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: National Information Bill, 2130
Details
Submitted by[?]: Social Dynamist 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: December 2131
Description[?]:
| This bill would reestablish a national radio station and television channel to provide public information, unbiased news, and educational programmes for the citizens of Tukarali. The stations would be public property, and will be made responsible to the public as detailed below. The media would operate strictly on the priniciples of political neutrality, and, as public employees, are required by law to maintain such impartiality. Public service broadcasts will comprise the main remit of the stations. The National Broadcasting Board, an entity entirely separate from government, will be reinstated to oversee the operation, and to ensure the prinicples of its founding are maintained. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Radio stations.
Old value:: All radio stations are private.
Current: The government subsidises a national radio station for educational and informational purposes; other private non-subsidised radio stations are allowed.
Proposed: The government subsidises a national radio station for educational and informational purposes; other private non-subsidised radio stations are allowed.
Article 2
Proposal[?] to change Television stations.
Old value:: All television media are private.
Current: The government subsidises a national TV station for educational and informational purposes; other private non-subsidised TV stations are allowed.
Proposed: The government subsidises a national TV station for educational and informational purposes; other private non-subsidised TV stations are allowed.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 12:09:37, October 23, 2005 CET | From | Social Dynamist Party | To | Debating the National Information Bill, 2130 |
| Message | Given that the media is controlled by a small oligopoly of vastly rich investors, we on the SDP feel that Tukarali is well in need of a news source that does not work for the interests of the rich. |
| Date | 13:59:08, October 23, 2005 CET | From | Rightist Party | To | Debating the National Information Bill, 2130 |
| Message | For the upteenth time, we will oppose. |
| Date | 15:51:31, October 23, 2005 CET | From | Social Dynamist Party | To | Debating the National Information Bill, 2130 |
| Message | Well, we were hoping that newer parties might be interested in supporting a less biased media. This is only the third bill to this effect that we have suggested <|That I can find, anyway. And 33 years is a fair time to wait.|> |
| Date | 19:36:27, October 23, 2005 CET | From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the National Information Bill, 2130 |
| Message | We oppose the measure. Subsidizing Radio and Television is not needed. |
| Date | 03:34:45, October 24, 2005 CET | From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the National Information Bill, 2130 |
| Message | We oppose on the grounds that "unbiased" is not exactly certain when the government is regulating it. What would be there to keep the government from forcing the publishment of news material meant to promote certain political ideas and propaganda? |
| Date | 10:28:32, October 24, 2005 CET | From | Social Dynamist Party | To | Debating the National Information Bill, 2130 |
| Message | The fact that firstly government has no control over content, given that the media would be run quite apart from Council, secondly that current law requires all civil servants to promise political neutrality (and has done for almost a century), thirdly that the publishing of propaganda could be refused by individual journalists, and further if necessary by the NBB. How could the government of the time go about publishing propaganda? |
| Date | 16:48:39, October 25, 2005 CET | From | Social Dynamist Party | To | Debating the National Information Bill, 2130 |
| Message | We hope we've answered your concerns, FP; if not please say, as we would appreciate your support in this matter. |
| Date | 11:44:54, October 26, 2005 CET | From | Social Dynamist Party | To | Debating the National Information Bill, 2130 |
| Message | Ok. Well, in that case, let's see if we can pass this. |
| Date | 15:40:47, October 26, 2005 CET | From | United Farmers of Tukarali | To | Debating the National Information Bill, 2130 |
| Message | No, this is not the best use of public money. It would be better to regulate private broadcasters to set out minimum requirements for local news, sports, and cultural/educational programming. We would support such regulations, but a nationalization program is beyond the pale for us. |
| Date | 17:11:57, October 26, 2005 CET | From | Social Dynamist Party | To | Debating the National Information Bill, 2130 |
| Message | The problem with that is that in order to guarantee an unbiased media, it requires a far more more interventionist policy and it is liable to have a counterproductive effect: the regulation could too easily become censorship. This bill is not about reducing freedom: people are still free to be biased and to proclaim biased things, but the bill merely ensures that there is one source of information that provides the facts. |
| Date | 05:32:46, October 27, 2005 CET | From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the National Information Bill, 2130 |
| Message | The Tribal Council has rejected this bill. |
subscribe to this discussion - unsubscribe
Voting
| Vote | Seats | ||||
| yes |
Total Seats: 83 | ||||
| no |
Total Seats: 172 | ||||
| abstain | Total Seats: 44 |
| Random fact: For more information on Particracy's former colonial nations, check out http://forum.particracy.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6640 |
| Random quote: "In Germany they first came for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me--and by that time no one was left to speak up." - Pastor Martin Niemoller |