LiquidNazgul

All right. Let me begin by saying this---I know a WG is still within the confines of science fiction and all that, but still, IMO, it will happen eventually---but the thing is, just what is the definition of a World Government?

Some of the time, and mostly on Youtube, a World Government is typically depicted as a corrupt, vile organization that controls the entire planet---it erases all national identities and is lead by an "anti-Christ". Its supposed to force all to worship the devil, and a single, unified secret police force enforces the law.

Let me say THIS---first of all---religion has been with mankind for a incredibly long time. It will never permanently be erased or unified into a single religion---if it did, this unified religion, I'm sure, would collapse.
The depiction of the above WG is---well, unrealistic. I am in no way questioning anyone's religion---I do, however, question the idea of this kind of corrupt government.

In my opinion, my honest view on a more...realistic world government would be that

-it would be entirely democratic;
-no national identities would be erased---that means, people could either join the new WG as a citizen of it, or could have every right to stay as a citizen of India, or the United States, or Canada, or something like that---this also means that, not all nations' borders are necessarily forced to be open to everyone---again, its the nation's laws, not the WG's laws, to open borders;

-I'm pretty sure that, because of the anti-WG paranoia today, even a weak WG wouldn't be formed until at least the 2100s;

-the capital of the WG would shift every year at first, and then gradually settle into a permanent seating---preferably in less metropolitan cities like Iceland, or Greenland---maybe Bern;

-because Earth is so big, and over 190 nations exist, the nations would, again, retain their national identities---but they would have a sort of "higher" power above them, if you will---there is no way a central government could administrate all the nations on Earth---at least, not initially;

-and finally, the only thing the nations would be encouraged to do would be to economically cooperate more closely with all the nations of Earth.

Here's what I think the benefits of this new WG would be.
For one thing, there would no longer be one single nation that would be Earth's sole police force---again, yes, they would still be recognized as sovereign countries, but---well---closer cooperation between nations would be recommended.
Another thing would be that---again, this is still in science fiction---no single country can afford to even partially colonize a planet out there. And I'm sure you all are smart enough to realize that we can't stay bottled up in the Solar System forever. We do that, and eventually Earth's conditions would deteriorate---not to mention extreme amounts of overpopulation.

I know that some, if not most, of you guys snort and turn away at my idea of a WG---national pride, that's what it is. Cooperation between nations may not be your thing. I understand that close cooperation between Iran/Arabs/Muslims and the West, and Africa being heavily industrialized, might not suit you. But personally, I think it would be our best interests as a species to at least be partially economically united.

troung

If people around the world don't like the people they share a nation state with - who the **** wants to be a citizen of the world? The world is wracked by civil wars where people inside the same borders don't get along.

Much less immigration - people from the worst nations would flood the others.

Then governments as much of the world is not ruled by democratic regimes.

Dumbest idea since the national consumption tax....

__________________
To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

LiquidNazgul

True, but note, I don't expect any kind of unifying force beyond the United Nations at least until the 22nd century. Yes, right now, the world is in a bad state, which is why I agree with you somewhat---the idea of a World Government at this point in human history will be, at best, pathetic.

But we have no idea what the world will be like in the later 21st century-early 22nd century. Earth could be a nuclear wasteland---or, Africa could be the richest continent on the world. Highly unlikely from one's point of view now, but---you never know.

Feanor

Pure speculation. This would be another time, another history, and another human race.

astralis

liquidnazgul,

answer to your question is that humanity evolved in a tribal fashion. the creation of nationalism took a lot of work- education, gov't services, and all that- for people to start feeling that their countrymen were part of their "tribe".

and it is very easy to destroy that feeling. look at how governments in places such as spain, belgium, pakistan, china, etc etc all have very significant minorities whom feel that they're not bound to the central government or nation.

a world government would be infinitely harder to hold up.

__________________
Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.

-Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Expat Canuck

What we need is an alien invasion, it will work then but only as long as that alien is a threat to us all. Unified hate of something else will band most of us together other than the French who will embrace them as brothers and rat on anyone opposing the occupiers.

Messed up questions get messed up answers.

gunnut

If a unified religion would collapse, what makes you think a unified government would not?


What's the point of a world government if half the world is not in it?

You're wrong. WG has been around since the end of WW1. First the League of Nations, followed by the United Nations.

What's the upside of a shifting capital?

This "higher" power, what will it do to me (a nation) if I decide that I don't give a flying rat's ass about its authority?

WTO

Yes, the UN peace keeping force, made up of numerous member nation's forces and utterly lacks the mandate to do anything meaningful.

What's the problem with overpopulation? Nature will stop it one way or another.

No. It's not national pride that makes me snort at your idea. It's the total inpracticality that did it.

I don't mean to sound harsh. But have you ever looked at a government? Any government? Government is inherently slow, corrupt, and inefficient. The bigger the government, the slower, more corrupt, and more inefficient it is. Look at your city government. It's probably not too bad. Look at your county. It's worse than the city. Look at your state government. It's bad. Look at our federal government. It's yelling poor with an annual budget of $2.5 trillion. What do you think another layer of super bureaucracy will do to that?

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"Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.

LiquidNazgul

My question was thus answered then---a WG is highly frowned upon.

You all make valid points, and exploited things I really have not seen before. I know my point of view may sound odd, and I know that none of you will need to worry about it since it most likely wont happen in any of our lifetimes---but exactly how will our species continue to survive? A planet torn apart by the wealthy and the industrialized and the poor and the destroyed. Staying on planet Earth and not expanding beyond Pluto is just poor planning, if you ask me.
And again, I highly doubt there's not one nation that can afford to even partially colonize other planets. Yet again, I know this won't happen in my lifetime or your lifetime---but I still worry about our survival as the human race. If what you all say is true, I wouldn't be surprised if the next 50 years something terrible might be bestowed on us.
If not a world government, then at least closer cooperation between countries on Earth---but when I say that I know I speak of the near-impossible.

gunnut

It will take something extraordinary, like an alien invasion as Expat Canuck said, to bring all the people together. Right now there are just too many divisions among people. I can give you some examples.

The former Yugoslavia split up to become 4 or 5 smaller nations. The former Soviet Union split up to become a dozen nations. The British Empire dissolved and is now 3 dozen or so nations.

The divisions between people, even those who look alike, is only getting deeper and deeper.

To us, all the people in Spain look alike and talk alike. But there's a faction there who wants to be independent.

You figure the division between people should be smaller over the last 2 centuries. But in fact it's getting worse.

troung

LiquidNazgul

What, too wordy?

Ironduke

Reminds me of the rotating EU presidency... they're chucking it out. Another thing to consider is the billions it costs the EU when they move between Strasbourg and Brussels -- yes, billions.

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The Buck Stops Here

tankie

Ahh yes , a Ronald Reagan quote , but would we be unified Expat ?

And how do we know we have not been subversively invaded

And anyway , my vote would go to ( if i was an American ) to , B,mans missis , just to keep him in check so to speak , but no doubt he will tell her where to get off as well

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TANKIE , WITHOUT WAX

Desdemona

The Aliens are already here. They were in Texas, USA last weekend and coming to a city near you soon.....
MND: News and Commentary Since 2001 » UFO sightings reported in Texas town

dalem

Most of the world isn't good enough to join any government I'd pay attention to.

Now, an alliance of like-minded liberal democracies advised by a Council of Science and Ethics that go arm-in-arm kicking petty dictators in the mouth with elite groups of powered-armor-wearing infantry?

I'm all over that one.

-dale