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If we could start over with America II

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tridim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 01:12 AM
Original message
If we could start over with America II
Just throw out everything and start from scratch..

Would you prefer America II be a democratic republic or something different? Would you welcome help from our neighbors? Who would you support for the new President and Congress? Would you prefer the American land mass be divided up into several countries or kept intact? Would you keep any current government funded/run agencies?

I have a feeling these questions might need answers very soon. I'd certainly be happy if America somehow survives and gains some wisdom during the next few years, but honestly it's not looking too good from where I stand.
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alittlelark Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 01:16 AM
Response to Original message
1. Church and state wall will be set in stone.
No tax-exempt status for ANY religious institution.

Those are my biggies - oh, and CORPOATIONS ARE NOT 'PERSONS'.

There is much more....
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Rockerdem Donating Member (706 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 01:46 AM
Response to Reply #1
9. For one thing . . .
. . . no campaign donations over $25 (inflation adjusted periodically, of course).
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missouri dem 2 Donating Member (308 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 02:46 AM
Response to Reply #1
11. Yes, Corporations should never have more rights than citizens
and as long as they do we will never have Democracy.
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robbedvoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 01:21 AM
Response to Original message
2. Like America I - but with a working Constitution, system of Justice
That should clean all the garbage - political, corporate, abuses of power.
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tridim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 01:26 AM
Response to Reply #2
4. I agree, but I think the people in power are a bigger problem
At least most of them. They don't give a rats ass that we have a constitution and guaranteed rights.
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rwenos Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 01:22 AM
Response to Original message
3. It's Extremely Difficult to Imagine
the basic structure of any government being set up better than ours -- three equal branches, a balance of power between the branches, and the added balance of the vertical separation of powers between the feds and the several states.

However, the ways it has played out on the ground have frequently been perverse. I'm surprised someone put their finger on a huge problem with the 14th Amendment -- the Court said in the 1880's (check the date) that corporations were "persons," entitled to the protections of the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses. Much evil has flowed from this fiction.
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robbedvoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 01:28 AM
Response to Reply #3
5. That and eliminate electoral colleges too. Equal and direct vote
like all civilized nations in the world.
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napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 01:28 AM
Response to Original message
6. I would like to see two separate Americas.
Liberal United States & Conservative United States. Each with their own constitutions and laws. Each operating independantly. No money from one would fund or take funds from the other, but there would be no more fights about abortion, gay marriage, ten comandments, or any of that. If the country is as divided as it seems, why not make the split and be done with it!
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tridim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 01:34 AM
Response to Reply #6
8. That would be great, but how do you do it?
I own land in a state that would probably end up being part of Jesusland. Would the Holy Government of Jesusland offer to buy my land for a reasonable fee? Or would they just kick me out in the name of Gawd?
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napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 02:02 PM
Response to Reply #8
16. Of course not. It would be just as if you owned a vacation spot
in Canada or Mexico. No big deal!
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KSAtheist Donating Member (209 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 02:41 AM
Response to Reply #6
10. One thing...
A whole "Jesusland" and "United States of Canada" division is very cute and pat, but what about transportation? What about agriculture? Where would "United States of Canada" get their food, if there would be no transfer of funds and goods? Will there be trade between the two countries? Will there be set, fortified borders, or a Canada/US system?

There's also the whole power-grid issue to deal with.
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Traction Donating Member (97 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 04:24 AM
Response to Reply #10
13. Who says we can't trade?
Two countries don't have to agree remotely to trade. The far-right US trades with liberal France and Sweden, so why not? We can even have tourism. It would work, and I like the idea.
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Traction Donating Member (97 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 04:22 AM
Response to Reply #6
12. I totally agree
Why not just split into two? Liberals and conservatives can both be happy, and moderate Democrats and moderate Republicans can burn in hell. I have no respect for moderates on either side. I'd rather have Paul Wellstone any day over John Braux, and I even respect Pat Buchanan more than Mayor Rudy. Moderates have no backbone and are too wussie to pick a side. Stay on the right or left side of the street and you're safe. Stay in the middle and get squished like a grape.
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demwing Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 01:32 AM
Response to Original message
7. Some Basic Changes -
Eliminate life long seats for the SCOTUS, eliminate the Electoral College system, add porportional representation.
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Traction Donating Member (97 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 04:27 AM
Response to Reply #7
14. If we eliminated lifelong SC membership
And made it so the voters elect SC Justices every four years, we'd probably have at least seven far-right-wingers on the SC today instead of three right-wingers, three semi-moderates, and three liberals. Keep it the way it is, or the Repukes will fix that election too.
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demwing Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Nov-30-04 08:42 AM
Response to Reply #14
15. No need to elect them every 4 years, nor even "elect" them at all
Just give them a maximum term, say 12 years. Thats long enough to get past the term of the President who appointed them, but not long enough to start a dynasty.
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