Debate what is the best form of government

[Nah]

and what makes it the best form of government?

 

[Corrin]

I honestly wish we could do away with capitalism that determines a person's worth based on how much labor they can offer. Why are seniors and the disabled so frequently abused and neglected? Because of this. It sickens me how bad nursing homes are. They take a person's full cheque, the person usually doesn't have their own room and can't keep their things, and are fed shit that barely qualifies as food. Not to mention the utter neglect and abuse that happens.

You can judge a society based on how they treat their weakest citizens.

 

[Megan]

The problem with specialized systems is that they are so rigid in their ways that finding and using an exploit is very much inevitable. This counts both for capitalism and communism. Once you found yourself in power it doesn't take much to cut off others simply by introduing people who are close to you into the system and such making the control mechanisms pretty much useless. If the people who are supposed to keep you in check just happen to be people who own you a favor, for example, they are less willing to do something about your absue of power.

So finding a good path in the middle is imo the best way. It's not infallible by any means. But it is complicated enough to give those people at least a hard time. And that may just be all we need...

 

[gimmepie]

So finding a good path in the middle is imo the best way. It's not infallible by any means. But it is complicated enough to give those people at least a hard time. And that may just be all we need...

Allow me to introduce you to social democracy and democratic socialism depending on how far down that spectrum you wants to slide. Personally, I prefer the latter, but I'd take the former if it got things to actually change.

They're very good systems. You retain the freedoms of a democracy while also combatting the problems present in capitalism with strong regulations and public support systems. Services that should not be privately owned like hospitals. schools and prisons can no longer operate on a for-profit basis - preventing those abuses. A small living wage removes the need for complicated welfare systems and means everyone is entitled to the base required funds to live but that there is still an incentive to work since it wouldn't be enough to easily afford luxuries. Etc etc

If you take it completely over to the socialist side of the spectrum, many resources become publicly owned via tax. This means mining and power corporations can't continue putting their own interests ahead of the populace's. It also provides a security net for farmers and the like who technically become employees of the government so their income is less dependent on the whims of an unstable market. It also makes it easier to put eco-friendly and animal-friendly regulations into place.

There's still opportunities for individuals/companies to grow their wealth since it's a regulated market, not one entirely controlled by the government and personal ownership and wages are still a thing.

 

[moon]

We have social democracy in Sweden since loooooong back (some source on Wikipedia calls us a liberal democracy). But I like the thought of democratic socialism, in a setting where the government can be reasonably kept in check. Probably wouldn't mind taking that step. Some decades ago we had a slightly more right leaning government iirc which privatized stuff like pharmacies and more private schools etc. It hasn't and probably cannot be undone sadly :/

There is a limit to how rich anyone should be. I'm not sure where the limit is, but it's higher than some would think and therefore heavvvvvily taxing those above it won't ever affect the vaaaast majority of the population. It's not just fair, it is the only way modern technologically dependent humanity survives with a shred of decency and compassion left, from what I can see. So yeah. A system that can do that consistently and make as good use as possible of the acquired funds seems initially good in my book.

 

[LS7]

A republic is what our forefathers gave us. But now we have a totalitarian oligarchy.

 

[Megan]

I think government should not only encompass the economic system but also the ideologic system, as well. Traditionally, the ideological system is imposed by the ruling class. They somehow managed to get their way up in the hierarchie, they meet each other, realized that they have certain traits in common, they realize that they consider these traits to be desirable and then they reflect that onto the entire human race. Because they think that way, that must mean everyone thinks that way. Because it gave them power that's the way how things need to be.

Neoliberalism is one of these ideologies that just show this behavior very well: everyone needs to act like a business person, only think and act rationally, every decision is made in order to maximize profit. Charity doesn't make profit therefore it's undesirable ("Think only of yourself, let everyone else deal with their own problems.")

You're an entrepreneur of your own life: everything you do is in order to add value to your labor. You work hard, you pick jobs that make you the most profit and help you in your career. (This is one of the origins of things like Hustle Culture).

A society should have an ideology that benefits everyone. The ideology of a ruling class will only ever benefit those that are part of the ruling class. I don't know if we ever will have a society where the working class actually is the ruling class. And I don't know if making the working class the ruling class will create an ideology that fits to everyone (there are still people who just can't work due to whatever reasons they may have). But at least it covers a wider range of people.