1.9+Our+Proposed+Government

Our Proposed Government

We are considering introducing a cross between a socialist and democratic economic system. In essence, a socialist society is one in which all people work cooperatively as equals for the common good. Unlike a traditional socialist government, in our proposed democratic socialist government, there would still be an elected body of government. Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically—to meet public needs and not to make profits for an elite few. Democratic socialists do not want society to be taken over by an all-powerful government bureaucracy. In addition, we don’t want private business bureaucracies to control our society either. Instead, we want social and economic decisions to be made by those whom they most affect. We believe that the workers and the communities that are most affected by economic institutions should own and control them. Many people assume that in a socialist society people will lose their incentive to work. Democratic socialists strongly disagree. The incentive to work may, in fact, be strengthened in a socialist society because workers will become the owners of their place of employment and will have a stake in its productivity. People enjoy their work if they find it meaningful and if it enhances their lives. They work out of a sense of responsibility to their community and society.
 * __OUR PROPOSED GOVERNMENT: DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT __**


 * __PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT __**
 * No person should exploit any other person. This principle of opposition to exploitation is especially important in labor relations.
 * Changes in society and its governments should be made by free and open elections.
 * A mixed economy consisting of both private enterprise and publicly owned or subsidized programs of education, universal health care, child care and related social services for all citizens.
 * Widespread and full public education is essential to guarantee the equality of people. People must have information and be allowed to communicate their ideas.
 * An extensive system of social security (although usually not to the extent advocated by socialists), with the stated goal of counteracting the effects of poverty and insuring the citizens against loss of income following illness, unemployment or retirement.
 * Government bodies that regulate private enterprise in the interests of workers and consumers by ensuring labor rights (i.e. supporting worker access to trade unions), consumer protections, and fair market competition.
 * Environmentalism and environmental protection laws; for example, funding for alternative energy resources and laws designed to combat global warming.
 * A value-added/progressive taxation system to fund government expenditures.
 * A secular and a socially progressive policy.
 * Immigration and multiculturalism.
 * Fair trade over free trade.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">A foreign policy supporting the promotion of democracy, the protection of human rights and where possible, effective multilateralism.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Advocacy of social justice, human rights, social rights, civil rights and civil liberties.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Democratic socialists support the principles of democratic collective ownership of the basic means of production and the priniciple of democratic management. Therefore, democratic socialists support not only public ownership, but cooperative ownership of economic functions.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">However they do not support the idea of state ownership of every human enterprise.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">We believe that each settlement should have an elected representative in the democratic socialist government that would ensure the interests of their settlement as well as the interests of the island as a whole. While there is an elected body of government, we believe that there would also be need for a Prime Minister, elected by the people, not by the government. Any laws, ideas or motions passed must have the majority vote from the elected representatives.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT __**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**__WHAT ARE THE KEY TASKS OF A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT OR COUNCILLOR?__** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Key Tasks of a Member of Parliament or councillor <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">- Spokesperson for the islands interests <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">- An ombudsman and facilitator who deals with the concerns about government <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">matters <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">- How it spends its money <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">- Contributes to debates with other governments from the different islands <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">- Conducts inquiries <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">- Influences work priorities and their decisions as to where they are most effective <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">- Communication <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">- Working with others

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**__WHAT LAWS DOES THE ISLAND NEED?__** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Some of the laws The Island needs which are determined by the people are:: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">- Freedom of speech <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">- General laws <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">- Right to equality and social justice

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Our government will be in charge of developing the following:

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">This police force will double up as our defence force because due to the size of the island we cannot afford or won’t have a population large enough to form an army. Trying to develop alliances with other countries in case of invasion would also be a priority as being a small country we would be susceptible to takeovers from stronger nations.
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Setting and enforcing law and order- **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">a police force will need to be formed in order <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[[image:police-badge.png width="121" height="133" align="right"]] to maintain order in the community. The police force will be formed with a leading officer (who has experience running a station), who is in charge of forming their own team that they may train. People found breaking laws on our island will be shipped off the island and for those facing being charged with serious crimes they will be sent to the Falkland Islands (our closest neighbours) who we have an agreement with to use their prison in exchange for rice.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Island laws would typically be based on the Western civilisation laws, as followed in countries such as Australia and New Zealand. Laws will not be based on religious or people’s belief system, our laws will be created and altered in a manner that best suits the style of living on the island where each person is entitled to their own opinion and practices. In forming the Island laws, we will call a town meeting where community members can come forward with their ideas to contribute to forming the Islands laws. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">**Education-** this person would in charge of organising a school for children to complete their secondary education. They would need to hire teachers and work in conjunction with them to form a national curriculum that would teach the children necessities in both every day and island life. They will also be in charge of developing the Island library (that is located in the school). <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">**Health-** this person would be in charge of hospital development, professional hiring, organising medicines and equipment to be brought over in order to complete surgeries/cure people. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">**Environmental-** This person will be in charge of flora and fauna, making sure people are not destroying the habitat and the sustainability of the island (for example, the people in charge of creating lumber shouldn’t be allowed to cut down as many trees as they like). This person will be in charge of the natural resources and reporting any possible disasters coming the islands way. They would also be expected to develop and maintain one or two small parks around the island for children to play in.
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Currency- **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Due to the Falkland Islands being our closest country and a member of the British Overseas Territory we are proposing to adopt the British Pound as our currency. This will enable us to have close relationships with not only our closest neighbours but also one of the World’s superpowers.If creating our own currency, it would have meant trying to establish an exchange rate and dollar worth that would have started at an extremely low level due to our short time of operating and economic status. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[[image:gbp.jpg width="168" height="133" align="right"]]
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Ministers- **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">In forming the government, three different types of ministers would need to be appointed in order to develop and maintain the following services/industries:
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Defence- **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">The leading officer previously spoken about in the setting and enforcing law and order will be in charge of the protection of the island by other forces. Will also be involved in discussions with other countries about the protection of our borders.

Australian Governement (2011), Retrieved from [] on 13/8/2011
 * References:**

House of Representatives: The Work of a Member of Parliament (2011), Retrieved from [] on 13/8/2011

Living in a Democratic Society (2005), Retrieved from [] on 13/8/2011

What is a Democratic Socialism (n.d.) Retrieved from [] on 13/8/2011