The basic concepts of my ideal society…

My ideal society is a bit Orwellian in nature. Admitted, it starts off as a harsh totalitarian rule with Dystopian tendencies…but…if you read ALL of it…

Health Care: Totally paid by the government for all operations, illnesses, everything. Food is provided on a month to month basis and given options pending on what you require to maintain optimization as per your nutritionist.
In order to have a child you must undergo genetic counseling to determine the probabilities of having any defects (they will not be denied due to any findings).

However the right to have a child costs $5,000 cumulative dollars. 1;$5k, 2;$10k, 3;$15k … this way the parents have to save the money for quite some time to afford a license for having a child and will have thought it through and planned.

Education: Class sizes are 16 students to 1 teacher. Starting from Pre-k they are introduced to English, Spanish, French, German, Latin, and Greek. They are also introduced to basic arithmetical and algebraic concepts. They are also instructed in the basics on logic and critical thinking. School is six days a week. It’s broken down to six sections of six weeks each per year. Core (k-12) classes go from 9 am- 3pm. College is mandatory for six years (or else military or any combo thereof).

Judicial system: Laws are crafted by each distinct area of affect where in there are philosophers and lawyers as well as sociologists and psychologists to craft a given law around a situation. These laws must be then passed by overwhelming majority in an electronic and instant popular vote on each law. (90%) if that level is not reached then the law goes back to be edited via the input of the voters to amend the law to get a general agreement as to the specifics. All Citizens must pass (80%) a quiz on an issue they are voting for to make sure they understand the issue. The Quiz and the vote are done at the same time so the submitter has no idea if he passed or failed and if his vote counted in the issue or not. Until the law is passed the act is not illegal and if a law would force retroactive action each person who violated the law prior to it’s passing should be registered as exempt from prosecution of that law due to the fact that at the time it wasn’t illegal. Trials are held in a public forum and again a popular vote is used to determine guilt or non-guilt. >89%. There is only one penalty: Death.

Workforce: All Jobs pay a rate of $150 per week per 4 members of a household. If a member of society cannot find a job, all he need do is apply either to college or the military for an extended term whereupon they will be given the same $150 per month per 4 people. All applications are submitted blind and the interview is conducted via instant messaging such that The person’s gender, skin color, or any other physical characteristic has no bearing in the hiring process. The hiring process is not handled by the management but instead by popular vote of the employees and management. >89%.

Citizenship: Every four years every person must pass an exam on the knowledge of the current laws and standards of the society to maintain citizenship.
Immigrations: All immigrants are given a physical upon their arrival on shore and are immediately enrolled in an education class that teaches the basics of the laws and language of the society. If a member of society wishes to leave the society they have several options.
1) Relinquish citizenship and pass on the ability to reintegrate.
2) Specify a given time period for which they are to be gone and they will be seen as a cultural ambassador of the country and will be given $5,000+$1000 per month of time departed as agreed upon.
3) Do not Specify a given time period for which they are to be gone and they will still be seen as a cultural ambassador, however they will only receive $750 per month as forwarded to a specific bank account for a period of not more than 12 months. After this time period, they will no longer be supported by the government.

Housing: The housing units provided are 3 rooms +1bedroom per 2 people in the household+1 full bathroom per 3 people. All utilities are paid based on a total weighted average of the utility in question for each area marked off as x number of miles from the center versus the number of people in the household.

Military: All military members must adhere to strict moral and philosophical code.
Do not kill an unarmed combatant.
Always accept a surrender.
Never harm non combatants.
Announce intentions before each sortie.
Never turn down the opportunity to reach a peaceful non-combat solution to the sortie.
If an area is so decimated that all inhabitants are women and children they are given the option to become citizens of the government and have sovereignty.
In close combat; attempt disarmament before restraint. Attempt restraint before striking. Attempt striking before using lethal force.
If given an order that violates any one of these basic commands it is the units duty to disobey that order, relieve the commander of unit from his command; restrain him, and notify authorities for appropriate handling of the situation.

The Basic Ministries of Law:
Military (Defense)
Religion
Education
Health Care
Transportation
Art
Music
Television
Movies
Housing
Environmental Concerns
Space Exploration
Terra Exploration
Energy Concerns
Technology

Basically each Ministry is responsible for coming up with it’s own laws that govern its self as regulated by the popular vote. Being a member of a Ministry is the same as any Job.

I think what this would do is make a society in which every member is valued and important, as well as proud to serve for and die for their country and rights. With such a strict penalty crime rates will plummet sharply. But again bearing in mind that it’s by popular vote and quiz (simultaneously so that the submitter has no clue as to if his vote counted or not based on his understanding of the issues and facts.

–RK