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[Tarran]

that sounds more like the lawyers on law and order then any real world criminal

So... Put the Layers from Law and Order in jail?

...No, that's a bad idea.

[Jackrabbit]

But the thing is, if someone who, in your opinion, is 'clearly' a criminal, you will arrest him and give him a sentence with no trial. The only definition you've given for people who are clearly guilty is "the guys who laugh at police, smile in court and such" so basically you'd be arresting them because they don't act the way you think a person would act in a trial. And, of course, it'd just be a hunch that they were guilty, because our judicial system is based around the fact that you can't know for sure. If you're just slinging people in jail because they're "smiling in court" then you are convicting them based on a hunch which in turn is based on how they acted.

Fine, then. Let the guy who smirks in court, insults the plaintiff, and smiles evilly after released go. Not like he did it right?

That is the stupidest...

How can you tell the difference between smiling evilly and smiling with relief? Or smiling with severe constipation thrown in? How can you be absolutely certain that he was smirking and not grimacing thanks to a sudden stomach cramp? I mean, do you actually expect any of this shit to fly with anyone at all? Do you expect this system to work? Or did you just write down the first thing that came into your head upon considering this question? I mean, that'd be fine but if it was just you saying the first thing that came to mind then you should really stop trying to back it up because it's stupid.

As for insulting the plaintiff, first off, how do you know that's not just him being nervous because he's at court? And anyway he would be punished by the court for that. Justice would be met out on the spot. This whole concept is like convicting someone based solely on hearsay and because you don't like the look of them.

Actually, it's not like that, it is that. You're plan would be to convict people based on hunches. That's it, that's all it is. Which would be fine as a one off joke but now you're trying to defend your point and I'm getting kinda worried about you.

[DJ]

I would make a gladiator reality show with real death and maiming, and use people who come up with reality show ideas as unwilling participants. And then I'd get eaten by lions, because my overzealous henchmen would send me to the show as well.

[Tarran]

Know what, forget this argument, forget it ever happened. There's no right way to play this game, and there's no wrong way. You still don't understand what I mean by clearly, and you likely never will. Now, can we please get back to the damn game? Anyone here that's here for the sole reason of arguing about what people might do if they ruled the world (which they likely never will) and not playing the game should just leave. You aren't helping the game. There's plenty of other places to discuss this, if you want to, start your own thread.

[Jackrabbit]

Know what, forget this argument, forget it ever happened.

Gladly.

I would make a gladiator reality show with real death and maiming, and use people who come up with reality show ideas as unwilling participants. And then I'd get eaten by lions, because my overzealous henchmen would send me to the show as well.

That's how I want to go. Whatshisname's way from Hannibal. Although I'd like it to be quicker, please.

This is if making a coming-of-age summer blockbuster is out of the question, you understand. 

[runiq]

I would outlaw money and get rid of the stock market. No more changes necessary as the world then will explode in a shower of rainbows and butterflies.

[Grakelin]

Know what, forget this argument, forget it ever happened. There's no right way to play this game, and there's no wrong way. You still don't understand what I mean by clearly, and you likely never will. Now, can we please get back to the damn game? Anyone here that's here for the sole reason of arguing about what people might do if they ruled the world (which they likely never will) and not playing the game should just leave. You aren't helping the game. There's plenty of other places to discuss this, if you want to, start your own thread.

I just LOST the game, thanks to this post.

Also, I don't really understand what you mean by clearly guilty, either. You should have just given an example from real life. This reminds me of Death Note, actually. These guys clearly did something wrong, so now they must be PUNISHED! YARRR!!

The justice system exists for a reason, though. If I were a world dictator, I would maintain a massive bureaucracy. I can't do EVERYTHING.

I would rather be ruler of a small, isolated community than the entire world, though. I've got a fair bit of leadership ability when I'm able to work with people and deal with individuals (a talent learned from consistently being the useful person in group projects all through high school, with no end in sight for university!), but if this forum is any indication, it's hard to sway people you never personally meet.

I actually really enjoy group dynamics. Whenever I'm working on something in a group, I like to see how everybody fits into our hierarchy. I get the most fun out of taking on the role of 'lieutenant' (to use tropey examples), because I'm able to watch somebody else make difficult decisions, while only really stepping in when things get too out of hand.

One of the biggest tests of leadership is how well you deal with people who drag along and piss everybody off. It happens all the time. I think if I was ever in a post-apocalyptic scenario and I was forced to survive with people in my program, I would probably end up offing one or two of them, and without much protest. I think most of us here probably would. But I don't think it's necessarily the best idea.

Hmmm.

[Maggarg - Eater of chicke]

If I ran the world I would run it like DF.

[Jackrabbit]

If I ran the world I would run it like DF.

Slowly?

[Tarran]

If I ran the world I would run it like DF.

...

Erm, If you do end up ruling the world, can you spare me? _{Please? Please?!}

[Aqizzar]

All Speed Limits would no longer be the maximum speed you can drive on that road, but the minimum speed you must drive on that road.
All car insurance would be no-fault.  Guy being a pussy about making a right turn?  Shove him into it.
Smoking would be allowed everywhere, except the respiratory wing of hospitals.  And I ain't just talkin' tobacco.
All television stations would be required to devote some amount of air-time to low quality pornography - a desensitized populace is a non-rioting populace.
Food ingredient labels would spell out not just the contents, but the ratios in parts-per, so I actually know what the fuck is in my food.
And I would abolish all electronic monetary services and transactions.  Wealth would be a burden when you have to actually hold all that money.

It says a lot about my leadership style that those are the best I can think of for jokes, and my "real" answers are even flatter.  I would want at least two things in my Ultimate World Government.  First, the world would be divided up into political-territories, states if you will, based on population density and distances, because I'm a federalist.  Within each territory, the main legislative body would be the Conscriptocracy.  Dun dun duuun.

I have always believed that while democracies are more equitable and stable than any other government, representative democracy is cursed by the fact that only people of tremendous drive, charisma, wealth, and ego can ever actually win elections to go be legislators.  My legislatures would be staffed like American juries - everybody in the local population over a certain age (15 for fun, 30 because this thread clearly shows no one under that age has any idea how the world works) would be eligible to get a summons in the mail.  If you get a summons, you just got elected, and you have to go to the capital and make laws and appoint executives and judges.  No exchanges or replacements.  No ego or ambition or desire.  No one for the populace to blame but themselves for their governance.  God damn would it be beautiful.

The other necessity, which would make me ruler of the world, is that every government exists by my assumed deference.  People can devise any laws or government structures they want, but if I don't like it, I can unilaterally strike it off the books or force the local legislature to do something else, and anyone anywhere can file a petition to call for my review.  I am the Dictator after all.  I would trust in this rule, even after my demise, for two reasons.  First, every petition would have to filter its way up my bureaucracy just to find the important ones.  And more importantly, there's only 24 hours in a day and I'm lazy anyway, so it's not like I can meddle too much in the world's affairs.

One of the biggest tests of leadership is how well you deal with people who drag along and piss everybody off. It happens all the time. I think if I was ever in a post-apocalyptic scenario and I was forced to survive with people in my program, I would probably end up offing one or two of them, and without much protest. I think most of us here probably would. But I don't think it's necessarily the best idea.

Would now be a good time to mention that I've actually sketched out different ideas of how to form a post-apocalyptic government for ruling barbaric survivors in a scavenging society?  Being a political science student, I fill my day-dreaming time in class devising possible government structures for off-beat societies.  I've thought of making a thread about my hobby, but it's pretty dumb and limited I'm probably the only person nerdy enough to care, let alone take it seriously.

[Grakelin]

I do the exact same thing, Aqizzar. I have since I was 15 years old.

Despite the limited experience we might have as young people, I'd say it's still important to let people in their 20s or even their late teens be eligible to run in a representative democracy. University and University-bound individuals often get the shaft as it is, even when youngsters actually DO run for government positions (at least here in Canada), Cutting out the portion of the population who are trying to build their foundations in society is a bad idea, unless you're cutting them out specifically because you're a Conservative and know where your opponent's demographic is coming from.

[Aqizzar]

Yeah, I was going to elaborate more on my eligibility standards, or the lack thereof.  As you look across state-government rules for voting and office holding, it's often far less stringent to run for office than it is to vote.  Convicted felons and mental institution patients can run for Governor in Texas, but they can't vote.  And the more I think about it, the more I realize that my Conscriptocracy would work better if everyone was eligible, and it wasn't a burden.

Prisoner?  Mental patient?  You have to be kept under watch and lock, but you get to attend.  Physically disabled?  All provisions made.  Student?  Tuition for the term funded in full, all other financial responsibilities put on hold, and automatic GPA-average pass for current classes, since hey you won the political lottery.  Everyone else?  Your job won't pay you, but you can't lose it for the term; all necessary living provided and paid during your tenure, and a little compensation for the trouble.  There has to be a minimum age, but why not let it be as low as 15?  I can't think of a specifically good reason.  Not that I endorse the theory per se, but maybe the summons-sending could be statistically weighted for educated, non-institutionalized, adults just to keep the process from getting too chaotic, but fundamentally everyone should be eligible.

There's all sorts of other constitutional rules this body would need, but the more I think about it, the more I love it.  It destroys all the self-selection, ego-driven problems inherent in every form of government, and it's fun to boot.

I do the exact same thing, Aqizzar. I have since I was 15 years old.

We should compare notes some time.  Are your post-apocalyptic governments based loosely inspired by Beyond Thunderdome and the Apache codes too?

[andrea]

there is a game in which a faction had a similar government system... a random citizen was selected each ( insert time period here) to be president.

[Grakelin]

Andrea: You might be thinking of the Harrison Bergeron TV Movie, starring Sean Astin as the titular character. in one scene, he actually gets to choose the random number and call the new Governor of North Carolina (I think it's North Carolina). Eugene Levy gets to be president.

Aqizzar: I was always inspired more by 'The Stand', with a little bit of Fallout.