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: Free Speech Act
Details
Submitted by[?]: Revolutionary Constit'nal United Front
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: March 2445
Description[?]:
| There is no reason that private individuals must be barred from any non-harmful speech. Slander and libel laws imply that the government has a monopoly on truth. This Bill maintains it does not. We must allow truth to be determined freely, through competitive reptutation mechanisms as in a free market system. Those who pander lies will be discredited and those who adhere to truth will be reputable companies, individuals, and/or other entities. All laws criminalizing lying (a matter of morals rather than law) are to be henceforth repealed, on the passing of this act. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Libel laws.
Old value:: Individuals may sue over falsehoods printed on them.
Current: Individuals may sue over all defamatory remarks printed on them, even truthful ones.
Proposed: The nation has no laws regarding libel.
Article 2
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy regarding regulation of media content.
Old value:: There are laws against the publication of false information; everything else may be published freely.
Current: It is forbidden to criticize the government, or publish any material that the government does not approve of.
Proposed: There are no content regulations; the media may publish anything, even proven falsehoods.
Article 3
Proposal[?] to change Slander laws.
Old value:: Individuals may sue over malicious falsehoods spoken about them.
Current: Individuals may sue over malicious falsehoods spoken about them.
Proposed: The nation has no laws regarding slander.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 18:58:16, August 17, 2007 CET | From |  Bloc Militaire pour Restauration | To | Debating the Free Speech Act |
| Message | we oppose, falsehoods can damage others; it's only just that that damage is repaired |
| Date | 20:50:53, August 17, 2007 CET | From | Revolutionary Constit'nal United Front | To | Debating the Free Speech Act |
| Message | There is no way to reconcile profane insults, which are legal, and "malicious falsehoods", which are now illegal. Both are equally as damaging, yet we selectively choose, which ones to prosecute. |
| Date | 11:44:54, August 18, 2007 CET | From | Bloc Militaire pour Restauration | To | Debating the Free Speech Act |
| Message | we have changed our mind on this bill, falsehoods can be dealt with by debate itself and ataacking back in the media. There's indeed no need for laws on this area |
| Date | 12:40:57, August 20, 2007 CET | From | Lib-Gov Party-part of W.A-S.U | To | Debating the Free Speech Act |
| Message | We oppose |
| Date | 15:01:59, August 20, 2007 CET | From | Drtárék Jelbék Prta | To | Debating the Free Speech Act |
| Message | On the grounds of common sense we must vote no. Lying is a question of morality and we in the JKK feel that the government is right to interefere in moral matters. We see no reason for complete lies to be knowingy published as truths, it benefits noone. |
| Date | 03:28:10, August 21, 2007 CET | From | Jesuék avé Avjogadék Kàticképylz | To | Debating the Free Speech Act |
| Message | As JKK said, this is absurd. Lies are lies and should not be spread, if this passes, I'll make sure that you have lots of nasty lies printed about you. |
subscribe to this discussion - unsubscribe
Voting
| Vote | Seats | |||
| yes |
Total Seats: 136 | |||
| no | Total Seats: 193 | |||
| abstain | Total Seats: 114 |
| Random fact: Cultural Protocols should generally be reflective of RP conducted within the nation and should not significantly alter or modify the ethnic, religious or linguistic composition without considerable and reasonable role-play or other justification. |
| Random quote: "A lot of people are waiting for Martin Luther King or Mahatma Gandhi to come back, but they are gone. We are it. It is up to us. It is up to you." - Marian Wright Edelman |