If you owned a country...

Lets say that a large tropical island (about the size of Cuba) formed overnight in the middle of international waters. You were the first person there and you claimed it as your own. Your claim is uncontested, so now you have your very own country that is completely independent from any government. At this time you are the only person who lives on the island, but many people want to move there because it is a tropical paradise. You now have the opportunity to establish your own set of laws prior to anyone immigrating to your new country. Assuming you WANT people to EVENTUALLY move to your island nation - what laws would you establish and why?

Some of my opinions are close to his, some of them aren't. Don't blame me if my opnions are almost exactly the same in some areas. His answers are on the site.

1 - What would you make the legal drinking age?
18. 21 is too high and gives people between the two ages so much more desire to drink in ways harmful to themselves. 16 is too young in my opinion. 18 is the standard age in many countries that signifies passage to adulthood.

2 - Driving age?
16. It's about the time I think many people are ready to drive. You'll never get rid of bad drivers, and I think making kids anxious for the day they will drive will only make the situation worse in the end. I got my license 6 months before I turned 18, just so you understand my perspective a bit more.

3 - Age of sexual consent?
Under 17 (no younger than 14), partner must be within 5 years of date of birth if caught to avoid legal persecution. 18 or older, free to have sex with any one else over 18. Same goes for gay people.

4 - Voting age?
18 not only signifies passage to adulthood, it is also an age where people finally start thinking logically. Yes, a lot of people are stupid, but the age where maturity can be considered reached is also the age that people should be allowed to vote.

5 - At what age would someone become an adult (free from parental control)?
18, with emancipation as an option for child between 14 and 18 that agrees to the emancipation.

6 - What types of recreational drugs (if any) would be legal?
- Pot
- Tobacco
- Cocaine
- Alcohol
- LSD
- Caffeine
- Heroin
- Other?
It's a tough decision. One side of me says let everything be legal while the other side says only what we have now in the U.S. I would probably use the laws in the U.S. and add marijuana to that list.

7 - Can people have guns? (if so - who and what kind?)
Yes. In fact, all men over the age of 18 are required to be in military service kind of like what Switzerland is doing. Because of this, the head of any household/apartment is required to carry his standard issue firearm plus any other firearm he desires.

8 - What would be the name of your country?
First 10,000 to inhabit will put up suggestions which will then be voted upon.

Not without extremely clear evidence of murder in anger. Anything else is life in prison. Unless a person is caught by a reliable outside source in the act, or is seen on video, the max can be life, though suicide will be an option at any time for someone who is sentenced to life (see below).

10 - What would be the speed limit?
45 is a good for most inner city areas. Highways = no limit. Drivers Ed will be a required class in high-school and a passing score will be required of anyone who wishes to drive. Immigrants must also go through a school before they are allowed to drive.

11 - What types of religions would be permitted or restricted?

I agree exactly with what was said on the site, which is as follows:

Freedom of religion would be the law of the land, but government sponsoring of religion forbidden. Any mention of god, religion, etc. in official government documents would officially void the document. No god in government.

Which of the following would be legal:
12 - Porn? Yes
13 - Prostitution? Yes
14 - Polygamy? Yes
15 - Homosexuality? Yes
16 - Stem cell research? Yes.
17 - Human Cloning? Yes.
18 - Cock Fighting? No.
19 - Slavery? No.
20 - Hunting? Yes.
21 - Fishing? Yes.
22 - Eating meat? Yes.
23 - Littering? No.
24 - Unisex bathrooms? Yes. An establishment must either have a unisex bathroom or two seperate bathrooms to accomodate each gender. Transgenders are expected to go into the bathroom of which they are currently a gender. There must always be the opportunity for someone to go to the bathroom.
25 - Suicide? Yes, but highly discouraged. The only suicide that cannot be discouraged is euthinasia for the terminally ill.
26 - Gay marriage? Yes. The only way marraige in general will be involved in the government is in regards to name changes. Marraige will remain a cultural issue.
27 - Abortion? Yes, within the first 3 months. Once a decision is made by the parent and signed for, it cannot be changed unless complications arise that threaten the life of the mother. Pregnancies involving people under 18 will have abortions reccommended, but the choice still remains.

28 - What types of sexual activity (if any) would be illegal?
Nothing will be illegal, as long as there is consent.
29 - Would your county be clothing optional or clothing mandatory?
Optional
30 - Would you have obscenity laws? If so - how would you define “obscene”.
It is my opinion that verbal obscenity started with religious blasphemy. Therefore banning verbal obscenity is involving religion in government and is wrong. If obscenity involves activities like sex in public, I'm not sure. I would want a laid back society, but some issues are tough to consider all aspects of. I would probably allow something like sex in public to be legal, yet have no reasons supporting it.
31 - What system would you set up for collecting taxes?
- Income tax? (how much?)
- Sales tax? (how much?)
- Import/Export tax? (how much?)
Government will offer more services besides security, post offices, and funding. There will be government stores and jobs offered whos profits all go to the government. Those who work for government companies are tax exempt. There will be limited sales tax and import tax to feed the financial needs of the country. I'm no financial expert so I can't give you numbers.

32 - What criteria would someone need to pass to become a citizen?
Knowledge of country history and military service to the country if a male and capable. Citizenship can be taken away for those people who commit more than 1 felony. Murder is an instant loss of citizenship, and one will remain in prison or will be exported if another country wants to take him. Murderers under no circumstances will be allowed citizenship or military service regardless of the country of religion. Only killing another human as an accident or in self-defense will still allow one to keep his/her citizenship.

33 - What types of people would you allow (or not allow) into your country?
Anyone.

34 - What type of government would you establish?
A Democratic Republic with clearly defined limited powers. The leading powers will be a group of representatives (the chosen ambassadors of the mayors from each city) and a Senate (instead of a single man as president).

35 - To what degree would your government be allowed to censor or restrict the media?
They can censor only matters that have to do with national security.

36 - Aside from laws - what sort of unofficial (and unenforced) cultural rules and traditions would you like to establish? For example - taking shoes off before entering someone’s home. Or not eating with the left hand.

I like the shoes thing. It's the standard in Turkey and in my house so I'm used to it, and would prefer it over someone bringing dirt into the house by wearing shoes.

I like bowing as a way of greeting over handshakes. It's more respectful to the other person and is also more sanitary (handshakes are a good way of spreading disease). Hugs, kisses, and so on will also be embraced by society.

1 - What would you make the legal drinking age?
None-For Minors it would be up to their parents as to when/where they can drink

2 - Driving age?
18

3 - Age of sexual consent?
3 year difference unless both individuals are ofver 18

4 - Voting age?
18

5 - At what age would someone become an adult (free from parental control)?
18.

6 - What types of recreational drugs (if any) would be legal?
All drugs would be legal, but all would be gov't controlled to ensure that they are safe for use. There would also be tax on drugs much as there is tax on cigarettes and alchohol here
.

7 - Can people have guns? (if so - who and what kind?)
People can have whatever they want, as long as they are citizens and they don't have any criminal record. You must be 18 to purchase any guns. Minors can carry guns bought by their parents. There will be gun registration just like here.

8 - What would be the name of your country?
idk

10 - What would be the speed limit?
35 inner city, no limit on highways

11 - What types of religions would be permitted or restricted?

Total freedom of religion and total seperation of church and state.

Which of the following would be legal:
12 - Porn? Yes
13 - Prostitution? Yes
14 - Polygamy? Yes
15 - Homosexuality? Yes
16 - Stem cell research? Yes.
17 - Human Cloning? No.
18 - Cock Fighting? Yes.
19 - Slavery? No.
20 - Hunting? Yes.
21 - Fishing? Yes.
22 - Eating meat? Yes.
23 - Littering? No.
24 - Unisex bathrooms? Yes, but strict privacy codes.
25 - Suicide? Yes.
26 - Gay marriage? Yes.
27 - Abortion? Yes, within the first 3 months.

28 - What types of sexual activity (if any) would be illegal?
Nothing will be illegal, as long as there is consent.
29 - Would your county be clothing optional or clothing mandatory?
Optional
30 - Would you have obscenity laws? If so - how would you define “obscene”.
No.
31 - What system would you set up for collecting taxes?
- Income tax? (how much?)
- Sales tax? (how much?)
- Import/Export tax? (how much?)
Same as US.

32 - What criteria would someone need to pass to become a citizen?
Potential citizens would have to know laws. Service in military

33 - What types of people would you allow (or not allow) into your country?
Anyone but criminals from another country.

34 - What type of government would you establish?
Democracy.

35 - To what degree would your government be allowed to censor or restrict the media?
They can censor only for national security reasons.

20. I think is a good age to start, people are still immature at the age of 18-19, yet there are still idiots at the age of 20. But I think this is the better age.

2 - Driving age?
17. 16 is still to young.

3 - Age of sexual consent?
17. This is a good age to determine if the female is really wanting a child or not. 16 is too young and most EVERY female I have talked too has been "deflowered" at the age of 14-16. Also, anyone over the Age of 21 Female/Male/Homosexual etc... will be prosecuted as a "sexual" predator" if the child is under 17.

4 - Voting age?
communismhas no voting.

5 - At what age would someone become an adult (free from parental control)?
16. As long as they are still earning some sort of degree.

6 - What types of recreational drugs (if any) would be legal?

• Pot
• Cigarettes
• alcohol
  
• Cocaine
  

7 - Can people have guns? (if so - who and what kind?)
No one can "own" a pistol, unless government authorizations is given anyone can own ANY long rifle as long as the caliber(Unless its a musket) can wield any weapon smaller then a .50cal and is not Full-Automatic

8 - What would be the name of your country?
Antiga, or Tarsonis(oh, man I'm a nerd)

10 - What would be the speed limit?
30 Residential, 45 threw most streets, anything up to 100 on Highway.

11 - What types of religions would be permitted or restricted?
Any religion is free to practice as long as it doesn't harm anyone/anything/any animal.

Which of the following would be legal:
12 - Porn? Yes
13 - Prostitution? Yes
14 - Polygamy? No
15 - Homosexuality? Yes
16 - Stem cell research? Yes.
17 - Human Cloning? Yes.
18 - Cock Fighting? No.
19 - Slavery? No.
20 - Hunting? Yes.
21 - Fishing? Yes.
22 - Eating meat? Yes.
23 - Littering? No.
24 - Unisex bathrooms? No.
25 - Suicide? only if some one is in a lifeless coma and the guardians want to.
26 - Gay marriage? Yes. The only way marriage in general will be involved in the government is in regards to name changes. Marriage will remain a cultural issue.
27 - Abortion? Yes, as long as the fetus has not developed lungs/arms/etc...

28 - What types of sexual activity (if any) would be illegal?
Nothing will be illegal, as long as there is consent, and no one is killed
29 - Would your county be clothing optional or clothing mandatory?
Mandatory

30 - Would you have obscenity laws? If so - how would you define “obscene”.
Everyone will wear pants on Fridays.

31 - What system would you set up for collecting taxes?
- Income tax? (how much?)
- Sales tax? (how much?)
- Import/Export tax? (how much?)
Everyone will work for a Government branch is some sort of way, either it be retail/military/postal etc...

32 - What criteria would someone need to pass to become a citizen?
5 years of armed Service, able to speak the language fluently, and know who I am.

33 - What types of people would you allow (or not allow) into your country?
Anyone is welcomed, but a stay over 6-months will be required to serve in the military(unless a family member is ill or something bad is happened to the family etc....)

34 - What type of government would you establish?
Very limited Communist. We as a society cannot move forward without us all contributing to Society. If left jobless for more then 364 Days one will join/rejoin the Armed forces for 2 Years.

35 - To what degree would your government be allowed to censor or restrict the media?
Very little Censorship the only thing I'd censor is Engineering of new Armed forces projects.

1 - What would you make the legal drinking age?

Probably keep it at 21.

2 - Driving age?
Starting at age 15, if you pass the various courses, you can drive. The tests are harder, and make sure you know what you are doing.

3 - Age of sexual consent?
16 years old. Nothing lower.

4 - Voting age?

18+ is a full vote. 16-17 is a half vote.

5 - At what age would someone become an adult (free from parental control)?

16.

6 - What types of recreational drugs (if any) would be legal?

Alcohol. Thats it.

7 - Can people have guns? (if so - who and what kind?)

No. My entire island is gun-free.

8 - What would be the name of your country?

10 - What would be the speed limit?

25 in residential areas. 45 on highways. 55 on interstates.

11 - What types of religions would be permitted or restricted?

Which of the following would be legal:
12 - Porn? Yes
13 - Prostitution? Yes
14 - Polygamy? Yes
15 - Homosexuality? Yes
16 - Stem cell research? Yes
17 - Human Cloning? No
18 - Cock Fighting? Yes
19 - Slavery? No
20 - Hunting? No
21 - Fishing? Yes
22 - Eating meat? Yes
23 - Littering? Punishable by life in prison.
24 - Unisex bathrooms? State law will say that every building structure must have at least one bathroom.

25 - Suicide? Assisted, yes.
26 - Gay marriage? Yes
27 - Abortion? No. People will care for each other.

28 - What types of sexual activity (if any) would be illegal?
Rape.
29 - Would your county be clothing optional or clothing mandatory?
On beaches, optional, everywhere else is mandatory.
30 - Would you have obscenity laws? If so - how would you define “obscene”.
Nothing.
31 - What system would you set up for collecting taxes?
- Income tax? (how much?)
- Sales tax? (how much?)
- Import/Export tax? (how much?)

My financial advisers will take care of that

32 - What criteria would someone need to pass to become a citizen?
No criteria. Move here, sign a piece of paper, and you are a citizen.

33 - What types of people would you allow (or not allow) into your country?
Anyone.

34 - What type of government would you establish?

Socialistic Democracy.

35 - To what degree would your government be allowed to censor or restrict the media?

Never.

Freedom of the press is our #1 point of constitution.

36 - Aside from laws - what sort of unofficial (and unenforced) cultural rules and traditions would you like to establish? For example - taking shoes off before entering someone’s home. Or not eating with the left hand.