates to or sponsors them.

In the USA they have things called "PACs" also known as a Political Action Committee. These are often used as a shell company for corporations to donate to a politician they support, or who supports them. They'd be outlawed. A politician should be elected due to their stances on things the people believe in, not be elected due to them just having enough money to be able to advertise.

[if-i-had-a-country]

I'd make medical testing covered under health insurance.

I've had a struggle to find a place covered under my insurance to get an Autism diagnosis officially. However, even when finding a place, you need a referral. I'd put in place a law where if you want a test that directly impacts your health, safety, or happiness, you can get it. Mental health, Chronic illness, Cancer tests, even allergy testing.

You should be able to go to the hospital and get these tests done in order to find out what issues you are having and why. It may be repeat visits to see each specialist, but you should be able to know it will be covered and not have a 1k+ copay.

[if-i-had-a-country]

I'd make laws to protect animals.

We often see discrimination due to dog breed. We often see animals kept in horrible conditions on farms or in pet stores or in abusive or neglectful homes. Or animals in breeding mills, only used to have more. Also, forcing animals to be purely vegetarian, when they need meat in their diet.

The top examples i can think of is; the discrimination against Pit Bulls and Rottweilers, the inhumane conditions of some farms, seeing the beta fish at some pet stores being in cups, the store not even noticing when one dies, and seeing pets being neglected, left tied outside the house for winter days on end or stuck in a hoarder's home, it being reported, but the animal left to suffer.

These could be fixed with more animal rights laws. We should not abolish animal farms, merely enforcing more laws to protect them. We will limit the amount of pets in one home. We will stop the shelters that use euthanasia instead of attempting to rehabilitate these pets who have been through so much trauma.

This is not me wanting PETA to have what they want. We are omnivores, and that means it is very important to have a balanced diet. Most pets are also omnivores, specifically obligate omnivores. They need both meat and plant in order to be healthy.

[if-i-had-a-country]

I'd actually protect children.

I'd put in place a multitude of laws to prevent the exploitation, manipulation, or abuse of children. This would include laws banning publishing names or photos of children without parents permission by the press, much stricter child labor laws, including the limit of child actors (due to the stress being in the spotlight can be,) more careful monitoring in foster families or in cases of abuse, and more detailed investigations into the selling or buying of drugs or alcohol by minors.

The protection and wellbeing of living children should be our utmost priority. Living in this case being defined as: being of viable development to be able to survive outside the womb, or having already been born.

[if-i-had-a-country]

Marriage rights.

Anyone over the age of 18 can get married. They can get married to anyone age 18 or above, male, female, intersex, or other. Polygamy will be legal, if all marriage partners consent in person. (so if you have a wife already, you have to have your wife with you and consenting before marrying your husband as well, and your wife can also marry your husband if you consent.) If one party does not consent, the marriage will not be able to happen.

If you are still under the custody of another person, such as in the case of Adult Guardian, (minors can not marry under any circumstance,) you must also have their in person consent in order to marry, or be proven competent.

[if-i-had-a-country]

I'd make laws and criminal cases easily searchable on the web.

You should be able to search for laws on a .gov website. There is no reason you should not be able to. Whether it be federal or state. I would make a website directly controlled by the Administrative branch where they have to put all laws, in their entirety, on the website, as well as making an easy-to-use search function that would get them all relevant laws.

You should be able to easily find criminal cases online as well. whether they be petty thievery or court cases against laws themselves. Both the Administrative branch and Judicial branch must have a website listing all the cases, excluding personal details, using initials instead of full names if not a government agency/agent, company or highly publicized case. with the same easy-to-search function as with laws. The only time a full name would need to be posted is if you search for the full name individually.

Some US states have such websites for court cases, such as Maryland. however, it lists complete addresses, full names and date of birth. This, i do not agree with. It can be used to stalk or harass parties involved. County and state addresses, initials, and month/year of birth is all that should be listed for general search. For name searches, city, county, and state, as well as full name and date of birth should be allowed to be seen, but not the full addresses of parties involved.

[if-i-had-a-country]

This is why I made taxes increase as you go up in the tax bracket. We don't need to tax the poor more or increase tariffs, we tax the richest people most so that they support the people. Robin Hood energy

Source

[if-i-had-a-country]

There would be clear checks and balances.

There would be 5 branches of the government. The Administrative branch, The Judicial branch, the Executive branch, the Legislative branch, and the External branch. Each branch will not have 1 person in charge, they will have a council of 5 people, each one with separate responsibilities. If convicted of a crime higher than Level 5 they will have to vacate their position as soon as a replacement is hired, promoted or elected. If an elected position, an election must be held within 4 months.

The Legislative branch would be in charge of making laws. in order to make a law they need to listen to the people it effects, listing both pros and cons of each law. They are not allowed to discriminate against anyone for uncontrollable factors, or create laws for any actions that do not effect others.

The Judicial branch would be for clearing if laws are just, and prosecuting or defending criminals and civil suits. If laws are in appeal, they are still active until a time in which they are deemed unjust.

The Executive branch would be for enforcing those laws, and more specifically, protecting the people. If they think a law is unjust, they can submit it to the judicial branch for appeal, whether they are a simple traffic officer, or the head of the executive branch.

The External branch would be for matters regarding other countries. this includes the armies, a figurehead (with no decision making power) to talk to the public and other countries, and other matters such as tariffs and trade agreements.

The Administrative branch would be in charge of making sure the other branches properly document everything and hold copies of records from all other branches, must have the highest security clearance in order to be allowed into positions. They are also in charge of prosecuting and trying members of the other branches.

[if-i-had-a-country]

I'd create more rules for food, drugs, and supplies.

You should be able to know exactly what is in your food, medicine, and supplies. How many times have you read a label and seen "natural flavors" or "artificial flavors" without knowing what those flavors are? You should know when something would trigger your allergies. Knowing what is in the things you consume or use could be the difference between life and death.

You should also be able to know the average expiration date, backed up by science, for your food, medicine, and chemicals. it can be listed as "under ideal circumstances" then list the ideal circumstances. Those ideal circumstances could be refrigerated, frozen, stored in a dark place, or anything. They will be allowed to be ambiguous to a point, like saying "cold" instead of under 0 Celsius. or "cool" for around 0 Celsius. But they must follow some rules.

They should be able to say with at least 97% certainty that they can last that long in ideal circumstances. And the same amount of certainty that they will be safe to the average consumer.

[if-i-had-a-country]

I'd limit healthcare mark-ups

I'd put a price cap on medicine and procedures where you wouldn't be able to charge more than 10% markup on medicine, medical procedures, or items like bandages or other medical items.

Procedure costs would be based on: Price of medicine needed Worker wages for time needed Price to sterilize items used (unless disposable) Price of disposable items used Price of electricity used

Medical items and medicine would only be allowed to be item manufacturing cost + 10%

Equipment would be paid for by the government, including upgrades every 5 years unless an earlier upgrade is necessary.

People should not have to go into lifelong debt for medical assistance, nor should they have to pay outrageous fees for insurance.

[if-i-had-a-country]

I'd make 6 classifications of crimes

The US has two labels for crime. Felony and Misdemeanor. The UK also has two, indictable and summary crimes. Russia, however, has four categories of crime. Crimes of little gravity, crimes of average gravity, grave crimes, and especially grave crimes. (don't hurt me I don't know Russian.)

I would make a 6 part system for classifying crime. (Other note: a company is considered an individual in this case, unless the company is 5 or less people.)

Question 1 would be: Does it hurt anyone other than themself? If yes, move it up one for every victim. If no, its a Level 0 crime (aka not a crime).

Question 2 would be: Was this crime committed 3 or more times by offender, and/or was this a crime of hate or discrimination? If no, it stays. if multiple, move it up one. If made out of hate or discrimination, move it up one.

Question 3 would be: Does it harm a person who is defenseless, disabled, or of a lower power in the situation? If yes, move it up one per choice. if no, it stays.

Question 4 would be: Was this a pre-planned crime and/or did they take actions after the crime to impede the investigation? If yes to either/both, move it up one. If no to both, it stays.

Question 5 would be: How long will it effect the victim(s)? Move it up 1 by each 5 year period it would effect.

Question 6 would be: Was this a crime of mental, physical, sexual, or financial abuse? If financial, it stays, and always has the option of being moved to a lower crime if paid back. If mental, move it up one. If physical, move it up one. If sexual, move it up two.

Question 7: is the crime breaking one, or multiple laws? If one, it stays. if multiple, move it up one by each pair of crimes. (2-3 crimes would be 1, 4-5 crimes would be 2, and so on)

Classifcations: Level 0: not a crime, why are you even in court? Level 1: Judgement not exceeding 1 year Level 2: Judgement not exceeding 2 years Level 3: Judgement not exceeding 3 years Level 4: Judgement between 3-5 years. Level 5: Judgement between 5-10 years Level 6: Judgement between 6-15 years Level 7: Judgement between 10-20 years Level 8-9: Judgement between 20-life Level 10+: Judgement for life, preferably imprisonment.

[if-i-had-a-country]

I'd change how tariffs work

I don't really see a point in tariffs other than to try to punish another country or make us more self reliant, so I'm just not gonna have them except for if another country is committing acts of war or if they are committing human rights violations. Also, any purchases from other country would also have sales tax.

Trades will be exempt from tariffs, but there must be the obvious trading of goods or services around the same value.