The Present Day Political System Simply Cannot Cope With The Internet Age

By



Wu Siu Yan



1 April 2002

Political system today is patterned after the Roman's. Government undertakes all tasks, and leaves little for the citizens to do.

Such government could work fairly well if the population is small and activities few.

But now, cellphone is everywhere, internet is everywhere, and air travel is cheap, the activities of people multiply tremendously.

Even home office, home e-business, is a real possibility.

If government continues to govern every aspect of people's activity, government simply could not cope.

I take the case of Hong Kong as an example.

In 2001, Hong Kong has a deficit of over HK$ 64 billion. Government spending is 22% of GDP. Notice that Hong Kong maintains NO army, hence no military spending, yet Government spending is 22% GPD. Unemployment is approaching 7% now.

(A) People in Public Housing cannot use his house for any purpose other than residence

Nearly half the population live in Public Housing in Hong Kong. (Area of Hong Kong is 410 square miles = 20 x 20.5 sq. miles, and population is 7.5 million.)

But the Tenancy Agreement says,

To use the said flat for the purpose of residence for the Tenant, his wife and family and not to use the same or any part thereof for any trade business or professional purpose or as a laboratory or workshop or to store therein any goods or merchandise.

Therefore productivity of all these people are left to waste.

The government has many things to consider : if they were allowed to do "trade, business, professional use, ... " how was the Government to manage these activities ? Thus the only course is to prohibit all activities.

(B) Hawkers, street pedlars prohibited

Hong Kong stopped issuing hawker license many years ago. Those have license may continue to do so.

Again, the Government has many worries :

1. If they were to sell cooked food, how was the Government to ensure food saftey?
   
   
   
   
   

   Boiling can kill germs. Hot food to be served will be safe if they are kept above 72oC. Cool drink to be served will be safe if they are kept below 10oC. Temperature below 3oC can keep food safe for up to 5 days. Temperature below -18oC can keep food safe for months.

   
   
   
   
   
   






2. What if they obstruct passage ways ?
   
   






3. What if they make dirty the environment ?
   
   

Because Government simply cannot cope with the situations that may arise, therefore prohibition is the only way.

(Note : but people must earn a living, so illegal hawkers abound. Previously, the Police were to arrest illegal hawkers, now the Government has hired other people to do hawker-control. Illegal hawkers, if caught, will have their goods confiscated (mandatory by Law) and pay a fine.)

(C) Every law-and-order thing is to be handled by Police, and people are not supposed to do anything, therefore they live behind close doors, caring none of their neighbors.

For example, if there is any family violence such as beating wife or hurting children, it is the responsibility of the Police to handle. Citizens are not entrusted with any responsibilities, and so they leave everything to the authority.

Many family troubles, petty crimes/injustices could easily be settled if neighbours care for one another and elders are respected - one simply go to the elders, or to a civic-minded neighbour for settling disputes. And neighbours help one another out. Small crimes/injustices, if left unsettled, will usually grow, making everyone suffer.

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There are many many imperfections with the present day political system, the above lists a few. Government has many worries - how to control/manage activities and how to tax them, because Government hires people to control/manage activities. If Government cannot control/manage/tax an activity, then mostly Government would prohibit such.

Not so with LORD's system.

Tax is voluntary 10%.

Justice is free and prompt - anyone, whether they be elders or not, may be judge, so long as people seek them out for justice, and who will approach one who does not dispense true justice ?

As for other matters, there are servants of 10, servants of 50, servants of 100, servants of 1000, and Chief Servant to help them. Where do these people come from ? They are many people who like to serve, who care for others, only the system is a hindrance, thus there wouldn't be shortage of people. These servants are to receive about 1% of people's income, yet again, donation is voluntary. The voluntary 10% tax goes to the teaching Priests and Levites.

Moral is the foundation of any society. Putting everything in Laws and writing is not the solution to crimes, it only makes more and more laws books. But in LORD's system, 1/10 of the people are to be teaching Priests and Levites, so moral should not be a problem.

Confucius : "If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame. If they be led by virtue, and uniformity sought to be given them by the rules of propriety, they will have the sense of shame, and moreover will become good." [Taken from Analect of Confucius]

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(*) Law of GOD and His Commandments



(*) Jesus' Sermon on the Mount



(*) Other Teachings of Jesus



(*) Hymn



(*)

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