ADDITIONAL PROPOSALS REGARDING THE COMPOSITIO N OF A WORLD GOVERNMENT (cont.)

19.  Labor

Once more, the anticipated existence of a uniform economy and currency should foster uniform standards, conditions, and pay scales, for workers everywhere.  Rates of pay should continue to be privately arrived at via agreement between employers and employees, or their representatives.  Variations would of course continue to be based upon level of skill, working conditions, comfort and danger within the particular work locale, etc.  Minimum rates of pay, minimum standards and conditions of employment, as well as safety regulations, ought be set forth in a worldwide labor code.

A uniform worldwide system of unemployment benefits should also be put into place; as well as a system for providing benefits to employees who are rendered unable to continue employment due to accidents or illness, whether or not job-related.



20.  Mental Hygiene

Standards for care and rehabilitation of the mentally ill and mentally challenged should be codified, and subsequently applied to eventually benefit all necessary recipients worldwide.  Special schools, special workplaces, special housing, and other essential facilities ought be anticipated and subsequently provided according to need all over the world.

Of course, existing facilities would be included, expanded, or upgraded as necessary; and be required to deliver services in accordance with minimum standards of competence, efficiency, and quality of care.



21.  Navigation

With the disappearance of national borders, the seas will likewise become a universqal place, belonging to mankind and navigable by all (subject to standards and regulations concerning order, safety, and ecology).  All water-borne vessels would need to be operated in accordance with such a set of standards governing transportation and commerce on the high seas as well as within inland waterways.  The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas should be consulted as a guide for the composition of such standards.

Our seas would likewise be patrolled on a worldwide basis to render assistance where necessary, and to prevent unlawful activities, such as smuggling of contraband goods as well as piracy.

Another division of this title ought similarly cover the operation of airplanes and other such aeronautical vehicles.  A third might later provide such regulation for vehicles and devices that are to travel beyond the earth's atmosphere.



22.  Patents, trademarks, and copyright

In a unified world, laws concerning patents, trademarks, and copyrighted material will have worldwide effect, and such items and material should enjoy worldwide license and protection.  Universal standards and procedures for registration and safeguard would need to be enacted.  A universal registry for each of the above would need to be established, having worldwide access via the Internet.

In the beginning, any conflicts or duplications, particularly regarding similar patents or trademarks that were awarded in two or more countries, would need to be dealt with in an equitable fashion, by an international body constituted for this purpose.  WQith the passage of time, however, these kinds of problems shoulod eventually resolve themselves.



23.  Property, real and personal

A uniform system for bringing concepts regarding property into the twenty first century all over the world will need to be instituted.  Laws, rules, and regulations concerning interests in, ownership, and conveyances of, all forms of property should be the same in every part of the world.

Existing private property rights should not be tampered with.  Government property throughout the world would also continue to be government property, now belonging to the world's governing body.  On the other hand, should consolidation of government produce surpluses, redundant properties can be sold to private purchasers. 



24.  Railroads

A borderless world will also mean that railroads can operate across national and continental borders.  A uniform set of standards and safeguards should be enacted governing the operation of all lines.  (Naturally, this might be impossible or impracticable as regards railroads operating on trackbeds having different dimensions.)

Perhaps major railroads will be thus encouraged to similarly join together, merging and coordinating their roadbeds, and thus operating with expanded resources, as well as greater potential for safety, efficiency, and service.



25.  Retirement and Social Security

Retirement benefits as well as health insurance for the elderly should come to be instituted on a worldwide basis.  No one should be deprived of a decent lifestyle when too old to earn a living. 



26.  Social services

A system of aid to all dependent children, as well as to any and all others who are in genuine need and/or unable to completely help themselves, should be initiated.  This ought to also include education, rehabilitation, and work programs, designed to assist such people to ultimately help themselves--where, and to such extent as should be, possible.



27.  Tax

Tax reformation, in the form of a universal simplified code, perhaps levying a flat tax upon the spending, and/or the incomes, and/or the possessions, of everyone, in a just and equitable manner, pought be established.  There should be no "loopholes," or "tax breaks," available to anyone.  The goal should always be to collect sufficient sums to cover all expenses.  There should be no deficits, oir "borrowing against tomorrow," if at all possible.

Though I consider myself far from an expert concerning such matters--a fair, simple, concept seems to be one that consists of something like:

a.  determining how much will be necessary to operate the world's government, and all its programs, during the upcoming year;

b.  adding a (professionally determined) percentage thereof, or additional sum to be added thereto, as a "safety factor."

c.  determining the amount of income garnered by all of the world's earnings-producing population (including non-exempt corporations, and other such entities) during the prior year.

d.  dividing the total of the sums referred to in "a" and "b" by the amount determined per "c";

e.  imposing a tax, at the fractional rate thus arrived at, upon all of the world's population, corporations, etc.;

f.  applying the balance remaining in the world's treasury (due to the "safety factor" sum referred to in "b") to reduce the amount that will be determined to be necessary (per "c" above) the following year.

The absence of military expenses throughout the world, together with the elimination of much of the cost implicit in the maintenance of hundreds of duplicate governmental activities and operations across the globe, will probably reduce the tax burden for all, and/or at least compensate for the added costs of some of the new or improved systems and programs that I have been suggesting herein.



28.  Vehicles and traffic

Operators of motor vehicles everywhere should be subject to the same rules and requirements.  Thus, a single worldwide set of regulations and safety precautions pertaining to the operation of motor vehicles would be initiated.



29.  Statutes concerning wills, estates, and trusts

Decedents' estates, the probate of wills, and the administration of trusts, should be dealt with in the same fashion worldwide.  An international panel of legal experts would need to compose universal codes dealing with these subjects.

Here too, I would imagine it best that existing arrangements--especially those that are no longer capable of modification by the creator--be permitted to continue as then-presently constituted, until there be none left.  (The "Rule Against Perpetuities," or its equivalent in other places--which prevents testamentary  provisions from being effectual over too long a period--should be given universal application, so as to bring about eventual self-resolution of most of this.)



30.  Statutes concerning governmental officers and offices

Laws, standards, and practices concerning powers, duties, functions, activities, appointment, compensation, term of office, resignation, and removal, of all members of all branches of government would need to be codified so as to insure fairness and uniformity within all branches of government on a worldwide basis.

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