Consitiutions of the High Frontier

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "ed_toronto1"
> --- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "babbler36"
> wrote:
> > How do you the settlements in space would be organized? I think
> there
> > would a central government for each high planetary orbit. It
would
> > confederal than federal, more like the UN, the EU or Swizerland,
> than
> > Australia, Canada or the USA.
>
> Just for the record, Canada defines itself as a confederation
because
> of the wide range of powers given to the provinces.

Yes, of course I know, I'm Canadian. However the fathers of
confederation wanted a more centralizated union than the USA (having
the Americian Civil War fresh in there minds). But the provinces
gradual gain power, a great deal having to do with the lingistic
problem in Quebec.

> The UDHR is very liberal and even first world governments are often
> in violation of some of its provisions. So instead of a military-
> style comand-and-control government, you would more likely have, in
> theory, a more liberal regime than any earthly government.

I think you misunderstod what I said. The area of influence under the
pan-settlement government would mostly be in military and commericial
affaires, as well as an arbitator for indidivial settlement
disputes. I think your thinking is it be more athoritartian, with is
not the case.

Hove you ever read Kim Standly Robinson's Mars books? In it, the
final consitution of the Martian government is very decentralized,
with the settlements holding much arthority. The consititution, sans
terraformation and with "orbit rights" (or any other matter that
apply to free floting settlements only) provisions, could serve as a
useful guide to making an independant High Orbit Federation.