We are working on a brand new version of the game! If you want to stay informed, read our blog and register for our mailing list.
Bill: Égalité! Aujourd'hui
Details
Submitted by[?]: Lutte Féministe de Libération
Status[?]: defeated
Votes: This is an ordinary bill. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: April 2419
Description[?]:
| Equality! Today An Act to ensure equality in the respect for human life. WHEREAS, different health care systems for different social classes is intolerable, and undermines Rildanor's respect for human life, regardless of class. WHEREAS, different educational systems for different social classes of children is intolerable, and undermines Rildanor's commitment to equality of opportunity, regardless of class. A universal, public system for health care and primary education shall be a national priority, and resources formally allocated to providing superior care in the private sector shall be reinvested in the public system, to ensure an equality of service regardless of class. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Health care policy.
Old value:: There is a public health care system, but private clinics are allowed.
Current: There is a public health care system, but private clinics are allowed.
Proposed: Health care is entirely public and free; private clinics are banned.
Article 2
Proposal[?] to change The education system.
Old value:: There is a free public education system alongside private schools.
Current: Education is private, but the government issues vouchers to pay for the schooling of disadvantaged children.
Proposed: Education is entirely public and free; private schools are banned.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 18:55:37, June 23, 2007 CET | From | Union Démocrate Libertarien | To | Debating the Égalité! Aujourd'hui |
| Message | "Non, we will not support this attack on private enterprises. As it stands, having private clinics technically improves healthcare coverage for the poor. As those who can afford private services use private services, public money is not used to treat the already well-off and rich of society who use private clinics. As thus, more money is left over to be concentrated on those who must use the free public system and, as thus, better services are provided in the public system from money which would otherwise be used to treat the rich. The rich have enough money as is and can afford private healthcare, the poor should be the ones who receive public money. Therefore, this proposal is self-defeating." - Constance Stark, Admiral MNA, Alkenne North |
| Date | 19:17:56, June 23, 2007 CET | From |  Parti Union Nationale | To | Debating the Égalité! Aujourd'hui |
| Message | "This is insane, the government of Rildanor can't afford to run a public health care system as it is and now you want to ban private clinics? We will be forced to tax the people of Rildanor through the roof, we oppose this bill." |
| Date | 01:40:04, June 24, 2007 CET | From | Lutte Féministe de Libération | To | Debating the Égalité! Aujourd'hui |
| Message | "Although we are not inclined to respond to statements made by the neo-fascist PPN, we would like to correct them on a particular point. Rildanor already spends approximately 335 RCR per citizen. This in a nation where the average per capita GDP is around 7,000 RCR. We admit that current health spending is not adequate, and would request the support of the PPN in passing a new budget taking that into account. That is not excuse for not taking this moral stand, only a reminder that we should spend more. We hear Mme Stark's point, but it is factually incorrect. If the money the rich spend on private care is reinvested in the public system, alongside the public money already invested, the same amount of money would be spent for healthcare as before, so the poor would not see a decrease in care. In fact, they would see an increase, as treatments that were once reserved for the very wealthy are opened up to all social classes based on need. Members of the assembly. This is a moral question. Will we continue to condone a stratified system, in which quality of care is a commodity to be bought and sold? In which the children of the rich can opt out of a public system and seek advanced care for a higher price simply because they are wealthier? I have never seen such desperate attempts made by the defenders of wealth and privilege as I have seen so far to cloud the right-thinking minds of this legislative body. Let every member of this assembly decide for him and herself which side they will stand on: respect for all human life or respect for wealth." -Océane Lefebvre Minister of Health and Social Services, Rildanor |
| Date | 18:47:05, June 24, 2007 CET | From | Union Démocrate Libertarien | To | Debating the Égalité! Aujourd'hui |
| Message | "I recognize the legitimacy of my colleague, Mme Lefebvre's, claims however the rich already pay for public health through taxes, if they are not using what they paid for, the public system has a surplus of funds it can use for better overall treatment. How can we reinvest money spent on private care if there is no more private care in the country? Do you intend on confiscating the funds of the doctors, nurses and owners of such private clinics? What will you do when you discover that these private health workers already used their salaries for necessities and luxuries? As far as I see it, the only change will be that the public health system will receive the same amount of funds and yet it will be mostly spent on the rich. The only solution will be to raise taxes to maintain the same level of public health quality we have now and we do not want to see an unnecessary burden on the taxpayers. Our top priority is ensuring the civil liberties of the people of this nation as guaranteed by the social contract of any sensible government and of any constitution. Forced confiscation of property is not the answer." - Constance Stark, Admiral MNA, Alkenne North |
| Date | 19:10:55, June 24, 2007 CET | From | Lutte Féministe de Libération | To | Debating the Égalité! Aujourd'hui |
| Message | "Admiral Stark (I apologize for not recognizing her as such earlier - OL) addresses some of the practical points of this legislation, and for that we are greatful because it gives us an opportunity to continue this conversation. If the rich pay for private care on top of the tax dollars they contribute to the public system, then a universal public system would of course require them to contribute on top of their current taxes the money they were spending on private care, in order to increase the standard of care for all. Increased taxes in this sense would not be an increased burden, as Admiral Stark incorrectly claims. It would be a logical transfer of funds, and no additional money would be required of anyone. EASL's top priority is ensuring a balance between liberty and community. In all things private let there be absolute liberty. That is why EASL stands by les Libertariens on issues of civil liberties. However, in all things public let there be community, community which contributes to the highest ideals of liberty enshrined in the free republic. It is EASL's belief that Égalité! Aujourd'hui contributes to public community and liberty. By including all people, regardless of class and status, in a public system, EASL guarantees a strong community without class divisions. But EASL also seeks to guarantee liberty through these steps; liberty, for example, in the sense that all children are now included in the same public system, are afforded the same opportunities regardless of birth, and are free to pursue life on the same foundation." JOINT STATEMENT, -Adrien Durand Premier, Rildanor -Océane Lefebvre Minister of Health and Social Services, Rildanor -Zoé Bertrand MNA, EASL Committee for Education and Culture |
| Date | 22:18:39, June 24, 2007 CET | From | Partie Nationale de Rildanor | To | Debating the Égalité! Aujourd'hui |
| Message | Whilst we do not agree with the current laws, we feel the proposals here are too far. |
subscribe to this discussion - unsubscribe
Voting
| Vote | Seats | |||||||
| yes | Total Seats: 20 | |||||||
| no |
Total Seats: 80 | |||||||
| abstain | Total Seats: 0 |
| Random fact: If there are no parties in your nation with seats, feel free to visit the forum and request an early election on the Early Election Requests thread: http://forum.particracy.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4362 |
| Random quote: "The spirit of democracy is not a mechanical thing to be adjusted by abolition of forms. It requires change of heart." - Mahatma Gandhi |