If You could Change one thing...

[Centurion1]

If you could change one thing about your respective nations political process overnight what would it be?

Personally I would have to go with imposing term limits. A combination of complacent partisan lifers and then fearful people scared to piss off their constituents is one of the most serious issues in American politics.

[Kadagar_AV]

I'd go with: Constitutional changes HAVE to head every media outlet for at least a day before any election.


Sweden changed the constitution 2010, for the first time since 1974.

You'd think that the average Swede would know about it, as it included kind of major stuff, such as Sweden now being a multicultural country, are officially a pawn of the EU, and that military can be used against civilians. But noooooo, 95% of the Swedes would have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

[Greyblades]

Have the racist parties like BNP and the National front banned. I really feel like we should be past this.

[Hooahguy]

Change the current voting system to the Alternative Voting system (otherwise known as the Instant run-off system).

[Rhyfelwyr]

Make wage labour illegal. Absolutely srs.

[Kadagar_AV]

Have the racist parties like BNP and the National front banned. I really feel like we should be past this.

You want to burn their books too?

[Greyblades]

Depends on the book.

[Hooahguy]

Depends on the book.

"Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings."
-Heinrich Heine

[Greyblades]

I really must remember that sarcasm doesnt translate in text.

[Kadagar_AV]

I really must remember that sarcasm doesnt translate in text.

I know, it sucks... But it really doesn't, I've tried.

[Strike For The South]

Enfranchise only those who can pass a civics test and are gainfully employed.

Being a citizen of republic has just as many responsibilities as rights.

[Greyblades]

Still, there are some tomes *cough*Twilight*cough*atlas shrugged*cough* that's worth more as stove fuel than brain fuel.

[rvg]

I would abolish the Electoral College. In this day and age it's just downright silly.

[Hooahguy]

I would abolish the Electoral College. In this day and age it's just downright silly.

I dont know, wouldnt then politicians just concentrate on the high-population centers?
Looking at this map it seems like the higher population densities are on the east and west coasts. While its undeniable that there are more people in those areas, but Id say that the Electoral College is there to ensure that the candidates go to all the states and not just the important ones with the most people. I mean, without the electoral college, who would go to Wyoming? Or North and South Dakota? Or really anywhere in the midwest? Id say that the Electoral College ensures that all states have some importance to an election.

A better system would be the Alternative Voting system, and then instead of the 270 to win, it would just be the majority of the electoral votes since we can assume that there would be more than two main candidates.

[Major Robert Dump]

If I could change one thing

It would be to have a Tsunami-nado-cane-quake-nuke wipe out Washington DC whiel everyone was present.

That would be the best thing to ever happen to America. And a close second would be for the dollar to lose it's favored oil trade status, so people have to actually start working again.

[Hooahguy]

If I could change one thing

It would be to have a Tsunami-nado-cane-quake-nuke wipe out Washington DC whiel everyone was present.

That would be the best thing to ever happen to America. And a close second would be for the dollar to lose it's favored oil trade status, so people have to actually start working again.

Im in the DC area so as long as I get early warning then Im ok with this.

[a completely inoffensive name]

I dont know, wouldnt then politicians just concentrate on the high-population centers?

No, they would not. If you combine the top 50 most populous cities together, you don't even get 30% of the population. At that point you are talking about "high-population" centers like....Spokane as well. It just doesn't follow. The vast majority of people live in suburban areas which can be either left leaning or right leaning or very contested.

[Hooahguy]

No, they would not. If you combine the top 50 most populous cities together, you don't even get 30% of the population. At that point you are talking about "high-population" centers like....Spokane as well. It just doesn't follow. The vast majority of people live in suburban areas which can be either left leaning or right leaning or very contested.

Sorry I should have clarified. By centers I meant states. My point is that candidates wouldnt pay attention to everyone.

[a completely inoffensive name]

Sorry I should have clarified. By centers I meant states. My point is that candidates wouldnt pay attention to everyone.

Hmmm, no still doesn't hold. The most populous states have wildly different philosophies and interests. Say you wanted to cater to Californians in general because California has the most people in it. You quickly realize the problem that the current California government has, nobody can agree on anything!

Besides, by focusing on the populous states, you are going to have a handful of states most of which want to go in different directions. How are going to cater to both New Yorkers and Texans? To both Californians and Floridans?

Even if we assume, that the candidates will focus on the most populous states, that is still for the better because now, there will be about 6-8 states to jockey over rather than the what....two states of Ohio and Florida that have decided the past 4 elections now?

[GeneralHankerchief]

All higher offices that were previously elected positions are now filled by the same system that determines who serves in juries.

[Fragony]

Leave the international-socialism

[HoreTore]

In order of importance:

1. Switch to republic
2. Join the EU
3. Leave NATO

[Fragony]

In order of importance:

1. Switch to republic
2. Join the EU
3. Leave NATO

Kudo's to number one, bring forth the guillotine and chop them up. But why the que would you want to join the international-socialism Norway is doing great without it. It will only cost you money and you will have less democracy.

[Kadagar_AV]

In order of importance:

1. Switch to republic
2. Join the EU
3. Leave NATO

Why is "1" more important?

It's not like the Norwegian queen, or king or whatever peasant took the throne, has any political power, now is it?

[Kralizec]

I would change our Senate ("first chamber"). Right now it's members are elected by the provincial assemblies. The latter is elected by the people, but people generally don't care much about provincial politics and the fact that they appoint the senators is the #1 reason people vote for it at all. It's not a bad setup per se, but the Netherlands is probably too small for it, in contrast to states like Germany.
I'd do one of these things:

- abolish it, and institute a constitutional court in its place, which we don't have as of yet
- keep the senate, but make it's members directly elected in about 30-50 single constitutencies. Some more changes would be necessary; the senate would need a clearly defined role in relation to our current directly elected chamber

There's other stuff too; I'd rather have we became a republic but that's not a priority for me.

[HoreTore]

Why is "1" more important?

It's not like the Norwegian queen, or king or whatever peasant took the throne, has any political power, now is it?

Principles.

I would like to say I live in a proper country where everyone is equal before the law. Also, it's expensive. Off it goes.

[Kadagar_AV]

Principles.

I would like to say I live in a proper country where everyone is equal before the law. Also, it's expensive. Off it goes.

How very socialistic of you to put principles before economical and world stage political conundrums.

I do however have a further question. Are you serious in believing in equality before the law? Even if you got rid of the regent, do you think the police would spend an average amount of time investigating, say, a murder of the prime minister?

Just face the facts and adjust to them, we will ALWAYS label crimes differently depending on who the victim is. If you get rid of the monarch and whole upper class, the police would still investigate the murder of a middle class citizen way more than the murder of some ghetto guy.

[drone]

I would abolish the Electoral College. In this day and age it's just downright silly.

I would leave to Electoral College, but change the allocations in all states to match the Congressional District method used by Nebraska and Maine. The winner of each district gets that electoral vote, with the 2 Senate electors going to the overall winner of the state. This will eliminate the swing state effect.

If I get a second change, repeal the 17th.

[Ronin]

introduce a basic civics and political knowledge test before voting - just like 4-5 multiple choice questions to see if you know what you are about to do....if you can pass, your vote counts.

[Hooahguy]

introduce a basic civics and political knowledge test before voting - just like 4-5 multiple choice questions to see if you know what you are about to do....if you can pass, your vote counts.

Yeah but then you get all the civil liberty groups crying how thats discriminating.