Now we all know that I am too young to be elected President, but the possibility is always there that the position of Dictator will open up. Once that happens, I think I might go for it. Here's what I would do if I ran the country.
For starters, I would create a nationwide driving exam. There are two reasons for this. First, anyone can move to another state and just get a new license. Second, I would implicate a national identification system. The other reason is so they could be created so nobody can make a fake ID. I wold use ink similar to what they put on currency.
I would also require cigarettes and tobacco to be sold at separate stores. I would not allow the corner gas station to sell you cigarettes and beer. That would eliminate people buying alcohol and tobacco underage. If a store would get caught selling alcohol or tobacco underage, they would be fined all of their revenue for that day. It could be a little. It could be a lot. It would all depend on how much product they sold that day. I would equip all alcohol and tobacco stores with a machine that would check people's IDs.
In terms of crime, I would be very tough. For certain offenses, such as underage drinking or public intoxication, the penalty would be either 6 months in jail, or a one year class on the dangers of alcohol. In terms of drugs, possession and/or use of narcotics would result in 2 years in prison. Harder drugs would result in penalties of 20-50 yers in prison. Dealing drugs would result in an automatic life sentence upon conviction.
I would leave the penalty for murder up to the victim's family. If they felt that the person should be put to death, then they would be executed. If the family felt that the person should have life in prison, then that will be the penalty.
If I ran the country, everyone 15 and older would be tried as adults. Kids are acting more like adults each day, so why not let them feel more like adults?
I would also improve the educational system. I think that high school just teaches students to read and regurgitate. They do not teach students to think, and that's more important than reading and regurgitating. I would have high school structured more like college. Students would purchase their textbooks. They would not have classes the whole day. The campus would be an open campus, so students would be allowed to leave the campus until their next class. Students would be responsible for attending class, even though teachers would still take attendance. If a student was absent when an exam or paper would be due, and they didn't have an excuse, then they would recieve no credit towards that exam or paper.
Classes would be more discussion-oriented. Instead of doing assignments on readings, teachers would have discussions with the students. Students would be encouraged to think about how they can apply what they have learned in the future instead of just reciting the reading back in the form of exams.
There would be no detention though. If a student was to get in trouble, then they would face a judicial system similar to that at colleges. Students would not be suspended for a week. Instead they would be suspended for a semester. That would give them plenty of time to think about their action. That way, high school would be a lot more like college.
Now with every government, change happens. I would keep a similar legislative system, except that all senators and representatives would be appointed by me. In terms of legislation, all legislation would go throgh the same system, but before I would sign any bills nto law, voters would vote on whether or not to pass them.
Now I know that my chances of becoming dictator are very slim, but that possibility still exists nonetheless, and a guy can dream.