If I were in charge...

[Oily]

Heh, I'd just dissolve into the same mess of lies and corruption as everyone else really

1. Legalise gay marriage: Why shouldn't they have the same rights as other people? Besides, England is pretty liberal so I don't think you'd get too much opposition.

2. Allow euthansia: Sufferers of terminal illnesses that cause them extreme pain should be allowed the right to die with dignity.

3. Alternative energy I agree. I'd speed production of the hydrogen cars and flip a finger at the big petrol companies that slow it down...after the car is ready, of course

4. Prisons: Petty criminals get education and re-training in a useful skill that can help them. Serious offenders are locked away for life.

5. NHS and Schools Oh, I have big plans for healthcare and education. Do you know the NHS now has more managers than beds? I had a cunning scheme, but I can't remember it. Certainly, more grammar schools - fastrack bright pupils through those. Encourage parents to go private, to take burden off the state. Slow-track slow pupils through special schools, with better paid teachers. Allow middling pupils to have vouchers for their education to spend in no frills private/state schools - ones that are state supported, but with smaller fees/means-tested bursaries.

I can't remember my plans on healthcare yet

6. Fire people: I'm going to fire anyone who lapses into bureaucratic bs. And possibly egg them

[Kiddo]

The said:

Legalize fireworks and dangerous stunts in all 50 states. Hey, if people want to burn themselves and do stupid things, its nothing on me. It just means less stupid people we have to worry about messing up the polls, come election day!

And if people dont like my leadership... then I will send each, and everyone of them a crude drawing of me kicking them in between the legs. Hey, Im all for free speech, but I think I should send some of my 'free speech' right back at you. ;D

I LIKE your ideas! You got my vote. *nods*

[Smiley]

I think that I would...

1. Legalize Gay Marriage: I think they have every right to be married.
2. Change the Prisons: In New Mexico (I'm not sure about other places), they have computers with internet access and cable televisions. Dude! Give them all of that and people will be doing crimes because they would see that lifestyle as BETTER than their own! We recently built a new prison, and they kept showing pictures of it on the news - it was beautiful! They don't deserve that!
3. Education: Thorough background checks of teachers, with new textbooks every 3-5 years and plenty of computers and other necessary 21st century teaching equipment. And better school food, for goodness sake!
4. Lower Drinking Age to 18: Kids are going to get their hands on alcohol anyway - if it's lowered, they will be able to get help with it at a younger age.
5. Regulate the Driving Age: Apparently, it's all mismatched throughout the states right now. I think that the permit age should be 15, and the license age 16 everywhere in the US. I don't think I would have power over state decisions, though... darn.
6. Set Tougher Punishments for Criminals: Did you know that there was a kid who wasn't even old enough to drive yet, let alone drink, who caused FOUR accidents while driving drunk? They didn't really do anything because he was a minor. I don't CARE if you're a minor - if you do something as criminal as that, you should be locked up. I don't care if you think I'm cold-hearted. Longer sentences for rapists/drunk drivers/etc. as well, and if fatalities are involved, either life in prison or the death penalty. Yup.
7. Increase Funds for Hospitals and Research in Cancer/Other Illnesses: I think it pretty much speaks for itself.
8. Build Giant Statues of Myself All Along the East/West Coasts: Whaaat? It will scare off the terrorists!

I probably wouldn't be cutting taxes too much. Oh well. I hate politics anyway so I highly doubt that I will ever be president. XD

[Jessica Coconut]

Oh no. Oh no. How wrong you are. I'm disgusted that you can think the electric chair only hurts for a few seconds.

That's WRONG. That's what they thought about the guillotine. Safe, painless, and an overall pleasent way to die, nobly, and equally. The French were so wrong I've typed the word wrong so much that the word wrong has seemed to lose all meaning. That's just WRONG.

Anyway, let me show you where I'm going with this. We watched a movie in class once, on the guillotine. You know what? They did an experiment with one of the severed heads, seconds after it fell victim to the guillotine. They called his name, "Francois! Francois!" and the eyes rolled around and focused on the person calling. Doesn't hurt... bah... nonesense. Do you think they don't hurt? Really.

Check this site out about a first hand description at witnessing the electric chair doing it's work. I actually found it years ago, but I never forgot the description. Beware, it's not for the squeamish.

... Oh darn it. I can't find it right now. Just a lot of crap about... BUYING... electric chairs?!?!

Anyway, I'll describe what I remember. Scroll down if you want to read it.











On the day, prisoner comes in, head and torso shaved. They stick on all the electrodes , head, body, arms, and legs. Lock him up. Bag over his head, throw the switch. Zap zap zap. Off comes the hood. Hair is singed all over. (namely one side of the hair, I believe they only shave one.) Eyeballs are singed and limping out, you can see the optical nerve. Features (cartilige based ie. ears and nose and lips)are disfigured, burned, and you can smell burning hair. It was often found that victims through up while the electricity was on. They were bleeding out their eyes too. Skin is wrinkled + flakes off a layer easily.

Cruel way to die, no? It's a lot more pain than you think. That's only what I remember too.

Don't anyone DARE say that the electric chair was "painless". I'm against it as you can see. They thought the guillotine was, they were wrong. They're wrong now too. Death. Pah. Death is the ultimate prize that awaits at the end of all of our journeys. Death is but a simple thing. I admit, I fear it to. Not so much my own life (still, quite some) but more everyone's around me.

Still, it's not so much death that's cruel, but the pain involved. If you must, go with the lethal injection.

Anyway, if I were prime minister (I AM CANADIAN!! WOO!) there are quite a few changes I'd make.

One, euthanasia legalized, marajuana medicinal only, but much stricter punishments to those found illegally possessing it. But my top three are here I guess.

I'd go against all this war, environmental+animal rights laws aplenty introduced and enforced, and I'd take charge of the education and health systems. I'm very glad healthcare is free here, but ohh, I'll have my revenge on the over-priced universites+colleges. Raising all the time, it's not fair at all.

Yeah, I think the environmental changes are the most important to me. All life starts because the environment has just the right conditions for it. It starts with the water. Then land, then air. All life came from the water, and then moved to land. Land was the new home. The skies were the new home to birds, and the air is precious to life as well. Everything that happened in history ties back to location. Things were where they were made them accessible to other things and people and that's where it all started. When 2 things encountered eachother.

[Deleted]

It's quite ironic, because I'm rather conservative in many of my beliefs, but I just don't like Bush, or the Republican philosophy of "give money to the rich and let it trickle down to the poor." That just doesn't work!

First, my childhood "In Charge" list, which was rather liberal:
1. No bedtimes.
2a. No parents.
2b. 2a shall be omitted from the list as a young child can not survive without someone to take care of him or her, i.e. a parent (this was decided when I gained some more logic skills).
3. Free chocolate.
4a. No school.
4b. 4a shall be omitted, as children need education (logic, again).
5. I get a crown and a throne, and the rest of the world.

Nowadays, however, this is my list:
1. No cigarettes, cigars, or any other such item, as they are dangerous your health and the health of those around you. Not even smoking in private, as too many people will break this rule.
2. The alcohol limit shall not change, and there shall be harsher punishment for those drinking illegally.
3. The driver's license age shall depend on the state, but shall not drop below 16, the permit age shall depend on the state, but not drop below 14 and 9 months. Driver's training should include more driving hours, with more hands-on activity in classes and less book reading (most people generally learn easier with hands-on activities). There shall be harsher punishment for those driving illegally. Tickets/fines/other punishments received shall go to the driver, not to the owner of the vehicle.
4. Abortion shall be illegal, as it is murder. Even if the baby is not developed, it is the killing of the living matter that will develop into the baby.
5. Euthansia shall be legal as long as it is for medical problems, and not just to get away from life.
6. The death penalty should be illegal. It is easily possible that a police officer could frame someone in a murder, and then catch him in the act and arrest him (I don't know if it's happened before, but it could). Plus, too many innocent people die.

[thegreenmooseofdoom]

I feel like I'm parroting eveyrone here, but here's my list, nonetheless.

1. Legalize gay marriage
2. Reverse the age for smoking and drinking (smoking is LOADS worse for you than alcohol)
3. Raise the driving age by a year or two
4. Make more public transportation systems (ie: buses, taxis, trains, etc)
5. Make pet owners get a license to own animals, proving that they're equipped to take care of their pets
6. Give more money to schools
7. Stop urban sprawl (it's quite ridiculous... all these shopping centers around me are closing and they're out there building NEW ones instead of using the empty stores that are already there! Grr.)


If I think of more, I'll post them.

[Deleted]

This first one will sound kinda stupid but...

Have America convert to using the metric system
We're one of..three? countries in the world that don't use it. When importing/exporting items, we have to pay millions of dollars a year to convert it into metric units. We could use those millions on other things. Plus, the metric system makes more sense and is easier to use.
Ban abortion
Same reasons as the others.
More money for the schools
Seriously, my history books say Clinton is president, our maps still have the Soviet Union and Czechoslavakia on them, and the school has no Air Conditioner. We are the future (as scary as that is) and we deserve an up-to-date education.
More money for the teachers
That may fall under schools but..seriously,with the crap they put up with, shouldn't they get good benefits and decent pay?

[mushroom]

1. Gay marriage should be legalized, of course. (Wow, I'm really in the minority on this one, aren't I? )

2. Abortion should remain legal at all times for any woman whose health is endangered by her pregnancy. Abortion should remain legal for all women up until the fetus is at a certain stage in its development--until its central nervous system and vital organs are relatively functional, maybe. All women wanting an abortion should be required to attend a counseling session to be sure they know all of their options and aren't being pressured into the abortion.

I think it'd be worthwhile to give money to research to keeping extremely premature babies alive. Maybe someday it'd be possible for a woman to induce labor only partway through the pregnancy and give the very premature baby up for adoption, with part of the cost of the preemie's care on the government and part, depending on her financial situation, on the woman. If the danger and discomfort of having a baby were significantly reduced, it would very much change the morality of an abortion for a normal pregnancy, possibly leading to more restrictive abortion laws. That would probably satisfy a decent part of the pro-choice folks, all the pro-life folks, and protect most of the women who would illegally and unsafely abort rather than face a pregnancy if they had no other options.

3. The process for getting disability payments should be very much reworked. Disabled people who've had discrimination or an uncertain situation at work may run out of money long before the checks start to come. Also, all people should have the right to an attorney at all times--if you've been the victim of something like workplace discrimination, you may not have the money to hire an attorney to sue.

4. Separation of church and state should be taken very seriously. If a public building wants to display the Ten Commandments, fine--but they also have to display the major moral laws of any other religion who asks, at the building's expense, in an equally prominent position. If that isn't feasible, take them all down. The Pledge of Allegiance doesn't need the phrase "Under God"--if it's just symbolic to those who want it kept in, there's no problem taking it out, and if it isn't, it's unconstitutional. Schools and school functions don't need school-led prayers or even a few minutes of silence. The President shouldn't lead prayers except as a private citizen or endorse prayers except as a private citizen, although he or she has the same freedom to ask for them or pray privately as any other citizen.

5. NASA ought to be supported strongly, along with any other scientific endeavor.

6. Reform education. Take it away from the states if necessary. Begin free public colleges open to anyone who wants a college education.

7. Give tax breaks to any organization who donates surplus products--especially food, clothing, etc.--to those in need, either here in the U.S. or overseas.

[Smiley]

KKM said:

3. The process for getting disability payments should be very much reworked. Disabled people who've had discrimination or an uncertain situation at work may run out of money long before the checks start to come. Also, all people should have the right to an attorney at all times--if you've been the victim of something like workplace discrimination, you may not have the money to hire an attorney to sue.

It should DEFINITELY be reworked!

My uncle, a person who I reeeeally do not like, is currently getting monthly checks upward of a thousand dollars because his poor wittle wist hurts (my other uncle has had surgery thrice on his back and it STILL isn't functioning properly, and he gets jack squat. Then again, I don't like him very much either...) and because he's a "former" (psht) alcoholic who went to rehab (and came back saying "Well, that sure was a waste of time." ). He also has two kids whom he hasn't seen in years, and they aren't getting an ounce of child support and probably never will.

I truly, truly sickens me.

4. Separation of church and state should be taken very seriously. If a public building wants to display the Ten Commandments, fine--but they also have to display the major moral laws of any other religion who asks, at the building's expense, in an equally prominent position. If that isn't feasible, take them all down. The Pledge of Allegiance doesn't need the phrase "Under God"--if it's just symbolic to those who want it kept in, there's no problem taking it out, and if it isn't, it's unconstitutional. Schools and school functions don't need school-led prayers or even a few minutes of silence. The President shouldn't lead prayers except as a private citizen or endorse prayers except as a private citizen, although he or she has the same freedom to ask for them or pray privately as any other citizen.

I also agree - they added "Under God" for no other reason than to flaunt their religion. I even believe in God, and I think the phrase should be removed, as it isn't fair to non-believers.

6. Reform education. Take it away from the states if necessary. Begin free public colleges open to anyone who wants a college education.

The only problem is, with free colleges, the teachers wouldn't be paid as much and therefore the teachers wouldn't be as skilled (skilled teachers naturally demand more money) - meaning, a college education would be pretty much worthless.

If people want free college they should work extra hard in high school to get the grades and get a scholarship.

[Jessica Coconut]

Hmm. I'd just like to point out on the abortion topic, as some have, that pregnacy is not an easy process. While technically it IS murder, it just sometimes not fair. Banning abortion is like taking away the neopets pound (ok, bad example, but I'm building on something). If you do that, some people who truly believe their pets will die if you don't feed them, but care for them, wont have anything left to do with them. Sure, they should figure out that they wont, but you know? That happens a lot in real life to folks who love their pets but cant afford to feed them anymore. They wouldn't abandon them, but it's like taking away the local animal shelter.

Also, said parents looking for an abortion should be of a certain age group. Those under 21, and those with medical/gigantic financial problems that would make having children a much bigger pain. People just have their reasons. Everyone says abortion is bad, but then, put yourself in the shoes of a woman who really can't support a baby.

And on the gay marriages, you're all gonna hate me for this, but I say no to the traditional in church thing. *gulp* *waits for gasps in awe and whispers* It's just not... not a church/christian thing. You know? Yeah, I'm using the old "it's against my religion" excuse, but you know what? Nomatter how much you say that's bs, that's the way it is. BUT. I'm not for discrimination. Not at all. Yeah, I seem to be contradicting myself, huh? I have a proposition, but I can't see why no ones considered it yet. A "political" sort of marriage. One for "society". You are joined, get all the marriage benefits (pensions and things), say vows, exchange rings or something, can dress all spiffy, and it goes in the gov't's records that the 2 people are together as partners. I haven't worked out the details of the church and whatnot, but I found that society not recognizing them as a couple and them not recieving the same benefits as married folks was the biggest peeve of everyone who wanted gay marriages for themselves.

*puts on anti-mob armour and whips out the crowd-shocker*

[Deleted]

Jessica said:

And on the gay marriages, you're all gonna hate me for this, but I say no to the traditional in church thing. *gulp* *waits for gasps in awe and whispers* It's just not... not a church/christian thing. You know? Yeah, I'm using the old "it's against my religion" excuse, but you know what? Nomatter how much you say that's bs, that's the way it is. BUT. I'm not for discrimination. Not at all. Yeah, I seem to be contradicting myself, huh? I have a proposition, but I can't see why no ones considered it yet. A "political" sort of marriage. One for "society". You are joined, get all the marriage benefits (pensions and things), say vows, exchange rings or something, can dress all spiffy, and it goes in the gov't's records that the 2 people are together as partners. I haven't worked out the details of the church and whatnot, but I found that society not recognizing them as a couple and them not recieving the same benefits as married folks was the biggest peeve of everyone who wanted gay marriages for themselves.

I agree. I don't think a religion that dosen't agree with gay marriage should have to perform them. But gay people still deserve the same marritual rights as everyone else. And also... I think each church should be able to decide individualy.

[teghan62]

Jessica said:

And on the gay marriages, you're all gonna hate me for this, but I say no to the traditional in church thing. *gulp* *waits for gasps in awe and whispers* It's just not... not a church/christian thing. You know? Yeah, I'm using the old "it's against my religion" excuse, but you know what? Nomatter how much you say that's bs, that's the way it is. BUT. I'm not for discrimination. Not at all. Yeah, I seem to be contradicting myself, huh? I have a proposition, but I can't see why no ones considered it yet. A "political" sort of marriage. One for "society". You are joined, get all the marriage benefits (pensions and things), say vows, exchange rings or something, can dress all spiffy, and it goes in the gov't's records that the 2 people are together as partners. I haven't worked out the details of the church and whatnot, but I found that society not recognizing them as a couple and them not recieving the same benefits as married folks was the biggest peeve of everyone who wanted gay marriages for themselves.

Are you getting at that there should be marriage available for those who like rleigious things in a church, synagogue etc, and then there should be a more public one that isn't very religious but still recognized as official? If so, then I agree with that.

[Kuro]

1. - Make gay marriages allowed.
2. - Ban hunting, unless it's for food. (Especially canned hunting. www.bornfree.org.uk/big.cat/bcatnews013.shtml )
3. - Lower taxes.
4. - Lower drinking age to 18.
5. - Ban smoking. It's disgusting, it's expensive and all it does is slowly kill you.
6. - Harsher penalty on criminals.
7. - Increase gun control.
8. - Find a way to build cars that don't polute as much.
9. - Make cafeteria food better at schools. XD

And other stuff... I forgot what I was going to say.

[Deleted]

If I was in charge I would...

1. Make gay marriages legal. If they want to get married, by all means they should.

2. Make worse punishments for animal cruelty. I once heard about a man to grabbed a small dog by the two back legs, swung him around, and hurled him fifty feet into the air. The dog died a painful death. The man? $250 fine. $250 you could very well earn again for taking the life of an animal? And there was also a guy who grilled-GRILLED-a kitten and got six month's community service. Despicable.

3. Lower the Drinking Age Okay, all joking aside, kids get their hands on alcohol before age 21 anyway...I think it's silly to still have it at age 21, you know? o_0

4. Enforce more laws about child safty seats and seat belts Many people still drive without a seat belt, and many small children go without carseats. Both are unsafe, and can result in death.

5. Improve Nursing Homes My grandfather was sent to a nursing home after surgery, and the food wasn't good, the place smelled, and it wasn't very clean. I think nursing homes should definatly be...re-worked.

6. Make child-abuse laws stricter, and punishments harsher Children are being neglected all over the world...left in basements to die, suffocated in plastic bins. Punishments should definatly tighten up.

I could go on forever, but I think I'll shut up now.

[Buddy]

KKM said:

1. Gay marriage should be legalized, of course. (Wow, I'm really in the minority on this one, aren't I? )

2. Abortion should remain legal at all times for any woman whose health is endangered by her pregnancy. Abortion should remain legal for all women up until the fetus is at a certain stage in its development--until its central nervous system and vital organs are relatively functional, maybe. All women wanting an abortion should be required to attend a counseling session to be sure they know all of their options and aren't being pressured into the abortion.

I think it'd be worthwhile to give money to research to keeping extremely premature babies alive. Maybe someday it'd be possible for a woman to induce labor only partway through the pregnancy and give the very premature baby up for adoption, with part of the cost of the preemie's care on the government and part, depending on her financial situation, on the woman. If the danger and discomfort of having a baby were significantly reduced, it would very much change the morality of an abortion for a normal pregnancy, possibly leading to more restrictive abortion laws. That would probably satisfy a decent part of the pro-choice folks, all the pro-life folks, and protect most of the women who would illegally and unsafely abort rather than face a pregnancy if they had no other options.

3. The process for getting disability payments should be very much reworked. Disabled people who've had discrimination or an uncertain situation at work may run out of money long before the checks start to come. Also, all people should have the right to an attorney at all times--if you've been the victim of something like workplace discrimination, you may not have the money to hire an attorney to sue.

4. Separation of church and state should be taken very seriously. If a public building wants to display the Ten Commandments, fine--but they also have to display the major moral laws of any other religion who asks, at the building's expense, in an equally prominent position. If that isn't feasible, take them all down. The Pledge of Allegiance doesn't need the phrase "Under God"--if it's just symbolic to those who want it kept in, there's no problem taking it out, and if it isn't, it's unconstitutional. Schools and school functions don't need school-led prayers or even a few minutes of silence. The President shouldn't lead prayers except as a private citizen or endorse prayers except as a private citizen, although he or she has the same freedom to ask for them or pray privately as any other citizen.

5. NASA ought to be supported strongly, along with any other scientific endeavor.

6. Reform education. Take it away from the states if necessary. Begin free public colleges open to anyone who wants a college education.

7. Give tax breaks to any organization who donates surplus products--especially food, clothing, etc.--to those in need, either here in the U.S. or overseas.

Pssh! You're gonna run this country into bankrupciy!