Supporters? I have none! (7-week poll.)

[Mitera Nikkou]

Revealing the reason for this might give someone the incentive to support me. Although someone may just support me just because... However, I'd like for you to consider this seriously. I won't consider support legitimate unless your heart is in it. Either you support me on all, or on none: because it's a collective goal of mine (that I can only dream about being possible).

The following is what I'd like to do away with (and assume that I have something (for better or worse) to replace it):

Currency
Representative democracy
Political parties
Free market
Capitalism
Excessive convenience

(This isn't all of them, but it's enough. The others would require a lot of elaboration and such.)

[Stellar]

I don't know what free market is ... >.>

[Kara-chan]

Basically it means a market that isn't controled by the government but rather by supply and demand. It's the current system in the United States and many other countries around the world.

[Mitera Nikkou]

And it must be stopped!

[Alex Vandar]

Sorry, but I can't support this. ^^; Some of the things on the list, yeah, but others....no.

You really CAN'T get rid of currency, to start. It's just...not a good idea. The barter system (Which I assume you'd want to go back to using) just wouldn't work at all, all things considered.

Political Parties, though, YES. Get rid of them, they've ripped this damn country apart.

[Kara-chan]

I'm just wondering Aoife, what would you replace the above with?

[Mitera Nikkou]

You really CAN'T get rid of currency, to start. It's just...not a good idea. The barter system (Which I assume you'd want to go back to using) just wouldn't work at all, all things considered.

It's not a matter of "can't", it's a matter of "won't." And, no, I wouldn't go to a barter system.

First off, humans did fine before currency. I mean, we're here, aren't we? We survived without currency! Omigod! XD Sorry, just had to put it like that. The problem with currency, is that people have become dependent on it. They're raised on it, and they're not educated to see alternatives. They just figure it's as natural as the blood that pumps through their veins. Well, it's not. Also, it inspired capitalism, which does not work toward supply and demand; rather, it works toward taking advantage (whether if its another's misfortune or not) and profiteering. Do you know where capitalism started, before it was called "capitalism?" With swindlers. You know, those guys that sell you something at a higher price than it's really worth, so they can profit whether or not they bought it at the actual price or not. In fact, there is not a single soul that can determine the real value of anything, because things are often not determined by their necessity, but rather supply and demand. Why do you think oil prices rose? Why did its value change? Necessity? Hardly. People were taken advantage of by their fear of a lack of oil supply, because they're dependent morons, and that insecurity was capitalized on. It's as simple as that. Oil is oil is oil; its value should be dependent on quality, not quantity (and certainly not dependency). It's time that people shape up and get smart, and stop allowing moneymongers to take advantage of them. The harder it is to break a habit, the more reason to break it; you should control what you do, not the other way around. Why? Because evildoers are looking for people like that, so they can take advantage of them. Don't live up to their expectations.

As for barter... Bleh. It's better than currency, but not by much. I'd rather go with a "budget" system. And I use that word to mean: checks and balances. It'd work like the human body, making sure that all working parts get the nutrition the need. If someone didn't work, and weren't elderly or handicapped? They still get food and shelter, just like a vestigial part of the body. This country has enough land and resources to feed and shelter every citizen, so that shouldn't be a problem. It's better to give a jobless person food and shelter so they have a good springboard to get back into the work force, rather than leaving them to deal with all of the problems that comes with having no food and decent shelter, which often leads them into a spiral of non-recovery. That is beyond disgraceful, in a country like this one, to allow that to happen. Problem? Currency. Why are so many people poor? Maluse of currency, either inflicted or afflicted. Why? No checks and balances. Money shouldn't be the driving force; people should be the driving force, but they can't do that if they're dependent on money and wait to move when they have enough. And it's ridiculous, because so many things can be done (by people) without money; that is, if people are willing to take care of their own instead of watching their purse. We have the time, resources, technology and willing people. Put on a pair of Nike's and just do something. You're not going to have much success with money when there are organizations gobbling and hoarding it up, leaving less for others in need.

[Mitera Nikkou]

I'm just wondering Aoife, what would you replace the above with?

Oh... That'd take a long time to explain. So I'll get to it later. The house is about to be fumigated, in about an hour, so... I don't have the time before then. ^_^; But I shall have it in a day or two! (There really is a lot. I have thought of alternatives. XD)

[ashuros]

honestly the only replacement to capitalism is comunism which dosent really work either unless your thinking of trying some kind of blalance between the two which seems practicly impossible.

[Mitera Nikkou]

I seem to have another hour before the Orkin man gets here, so...

There's more than just capitalism and communism. ^_^; I don't know why I keep coming across those that know no others. X_X Basically, what I have in mind incorporates various ideas from several different things, to ensure that the government is small, states have integrity, and people own land, homes and vehicles without taxes. I haven't worked out everything yet, but I'm working toward a balance that would work with the other things that I'd change (such as no currency and stuff). It's the transition that's the real trick, no matter which way you slice it. And it's a real bugger when people moan and groan about change because they can't imagine living any other way (even if their circumstances are bad, at best), and thus not want to put any effort into making a change. America's in such a bad state... -_-

[Chibi MitchellTF]

I'd say a 'no', but with difficulty. I admire you for trying to truly change things, but I'm not sure if it would work. Barely.

I thought Communism was similar to that idea, or at least SOCIALISM was. However, in practice, not everybody got the things they needed, and there was a lack of meritocracy, and subsequently quality. If those are corrected, it might work.

[Christina Anikari]

I can't support that. As much as i dislike capitalism i really don't think that a return to the dark ages is the solution, i at least is quite fond of not having to perform hard physical labour in order to acquire food. And unlike many of you i am quite fond of the concept of political parties. They serve many uses other than be what to elect people from and what to vote for, that is very much a secondary function of them. Their primary function is the education of people with leadership capabilities and the organization and direction of political will and activity. Finally i would like to point out that it is hard to completely eliminate political parties, unlike what many thinks political parties are not provided for in any constitution anywhere in the world, many constitutions even prohibits them. Democracy just forces them to appear as formal structurings of the alliances that are bound to crop up anyway. In any system we have ever found has had informal political parties, this is whether we talk about the roman senate or the political maneuvering of medieval nobility. The only difference between then and now is that they are formal organizations with clear responsibilities and limitations, instead of secret groups scheming behind the backs of others. Personally i believe that is vastly superior than the secret alliances and backroom deals that would come from not having the primary alliances be formal.

[Anamnesis]

I agree with Terra on this. (Name...too...long..)
If you do away with all that, we'd end up with sokmething akin to a command economy...which, while working in theory, will not work because of the fact that people are not fit to lead others.

[P-tan]

It depends...

Is bringing down anime part of your list?

[Miyukicl]

Interesting.....