h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Copied and Pasted straight from word, edit to you're liking and also give me a suggestion about how to end it and a suggestion about what form of leadership I should use. JB

Manifesto of the Socialist Meritocracy Party

I am not a revolutionary, merely a Philosopher!


The SMP is the final outcome in the search for a prefect form of government. Of course there are governments which work. But what government can provide all round happiness? Very few do.
A fascist state provides happiness in the event that you enjoy being under the rule of a possible and probable maniac.
Socialism provides food, clothes, housing and work but does not offer incentive for new ideas.
Capitalism succeeds in making social classes in the nation, causing extremes in rich and poor, making it an un-ideal ideology. You earn what you make, seems fair enough but with different head starts and advantages or disadvantages this can become more unbalanced and corrupt.

Capitalism, though unfair offers the incentive to work and earn. Socialism though in theory the fairest of ideologies offers no incentive and is easily corrupted. In this ideology, people must be forced to work. Yet why must these two ideologies be viewed as opposite? Surely an ideology can be combined with another to make a greater ideology.

A government should provide its people with opportunities. The S.M.P is a form of government which combines the ideas of capitalism and socialism to create a fair and equal society which provides incentives for work. In an SM government, the government provides the human rights and necessities:
• Food- Based on an average price per family per week and distributed using coupons and money.
• Shelter- Standard sized accommodation depending on the size of the family.
• Clothing- Based on a standard amount per month per person and distributed with coupons and money.

These ideas are all taken from socialism and yet capitalism forms a major part of an SM society.

In an SM government, jobs are not forced upon people. Work is used to earn money which can then be used to buy the luxuries which are not provided by the government. Alternatively, it can be used to buy the extras of the necessities. As food, shelter and clothing are provided by the government there is little need for large unemployment benefits for the healthy unemployed, offering more incentive to work.

Tax is based on what is earned, not what is owned.

Primary work- This is a civil service as living from the earth can be used to provide material for the government to help the people and is therefore a civil service. Therefore, farming etc is encouraged and pays well by the government, rather than individuals.

How to bring about an SM government

An SM is unlikely to work in an already rich country. The rich are often unwilling to give up what they have. However in a medium to poor wealth country, the changes are more likely to be accepted.


This is where it gets complicated:


Who rules?

This can depend:
• A Coalition Government
• A dictator
• A first past the post Government
• True Democracy with one person to sway the balance
• A soviet

Well there it is. I suppose some form of democracy would be best but I don't know what, theres so many of them. Write back soon JB.

Whoops anyone noticed the deliberate mistake in the title. I'm tired gimme a break.

Erm.... because I'm completly useless I don't suppose you could do the classified ad thing I'm soooo lost it's unbelivable.

True Democracy and Communism have both proven to be ultimately impractical. A Dictator could work if you found someone uncorruptable. (Like me, but seriously folks...) Even if you did, you'd need a new one for each successive Generation, eventually it wouldn't work.

Thats the problem I have. Combining a dictator and a true democracy with one guy at the top to govern with majority support but people are messed up.

Soviets in theory is a good idea with consuls ruling the country/ies but theyre easily corrupted as well.

Otherwise, what do you think of my writing skills.

The Soviet Union collapsed. Granted, mainly because they're Economy couldn't compete with ours and they tried to anyway, but still...

Clear and understandable.

Thank you.

I'm not an economist though!

Me neither.

ok. how about this....
insetead of giving money and cupons the government put money in special differnt accounts... that way you could be sure that the money for food is spent on food, ect... and an account for 'luxuries' that they could spend on whatever they want.

and as for government.... how about a group of elected individuals.... that way if one of them ends up being a really really bad choice then the others can stop them from doing something really stupid....... i see lots of flaws wiht this plan.. for example the fact that it would take ages to make one decision! if no one could agree on anything.... oh never mind... i dont know....

That's the problem with a coalition government. But how about instead of having say 100 people in power, just have say 5 with a chancellor and President. The chancellor passes the laws and keeps order and the president can call to abolish the government in a case of extremity.

Well if it's in coupons it would have to be used on food or clothing or whatever because it would be a food or clothing coupon. I'm not sure I completly understood what you said then.

i like that idea. i didnt mean like 100, thats way too many... but i think your plan is really good

...the problem wiht cupons is that they can be traded... for things. i was just trying to figure a way around corrupt people that would do that...

Well I guess but it's peoples decision if they're gonna starve though. But I can see your point.

well yes thats true..... i suppose....
hmm...

so much to think about.

We need a general for social order.

Don't look at me.

We need another member. Anyone up for promotion?

Jerms
we're saving him the position of 4th general are we not?

Thats true we are. Hope he gets here soon though.

not for quite a bit yet
uni's on break for him now. a few months i think

however i talked to him a on friday, and i told him we were saving him the rank of general.

Thats good. We won't need head of economics just yet will we?

oh is that what he gets to be?

er....jb.... just what are you the general of?
or are you not general of anything as you are our beloved leader?