Utopia?

Again, I've woken up in a world that 's turning in a sad direction. Here, in the United States, our government is failing. As a country we've only allotted enough money to last another two weeks. If another bill is not passed, our government will shut down - thousands of government employees will be sent home and life as we know it (especially for the Veteran population...) will end. All social welfare programs will stop having money sent out, Veterans will stop (at least until things are smoothed out) receiving their education and disability benefits. All of these things will stop until the government has figured out what to do. But with all of this bipartisanship, with this democrat versus republican bullshit does anyone in Congress, the Senate, or in the House think about the persons residing within this once powerful nation?

As far as I can see, and though I dread it, (I mean, honestly, at this point in time living in this country is terrifying!)  it would probably be for the best if there was a complete fallout of the government and an overhaul there after. We cannot continue to function as a society the way we have been. Though I truly love this country, I love what it was built on, the ideals that set the foundation for this amazing place...I don't love what it has evolved in to. I don't love the self-absorbed, media addicted, popularity contest that has become this nations peoples. (The President is even in on this, going on day-time talk shows, and other popular TV shows! Just me, or does he have other, more important things to do?)

But, how can we fix it? At this point, everything would need to change. They way we look at ourselves would have to change at a basic level and work its way up, and I sincerely doubt the majority of the population would be willing to sacrifice some of their own material comforts for the good of the nation as a whole. If I were supreme dictator, and I only say dictator because a democracy would never have it, of the "free world" I would amend a few short comings as I see them. First and foremost, anyone in the government would be held to the same standards as the rest of the nation, no longer would senators or congress members or members of the house be allowed to pass laws that they don't have to abide by. Moreover, there would be a limit to the amount of money a person could make. I'm not saying that if you work your ass off and do well you can't have the financial perks that come with that, all I'm saying is that people like Oprah and Steve Jobs (among others) would not be allowed to make soooo much money that they will never, ever, even if they tried, be able to use all of it. You'd be able to make 'X' amount and the rest of your revenue would have to go to charities, back into your company, or into the populace as a whole. No one needs to be so wealthy that they make more money than most small countries have.

Also, I would say there ought to be a 'highly suggested' 2 year (minimum) civil service commitment. This would not have to be the military, necessarily, one could work for the post office, be a contractor, pick up trash, etc. Should one choose not to do this 2 year commitment, that's fine, but that person would not be allowed to vote and would not be eligible for any of the social welfare programs. However, if one does take the two year commitment, one would have some help with school and would become a full fledged citizen and if that person lost their job, they would have help through well put social welfare programs. 

Lastly, in my utopia laws would be a bit stricter. Should you get sent to jail (and I'm not talking about some pithy little charge here, as I would legalize all drugs and crack down on public intoxication instead...) you will not simply live there and get paid to work. If you get sent to jail for some crime (grand theft, assault, etc) you will work off your debt to society, and you will not get paid for it. Your pay is having a roof over your head, food in your belly and medical care (which is more than many citizens have now!) Should you not want to work, you'll be sent to a monitored "tent city" with very few supplies. Should you be convicted of a heinous crime; murder, rape,  assault with the intent to kill and you be convicted under "probability" terms, we will give you ten years for technology to catch up. After that you will be retried and if the conviction remains we will..."take care of you" so to speak. Should you be convicted of said heinous crime without a doubt of your guilt, that "care" will be taken immediately. There will be no more life in prison as it costs too much for someone who, obviously, is not worth it. 

On a note that touches on current news - bullshit like the WBC (West-Borough Baptist Church, for those not up to date) will not be smiled at. Freedom of speech will remain, but funerals will be off limits. Families will have the right to grieve. In fact, we might just remove the WBC in my utopia. Because, I don't really think many people honestly want them around anyway. 

I doubt many people will fervently agree with me. Many will disagree for the simple reason that humans today are lazy. 'Why should I have to work for my rights?', 'I don't want to have to do anything to get something in return!' This way of thinking is what has led us to the bottom, it is not about each of us individually, it is about the country as a whole, the species as a whole. Without a group effort to change things our future will remain bleak. Rights are an illusion. We've made them up to satiate some and control others. They are not universal. The only "right" you have from birth is death. Depressing, I know, but it is the truth. 


Now, though I would love to rant on, I think this session has lasted long enough. Even if you disagree with my "utopia" as a country we must come to terms with the fact that "I" and "me" are irrelevant. We as a united whole could again be great, but only with hard work and sacrifice.