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Bill: Prisoner Work Act
Details
Submitted by[?]: Democratic Socialist 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: September 2062
Description[?]:
Forced labour should not be practised, as this violates human rights;
Whereas work is a right, and can often be used in the rehabilitation of prisoners;
It is resolved that labour should not be forced on prisoners, but rather that prisoners may volunteer to undertake work. Work in prisons should be encouraged, and be rewarded with pay at the rate of the Tukaralian minimum wage. Many prisoners are forced into crime through poverty, and paid work in prison may help them to support themselves when they leave. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Prison policy concerning prisoner labor.
Old value:: Able-bodied prisoners have to work during the day.
Current: Able-bodied prisoners have to work during the day.
Proposed: Prisoners can do certain jobs in prison, voluntarily, for a small wage.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 19:32:32, May 23, 2005 CET |
From | Democratic Socialist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | But unions are legal now, and I thought that was why you were cautious about voting for the policy the first time round. |
| Date | 19:44:56, May 23, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | And what happens if the prisoners form a union then strike. What are you going to do? |
| Date | 23:19:15, May 23, 2005 CET |
From | Freedom Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | They are prisoners, who have lost their rights as free citizens.
Make their time in payment to society worthwhile, don't let them "take it easy" if they choose to do no work. In essence we are paying for their food, housing, clothing, big screen TV, etc.
Make them work. |
| Date | 11:32:58, May 24, 2005 CET |
From | Social Dynamist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | "But unions are legal now, and I thought that was why you were cautious about voting for the policy the first time round."
Apologies. The SDP also supported the pricinple of the motion. |
| Date | 18:36:55, May 24, 2005 CET |
From | Democratic Socialist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | Damn U-turners...
I think prisoners should help to pay back society, but forced labour violates basic human rights. You might as well set up gulags. |
| Date | 18:16:41, May 25, 2005 CET |
From | Democratic Socialist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | Why don't I propose gulags? Because I'm against forced labour, as you apprently are not. Wouldn't you agree that forced labour breaks fundamental human rights? |
| Date | 18:38:29, May 25, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | If they are still living in Humane conditions, Provided food and water as stated by international law, and they're not being abused in anyway, nope. |
| Date | 18:57:56, May 25, 2005 CET |
From | Democratic Socialist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | (You said you may support this, then you changed your mind. I'm going to keep trying to persuade you back!)
I don't think forced labour is "humane conditions". It is slavery. |
| Date | 20:50:11, May 25, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | Notice the word may. How in the world did you think that was approval. It means that I need reasons. However, I don't think I'm going to support this. |
| Date | 18:22:27, May 26, 2005 CET |
From | Democratic Socialist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | If you actually read what I said, I didn't say you supported it outright. You still haven't tried to explain why this isn't slavery, and doesn't break basic human rights. |
| Date | 21:22:52, May 27, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | We are treating them as they out to be treated. Do unto other's as you would have them do unto you. |
| Date | 18:28:25, May 28, 2005 CET |
From | Democratic Socialist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | No answer. Obviously "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" doesn't always apply then, no?
Forced labour is slavery, and no-one deserves to be a slave. Universal human rights apply to everyone. Also, this bill would still encourage prisons to set up work programmes, and this system could also be used to help convicts earn money decently, aiding rehabilitation and preventing them returning to crime out of poverty. |
| Date | 18:33:36, May 28, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | Considering these are crooks, they gave up their rights. If they violate the law, they should be given NO special treatment. |
| Date | 21:33:20, May 28, 2005 CET |
From | Democratic Socialist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | Criminals have not given up their basic human rights. Universal human rights still apply to prisoners: if you don't know that, you should read up on the UN charter on human rights. And I don't see how this is giving prisoners special treatment - forced labour is not something which is usually extended to the rets of the population. |
| Date | 00:02:59, May 29, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | They did when they broke the law.
Patriot Party calls the question. |
| Date | 20:18:28, May 29, 2005 CET |
From | Democratic Socialist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | And no, criminals have not given up their human rights. Universal means universal: you fail to grasp that simple fact. Plase read up on the UN Declaration of Human Rights, in particular, Article 4. |
| Date | 22:13:20, May 29, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | I don't care what the UN has to say. I don't even trust the UN to do a job because of all the corruption. Besides that, look who is on the Human Rights Commission. China, Sudan and several others who have 10 times the human rights violations. Sorry, this arguement will not fly with me. |
| Date | 15:55:22, May 30, 2005 CET |
From | Democratic Socialist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | The argument may not work with you, but reasonable people respect universal human rights. The Declaration of Human Rights is a very basic summary of rights, and was written after WW2 by all the world's nations, not just Sudan and China. Article 4 says "no one shall be held in slavery or servitude" - don't you agree with that? |
| Date | 16:18:54, May 30, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | Sudan and China didn't right it dude. You really have no grasp. However, they are the biggest violators of Human Rights and nothing is being done to correct the issue. So much for that huh? If it was universal then WHY ISN"T ANYONE DOING ANYTHING? |
| Date | 16:20:12, May 30, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | And yet the US has the 13th Amendment which passed in 1863 which OUTLAWED SLAVERY long before the Declaration of Human Rights ever existed. I support the 13th Amendment in its entirety. However, you do the crime, you do the time. |
| Date | 20:45:43, May 30, 2005 CET |
From | Democratic Socialist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | I said Sudan and China didn't write the Declaration of Human Rights - that was my point. And you're right, not enough is being done to improve human rights in those countries, but it's irrelevant.
The UN has only existed since 1946, so the idea of slavery being outlawed before that by the US, so the US is better is wrong. While we're on the subject, Britian outlawed slavery in 1833 IIRC. Criminals should "do the time" but that does not mean that forced labour is acceptable. |
| Date | 20:52:17, May 30, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | 1945 DSP! You can't even get that right. This year is its 60TH ANNIVERSARY! I know full well when slavery was abolitished in Britain. So slavery has been abolished in 2 major nations prior to the UNDHR which was signed in 1948. They are criminals. Now show me in the UNDHR regarding criminals? |
| Date | 21:00:12, May 30, 2005 CET |
From | Democratic Socialist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | Yes, but the UN only began work in 1946 (by passing a resolution on WMDs) and only became THE international organisation then, when the League of Nations was abolished. |
| Date | 21:15:30, May 30, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | The League of Nations wasn't around my friend. It was desolved while WWII was going on. |
| Date | 03:30:08, May 31, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | LOL CCP! I don't even trust it. They have a horrendus record of not following through on their resolutions then condemn nations that decide enough is enough and follow through on said UN Resolutions. When they finally start doing their mandates then maybe my respect for them will climb but I'm not holding my breath. |
| Date | 20:17:42, May 31, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | fine I'll concede that but I"m still not support this motion and request it be brought up to vote on. |
| Date | 00:55:46, June 01, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | I agree that it must be. Maybe we should insist on a 2nd phone line! LOL |
| Date | 18:20:41, June 02, 2005 CET |
From | Rightist Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | After reading the transcript of this debate, we shall cast a token vote against this bill. |
| Date | 19:47:07, June 03, 2005 CET |
From | Patriot Party | To | Debating the Prisoner Work Act | | Message | Thank you DSP. Next time I decide to make a cabinet, I just might add ya to it :D |
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| Vote |
Seats |
| yes | Total Seats: 40 |
| no | Total Seats: 209 |
| abstain | Total Seats: 32 |
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| Random quote: "Hunger is not the worst feature of unemployment; idleness is." - William E. Barrett
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