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Bill: Electing Mayors
Details
Submitted by[?]: Libertarian Socialist Party
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: October 2421
Description[?]:
| In order to promote democracy and the empowerment of all peoples, be it therefore resolved to make the mayors of cities, towns and villages elected directly by their local populations. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change The appointment of mayors.
Old value:: Local governments determine the method of appointment.
Current: Citizens elect their mayor directly in a local election.
Proposed: Citizens elect their mayor directly in a local election.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 06:43:36, June 26, 2007 CET | From | Libertarian Socialist Party | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | Debate away. |
| Date | 13:25:04, June 26, 2007 CET | From | Alderdath Progrisati Lagaja | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | While I agree with the sentiment behind this bill, in practice, different regions require different administration styles. |
| Date | 17:57:46, June 26, 2007 CET | From | Libertarian Socialist Party | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | That may be true, but the rights of citizens out weigh that right. And all citizens have a right to fully participate in government. If a region truly requires unelected mayors, then let the population decide that, not the Federal government. |
| Date | 18:03:18, June 26, 2007 CET | From | Alderdath Progrisati Lagaja | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | Ah but local governments represent their populations. |
| Date | 19:19:58, June 26, 2007 CET | From | Libertarian Socialist Party | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | They do not unless the population has actually had a say in choosing these governments, and elections are the simplest and best way of doing this. Like I said, if the people want philosopher kings -- let them at least elect them. Even if they elect a system that will strip them of their democratic rights; let them at least choose this path. |
| Date | 23:19:57, June 26, 2007 CET | From | Union of Work-Shy Elements | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | To mandate compulsory mayoral elections may actually run against local opinion. Local governments are elected to represent the views of their respective populations, the Senate in Kasaema shouldn't interfere with this democratic process. OOC: Welcome to Kundrati! |
| Date | 00:34:32, June 27, 2007 CET | From | Libertarian Socialist Party | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | That's just the thing: local governments are not "elected to represent the views of their respective populations" as things are now. That's the whole issue. Like I said, if the people of the respective regions are truly unhappy with democracy coming to them, then let them vote to impose bondage on themselves once more. It is simple enough to do so. The real crime is to prevent local populations that desire democracy and freedom from being allowed to enjoy its fruits. It is state sponsored oppression and discrimination. OOC: Thank you. This looks like a very interesting game, with an interesting community. I hope to be here for a while. |
| Date | 21:50:20, June 28, 2007 CET | From | Union of Work-Shy Elements | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | I really don't see how enforcing mandatory mayoral elections improves the situation. Under the current system if local people want a mayoral election to be held they simply elect local governments that pledge to hold a further mayoral election. Conversely if local people do not desire a mayoral election to be held then they can vote for parties that share that view. Dictating that mayoral elections must take place removes that freedom of choice. |
| Date | 23:30:31, June 28, 2007 CET | From | Libertarian Socialist Party | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | How does it remove that freedom of choice? If anything, it more directly puts it in their hand. By your own words, if the people of a region want to have elections in their province, they have to vote for the appropriate federal party. In other words, they do not have the power to directly influence their own situation in their own locals. They have to depend on the federal government to make the change for them. That is absolutely preposterous. Like I said, it is important that we put power in the hands of people, the ability to influence their own lives, as directly as possible. If they desire appointed mayors, then let them vote to have them in their own regions -- there and then, not through proxies and an all ready too imposing federal government that promises people pie in the sky for electoral purposes! I urge all progressive minded parties and persons to support this measure. |
| Date | 00:01:47, June 29, 2007 CET | From | Union of Work-Shy Elements | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | You seem to be advancing this bill on the misapprehension that local governments are unelected quangos. This is not the case, local governments are fully elected by the people they represent and are accountable to them for their actions. |
| Date | 09:10:28, June 29, 2007 CET | From | Libertarian Socialist Party | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | Obviously they aren't if there is a distinction being drawn between "elected mayors" and "local governments determining the methods of appointment." Some of these regions may in fact be electing their governments all ready, and that's fantastic, but "some" isn't good enough. |
| Date | 15:21:46, June 29, 2007 CET | From | Union of Work-Shy Elements | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | Local governments are elected. OOC: It's probably in the constitution or wiki if you're interested. |
| Date | 16:51:14, June 29, 2007 CET | From | Libertarian Socialist Party | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | Some, not all, and as I've said, that just doesn't cut it in a democracy. People deserve a direct say in who governs them. OOC: I'm aware, but it's evident from the phrasing of the options that as the laws are now, mayors can/are being appointed or "elected" in some non-direct fashion, be it party appointments, or elections in the legislature. |
| Date | 16:52:51, June 29, 2007 CET | From | The Kundrati Sectarian Federation | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | To the Respected Delegates of the Union of Kundrati, I've read each and all of my colleagues communications as outlined above. While the K.S.F. agrees with many if not the overwhelming majority of the sentiments expressed on the behalf of our fellow parties; we feel it would be an injustice to look at this measure without going to the core as has yet to be mentioned. We are all aware that the constitution dictates local governments retain the right to call forth and hold local governments responsible for the maintenance of the locale. What none of our esteemed colleagues have yet to tackle is, who are these local governments accountable for? I've poured over what documents are available and I've yet to find a concise clarification for and when or if local peoples decide it pertinent to call forth local governments. Naturally, we can all likely safely assume that in some dire scenario that the likely outcome of a rogue local government would be quickly and promptly dealt with accordingly by the federal government. Here is where the K.S.F. finds concern with this entire issue. While the K.S.F. does not wholly agree that local peoples ought have the right to call forward their own local representative bodies. It is clearly in the interest of all, that if this is to be-as it is. We need a policy that is coherent and sets precent and responsibilities on these local governments. Furthermore, it is critical we either allow local governments to be called forward by regions as an optional item or to dismiss it as an option at all. Respectfuly, The Kundrati Sectarian Federation, K.S.F. |
| Date | 18:59:50, June 29, 2007 CET | From | Alderdath Progrisati Lagaja | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | To the LSP - Mayors are not the 'Local Government'. They are two entirely seperate bodies. |
| Date | 00:02:15, June 30, 2007 CET | From | Libertarian Socialist Party | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | It appears this measure has gone over like a sack of bricks. |
| Date | 16:22:14, June 30, 2007 CET | From | Demkratteja Lebraleiju Kundratatka | To | Debating the Electing Mayors |
| Message | Very Democratic |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | |||||||
| yes | Total Seats: 49 | |||||||
| no |
Total Seats: 290 | |||||||
| abstain | Total Seats: 0 |
| Random fact: The players in a nation have a collective responsibility to ensure their "Bills under debate" section is kept in good order. Bills which are irrelevant or have become irrelevant should be deleted. Deletion can be requested for bills proposed by inactive parties on the Bill Clearout Requests thread: http://forum.particracy.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4363 |
| Random quote: "My tenure will be controversial and it is, quite obviously, true that I am the most right-wing Prime Minister this country has seen in several decades.” - Margaret Woodhall, former Dranian politician |