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Bill: The Common Sense Bill
Details
Submitted by[?]: Freedom 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: February 3643
Description[?]:
| In the wake of the wake of the new Cabinet, the political elite has shown its own manic fear of the threat the Freedom party poses to their cushy jobs, fat cat salaries and spineless principles. Even the New Beluzian Movement, which had limited promise in the reinvigoration of our glorious nation, has sold out to join the stuffy status-quo. As the only true opposition to the government, we'll be putting forward our own alternative agenda as established through our sacred bond with the great people of Beluzia. To vote against these proposals is flying in the face of common sense, is an affront to the traditions of Beluzia and is paramount to treason. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Policy on the legality of abortions
Old value:: Abortion is allowed during the entire course of the pregnancy.
Current: Abortion is allowed during the first and second trimesters.
Proposed: Abortions are only allowed in medical emergencies.
Article 2
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 3
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy concerning biological and chemical weaponry.
Old value:: The nation shall never develop, purchase or store biological or chemical weaponry.
Current: The nation shall never purchase, produce, or store biological or chemical weaponry, for military purposes. Research and development of the technology is permitted.
Proposed: The nation reserves the right to develop, construct and store biological and chemical weapons.
Article 4
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy regarding child benefit.
Old value:: The state guarantees child benefit to families classified as low-income or poor.
Current: The state guarantees child benefit to both low-income families and large families.
Proposed: The state guarantees child benefit to all families.
Article 5
Proposal[?] to change Civil defence is the government's policy on providing shelters to be used in the event of attacks on major cities, mainly nuclear attacks and bombing.
Old value:: Local authorities are responsible for building and maintaining shelters.
Current: The government builds and maintains a network of shelters across the nation.
Proposed: Every public building is required to feature provisions for civil defence and at least 50% of spaces must be allocated to private citizens.
Article 6
Proposal[?] to change Tax percentage of the profit made by corporations.
Old value:: 25
Current: 10
Proposed: 24
Article 7
Proposal[?] to change Government policy on the nation's power grid.
Old value:: Each region owns and maintains its own power grid.
Current: The national grid is fully owned by the state.
Proposed: The national grid is fully owned by the state.
Article 8
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy regarding the keeping of exotic animals.
Old value:: Only zoos or zoological institutions are allowed to keep exotic animals.
Current: Only zoos or zoological institutions are allowed to keep exotic animals.
Proposed: Everyone may keep exotic animals, but the trade in exotic animals is regulated by the government.
Article 9
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy concerning farm size.
Old value:: Farm size is not regulated.
Current: Farm size regulations are determined by local governments.
Proposed: Small farms are encouraged to merge together into larger ones.
Article 10
Proposal[?] to change Radio stations.
Old value:: The government subsidises independent non-profit-making cooperatives for educational and informational purposes; other private non-subsidised radio stations are allowed.
Current: The government subsidises a national radio station for educational and informational purposes; other private non-subsidised radio stations are allowed.
Proposed: All radio stations are owned by the state.
Article 11
Proposal[?] to change Government regulation of hunting.
Old value:: Private hunting and fishing practices are banned.
Current: Hunting and fishing activities are restricted to designated areas and periods.
Proposed: Hunting and fishing activities are restricted to designated areas and periods.
Article 12
Proposal[?] to change Government-issued identity card policy.
Old value:: Citizens are not issued with identity cards.
Current: Citizens are issued with identity cards on a voluntary basis.
Proposed: All citizens are issued with identity cards but are not required to carry them.
Article 13
Proposal[?] to change Policy concerning industrial hemp.
Old value:: There are no regulations on industrial hemp.
Current: There are no regulations on industrial hemp.
Proposed: Only regulated agribusinesses may produce industrial hemp.
Article 14
Proposal[?] to change Internet regulations.
Old value:: The government has no position on who may use or what is published on the internet.
Current: The government allows anyone to use the internet but the police can run investigations concerning illegal activities conducted by using internet (child abuse, illegal filesharing, ...)
Proposed: The government allows anyone to use the internet but the police can run investigations concerning illegal activities conducted by using internet (child abuse, illegal filesharing, ...)
Article 15
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy towards the use of land mines by the army.
Old value:: The use of land mines is prohibited.
Current: The use of land mines is prohibited.
Proposed: The use of land mines is allowed but restricted.
Article 16
Proposal[?] to change Sales tax on luxury goods.
Old value:: 40
Current: 10
Proposed: 35
Article 17
Proposal[?] to change The government's stance on a salary cap.
Old value:: The government has no stance on a salary cap.
Current: Labour unions and organizations of employers negotiate a salary cap.
Proposed: The government enforces a salary cap.
Article 18
Proposal[?] to change National service.
Old value:: There shall be no mandatory military or civilian national service.
Current: There shall be no mandatory military or civilian national service.
Proposed: All adults upon completion of schooling must serve either a term in the military or a lesser paid term of civilian national service, at their option.
Article 19
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) and these apply to cinemas and private homes.
Article 20
Proposal[?] to change National military policy.
Old value:: The nation retains a part time, professional army, navy and air force as part of a reserve group.
Current: The nation retains a full time, professional army, navy and air force.
Proposed: The nation retains a full time, professional army, navy and air force.
Article 21
Proposal[?] to change Government policy on nuclear power.
Old value:: The decision is left up to local governments.
Current: The government requires most energy to be generated by nuclear power.
Proposed: The government encourages nuclear power (subsidies, tax relief etc).
Article 22
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy concerning the use of nuclear weaponry in warfare.
Old value:: The nation shall never use nuclear weapons in warfare.
Current: The nation shall never use nuclear weapons in warfare.
Proposed: The nation reserves the right to use nuclear weapons on non-civilian areas.
Article 23
Proposal[?] to change The policy with respect to nuclear weaponry.
Old value:: The nation shall never develop, produce or store nuclear weaponry.
Current: The nation shall never produce or store nuclear weaponry for military purposes. Research and development of the technology is permitted.
Proposed: The nation reserves the right to develop, produce and store nuclear arms.
Article 24
Proposal[?] to change Government's position on paramilitaries.
Old value:: Paramilitaries are illegal and the recognized government may intervene freely to stop any possible activity.
Current: Paramilitaries are illegal and the recognized government may intervene freely to stop any possible activity.
Proposed: Paramilitaries are not officially acknowledged but are allowed to exist.
Article 25
Proposal[?] to change Police searches.
Old value:: The police cannot search a person or their property without their consent unless the police have obtained a warrant from a court or in cases of imminent danger.
Current: The police cannot search a person or their property without their consent unless the police have obtained a warrant from a court.
Proposed: The police cannot search a person or their property without their consent unless the police have obtained a warrant from a court or have reasonable grounds to suspect that a crime was committed.
Article 26
Proposal[?] to change Government regulation of pollution in industry.
Old value:: The government enforces highly restrictive industrial pollution standards.
Current: The government enforces highly restrictive industrial pollution standards.
Proposed: The government enforces moderate pollution restrictions.
Article 27
Proposal[?] to change The education system.
Old value:: Education is entirely public and free; private schools are banned.
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: 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.
Article 28
Proposal[?] to change Singing the national anthem in schools.
Old value:: Children are never made to sing the national anthem.
Current: Children are not made to sing the national anthem, but are required to show respect when it is played at the commencement of school each day.
Proposed: Children are made to sing the national anthem at the commencement of school each day.
Article 29
Proposal[?] to change Secondary strike action.
Old value:: Any trade union can go on a sympathy strike in support of other striking workers.
Current: Any trade union can go 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 30
Proposal[?] to change The time at which sexually explicit content may be shown on broadcast television (if allowed).
Old value:: Sexually explicit content may only be shown during hours that very few children watch. Nudity may be shown all day long.
Current: Sexually explicit content or nudity may only be shown during hours that very few children watch television
Proposed: Sexually explicit content or nudity may only be shown during hours that very few children watch television
Article 31
Proposal[?] to change Legality of stem cell research
Old value:: All stem cell research is legal.
Current: Only stem cell research with adult stem cells is legal, stem cell research with embryonic or fetal stem cells is forbidden.
Proposed: Only stem cell research with adult stem cells is legal, stem cell research with embryonic or fetal stem cells is forbidden.
Article 32
Proposal[?] to change The government's policy regarding regulation of video games.
Old value:: The government does not maintain laws as to age limitation for purchasing video games, although it does require a content rating to be clearly displayed on the box.
Current: The government does not maintain laws as to age limitation for purchasing video games, although it does require a content rating to be clearly displayed on the box.
Proposed: The government maintains strict age limitation laws that require proof of age before sales of video games may be made.
Article 33
Proposal[?] to change The government's stance on whaling.
Old value:: Whaling is illegal.
Current: Whaling is illegal.
Proposed: Commercial whaling is legal, but the government establishes whaling quotas.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 22:51:07, March 26, 2014 CET | From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the The Common Sense Bill |
| Message | I will put this to a vote in January 3643. |
| Date | 16:44:08, March 27, 2014 CET | From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the The Common Sense Bill |
| Message | The time for action is now! |
| Date | 16:55:39, March 27, 2014 CET | From | New Beluzian Movement | To | Debating the The Common Sense Bill |
| Message | Unfortunately, this is not January 43. We had hoped to negotiate on some points here, as we will not be party to the rescinding of the Syndicalist Economic bill. We can't accept the de-unionisation of the workplace, as unionisation is our condition for allowing the influence of the proto wealth horders. We yearn to see the conflict of the weak versus the stagnant, the cultural violence of the imbred to be fought with the gorgeous wrath of the producer. Our view is to allow privatisations only in the face of strong unions. Otherwise we feed into the foetid pools of cultural dead ends. We also are a movement vanguard against tedium. This bill is almost hilariously long, but tedious to read through. We otherwise support all military increases and hunting policies. We have reservations against the centralisation for the media, but are content to allow it. Schooling policies and media policies, we can allow. We also support the removal of the turgid 'green' agenda from our policies. However, we will not move away from the conflict of the Syndicate. This is a dealbreaker for our movement. Break the syndicate, and we break this coalition. |
| Date | 17:32:49, March 27, 2014 CET | From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the The Common Sense Bill |
| Message | Apologies for this members of the New Beluzian Movement. Please bear in mind you jumped the gun with your own armanents bill. But how's this. You support this bill, and then the three of us can then work out a way to reverse some of the changes? |
| Date | 17:40:33, March 27, 2014 CET | From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the The Common Sense Bill |
| Message | Apologies for this members of the New Beluzian Movement. Please bear in mind you jumped the gun with your own armanents bill. But how's this. You support this bill, and then the three of us can then work out a way to reverse some of the changes? |
| Date | 19:30:46, March 27, 2014 CET | From | Beluzian Syndicalist Party | To | Debating the The Common Sense Bill |
| Message | We oppose this bill for its attacks on workers, on women, and on the peace of the world. We'd further encourage the New Beluzian Movement to dismiss the Freedom Party's blank check of "remove workers rights now and maybe we'll restore them later". |
| Date | 20:08:05, March 27, 2014 CET | From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the The Common Sense Bill |
| Message | It is a cast iron guarantee. New Beluzian Movement and Federalist Party will take the lead on this. |
| Date | 06:03:27, March 28, 2014 CET | From | New Beluzian Movement | To | Debating the The Common Sense Bill |
| Message | We are delighting in this, the dischord this is causing within the wider political movement, including our own, is reinvigorating. The abortion proposal within this is is causing significant dissonance within our own movement Our military bill was proposed on the basis of the appointment of Christos Belenucci as defense minister. The Movement was under the understanding that there was consensus on the right of our military weakness and the threat of Imperial corruption on our borders. You may also recall that you Firsters also proposed constitutional changes which also supported, without coalition proposals. Frankly, we prefer free votes on smaller issues. However, as much as there may be Guarantees to return back to the syndicalist economic stance afterthis bill is passed, we as a movement can never endorse moving backwards. We yearn for the creative chaos of change and strife, and this simply re-entrenches the previous corruption we have been attempting to stir up. In order to preserve the immense amount of work put into this bill, we will create a new one, minus workers rights areas, which maintains the changes proposed here, which we will propose ourselves. As it stands, the political system we have makes it both boring and irritating to under changes to bills. We would have to wait years to reverse this and our movement is impatient for change and will revolt further if it sees us moving backward. |
| Date | 10:38:03, March 28, 2014 CET | From | New Beluzian Movement | To | Debating the The Common Sense Bill |
| Message | We are currently abstaining from this vote. Please put forth added proposals in the revised bill, and separate out areas of controversy into separate bills for a free vote. http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill.php?billid=405051 |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | ||||
| yes |
Total Seats: 302 | ||||
| no |
Total Seats: 350 | ||||
| abstain |
Total Seats: 98 |
| Random fact: Players are expected to behave in a courteous, co-operative manner and make a reasonable effort to act with the consent of all players involved, even where the rules do not make consent strictly necessary. In particular, players have a responsibility to take reasonable care that other players are not misinformed either about the role-play or the Game Rules. |
| Random quote: "Terror is only justice: prompt, severe and inflexible; it is then an emanation of virtue; it is less a distinct principle than a natural consequence of the general principle of democracy, applied to the most pressing wants of the country." - Maximilien Robespierre |