Is Lewiss a young guy?

And if you look to your left, you'll see the most corrupt political system in America. This likely will be what your third-world country-style of government will look like.

If they want to see the underbelly of American politics, RI is a great place to start.

Take them to a nice neighborhood, and provide the tax bills on the houses. Give them the delinquent, foreclosure, and exodus figures.

Go to a town meeting or school committee meeting and review these concepts: "Early retirement to Florida" and "Conflict of interest" and "It's for the children" and "Buying into the system."

Take them to a poor neighborhood, and show them what socialism is really doing. Try to get inside a tenement, preferably one that is rent subsidized, with a wide screen TV in the living room and a new SUV outside.

Show them the crumbling bridges and roads, and the kids' dismal test scores.

Climb Mount Trashmore in Johnston, and look out at the nearby Scituate Reservoir. Discuss the profits to be made in insider real estate deals and the best practices of urban planning. Tell them the wild dreams of selling the reservoir to Beijing.

Have lunch at the Capitol Grille with Buddy Cianci, Bob Walsh, Kate Brewster, and Stephen Alves.

Finish with a bang. Visit Twin Rivers Casino or Newport Grand --and lose a bundle. Go late at night if possible.

Before they go, grab a quick cup of coffee with an average Joe who is working 3 jobs and still not able to provide health care for his family. Sorry, but that's all the time Joe can spare.

Next stop on the tour: Detroit, Michigan.

OK, I'm no defender of our one-party, corruption-laden system here in Little Rhody . . . but here's my challenge to y'all . . .

To which state would you send them for the model of probity and efficiency?

Massachusetts? [just kiddin']

No, I'm serious . . . where should we look to find a place that does a lot better than we do?

That's easy. New Hampshire.

To Brassband, I would say Utah or Virginia. I think New Hampshire is overrated. Utah is notable because it is also a one-party state, but it somehow manages to avoid the types of problems we have here.

Greg,
And if they look to the right they'll find Myanmar.
OTL

OTL,

I'm with you. But what can we do when a country doesn't WANT the help? We end up with another Iraq? I want to be able to help people in need but who decides who's in need and how far we go? The United Nations has gone the way of the League of Nations so they're incapable of being the arbiter.

Brassband,

Look here:

http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/335.html

New Hampshire is probably the best state in New England, tax wise. However, being in the Northeast, it is pricey by default, and there is still an abundant supply of liberals.

Idaho is "quietly" thriving, so it would be a great possible model; I love living here. One noticeable thing about Idaho is the "right to work" law and the lack of all powerful unions. That keeps costs down.

Excellent "tour" of RI government, Citizen Critic.

Ah...Idaho, home of Mark Fuhrman and the black helicopter crowd (hey, the Tim McVeighs of our nation need a place to live, too).
My sister-in-law is in the process of moving up there from California. Let's just say her husband will fit in nicely.
Or to make citizens of a theocracy feel more at home, you can always take them to Utah.