Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Everyone, if you do not know what the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ( Wikipedia Entry ) is then I would implore your to check it out. It is a powerful and very Asgardian document which, when put together following WWII, lays out the basic human rights that are accorded to all humans no matter who, what, or where you are.

The text from this document also forms the foundations for my Asgardian Unified Rights of Citizenship , which is apart of my constitutional rewrite.

World Service Authority (WSA)

The World Service Authority ( Wikipedia Entry ) ( or the World Government for World Citizens ) was also founded post WWII by a WWII vet who saw the horrors of the war first hand. He founded the WSA as as method of working towards peace and as a way to implement the UDHR from above. He believed in this so much that be renounced his US citizenship and became a stateless person and a world citizen. The WSA also issues World Government passports, ID's, and other official documents and does work with refugees and other stateless persons.

Is there someone around who is quite knowledgeable about the budget and finance sections of the constitution mind explaining or elaborating the following 2 clauses for me:

"The Government shall be responsible for the national budget, external financial exchange, the tax system, Asgardia’s public consumption foundations, and charitable foundations."

... specifically 'Asgardia’s public consumption foundations, and charitable foundations ';

and

"The Government shall encourage the development of private business by establishing an appropriate tax and governmental insurance system. ... The tax system and preferential tax terms, including voluntary taxation of the private persons, shall be set by Asgardia’s laws."

... specifically ' governmental insurance system. ... The tax system and preferential tax terms, including voluntary taxation of the private persons, shall be set by Asgardia’s laws.'

Thanks

Pursuant to a conversation on Facebook that was present on my post where I had announced that I had been summarily removed from office as MP and had been banned from holding office of any kind in Asgardia FOREVER, some of these are thoughts I have had in the past and had posted there, but had not previously put them into words until that conversation brought them out, so I am going to expound upon them in this document.

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• Read my post here on Google Docs:
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• Asgardia, A Nation Apart (10 pgs; May 2018)

I added a page on my personal blog to aggregate my Asgardian Writings as well as other related links and writings of mine:

http://www.arionshome.com/asgardia/

I did it because, even I was having problems keeping track of them all, and in case anyone wants to sleep! =)

If, you would like to know what my reign of terror would be like if I ran for office in the US then here ya go. The following is the rather large platform I would essentially run on.

http://www.arionshome.com/social-activism/social-environmental-economic-policies-transform-world/

This is post I wrote in 2016 during the presidential election cycle in the United States.

This post and the next post are the result of over a decade worth of reading and research with how and why the US is soooo messed up. There are many reasons, but this is a powerful one.

Introduction

I have said for quite a while: ‘Any candidate that does not have electoral reform as one of their first issues is the problem .’. We cannot have a truly representative democracy or a government that represents the people until our horribly broken electoral system is fixed. Our corrupt corporate owned government is what stands in the way of America being a truly great country instead of the laughing stock that we are due to how corrupt and fraud-ridden our system is. It would be amazing if we could finally join the rest of the world and be an actual democracy and not just throw the word around just because we like the sound of the word or because it is seen as a sacred though defiled part of our people’s collective history.

My Thoughts for Electoral Reform

This is post I wrote in 2016 during the presidential election cycle in the United States.

This post and the next post are the result of over a decade worth of reading and research with how and why the US is soooo messed up. There are many reasons, but this is a powerful one.

Introduction

I will cover here a many of the issues with the two party system and the suppression that is inherent in it. I will also give some specific examples.

What follows is nowhere near as well written, organized, supported or researched as I would like and this is because of limited time. My time is  limited not only because the elections coming up soon, but also because I have a life outside of politics and my blog, so I needed to get this out there sooner than later. Please forgive me. Some of the ideas I cover below in this first chapter I will cover in more detail in the next few chapters ( assuming I am able to get them written) .

• A General Look at the Systemic Suppression Inherent with America’s Two Party System

With the mess of the first parliamentary elections having just completed with elects declared (almost), slowly we move on into starting parliament up and attempting to get to work. Below I will talk about the top concerns that we need to address and keep in mind once parliament is able to actually get to work to start making things happen. The convening of the first Asgardian Parliament is set for June 24 in Vienna, Austria, so we have some time to kill to start getting our thoughts together.

Clawing Our Way Into A Brave New World (22 pgs)
Thoughts on the convening of Asgardia’s First Parliament.

So here is a process I have developed which pulls ideas from consensus based democratic work which will allow for a more open legislative process and more citizen participation. I also pull a little from Dahl’s ideas too.

Why a consensus based process you ask?

Well, a majoritarian based process like we have in the US and most of the rest of the world creates party based politics, divisiveness, grabs for power regardless of cost so they can control the process, and suppression of minority voices. Where the winner takes all for legislation, we all lose. =(

Consensus based democratic governments tend to be more cooperative, tend to eschew parties and party politics, tend to be more representative of the people, as well as respect and take into consideration minority voices due to the consensus based voting - all or nothing. When fine tuned this process may move at a similar rate as a majoritarian based process. A consensus based democratic legislative process will more accurately embody Asgardian ideals of equality and openness.

So, here is a process:

Legislative Process for a Consensus Based Digital Democracy (Google Docs)

My new 10 page post talking about my continuing struggles dealing with aggressive moderation in Asgardia.

You can read it here on Google Docs so it is easier to read with better formatting:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s4AwvihEDvxmwn6NwzvPXYhdoyZt7VTvjO5iEjJlr38/edit?usp=sharing

@Nikari Steve Miller

@Denise Blair

Here is my blog post which sprouted from a conversation from a Facebook conversation:

Productivity and Motivation in a Resource Based Economy?

Round 2 of elections has started.

Previous votes have been cleared.

Here is the annoucement:

https://asgardia.space/en/page/notifications/regulations-on-final-voting

You will need to vote again to get me and anyone else you planned on voting for into office.

So go out there and vote!!

Vote Here: https://asgardia.space/en/elections-districts/English/

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You can read this on Google Docs so it will be easier to read and formatted

Looking to Estonia, the Most Digitally Advanced Nation

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Asgardia, The Digital Nation

As a nation, Asgardia is virtual, digital, and internet based. We will not really have any physical locations or offices for our citizens to go to wait in line to talk to someone or to apply for a service or to get problems rectified.  Because our  websites and apps will be the way our citizens shall primarily interact with the each other, the government, and the various related Asgardian services and entities, our digital infrastructure needs to be a, if not THE, primary concern.

Our website and mobile app infrastructure needs to be clean, easy to use, and as modern as possible not only as a reflection of our Nation, but so that this technology can facilitate and focus on getting Asgardian things done. Our websites and apps should make things easier and not more difficult.

We NEED a comprehensive website redesign and overhaul with powerful long term planning guiding it. A haphazard, organic, or piece-by-disconnected-piece process will not get us there and it will create an incredible amount of additional work in the long run. By not planning for success today we are planning for failure tomorrow.

Why Recreate the Wheel?

Because of this, we should be looking to those who have used technology to completely digitize their national infrastructure including the use of blockchain technology. Estonia has potentially the world’s most technologically advanced governmental infrastructure. Their governmental process is completely digital. Their residents interact with their government primarily through their websites and an app(s) which is also also how we as a nation will be.

Estonia has:

• * has completely digitized their government
• * is issuing E-Residency to people world wide
• * is establishing a cryptocurrency (estcoin) which will work with their e-Residency program as well as utilizing blockchain technology with their national infrastructure.
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• We should not try to recreate this amazingly complex wheel when it has already been done.  These are all goals that Asgardia basically has, so we should be looking to those who are already successful in such endeavors or are currently pursuing such ends. The government of Estonia is at the top for digital governments around the world and we need to learn from them so we do not waste time, money, and precious volunteer time.

• How can we start this?

  1. We can initiate talks with the the Estonian government for their advice.
  2. Talk with the company that created their webpages, apps, and blockchain tech.
  3. Talk with Estonian citizens that are Asgardia citizens to get screenshots, translations, and to see how well it works.

Welcome. As a fellow human being and space lover, I am thrilled to be joining people who want a more progressive, inclusive society. Space is one of the most complex ideas that has ever been known to us. As a crusader of knowledge and love, I want to share space with you.

You may also read this in Google Docs too so it will look a lot better:

The Constitution of Asgardian: Stepping Stones to Tyranny

I. Introduction

I have been asked to condense my thoughts on the primary issues with the constitution which may lead to oppression, tyranny, and fascism in Asgardia. Here is my attempt at ‘condensing’.

My Commentary on the Asgardian Constitution has 14 pages of my first pass comments on the constitution. There is a lot of good there, but also some very, very troublesome things to which I will talk about below.

There are 6 main factors present that need to be dealt with:

1. People Other Than the Electors Decide if MP’s Take Office
2. Tyranny of the Majority
3. Subjective Morality
4. Enforced Nationalism
5. HoN Dynastic Appointments
6. HoN’s Unfettered Legislative Power

NOTE: Also, I should state that this takes into account extra-Constitutional texts (the Asgardian Website) which at this point is effectively on par with the Constitution itself until as such time as that assumption by the public at large and the interim government is rescinded by the interim and acting Government.

II. People Other than Electors Decide if MPs Take Office

From the website - bottom of the Election Page : Keep in mind we have no idea what part of this means, because it is not explained, but is very problematic, especially because of how open it is, and I do not think this is mentioned directly in the constitution either:

"Candidates who receive most votes in their electoral districts will move on to the interview round conducted by the Central Election Committee of Asgardia. Elected MPs cannot take office until they have been interviewed by the Central Election Committee of Asgardia and approved by the Head of Nation."

This is problematic on two potential fronts for significant democratic reasons:

MP CEC Interview: From the standpoint of democratically elected representatives, I am not at all keen on a random and potentially partisan committee being able to tell the people that who they voted for arbitrarily cannot take on the job. This is somewhat analogous to America’s Superdelegates or the Electoral College members deciding on someone other than who the voters selected will take office. It does not work there and it sure as hell will not work here either.

There are no constitutional requirements nor guidance investing in the CEC to validate candidates or how to determine valid candidacy, so it could be left to opinion on whether or not the candidate likes teddy bears or whether or not they support the King’s views. This stands as quite anti-democratic and a violation of core premises of democracy.

Now, if this was only there to verify that they met the resume/ID/Recommendation requirement, then that would be one thing, but should be done prior to voting or listing them as a candidate.  Otherwise it results in having the citizen waste their vote and prevent them seeking a qualified representative, and preventing their voice from being heard, but this is does not seem to be what this is about, since verification of candidacy is already done prior to being listed.

Head of Nation Approval:  HoN also has to approve the candidate that has already been approved by the electorate and the CEC? (not in constitution) This is inherently anti-democratic. Members of Parliament should be voted in by the people, period. This part states, effectively that the HoN gets to pick his parliament.

Nothing could possibly go wrong there! Not ever!! I would love it if the President of the United States would get to pick his Congress. Oh, the horrors that would be wrought. Seriously, this is one is horrific and wrong, beyond all rational belief. You may say we do not have a king, but if this is left to stand then we most assuredly do!!! .

III. Tyranny of the Majority

“Article 16.7: 7.  The supreme form of the expression of public will in Asgardia is a referendum. Referenda shall be used to resolve the most important national matters of Asgardia. Referenda shall be held in accordance with Asgardia’s laws.”

“Art 30.1 Asgardia shall be governed by its citizens through referenda.”

There are significant problems with ruling by referenda as the US saw in California during the Prop 8 debacle. $20 Million was spent in a campaign of fear and lies for months prior to this vote, which was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court. This allows for the Tyranny of the Majority to run wild over the country with no protection for minorities or minority viewpoints of any kind. This is going to be a long term significant problem. All it takes is one powerful statement or a charismatic person to move the masses by fear and anger to destroy progress or the rights of others by a single...Referenda.

There needs to be a significant check on this. Direct citizen referenda is pretty much a bad idea all around. I have an idea on how to correct this in my Constitutional rewrite, but I guess we shall see how well that will work.

IV. Subjective Morality

Article 17.4.a “the spread of moral ideals;”

Article 22.5 “ Asgardia shall prohibit any propaganda of immoral and antisocial behaviour, and any production and circulation of information on any storage media, which contains mass information, that is harmful to morality and/or aims to undermine or diminish its Supreme Values.”

Article 23.3  To ensure information security, the Government regulates the circulation of certain types of information on the basis of the Constitution of Asgardia and in accordance with the procedure set by Asgardia’s laws.

What are moral ideas? Morality is quite subjective and can vary from culture to culture, from religion to religion. Some may demand the stoning to death of someone who does not believe in their god on moral grounds or that women be required to cover themselves at all times. We are one citizen referendum away from a moral tyranny, especially when combined with 23.3 which controls the circulation of information - here comes censorship and political oppression!! Anti-social?  As an introvert I have been called antisocial. Am I a referendum away from jail or some other punishment. These words, albeit, are poorly selected, but are also endemic to potentially very damaging constitutional precedents of protecting arbitrary ‘moral’ beliefs.

V. Enforced Nationalism

26.5. Asgardian citizens shall respect and protect Asgardia’s national symbols. Any disrespect towards Asgardia’s national symbols shall be subject to liability in accordance with the procedure set by Asgardia’s laws.

26.6. Any use of national symbols in violation of the procedure set by Asgardia’s laws shall be prosecuted in accordance with such laws.

26.5 and 6: 5. and 6. Both are really messed up and need to be removed. It violates freedom of expression and is a powerful tool to suppress political dissidents. Such laws are used by authoritarian regimes like Myanmar and fundamentalist Islamic countries to destroy political commentary, political dissidents, political controversy, and it goes against the very foundations of free speech. These are trappings of a monarchy, feudalism, and point horrendous levels of social and intellectual regression. Kingdom!! Ugghhh!. Super BAAAAD!!!

VI. HoN Dynastic Appointments

32.4: 4. “One year prior to reaching the age limit or in the event of a voluntary resignation, the Head of Nation shall nominate a candidate (on the basis of genealogy or on any other basis) for the position of Head of Nation. Two other candidates or the same candidate for the position of Head of Nation shall be nominated by the Parliament and the Supreme Space Council. The election of the Head of Nation is put to a referendum in accordance with Asgardia’s laws.”

Not a good idea. This should be scrapped altogether. There is an incredible potential to create dynasties by appointment even if the parliament gets to pick - provides potential for deal making and corruption.

This should be changed to an order of succession with an election to soon follow with the interim head having limited powers, unless in certain circumstances. You say we do not have a king? A king in all but name with dynastic appointment possible.

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You can read this on Google Docs too if you like:

Elections are a Self-selecting Referendum on the Age of the Candidate

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In the debate on the minimum age for parliament I was firmly in the 23-25 minimum age based on maturity, life experience, college education, etc. I have now changed position on the minimum age based on points made in this discussion from this Facebook post by Christina Cole . I think we should make it 18.

So, regardless of what we individually feel the minimum age should be, the electorate shall indirectly engage in an 'electoral referendum' on whether the candiate is old enough, mature enough, or has the ideas or experience enough based on their individual vote.

If they feel the candidate is too young then they shall not vote for them. If they feel that they are too young age wise, but they present themselves as mature for their age and has good ideas then the voter will vote for them. Their intellectual and emotional age shall be effectively voted on in the election based on the votes they receive. This results in a self-selecting minumum age on a candidate by candidate basis.