What will happen.....

This is sort of based on ideas I have been toying with for quite a while and a prelude-if you will-to the fictional events in the television series "Babylon 5". It is quite strange to think about these things now considering hostilities between the Turkish, Russian and American governments and how George Freeman predicted a conflict between Turkey and the USA around ten years ago in his book "The Next Hundred Years". see my other blog here

In 2004 I came to the conclusion that the European Union would expand into the countries of North Africa and that Tony Blair took Britain into the invasion of Iraq in order to help facilitate the integration of Turkey into the EU. The north African nations would have access to the single market but a Trump-style militarised border would be put in place to prevent immigration from Sub-Saharan Africa.

It is possible considering this scenario that Israel would be admitted into the European Union. I am also expecting Israel to go too far by launching an attack on Iran. This leads to a nuclear conflict with Pakistan and a conventional war (albeit fought remotely with drones and satellite weapons) a decade or so later with Turkey and perhaps Japan. Pakistan would not have the range to attack the United States with nuclear weapons and most casualties would be as a result of a Chernobyl-style event due to Israel's assault on Iran's nuclear facilities. This event, in turn, provokes Pakistan who is defeated by her neighbours and bombed by the USA with conventional weaponry after launching an attack on Israel. Most of her missiles miss and land in the Mediterranean Sea or hit other countries: Cyprus, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Iran.

The consequences for America could be worse as it loses the support of the so-called "Red States". The southern and mid-western states secede when the federal government cuts funding to Israel and threatens it with sanctions if it retaliates against Pakistan with nuclear weapons. As a result, the USA is more like the United Territories of America consisting really of its military bases and embassies worldwide, the original thirteen colonies, California and Washington State. Not to mention unincorporated territories like Puerto Rico. As predicted by other commentators, the secessionist states become collectively known as "Jesusland". They include Alaska and Florida.      
   
Postscript: I am not endorsing the frankly racist (not to mention statist) views Freedman has towards Amerindians and African-Americans. If you meet this guy please punch him in the face for me!  

Post-referendum blues

Great.
Now that the bigots have convinced half the population to vote against their own interests, any trade deal with the European Union will undoubtedly mean TTIP being forced down our throats whether we agree (or know about) with it or not.
http://waronwant.org/what-ttip

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_Trade_and_Investment_Partnership


Rant over.

A demand (or four)
1. A general election within the year so each party can explain to the British public their plans post-Exit (from the European Union for readers outside the UK)
2. A referendum on the acceptance or rejection of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
(TTIP)
3. A second referendum regarding re-nationalisation of the railways
4. Allow the populations of Northern Ireland and Scotland to decide democratically to leave or stay in the United Kingdom

More Trekonomics

The Economics of Star Trek part 3 / Further Trekonomics

To add a few things:
1. Tom Paris (Star Trek: Voyager) refers to the New World Economy being established in the twenty-second century

2. Gold apparently can be replicated, certainly radioactive gold can be produced in the twenty-first century by bombarding mercury with alpha particles, and it is theoretically possible to extract gold from seawater-perhaps a process of both is performed by the never seen but mentioned in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine "industrial replicators"

3. Granted, Paris does replicate a necklace for Kes , but maybe it just looks like gold or is only gold-plated; or Fools Gold, iron pyrites

4. The form of credit I have conceived precludes the concepts of banking, taxation, and rent in the usual concept

5. Of course all I've done really is create a post-scarcity economy that relies on a "World State" while endorsing private property, sort of an Objectivist version of the European Union (!)

6. Although, as far as I know, they still use money on Earth and other Federation planets, they just don't pay Starfleet personnel-joining Starfleet could then be a free way to both see the universe and escape the rat race?

A Libertarian Manifesto for the UK?

A Libertarian Manifesto for the UK


1. The age of sexual consent to be lowered to 14, so long as both partners are under 18 and unrelated other than by marriage. *


2. The Army is to be disbanded. Up to a point. The SAS would remain for hostage rescues, but the main Army would only exist as Reserve Forces, with full-time membership limited to three years (after age 21). **


3. Britain would disarm its Nuclear Capability.


* 4. The Age of Consent is otherwise 17.


5. The Age of Criminal Responsibility is 14 (at the moment it's at aged ten).


6. 15 year olds will get the vote.


7. The Royal Navy and Air Force would remain, but no personnel is to earn more than £50,000 a year.


8. Members of Parliament, as well as being unpaid, would serve terms totalling no longer than Ten Years.


9. Young Persons not living with Legal Guardian/Parent (defined as aged Between and Including 14 and 21) are allowed a Subsistence Allowance of £210 per week.


10. Formal Education is only Compulsory between the Ages of Seven and Fourteen years of age.


11. Education below University level is to be free regardless of age and fee paying schools will be abolished.


12. University Education is Free for those aged below 22.


** 13. Any Citizen between the ages of 22 and 55 can apply to receive a Subsistence and Maintenance Grant of £12,000 each year for three years if they a) Undergo voluntary activities; b) Study Full Time or c) Join the Reserve or Police Forces.


14. The various Police Forces and Railway systems are to be run as Charitable Organisations.


15. Citizens in the Reserve Forces after their three-year period has expired, or if they served any period between aged 17 and 21, will receive £100 per week on continuing and a further £100 for every day spent training or on active duty.


16. Holders of Estates worth more than £2 million are to pay the Community Rent, possibly in the form of increased Council Tax.


17. Council Tax will only be paid by owners of second or multiple properties and citizens with yearly earnings totalling greater than £55,000.


18. Income Tax is at 100%, with all earners with an annual salary below £150,000 receiving a 90% rebate.


19. Serving MPs and Full-Time students aged 22 and above may apply for Housing Benefit plus Grants and Loans to aid Living Expenses and Tuition Fees.


20. Hard Drugs will become Freely Available in on-premise "Shooting Galleries" for Proven Problem Addicts.


21. Selling hard drugs that are contaminated with non-advertised substances or are otherwise of deficient purity will result in fines or imprisonment.


22. Otherwise, drugs are legal.


23. 18 year olds are allowed to visit licenced premises in order to consume Soft Drugs.


24. 21 year olds can grow cannabis for their own consumption on application and payment of a licence.


25. Prison sentences of Five Years or Longer will be abolished unless the perpetrator committed pre-meditated offences and/or has been proven to be a danger to the Public.


26. If appropriate, Sentences of One Year or less are to be commuted to House Arrest and/or Community Service.


27. There is to be a Referendum on Abolishing the Monarchy and the House of Lords-alternatives are appointed, directly elected or positions chosen by Lottery of Citizens aged 21 and above for a Head of State and Senate Members.


28. VAT will be reduced, except for Legal Highs and Cannabis/Soft Drugs.


29. Children aged 14 and above can legally divorce from their parents/guardians without question.


30. National Insurance contributions are to be abolished.


Ending Poverty?


Within the European Union:
A Minimum Wage of £6 per hour;
A Citizen's Income of £35 per week;
a Maximum Working Week of 30 hours
and Free Green Electricity.


Globally:
Free electrical goods for every household;
Child's Allowance of £30 per month (under 18);
Minimum Wage of two pounds per hour;
Free energy from various sources;
A Pensioner's/Widower's Allowance of £40 per month
(everyone over 40);
A Stateless/Displaced Persons/Refugee's Allowance
of £100 per week


Perhaps Paid For By:
Abolishing Inheritance;
All Nations agreeing to a Corporation Tax of 35%
with no Rebates or Subsidies;
Using money from unclaimed bank accounts


UK:
Perhaps JSA and DLA (paid separately and together)
at £100 per week, with deductions for earnings or
missing interviews.
e.g. No State Pension, instead CI, P/WA and DLA
alongside Housing Benefit to cover Rent.