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Bill: Open Borders Act, 2349
Details
Submitted by[?]: Aldurian Green 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: March 2353
Description[?]:
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Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change Travel by nationals to foreign nations
Old value:: The nation issues passports to nationals after an invasive security check.
Current: The nation issues passports to nationals after a cursory security check.
Proposed: The nation issues passports on demand for any reason to its nationals
Article 2
Proposal[?] to change Government policy concerning immigration.
Old value:: No foreigners are permitted to reside permanently in this nation.
Current: Quotas are based on individual applicant's qualifications.
Proposed: Everyone is allowed to reside permanently in this nation.
Article 3
Proposal[?] to change Government policy towards giving aid to foreign countries.
Old value:: The government only gives aid for disaster relief in foreign countries.
Current: The government supplies "tied" aid to poorer nations in return for trading rights.
Proposed: The government gives high levels of aid to countries in need.
Article 4
Proposal[?] to change International trade (this is a default in the absense of a specific free trade agreement or specific trade embargo)
Old value:: The nation allows for imports, but imposes protectionist tariffs and quotas on all imports.
Current: The nation allows for imports, but imposes protectionist tariffs and quotas on all imports.
Proposed: The nation does not impose any tariffs or quotas on imports.
Article 5
Proposal[?] to change The national refugee policy.
Old value:: Only refugees that are victims of extreme circumstances are welcome; no aid is given to them.
Current: No refugees are allowed to enter the country.
Proposed: All refugees are welcome, regardless of their reason, and given aid in integrating them into the country.
Article 6
Proposal[?] to change Travel by foreigners to the nation.
Old value:: The nation imposes strict border control on visitors, with intensive security checks, to maintain law and order.
Current: The nation imposes strict border control on visitors, with intensive security checks, to maintain law and order.
Proposed: The nation imposes no border controls on visitors.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 23:02:01, January 24, 2007 CET | From | Aldurian Labor Party | To | Debating the Open Borders Act, 2349 |
| Message | Disagree. |
| Date | 05:00:33, January 25, 2007 CET | From | Nous-Mêmes | To | Debating the Open Borders Act, 2349 |
| Message | The LPS can support some of the measures supported above, but not the bill as a whole. While we agree that an open border is in our interest, it is still very reasonable to have some measures in place, for national security purposes. Article 1's provisions are a concern, since it could lead to a foreign aggressor taking advantage of a looser policy to gain unwanted entry into the nation, and put themselves at a major advantage, should there be conflict. At least having the Foreign Affairs office review Embassy placements would deter that likelihood, without rejecting friendly nations. Article 2 also is a bit too extreme, in terms of creating a possible security concern. While I think our citizens should be allowed to travel, it still is prudent to do some sort of security check. I propose that this be amended to issue passports to nationals after a cursory security check. Article 3 also calls into the question of unknowingly letting in a terror threat. As much as I'd like an open border, I recommend at least requiring an application for residency, so that we can ensure their intentions are honorable. I propose that this article be amended to set Quotas, based on individual applicant's qualifications. Articles 4 and 6 are acceptable, as well as proper moves for a member of the global community. Article 5 makes sense on the surface, but allows no provision regarding nations who take advantage of an improper trade balance, infringe copyrights, etc. At the very least, we should have the ability to apply tariffs reciprocally, when needed. Lastly, Article 7 has similar concerns attached to it as there are with Article 3. We do need to perform some sort of security check. I recommend a policy where we impose minimal border controls on visitors, with cursory security checks, to confirm visitor identities. |
| Date | 22:14:16, January 30, 2007 CET | From | Aldurian Federalist Party | To | Debating the Open Borders Act, 2349 |
| Message | There are somethings I don't like and things that I do like Article 1) The wording is a bit vague, or I am not understanding what it's supposed to mean, could you rephrase that in another context please, I'm sorry to be a bother. Article 2) I think anyone that should demand to reside in this nation must seek permission from the government, who's job it is to protect the population. This may be a bit hard to do with foriegners coming in without the government knowing. I would be supportive of such things, such as work visas, passports, etc. Article 3) As much as it's all good to give money to foreign nations, and I do realize that nations might need aid sometimes, but we must realize what this sort of proposition would put our tax payers, and some mercy must be given to them, as far as how much money they are able to keep from their profits. Article 4) Agreed Article 5) Once again for the interest of national security we must have some sort of control over the coming and leaving of people from our borders. We also don't know whether or not a potential terror threat could be coming in, unchecked. Article 5) If we are going to welcome these refugees, I hope we have a plan to deal with them? Are we going to send military troops into their region and try to calm down the violence? Are we going to accommodate them with refugee camps, or are we just going to allow them to run rampant as they will probably move into the city areas, which can cause problems of overpopulation? We are probably going to have to talk about this before we decide whether or not to accept the Green Party's proposal. Article 6) As I have said before we can't completely eradicate security. |
| Date | 22:45:08, January 30, 2007 CET | From | Aldurian Federalist Party | To | Debating the Open Borders Act, 2349 |
| Message | Actually in hindsight, I'd probably say I'd disagree with this bill, in so many ways that I have to vote against it. |
| Date | 01:24:40, January 31, 2007 CET | From | Aldurian Green Party | To | Debating the Open Borders Act, 2349 |
| Message | This bill is simply a return to the Aldurian policies that the national front reversed. |
| Date | 04:04:44, January 31, 2007 CET | From | Aldurian Federalist Party | To | Debating the Open Borders Act, 2349 |
| Message | But it's a little nuts, maybe if there was more of a middle ground to the issue, then it might be more receptive with the other parties. |
| Date | 05:23:24, January 31, 2007 CET | From | Nous-Mêmes | To | Debating the Open Borders Act, 2349 |
| Message | Unfortunately, I will have to vote against this proposal as well. I still stand by my concerns listed above, and understand the intent of the Greens here, in terms of reverting the policies of the National Front. However, as noted by my Liberal colleague, I feel that this is too extreme of an open policy, setting up extreme national security concerns. |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | |||
| yes | Total Seats: 147 | |||
| no |
Total Seats: 278 | |||
| abstain | Total Seats: 0 |
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| Random quote: "If man asks for many laws, it is only because he is sure that his neighbor needs them; privately he is an unphilosophical anarchist, and thinks laws in his own case superfluous." - Will Durant |