If I Had My Own Country

If you were suddenly given your own tropical island, and the resources to develop it in any way you chose, what would your little paradise look like?

This was a hypothetical (obviously) question a friend of mine once posed to me, and I've been giving a lot of thought lately.

The first thing I think I would do, would be to establish a strong representative government (similar to the one the American Founders envisioned), and a military to protect it.

My nation's leaders would be democratically elected by all legal citizens, and limited in both salary and term length regardless of what position they held. Their powers would be clearly spelled out in our version of a Constitution, as well as the limits to their authority. While in office, their personal wealth and holdings would be frozen in a trust they could not access until their term was over (nothing could be deposited or withdrawn). They would be only allowed to make their salary, mothing extra. Professional lobbying and special interest groups would be strictly outlawed.

There would bean extremely limited welfare system, which would only provide the basic staples for survival. This system would only be available to legal citizens; with the elderly and the truly disabled (determined by government doctors, not private physicians) receiving priority. Able bodied people in need (including the addicted or poorly educated) would have a period of two (no more than six) months to find employment. After that, they are left to their own devices.

Immigration would be entirely merit based, and granted only to those with needed and valued skills. Citizenship would provide the full rights and freedoms of our nation, with only restricted rights given to legal noncitizens. Anyone overstaying a visa, or sneaking into the country would ne the subject of deportation immediately, without exception. Only children born of citizens are granted citizenship. Immigrants and potential citizens will be expected and required to assimilate into the national culture publicly.

Military service would be compulsory for all citizens, as well as a path to citizenship for immigrants.

Any power or authority not explicitly given to the government in the Constitution automatically belongs to the legal citizens. Any new changes or laws to the Constitution can only be enacted by a vote of the people. All laws must be written in clear and concise language, so that they are easily understood by all. Each proposed bill must contain only items relevant to that law (no pork or hidden agendas).

It will be the primary functions of the government to maintane a strong military, oversee all foreign policy and diplomatic matters, and settle domestic disputes judicially and through enforcement of the law. It will not be their place (or in their authority) to micromanage the rights and lives of citizens. They will not (for example) provide healthcare or education, these must be handled through private industry with only a minimum of government oversight to prevent monopolies or unsafe conditions.

As you can see, I've given this quite a bit of thought over the years. Of course, there's more, but time and space are limited.

And no, I don't ever expect a system like this would ever truly exist. Just as I'm sure that, if it did, someone would find a way to subvert it.