If you were elected to be the leader of your Country...

[the cornflake]

well since living in the US sucks for me i'd make it a good place to live:

1. discontinue the patriot act (stupid idea)
2. make the US a neutral country, therefore we would not be directly invoved in anymore wars
3. make cigarettes illegal and the drinking age nonexistant

 

[SenseOfTumour]

This! Definitely this, especially the Vimes part. Just to make myself unpopular i would instigate an intelligence test (more a morality test) for wannabe parents. I you want a child you have to prove your going to be able to raise it. Futher i would outlaw the opushing of religion on children by their parents. Let them decided whether or not to be indoctrinated. Your not allowed to brainwash you children into thinking anything else so why give faith the free ride, (other than the handy guilt mechanics)?
UK

P.S

Send the BNP into the sea.

Oh the irony

This too!

I guess I'm finally admitting to myself, I maybe am anti religion, because I'm wondering just how long religion would survive, if it was illegal to push it into a child's mind until he was 18? What percentage of people would actively go hunting for it if they hadn't had it forced on them as a kid? Teach em morals and justice, values etc, but does it have to be all tied up in religion?

 

[Dancingman]

In times of Soviet Union my country used to be an industrial powerhouse. Mining,manufacturing,agriculture,and much more. Now the power is in the hands of stupid,industry is ruined,and economy is based around importing various shit from China and selling it. So if i would become a president,my first act would be some epic purging of fools. Next,some really strong pro-industry measures. Third,some more purging of fools. After that many,many laws a gamer/idealist/technocrat would issue.

Of course,if i would be able to run a country in a first place.

My country is displayed in my profile,if you really want to know for sure.

Cool, I always liked the Kazakhstani flag.

Anyway, If I were elected to be US President (for life probably) I would start by making abortion and gay marriage legal, I'm tired of this conservative states' rights crap. I would, like the assorted dictators before me, work on getting rid of fools everywhere. And I mean EVERYWHERE: stupid-ass corporate execs who pay outrageous bonuses to their higher-ups and wonder why they're going bankrupt, scientologists, and assorted hate groups (Neo-Nazis, KKK, etc.). Legions of idle prison inmates would be mobilized for assorted manual labor tasks. I would renew relations with Europe as well as the Russian Federation, perhaps even a joint- world takeover scheme.

 

[poopdog]

USA
I'd make the national spot tiger baseball. It's basicly like reguler baseball, only with live tigers attacking both teams, and it's legal for the players to murder each other in the field. I'd also turn Maui Hawaii into a federal prision island, just so when people are sentenced to jail the judge is forced to say by law that "they've won a fabulous trip to maui Hawaii!!!"

 

[WittyName]

If I were elected to be the leader of my Country...I'd probably do a better job than Gordon Brown.

You could sit down and still do a better job!

On topic: I'd probably make it illegal to be a chav.

 

[magicmonkeybars]

I'd probably just make laws that would let me slaughter people on mass.

 

[Legion]

England: Set out specific non-smoking and smoking areas and anyone who complains about it gets to sit in the other one for a day.

Simple. Effective.

Whilst that's happening, I'd stick Brown, Cameron, and the other leaders in the Big Brother House, lock them in, and then turn the cameras off forever.

Hmmm, this would be my second law.

 

[Capo Taco]

... What would be the first law that you would create or change?

I think I would pass a law that creates a maximum salary for people who play professional sports. In the UK top of the class professional football (soccer) players can make up to around £75,000/$120,000 a week (David Beckham at one point made £150,000/$240,000 a week).

Although I believe in Capitalism to a certain extent; The idea that someone who effectively gets paid for kicking a ball around gets that kind of money, when those who work to keep the population alive (Doctors and Nurses) are put into debt due to Medical school, and then stuck on a low pay-grade for years is sickening.

EDIT: Please name your Country to avoid confusion about laws.

So what about you fellow Escapists?

What makes you think you can judge the right maximum price of a professional soccer player?
If you reduce the maximum they can be paid in britain, a lot of your star players would go to different countries, notably spain and Italy where they could be paid more.
As your soccer culture slowly degrades, fewer people would be watching soccer in stadiums and TV. Advertisers pay less for smaller audiences. The British government gets to tax less and as a result is less able to pay hospitals well.

Yes, I agree that it's sickening if doctors and nurses aren't paid much. Part of reason that they're low paid is because of the medical system not having a free market. Admittedly, having a free market on medical care is worse, just look at the USA. I agree with your second point but not your first. If someone is willing to pay £150,000/$240,000 a week for a player, he must be worth it. Do you think whoever's paying it would do so if he wasn't worth it?

Although possibly he wasn't worth just THAT much, because you say he just made it at 'one point'.

To deride a professional athlete for 'just kicking a ball around' is like deriding a pro-gamer of 'just playing with toys all day'. It doesn't really respect the training and skill that comes with the job.

 

[Skeleon]

If you were elected to be the leader of your Country...

...then I'd probably step down.
I consider myself smart but a smart man has to know his limitations.
I'm not versed in the arts of politics or economics.

Before stepping down I'd abolish tuition fees, though.

 

[Legion]

*snip*

What makes you think you can judge the right maximum price of a professional soccer player?

Well you see in this scenario I am a Dictator so what I say goes.

If you reduce the maximum they can be paid in britain, a lot of your star players would go to different countries, notably spain and Italy where they could be paid more.

Less footballers in Britain? What a shame...

As your soccer culture slowly degrades, fewer people would be watching soccer in stadiums and TV. Advertisers pay less for smaller audiences. The British government gets to tax less and as a result is less able to pay hospitals well.

Hmmm, I think I'd make my own version of Big Brother [Fun fact: They all die] that I have been planning for years, this would bring in the slacked income.

Yes, I agree that it's sickening if doctors and nurses aren't paid much. Part of reason that they're low paid is because of the medical system not having a free market. Admittedly, having a free market on medical care is worse, just look at the USA. I agree with your second point but not your first.

Thanks!

If someone is willing to pay £150,000/$240,000 a week for a player, he must be worth it. Do you think whoever's paying it would do so if he wasn't worth it?

For them? Yes, they are. They are just mocking all of those who work long hours doing important jobs and getting paid less in a year than the footballer does in a week.

Although possibly he wasn't worth just THAT much, because you say he just made it at 'one point'.

He moved to the US soon after where he was paid Millions instead...



To deride a professional athlete for 'just kicking a ball around' is like deriding a pro-gamer of 'just playing with toys all day'. It doesn't really respect the training and skill that comes with the job.

Training? Ok fair enough. Skill? Kicking a ball is still just kicking a ball, no matter how good you are at doing it.


*In all fairness, you made some valid points. Losing football in this country would reduce money spent and affect the economy that's true, but remember this thread is meant as a bit of fun and is only half-serious if at all.*

 

[Perticular Elk]

... What would be the first law that you would create or change?

I think I would pass a law that creates a maximum salary for people who play professional sports. In the UK top of the class professional football (soccer) players can make up to around £75,000/$120,000 a week (David Beckham at one point made £150,000/$240,000 a week).

Although I believe in Capitalism to a certain extent; The idea that someone who effectively gets paid for kicking a ball around gets that kind of money, when those who work to keep the population alive (Doctors and Nurses) are put into debt due to Medical school, and then stuck on a low pay-grade for years is sickening.

EDIT: Please name your Country to avoid confusion about laws.

So what about you fellow Escapists?

Your a Socialist because you are usurping the an industry solely based on emotions. These private leagues can do whatever they want with their money which people willingly give them. As long as demand is high for pro athletes, their salary will be high to attract star talent. And might I ask your pay then?

 

[Legion]

... What would be the first law that you would create or change?

I think I would pass a law that creates a maximum salary for people who play professional sports. In the UK top of the class professional football (soccer) players can make up to around £75,000/$120,000 a week (David Beckham at one point made £150,000/$240,000 a week).

Although I believe in Capitalism to a certain extent; The idea that someone who effectively gets paid for kicking a ball around gets that kind of money, when those who work to keep the population alive (Doctors and Nurses) are put into debt due to Medical school, and then stuck on a low pay-grade for years is sickening.

EDIT: Please name your Country to avoid confusion about laws.

So what about you fellow Escapists?

Your a Socialist because you are usurping the an industry solely based on emotions. These private leagues can do whatever they want with their money which people willingly give them. As long as demand is high for pro athletes, their salary will be high to attract star talent. And might I ask your pay then?

I'm not a socialist, I'm a Dictator, the outrage! My pay is whatever I demand, of course.

On a slightly more serious note: I don't really care for terms. A lot of people hate Communism because "Commies are bad" but the concept is one of the fairest economical structures there is (sadly human beings are usually corrupt and so Communism is yet to work).

My issue is not to do with emotions, it's to do with fairness. Somebody working in a job that is vital for the species deserves to live more comfortably than somebody who entertains people. Complete Capitalism is not a fair way of living, it's to do with who has money, not talent/skills that are needed for progression.

Look at Jade Goody, she was a millionaire for being stupid on TV, despite being a millionaire she got her wedding dress bought for her and got paid to have her wedding put in the papers and magazines. Why? because she had Cancer? No. There are thousands of women who have the same problem who don't get the free ride. It's because she was a "celebrity" and people throw money at talentless people because they can make more money out of doing so.

 

[Jamash]

I don't know about being elected...but if I was King of England, then I'd make everyone with an O.B.E. earn their Knighthood.

I'd kick it back to the old school and make my Knights fight for the country in wars, and in peace time I'd make them joust and fight for public entertainment.

Who wouldn't want to see Sir Sean of Connery battle Sir Elton of John, in full armour with swords and other Medieval weapons?

How about Sir Pierce Brosnan vs Sir Roger Moore?

Basically anyone on this list [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_celebrities_who_have_been_awarded_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire] will have to fight at some time or another, or be stripped of their Knighthood (apart from Russell T Davis, who wouldn't have a choice in the matter and will be deployed to the nearest warzone post-haste).

Obviously I wouldn't be a very fair King, and some Knights like Michael Caine (and others I like) would be kept out of the fighting, because they're awesome national treasures who need to be preserved.

I'd be like King Arthur and have my own Knights of the Round Table, consisting of all the cool celebrity Knights, who'd be my entourage as I lorded my Kingship over people.

I'd appoint Sir Patrick Stewart to be my military advisor/spokesman, but make him Lord Picard and force him to keep in character.

I could have Sirs Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Roger Daltry, Dave Gilmour, Mark Knopfler, and the Bee-Gees as my Knight-Bards, playing my royal music everywhere I went.

Oh, if I was King...

 

[Legion]

*snip*

This post made me think of the Monty Python film "The Holy Grail".

It put a picture in my head of the people mentioned singing the song from it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGAYk5VWkTw

 

[Combined]

Lithuania. Now there's a small place to make loads of improvements.

Spoiler: List of Possible Improvements

1. I'd abolish this silly "Democracy" idea and institute a benevolent dictatorship with a fair elective process after said leaders death, while giving the people some ability to remove tyrants and corrupt buggers from the post.

2. Purge Communists, Socialists, Liberals, Authoritarians and the Greens, as well as abolishing all nationality-based parties. These parties only create friction that further divides our already divided country. Destroy the lot, I say.

3. Ban Tabacco and other smoking products as well as alcohol from being sold to the populace and instead export it. Force drunkards and smokers to attend courses on how to recover from smoking. Afterwards, integrate into our society with force if necessary. Also ban swearing, all forms of narcotics, except for medicinal ones. Violently enforce new laws.

4. Create a humongous police force that would patrol every corner in cities. Crack down heavily on organised crime, disorganised crime and provide maximum protection. Raise wages for police and make them more independent. Also, do as much ideological indoctrination as possible to get them to believe in the law above people fact.

5. Collect all tramps and force them to work in community jobs to both gain a minimum income to support themselves.

6. Improve the local agriculture by helping local farmers with temporary subsidies and removal of certain protocols as well as creating easier conditions for establishment. Create own industries and encourage foreign investors to create businesses by easing laws for construction of industries. Begin to use more local products, which will have a high quality control, and export the rest.

7. Ban ethnic group based schools. You're in Lithuania, so you either integrate or you can get out.

8. Tremendously raise funding for education and healthcare. Restore hospitals and schools using both national funds and private investors. Improve service quality by creating stricter conditions for work.

9. Cut almost all of the funding for government and ministries. Merge similar ministries. Cut the number of employees to the absolute minimum. Cut government servicemen wages by 50%. Purge inner corruption.

10. Refuse to give compensation to anyone who wants to get certain land or structures back.

11. Encourage immigration of skilled workers. Guarantee a job for every skilled worker that is fired or immigrates.

12. Ban non-competing contracts. Go one step further and abolish compensations for losing a job, not working or other similar instances that depend on the person himself.

13. Regain our history by violently clashing with Poles and Russians. Gain compensation for 50 year occupation and countless dead from Russia. Gain minor land and monetary compensation from Poland.

14. Expand borders by uniting the Balt states. Further improve national economy and actively encourage tourism.

15. Use army as Civil Protection and general-purpose workers while they're out of training.

That's all, folks.

 

[D.C.]

I'm British and my first law would to re-instate an old one but modernise it. This law would be;

That everyone over the age of 18 must spend an hour every sunday on a shooting range, To practice their marksman ship so that people can defend themselves incase of [alien] invasion.

The old law was as i believe; all men and boys in Britain must spend an hour every sunday practicing their archery on an archery range.

 

[Gotham Soul]

Ship Michael Atkinson to Siberia.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

United States

I'd like to eliminate government affairs in nearly everything that isn't involved in national security.

FREEDOM!