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Bill: Tax FAIRNESS, Economic GROWTH, & Job CREATION Act of 2481
Details
Submitted by[?]: Kapitalist-Arbeitsfamilien Partei
Status[?]: defeated
Votes: This bill proposes to change income taxes. It requires more than half of the legislature to vote yes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: December 2482
Description[?]:
| To the National Convocation of the Axis Mundi Likatonian Res Publica: Greetings! This comprehensive legislative agenda seeks to give the Republic of Likatonia and her citizens the TRUE spirit of freedom and democracy by establishing an unfettered Free Market Capitalist system centered economic choice & freedom. (1) (a) First and foremost, after reviewing the dire economic situation with the distinguished St. Vodinburg College Economist, Dr. Fiona C. Machlachlan (Chief Economist of the Pigou Club), we are credible in asserting the problem in the slowing of economic growth. That is as Dr. Maclachlan and I explain: "FISCAL CROWDING OUT!!!" as seen by evident of Likatonia's recent GDP statistics: ************************************************************************************************************************ GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) [cf. http://80.237.164.51/particracy/main/budget.php?nationid=17 ] *****CONSUMPTION: 968,403,778,215 LIK (68.74%)***** ***GOVERNMENT: 250,229,486,865 LIK (17.76%)*** *****INVESTMENT (jobs): 190,224,137,437 LIK (13.50%)***** Net Exports: 0 RUT (0.00%) GDP: 1,408,857,402,517 LIK (100.00%) ************************************************************************************************************************ (b) "This is," as St. Vodinberg College Economist Dr. Machlachlan explains, "because Government Spending was just TOO HIGH contributing to an unbelieveable 17.76% of GDP thus exceeding the 13.50% contribution of INVESTMENT spending by businesses (which are owned by Democratic Worker Councils, by the way) which is where manufacturing jobs and business expansion occur. Why??? Well, this condition is known as "Fiscal Crowding Out" where if there is too much of GDP growth coming from increases in Government spending, this will lead to INFLATION. When the ugly monster of INFLATION grips the countryside, the economy becomes very VOLATILE (like a "roller coster") and businesses (DWCs) scale back on investment and manufacturing. (c) Moreover, as a result of business investment and production not being high enough to create JOBS for millions of starving Likatonians, the CONSUMPTION component of GDP is at an HISTORIC low of ~68% when the normal range should be over 80%. Then again, it makes perfect sense: if people do not have JOBS and are STARVING, they cannot naturally go and consume the luxurious goods and services produced by the economy by businesses like Wal-Market etc--[all owned and operated by DWCs]. (2) (a) Second, since this is the FIRST time in Likatonian history that we have had a budget crisis of this magnitude, the ballooning of the National Debt is having a CONTRACTIONARY (shrinking) effect on the Republic's overall money suppy that is circulating in the economy. In other words, the PRICE of money (as when you borrow it) as reflected in the interest rates that banks charge on Car notes, mortgages, small business loans, etc. is SKYROCKETING at an alarming rate. (b) When the price of any commodity (in this case "money" when you borrow it) goes up, the demand for it goes DOWN thus leading to an economic downturn as was seen in the Great Depression of 1929 in the Union of States on Planet Aarth that is on the southside of the Milky-White Galaxy. In the same way, the Likatonian people and DWC businesses are taking out less loans which is steadily increasing depressed business activity and UNEMPLOYMENT!!! (3) (a) Therefore, we strongly suggest that this Convocation IMMEDIATELY install a fiscally responsibly Flat Tax of 20% on all upper-income families making OVER 11,429 LIK per year--[ OOC: or, for practical purposes, the equivalent to $100,000 per year]--[IC] in order for the Legislature to CUT overall Federal spending PROPORTIONALLY by the end of this year. Fortunately, we are credibily certain that this would ELIMINATE the deficit, curb inflation, lower interest rates, and thereby put a halt to the "Fiscal Crowding Out" economic situation thus creating jobs for millions of Likatonians currently out of work. (b) In addition, we as credible economists STRONGLY recommend that the Convocation immediate ABOLISH the Corporate Tax on profits. Remember, according to the current laws of Likatonia, ALL of the corporations that are privately owned in the Republic are REQUIRED to be manged by Democratic Worker Council(s) (or WORKERS) and NOT wealthy landowners. A repeal of the corporate tax is a repeal on the tax on profits that WORKERS make for themselves. Thank you for your full support. Cordially, Mr. Christian E. Savage, Emissary of the Axis Mundi Res Publica Co-signed, Dr. Fiona C. Machlachlan, Chief Economist of the Pigou Club & St. Vodinsburg's College |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Tax percentage of the profit made by corporations.
Old value:: 99
Current: 17
Proposed: 0
Article 2
We propose to alter income tax brackets to the following setup. Information about the current income tax system can be found here.
| Bracket | Tax | Estimated Revenue |
| > 11,429 LIK | 20% | 68,621,000,000 LIK | Total | 68,621,000,000 LIK |
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 17:04:08, November 05, 2007 CET | From | Commonwealth Workers Army | To | Debating the Tax FAIRNESS, Economic GROWTH, & Job CREATION Act of 2481 |
| Message | What an evil agenda... encouraging society to allow the working-poor to starve, encouraging spiralling gambling, encouraging foreign moneylenders to push legitimate Likatonian workers out of control of their own businesses, trying to capitalise on energy price-gouging, trying to enslave our children... Is there nothing the CWFP will NOT do for a corporate backhander? |
| Date | 19:00:50, November 05, 2007 CET | From | Kapitalist-Arbeitsfamilien Partei | To | Debating the Tax FAIRNESS, Economic GROWTH, & Job CREATION Act of 2481 |
| Message | LMAO!!!! You are hilarious for a guy that is imposing a THEOCRATIC dictatorship on the people of Likatonia!!! (1) (a) Working Poor will NOT "starve" b/c this bill (the tax cuts) will encourage INVESTMENT in the economy thus creating JOBS, JOBS, and more JOBS!!! (b) Under current Likatonian Law, workers have an INALIENABLE right or organize in a union and collectively bargain with their employer WITHOUT consequence to strike; we intend to keep it that ways dictated in our party platform. (c) If you are referring to the so-called "minimum wage," it is NOT the duty of Government bureaucrats [in my Administration (haha)] to dictate the price of labor; rather, the price of labor should be dictated by the PEOPLE in the Free Market; afterall that is what democracy is all about, right??? (d) Besides, what is the USE of a miniium wage law that costs the TAXPAYERS money to enforce it, when workers have UNIONS and protection when striking to get wages up to 15 LIK an hour??? (e) Finally, raising the minimum wage actually HURTS the poor b/c what is a business\'s objective? Well, their job is to make PROFIT, and if the gov\'t FORCES him/her to pay workers 10 LIK an hour when he can only afford to pay 5 LIK, then that means he is going to LAY off his workers: UNEMPLOYMENT!!! (2) Gambling??? Now, I don\'t understand the "looney Left," here(LOL)? You support a woman\'s right to VICIOUSLY murder her baby girl ("little woman") in the womb, but that SAME woman doesn\'t have a right to play Blackjack or Poker??? This doesn\'t sound right to me. (3) This bill will not encourage foreign moneylenders to push workers out of control of their own businesses, but rather respects FREE TRADE; if domestic companies cannot compete and get bankrumpt, then this law also allows the Government to give that company subsidized loans to help bring them on their feet. However, in the process, FOREIGN sources of capital (money) is coming INTO our country and leaving the Commonwealth of Rutania and Holy Luthori Empire!!!! What is wrong with that??? (4) If we DE-regulate the private energy industry, that will NOT (contrary to popular opinion) cause the illusive "price gouging." [OOC] (a) In fact, price gouging is actually a result of the government (in the United States) giving "protected status" to "regulated monpolies" that DECREASE competition from smaller companies. Case in point: in New York City, the energy companies lobbied the City Council and State to let Con Edision have a "regulated monopoly" on electricity in the city and the Long Island Power Authority has that same "regulated monopoly" status on Long Island. As a result, citizens/consumers do NOT have choice in competition to buy their electricity from companies outiside the city thus causing Price-GOUGING!!! [IC] (b) So, in actuality, to prevent "price gouging," we need a perfectly FREE MARKET that encourages COMPETITION between different energy companies. For example, the Nuclear Power Plant on the West side of St. Vodinsburg might charge 100 LIK per month for their light bill whereas the Solar Power Plant on the East side might charge only 50 LIK per month; then again, the "Potato Power Plant" [YES, it has been discovered that you can generate electricity from potatoes.....haha] might charge only 25 LIK. Now, what will happen as result??? That\'s right: rational people will choice the company that charges the LOWEST price for the BEST quality. In other words, competition drives down prices for poor people better than any knucklehead in my Administration can(LOL)!!! (5) (a) Finally, what are you talking about that this bill enslaves children??? It does absolutely no such thing. It simply says that if students wish to VOLUNTARILY work at Wal-Market afterschool or McRonald\'s Hamburgers to make a little extra money for gifts to give at Immeressen\'s Mass [OOC: Immeressen\'s Mass is my way of saying "Christmas"] , [IC] they they are FREE in a democratic society of doing so. (b) However, the law stipulates that there are additional regulations for child labor as opposed to adult labor; also, if students wish to work, they have a right to unionize. Thanks again. |
| Date | 19:30:44, November 05, 2007 CET | From | Commonwealth Workers Army | To | Debating the Tax FAIRNESS, Economic GROWTH, & Job CREATION Act of 2481 |
| Message | We shall address the other issues later. For now... just this question of 'my administration'? The CWFP isn't even in the Cabinet. The CWFP have NO administration. |
| Date | 20:20:45, November 05, 2007 CET | From | Commonwealth Workers Army | To | Debating the Tax FAIRNESS, Economic GROWTH, & Job CREATION Act of 2481 |
| Message | What is wrong with a theocratic government? If the people WANT theocratic representation, they should be allowed it, shouldn't they? And... who said the AM SuDP were trying to install a dictatorship? 1a ) It doesn't matter how many JOBS the CWFP think will be created, if none of them pay enough to live on. Basic math. 1b ) The CWFP are dishonest - not only does the CWFP NOT :" intend to keep it that ways" they have actually introduced another bill that removes the ability of unions to "collectively bargain". 1c ) You have no administration. You aren't even IN the administration. Your assertion that "the price of labor should be dictated the Free Market" is bizarre. It certainly is NOT "what democracy is all about", by any stretch. 1d ) The use of a minimum wage - even though we have unions - is that unions will TRY to get fair pay, but the government can MAKE it happen. 1e ) The CWFP says that Likatonians will be hurt because the purpose of business is to make profit? That's simply not true. There are many companies (most of them, in Likatonia) that operate purely on philanthropic causes. Profit is alien to these shores. Hence why we don't want foreign investment, also. 2) Abortion is not murder. If the CWFP are incapable of discussing it like grown-ups, we can simply ignore them. Murder is defined as the 'illegal death of a human being'. Abortion is legal - so not murder. ANd a foetus isn't YET a 'human being'... so STILL not murder. We don't make our laws based on what MIGHT happen. We don't give the embryo the same rights as an actual citizen, because they are NOT citizens yet. 3) If foreign investors bankrupt Likatonian companies, it is okay because the government will help Likatonians make another one? What are we - a feeder-tank for foreign industry? We do not WANT other nations getting rich while we spend all our time starting up new companies! 4) The CWFP are amusingly naive. Price-gouging takes place whenever a commodity is NEEDED more than it can be supplied. If there is a demand on power that is greater than one producer can match, people won't just wait till the power becomes available, they will be forced to pay whatever is asked. And - if your power companies cooperate, they can allow the prices in the whole industry to raise artificially. 5) Why SHOULD children work? We assume they wil lhelp at home, do chores, maybe help at the market if mommy has a stall, that kind of thing... but why should they be in the job market? They are children - it is our job to protect them. |
| Date | 00:46:39, November 06, 2007 CET | From | Neue Kommunistische Liga | To | Debating the Tax FAIRNESS, Economic GROWTH, & Job CREATION Act of 2481 |
| Message | STRONGLY STRONGLY STRONGLY SUPPORT! |
| Date | 09:40:45, November 06, 2007 CET | From | Kapitalist-Arbeitsfamilien Partei | To | Debating the Tax FAIRNESS, Economic GROWTH, & Job CREATION Act of 2481 |
| Message | (1) "What is wrong with a theocratic government? If the people WANT theocratic representation, they should be allowed it, shouldn't they?"--AMSuDP Actually, the people of Likatonia are MILITANTLY SECULAR; check the nation page. (2) "It doesn't matter how many JOBS the CWFP think will be created, if none of them pay enough to live on. Basic math."--AMSuDP We agree 100%. That is precisely the reason that we unequivocally support WORKERS' RIGHT to organize, collectively bargain, and strike. (3) "The CWFP are dishonest - not only does the CWFP NOT :' intend to keep it that ways' they have actually introduced another bill that removes the ability of unions to 'collectively bargain'."--AMSuDP What are you talking about? We have NEVER (OOC: ever since playing this game from the Commonwealth of Rutania) [IC] submitted a bill that strips unions the right to collectively bargain. If you insist on debating the issue, I need to see some proof. (4) "The use of a minimum wage - even though we have unions - is that unions will TRY to get fair pay, but the government can MAKE it happen."--AMSuDP This argument doesn't make sense for the simple fact that if unions "try" they will AUTOMATICALLY succeed if they strike w/o consequence of being fired (naturally, of course). (5) "Abortion is not murder. If the CWFP are incapable of discussing it like grown-ups, we can simply ignore them. Murder is defined as the 'illegal death of a human being'. Abortion is legal - so not murder. ANd a foetus isn't YET a 'human being'... so STILL not murder. We don't make our laws based on what MIGHT happen. We don't give the embryo the same rights as an actual citizen, because they are NOT citizens yet." --AMSuDP Actually, scientific evidence VERIFIES that life begins at conception. It is from the moment of conception that a embryo has her UNIQUE genetic code and the gender is already established. Also, the blood of the baby NEVER mixes with the blood of the mother. The baby ONLY dependent on the mother in the womb for FOOD via the placenta cord. If your argument is that the embryo is not 'human" b/c it is dependent on the mother in the womb, then your reasoning is CIRCULAR b/c aren't 5 year olds still dependent on the mother for food??? (6) "The CWFP are amusingly naive. Price-gouging takes place whenever a commodity is NEEDED more than it can be supplied. If there is a demand on power that is greater than one producer can match, people won't just wait till the power becomes available, they will be forced to pay whatever is asked. And - if your power companies cooperate, they can allow the prices in the whole industry to raise artificially."---AMSuDP Ok, you make a good argument that companies can merge and form MONOPOLIES. However, Likatonia has some of the strongest Anti-Trust laws in Terra so if a company 'conspires" to raise prices with his/her competitiors, then it is the perogative of Gov't to step in and break up the monopolies. (7) "Why SHOULD children work? We assume they wil lhelp at home, do chores, maybe help at the market if mommy has a stall, that kind of thing... but why should they be in the job market? They are children - it is our job to protect them."----AMSuDP So, let me get this straight: the State is going to protect teenagers by FORCING them not to do something of their will such as working??? I thought it is the duty of PARENTS to do that, rather than Government. |
| Date | 16:15:14, November 06, 2007 CET | From | Commonwealth Workers Army | To | Debating the Tax FAIRNESS, Economic GROWTH, & Job CREATION Act of 2481 |
| Message | We are going to deal with the abortion issue separately: The CWFP seem awful confused about what we said, and.. well, about the issue in general. For ease of reference, let us capture the elements of the debate: We said: "Abortion is not murder. If the CWFP are incapable of discussing it like grown-ups, we can simply ignore them. Murder is defined as the 'illegal death of a human being'. Abortion is legal - so not murder. ANd a foetus isn't YET a 'human being'... so STILL not murder. We don't make our laws based on what MIGHT happen. We don't give the embryo the same rights as an actual citizen, because they are NOT citizens yet." The CWFP said: "Actually, scientific evidence VERIFIES that life begins at conception. It is from the moment of conception that a embryo has her UNIQUE genetic code and the gender is already established. Also, the blood of the baby NEVER mixes with the blood of the mother. The baby ONLY dependent on the mother in the womb for FOOD via the placenta cord. If your argument is that the embryo is not 'human" b/c it is dependent on the mother in the womb, then your reasoning is CIRCULAR b/c aren't 5 year olds still dependent on the mother for food???" Okay - let us take this a bit at a time: "Actually, scientific evidence VERIFIES that life begins at conception" (CWFP) Let's discuss that: first - both eggs and sperm are living materia. So - life begins at conception... except that the elements of 'life' were already 'alive' before 'life' begins? second - even if we follow that logic, and assume 'life' begins at conception... merely being 'life' is not equal to being 'a human being'. Next point: " It is from the moment of conception that a embryo has her UNIQUE genetic code..." (CWFP) This is invalid. The phenomenon of the 'chimera' invalidates the argument that there is special significance to 'unique genetic code'. In case the CWFP are unaware, the 'chimera' phenomenon refers to the fact that a single person, a single human body, can have more than one distinct and unique DNA signature. On top of that - every human body actually has at least two different DNA structures, anyway - since mitochondrial DNA is not the same as the rest of your 'DNA signature'. Next point: "Also, the blood of the baby NEVER mixes with the blood of the mother. The baby ONLY dependent on the mother in the womb for FOOD via the placenta cord..." (CWFP) This is true of an entire class of entities. We call them parasites. Next point: "If your argument is that the embryo is not 'human" b/c it is dependent on the mother in the womb, then your reasoning is CIRCULAR b/c aren't 5 year olds still dependent on the mother for food???" (CWFP) first - that wasn't our argument. second - we didn't argue that an embryo is not 'human'. We argue it is not 'A human'. The DNA in human excrement clearly identifies it as 'human', but it isn't a person. Clearly, more than just human DNA strands are required to claim to be 'a human being', 'a human life'. third - we are all in favour of emancipation. We don't want to see foetuses needlessly destroyed. Remove them from the mother, if she doesn't want it... and let them fare as they will alone. It is unjust to make the woman a prisoner to her embryo. The CWFP have avoided the issue. Human tissue is not 'a human life'. Abortion is not 'murder'. The CWFP simply tries to inflame the issue with emotive rhetoric. |
| Date | 17:35:21, November 06, 2007 CET | From | AM Radical Libertarian Party | To | Debating the Tax FAIRNESS, Economic GROWTH, & Job CREATION Act of 2481 |
| Message | As AMSuDP has correctly stated, abortuion is not murder as murder is a legal term for an action in violation of existing law. A more correct statement of the position of CWFP and AMRLP would be that abortion should be murder. The position that AMRLP has decided to hold is that at some point in the developmet from sperm and egg to fully functional independant entity, whatever it is (soul, ka, or whatever anyone wishes to call it) that defines humanity and seperates it from the other animals takes place. The problem is, when does this happen? We find difficulties in any of the traditional decision points. At birth ignores the fact that a fetus is viable before natural birth. Using viability as the critera would imply that a fetus in the city, where high tech medical facilities are available, is human before one who is living in a low tech society. At conception has theological difficulties in the case of identical twins, do they sgahe a soul or when does the second one show up. This being said, we feel that we would rather err on the side of caution. It would be, in our opinion, far better to have a fetus defined as human too early than to late, as we do not wnat the kiling of a human being on our conscience. Therefore, we have decided that our optimum position would be to eliminate all abortions and we will vote in favor of any bill proceding in that direction. |
| Date | 00:17:54, November 07, 2007 CET | From | Kapitalist-Arbeitsfamilien Partei | To | Debating the Tax FAIRNESS, Economic GROWTH, & Job CREATION Act of 2481 |
| Message | [OOC] First and foremost, The ASMudP is confusing hisself by misinterpreting my position; I NEVER said that the individual "sperm" and "egg" cells were "human" simply for them being "technically" living things. However, what I did say was that at ONCE the egg and sperm [individually, they're not human] fuse into one, it is only the FERTILIZED embryo that is a human being. In addition, while I am "off the record" in the game, you can verify my argument on conception by e-mailing Dr. Patricia A. Grove, an Environmental Biologist at the College of Mount Saint Vincent. She is, by the way, a rock-solid Pro-CHOICE Feminist DEMOCRAT who voted for John Kerry and Al Gore in the last Presidental elections in the United States; nevertheless, as a scientist, she will validate that the evidence for the existance of a human being as legitmate from an OBJECTIVE standpoint. cf. Patricia.Grove@mountasaintvincent.edu Also, just to end on a positive note, I AGREE with your position that the baby be extracted from the mother's womb and placed in an "articfiical womb" as an alternative "choice" to the horrific act of abortion. I believe, but I am not certain, that that is the position of Dr. Grove (a Pro-Choice Democrat-yet-devout Catholic). |
| Date | 00:38:16, November 07, 2007 CET | From |  Likaton Coalition of the Willing | To | Debating the Tax FAIRNESS, Economic GROWTH, & Job CREATION Act of 2481 |
| Message | OOC: CWFP, once again you appear to be confusing the arguments and position of a fictional political party with reality. On a personal note, whilst i believe that you believe what you are saying, and I'm sure Patricia will back you, there are other opinions and belief structures that do not. Please respect them. I personally do not believe that the moment of conception is the point at which this becomes an issue... |
| Date | 08:10:17, November 08, 2007 CET | From | Commonwealth Workers Army | To | Debating the Tax FAIRNESS, Economic GROWTH, & Job CREATION Act of 2481 |
| Message | AM RLP: We would be inclined to be willing to accept conception as a valid argument point, EXCEPT: Clearly - an embryo or 'early foetus' cannot survive outside of the mother. As the AM RLP points out, there are problems with the idea of 'viability' as the determinining step but - we believe it is wrong to enslave a woman because 'we err on the side of caution'. So - we will always argue that first term (at least) abortions should be legal. |
| Date | 08:18:50, November 08, 2007 CET | From | Commonwealth Workers Army | To | Debating the Tax FAIRNESS, Economic GROWTH, & Job CREATION Act of 2481 |
| Message | CWFP: both IC and OOC: we didn't say the CWFP said anything about whether or not sperm or eggs were human (clearly, of course, they are - otherwise some eprcentage of fertilised ova would become fish...) Our argument was with the CWFP assertion that 'life begins at conception' - which clearly can't be true if 'life' is already existant in the uncombined gametes. OOC: Waving this patricia fellow around impresses no one. I'm a scientist by trade... not in some school, but in the real world. Science is what I do as my job. Your scientist friend may say something about human life beginning at conception... and from some standpoints she'd be correct. From others - she's being very unscientific. Something being 'living human tissue' is not the same as 'being a human life'. As Immeressen Inc said, though - don't confuse realworld politics with game politics - the AM SuDP have been pro-life, pro-choice - even pro-abortion. AM SuDP politics are not necessarily my own... and realworld politics has no place in trying to refute the arguments the AM SuDP make. |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | ||||
| yes |
Total Seats: 271 | ||||
| no |
Total Seats: 395 | ||||
| abstain | Total Seats: 0 |
| Random fact: Once approved, players should copy Cultural Protocols into a bill in the debate section of their nation page, under the title of "OOC: Cultural Protocols". This bill should include links to the passed Cultural Protocol bill and the Moderation approval. |
| Random quote: "The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his States and all their clans are preserved." - Confucius |