One Nation, Under Me

           

 

I pledge allegiance to the flag, and to the one nation under me…    

My nation, the one I would like to start would clearly be a grandiose utopia for the likes of me, as I would be happy one day to see my nation bloom. In my nation, being started in current day, I will have hindsight of previous mistakes that have been perpetrated throughout history. There would be room for all different peoples to become citizens, however, there would be a tough entrance policy, and full assimilation would be required. In my nation there would be a few ideologies that would be not accepted. Issues that would be idolized in my nation: the abolishment of religion, the removal of political party systems, the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) method, checks and balances, and the removal of welfare-state mentality. There would be a, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat,” rational behind these polices. In my nation, there would be plenty for those who want to participate, and nothing for those who don’t. All rights would only apply to citizens of my nation.

Education would be a mandated for everyone until the age of 25. School years would consist of 365 days a year except holidays. Curriculum would be determined later in detail, but would encourage free thinking, independent thought and the KISS method. This would also include practical real-world knowledge. Schooling would be free and open to everyone.

Government will be transparent to everyone. The old-world thoughts on a representative democracy government would be one of the keystones to my nation, once again, along with the KISS methodology. Candidates for elected office would serve the designated constituents needs. They will vote based off what the people in their district want. Political parties would be banned and the Electoral College system. Candidates would work solely on the issues and not on a political street gang mentality. The government shall stay fluid with the times with the exception of its core beliefs. All citizens will be required to vote, this would be based behind the train of thought of, “If you don’t vote you don’t count.” The penalty for such disregard, would include, but not be limited to fines, imprisonment, and deportation.  Majority rule will be the standard.

Justice shall stay blind and simple in practice and beliefs. It also will be fluid with the times. The court system shall be based off the U.S.A. style of a justice system. There would be the local courts, the appellate courts, and the Supreme Court of the land. Courts will not be allowed to dictate public policy with the exception of ruling on issues of constitutionality. Lawsuits must be based on some form of merit or the suit bringer will be penalized, by steep fines and/or imprisonment. Law enforcement will be granted certain latitudes, but will not place itself above the law. Firearms shall be allowed to citizens with full civil rights. Checks and balances will be in place to enforce such policies. Death penalty will be constituted and open to discussion for public or private viewing based on the citizens’ majority rule. Those that are deemed redeemable shall have the chance to have a full restoration of their civil rights.

Taxes will be simplified and regulated as a flat income tax based system. Everyone will have to pay the same percentage point as everyone else, regardless of wealth. Along with income tax there would also be sales tax on goods and services.

Other rights afforded to the people will be the following. Helmets will be optional for motorcycle riders, except passengers. Seatbelts will be optional for drivers of their own personal vehicle, but not for a person driving someone else’s vehicle and all passengers must wear seatbelts regardless of whose vehicle. Suicide and attempted suicide will be legal. Assisted suicide will be legal, and must be performed by a trained and licensed individual. Abortion shall be legal. Birthing privileges shall be mitigated by and doled out by the appropriate institutions. Population control policies will be strictly enforced. Health care shall be open and free to all citizens. Organ donation shall be mandatory upon death. English will be the official language.

First off, I should say that I love the U.S.A, and I would like to see these theories enacted here first. If these laws or rights couldn’t happen here, and I had a chance to start my own nation, then these are the rules I would constitute. Now my nation would quite obviously not be for everyone, which is why this is called “My Nation”. These rights and privileges are what I hold to be true to my conscience being. I make no bones about these beliefs and believe it is better to wear them on my sleeve than to hide them and have a hidden agenda. Or in the words of Malcolm X, “I have more respect for a man who lets me know where he stands, even if he’s wrong then the one who comes up like an angel and is nothing but a devil.” This quote has become one of the basis’s for which I guide my life. I may be seen as abrasive, confrontational, controversial, and ignorant, but I will not bend my beliefs to goose-step behind someone else. Nor will I hide any longer in the shadows to appease the thin-skinned masses. For my word needs to spoken, or at the very least to plant the seed of free thinking. My beliefs may never flourish, certainly within my lifetime, and some may try to stop me, but I must press on for what I feel is a just and virtuous lifestyle.

I welcome open, intelligent, reason-fueled debate about my beliefs, but it’s difficult to find anyone to accomplish this with. These people are few and far between. Most people would rather call me a dirty word and walk away. I suspect this is because of a lack of knowledge on the issues, because that person is just blindly following behind propaganda or rhetoric. The other reason is probably out of frustration because of a lack of communication skills. The “No, I’m not. You are,” defense. It makes it hard to argue with people like that. They tend to drag someone down to their level and beat him/her with experience. This makes for a challenge to cultivate an argument tailored just for these types of people. But, tailor it I must in order to communicate my message to everyone, for alienating someone is a sure-fire way to create an enemy.

Consequences of my beliefs are difficult for me to ferment. Due to the simple fact that these are my beliefs, but in order to better understand my rationale I have to take an outsider’s view of these beliefs. Some of the consequences to my beliefs that I’m cognizant of are creating a hatred toward me or people who may hold some or all of my truths. This is certainly not my intent. Other negativity towards me consists of fear, either for me or from me, once again not the intended effect that I’m trying to display. Another effect, and this could just be my paranoia, is to be flagged or monitored by the government. I suppose this is a possibility, but not a very probable one. Maybe I read 1984 by George Orwell too much, and feel some form of totalitarianism rearing its ugly head. (Orwell) These derivatives are far from what I intended. I am just hoping to increase awareness, challenge the norms, produce independence, eliminate simpletons, and create the informed. Once I have done this, then I believe my beliefs will follow as a by-product to the thinking class. But, until then, I feel I must keep my word in the forefront to awaken the great majority to stand-up and think for themselves.

So how do I go about spreading my gospel? A question I ask myself often. Am I the right purveyor of this message? Is it the right time to spread these points? Or is it that since it’s not the right time, which makes it the right time? These are all good questions for which I have no answers to. I also don’t feel that I’m the best champion for these ideas; for I feel I’m not a king, but better a kingmaker. Who would best convey this message? When is the right time?  So, where do I find the answers to these questions? I know enough that these questions could best be answered by someone with a more worldly and/or political knowledge than I have. So, who do I ask these questions to? Who, of great intellectual stature, would lease their time and entertain the notion of listening to me? How would I go about asking these questions? How do I frame the questions in order to maximize the responses? Are my ideas really that radical, or is there some conservative underpinnings in society that stamp into our consciousness that make such subjects taboo? At times, it feels like I have more questions than answers.

My notion of my own nation is at times just an illusion of grandeur. What it does do, though, is to help me express my ideas, beliefs, and thoughts into an easily expressible form. That also helps to avoid confrontation, because in a sense, I’m posing a hypothetical. This is the type of behavior I need to stop conducting because it helps no one and serves no purpose. I need to stand stronger in my beliefs and not fear the conflict that may result from it. I need to remember that I can beat most opposition if I stay strong in my convictions. These subjects need to be spoken about, and the awareness level needs to be raised. These thoughts need to be discussed and debated, without the cloudiness in judgment that religion and politics burden our souls with; also without misconceptions, prejudgments, or assumptions, because if we free our minds, the rest will follow.

With all of this information that I have laid out there, I now ask people to think hard about the issues I have placed upon them. And if people find my knowledge to be true, I ask them, please be a citizen of my nation.