TechSynd
14-10-2006, 05:35
Some of you out there won't really like it. Some of you will go crazy for its socialist values. And yet others will not like the details of my flat income tax/welfare proposal's mathematics section. ;)
If you like it, great. If you don't like it, feel free to criticize as much as you want. Just no flaming please.
Anyways, here goes.
Foreword
It’s observable that the easiest way to determine the overall sophistication of a culture can be done by analyzing its technological sophistication. Of course, some cultures exist without proper means of applying more and more sophisticated equipment to increase the productivity of everyday life. The Easter Islanders once had trees, but most likely uprooted their entire ecosystem of trees in order to bring the famed statues of Easter Island to their positions. In the end, the entire island was deforested, and the inhabitants were thus without any means of leaving the island by building boats. They were completely culturally isolated until European contact.
In a sense, even the Africans and the Indians of southern Asia were like this. Their cultures had neither the motivation nor the ability to progress naturally at that point in time, due to social immobility and lack of adequate resources to sustain a growing and thriving technological culture. Africa lacked the wide variety of crops available to the cultures that inhabited Eurasia, and the wide variety of domesticatable animals. Horses were absent from Africa, thus limiting their ability to decrease communication and travel time, and their ability to operate plows and grain mills. It’s no wonder that Europeans conquered them with guns against spears.
The Chinese are a more diverse and unique people than we give them credit for. Dozens of regional dialects differ enough to make hundreds of “Chinese” languages, and the people themselves are quite diverse as an Asiatic race. Their society has mostly been a single culture, nothing on the level of European statism and fragmentation. Yet, without the level of competition against other cultures as existed in Europe and Mesopotamia, China developed at a technological rate that was unsurpassed for millennia, until approximately the 14th to 15th centuries, at which time China began to technologically stagnate, possibly due to self-imposed isolationist policies and or to the aftereffects of Mongol rule, but in any case, it allowed Europe to surpass her. In any case, for a time, China proved that technological advance doesn’t always require competition with a foreign power as an incentive. China was the sole power in the Chinese world; Japan was across the ocean and was even more isolationist than China, while China pursued a policy of deliberate isolation from neighboring civilizations, such as the Indians and the Javanese. Europe had always pivoted on the rule of competition, and it shows in the system of mixed market economy which Europe has spread throughout the globe.
Technology isn’t to be feared. Without efficient machines, we couldn’t grow crops with the ease we grow them today, and we certainly couldn’t build cities or empires.
The archaic mode of technocracy is rule by technocrats, namely scientists and technicians. When I use the term technocracy, I refer not to an idealistic Platonic society where scientist-kings rule the roost, but to a society in which science is completely secular, where society is secular, and where the nation is ruled by empirical logic. However, a reasonable technocratic society would be one in which education and knowledge was pursued and attainable, where law and science and schooling was secular and empirical, and where rationalist logic was valued more than superstition and pseudo-science.
Technocracy doesn’t necessarily entail a society comprised of human drones. I do not advocate technocracy on that level. I don’t believe that governments have a right to use surveillance against law-abiding civilians or implant them with theoretical (for the moment) identification devices to track their movements. Technology as a form of control is not a technocratic aspect, but an aspect of rampant totalitarianism.
Technological production would be geared, in part, to the mechanization of manual industrial and agricultural labor.
Syndicalism is defined as being a system in which labor unions control the means of production, or of companies. As a system which calls itself Technocratic Syndicalism, all companies would be compelled to be organized into worker unions, operated independently, and comprised of all the workers employed by the specific company. Strict labor laws would ensure employment benefits and the protection of said unions.
I. POLITICS
A. ASSEMBLIES
In addition, a political-social goal must be set. Rule by a federal government entails corruption, oligarchism, and a reversal of democratic rule. Strict centralized authority overrides local power. Therefore, direct democracy must be established. Each city, or county, of approximately 50,000 citizens, would form a local Assembly of all adult citizens in legal standing, provided they are not incarcerated or incapable of participating in society. These Assemblies would operate as a free forum. Assembly-wide, individual laws would be established, concerning tax rates and so on for the territory ruled by each respective Assembly. Through localized decentralization, pressure is taken off the federal government, and it becomes obsolete. There would be federal organizations only to coordinate wide-scale disaster relief operations and so forth.
The Assemblies would operate as a forum. 10 Councilmen would be elected each year to the “Council of the Assembly” to oversee and organize Assembly actions. A Councilman would organize proposals, initiatives, and set schedules. Their financial spending as well as activities would be subject to monthly reviews to prevent lobbying and corruption. Any citizen may speak and put forth initiatives after approving it with the Council. Any citizen may vote in the Assembly and attend meetings of the Assembly to be held at the discretion of the respective Councils. Voting would be organized by mail-in ballots and would remain strictly secret-ballot.
By decentralizing government power and placing it in the hands of the people, by organizing that power through local Assemblies, each local area, region, and state would govern its own affairs democratically to maximize local efficiency and effectiveness without intense bureaucracy and overlooking.
i. Council of the Assembly
[Covered in I;A]
ii. Council of the Region
There will be a Council organized at the regional level, comprising many Assemblies. Each Assembly would have one representative to the Regional Council. A region would contain approximately the territory contained in a modern county.
iii. Council of the State
There will be a Council organized at the state level, comprising many regional Councils. Each region would have one representative at the State Council.
iv. Council of the Nation
There will be a Council organized at the national level, to be called the National Council, comprising all the provinces in the nation. Each state would have one representative at the National Council. The National Council would vote and decide upon national initiatives and proposals affecting the entire nation. Each Assembly would vote upon the national issue, and their respective Councilmen would be compelled to put forth that vote. A National Councilman, in practice and in theory, does nothing with the approval of the State Councils they belong to.
v. Councilmen
To further clarify, Councilmen make no decision independently, and all Councilmen, on the local, regional, state, or national level are elected by the people of their respective territories. All decisions to be made are made at the Assembly level, and transferred through their respective councils up to the Regional Council. The Regional Council counts the votes, and takes a plan of action based on the vote, bringing its vote up to the State Council level. The State Councils will tally the Regional Council votes, making their decision known to the National Council. The National Council thus, as a legislative body, makes a national decision affecting every Assembly.
vi. Voting
The percentage necessary to bring about a majority in the case of a mere Assembly, or a matter affecting the region, state, or nation and thus requires to go up the legislative ladder through the Regional, State, and National Councils, is 67%. In order for a vote to be a majority in the National Council, it must be a majority of 75%.
ii. Constitutional Law
The new government, taking power only from consent of the governed as a natural social contract would indicate, is to make a new constitution that will be markedly more individual and group oriented.
Disregarding those inefficient rules that contributed to the original downfall of the old government and placing a liberal, stringent, and effective document that will protect the individual and group rights [of which I assume a revised version of the American Constitution and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen will be a framework for this], while preserving some sense of unity and a semblance of local, state, and national government that will be efficient without resorting to bureaucracy.
The national Constitution's Bill of Rights would serve as a basis for each Assembly's Charter to begin with. From that point on, further Amendments and Articles would be ratified or struck out through democratic rule. In this way, Assemblies would be autonomous regions which govern themselves, and ratify their own laws, similar to how different States have their own Constitutions and differing system of laws and Articles and Amendments.
iii. Electoral College
I propose that oligarchial institutions must be reorganized, namely the Electoral College. It is undemocratic and violates the principles of democratic involvement. The argument I see in favor of it is that, "The EC is meant to make sure that the people don't vote for a bad person, or that it is intended to prevent a tyranny of the majority." Perhaps, but "bad" is a subjective term, and democracy is majority. It only becomes tyrannical once freedoms are curtailed, and that is not democratic, but totalitarian.
iv. Censorship
There should be no implementation of censorship of any kind. There should be a free and uninterrupted flow of information, while protecting individual privacy overall. To assuage parents and people who wish to control what they or their children watch, controls shall be put into place informing them of content, thus allowing them to choose what they see. What people do on their own with whatever or whomever they choose shall not be of any concern to the government. The new government should not make laws contrary to these principles.
B. EDUCATION
The education system would be revamped as each Assembly sees fit. One basic foundation would be the organization of a strictly secular and technocratic education system. Emphasis would be placed upon technology and innovation, as well as intellectual achievements and the sciences and the arts. Individual achievements should be encouraged as a cornerstone of a thriving civilization, and a rich culture.
Increased education funding would likewise increase the skilled worker pool, and make sure our respective societies do not decay from apathy. Informed citizens who are both educated and skillful make effective enemies of potential rise of totalitarianism which grips China and quite a few other noteworthy countries.
i. Science
The sciences would be encouraged as well. Secular scientific analysis and development would be taught in order to educate on the dangers of ignorance and superstition. Religion and spiritual philosophy would not be taught, and would remain in the hands of every parent. Scientific theories, and not religious dogma, would be established as the cornerstone of science. Environmental, climate, geographical, and resource theory would be applied to the study of demographic history, and cultural domination. Hopefully, the study of demography would encourage cultural tolerance rather than racism and prejudice. An emphasis on languages would be put into place, making at least one foreign language class a requirement throughout high school.
ii. The Arts
An emphasis on the arts would be implemented. Students would be encouraged to display artistic achievement and ability, be it love of literature, of music, of art, of drama, and so on. Through emphasis on culture, a cultured youth would ascend.
iii. Employment
Schooling would also emphasize the establishment of job skills. Classes concerning finance, socialization, and living independently would be established, or put into curriculum of other classes.
iv. Law
A basic understanding of law would be taught as well. Study of the Constitution, Charter, and major foundations for jurisprudence and human rights would be implemented.
v. Physical Education
Physical education would be similar to the American physical education system simply for ease and familiarity. There would be two branches: "activity" P.E., and "weightlifting" P.E. Both would involve exercise such as running and basic exercising, but that's where they differentiate. While Activity P.E. would focus on sports and activities involving team competition or individual sporting competition, Weightlifting P.E. would involve "squatting", "benching", "leg-press" weightlifting activities, as well as physical exertion which wouldn't apply to sporting activities.
vi. Discrimination
Discrimination, although a social issue, should be focused on and eradicated, as racism and sexism are to be considered anathema to a refined social order. Those with disabilities should be entitled to the same rights as non-disabled people.
C. EUGENICS
Technocracy is inherently emphatic upon the advance of the human race through technological innovation and progressive policies. However, this does not extend to eugenics or to genetic manipulation, except in the event that failure to do so would be fatal to the person, or would pass on physical and mental defects. The reasons against eugenics are fairly simple. Children with genetic enhancement would have an unfair advantage over other children, and over other people in general, both physically and mentally. Competition for jobs would result in an unfair collectivization within the hands of those who have had genetic enhancements. This would result in pressure for every parent to want to have their children's genetic coding artificially manipulated. In addition, we don't know what the potential risks and harms which may arise from genetic manipulation. The costs involved would mean that only a certain number of people can afford such manipulation, which means that the establishment of a eugenics elite would be implemented, to the unfair advantage of the rest of society. For these reasons, eugenics as a means of enhancement must be banned.
D. MILITARY
Only a voluntary standing army, navy, and air force necessary for defense of the nation should exist. It is the right of every law-abiding citizen to possess a firearm.
E. RELIGION
Religious institutions and ideology shall remain separate from the state in every area. There will be no “In God We Trust”, and no “one nation, under God”. It is the obligation of every citizen to prevent religious dogma from infiltrating a secular government of the people and for the people, not of the church and for the church.
F. CIVIL RIGHTS
Being an ideology designed to give power and choice to every law-abiding citizen of the nation, Technocratic Syndicalism supports and upholds the civil rights inherent to the Constitution.
i. Marriage
Marriage was originally and still is for the majority of cases a primarily religious tradition and ritual. Therefore, marriages are to remain in the hands of individuals to be recognized, and in the hands of their respective organizations and religious institutions. To replace state-recognized marriage is a civil union. The process of a civil union is not to exclude any two adults based on gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other attribute legally entitled towards achieving a state of marriage or civil union. A civil union would entitle the two individuals towards legal recognition of primary property inheritance in the event that their partner did not write a will, and towards tax benefits currently in place. An organization, due to its particular religious beliefs, may exclude anyone from attaining a marriage, but to ensure that any two adults may marry, a government-operated organization performing marriage ceremonies would be put into place.
ii. Privacy
What consenting adults do in the privacy of their homes or private establishments is their own business. It is not the business of the state to establish laws preventing people from doing things concerning only themselves and no others, and it is also not the business of the state to establish morality laws of any kind. Anti-sex laws are to be abolished.
G. PROPERTY RIGHTS
The rights of individuals to protect their work should be protected by law to ensure a legal consensus. While intellectual property rights should be protected, economic property rights (such as patents) should not be respected in order to allow for product development by numerous corporations instead of a single one.
i. Copyrights
An individual’s right to protect their intellectual work from plagiarism or vandalism should be recognized as an intellectual property right. Copyrights on literary works are to be respected and established.
a. Entertainment Copyrights
Music and movie copyrights should not be implemented, but instead, a gratuitous sum should be paid to the artist, director, actors, and contributors from a federal fund. All information, including music and movies, should be free to download and read, hear, and watch without difficulty. The fund would assure creative individuals that their works will be respected as theirs, and that hard work is rewarded.
ii. Patents
Patents are not supported for the following reason: patents limit competition, and thus keep prices higher than they should be. If a company cannot support itself besides using patents, then it can’t survive on its own. By removing patents, products are produced by even more companies, creating corporate competition, thus lowering prices, benefiting the consumer. The drive to produce a better particular product than their competitors will give an added incentive for a company to work harder towards pleasing the consumer, thus also benefiting the consumer.
H. IMPLEMENTING TECHNOCRATIC SYNDICALISM
An armed revolution, to reach justification, must be able to identify these three criteria of the opposing Establishment to do so:
One, the government in power must be incapable of handling its own affairs, show corruption to an extreme level, or be in no great favor to commit to domestic tranquility.
Two, the government in power has no interest of or for the people, merely treating them as a quiet constituency which is controlled by secret police and writs of attainder. Its leaders must demonstrate indirectly that they are exactly this and nothing else, to say simple: oppressed in this manner.
Three, among there people there is too much ill will either fomented by gangs of marauders or by religious and ethnic differences exacerbated by leaders who wish something of an extreme end.
A peaceful revolution should be able to identify these three criteria to justify themselves:
One, the government in power is capable of handling its own affairs to an extent, but is hampered by internal efforts to bring about change.
Two, the government in power shares an interest for the people, but not to the extent that people would like to have, perhaps for reasons of domestic or international affairs.
Three, there are some small groups that tend to exacerbate certain feelings, with no intention of being tied to the government or any other affiliation, but for their own gain.
Arriving at this it is possible to change certain elements without having to overthrow a government, but the road may be long for those who want a cultural and social revolution. It is my suggestion that if the cause for peaceful reformism is reached as a consensus, then it should be carried out to the fullest extent, doing only what is necessary up until its gains are realized; then and only then should it repair and promote its functions, avoiding fundamental errors that could, in time, lead to a more repressive government than before.
II. ECONOMICS
Emphasis must be placed upon growth, and while capitalism is regarded as a corruptive element, should not be discouraged, as it would be vital to an economy which is restarting and regrowing. After that it is then up to the constituency to implement whatever plans they have for their economy. The formations of corporations, conglomerates, and monopolies have done, historically, more harm than good. It would not be wise to form these, but to promote unionization of industry. Agricultural cooperatives should only be formed voluntarily, as organized collectives have historically shown to be a failure.
A. UNIONIZATION
All corporations of industry over a specific size (larger than a small business) should be run by their workers as a unionized corporation. The board of directors would be abolished, replaced by the union. Workers would be assigned, or propose, to handle matters of advertisement, quotas, etc, necessary for the function of a factory, business, or corporation. The founder or founders of any large business would receive a gratuitous sum of capital for beginning the business, and would serve as a union Councilman. Each union would be composed of all the workers of the business, and would vote annually upon assigned duties discussed previously, and for a total of ten Councilmen (including the businesses’ founders if they wish to be a part) which would operate much the same way Councilmen of an Assembly operate. They would organize the union and keep order in a democratic fashion.
B. SUBSIDIZE
Small businesses should be subsidized if in crisis. Farms and industrial production centers should also be subsidized until they can support themselves again. Domestic policy first; foreign economic assistance can come later.
C. ALLOCATION
The largest allocations of the national budget should go towards public spending, subsidies, investment, and education.
i. Public Spending
Public spending includes public works, such as national forests, roads, highways, airports, ports, and all other modes of public transportation and public usage. The unemployed could be paid minimum wage or higher to clean roads or clean forests.
ii. Subsidies
[Covered in II;A]
iii. Investment
Investing a large portion of the government's income into the stock market, or into bonds and other forms of investment would increase the buying power of the government, and thus increase the economic power of the nation.
iv. Education
Without a strong education system, how can we expect to be able to defend the nation, or have a reason to defend it? A strong education system breeds greater intellectual pools, which means success for the nation in the short and long terms.
v. Infrastructure
It is up to each Assembly to build roads, interstate highways, and other structures that cities and states can use.
D. EMPLOYMENT
Employment is more important than inflation. Greater amount of employed citizens means a greater amount of work hours being put in.
E. EDUCATION
I propose that post-high school education should be free for all citizens who wish to attend.
F. INFLATION
A greater amount of employed people means more inflation in the long run, but it also means more people aren't going hungry than before, which even in the long run is a great success. I have no solution for inflation considering it will somewhat rise.
G. INCOME
An increase in minimum wage should be considered once every two years. If it is necessary, it can be raised. It should never be reduced unless an extreme situation calls for it.
H. WELFARE
A system of socialized welfare should be sought for if we want citizens of our country to benefit the most from life and government programs, as well as benefiting from being a citizen of our nation.
i. Health Care
A government system of socialized health care should be put into place. Waiting time would be longer (except in cases of extreme urgency), and a small co-pay should be required, but expenditures for medical care should plummet, and those dollars would mean increased buying power for the average citizen, and thus their standard of living should slightly increase. If people don't want to handle longer waiting times, they can always choose to opt for a traditional insurance-based medical care system, like the system we currently have. Both options should be easier for people to cope with.
ii. Unemployment Insurance
I propose that the handicapped, the elderly, the people unable to work or apply themselves would deserve government benefits (i.e. welfare), and would receive it, because no one who is incapable of earning the benefits of labor deserves to be left behind. I abhor national systems in which we in effect abandon those who are in dire need of government aid. I feel that those who are without jobs shouldn't have to rely on handouts, but they shouldn't be written off as expendable. Welfare programs geared towards those who are without a job should help them acquire a new job, or in the case of unskilled unemployed workers, provide them with the skills they need to be able to work efficiently and productively in order to maximize our society's prosperity.
However, this plan of reform does not mean it replaces Social Security. Social Security seems here to stay, at least for now, as a welfare institution. By increasing the standard flat tax by a small amount, Social Security could even be no longer necessary; the social benefits of the proposed plan below would cover the Social Security benefits.
I. TAXES
i. Flat Income Tax
In much of this world, economics is defined by some form of capitalist market; China is obviously one example, although its market is oligarchial. Obviously throughout history, society organizes itself into social classes because of the distribution of wealth. However, this organization and collectivization of power and wealth is what has plagued humanity since the dawn of time, and it is only now that the Machine can be geared towards the socialization of society, and eventually, equalization of wealth and power.
I propose that the handicapped, the elderly, the people unable to work or apply themselves would deserve government benefits (i.e. welfare), and would receive it, because no one who is incapable of earning the benefits of labor deserves to be left behind. I abhor national systems in which we in effect abandon those who are in dire need of government aid. I feel that those who are without jobs shouldn't have to rely on handouts, but they shouldn't be written off as expendable. Welfare programs geared towards those who are without a job should help them acquire a new job, or in the case of unskilled unemployed workers, provide them with the skills they need to be able to work efficiently and productively in order to maximize our society's prosperity.
However, this plan of reform does not mean it replaces Social Security. Social Security seems here to stay, at least for now, as a welfare institution. By increasing the standard flat tax by a small amount, Social Security could even be no longer necessary; the social benefits of the proposed plan below would cover the Social Security benefits.
I propose a standard 29% flat tax on all income earners. There would also be an annual "social benefit" payment, equal to the poverty line ($4720.50 according to http://www.maroon.uchicago.edu/viewpoints/articles/2004/10/27/child_poverty_a_mode.php), to be given to every working 18-64 year old, high school graduate citizen. The benefit payment itself is to assure citizens that no productive worker will fall below the poverty line, unless they do so by their own actions. According to http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/measures_of_nation_income, the net national income for America is $11.0593 trillion, and knowing that the American budget is $2.466 trillion according to http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2056.htm, and since my proposed refund payments to working adults amounts to $706,674,002,805, the revised budget would be approximately $3.173 trillion. In order to fund the national budget, a flat tax of 28.69% would be necessary. If we round that figure off to 29%, we could create surplus, and with the inheritance tax and progressive outsourcing tax, an even larger surplus could be produced, and not be unreasonable to any income bracket or productive citizen in this nation.
The benefit payment is to be used as every individual citizen sees fit, and eventually it will recirculate into the American economy. Therefore, benefit payments to all income earners would be intended as basic welfare. Each citizen makes their own choices, and the money is intended for their best interests, in the interests of economic stability of the work-force. The American population between the ages of 18-64 is 178,388,000 according to http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/education/cps2003/tab01a-01.xls, and since 83.92% of that population has graduated high school, it would total 149,703,210 people in American who are 18 years or older and have a high school diploma or similar degree. With each of those people getting payments equal to the individual poverty line, which is $4720.50, the social benefit payment funding would total a net $706.674 billion.
(The following examples follow the use of my formula to determine after-tax income under my system: (-x)0.29+(P)+(x)=I; where "x" represents pre-tax income, where "P" represents [poverty line] benefit payment, and where "I" represents after-tax income.)
*Person A makes $4720.50 and pays a net total of $1368.95 in flat income taxes, at the rate of 29%. At the end of the year, Person A receives a benefit payment of $4720.50, making their total income at the end of the year, after taxes, $8072.05.
*Person B makes $10,000 and pays a net total of $2900 in flat income taxes, at the rate of 29%. At the end of the year, Person B receives a benefit payment of $4720.50, making their total income at the end of the year, after taxes, $11820.50.
*Person C makes $16,277.59 and pays a net total of $4720.50 in flat income taxes, at the rate of 29%. At the end of the year, Person C receives a benefit payment of $4720.50, making their total income at the end of the year, after taxes, the same as their pre-tax income, making this the break-point for a tax rate of 29%.
*Person D makes $1,000,000 and pays a net total of $290,000 in flat income taxes, at the rate of 29%. At the end of the year, Person D receives a benefit payment of $4720.50, making their total income at the end of the year, after taxes, $714,720.50.
This would increase spending power, and thus inflation. However, this system is inflation-proof. If prices go up, the poverty line goes up. If the poverty line goes up everyone's benefit payments go up, as well as the break-even point. So, the wealthy couldn't raise prices to keep their elite status. It would just bring everyone else closer to them. The only way that they could keep themselves above everyone else would be to increase efficiency enough to counteract the inflation. That would be acceptable, as it would still allow for everyone to be above the poverty line.
This would also decrease unemployment. First, it would encourage anyone not employed to get a job, so as to have income and earn their benefit payment. Second, it would allow people who currently work 40+ hours per week more leeway with their money. They could therefore work less hours per week. This work would still need to be done, however, which would create job opportunities for the currently unemployed, so they could earn their benefit payment.
ii. Inheritance Tax
I propose an inheritance tax (equal to the flat income tax rate) on individual inheritances of hard cash (meaning actual money, such as inheriting a bank account; and doesn't include stocks, bonds, or physical objects). The reasoning for this is simple: inheritance is a form of income, from one person to a new person, meaning that it must be subject to income tax laws.
iii. Outsourcing Tax
I propose a progressive outsourcing tax for corporations. Larger percentages of foreign-based labor for American companies would result in higher taxes for said companies. Lower percentages would lower the tax. In this way, companies are encouraged to employ Americans, rather than fire thousands, as has been happening for years, and outsourcing overseas.
The rate begins at 10% of the labor pool being outsourced, with the tax beginning at 50% of the percentage of workers being outsourced. For example:
10% outsourcing = 5% outsourcing tax;
25% outsourcing = 12.5% outsourcing tax;
50% outsourcing = 25% outsourcing tax;
75% outsourcing = 37.5% outsourcing tax.
J. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
[Covered in I;G]
All of these reforms are intended to socialize society. By ensuring the health and education of citizens who wish to apply themselves, we help to maximize the efficiency of our society. Those who couldn't afford college would be able to, and would be able to do their part as best as they could, in whatever position they are in.
In all, I declare that only in a system in which everyone has the opportunities to contribute and make a life for themselves would be a FAIR society.
If you like it, great. If you don't like it, feel free to criticize as much as you want. Just no flaming please.
Anyways, here goes.
Foreword
It’s observable that the easiest way to determine the overall sophistication of a culture can be done by analyzing its technological sophistication. Of course, some cultures exist without proper means of applying more and more sophisticated equipment to increase the productivity of everyday life. The Easter Islanders once had trees, but most likely uprooted their entire ecosystem of trees in order to bring the famed statues of Easter Island to their positions. In the end, the entire island was deforested, and the inhabitants were thus without any means of leaving the island by building boats. They were completely culturally isolated until European contact.
In a sense, even the Africans and the Indians of southern Asia were like this. Their cultures had neither the motivation nor the ability to progress naturally at that point in time, due to social immobility and lack of adequate resources to sustain a growing and thriving technological culture. Africa lacked the wide variety of crops available to the cultures that inhabited Eurasia, and the wide variety of domesticatable animals. Horses were absent from Africa, thus limiting their ability to decrease communication and travel time, and their ability to operate plows and grain mills. It’s no wonder that Europeans conquered them with guns against spears.
The Chinese are a more diverse and unique people than we give them credit for. Dozens of regional dialects differ enough to make hundreds of “Chinese” languages, and the people themselves are quite diverse as an Asiatic race. Their society has mostly been a single culture, nothing on the level of European statism and fragmentation. Yet, without the level of competition against other cultures as existed in Europe and Mesopotamia, China developed at a technological rate that was unsurpassed for millennia, until approximately the 14th to 15th centuries, at which time China began to technologically stagnate, possibly due to self-imposed isolationist policies and or to the aftereffects of Mongol rule, but in any case, it allowed Europe to surpass her. In any case, for a time, China proved that technological advance doesn’t always require competition with a foreign power as an incentive. China was the sole power in the Chinese world; Japan was across the ocean and was even more isolationist than China, while China pursued a policy of deliberate isolation from neighboring civilizations, such as the Indians and the Javanese. Europe had always pivoted on the rule of competition, and it shows in the system of mixed market economy which Europe has spread throughout the globe.
Technology isn’t to be feared. Without efficient machines, we couldn’t grow crops with the ease we grow them today, and we certainly couldn’t build cities or empires.
The archaic mode of technocracy is rule by technocrats, namely scientists and technicians. When I use the term technocracy, I refer not to an idealistic Platonic society where scientist-kings rule the roost, but to a society in which science is completely secular, where society is secular, and where the nation is ruled by empirical logic. However, a reasonable technocratic society would be one in which education and knowledge was pursued and attainable, where law and science and schooling was secular and empirical, and where rationalist logic was valued more than superstition and pseudo-science.
Technocracy doesn’t necessarily entail a society comprised of human drones. I do not advocate technocracy on that level. I don’t believe that governments have a right to use surveillance against law-abiding civilians or implant them with theoretical (for the moment) identification devices to track their movements. Technology as a form of control is not a technocratic aspect, but an aspect of rampant totalitarianism.
Technological production would be geared, in part, to the mechanization of manual industrial and agricultural labor.
Syndicalism is defined as being a system in which labor unions control the means of production, or of companies. As a system which calls itself Technocratic Syndicalism, all companies would be compelled to be organized into worker unions, operated independently, and comprised of all the workers employed by the specific company. Strict labor laws would ensure employment benefits and the protection of said unions.
I. POLITICS
A. ASSEMBLIES
In addition, a political-social goal must be set. Rule by a federal government entails corruption, oligarchism, and a reversal of democratic rule. Strict centralized authority overrides local power. Therefore, direct democracy must be established. Each city, or county, of approximately 50,000 citizens, would form a local Assembly of all adult citizens in legal standing, provided they are not incarcerated or incapable of participating in society. These Assemblies would operate as a free forum. Assembly-wide, individual laws would be established, concerning tax rates and so on for the territory ruled by each respective Assembly. Through localized decentralization, pressure is taken off the federal government, and it becomes obsolete. There would be federal organizations only to coordinate wide-scale disaster relief operations and so forth.
The Assemblies would operate as a forum. 10 Councilmen would be elected each year to the “Council of the Assembly” to oversee and organize Assembly actions. A Councilman would organize proposals, initiatives, and set schedules. Their financial spending as well as activities would be subject to monthly reviews to prevent lobbying and corruption. Any citizen may speak and put forth initiatives after approving it with the Council. Any citizen may vote in the Assembly and attend meetings of the Assembly to be held at the discretion of the respective Councils. Voting would be organized by mail-in ballots and would remain strictly secret-ballot.
By decentralizing government power and placing it in the hands of the people, by organizing that power through local Assemblies, each local area, region, and state would govern its own affairs democratically to maximize local efficiency and effectiveness without intense bureaucracy and overlooking.
i. Council of the Assembly
[Covered in I;A]
ii. Council of the Region
There will be a Council organized at the regional level, comprising many Assemblies. Each Assembly would have one representative to the Regional Council. A region would contain approximately the territory contained in a modern county.
iii. Council of the State
There will be a Council organized at the state level, comprising many regional Councils. Each region would have one representative at the State Council.
iv. Council of the Nation
There will be a Council organized at the national level, to be called the National Council, comprising all the provinces in the nation. Each state would have one representative at the National Council. The National Council would vote and decide upon national initiatives and proposals affecting the entire nation. Each Assembly would vote upon the national issue, and their respective Councilmen would be compelled to put forth that vote. A National Councilman, in practice and in theory, does nothing with the approval of the State Councils they belong to.
v. Councilmen
To further clarify, Councilmen make no decision independently, and all Councilmen, on the local, regional, state, or national level are elected by the people of their respective territories. All decisions to be made are made at the Assembly level, and transferred through their respective councils up to the Regional Council. The Regional Council counts the votes, and takes a plan of action based on the vote, bringing its vote up to the State Council level. The State Councils will tally the Regional Council votes, making their decision known to the National Council. The National Council thus, as a legislative body, makes a national decision affecting every Assembly.
vi. Voting
The percentage necessary to bring about a majority in the case of a mere Assembly, or a matter affecting the region, state, or nation and thus requires to go up the legislative ladder through the Regional, State, and National Councils, is 67%. In order for a vote to be a majority in the National Council, it must be a majority of 75%.
ii. Constitutional Law
The new government, taking power only from consent of the governed as a natural social contract would indicate, is to make a new constitution that will be markedly more individual and group oriented.
Disregarding those inefficient rules that contributed to the original downfall of the old government and placing a liberal, stringent, and effective document that will protect the individual and group rights [of which I assume a revised version of the American Constitution and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen will be a framework for this], while preserving some sense of unity and a semblance of local, state, and national government that will be efficient without resorting to bureaucracy.
The national Constitution's Bill of Rights would serve as a basis for each Assembly's Charter to begin with. From that point on, further Amendments and Articles would be ratified or struck out through democratic rule. In this way, Assemblies would be autonomous regions which govern themselves, and ratify their own laws, similar to how different States have their own Constitutions and differing system of laws and Articles and Amendments.
iii. Electoral College
I propose that oligarchial institutions must be reorganized, namely the Electoral College. It is undemocratic and violates the principles of democratic involvement. The argument I see in favor of it is that, "The EC is meant to make sure that the people don't vote for a bad person, or that it is intended to prevent a tyranny of the majority." Perhaps, but "bad" is a subjective term, and democracy is majority. It only becomes tyrannical once freedoms are curtailed, and that is not democratic, but totalitarian.
iv. Censorship
There should be no implementation of censorship of any kind. There should be a free and uninterrupted flow of information, while protecting individual privacy overall. To assuage parents and people who wish to control what they or their children watch, controls shall be put into place informing them of content, thus allowing them to choose what they see. What people do on their own with whatever or whomever they choose shall not be of any concern to the government. The new government should not make laws contrary to these principles.
B. EDUCATION
The education system would be revamped as each Assembly sees fit. One basic foundation would be the organization of a strictly secular and technocratic education system. Emphasis would be placed upon technology and innovation, as well as intellectual achievements and the sciences and the arts. Individual achievements should be encouraged as a cornerstone of a thriving civilization, and a rich culture.
Increased education funding would likewise increase the skilled worker pool, and make sure our respective societies do not decay from apathy. Informed citizens who are both educated and skillful make effective enemies of potential rise of totalitarianism which grips China and quite a few other noteworthy countries.
i. Science
The sciences would be encouraged as well. Secular scientific analysis and development would be taught in order to educate on the dangers of ignorance and superstition. Religion and spiritual philosophy would not be taught, and would remain in the hands of every parent. Scientific theories, and not religious dogma, would be established as the cornerstone of science. Environmental, climate, geographical, and resource theory would be applied to the study of demographic history, and cultural domination. Hopefully, the study of demography would encourage cultural tolerance rather than racism and prejudice. An emphasis on languages would be put into place, making at least one foreign language class a requirement throughout high school.
ii. The Arts
An emphasis on the arts would be implemented. Students would be encouraged to display artistic achievement and ability, be it love of literature, of music, of art, of drama, and so on. Through emphasis on culture, a cultured youth would ascend.
iii. Employment
Schooling would also emphasize the establishment of job skills. Classes concerning finance, socialization, and living independently would be established, or put into curriculum of other classes.
iv. Law
A basic understanding of law would be taught as well. Study of the Constitution, Charter, and major foundations for jurisprudence and human rights would be implemented.
v. Physical Education
Physical education would be similar to the American physical education system simply for ease and familiarity. There would be two branches: "activity" P.E., and "weightlifting" P.E. Both would involve exercise such as running and basic exercising, but that's where they differentiate. While Activity P.E. would focus on sports and activities involving team competition or individual sporting competition, Weightlifting P.E. would involve "squatting", "benching", "leg-press" weightlifting activities, as well as physical exertion which wouldn't apply to sporting activities.
vi. Discrimination
Discrimination, although a social issue, should be focused on and eradicated, as racism and sexism are to be considered anathema to a refined social order. Those with disabilities should be entitled to the same rights as non-disabled people.
C. EUGENICS
Technocracy is inherently emphatic upon the advance of the human race through technological innovation and progressive policies. However, this does not extend to eugenics or to genetic manipulation, except in the event that failure to do so would be fatal to the person, or would pass on physical and mental defects. The reasons against eugenics are fairly simple. Children with genetic enhancement would have an unfair advantage over other children, and over other people in general, both physically and mentally. Competition for jobs would result in an unfair collectivization within the hands of those who have had genetic enhancements. This would result in pressure for every parent to want to have their children's genetic coding artificially manipulated. In addition, we don't know what the potential risks and harms which may arise from genetic manipulation. The costs involved would mean that only a certain number of people can afford such manipulation, which means that the establishment of a eugenics elite would be implemented, to the unfair advantage of the rest of society. For these reasons, eugenics as a means of enhancement must be banned.
D. MILITARY
Only a voluntary standing army, navy, and air force necessary for defense of the nation should exist. It is the right of every law-abiding citizen to possess a firearm.
E. RELIGION
Religious institutions and ideology shall remain separate from the state in every area. There will be no “In God We Trust”, and no “one nation, under God”. It is the obligation of every citizen to prevent religious dogma from infiltrating a secular government of the people and for the people, not of the church and for the church.
F. CIVIL RIGHTS
Being an ideology designed to give power and choice to every law-abiding citizen of the nation, Technocratic Syndicalism supports and upholds the civil rights inherent to the Constitution.
i. Marriage
Marriage was originally and still is for the majority of cases a primarily religious tradition and ritual. Therefore, marriages are to remain in the hands of individuals to be recognized, and in the hands of their respective organizations and religious institutions. To replace state-recognized marriage is a civil union. The process of a civil union is not to exclude any two adults based on gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other attribute legally entitled towards achieving a state of marriage or civil union. A civil union would entitle the two individuals towards legal recognition of primary property inheritance in the event that their partner did not write a will, and towards tax benefits currently in place. An organization, due to its particular religious beliefs, may exclude anyone from attaining a marriage, but to ensure that any two adults may marry, a government-operated organization performing marriage ceremonies would be put into place.
ii. Privacy
What consenting adults do in the privacy of their homes or private establishments is their own business. It is not the business of the state to establish laws preventing people from doing things concerning only themselves and no others, and it is also not the business of the state to establish morality laws of any kind. Anti-sex laws are to be abolished.
G. PROPERTY RIGHTS
The rights of individuals to protect their work should be protected by law to ensure a legal consensus. While intellectual property rights should be protected, economic property rights (such as patents) should not be respected in order to allow for product development by numerous corporations instead of a single one.
i. Copyrights
An individual’s right to protect their intellectual work from plagiarism or vandalism should be recognized as an intellectual property right. Copyrights on literary works are to be respected and established.
a. Entertainment Copyrights
Music and movie copyrights should not be implemented, but instead, a gratuitous sum should be paid to the artist, director, actors, and contributors from a federal fund. All information, including music and movies, should be free to download and read, hear, and watch without difficulty. The fund would assure creative individuals that their works will be respected as theirs, and that hard work is rewarded.
ii. Patents
Patents are not supported for the following reason: patents limit competition, and thus keep prices higher than they should be. If a company cannot support itself besides using patents, then it can’t survive on its own. By removing patents, products are produced by even more companies, creating corporate competition, thus lowering prices, benefiting the consumer. The drive to produce a better particular product than their competitors will give an added incentive for a company to work harder towards pleasing the consumer, thus also benefiting the consumer.
H. IMPLEMENTING TECHNOCRATIC SYNDICALISM
An armed revolution, to reach justification, must be able to identify these three criteria of the opposing Establishment to do so:
One, the government in power must be incapable of handling its own affairs, show corruption to an extreme level, or be in no great favor to commit to domestic tranquility.
Two, the government in power has no interest of or for the people, merely treating them as a quiet constituency which is controlled by secret police and writs of attainder. Its leaders must demonstrate indirectly that they are exactly this and nothing else, to say simple: oppressed in this manner.
Three, among there people there is too much ill will either fomented by gangs of marauders or by religious and ethnic differences exacerbated by leaders who wish something of an extreme end.
A peaceful revolution should be able to identify these three criteria to justify themselves:
One, the government in power is capable of handling its own affairs to an extent, but is hampered by internal efforts to bring about change.
Two, the government in power shares an interest for the people, but not to the extent that people would like to have, perhaps for reasons of domestic or international affairs.
Three, there are some small groups that tend to exacerbate certain feelings, with no intention of being tied to the government or any other affiliation, but for their own gain.
Arriving at this it is possible to change certain elements without having to overthrow a government, but the road may be long for those who want a cultural and social revolution. It is my suggestion that if the cause for peaceful reformism is reached as a consensus, then it should be carried out to the fullest extent, doing only what is necessary up until its gains are realized; then and only then should it repair and promote its functions, avoiding fundamental errors that could, in time, lead to a more repressive government than before.
II. ECONOMICS
Emphasis must be placed upon growth, and while capitalism is regarded as a corruptive element, should not be discouraged, as it would be vital to an economy which is restarting and regrowing. After that it is then up to the constituency to implement whatever plans they have for their economy. The formations of corporations, conglomerates, and monopolies have done, historically, more harm than good. It would not be wise to form these, but to promote unionization of industry. Agricultural cooperatives should only be formed voluntarily, as organized collectives have historically shown to be a failure.
A. UNIONIZATION
All corporations of industry over a specific size (larger than a small business) should be run by their workers as a unionized corporation. The board of directors would be abolished, replaced by the union. Workers would be assigned, or propose, to handle matters of advertisement, quotas, etc, necessary for the function of a factory, business, or corporation. The founder or founders of any large business would receive a gratuitous sum of capital for beginning the business, and would serve as a union Councilman. Each union would be composed of all the workers of the business, and would vote annually upon assigned duties discussed previously, and for a total of ten Councilmen (including the businesses’ founders if they wish to be a part) which would operate much the same way Councilmen of an Assembly operate. They would organize the union and keep order in a democratic fashion.
B. SUBSIDIZE
Small businesses should be subsidized if in crisis. Farms and industrial production centers should also be subsidized until they can support themselves again. Domestic policy first; foreign economic assistance can come later.
C. ALLOCATION
The largest allocations of the national budget should go towards public spending, subsidies, investment, and education.
i. Public Spending
Public spending includes public works, such as national forests, roads, highways, airports, ports, and all other modes of public transportation and public usage. The unemployed could be paid minimum wage or higher to clean roads or clean forests.
ii. Subsidies
[Covered in II;A]
iii. Investment
Investing a large portion of the government's income into the stock market, or into bonds and other forms of investment would increase the buying power of the government, and thus increase the economic power of the nation.
iv. Education
Without a strong education system, how can we expect to be able to defend the nation, or have a reason to defend it? A strong education system breeds greater intellectual pools, which means success for the nation in the short and long terms.
v. Infrastructure
It is up to each Assembly to build roads, interstate highways, and other structures that cities and states can use.
D. EMPLOYMENT
Employment is more important than inflation. Greater amount of employed citizens means a greater amount of work hours being put in.
E. EDUCATION
I propose that post-high school education should be free for all citizens who wish to attend.
F. INFLATION
A greater amount of employed people means more inflation in the long run, but it also means more people aren't going hungry than before, which even in the long run is a great success. I have no solution for inflation considering it will somewhat rise.
G. INCOME
An increase in minimum wage should be considered once every two years. If it is necessary, it can be raised. It should never be reduced unless an extreme situation calls for it.
H. WELFARE
A system of socialized welfare should be sought for if we want citizens of our country to benefit the most from life and government programs, as well as benefiting from being a citizen of our nation.
i. Health Care
A government system of socialized health care should be put into place. Waiting time would be longer (except in cases of extreme urgency), and a small co-pay should be required, but expenditures for medical care should plummet, and those dollars would mean increased buying power for the average citizen, and thus their standard of living should slightly increase. If people don't want to handle longer waiting times, they can always choose to opt for a traditional insurance-based medical care system, like the system we currently have. Both options should be easier for people to cope with.
ii. Unemployment Insurance
I propose that the handicapped, the elderly, the people unable to work or apply themselves would deserve government benefits (i.e. welfare), and would receive it, because no one who is incapable of earning the benefits of labor deserves to be left behind. I abhor national systems in which we in effect abandon those who are in dire need of government aid. I feel that those who are without jobs shouldn't have to rely on handouts, but they shouldn't be written off as expendable. Welfare programs geared towards those who are without a job should help them acquire a new job, or in the case of unskilled unemployed workers, provide them with the skills they need to be able to work efficiently and productively in order to maximize our society's prosperity.
However, this plan of reform does not mean it replaces Social Security. Social Security seems here to stay, at least for now, as a welfare institution. By increasing the standard flat tax by a small amount, Social Security could even be no longer necessary; the social benefits of the proposed plan below would cover the Social Security benefits.
I. TAXES
i. Flat Income Tax
In much of this world, economics is defined by some form of capitalist market; China is obviously one example, although its market is oligarchial. Obviously throughout history, society organizes itself into social classes because of the distribution of wealth. However, this organization and collectivization of power and wealth is what has plagued humanity since the dawn of time, and it is only now that the Machine can be geared towards the socialization of society, and eventually, equalization of wealth and power.
I propose that the handicapped, the elderly, the people unable to work or apply themselves would deserve government benefits (i.e. welfare), and would receive it, because no one who is incapable of earning the benefits of labor deserves to be left behind. I abhor national systems in which we in effect abandon those who are in dire need of government aid. I feel that those who are without jobs shouldn't have to rely on handouts, but they shouldn't be written off as expendable. Welfare programs geared towards those who are without a job should help them acquire a new job, or in the case of unskilled unemployed workers, provide them with the skills they need to be able to work efficiently and productively in order to maximize our society's prosperity.
However, this plan of reform does not mean it replaces Social Security. Social Security seems here to stay, at least for now, as a welfare institution. By increasing the standard flat tax by a small amount, Social Security could even be no longer necessary; the social benefits of the proposed plan below would cover the Social Security benefits.
I propose a standard 29% flat tax on all income earners. There would also be an annual "social benefit" payment, equal to the poverty line ($4720.50 according to http://www.maroon.uchicago.edu/viewpoints/articles/2004/10/27/child_poverty_a_mode.php), to be given to every working 18-64 year old, high school graduate citizen. The benefit payment itself is to assure citizens that no productive worker will fall below the poverty line, unless they do so by their own actions. According to http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/measures_of_nation_income, the net national income for America is $11.0593 trillion, and knowing that the American budget is $2.466 trillion according to http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2056.htm, and since my proposed refund payments to working adults amounts to $706,674,002,805, the revised budget would be approximately $3.173 trillion. In order to fund the national budget, a flat tax of 28.69% would be necessary. If we round that figure off to 29%, we could create surplus, and with the inheritance tax and progressive outsourcing tax, an even larger surplus could be produced, and not be unreasonable to any income bracket or productive citizen in this nation.
The benefit payment is to be used as every individual citizen sees fit, and eventually it will recirculate into the American economy. Therefore, benefit payments to all income earners would be intended as basic welfare. Each citizen makes their own choices, and the money is intended for their best interests, in the interests of economic stability of the work-force. The American population between the ages of 18-64 is 178,388,000 according to http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/education/cps2003/tab01a-01.xls, and since 83.92% of that population has graduated high school, it would total 149,703,210 people in American who are 18 years or older and have a high school diploma or similar degree. With each of those people getting payments equal to the individual poverty line, which is $4720.50, the social benefit payment funding would total a net $706.674 billion.
(The following examples follow the use of my formula to determine after-tax income under my system: (-x)0.29+(P)+(x)=I; where "x" represents pre-tax income, where "P" represents [poverty line] benefit payment, and where "I" represents after-tax income.)
*Person A makes $4720.50 and pays a net total of $1368.95 in flat income taxes, at the rate of 29%. At the end of the year, Person A receives a benefit payment of $4720.50, making their total income at the end of the year, after taxes, $8072.05.
*Person B makes $10,000 and pays a net total of $2900 in flat income taxes, at the rate of 29%. At the end of the year, Person B receives a benefit payment of $4720.50, making their total income at the end of the year, after taxes, $11820.50.
*Person C makes $16,277.59 and pays a net total of $4720.50 in flat income taxes, at the rate of 29%. At the end of the year, Person C receives a benefit payment of $4720.50, making their total income at the end of the year, after taxes, the same as their pre-tax income, making this the break-point for a tax rate of 29%.
*Person D makes $1,000,000 and pays a net total of $290,000 in flat income taxes, at the rate of 29%. At the end of the year, Person D receives a benefit payment of $4720.50, making their total income at the end of the year, after taxes, $714,720.50.
This would increase spending power, and thus inflation. However, this system is inflation-proof. If prices go up, the poverty line goes up. If the poverty line goes up everyone's benefit payments go up, as well as the break-even point. So, the wealthy couldn't raise prices to keep their elite status. It would just bring everyone else closer to them. The only way that they could keep themselves above everyone else would be to increase efficiency enough to counteract the inflation. That would be acceptable, as it would still allow for everyone to be above the poverty line.
This would also decrease unemployment. First, it would encourage anyone not employed to get a job, so as to have income and earn their benefit payment. Second, it would allow people who currently work 40+ hours per week more leeway with their money. They could therefore work less hours per week. This work would still need to be done, however, which would create job opportunities for the currently unemployed, so they could earn their benefit payment.
ii. Inheritance Tax
I propose an inheritance tax (equal to the flat income tax rate) on individual inheritances of hard cash (meaning actual money, such as inheriting a bank account; and doesn't include stocks, bonds, or physical objects). The reasoning for this is simple: inheritance is a form of income, from one person to a new person, meaning that it must be subject to income tax laws.
iii. Outsourcing Tax
I propose a progressive outsourcing tax for corporations. Larger percentages of foreign-based labor for American companies would result in higher taxes for said companies. Lower percentages would lower the tax. In this way, companies are encouraged to employ Americans, rather than fire thousands, as has been happening for years, and outsourcing overseas.
The rate begins at 10% of the labor pool being outsourced, with the tax beginning at 50% of the percentage of workers being outsourced. For example:
10% outsourcing = 5% outsourcing tax;
25% outsourcing = 12.5% outsourcing tax;
50% outsourcing = 25% outsourcing tax;
75% outsourcing = 37.5% outsourcing tax.
J. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
[Covered in I;G]
All of these reforms are intended to socialize society. By ensuring the health and education of citizens who wish to apply themselves, we help to maximize the efficiency of our society. Those who couldn't afford college would be able to, and would be able to do their part as best as they could, in whatever position they are in.
In all, I declare that only in a system in which everyone has the opportunities to contribute and make a life for themselves would be a FAIR society.