Your own nation
- Thread starter KJbushway
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This thread brings back memories of public school for me. I used to doodle maps of fictional countries in my notes all the time.
Okay, so I did it in high school, too.
...
And in university.
Anyway, here's what I know I would have offhand:
- It would be an island. Everything's simpler when you have no land borders to worry about (with the exception of foreign trade, I suppose).
- It would probably have a population of about 40 million—big enough to have some international clout, but not so big as to be unwieldy. There'd be one city of about 8 million people, one of 5-6 million, two or three in the 2-3 million range, and a number of one million or smaller.
- All major cities would be connected by an extensive high-speed rail network, with slower branch lines to minor centres. Within cities, there would be well-developed subway and rail systems, supported by a network of buses.
- It would be a parliamentary democracy, but elections would use a single-transferable-vote system, not first-past-the-post.
- Health care and education (through undergraduate university and college) would be free. Grants and loans would be available to students pursuing graduate degrees.
- Power would be centralized to a moderate degree, so that the federal government could have the power to override regional governments if absolutely necessary, but would not interfere with their decisions in general.
- Municipal governments would be considered as powerful and important as any other level of government.
- Cities would be built in a mix of North American and European styles, embracing European density, but also North America's more progressive attitudes towards new development.
- Immigration would be encouraged.
- There would be an extensive park system, which would form a significant part of the country's tourism strategy, but also protect as much natural heritage as possible.
I think that's most of it.
Okay, so I did it in high school, too.
...
And in university.
Anyway, here's what I know I would have offhand:
- It would be an island. Everything's simpler when you have no land borders to worry about (with the exception of foreign trade, I suppose).
- It would probably have a population of about 40 million—big enough to have some international clout, but not so big as to be unwieldy. There'd be one city of about 8 million people, one of 5-6 million, two or three in the 2-3 million range, and a number of one million or smaller.
- All major cities would be connected by an extensive high-speed rail network, with slower branch lines to minor centres. Within cities, there would be well-developed subway and rail systems, supported by a network of buses.
- It would be a parliamentary democracy, but elections would use a single-transferable-vote system, not first-past-the-post.
- Health care and education (through undergraduate university and college) would be free. Grants and loans would be available to students pursuing graduate degrees.
- Power would be centralized to a moderate degree, so that the federal government could have the power to override regional governments if absolutely necessary, but would not interfere with their decisions in general.
- Municipal governments would be considered as powerful and important as any other level of government.
- Cities would be built in a mix of North American and European styles, embracing European density, but also North America's more progressive attitudes towards new development.
- Immigration would be encouraged.
- There would be an extensive park system, which would form a significant part of the country's tourism strategy, but also protect as much natural heritage as possible.
I think that's most of it.
Wow, that is the most detailed yet.
Like the description of the number of people and how many is in each city.
Immigration is encouraged first time I have heard it.
Like the idea of connection to each city through fast rail car.
i can see that you have been thinking of this for a while.
Like the description of the number of people and how many is in each city.
Immigration is encouraged first time I have heard it.
Like the idea of connection to each city through fast rail car.
i can see that you have been thinking of this for a while.
In international relations terms, a nation is a collection of people with similar ethnic characteristics (culture, language, history, etc.). A nation does not equal a country. A state is a country, defined by owning territory, maintaining a population, and having a government that has authority over its populace, external sovereignty, and recognition from other countries. As such, I'd be interested in having my own state, rather than my own nation. I'd prefer diversity, rather than having one or two predominant ethnic groups.
The government would be a Federal Constitutional Republic with a Presidential system. I like the idea of a parliamentary system, but I prefer the concept of the Head of Government & State being directly responsible to the citizenry at large rather than through the Legislature. The Judiciary would be delineated the same as the U.S. The Legislature would be bicameral: the "upper house" would be the House of Representatives; the "lower house" would be the House of Councilors. The Chief Executive/Head of Government/Head of State would be known as the Chancellor, rather than President, while the heads of the various federal agencies would be Ministers.
The Constitution of my country would be based on the U.S. Constitution and would similarly include a Bill of Rights. There would, however, be some important clarifications and additions.
- First, my country's Constitution would make a separation between state and church so explicit that it could never be misinterpreted. The levers of government would not be allowed to ever invoke a religious deity (for example, nothing like "in God we trust" on currency, on national monuments, in any national motto, etc.).
- Second, a National Health System based on Canada's model would be enshrined in the Constitution.
- Third, the Constitution would provide for a Public Education System that would continue beyond high school. That could account for vocational education & training, two-year associate's degrees at community schools, or four-year bachelor's degrees at colleges/universities. In exchange for paid tuition, however, an individual would have to repay the state with public service for the same period of time that the state paid for their education. Loans with favorable interest rates (as defined by the Legislature, recognizing the fluctuations of the economy) would be available for graduate-level education.
- Fourth, the Constitution would require four years of national service from all citizens following the end of high school (military service, community organizations, etc. - the specifics here would be left to the Legislature to establish). Time served in national service during this time could be applied to the national service requirements for education.
- Fifth, the Constitution would explicitly ensure equal protection under the law for all people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
Elections would be decided through instant-runoff voting. All campaigns would be publicly funded, in order to avoid corporations and the wealthy from being able to disproportionately influence the electoral process through monetary donations.
I mentioned territory in the IR definition of state above. I rather like Canadave's idea of being located on an island. I'm thinking somewhere in the range of 60 million citizens. The country would be subdivided into regions (though I'm not sure if I would want to call those states, provinces, territories, or something else) that would further be subdivided into counties then cities and towns. All major population centers would be connected through a high-speed rail system, with somewhat slower branches connecting out to smaller cities. In order for a town to qualify for a connecting depot, it would need to have a population of at least 2000. The public transportation system in large cities would further be augmented by buses and subways. Public transportation would be very important in my country. Towns and cities would be encouraged to adopt sustainable development plans in order to both expand and preserve the environment. Along those lines, the country would employ as many alternative (non-fossil fuel) energy sources as possible. I imagine hydroelectric power could be a significant source in this case.
The country's military would be comprised of the normal: Army, Air Force, Navy, and a Coast Guard. There would be at least four major military hubs along the coastline, situated as equidistantly as possible from one another with one hub on each major "side" of the island. Since this country is an island, the Coast Guard would naturally have many more outposts around the coastline, with an especially significant presence at major civilian harbors.
Immigration would be encouraged through guest-worker and student visa programs. Since they would not be citizens, these individuals would of course not be eligible for paid tuition under the Public Education System but the National Health System would still apply fully. An accelerated path to citizenship for such individuals would be established by the Legislature.
No national language would be legally established but the de facto national language would be English. For the first six years of primary education, students would take foreign language classes instructing them in the second most-spoken language in the country. The second six years would be spent on the third most-spoken language. For students whose first language was not English, there would naturally be curriculum changes to suit the individual's situation decided at the school level.
Other specific primary education standards would include all students being required to take a history survey class of each major region of the world (North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Oceania). As fitting with the separation of state & church, creationism would absolutely not be allowed in science classes. An historical survey course of Earth's major religions would, however, be required of all students. The world history and world religions classes would be intended to broaden the horizons of students, to hopefully ensure they would not end up as insular in their worldviews as many of my fellow Americans are.
Scientific research would be heavily subsidized and promoted. The arts would also be promoted, though likely not as heavily subsidized as scientific research. The goal would be to ensure that the country considers scientific advancement and cultural advancement to be equally important, but I think I'd leave literature, cinema, and so on mostly to the private sector.
I can't think of anything else to add at this time.
The government would be a Federal Constitutional Republic with a Presidential system. I like the idea of a parliamentary system, but I prefer the concept of the Head of Government & State being directly responsible to the citizenry at large rather than through the Legislature. The Judiciary would be delineated the same as the U.S. The Legislature would be bicameral: the "upper house" would be the House of Representatives; the "lower house" would be the House of Councilors. The Chief Executive/Head of Government/Head of State would be known as the Chancellor, rather than President, while the heads of the various federal agencies would be Ministers.
The Constitution of my country would be based on the U.S. Constitution and would similarly include a Bill of Rights. There would, however, be some important clarifications and additions.
- First, my country's Constitution would make a separation between state and church so explicit that it could never be misinterpreted. The levers of government would not be allowed to ever invoke a religious deity (for example, nothing like "in God we trust" on currency, on national monuments, in any national motto, etc.).
- Second, a National Health System based on Canada's model would be enshrined in the Constitution.
- Third, the Constitution would provide for a Public Education System that would continue beyond high school. That could account for vocational education & training, two-year associate's degrees at community schools, or four-year bachelor's degrees at colleges/universities. In exchange for paid tuition, however, an individual would have to repay the state with public service for the same period of time that the state paid for their education. Loans with favorable interest rates (as defined by the Legislature, recognizing the fluctuations of the economy) would be available for graduate-level education.
- Fourth, the Constitution would require four years of national service from all citizens following the end of high school (military service, community organizations, etc. - the specifics here would be left to the Legislature to establish). Time served in national service during this time could be applied to the national service requirements for education.
- Fifth, the Constitution would explicitly ensure equal protection under the law for all people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
Elections would be decided through instant-runoff voting. All campaigns would be publicly funded, in order to avoid corporations and the wealthy from being able to disproportionately influence the electoral process through monetary donations.
I mentioned territory in the IR definition of state above. I rather like Canadave's idea of being located on an island. I'm thinking somewhere in the range of 60 million citizens. The country would be subdivided into regions (though I'm not sure if I would want to call those states, provinces, territories, or something else) that would further be subdivided into counties then cities and towns. All major population centers would be connected through a high-speed rail system, with somewhat slower branches connecting out to smaller cities. In order for a town to qualify for a connecting depot, it would need to have a population of at least 2000. The public transportation system in large cities would further be augmented by buses and subways. Public transportation would be very important in my country. Towns and cities would be encouraged to adopt sustainable development plans in order to both expand and preserve the environment. Along those lines, the country would employ as many alternative (non-fossil fuel) energy sources as possible. I imagine hydroelectric power could be a significant source in this case.
The country's military would be comprised of the normal: Army, Air Force, Navy, and a Coast Guard. There would be at least four major military hubs along the coastline, situated as equidistantly as possible from one another with one hub on each major "side" of the island. Since this country is an island, the Coast Guard would naturally have many more outposts around the coastline, with an especially significant presence at major civilian harbors.
Immigration would be encouraged through guest-worker and student visa programs. Since they would not be citizens, these individuals would of course not be eligible for paid tuition under the Public Education System but the National Health System would still apply fully. An accelerated path to citizenship for such individuals would be established by the Legislature.
No national language would be legally established but the de facto national language would be English. For the first six years of primary education, students would take foreign language classes instructing them in the second most-spoken language in the country. The second six years would be spent on the third most-spoken language. For students whose first language was not English, there would naturally be curriculum changes to suit the individual's situation decided at the school level.
Other specific primary education standards would include all students being required to take a history survey class of each major region of the world (North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Oceania). As fitting with the separation of state & church, creationism would absolutely not be allowed in science classes. An historical survey course of Earth's major religions would, however, be required of all students. The world history and world religions classes would be intended to broaden the horizons of students, to hopefully ensure they would not end up as insular in their worldviews as many of my fellow Americans are.
Scientific research would be heavily subsidized and promoted. The arts would also be promoted, though likely not as heavily subsidized as scientific research. The goal would be to ensure that the country considers scientific advancement and cultural advancement to be equally important, but I think I'd leave literature, cinema, and so on mostly to the private sector.
I can't think of anything else to add at this time.
WOW. Man thats is just wow, I am blown away. OK when I said nation, I meant country. But yes your correct and I will change it.
Now as far as your country, state goes. Well thought out. I myself like the separation of church and state, no in god we trust sounds like music to my ears. 4 years in national service, good idea. I am glad you decided to change your constitution from the U.S in some ways. I hadn't thought about including a religious history class to education, but you explained it further and its understandable. Good idea, if you have anything else to add please don't hesitate.
Now as far as your country, state goes. Well thought out. I myself like the separation of church and state, no in god we trust sounds like music to my ears. 4 years in national service, good idea. I am glad you decided to change your constitution from the U.S in some ways. I hadn't thought about including a religious history class to education, but you explained it further and its understandable. Good idea, if you have anything else to add please don't hesitate.
My country's design is this.
It would be called Federation Star Empire.
My government would be a little weird, First I would be the ultimate ruler, I would have ultimate say in every issue.
My country would be of a small town design, you would have your homes, then like two blocks away would be the school's, hospitals.
two blocks away from that would be the actual town, you would have your small shops(NO FREAKING WALMARTS!!!), small restaurants, and little corner stores.
There would be cities they would just be 20 miles from the towns.
In order to be a town it as to be at least 500-1,000 people
Every 15 towns there would be a people elected president who would control the functions of the town within the law of the land, would make decisions for the people, and would be the speaker of the people to me.
My country would be none monetary, which means that things wouldn't cost anything, people would get paid for anything.
The system would work:
First people get free health care(hospitals would be the largest building, taking up most of the land)
Everyone would have a home(no homeless)
However, in order to get the luxury in life you have to have a job, or the children are getting a higher education if the parents are out of a job.
For those who are lazy and don't work have their food brought to them, they don't even have a computer or TV, and they are not allowed to enter any form of outside entertainment. So basically if you didn't want to work you would be bored out of your mind until you gave in and worked.
Your home would represent the amount of people in your family plus one. People may also build there own home(doesn't require a court grant) or add on via a court grant.
There would be a birth limit law of 2 per family.
Our education system would be year around, but with the vacations off.
It would be k-13.
With your 13 year be one that you study your dream job.
There is no such thing as associates degree, just specific degree like Dr.
I would as a rule put condoms in high school near the nurses office, and the sex ed program would be more helpful, and I wouldn't just say preach non-sex as birth control.
Churches wouldn't be built, you want religion organized start a book club in your own house.
The science programs would be highly advanced.
Our space program would be highly advanced.
Our military advancement would be based on research into more protective gear for troops.
I would have heavy infantry troops, light infantry troops,
navy, air force, and a sort of star fleet.
A separate place would be saved for retires, it would be nice and climate controlled.
Retirement would be age 40. 35 with court grant.
Transportation to the city would be by fast train, in the city would have train routes all over.
You are allowed to have old gas cars but your engine would have to have a Eco-fuel attachment.
All cars would be electric and would be free.
Teenagers can get an early license if they have a job after school, which they can only keep with a b average.
License age is 18. with permit age at 16.
You can get your own used(only) car with your early license with consent of the parent(s) and a job after school.
No restaurants like McDonald's, Wendy, KFC, ETC.
Farmer would have their own towns.
There would be a national green week, where everyone in a town would gather around and clean up the streets and woods surrounding. At the end of the week there would be a huge Barbecue with a menu for non-meat eaters.
There would be a federation science and engineering sectors along with
a civilian based science and engineering sector.
There would be a constitution and a bill of rights, there would be harsher punishment of sex-offenders than there would be for minor drug crimes. There would be a death penalty but only for the worse crimes. There would be a prisoner turn around programs.
There is no 2ND amendment, but people are allowed to carry safer tazers guns and any other safety items created. Police would have guns, but it would only work if there hand was around the grip.(rubber and stun bullets)
Cops would walk around the streets along with cruising around in cars.
Well thats my country. any questions and i will help answer them.
There is more I just have mental blocks sometimes.
It would be called Federation Star Empire.
My government would be a little weird, First I would be the ultimate ruler, I would have ultimate say in every issue.
My country would be of a small town design, you would have your homes, then like two blocks away would be the school's, hospitals.
two blocks away from that would be the actual town, you would have your small shops(NO FREAKING WALMARTS!!!), small restaurants, and little corner stores.
There would be cities they would just be 20 miles from the towns.
In order to be a town it as to be at least 500-1,000 people
Every 15 towns there would be a people elected president who would control the functions of the town within the law of the land, would make decisions for the people, and would be the speaker of the people to me.
My country would be none monetary, which means that things wouldn't cost anything, people would get paid for anything.
The system would work:
First people get free health care(hospitals would be the largest building, taking up most of the land)
Everyone would have a home(no homeless)
However, in order to get the luxury in life you have to have a job, or the children are getting a higher education if the parents are out of a job.
For those who are lazy and don't work have their food brought to them, they don't even have a computer or TV, and they are not allowed to enter any form of outside entertainment. So basically if you didn't want to work you would be bored out of your mind until you gave in and worked.
Your home would represent the amount of people in your family plus one. People may also build there own home(doesn't require a court grant) or add on via a court grant.
There would be a birth limit law of 2 per family.
Our education system would be year around, but with the vacations off.
It would be k-13.
With your 13 year be one that you study your dream job.
There is no such thing as associates degree, just specific degree like Dr.
I would as a rule put condoms in high school near the nurses office, and the sex ed program would be more helpful, and I wouldn't just say preach non-sex as birth control.
Churches wouldn't be built, you want religion organized start a book club in your own house.
The science programs would be highly advanced.
Our space program would be highly advanced.
Our military advancement would be based on research into more protective gear for troops.
I would have heavy infantry troops, light infantry troops,
navy, air force, and a sort of star fleet.
A separate place would be saved for retires, it would be nice and climate controlled.
Retirement would be age 40. 35 with court grant.
Transportation to the city would be by fast train, in the city would have train routes all over.
You are allowed to have old gas cars but your engine would have to have a Eco-fuel attachment.
All cars would be electric and would be free.
Teenagers can get an early license if they have a job after school, which they can only keep with a b average.
License age is 18. with permit age at 16.
You can get your own used(only) car with your early license with consent of the parent(s) and a job after school.
No restaurants like McDonald's, Wendy, KFC, ETC.
Farmer would have their own towns.
There would be a national green week, where everyone in a town would gather around and clean up the streets and woods surrounding. At the end of the week there would be a huge Barbecue with a menu for non-meat eaters.
There would be a federation science and engineering sectors along with
a civilian based science and engineering sector.
There would be a constitution and a bill of rights, there would be harsher punishment of sex-offenders than there would be for minor drug crimes. There would be a death penalty but only for the worse crimes. There would be a prisoner turn around programs.
There is no 2ND amendment, but people are allowed to carry safer tazers guns and any other safety items created. Police would have guns, but it would only work if there hand was around the grip.(rubber and stun bullets)
Cops would walk around the streets along with cruising around in cars.
Well thats my country. any questions and i will help answer them.
There is more I just have mental blocks sometimes.
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Sorry but what is ND?
I'm guessing he's referring to the 2:nd amendment, but why it's called ND I have no idea.
This is a great question, and one I actually posed to someone recently. What I came up with myself is pretty detailed, but I will try to explain it all in one post, if possible. Here goes...
The government system I would choose would be a democratic monarchy, somewhat similar to what was depicted on the TV show "Kings"... there would be a King and Queen, but they would be periodically elected into office by the people, and the people would also have the power to oust them, should they begin to govern in ways that are destructive to the well-being of the people and nation. Thus, there would be no "divine right" to lead, nor could a leader assume the throne through simple birthright.
Under this democratic monarchy, would be the governing agencies, or ministries. There would be a single military force, called the Ministry of Arms. There would not be separate individual branches for the Air Force, Navy, Army, Marines, or Space... all would be functions of the single military force.
Healthcare and basic education would be free. If you want to pursue higher education you would have a choice... you can pay for it, or, you can join the military, and the government would pay for your higher education.
The Ministry of Law would control all law enforcement and judicial process of the nation. Penalties for crime would be extremely harsh and clear... for simple petty crimes, the punishments would be at the discretion of the Judges overseeing those individual cases. For crimes involving a lethal weapon, with the intent to kill, punishment would be life in prison. For crimes of rape, crimes against children, or crimes that result in the death of another, punishment would be death. In such death-penalty cases, the Judge would first ask the victim's families what method of lethal punishment they would like selected, and if the family passes on this right, the Judge will impose a punishment of their own choosing. The families may choose whatever form of punishment they like, and may also have the right to personally administer that punishment.
The nation would be decidedly isolationist, and would not seek out relations with others, lest it be to offer humanitarian aid in times of dire need. The nation would be defended like a fortress, with constant naval and air patrols, to protect the population from all threats from all directions. All goods and services and infrastructure would be domestically attained.
The nation would have a zero-tolerance policy on illegal entry. If someone enters the nation illegally, they have two choices... they can earn citizenship by first serving in the military for five years, after which time, they would be granted full citizenship, or they can be deported back to their native land, at the expense of their native government.
Education would be of the utmost importance, and the nation would supply the children with the highest quality of education possible. The national language would be English. There would be no national religion, but the nation would allow for full religious freedom. All agriculture would be domestically attained. There would be no import or export to or from other lands.
The national currency system would be totally independent and isolated from the global exchange. Money would be totally electronic, and would be in the form of points that are carried on a thin metal "credit card". This metal card would be your life's information... it would be your money card, your national ID, and your driver information.
All vehicles would wear a metal license plate, with an embedded barcode. If a police officer pulls you over, all he would have to do, is walk to the license plate, scan the barcode, and the citation would instantly be issued electronically, as your address would be contained in the information accessed via the barcode. This would ensure officer safety, as the officer would not have to directly contact the driver, unless the vehicle reads as stolen, or unless the driver attempts to flee.
Your medical information would also be on the card, so that every time you visit the doctor, as soon as you leave, the receptionist would swipe your card, and all medical files would be automatically updated. If you become involved in an accident, the responding paramedics could instantly access your medical information, by reading your card, en route to the hospital.
There is more, but that is what I have right now... I can post the rest later.
Yeah sorry guys, your right it was 2nd admendment, when I spell check it, it took out my 2nd and put ND instead. I changed it though, thank you for pointing it out.
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