Animal Rights: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
See: What constitutes a person.
Abortion: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
See: What constitutes a person.
Banks: Private for-profit organizations whose benefit to the communal whole of society is questionable at best should not receive government support or endorsement.
Bitcoin: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Note: Bitcoin is not an organization but method of transaction. It should not be treated better, or worse, than use of any other non-government currency.
Business Regulations: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Note: Organizations do not have rights. If a business is not a sole proprietorship and has any business relations other than direct-owner relations that insulates the owner from another (example: employee -> middle-management -> owner, or customer-> sales-rep -> owner), it is an organization and within the community may impose regulations on it.
Citizenship: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights. As such, government has no right to try and restrict membership in citizenship. Therefore, citizenship should be automatically granted to all persons in the government's jurisdiction.
See: What constitutes a person.
Crime and Punishment: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
As such, it is not the government's place to go metering out vengence or punishment if doing so does not protect some right or communal need. In the event that such a case is warrant, prevention and rehabilitation takes precedence over punishment.
Cybernetics: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Note: Organizations do not have rights. In the future if an organization ever insists its members get cybernetic enhancements, this would be an organization opposing individual rights.
Death Penalty: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights. Once someone has violated the rights of another, it is the government's responsibilty to ensure that rights are not further violated. After a dangerous individual has been removed from society, being killed is one of the greatest violations of a person's right. There should be no death penalty.
Drugs: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Note: Organizations do not have rights. It is within the right of the people to set quality controls for organizations that make and/or distribute drugs.
Education: Considering that the GLASDOG view is that everyone should vote on all issues, the education of the population is of utmost importance to ensure the smartest voting. As such, the GLASDOG view supports supplied education for life. However, it's worth reminding people should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights. Education should not be required, but optional, but it is government's responsibility to make sure that it is available to all citizens.
Environmental Regulations: Environmental regulations should be enacted, and is part of proper management of communal resources.
Flouride in water: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Note: Organizations do not have rights. If the people in a region do not wish flouride to be added to the water, organizations may not do so.
Gambling: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Note: Organizations do not have rights. A gambling institution (not an individual) is subject to any regulations that the community imposes on it.
Genetic Engineering: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Note: Organizations do not have rights. An organization engaging in genetic engineering is subject to any regulations that the community imposes on it.
See: What constitutes a person.
Government Loans: Government loans, although able to treat an individual situation in an emergency, are not a long term fix as reliable loans drive up cost for the product they are available for. As such, we recommend against standardized government loans for any activity for individuals, and NEVER support them for organizations.
Healthcare: It is the responsibility of government to care for the citizens. If the citizens which to allocate government funds to Healthcare, it is the government's responsibility to fund their healthcare. If they do not allocate government funds to Healthcare, it has no responsibility to do so.
Immigration: In a GLASDOG perspective, there is no such thing as immigration, as natural resources are an inherent shared commodity by all people. As such, "Immigrants" are no different than someone who travels from one part of town to the next. If they are in the territory that is communally managed, they are subject to the rules and rights of people in that territory just like any other there. In the context of US politics, that means a complete open door policy towards immigration: If someone is here, they're a citizen, are due the rights thereof and the responsibilities thereof.
Note: Immigration raises an issue of individuals who are not knowledgeable about how the society works, and depending on their source country, may be less educated than the typical voter. At this point, we feel it should be stressed that a government should do its best to rectify these inadequicies, and make sure that immigrants are given the opportunity to develop to meet the societi's expectations for its citizens. Not only can properly educating them reduce accidental crimes, but also further encourage them to be contributing members of society.
LGBTQ+ Rights: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Military: Military allows consolidation of combat power in a hierarchy, which is one of the most dangerous forms of power to consolidate into a few hands.
- For offensives purposes, GLASDOG views hold that any offensive purpose should have the support of the people before being attempted, and that any such activity should have a set start date and a clear "must be renewed by" date; at this point a budget may be allocated to it and the offensive action will take volunteers. In the event of a vote for such an offensive action, any citizen who votes in favor of it will be considered as having volunteered (and any ballot on such a vote will have it clearly stated as such.) Those who do not vote on an offensive action will be considered on a standby draft list, and those who voted against it will be ineligible for draft.
- For military purposes, the GLASDOG view holds that for defensive purposes, it is better to train and arm citizens than a military for any so willing, and for larger defensive tools and purposes to make use of well-trained citizen militias. In the case of defensive military action, it should be considered every citizen's responsibility to help defend unless they otherwise note they do not support the defensive action. However, as coordination often helps efforts, but GLASDOG views are that individual rights must remain, it is recommended that for a serious defensive military action an organized but de-centralized structure is created; but that individuals who do not agree with the government-organized organization may choose to act outside of it as long as they are still acting to help defend.
Note: Defensive military action is considered any military action within the government's borders, or the borders of an allied government at their request. Offensive military action is considered any military action outside the government's borders that is not in an allied government's region by their request.
Minimum wage: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Note: Organizations do not have rights. It is within the right of the people to set a minimum value that an organization is required to pay.
Net Neutrality: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Note: Organizations do not have rights. Although a parent may put restrictions on a home router, a public telecom corporation may not put restriction/benefits on people's communication. They may not control what people see on the internet, nor throttle/boost one site visited over another.
Organic Food Labeling: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Note: Organizations do not have rights. It is within the right of the people to set labeling regulations for organizations that make food.
Organizations: Organizations do not have rights. Organizations of pieces of paper, nothing more. Individual rights to not extend to organizations. It should be noted that organizations often encourage people to act in ways they normally wouldn't. Actions that individuals take on behalf of organizations are the organizations responsibility as well as the individuals. In any contest of an individual's rights vs the rights of an organization, unless there is a communal impact, the individual rights trump any claimed rights of an organization.
Parenthood vs Rights of Children: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Note: In this regard, it is by the consent of children that parents have the opportunity to guide them, and by the consent of parents that the children live with the parents. If a child person is old enough to understand their rights, feel those rights are violated, and assert them, they they should be afforded their rights. Further, in such a case, it is within rights of either parent or child to break off their mutual relationship. However, it's worth noting that children raised to adulthood and are well adjusted is important for communal health as a whole, as it affects their ability to vote properly. For this, we highly recommend that there be public boarding schools, so that any child who chooses to break off the parent/child relationship or who loses security due to the parent breaking off the parent/child relationship will have an alternative while they approach adult hood and complete their education. Of course, this applies mainly so long as the child constitutes a person. What applies to non-person children (if there is such a thing) may be otherwise regulated.
See: What constitutes a person.
Prostitution: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Religious Rights: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
Note: Organizations do not have rights. Although religious praticitioners are free to practice their religion as long as it does not infringe on others, a religious institution is bound to follow whatever laws the people set forth for organizations to follow.
Right to Free Speech: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
State Vs Federal Power: Neither. Power resides with the people, first and foremost.
Stem Cell Research: People should have the right to their own bodies and minds in all regards. It is not the place of government to mandate what they do with their own bodies and minds. However, it is also not the place of government to mandate how people treat each other as long as they don't violate eachother's rights.
See: What constitutes a person.
Subsidies: Subsidies are fueled by taxes that drain the pockets of citizens and give the money to an industry government is trying to prop up. Acquiring subsidies gives any business that does so an unfair market advantage against other businesses in the same industry. As such, the idea of subsidies is inherently problematic, and is, in a long way, stealing the right of people to spend what they want where they want by mandating a certain amount be spent on a particular industry. As such, in a situation that might call for subsidies (such as an environmental measure to replace outdated technology that is causing communal harm), we recommend instead that government supplies citizens as a whole with discount cards to help with purchases in the chosen industry.
Whistleblowers: GLASDOG views hold two views as most important: Individual rights and communal responsibility. Whistleblowing falls both under freedom of speech and communal responsibility. Further, as the GLASDOG view is that government shouldn't have any secrets from its citizens in the first place, whistleblowing is encouraged.
Universal Basic Income: We recognize that, within reason, financial freedom allows for a lot more freedom for individuals. Assuming it does not place unnecessary burdens on society as a whole, a Universal Basic Income (UBI) can go a long way to freeing people from otherwise being forced into making "decisions" that they cannot otherwise avoid as a result of financial burden.
Taxes: Taxes should be as low or as high as the people want them to be, and should vote on what they are and how high and on what.
Voter ID: Everyone can vote. A record should be kept of who votes on what. If a voter does not have an ID, they should be able to vote with biometrics (fingerprints, retinal scan, etc.) If they vote multiple times, each new vote should override the previous vote, and votes should be able to be retracted or re-done at any time.
Voting: GLASDOG holds voting in high regard, and voting that allows more control and nuanced adaptation is crucial. GLASDOG supports initiatives such as going away from winner-take-all voting methods, and more towards run-off voting, fluid democracy methods, public referendums, etc. Further, it's held that every government position should be voted on, and none appointed. Further, that it is people's freedom to vote (or not vote) as they see fit. As this level of voting could become cumbersome, we also hold that there should be fluid voting (voting is done on an "as needed" basis instead of at regular intervals, such as when a position reaches term, or a public referendum has enough support to be voted on.) Further, votes should be able to vote on stuff as a whole, or more specialized depending on how people choose to function. (For example, people choose to support a party for a branch of government, or vote on individuals for every position, or some hybrid such as supporting a party for positions they don't care about (or abstaining in those circumstances) and simply receiving notification of results while voting on positions and issues they care about. Further, we feel that votes should be able to be rescinded at any time if they feel their vote was the wrong choice.
Weapon Ownership: Weapon ownership should be legal. Their purchase and sell should be similarly legal. However, considering that being murdered is one of the greatest violation of a person's rights, their use should be regulated. It should be noted that organizations do not have rights. Further, it's recognized that some weapons may be considered too high of a risk to allow. Any ban on any weapon deemed too dangerous to be allowed should ALSO apply to government. In short, if typical civilians are prevented or restricted from having a certain type of weapon, so too is any government or organization also prevented or restricted from having that certain type of weapon. Any weapon allowed to government will also be allowed to civilians as well. Restrictions on weapons for government will be equal to or more restrictive than weapons allowed to civilians.
To state pithily: If the government wishes to be trusted with fighter jets, it needs to also be willing to trust its citizens with fighter jets.
What Constitutes a Person?
Many topics in politics boil down to the question of "What Constitutes a person?"
As a GLASDOG standpoint, we hold that it is not the government's position to decide that, but the people's. To that end, we suggest providing a framework, and the people vote on a scale of where they want the cutoff to be. Consider the following:
1. Idea of a person
2. Partially functioning DNA (e.g. Sperm, unfertilized egg, a virus)
3. Unique complete DNA (e.g. A conceived embryo, a germ)
4. Unique functioning DNA (e.g. A non-conscious fetus, a tapeworm)
5. A thinking entity (e.g. an active fetus, lifestock)
6. A thinking entity that is not physically dependent on any decision-making entity for immediate survival. (e.g. a family dog, a baby)
7. A sapient entity that is physically separate from any other decision-making entity (e.g. An octopus, a 3-year old human - human sapience begins at roughly 3 years of age)
8. A sapient entity that is not immediately dependent on any other decision-making entity for survival (e.g. an adult dolphin, an older teenager)
As it is too easy for hot button topics to sway people, in the sake of communal responsibility, instead of people being polarized on hot-topic issues, moral decisions should be made as a community before those morals are applied to law. An example would be if people were to vote on when the law would consider something "a person" by selection 1-8 on a ballot. In fact, we would suggest that the scale is voted on before where the society's stance on the scale is voted on.
Once set, the results of that vote would cascade through other laws. This encourages the society to actually vote on moral and ethical convictions rather than being swayed by hot-button issues and would make for more responsible voting.