What economic system is right for you?

I was debating the finer points of socialism today, and it got me to wondering, if you could choose, what economic system would you live in - capitalist, socialist, communist, etc?

I think the "ideal" situation is socialist, but I don't think it can actually work, so capaitalist is the way for me!

My ideal economic situation is me being king.

For people in government, the system should be Confucianism (Pre-Taoist influence). There are far too many incompetents in governments around the world currently, and perhaps if they had to study for their positions and show competency and ingenuity then they should be accepted in after having passed their exams.

Candidates only have to be voted in, while the rest of us actually have to show a level of skill and education for our jobs! It's ludicrous!

Education should be revamped to include training kids for real life. After years and years of study, nobody really knows how to treat others fairly, keep their marriages from falling apart, love others the way they love themselves, nor negotiate peacefully.
I think if these facets of life were included in basic education, and made more important as subjects than mathematics, etc, then our kids would grow into better leaders for this world. 

If anyone is interested, it is electon day here in New Zealand today. Our electon program is streamed over the net. Probably be rather boring but check it out if your interested.

VOTE 05

07:00 PM Saturday 17 Sep 2005

**PLEASE NOTE** VOTE 05 will stream LIVE on the web from this page from 7pm Saturday Semptember 17.

CLICK HERE for the web stream: http://www.r2.co.nz/meta/3.asx

John Campbell covers the 2005 General Election with a panel of expert commentators including Michael Laws an ex-National MP and current Mayor of Wanganui and Dr. Therese Arseneau , a political scientist at the University of Canterbury. Join TV3's top political correspondents as they report live from the key election venues from around New Zealand. Results will be brought to viewers instantaneously direct from the Electoral Office computers and coverage will not end until we have a new government!

Right now, 24 is on

Sounds like Clark is going to win again...

Well... Labour has only won by 21,000 votes. And there are still 200,000 special votes to be counted (which will take 12 days). So right now, it is undecided who will win. And it also depends on collolition partners. It's very possible that it will end up with National 61 seats and Labour 61 seats, which will force a reelection. But no-one will really know who has won until those special votes are counted.

Here in the US, the race is broken down like this:

The pro-nuclear, pro US group appears to have lost, and the anti-nuclear, anti-US group appears to have won.  That's all that people here care about -- whose side are they on?

Well you'll be pleased to hear that I, and my family support the pro-nuclear, pro US group. Who haven't lost yet-- we are still fighting for government

Ideally I think socialism would be good, but you are too right about it never quite working out.

Socialism and in fact, communism would work well is there were enough of everything for everybody, and people could be driven to succeed just for the sake of succeeding rather than material wealth.  That doesn't exist anywhere other than on star trek.

Well I have to quote my all tome favourite book again, which is microserfs by Douglas Coupland. It stumbles upon the thought of "Star Trek as a zero-politics zone"


* * *
In order to foster a less combative working environment, Michael and I are trying to think of the most apolitical environment possible. We finally hit upon Star Trek as a zero-politics zone. So I introduced the notion of TrekPolitiks to the office.

Susan said, "Ever notice how, like, nobody ever goes shopping on Star Trek? They're a totally post-money society. If they want a banana they simply photocopy one on the replicator. Substitute Malaysia or Mexico for the replicator, and make Palo Alto the Bridge, and bingo: RIGHT NOW = STAR TREK."
It's true.
If you think about it.
I added, "Ever notice how they never have to report to anybody on Star Trek? No suits zoom in from Star Fleet Corporate and hold them fiscally responsible for frying a dilithium crystal doing doughnuts in the Delta Quadrant. Or Star Fleet Marketing, for that matter." (Pointed glares at Ethan.)

Karla likes the notion of TrekPolitiks. "Left vs. right is obsolete. Politics is, in the end, about biology, information, diversification, numbers, numbers, and numbers - all candy coated with charisma and guns."

I particularly like this quote:


I never thought of it that way, but it makes a lot of sense.

i just save save save. I have nothing that I want, and enough money to buy anything I need.

I think you can get burned out on saving.  Some people have the discipline to keep it going, but I've seen a lot of people get fed up with saving and not doing anything with their moey, then lose their savings discipline.