NationStates Jolt Archive


Fordockian Socalism Information

Fordock
13-09-2007, 06:32
On Fordockian Socialism

Whether traditional or not Fordock runs a democratic socialist system. This is real socialism not communism given a new name.

Fordockian Socialism begins with the Economics. First off the people are taxed 37% of their income. A percentage is always fair and does not discriminate against rich or poor. Thus you can always afford taxes. This money goes directly to the government. The government uses this money to run several critical industries. That means the Grain industry and the water bottling industry, and the energy industry. Anything someone needs to survive the government owns. The benefits to this being when you need something from one of these things you either pay a discounted rate or nothing. Thus Medicare is free and such. However expensive or luxury industries are not. You will pay full price for a plasma screen t.v and you will pay full price for your champagne. The reason this is implemented is that this means the poor aren't starving but competition and innovation is also not discouraged as their are differentials in the equation. The main goal is to reduce the rich-poor gap to something manageable.

The second part of Fordockian Socialism is the government. We are a republic. That means leaders are elected democratically by the people. They then debate policy and make decisions. However Fordockian Democracy is not per-see equal. You are given votes based upon the number of things you qualify for. For example having a College degree gains you an extra vote. This means the people who understand things better get to help run things more. The second part to Fordockian Socialism is the fact most higher level positions are appointments. All top level positions are appointment based except for the Consul which is the second branch of government and is elected by the population alone. This is to ensure the government does not get overbearing. These bodies debate and pass laws. The Consul has equal power to 3/4's of the appointed officials. Also if they make an emergency vote the consul and get a 90 % or more against the appointed authorities must step down. Again this is a safety measure to prevent communism.

About the party system used. To be frank there is no party system. You vote on individual principles. This force each person who votes to carefully research and understand who they are voting for before they decide to. If a small group feel great connections to each other they can form a small group which must have under 10 Running members. The Consul is comprised of 200 Members. This again designed to help guide the citizens. Some people ask if there can be a person calling for the abolition of the current system. The answer is yes. However the people have been happy for the most part and the appointed members would always vote them down unless they got the required 90%. The worst the number of people calling for the downfall of socialism has ever been has been at 30%. It is unlikely it will ever surpass this number.

Hopefully you have found this inspirational and wish to implement some of these systems. We sincerely hope you do for the benefit of all.

(With thanks to Cynapsia for the idea of a pamphlet like device)
New Basilica
13-09-2007, 07:16
Interesting, New Basilica would be very interested in this form of government. But power is a handy thing and the emperor is very reluctant to lose it.

NB: is it pronounced For-dock-ian or For-doke-ian?
Cynapsia
13-09-2007, 07:40
(OOC: Yay, I gave somebody an idea. :))

From the Desk of the President-Kommissariat

Dear Sir,

There are some aspects of your political system that we are unclear on, and wish to understand as a basis of a development of greater ties between socialist bretheren.

The main thing I ask about is the political system within your country. You mention that most of higher positions are appointed. I wonder, what are these positions and whom appoints them? Is it such as with a Cabinet of Ministers appointed by an elected Head of Government (as with our own system) or something different?

I also wonder - for researching issues of government policy in Consul votes - is information provided on the matter to allow an informed vote? Otherwise, you cannot simply "force" someone to research a matter where they may have little knowledge where to investigate.

The only issue upon which I do not agree with in requiring ninety percent of the Consul to dissolve the Fordockian Socialist System. Surely this is disproportionate to the percentage of the population represented by over a fifty percent vote in favour of its removal? If such an element of the system was altered, my government would be able to see Fordockian Socialist as very similar to our own Cynapsian State Socialist system, and be able to pursue closer relations with a truly democratic nation.
Fordock
13-09-2007, 13:52
Interesting, New Basilica would be very interested in this form of government. But power is a handy thing and the emperor is very reluctant to lose it.

NB: is it pronounced For-dock-ian or For-doke-ian?

For-Dock-Ian. Feel free to modify this to suit your original state.

As for Cynapsia

These positions are the heads of the Ministries. The ministries are Work (Internal labor mechanics), Defense (Military), State (General someone who works both external and internally but is more of an opening act. Responsible for the census and such as well.) and the Minister of Diplomacy (Whom gets to do all the diplomatic work the State Department is equipped to do. For example the state department negotiates to put in an embassy and the Diplomacy ministry actually runs it.)

The person who appoints these people to office is the president. All presidents have to appoint a new cabinet (What this is collectively referred) when they take office.

Information on votes and such is always provided. We want the best informed decision as it usually ends up being the best one.

The reason we do keep it at 50% is that if something goes wrong and their is temporary rioting we don't want to risk losing our socialism. Remember people elected Adolf and how did he turn out? This is a way to prevent that. If a situation got extremely serious though the rule might be rethought.

Thank you for your questions

Sincerely
President Kichler
The Principality of Fordock