Group+2

Christina, Zack, Kyle, Jillian

**N.E.R.F. (Never Ever Regain Freedom)**

__What the government would seize:__

Military armed forces-

This must be seized immediately to control the nation because without an army a country has almost no power. Every country, including the US, pride themselves on their military strength. With control over the military allow us to have strong domestic control over the people if necessary. Also it will pose a threat to any revolutions or protests.

Newspapers-

Newspapers need to be seized immediately to prevent mass-media of attacks on the government. With control over the newspapers our government can tell the people what we want them to know. This will threaten the people of the countries rights to know the truth.

Police departments-

With control of the police departments we can enforce more control in the local towns. We can induce a curfew and we could control how people could be treated in the nation. This will give us complete power over the land and it will pose a threat to surrounding cities and countries.

Natural resources-

Natural resources need to be seized so we (the government) can make as much money as possible. This will pose a threat to all farmlands and plains because the government plans to create coalmines over majority of the country to make mass profits.

Movie/tv/radio-

With control over movies we can have people direct movies and TV the way we want them shown. With control over radios we can control the news and avoid exploitation of our government. This will pose a threat to information given to the people around the country.

Government Agencies-

This would lead to enforcing total control over Domestic and Foreign affairs. It keeps the leader involved with all affairs and they can control what the government does, and how they do it. This would threaten the criminals, terrorists, and other people who do not do what the government asks of them as citizens.

Oil/Gas Companies-

These need to be taken over so that the leader can control where gas and oil go and the prices people pay for them. If we wanted to make sure no one could leave the country by ground (car, bus, etc), we could raise prices or just take away the option for them to get gas. We could also control oil so that people cannot use it except for in ways we see fit. This threatens those who waste oil, or those who might try to escape the country.

Commercial Airlines-

Commercial Airlines must be seized so that we can control where people go. No one can leave the country without permission of the leader or person controlling the airlines. We will also control who comes into the country. This way we are aware of all people at all times. This poses a threat to terrorists trying to get in or out, spies trying to get in or out, and other national security breaches.

Worker's Union-

We could control where people work and how much they get paid. This could provide the the government with more money if they choose to pay their workers badly. This would pose a threat to workers, but it would benefit the government.

Judicial System-

This would mean that we can control anybody going to jail or already in jail and we can get them to do what we want. This also would control the laws. We could get the laws to work in favor of the government, and we could bend them if necessary. This helps us keep total control by being able to control all courts and laws.

a. Technically a totalitarian government could exist anywhere, but our government foundation is very strong, and stable, and it would not be easy to overthrow and take over. We have hundreds of years of democracy under our belts, and that foundation would not be easily broken.
 * Questions**

b. We believe that a free society plagued with crime, poverty, and threats of attacks would be better than a totalitarian society free of all those things. If we lived in a totalitarian society, the government would control every aspect of our lives. No one would be able to do anything. However in a free society, even though crime and poverty and security threats may exist, at least people would have the freedom to do what they want. That is much more important. The United States is already a free society filled with crime, poverty and threats of attacks and we are still carrying on throughout the day fine and it would be much better then having a totalitarian society.

c. The leader of a totalitarian regime is extremely important. (Hitler, Stalin, Castro, etc.) The leader controls who can do what, when they can do it, how they can do it, where they can do it, and if they can do it. However totalitarian leaders always have a band of loyal followers to do their dirty work for them. They never actually implement the cruelty that they subject people to by themselves. So yes, the leader is important, but their subjects and followers are important too. However, I don’t think that a totalitarian government could exist without one because the dictator. The leader/figurehead of a totalitarian regime is probably the main aspect of the concept. There is one main dictator that has major control over the society and without a leader the whole idea of having a totalitarian society would have no purpose.