If you had access to unlimited funds, truly unlimited resources, what would you do with your life?

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  • Sigblaster

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    BTW, despite the recurring denial in the series and movies that there is any type of currency, there are several mentions of "credits". Then there's Kirk saying, in I think Undiscovered Country, " I just bought a boat". With what, if there's no currency? I know it's difficult to maintain a long running fictional universe without creating contradictory situations in the canon, so I accept it and keep suspending disbelief for the sake of the good parts.
     

    Scuba591

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    If all my basic needs are covered.... including an island somewhere warm like the Bahamas or Philippines... I would look to enhance the world on some scale. There are places in the world without proper water or sanitation. Bringing the right sort of problem solvers together, outside of governments to get in the way, would be an undertaking I would consider. Lots of places where people live at the lowest level of the Maslow hierarchy. I've travelled a bit. Some of the happiest people I've met live in dirt floor shanty huts. Undertakings like the above, I think, are great ways to improve myself.
     

    Twangbanger

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    Who's gonna pick up the trash every Wednesday? We gonna have "unreplicators" as well?
    Who's gonna work at the sewage plant?
    Who's gonna staff the nursing homes, the prisons and the mental hospitals?
    Who's gonna **** with the the roads that have nothing wrong with them so that they don't lose their exorbitant budget next year?
    Oh...sorry. I meant "fix" the roads.

    :)

     

    jamil

    code ho
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    BTW, despite the recurring denial in the series and movies that there is any type of currency, there are several mentions of "credits". Then there's Kirk saying, in I think Undiscovered Country, " I just bought a boat". With what, if there's no currency? I know it's difficult to maintain a long running fictional universe without creating contradictory situations in the canon, so I accept it and keep suspending disbelief for the sake of the good parts.
    Didn't William Shatner write a lot of the Undiscovered Country dialog? Do you see the issue?

    Now, about suspending disbelief, there are many contradictions in the Star Trek universe. It's just the nature of it. But for **** sake, Discovery is impossible to watch if you're sane. The only people I know who can watch Discovery and like it, are people who think men can be pregnant and bear children. So not sane.
     

    DeadeyeChrista'sdad

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    Like a lot of others, I'd be looking to expand my real estate. Of course, eliminate debt for those I care about. Establish a daily routine for myself, and consult on an ongoing basis with certain smart people I know about how I could best improve my country, and the world.
     

    Sigblaster

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    Most of my buddies who were trekkies seem to have grown into adults who believe that the "smart people" should force everyone else to behave.
    That's odd. The few friends I have who are into Star Trek often discuss what we would do in that universe. We would get a ship, find an uninhabited Class M planet, and start a colony. It's a great thought exercise.

    We've come up with the idea that there would be a single a very strong constitution that would apply to the entire planet, and it would have a glossary that provides a single definition for every word in the document. It would clearly define the broad rights of the people, and the limited powers of the government. There would only be one government allowed, the planetary one. No state governments, no county governments, no city governments, no quasi-governments like HOAs. Major crimes would be included in the constitution, with mandatory minimum punishments, and unlimited maximums. Also, the constitution would be immutable. No amendments can ever be made to it. Don't like it, don't join the colony.

    Then, every law outside of the constitution that is passed must contain a cite from the constitution that gives the government the power to create that law. And every law would expire 1 year from its enactment. It must then be enacted in full, if it has enough support, from scratch. No just changing the expiration date. It will expire, and it must be reintroduced and debated and passed in its entirety AFTER the law has expired.

    Also, political positions would be unpaid, obviously. Terms would be short, and term limits would apply. If there wouldn't be enough candidates for political office, you might be drafted into government. It's ok though, you don't have to do anything. We'd prefer you didn't actually spend your days dreaming up laws to f with people. Hold the title, vote "no" on everyting as needed, get on with your life.

    Oh yeah, we've talked this to death, and we would create a very free planet. :D
     
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    jamil

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    That's odd. The few friends I have who are into Star Trek often discuss what we would do in that universe. We would get a ship, find an uninhabited Class M planet, and start a colony. It's a great thought exercise.

    We've come up with the idea that there would be a single a very strong constitution that would apply to the entire planet, and it would have a glossary that provides a single definition for every word in the document. It would clearly define the broad rights of the people, and the limited powers of the government. There would only be one government allowed, the planetary one. No state governments, no county governments, no city governments, no quasi-governments like HOAs.

    The HOA thing isn't bad, but other than that, it's a terrible idea to have one central state. Top-down government? What's wrong with federalism? Plus, BigRed will be mad that he can't secede from it.

    Major crimes would be included in the constitution, with mandatory minimum punishments, and unlimited maximums. Also, the constitution would be immutable. No amendments can ever be made to it. Don't like it, don't join the colony.
    The most freedom is obtained when the laws are made by the community where people are. Have you not read the Federalist Papers? I think there are some things that should be tweaked about our constitution. Federalism isn't one of them. They got that one right.

    The idea of separate states that have their own level of sovereignty is a good one. Of course the constitution could establish restrictions on what kinds of laws state and local governments can pass.

    Also, constitutions need to change. You can't make it immutable, because society evolves. If you make it immutable, as society evolves passed it, it will no longer reflect the people and will give rise to revolution.

    Then, every law outside of the constitution that is passed must contain a cite from the constitution that gives the government the power to create that law.
    I don't think this is a good idea because laws evolve with society. Government's purpose is to protect people's rights and property. As society develops, new customs and practices might develop that tends to reduce people's rights. So then new laws may need to be added to protect those rights. If the constitution has no "cite" that allows a new law to protect those rights, and the constitution is immutable, there can be no resolution.

    And every law would expire 1 year from its enactment. It must then be enacted in full, if it has enough support, from scratch. No just changing the expiration date. It will expire, and it must be reintroduced and debated and passed in its entirety AFTER the law has expired.
    I think this idea might have some merit, although I think the time period would have to be longer than a year.

    Also, political positions would be unpaid, obviously.
    I guess it's Star Trek, so there's no money?

    Terms would be short, and term limits would apply. If there wouldn't be enough candidates for political office, you might be drafted into government. It's ok though, you don't have to do anything. We'd prefer you didn't actually spend your days dreaming up laws to f with people. Hold the title, vote "no" on everyting as needed, get on with your life.
    Wait. You just said that laws have to be reintroduced, debated and voted on as they expire yearly. I think they'll be busy. Term limits are good. However, I'm not sold on being drafted into government. I like the idea of people participating in government reluctantly. My antiestablishmentarian intuition makes me less inclined to give people power when they seek it out. But forcing people who don't want to participate sounds like a bad idea. Reluctantly ruling from a sense of duty is I think more likely to produce favorable results than forcing someone to rule. Let their honor be the thing that forces them.


    Oh yeah, we've talked this to death, and we would create a very free planet. :D
    I'm not sure what you laid out will maximize freedom. But. Don't take me too seriously. This is a Star Trek fantasy anyway.
     

    Magyars

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    I would gather the best and the brightest in the field of time travel...a modern version of the " Manhattan project". I would enlist a team of former military special operation group with the goal of sending them back in time to do a bit of "wet work" on those in high places that are a threat to the US constitution and hate America.
     
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    Write down everywhere I would like to travel to and visit/see and throw it all in a hat and pull them out 1 by 1 and go there. After all that if I'm still alive start my own firearms museum.
     

    jamil

    code ho
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    Write down everywhere I would like to travel to and visit/see and throw it all in a hat and pull them out 1 by 1 and go there. After all that if I'm still alive start my own firearms museum.
    Interesting approach. My idea was to buy my own country, be its benevolent dictator until I get the things in place to make a new free society, with all the checks and balances, and hand it over to the people. Make a better America since there’s so much trying to destroy this one.

    Your idea is just to go back in time to make this America never to have been attacked by ideologues in the first place. Just make sure you “convince” Herbert Marcuse and his buddies that critical theory is a bad idea.
     

    Sigblaster

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    The HOA thing isn't bad, but other than that, it's a terrible idea to have one central state. Top-down government? What's wrong with federalism? Plus, BigRed will be mad that he can't secede from it.

    Lower levels of government introduce the potential for corruption at every level. This is a colony. It is a colony of like-minded people, a very homogenous population. This is not Terra, and we have no use for Terran attitudes.

    The most freedom is obtained when the laws are made by the community where people are. Have you not read the Federalist Papers? I think there are some things that should be tweaked about our constitution. Federalism isn't one of them. They got that one right.

    The idea of separate states that have their own level of sovereignty is a good one. Of course the constitution could establish restrictions on what kinds of laws state and local governments can pass.
    We would be colonizing a planet. Don't like it, don't get on the ship. This would be a group of people who are interested in the betterment of all involved, not interested in their own special interests and personal peculiarities.
    Also, constitutions need to change. You can't make it immutable, because society evolves. If you make it immutable, as society evolves passed it, it will no longer reflect the people and will give rise to revolution.


    I don't think this is a good idea because laws evolve with society. Government's purpose is to protect people's rights and property. As society develops, new customs and practices might develop that tends to reduce people's rights. So then new laws may need to be added to protect those rights. If the constitution has no "cite" that allows a new law to protect those rights, and the constitution is immutable, there can be no resolution.
    The Constitution would be a solid base to build upon. Bedrock, unchangeable, undefeatable. It would also have a glossary that defines every term in it with a single meaning in plain language, so we don't have people arguing about stupid term like "militia" and "well regulated".

    New "rights"? Well, if they're truly "rights", then they would have been in the Constitution to begin with. Pass a law to protect these rights, and renew it. Cite the government's authority over the matter, and pass it every year, if it works out and you have the support.
    I think this idea might have some merit, although I think the time period would have to be longer than a year.


    I guess it's Star Trek, so there's no money?


    Wait. You just said that laws have to be reintroduced, debated and voted on as they expire yearly. I think they'll be busy. Term limits are good. However, I'm not sold on being drafted into government. I like the idea of people participating in government reluctantly. My antiestablishmentarian intuition makes me less inclined to give people power when they seek it out. But forcing people who don't want to participate sounds like a bad idea. Reluctantly ruling from a sense of duty is I think more likely to produce favorable results than forcing someone to rule. Let their honor be the thing that forces them.
    Again, this is a colony, not Terra. You would have to adjust your thinking appropriately. If not enough people volunteer to paticipate, you may be called in to participate. You don't have to, but you have the abilty to. You don't have to participate in stupid things like our Congress does now, like spending hours recognizing some high school sports team. But you have the ability to vote against some really dumb stuff, where your vote really counts. You do this for the colony, for the betterment of all.
    I'm not sure what you laid out will maximize freedom. But. Don't take me too seriously. This is a Star Trek fantasy anyway.
    Yes, yes it is. And while real life has destroyed my youthful fantasy of ever seeing Star Trek technology come to fruition in my lifetime, I still like to talk about it.

    Star Trek gave me hope for the future when I was younger, when I really needed it. Reality taught me to be armed every day, whenever possible, with whatever weapon I could get away with.

    I'm thankful for fantasy and reality. But I'm not walking around with a replica phaser in my holster. :D
     

    Ark

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    If we're replacing "unlimited money in current year" with "Star Trek replicator future", then...

    If interstellar spaceships are real, I'm owning and living on one. However far civilization goes, just go a few light years further.

    you can't take the sky from meeee
     
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