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Bill: UPCP Utopian Society Plan, February 2484
Details
Submitted by[?]: United Party of Church and People
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 2484
Description[?]:
| Here is the complete list of all the laws the UPCP feels it is important to enact in order to make Barmenistan a near-Utopian society. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy concerning who can proceed with adoption; in case adoption is legal.
Old value:: Everyone may adopt children.
Current: Everyone may adopt children.
Proposed: Only heterosexual couples and singles may adopt children.
Article 2
Proposal[?] to change The citizens' right to assemble in public.
Old value:: There are no restrictions on the right of citizens to assemble in groups.
Current: The police may disperse a group if they believe it poses a potential risk to public safety.
Proposed: The police may disperse a group if they believe it poses a potential risk to public safety.
Article 3
Proposal[?] to change The banking system.
Old value:: The government operates a central bank and all other banks are private.
Current: The government operates large, national banks, but small community based private banks are allowed.
Proposed: All banks are privately owned.
Article 4
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy concerning child labour.
Old value:: Child labour is forbidden.
Current: Child labour is forbidden.
Proposed: Child labour is allowed, but with additional regulations to those of adult labourers.
Article 5
Proposal[?] to change Curfew policy (curfew time to be determined in the bill description).
Old value:: No curfew policies may be established.
Current: The national government may impose curfews, but only if a state of emergency has been declared.
Proposed: The national government may impose curfews, but only if a state of emergency has been declared.
Article 6
Proposal[?] to change Eminent Domain.
Old value:: The government may not seize private property.
Current: The government may seize private property for vital government works.
Proposed: The government may seize private property for vital government works.
Article 7
Proposal[?] to change Government policy on energy generation.
Old value:: All power stations are publicly owned.
Current: Private and public power stations exist side-by-side.
Proposed: Private power stations provide energy for the entire power grid.
Article 8
Proposal[?] to change Energy regulation.
Old value:: Energy is provided by private, unregulated companies but subsidies are given to those on a low income.
Current: Energy is provided by private companies which are not subject to any special regulations.
Proposed: Energy is provided by private companies which are not subject to any special regulations.
Article 9
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy towards fireworks.
Old value:: Local governments determine fireworks laws.
Current: Professionals may run licensed fireworks shows, small fireworks are legal to the general public.
Proposed: The sale of fireworks is unregulated, anyone may buy them.
Article 10
Proposal[?] to change Employer's rights in regards to firing striking workers.
Old value:: Employers cannot fire workers who have gone on strike.
Current: Employers can fire workers who are deemed to have gone on strike without reasonable reasons.
Proposed: Employers are free to fire workers who go on strike.
Article 11
Proposal[?] to change Food and beverage labeling regulations.
Old value:: Companies must clearly label food and beverage products, in a manner that can be easily understood.
Current: Companies must clearly label food and beverage products, in a manner that can be easily understood.
Proposed: Companies are required to label food and beverage products somewhere on the package.
Article 12
Proposal[?] to change Listing of controversial ingredients, such as genetically modified (GM) ingredients (if food labelling is applied).
Old value:: Any chemicals used in agrigulture or processing, and any GM ingredients must be listed.
Current: Any chemicals used in agrigulture or processing, and any GM ingredients must be listed.
Proposed: Any chemicals used in agrigulture or processing must be listed. There is no requirement to disclose GM ingredients.
Article 13
Proposal[?] to change Government policy concerning the visitation of foreign missionaries.
Old value:: Foreign missionaries are not permitted to enter the nation.
Current: The government has no policy concerning the visitation of foreign missionaries.
Proposed: The government selectively screens which religions are permitted to send missionaries to the nation. Certain religions are approved and travel is unregulated.
Article 14
Proposal[?] to change Ownership of guns by private individuals.
Old value:: Adult individuals are allowed to own and purchase guns freely.
Current: Adult individuals may own guns under strict license conditions.
Proposed: Individuals are allowed to own firearms as long as they do not have a history of dangerous mental illness or a violent criminality.
Article 15
Proposal[?] to change Higher education tuition policy.
Old value:: The government fully subsidizes tuition.
Current: The government fully subsidizes tuition.
Proposed: The government introduces means tested loans for higher education tuition, to be paid back by students after earnings reach a certain amount.
Article 16
Proposal[?] to change Government policy on industry and subsidies to industrial operations.
Old value:: The government acts as an investor of last resort, by nationalizing failing industries that provide vital goods or services.
Current: The government acts as an investor of last resort, by nationalizing failing industries that provide vital goods or services.
Proposed: The government does not intervene in the market nor provide any form of subsidies/relief to industries.
Article 17
Proposal[?] to change Health and safety legislation for industry.
Old value:: The government introduces and actively regulates health and safety legislation in all areas of industry.
Current: The government introduces and actively regulates health and safety legislation in all areas of industry.
Proposed: The government recommends health and safety legislation, but they are not actively enforced on industry.
Article 18
Proposal[?] to change The confidentiality of letters and correspondence.
Old value:: The confidentiality of letters is inviolable.
Current: The confidentiality of letters is inviolable, but the justice dept. can violate it in extreme situations.
Proposed: The confidentiality of letters is inviolable, but the justice dept. can violate the confidentiality of letters with grounded cause.
Article 19
Proposal[?] to change Government policy toward marriage.
Old value:: The government allows all consenting adults to obtain civil marriage contracts.
Current: The government only recognises civil marriages between a man and a woman.
Proposed: The government only recognises civil marriages between a man and a woman.
Article 20
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy regarding regulation of media content.
Old value:: There are no content regulations; the media may publish anything, even proven falsehoods.
Current: There are laws against the publication of false information, hate speech, and subversive anti-government material.
Proposed: There are laws against the publication of false information; everything else may be published freely.
Article 21
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 that a single full time worker on it can adequately subsist.
Proposed: There shall be a minimum wage at a level that a single full time worker on it can adequately subsist.
Article 22
Proposal[?] to change Government regulation of the viewing of movies.
Old value:: The viewing of movies is not regulated by the government.
Current: The government sets a range of standards (to be determined) but these only apply to movie theaters.
Proposed: The government sets a range of standards (to be determined) but these only apply to movie theaters.
Article 23
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy on public nudity.
Old value:: There are no laws with regards to public nudity, it is allowed.
Current: Public nudity is illegal and prosecuted as a civil offence.
Proposed: Public nudity is illegal, but private nudist colonies and beaches are permitted.
Article 24
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy concerning phone services.
Old value:: The state subsidizes the phone service of low income families but does not regulate the rates providers can charge for phone service.
Current: The state subsidizes the phone service of low income families, and regulates the rates providers can charge for phone service.
Proposed: There are no regulations on phone service.
Article 25
Proposal[?] to change The use of torture for obtaining information.
Old value:: Torture is never allowed.
Current: Torture is never allowed.
Proposed: Suspects can only be tortured under grave emergencies where the information is vital.
Article 26
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy regarding the treatment of prisoners of war.
Old value:: Prisoners of war must be treated well, according to internationally-accepted standards.
Current: Prisoners of war must be treated well, according to internationally-accepted standards.
Proposed: Prisoners of war are enslaved.
Article 27
Proposal[?] to change Right to privacy.
Old value:: Individuals have a right to privacy, to keep records and information for themselves.
Current: Individuals have a right to privacy, but the courts can force individuals to give information on certain matters if needed. (also known as Habeas Data).
Proposed: The government has the right to monitor information of individuals without letting them know.
Article 28
Proposal[?] to change The education system.
Old value:: Education is private, but the government subsidises the cost of it for everyone
Current: There is a free public education system and a small number of private schools, which are heavily regulated to ensure they teach adequate skills and information.
Proposed: Education is private, but the government issues vouchers to pay for the schooling of disadvantaged children.
Article 29
Proposal[?] to change
Taxation of religious institutions.
Old value:: Religions are treated as companies, and all profit is taxed, however, charitable donations are not taxed.
Current: No religions are taxed.
Proposed: Recognized religions are not taxed.
Article 30
Proposal[?] to change The governments stance on religious schools.
Old value:: Only recognised religions may set up religious schools, with no regulations.
Current: Any religion may set up a school, with no regulations.
Proposed: All schools are required to be religious in nature.
Article 31
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy with respect to prayer in schools.
Old value:: Teacher-led prayers in schools are forbidden, except in religious schools.
Current: The government leaves this decision up to the schools themselves.
Proposed: Teacher-led prayers in schools are encouraged.
Article 32
Proposal[?] to change Secondary strike action.
Old value:: Any trade union can go on a sympathy strike in support of other striking workers.
Current: Only closely related trade unions can walk out on a sympathy strike in support of other striking workers.
Proposed: Secondary strike action is illegal. Workers and unions can only go on strike for their own pay and conditions.
Article 33
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy regarding sexually explicit material on broadcast television.
Old value:: All sexually explicit material is allowed on television.
Current: Nudity on television is banned.
Proposed: Sexually explicit material is allowed, but violent or hard core pornography is banned.
Article 34
Proposal[?] to change Government policy towards smoking.
Old value:: Smoking is legal outdoors and in private homes and clubs, but illegal indoors in places of employment, with the exception of places that primarily serve liquor.
Current: Smoking is legal everywhere, at the discretion of the property owner. However, service/employer property owners that allow smoking must provide a separate non-smoking section.
Proposed: Smoking is legal everywhere, at the discretion of the property owner, but is illegal in government-owned buildings.
Article 35
Proposal[?] to change Government policy on sexual relations.
Old value:: Sexual relations of all types are legal for consenting adults.
Current: Sexual relations of all types are legal for consenting adults.
Proposed: Heterosexual relationships only are legal for consenting adults.
Article 36
Proposal[?] to change National Curriculum
Old value:: invalid choice
Current: There is a National Curriculum which all schools are obliged to follow.
Proposed: invalid choice
Article 37
Proposal[?] to change The government policy regarding housing.
Old value:: The state provides public housing to low-income families.
Current: The state contracts with private companies to provide public housing.
Proposed: All housing is privately-owned.
Article 38
Proposal[?] to change Government policy concerning religions.
Old value:: There is no government policy concerning a state religion.
Current: There is no government policy concerning a state religion.
Proposed: There is an official state religion, but membership is completely voluntary.
Article 39
Proposal[?] to change The workers' right to strike.
Old value:: All workers have the right to strike.
Current: All workers have the right to strike but certain categories of workers regarded as critical to society have to ensure a minimal service.
Proposed: All workers, except public employees, have the right to strike.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 21:13:14, November 10, 2007 CET | From | Computational Intellect Project | To | Debating the UPCP Utopian Society Plan, February 2484 |
| Message | Good thing we are opposed to absolutely every proposal in this bill; when you bring it to vote it won't mess up our ideological stances. |
| Date | 21:16:08, November 10, 2007 CET | From | Computational Intellect Project | To | Debating the UPCP Utopian Society Plan, February 2484 |
| Message | And, we must say, we are glad we do not live in your "utopian" society. |
| Date | 23:52:59, November 11, 2007 CET | From | Republican Socialist Party | To | Debating the UPCP Utopian Society Plan, February 2484 |
| Message | we the RSP can find only one article we can fully support so its a total NO |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | |||||
| yes | Total Seats: 158 | |||||
| no |
Total Seats: 230 | |||||
| abstain | Total Seats: 16 |
| Random fact: It is forbidden to impersonate a player or Moderator. |
| Random quote: "Global warming is indeed a scam, perpetrated by scientists with vested interests, but in need of crash courses in geology, logic and the philosophy of science." - Dr. Martin Keeley |