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Bill: Economic Freedoms Act
Details
Submitted by[?]: Lodamun Autonomous Republican 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: November 2439
Description[?]:
| The Lodamun Autonomous Republican Party believes that while some of the current government's economic policies are sound, others are far too restrictive. We believe that a truly capitalist system is self-regulating; such a system is ideal as it avoids governmental waste and corruption. As such we propose a series of reforms to increase employment and productivity. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Employer's rights in regards to firing striking workers.
Old value:: Government approval is needed before strikers can be fired.
Current: Employers cannot fire workers who have gone on strike.
Proposed: Employers can fire workers who are deemed to have gone on strike without reasonable reasons.
Article 2
Proposal[?] to change The nation's policy on minimum wage regulation.
Old value:: There shall be a minimum wage at a level considered a "living wage," well above the poverty line for a full time worker.
Current: There shall be a minimum wage at a level considered a "living wage," well above the poverty line for a full time worker.
Proposed: There shall be a minimum wage at a level that a single full time worker on it can adequately subsist.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 21:48:31, August 01, 2007 CET | From | United Republics Party | To | Debating the Economic Freedoms Act |
| Message | No. we cannot lower business tax. I just did it. Government approval is the best system for firing workers. Who decides what is "reasonable?" The government - if so what's the point? The businesses themselves - they'd think everything was unreasonable. Lowering min. wage to that level would mean parents could not support their children and those working full time would barely be able to afford a loaf of bread and pile of hay to sleep on. |
| Date | 22:03:45, August 01, 2007 CET | From | Lodamun Autonomous Republican Party | To | Debating the Economic Freedoms Act |
| Message | "No. we cannot lower business tax. I just did it." Fair enough. "Government approval is the best system for firing workers. Who decides what is "reasonable?" The government - if so what's the point? The businesses themselves - they'd think everything was unreasonable." Untrue, businesses have a self-interested motivation to treat workers fairly; if they do not they will lose valuable skilled labourers and go out of business. By waiting for the government to rule, valuable time(and thus money and goods) are lost. "Lowering min. wage to that level would mean parents could not support their children and those working full time would barely be able to afford a loaf of bread and pile of hay to sleep on." Lowering the minimum wage will greatly reduce the cost of goods, and allow businesses to hire more employees. The current wage creates an advantage for foreign labour, costing us jobs at home. It also discourages enterprise, as it can often bankrupt small businesses. The argument that it will make families unable to subsist is countered by the decrease in the cost of the very goods that low-income families spend the most on: food and clothing |
| Date | 23:21:05, August 01, 2007 CET | From | National Moral Front | To | Debating the Economic Freedoms Act |
| Message | We are in favour of this act; Reducing restrictions on businesses, as long as they act in a correct and ethical manner, will ultimately benefit society. |
| Date | 01:27:39, August 02, 2007 CET | From | New Conservative Left | To | Debating the Economic Freedoms Act |
| Message | Ah yes, but your argument rests on the fact that businesses will act in a correct and ethical manner, which is hardly the case when profit is on the line. |
| Date | 02:44:21, August 02, 2007 CET | From | Lodamun Autonomous Republican Party | To | Debating the Economic Freedoms Act |
| Message | If employers treat their workers unethically the workers will find employment elsewhere; with the lowered minimum wage jobs will be more plentiful. Those with a desire to be employed will almost certainly be employed. |
| Date | 08:03:12, August 02, 2007 CET | From | United Republics Party | To | Debating the Economic Freedoms Act |
| Message | If businesses treated workers fairly they wouldn't go on strike and the whole issue is moot. |
| Date | 09:08:55, August 02, 2007 CET | From | New Conservative Left | To | Debating the Economic Freedoms Act |
| Message | I concur with the URP. Additionally, those locked in endless cycles of poverty in a local area do not have the freedom to roam from place to place. Instead of forcing them to find work that treats them like decent human beings, allow them to expect that and more. |
| Date | 01:57:07, August 05, 2007 CET | From | Independent Republican Party | To | Debating the Economic Freedoms Act |
| Message | We too agree with the URP. In a wealthy nation such as Lodamun, it is completely unacceptable for one to be receiving such a low wage that they live below the poverty level while holding a full time job. |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | |||
| yes | Total Seats: 159 | |||
| no | Total Seats: 338 | |||
| abstain | Total Seats: 102 |
| Random fact: Submitting a bill without any proposals in it will not attract or detract voters. It will not raise your visibility or change your political position. |
| Random quote: "A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done." - Ralph Nader |