The US presidential election is ample evidence that the US version of democracy is not perfect. People are lazy, and they pin their hopes on leaders. But this is a remnant of 18th century feudal ideology, not the spirit of the rule of law in the 21st century. The only way to assure long-term stability is through comprehensive constitutional reform so that a great system will push leaders to be great. The prerequisite for clean government is free speech and media access without charge in election campaigns.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye has been engulfed by a scandal centering on a confidante who is accused of using personal ties with Park to coerce local firms to donate millions of dollars to a non-profit foundation. The confidante is also accused of interfering in state affairs, and two former advisors are accused of helping her gain entrance to the presidential office. The scandal has sparked nationwide fury, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets to call for Park’s resignation. Under South Korea’s constitution, the incumbent president may not be charged with a criminal offence except insurrection or treason. But many argue a sitting president can be investigated by prosecutors, then charged after leaving office. The problem of corruption can only be solved through constitutional reform. For details see the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development.

Syria is at the center of much of the unrest in the Middle East, and considerable changes in the nation’s government must be considered in order to help bring about peace in the area. Setting up a semi-presidential system with a Parliament modeled after Switzerland’s is the first step toward democratization and the rule of law. This must be followed by adoption of a legal system in which international law takes precedent over domestic law. For details, see the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development.

In Nazi Germany the party rather than rule of law was held in the highest regard. The Nazis’ absolute power led to unbridled aggression that brought on the Second World War. These days the Chinese communists are following the same strategy and are seriously endangering world peace, even potentially causing a Third World War. Only Taiwan, which offers the advantage of sharing the language and cultural roots, is capable of influencing China towards democracy. Taiwan could lead China to have the leaders of the executive, legislative and judicial branches and the procuratorate elected through direct votes. See the details in the PPDA Charter.

Presidential elections in the US are increasingly little more than a contest between two candidates to see who can put together the biggest campaign and spend the most money for media expenses and other costs. Real issues and values are often overlooked in a race which features two less-than-stellar figures backed by supporters with deep pockets. In the meantime, potential candidates from all political ideologies are daunted by the prospect of paying for media time and space and dare not step forward. This problem can be easily overcome by granting all candidates in elections free access to the media to express their ideas. For more, please see the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development.

Stories of corruption and undue political influence are flooding news headlines everywhere from the western reaches of Europe to the most Eastern areas of Asia. The reason for these outbreaks of corruption is the concentration of too much power in the hands of a few key officials and a lack to restraints on the powers that they wield. Constitutional reform is urgently needed to return power to the people. For more details, please see the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development.

Thailand’s political history is marked with military coups that occur with almost predictable regularity. Every time the government faces a serious crisis it seems a few opportunistic army officers see fit to step forward and declare that they are in charge. What Thailand really needs is constitutional reform that will shift power to the hands of the people. The answer lies in a semi-presidential system with a Parliament and key officials who must face election at frequent intervals. Elections and referendums should be patterned after the examples of Switzerland and the US state of California to give the people real power in government. See the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development for more details.

Taiwan must move to bring about constitutional reform and true freedom and democracy. Doing so will set off a drive for democratization among the 1.4 billion people of China. This will then spread to North Korea, and with peace on the Korean peninsula the world will be much safer for all. The world’s democratic nations must back Taiwan as a beacon of democracy for Asia which will illuminate the road to peaceful development for China. See the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development.

Terrorism, fake news are just excuses. China's practice of "guarding against the people's mouth rather than preventing the floods" is like trying to create a "one world, one voice" society. The Chinese people have only come forward to re-constitution or a comprehensive constitutional reform, so that universal media, prohibition of government oligopoly, monopoly of the media, the Internet and all other communication channels. Details of the "Permanent Peace and Development Charter".

Voting is the only source of a state’s legitimacy and the lawfulness of its authority. It is also a concrete representation of basic human rights. The state shall carry out elections free of monetary cost, ensuring total fairness by prohibiting any organization or individual from influencing or interfering in elections. Violators must be subject to criminal prosecution. The state attorney general shall detain or arrest the leading figures among the violators within 24 hours and start the legal process of prosecution in the court of law.