Changing the constitution
@Citizen_Stuart (2016)
6 responses
@morethanamolehill (1586)
• United States
19 Aug 08
Term Limits for every one from President to dog catcher. Career politicians are one of the biggest problems in this country.
I would take the failed education system out of the hands of the Government.
And I would demand separation of Science and State.
2 people like this
@morethanamolehill (1586)
• United States
23 Aug 08
WOW, two out of three ain't bad, I'll take that. I admit that there are some politicians who could be elected for life. Just not THAT many.
@Citizen_Stuart (2016)
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23 Aug 08
Thanks for replying. I don't see any advantage to term limits, but I'm definitely with you on privatising education and scientific research.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
18 Aug 08
Well since your question is a little broad I'm going to say this. I would completely get rid of the Electoral College. I think it is very outdated system that needs to be gotten rid of. Not because of the election that took place in 2000 but most people (ones that are not into politics) that the same thing that happened in 2000 has happened three other times in the history of the US elections.
2 people like this
@Citizen_Stuart (2016)
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23 Aug 08
Thanks for replying. I've got to admit that I've always found your country's electoral college system pretty baffling - not necessarily worse than Britain's system, just hard to understand.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
23 Aug 08
I would have to agree completely, I spent five months researching the Electoral College for a paper I was writing in college. I really wanted to know how the Electoral College "people" were decided and there's actually no method to it lol.
1 person likes this
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
19 Aug 08
If the question is form of government I have no problem with my republic. If the question is what would you change about how your government runs, I would have to say do away with the income tax, have a forced balance budget, and go onto the gold standard. If I could wave a magic wand I would replace the income tax with a sales tax, spending could only match revenue, and stop the federal goverment from just printing how ever much money they want to. Oh I forgot one thing Congress would be term limited just as the President is term limited. Congressmen would be able to serve four two year terms and Senators two six year terms. Currently Congressmen and Senators can serve as long as they want too, but the President can only serve two four year term.
1 person likes this
@Citizen_Stuart (2016)
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23 Aug 08
Thanks for replying. I'm certainly all in favour of doing away with income tax. Not sure about the gold standard (I read a pretty good article once making the argument that a composite commodity standard would be better).
I've heard a lot of Americans argue in favour of term limits, although personally I don't see what the point is. Doesn't it just mean that the people lose the option of re-electing the one in a hundred politicians who are actually worthwhile?
@RevSkull (271)
• Tokelau
18 Aug 08
That's about the hardest question I've seen on MyLot...good job.
It is hard to really tinker with a constitution or system of government in just one way as one change can lead to many. That being said, I would change the 14th Amendment to specifically exclude non-human entities so that corporations wouldn't have the legal rights and privileges as people. There are many minor things that could be addressed but that could also allow other more sinister changes to creep in.
@Citizen_Stuart (2016)
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23 Aug 08
That's a very intelligent reply, thanks. You're right, it's very hard to change just one thing in a country's constitution without risking damaging side effects. Case in point, there's a move afoot to bring in a new Bill of Rights in Britain, but the people promoting it want to include welfare "rights". The problem is of course that that would bind future governments to spend money that might not be available - who can say what the economic situation will be in 20, 50 or 100 years?
Interesting point about excluding corporations etc. I've heard arguments for and against this in the past, but I don't have an opinion on this myself.
@hacker4ever (297)
• Philippines
18 Aug 08
Whoa.. This is one tough question. If I will be given with this great opportunity, I would like to make fines for top crimes much stinging to criminals but not up to the extent where human rights were taken off. I like just the way Singapore works.
1 person likes this
@Citizen_Stuart (2016)
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20 Aug 08
Thanks for replying, Hacker4ever. I also tend to be in favour of stiff penalties for criminals, but are you sure this is the kind of thing that's suitable for writing into constitutional law?
@TheHawkBat (669)
• United States
19 Aug 08
I would make it easier to recall elected officials. It would be nice if we could have done that the last 4 years in America...
1 person likes this
