THE DALT EQUATION

The DALT Equation -- Democracy, hAppiness, quaLity, poverTy.....

A NEW INSTRUMENT FOR MEASURING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT/HUMANITY/QUALITY OF LIFE/PROSPERITY

Mission Statement:

The mission of the DALT EQUATION is to acknowledge the multiple ambiguities and abstractions of the word "DEMOCRACY".

Many Times in recent history one country has persecuted or attacked, even befriended and shielded another country based on a perceived excess or lack of "Democracy". These comparissions to the elusive and imprecise notion of "Democracy" have proved imperfect and malleable to say the least.

The DALT Equation endeavors to quantify many indicators of a high quality, prosperous life and evaluate these factors as they relate to the political system that governs them.

The DALT equation recognizes that the benchmarks of a full and happy life, governed by a benevolent political instrument, are not clearly evident, by a primary and superficial examination of a country's political system. Thusly, the DALT equation seeks to numericly and accurately quantify these many variables, to produce a series of numerical values that can be measured and compared quickly and efficiently to avoid the syntaxial ambiguities and imperfect descriptions associated with the word
"democracy" and its close alliterations.

In a modern global economy, with all of its assets and resources, if there is one poor man, then we are all truly poor.

If a functional and humanity conscious government is cast off, for sheer empty rhetoric, then no man is completely free. If this same government is driven to extinction, only to be replaced by one less competent, less honest and less humane, then all the world is still effectively oppressed.

Let us all strive to avoid these sad outcomes. Now to this goal, my fellow humans, I present the DALT equation.

Please note before we go forth with the actual DALT instrument, that there has not been actual math applied to this equation. The DALT equation is still only in its infancy and will need input from multiple parties to bring it to its most effective future state.

Please also note, that for the DALT equation to be valid and accurate, it must be administered to a portion of a population that is sufficiently diverse enough for the equation to properly represent all of a countries citizens.

Proper ethics must be used in the collection of DALT responses, or the DALT equation will become another useless piece of propaganda to be wielded by the haves, to control the have nots.

Now on to the actual questions of this instrument.

POVERTY- All poverty is relative. What one man may consider rich, could only be survival to another. When answering this section, be thoughtful, but describe/answer what is in your heart.

1) Do you often go to sleep hungry?
2) Do you have enough potable water?
3) Do you wear clean clothes every day?
4) Do you have access to clean bathing and toilet facilities?
5) Is your modesty protected when using your bathing and toilet facilities?
6) Do you have adequate supplies of Toilet Paper and Tooth Paste and Soap and Feminine Products?
7) How many days living expense do you have saved after paying all of your bills?
8) Is your rent (or morgage) to low/appropriate/to high?
9) Are you forced by financial neccessity to share living quarters with persons you do not love?
10 If all of your fixed expenses remained the same, what % income increase would you need to comfortably live in a manner you deserve?
11) Do you have reasonable access to a Doctor for routine health matters?
12) Do you have easy access to a Doctor for emergency health matters?
13) Do you have access to a Dentist for routine dental matters?
14) Do you have access to a Dentist for emergency dental matters?
15) Can you afford the transportation expenses to visit a national park which is free to enter?
16) How many times last year did you visit such a national park?
17) Do you own a pair of dress shoes that would be appropriate to wear to a wedding?
18) Is your wardrobe appropriate for you to meet both important and humble members of your community?
19) Do you need drugs you can not afford?
20) Do your children have a proper amount of toys?
21) Do you have enough money to pay for your childs college tuition expenses?
22) If your child asks you for some money to buy candy at the store, do have enough?
23) Does your childs health suffer for lack of money?
24) How many children "6" years years of age could you afford to properly take care of?
25) Can you afford to not work for 3 months in order to take care of a sick family member?
26) Do you own a TV?
27) Do you own a Radio?
28) Do you own, or do you have the use of any of the following:
A refridgerator? A car? A motorcycle? A bicycle?
29) Do you have a bank account?
30) Do you own stocks in a company?
31) Do you own a pet? ( includes a fish,mouse,cat,dog,horse,bird etc)
32)Do you have a decorative live plant?
33)Do you have carpet anywhere in your home?
34) Does your roof leak?
35) Is your heating and air conditioning operational?
36) Can you afford a movie ticket?
37) Is there a bottle of unopened wine in your home?
38) Do you have either 100grams butter or 100 grams cheese in your home now?
39)Do you have adequate kitchen facilities available to you?
40) Do you have any unopened toiletries in your home?
41) Do you have a home computer?
42) Is the internet available to you?
43) Can you afford Tobbacco?
44) Can you afford Chocolate?
45) Can you afford Alcohol?
46) Can you afford Caviar?
47) Can you afford a ticket to the ballet?
48) Do you own a camera?
49) Can you afford to buy your husband or wife a birthday present that will make them express genuine joy and happiness?
50) Will you be able to retire at a age 70 or below?
51) Will your health suffer when you retire because of lack of money?
52) Will your happiness suffer when you retire for lack of money?
53) If your baby was deathly ill and needed antibiotics to survive, could you somehow obtain the following amounts of money in 24 hours? 1.56$ , 3.12$ , 6.25$, 12.50$, 25$, 50$, 100$ ?
54) Are you financially restricted to eating only staple foods?
55) Can you afford to make reasonabl dietary choices that vary from day to day?
56) Could you afford to spend the following amounts of money purchasing a luxury dinner for 2 in a fine restaurant? 1.56$, 3.12$, 6.25$, 12.50$, 25$, 50$, 100$ ?
57) How would you classify your economic status? Very Poor, Poor, Below Average, Average, Almost Rich, Rich ?
58) If you accused of a crime do you feel the public defenders office in your country will properly represent you?
59) Could you afford proper legal representation if you were accussed of a crime carrying the following penalties? 1 year, 2 years, 4 years, 8 years, 16 years, 32 years, Life in prison, The Death Penalty ?

Democracy- Well, as you may have guessed, this is a very important part of the DALT equation. You will answer the questions as you see fit. They are designed to be timly and appropriate and as scientific as I could make them. However, I will introduce this personal bias. Just because your country's government is elected with votes, doesn't make your leaders honest, it doesn't even make them competent. Just because your coutry is run by a King, doesn't mean you will have no rights, or even a bad life. You see, in my opinion "democracy" is just a word. Words are cheap, it is the end of the day results that count. They people of a country are the in the best position to feel and see these results, or lack of them. When I am asked to give my opinion of a leader or a government, I use the condition of the people relative to the peoples available assets to judge the credibility and talents of a given leader. For a signifigant world power to fling accusations ,or give accolades on less than tangible, measurable, honestly acquired scientific data is not only incompetent, it is cruel, selfish, and in some cases downright criminal. You now have my opinion, so give me yours.

1) Do you support your highest government official?
2) What % of your country is genuinely happy he is the leader?
3) What % of your country absolutely hates him?
4) What % of your country absolutely loves him as a leader?
5) Does he steal or embezzle money from the people?
6) Do you want your son to look to him as an example to live by?
7) Are the people of the country better off because of him?
8) Are there cruel and unscrupulous plots against him that come from other governments?
9) If your country was suddenly attacked by Facist Armies, Armies having the same nature and goals and methods as Nazi Germany, or Imperial Japan, would you consider your leader the best man "alive today" to lead your country's defense?
10) Is your president guilty of "war crimes" ?
11) Is your president guilty of "crimes against humanity?
12) Is your president guilty of murder for the pursuit of vanity, greed, or passion?
13) Is it very likely that your leader has been involved in the murder of foreign controlled spies on your country's soil?
14) Is it very likely that your leafder has been somehow involved or linked to the murder of persons working with foreigners that are attempting to effect terrible economic trauma against the peoples assets and financial stability?
15)Has your leader displayed an even temper and avoided unnessary war or armed conflict with foreign countries?
16) Is your president/government likely involved in the murder of less than 10 people for the purpose of defending the interests of your nation?
17) Has your leader conducted himself properly and in the spirit of protecting the physical and financial assets of the nation?
18)Did he steal, or engeneer the theft of large monies from the people to keep for himself or to give to his colleages?
19) All powerful leaders are in a position to "sell out" their people for financial gain and an easier tenure with world opinion. Did your leader "sell his people out"?
20) Has your president been "forced" to divert public assets away from constructive projects ( ie-education, arts, health care etc) for the purpose of combating "actual subversive foreign influences" ?
21) Has the public standard of "happiness" been lowered in any way due to a "subversive foreign influence" ?
22) Do you believe the word " democracy" is too general and ambiguous to be used "by itself" and without any collateral data for " general political comparisons" ?
23) Do you think your leader is a dictator?
24) Do you think your leader is a criminal?
25) Do you think your leader is a patriot?
26) Would you take a bullet for him?
27) Does your president possess a sense of general humanity and care for the weakest and most helpless of his fellow citizens?
28) Imagine a scenario where there are no subversive foreign powers or organized crime forces working to alter and effect your next election. If your president is voted out of office, defeated, would he resign professionally in a proper manner?
29) Are there agents of a foreign government seeking to artificially tamper with the public opinion of your president in a negative way?
30) Are there forces of organized crime that seek to steal money , value, or property from the people of your country if your president is defeated in his next election?
31) Will many people suffer if yuor president loses power?
32) What % of your countries material assets will be destroyed or dissapear in the the next 5 years if your president is defeated? 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 ?
33) What % of your countries material wealth/assets will be increased if your president is defeated? 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80?
34) Do you approve of the methods your country uses to deal with political dissenters?
35) Does your country employ torture against its citizens?
36)Does your country employ torture against foreigners domesticly or abroad?
37) How many deaths is your government responsible for in the last 50 years? ( This includes war, peace, negligent accidcents, and internal police matters) 0/0-5/5-10/11-20/21-40/41-80/81-160/161-320/321-640/641-1200/1201-2400/2,401-5,000/5,001-10,000/10,001-20,000/20,001-40,000/40,001-80,000/80,001-160,000/160,001-320,000/320,001-640,000/640,001-1,280,000/ greater than 1,280,001 deaths.
38) Does your government attempt to respond to the wishes of the nation?
39) What % of the people in your country feel the government tries to protect them and better their lives?
40)Does your government have plans to sabatage foreign governments that disagree with them?
41) Is there a sincere attempt by senior members of your government to better the lives of the common man?
42) Does your government practice some form of racial, sexual, or political prejudice that is injurious to YOU?
43) Does your government properly administrate and allocate public monies?
44) Are you reasonably satisfied with the present economic system you live in? ( communism, capitalism, socialism, free market economy, etc ) ?
45) Are you reasonably satisfied with your current form of government? ( Ie- monarchy, dictatorship, anarchy, democracy, failing corrupt democracy, true effective democracy, bad king, good king etc ) ?
46)Does your government represent the vast masses of the people?
47) Does your government closely conduct itself according to the wishes and trueest hearts desires of the people?
48) Are there signifigant portions of your country that have been "tricked" or "brainwashed" by foreign agents, or criminally subversive powers into being disgruntled?
49)Does your government return prisoners to countries that employ torture?
50) Does your government act and conduct itself in accordance with your most precious religious ideas?
51)Is your leader as religious as you would like?
52) Do you often speak poorly of your president?
53) Would you like to keep the same president for the next 50 years?
54) If your president was assasinated, would you laugh and throw a big party?
55)If your president was dying, would you pray for his recovery?
56) Are you scared to criticize your president publicly?
57)Does your country employ a "secret police" to physically harm political dissidents?
58) What % of your standard police force have committed outright murder against an unarmed man?
59) Does your country currently employ a " secret police" to harm non-violent foreigners on foreign shores?
60) Does your government violate the laws of other countries abroad?
61) Does your country financially or otherwise support brutal dictatorships in foreign countries?
62) Does your country have normalized business dealings with dictatorial regeimes?
63) Does your country have friendly relations with any countries guilty of some form of Economic Repression of very poor people?
64)Does your country automaticly extradite fugitives to other countries, or is there a CREDIBLE process to ensure they are treated fairly even sometimes avoiding extradition?
65)Does your countgry encourage you to raise your children in a moral fashion?
66) Are parents in your country punished by the state for properly punishing their children?
67) Do your courts give you wore treatment because of your sex?
68) Is your life bad because of your skin color?
69) Is your life harder because of your sex?
70) Does your government manipulate the media for the purpose of hiding bad foreign policy?
71) Will low rankig government officials be persecuted if they disagree with the present government?

Happiness- Happiness means many things to many people, but perhaps we can all agree that happiness can be sometimes described as a joy of living. If you can imagine all of the days of your life on a giant calander, how many days would have sad faces drawn onto them, how many days would only have check marks, and how many days would have honestly drawn happy smiles on them.
Happiness should be the goal of all peoples and all nations,, above wealth and democracy, above productivity and quality, but happiness cannot be attained as a singular goal itself, it is dependent on many factors to enable it. I will try to include some questions that indicate whether a man is happy or not, and for what portion of his life.

The DALT equation recognizes that during a mans lifetime he may live under many different governments, perhaps in different countries, so my questions will be Administration specific, meaning they will be constructed to evaluate a societies overall happiness in relation to the present government.


1) How many days during this year did you experience depression?
2) How many times during this year did you shake hands with a friend?
3) How many times during this year did you sleep alone, but long for the company of a loved one? ( can include a future loved one)
4) How many times did you help a friend in need?
5) How many times did a friend help you?
6) How many days this year did you long to be in another city, away from your present life?
7) How many times last year did you cry?
8) How many days this year did you laugh at something funny, even for a few seconds?
9) How many times this year were you happy to come to work?
10) Is your life being wasted?
11) Would your life be better if your government would help you? (not help you with money, but with influence, or support)
12) How many days vacation did you take last year?
13) How many days were you sick last year?
14) How many people in your personal life would take a bullet for you?
15) How many people in the world would you take a bullet for?
16) Do you sleep well?
17) Are you in chronic pain?
18) Are you in frequent physical danger from a violent attack?
19) Were you the victim of a violent assault last year?
20) Did you hurt anyone physically last year? ( includes attacking others and defending youself)
21) Do you have many friends?
22) Are your family members healthy?
23) Do you eat delicious food?
24) If you died tommorow, would you have many people mour your loss?
25) How many weddings did you attend last year?
26) How many parties did you attend last year?
27) How many gifts did you recieve last year?
28) How many presents did you give others?
29) Do you frequently feel too hot, or too cold?


Quality-- What defines quality of life, is it the monetary value of your possessions, or perhaps the number of satisfying moments you have? Is it your peace at home, or your physical surroundings? Here are some questions to try to identify what your quality of life is.

1) Do you like music?
2) Do you like art?
3) Do you feel optimistic about your future?
4) Do you need a bath but do not get one?
5) Are your teeth good?
6) Are your cohorts and companions quality individuals?
7) Are your companions honest and industrious?
8) Is your boss a good and just man?
9) Are your subordinates the type of people who you would like to live near?
10) Are you afraid to go out of your home at night?
11) Is your neighborhood dangerous?
12) Are you safe from crime?
13) Would you be safer if you had a bodyguard to walk with you throughout the day?
14) Do you respect the members of the opposite sex?
15) Of all the people you make eye contact with all day, how many of them would help you if you were injured in an accident and awaiting an ambulance.
16) Of all the people in the world whom you have met, and know their name, what % of them deserve to win the lottery?
17) How many people do you know that you wish would die a painful death?
18) How many people do you know that you would like to see suffering in emotional misery?
19) How many people do you know that are criminals and should be in jail.
20) How many people do you know of in jail that are wrongfully there?
21) What % of your police force are fair and just and good?
22) What % of your police force are only thugs in uniform?
23) Can you sing?
24) Do you tell jokes?
25) Do you hate many people?
26) Do love your spouse?
27) Would you die for your spouse?
28) Do you wish you had been born in a different country?
29) Are you satisfied with you life?
30) When you die, will you go to "heaven" ?
31) If your god is a good and just man, do you frequently make him very angry?
32) Is your god satisfied with your behavior?
33) Would you be embarrassed to have your grandchildren watch movies of all of yours days events for the past year?
34) Would you make a good president for your country?
35) Do the majority of your coworkers respect your work ethic?
36) Will your grandchildren love you and be satisfied you are their ancestor?
37) Do you hit your wife or husband?
38) Does your wife or husband hit you?
39) Should the world model itself after your country?
40) Would the people of the world be better off if your country was abruptly and magicly staffed and governed by American Indians suddenly brought forward through time? ( chief Joseph would be the president and the rest of your govenments 20 highest positions would be filled by random Indians from the American west)

The DALT equation is only in its infancy and prototype stage. It is intended for a this instrument to be administered in accordance with fair and scientific survey techniques. If the DALT equation were fairly utilized in multiple countries, then the world would have a Numeric value for a given countries "DALT number" . This would make it much harder for a country to be accussed of having poor democracy by a country with much democracy.

If the world were to adopt the DALT equation or a similar instrument that can be used to measure the DALT analagous subjects, then the problems of ambiguous terms such as Democracy being used to Label a country would be eliminated.

It is my opinion that a country should be judged by its DALT number, not by nebulous adjectives thrown at it by its friends or its foes.