The first edition of Social Efficiency was published in 2003.  It was written with the intention of provoking discussion in order to strengthen its design.  The results of such discussion and analysis have been compiled in this second edition.  As with the first edition, the ideology presented is not outlandishly radical, nor of a utopian nature, and yet it certainly breaks from current practices.

Social Efficiency operates under the doctrine that government is only a form of social management, and social management is only a method for maintaining and improving the quality of life for the individual.  Political theorists have lost sight of the actual end result that government is supposed to be achieving.  The policies presented in this second edition of Social Efficiency provide a foundation for a society to build an efficient means of utilizing their resources, while allowing for their government policy to evolve in synch with any social and or environmental changes.

One of the proposals with a significant degree of change to most current systems is the design of the judicial process.  Social Efficiency eliminates the trial game by removing the competitive match between prosecution and defendant, consequently foregoing the requirement for lawyers and jurors.  Instead, to achieve the end result of the truth, groups of Case Investigators with law degrees and their management (Judges), oversee research and make rulings.  This much over simplified explanations is covered in depth in the book. 

Besides the court system, other topics addressed include, government structure, national defense, healthcare, education, and individual freedom.  The most significant additions to the second edition are examples of a complete authentic Constitution and a Government organizational chart.

The basic role of government is to pull a society''s resources together in order to maximize their utilization.  Organizing resources should benefit the society as a whole in a greater manner than if the resources, and consequently the functions sponsored by those resources, were left unorganized and in possession of individuals.  In current capitalistic societies resources generally are represented as money and collected in the form of taxes, fees, fines and lotteries.  Some functions, such as law enforcement, may seem obvious to the majority of the citizens that they should be centralized, while other functions, such as healthcare, may be more controversial as to whether they should be managed privately or by the Government.  This chapter will not discuss the functions that government revenue supports.  It will only address the determination and collection of the revenue. 

& n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          In the United State’s current system a number of revenue streams such as school taxes, "sin" taxes and bridge tolls, are directly associated to the function they support.  One may argue that the people who use the bridge should pay for its maintenance, but I have a counter-argument.  It is virtually impossible for a citizen who has never crossed the bridge not to receive some direct or indirect benefit from the bridge''s existence, for instance in the form of goods transported.  Additionally, there is a high amount of wasted funds in creating individual taxes and fees, such as toll collectors'' salaries, tollbooths, and cash registers.  Technology can help, such as automated toll charging, but down the line there still is duplication in accounting.  If a function is required to provide a social service, then it should be funded from an appropriate budget.  There is a need for only one tax to support the vast majority of government services; fees, fines and lotteries can provide revenue for specific social services.  Since societies are populated with humans and not programmable robots, the final solution is not as simple as one tax with no fees or fines.  Fees and fines serve other functions besides collecting revenue.  I will discuss taxes, fees, fines and lotteries separately.

Taxes

& n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          Though taxes have been historically abused and exploited by both governments and taxpayers alike, there is no other governmental revenue generator that can match the potential predictability, volume, and equality of taxes.  With increased diversity in the tax code, there is also an increase in the amount of revenue required to manage it, as well as a greater number of opportunities for its exploitation.  However, one can argue that the simpler the tax code, the less likely that it shall be fairly appropriated.  As with basic mathematics, the key lies with identifying a common denominator.  The common denominator for tax collection needs to be something that is vital to the existence of all citizens, businesses and organizations of a society.  Income should not be utilized because not every citizen and organization receives an income, and it is too difficult to police the reporting of income.  Sales taxes are as equally difficult to police, and they inhibit economic progress.  Water, air, and energy are certainly vital resources, but they are consumables that can be best managed by government or private industry utilizing consumption based billing.  The most inclusive common denominator that will provide the best solution for a simplified tax is to base the tax on property, primarily land and structures, but also certain waterways and business or residential water crafts, encompassing saltwater boat marinas and private freshwater lakes and streams.

Steve Gojeski lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, U S A < / S P A N >.  He holds a Bachelor Degree in Telecommunications from P ennsylvania State U n i v e r s i t y < /SPAN>.  For the past seventeen years he has earned a living specializing in the field of Logistics under the employment of a large telecommunications corporation.  Corporate life has provided him with a hands-on education in developing productivity processes and procedures, as well as an inside-out schooling about corporate politics. 

Besides political science and social management, his primary interests reside in science, philosophy, music, and art.  He is an avid musician and an enthusiastic student of theoretical physics.  

Social Efficiency, the first edition from 2003, was his first publication.  After publishing the considerably revised second edition, he plans to continue writing in both non-fiction and fiction genres.