What style of government do you favor the most?

Hi there! This is just an informal poll I wanted to take, to see what types of government intelligent people like our ATS members prefer, or are willing to accept. Which of these types of government do you prefer, and why?

1. Anarchy (no government at all)

2. Dictatorship/Totalitarian government

3. Socialist government

4. Monarchy (has a lot in common with #2)

5. Constitutional Monarchy (a cross between #4 and #6)

6. Democratic/Federal Republic

Also, we have the two major types of economies to choose from:

A. Capitalism/Free market (individual rights to own, buy & sell are protected; the government is treated like another individual)

B. Communism/Closed market (government owns everything, and gets to do all the buying & selling)

Personally, I think that 6A is the best possible combination! Feel free to add any comments you wish, or descriptions of any type of government you wish. I'm just deep in thought here, that's all! And thanks for the comments!

#1 like the rest of the animals in nature. Has our species not learnt from our own history that government is impossible in the long term - and always ends where it started - anarchy.

-Attero

I favor a government that would take all the wasted space from highway offramps and build a cheap metal building on one side and fill it full of homeless people and teach them how to farm on the other side wheather it be squash, soybeans, hemp, corn, exc. and kill two birds with one stone, let the homeless feed the homeless, for christ sake, yes you will get the occasional crack head but they are people no different than you or I, and who knows maybee a hard working mci/worldcom employee who lost their faith ,money, and pension so others could bennifit . If I ever give a man down on his luck a ride, money, or food the only thing I ask for in return is his/her story, what happend to bring you where you are today, and you might be suprised of the awnsers.

Fully unregulated Capitalism/"Free" market isn't absolutely best.

If there wouldn't be any regulations corporations wouldn't give damn about environment or safety of employees because those tend to hinder this seeking of maximum profits.

"The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil."
-Albert Einstein

I would say that a Democratic Socialist government is the best type, pulling the best ideas from both Marx and Smith. This style is becoming more popular throughout Europe Asia, and even though they still call themselves Capitalist Democratic the Canadians have been moving in this direction for a while too.

May Peace Travel With You
~Astral

i was thinking more like tribal communities....

4. Monarchy (has a lot in common with #2)

Does it?? last time i checked our Queen sits on her arse doing nothing all day
I would have to say that a Socialist government would be my pick from the list


[edit on 5-7-2004 by infinite]

Originally posted by E_T
Fully unregulated Capitalism/"Free" market isn't absolutely best.

If there wouldn't be any regulations corporations wouldn't give damn about environment or safety of employees because those tend to hinder this seeking of maximum profits.

I agree that a free market must be regulated for safety and against fraud to be fully effective. So I'm a full supporter of a "regulated free market", which is basically what the U.S. has. However, one has to be careful not to overregulate as well; the two extremes of a lack of regulation and overregulation are both traps that a free market economy has to be careful not to fall into...

Originally posted by infinite
Does it??

last time i checked our Queen sits on her arse doing nothing all day

Do you mean the U.K.? The U.K. is a Constitutional Monarchy! A pure Monarchy (think of Louis XVI of France, for example) does have all the characteristics of a dictatorship, with the exception of a family, instead of a single person, running the country. Even then, the head of the family -- the King or Queen -- still basically runs the country themselves as a dictator...


[edit on 7/5/2004 by ThunderCloud]

I like the old US ideals, before everything became centralized in a federal government.

States rights over Fed rights, free market - less government in general.

Originally posted by ThunderCloud
So I'm a full supporter of a "regulated free market", which is basically what the U.S. has.

Well, isn't that currently money/big corporations have too much power.
Economy should serve people, not otherwise.

A pure Monarchy (think of Louis XVI of France, for example) does have all the characteristics of a dictatorship, with the exception of a family, instead of a single person, running the country.

I think Saudi Arabia would be good example about monarchy.

[edit on 5-7-2004 by E_T]

I will have to go with Constitutional Monarchy because Canada has be using that system since its founding and its worked pretty good so far.

As for the type of economy. I am not a pure capatilist since I've seen the damage NAFTA has caused to Canada so I guess somwhere between A and B.

I think Saudi Arabia would be good example about monarchy.

I have lived in Saudi with my parents while they did contracting work in the Early-80 and since was too young to remember I asked them about it and they described the Gov't in Saudi as a Theocratic Monarchy.

Constitutional Monarchy!

All the benefits of democracy, while providing a better level of protection against extremist governments or dangerous legislation by rogue administrations. Separation of Prime Minister and Head of State is beneficial to stability and foreign relations.

I can't recommend it highly enough, although for those wishing to adopt this time honoured, practical system, be advised the "transition" phase does take a few hundred years or so.


(oh.. and A : free market, but with a good level of Govt. spending on essential healthcare and quality education for all!)


[edit on 5-7-2004 by muppet]

Originally posted by The Astral City
I would say that a Democratic Socialist government is the best type, pulling the best ideas from both Marx and Smith. This style is becoming more popular throughout Europe Asia, and even though they still call themselves Capitalist Democratic the Canadians have been moving in this direction for a while too.
May Peace Travel With You
~Astral

What are the identifying features of a Democratic Socialist system? Is it closer to socialism of capitalism, in their traditional senses?

#1
"Anarchism:- The philosophy of a new social order based on liberty unrestricted by man-made law; the theory that all forms of government rest on violence, and are therefore wrong and harmful, as well as unnecessary." Emma Goldman

Originally posted by American Mad Man
I like the old US ideals, before everything became centralized in a federal government.

States rights over Fed rights, free market - less government in general.

I agree with that for the most part.

The Libertarian Party is working very hard to gain power in public office. They are all about decreasing the size of government, especially on the Federal level, and increasing freedoms.

You should really check out The Libertarian Party and look at their positions on certain issues... I personally agree with almost all of them.

The best type of government, is one that doesn't infringe on any of my unalienable rights granted to all sovereigns.

Choices; none, or, one that only protects my rights, a constitutional republic.

I am a tie between a Capitalist Democracy(Common Man regulated system) and a Capitalist Technocracy-Democracy(Scientists/Technician regulated system appended by Common Man). A true Technocracy was not possible until the Internet became widespread. I have no problem with this as *long as* it is human operated and *not* machine operated!! I feel that corporate interests need to take many steps back and become a lot less involved.

A Democratic Socialist country still has representation like a democracy, but the government has more control over the economy and business than in a purely capitalist system. The level of control over the economy varies, but usually the government is allowed to own companies (such as the government-owned airlines in Europe and the old British Railways system.) Some could argue that the United States does this to a degree with the US Post Office and Amtrak but usually a Democratic Socialist nation also owns other non-monopolistic corproations too.

My main problem with a Constitutional Monarchy is the royal family. What has the British royal family done in a long time except being a mascot for the nation. Instead I wonder if a straight Parlimentary system would be more effective.

May Peace Travel With You
~Astral

Originally posted by The Astral City
A Democratic Socialist country still has representation like a democracy, but the government has more control over the economy and business than in a purely capitalist system. The level of control over the economy varies, but usually the government is allowed to own companies (such as the government-owned airlines in Europe and the old British Railways system.) Some could argue that the United States does this to a degree with the US Post Office and Amtrak but usually a Democratic Socialist nation also owns other non-monopolistic corproations too.

I see.. so it's not necessarily something particularly radical; more like a democracy with socialist leanings and support for state owned industries. thanks for the clarification.

My main problem with a Constitutional Monarchy is the royal family. What has the British royal family done in a long time except being a mascot for the nation. Instead I wonder if a straight Parlimentary system would be more effective.

Phew, now you're asking. Lot's of things. Princes trust, foreign relations, tourist attraction(!), rallying point (Queen and Country and all that), institutional safeguard against radical government. they raise, through patronage, engagements and events, hundreds of millions of pounds a year for charities.. i.e. far more than they "cost" the nation in civil list salaries.

The Royals are also non partisan. They NEVER make political statements, which in todays information led world means we have a pretty powerful P.R. "Nuke", in reserve, should it ever by required.

Along with just the royal family you have also to take into account the House of Lords and the myriad of centuries old societies and institutions who add to the depth and strength of our civil structure. All these taken together from an almost impenetrable barrier that any future dictator/fascist/whatever corrupt government would have to breach.

By comparison, and I'm no expert on US legal/constitutional stuff, I read Bush was able to tear up the constitution, with an Act hardly anyone read first, and most people didn't even notice?

[edit on 5-7-2004 by muppet]


[edit on 5-7-2004 by muppet]

My personal favorite would be a populist republic, where the people would get to vote on any constitutional amendment, be able to allocate how most of their tax dollars are spent, and could vote to overturn the gov. to have any law passed or repealed. Represenatives would do the bulk of the work, but the people have the final say.