How is the leader of the federation lected in the Trekverse?

[BillJ]

That's why taxes should be as low as possible. It doesn't matter if you are rich, the middle class, or poor. That's why they need to stop spending our taxed dollars on foreign policies that don't even work, but instead get us terrorist threats and attacks.

Actually, taxes need to be much higher to support and defend (across the board) a population of three-hundred million people.

We're at a point where the right-wing has made 'tax' a dirty word and it's just beyond ridiculous. Seen the shape that the interstate highway system and bridges in this country are in?

 

[Paradon]

I'm not a right wing and the reason the way things are the way they are is because they spend huge some of money on foreign policy and wasting it on programs that don't even work. The highways and public schools can be much better if that were the main focus of our taxed dolloars. We are currently assuming the position of the world police and it's a drain on our economy. The lower the taxes the better, which is why war weakens a country because people are being taxed heavily for the war effort. This is why a lot of civilizations come and go because of irresponsible kings and emperors. Even the mighty Roman empire fell because of this. The reason we are loosing our position as a major power is because we are spending irresponsibly. The right wings say they don't like taxes and yet they are spending out of control; things that don't benefit the people. That's rediculous. The government should only spend our taxed dollars on things that directly benefit the people on such things that you have mentioned; if they did, we wouldn't be in our current state of economy. To spend on things like foreign policies and on increasing the size of the military so we can be the world police is illegal under the Constitutions. They are taking your money to give to other countries and spending it on things that don't benefit the people directly. The Congress can only declare war if they see no other ways to resolve the situation which puts this country at risk, but they've ignored that part of the laws which is illegal. George Bush declared war without the Congress approval. We see this current trend of politician ignoring the laws and we wonder why the U.S. is in such a sad state right now. the gorenment is the root of all the problems.

If the plan to defend us worked out so well, then why do get so many terrorist threats and attacks? Switzerland has always remain neutral and they have never had any terrorist attacks. Our Founding Fathers stated that we should remain neutral and never side with any country for this reasons. We can do business with other countries but never take side because of potential terrorist threats and attacks. And it's never a good idea to business with crooks and thugs; look at what happened when we helped trained these terrorists to fight against the Soviet Union. After the war was over Osama turned around and attacked the U.S.. Where is the wisdom in interfering with other countries political and societal development? It seems to get us into more trouble and the politicians still haven't learned from this...

 

[Captain Verata]

That's why taxes should be as low as possible. It doesn't matter if you are rich, the middle class, or poor. That's why they need to stop spending our taxed dollars on foreign policies that don't even work, but instead get us terrorist threats and attacks.

Actually, taxes need to be much higher to support and defend (across the board) a population of three-hundred million people.

We're at a point where the right-wing has made 'tax' a dirty word and it's just beyond ridiculous. Seen the shape that the interstate highway system and bridges in this country are in?

Absolutely agree with raising taxes. Right now the highest tax rate is at historic lows at 35%. Many rich people like Warren Buffet and other hedge fund managers pay less then that because they pay 15% capital gains tax. Thats just plain wrong.

 

[Paradon]

Low taxes is not what got us into debt in the first place. It's because of the government was being irresponsible by pursuing foreign policy that got us into debt. So, now we have to raise taxes to pay for the debt that George Bush got us into. High taxes are always associate with inflation if you look at the history throughout the ages. People tends to think the government can spend all they want without it affecting them, but they have no source of revenue; the only source of revenue is from taxes...your money! That directly affect the consumers ability to spend. the lower the taxes the more money and cheaper the consumer goods and thus increases spending. do you know how much it cost to build military bases overseas and paying the soldiers' salaries? It is costing tax payers millions of dollars where those money could be spend on public school, roads and other things that benefits the people directly.

 

[BillJ]

It's because of the government was being irresponsible by pursuing foreign policy that got us into debt.

https://masbury.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/what-percent-of-us-budget-goes-to-foreign-aid/

 

[T'Girl]

It's because of the government was being irresponsible by pursuing foreign policy that got us into debt.

https://masbury.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/what-percent-of-us-budget-goes-to-foreign-aid/

BillJ, he didn't say foreign AID, he said foreign POLICY.

Incidently, one percent (the typical percentage of foreign aid) of Obama's proposed 2012 budget would be 37.3 billion. Any way you look at it a large amount of real money

Many rich people like Warren Buffet and other hedge fund managers pay less then that because they pay 15% capital gains tax. Thats just plain wrong.

In the year 2006, Warren Buffet gave 30.7 billion dollars to charity (William Gates Foundation), but you were saying?

 

[That Weirdo In The Corner]

All Federation Presidents from the very beginning were quietly selected by Section Thirty-one.

If there was a candidate they didn't like, who had a good chance of winning, I wouldn't be surprised if they ensured the candidate they liked won. After all "protecting the Federation" can pretty much include anything.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Section 31 did have an operative inside Jaresh-Inyo's Cabinet, but I doubt they had a hand in any actual elections. I doubt they would have allowed a pacifist like him to even stand for election in the first place. President-wise, S31 are probably reactive rather than proactive.

 

[That Weirdo In The Corner]

^ Section 31 did have an operative inside Jaresh-Inyo's Cabinet, but I doubt they had a hand in any actual elections. I doubt they would have allowed a pacifist like him to even stand for election in the first place. President-wise, S31 are probably reactive rather than proactive.

In posting I did wonder about him, perhaps Section 31 thought with someone so inept they could control and manipulate him.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

AFAIK, Jaresh-Inyo's attitude and actions are typical of his species (Grazerites). So Section 31 surely knew what kind of president he would be. If they had any pull in the elections, they would have used it.

 

[That Weirdo In The Corner]

AFAIK, Jaresh-Inyo's attitude and actions are typical of his species (Grazerites). So Section 31 surely knew what kind of president he would be. If they had any pull in the elections, they would have used it.

Yeah I guess, perhaps politics is beneath them. Section 31 are going to do what needs to be done regardless of politics.

 

[T'Girl]

I doubt they would have allowed a pacifist like him to even stand for election in the first place.

Actually if you think about it, a pacifist might be just what section thirty-one would want. Perhaps combined with a isolationist, someone who would think of the Federation first and there would be no secondary considerations. Someone whose pacifist beliefs would keep the Federation out of "foreign" wars by not entering into alliances with the Klingons and other, whose aid and defense the Federation might one day have to come to.

 

[BennettStar]

Many rich people like Warren Buffet and other hedge fund managers pay less then that because they pay 15% capital gains tax. Thats just plain wrong.

In the year 2006, Warren Buffet gave 30.7 billion dollars to charity (William Gates Foundation), but you were saying?

It's true, all multimillionaires and billionaires who successfully stockpile wealth are merely doing so to fulfill their philanthropic dreams of being named Forbes' Magazine's "Most Charitable in 2006."

The truth is, people who can earn mass amounts wealth will always spend it better than someone who can't. Except the government, of course, they're obviously just corrupted by elected representatives of the people and all those regulations.

 

[Paradon]

Most people wouldn't trust strangers to handle their personal affair and their personal assets, so why should it be any difference with the government? Why do people think the government are a wise and knowlegable collective group of people who always know what to do and can be trusted? All people assume whether you're a genius or not; it's just a matter of whether it's a lesser or greater assumptions. Nobody knows everything and nothing is certain. That's why it's a good idea to keep the government out of people's personal affairs because people's problem is far more complex than a lot of people think. Each person requires different kind of specific help and further more the people have to want to change if they are going to change; no amount of laws and force therapy are going to change their mind if they don't want to change. This is the idea behind free society and prime directive. Tell me if it's a good idea to let the government have free range of authority to handle money when all these national debts keep adding up. Look at the government like you would look at a stranger when it comes to your personal affairs and assets. You wouldn't trust a stranger because there is always a chance that person is a crook. Now look at how corrupt our government are (or another government around the world). Why would anybody put their fate in the hands of some beaurocrates or let a lone a stranger?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I doubt they would have allowed a pacifist like him to even stand for election in the first place.

Actually if you think about it, a pacifist might be just what section thirty-one would want. Perhaps combined with a isolationist, someone who would think of the Federation first and there would be no secondary considerations. Someone whose pacifist beliefs would keep the Federation out of "foreign" wars by not entering into alliances with the Klingons and other, whose aid and defense the Federation might one day have to come to.

Or who would be reluctant to fight back at all if the Federation was attacked. S31 wouldn't want that.

 

[Yevetha]

Non-interventionist is the right word.

 

[T'Girl]

A pacifist would be reluctant to initiate a fight, or a war. Preferring other methods to resolve difficulties.

However, it would take a profoundly pacifistic pacifist to not respond to a attack upon themselves, or their nation. Then section thirty-one wouldn't have to act, the Federation council (or directly it's people) would remove said pacifist.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

the federation council (or directly it's people) would remove said pacifist.

Eh?

If you mean, that president would lose in the next election, that may be true. Probably how Min Zife defeated Jaresh-Inyo.

But what legal mechanisms are in place (not counting what happened in A Time To Heal, I'm talking strictly actual Federation governmental policy) for removing a sitting Federation President? I don't know if they've ever dealt with that.

 

[T'Girl]

I was thinking of something like; the general populace having a special recall election, or impeachment followed by a trial, or a vote of no confidence in the council, or there's the Nixon option ... resign before you can be kicked to the curb.

The thought of a giant mob of angry Federation citizens (with torches and pitchforks) chasing the tarred and feathered Federation President down the street, it just brings a smile to my face.