Labor Party Standing Committee thread: Endorsement voting

[asexual trans victimologist]

the Communist Party of Atlasia (Marxist-Lenininst-Tweedist) says NO to the opportunist bourgeois parliamentarism of the Labor Party

The Labor Party understands why Tweed doesn't like it, but the Labor Party still likes Tweed.

[© Tweed the Younger]

Tweed doesn't hate the players but hates the game.  Tweed created this game.  Tweed is self-loathing.

[Senator Barnes]

Well, if it will help, I'll ask for my second proposition to be removed and for us to simply consider this for our platform:

Education is the stepping stone for success for every Atlaisan.  We believe that is the right of every legal resident to receive a free education provided by the state.  The goal of education is that it will be student centered to allow for the optimal assimilation of knowledge.  The educational curriculum should be administered from an objective standpoint: making the student understand why something happened.  For example: Why something happened in history, not just that it did happen; or why to use a certain mathematical formula, and not just because it solves the equation.

By the time a student reaches the secondary level (High School), courses should be designed to meet their specific career decision and to allow them to accrue college credit in public schools.  It is the long term goal of the party to establish a region-based network to publicly fund state-run universities, thus eliminating income as a factor in furthering one's knowledge.

Hopefully, we can continue our discussion later, but we simply must get a move on with this platform.  

[asexual trans victimologist]

Looks good to me.

Unless we have objections, shall we begin discussing labor relations or health?

[Dr. Cynic]

Looks good. Yes, let's move forward.

[asexual trans victimologist]

So. Health care. Bismarckian or British?

[President Marokai]

So. Health care. Bismarckian or British?

Is this really a question?

British!

[asexual trans victimologist]

So. Health care. Bismarckian or British?

Is this really a question?

Not for me, but...

British!

Seconded.

[Senator MaxQue]

British, before New Labour.

[Kuu ülevaade olulisematest]

This is a socialist party, not the National Liberal Party.

[Dr. Cynic]

I say old chaps, better make it British.

[asexual trans victimologist]

So we're all in agreement.

The Labor Party demands a single national health system run from the public purse and free of charge to all citizens.

[© Tweed the Younger]

Young Tweed would be delighted to engage in a dialogue with the social-democratic parliamentarians once they are through with writing their tome of a platform.

[asexual trans victimologist]

Do we need to elaborate beyond that or are we good for health care? If we're all set, I'd like someone to see if they can write up something nice on labor relations and workers' rights.

__________

I want to state unequivocally before anybody else brings it up that I don't want an official party line on abortion, euthanasia, or politicized medical ethics in general. I want these to be matters of conscience.

[hawkeye59]

What about gay marriage and guns?
As far as I know, gay marriage is still illegal here in Atlasia.

[asexual trans victimologist]

What about gay marriage and guns?
As far as I know, gay marriage is still illegal here in Atlasia.

Guns I don't particularly care about. We're supporting gay marriage if I have anything to say about it since I don't think it's legitimately a conscience issue on the level of public policy. It is in fact legal in Atlasia the last I checked, but I'll try to find the source of that.

[Oakvale]

I might be way off but IIRC Atlasia has civil unions for all couples, not marriage per se.

[asexual trans victimologist]

As long as it's equal.

[Senator MaxQue]

It is (not surprising considering how socially liberal is Atlasia and than some Senates were near 50% gay).

[asexual trans victimologist]

I don't suppose campaigning for reinstitution of civil marriage or something would be a worthwhile use of time considering the other issues of neoliberal moderate-heroism and selling out that we have to deal with. Let's talk about the workers.

[Formerly Californian Tony]

Health care should indeed be universal, free and publicly run.

I think our next policy priority should be taxation (after all, we can't have any effective government program without a well-functioning fiscal system). I'd go with something like this.

The Labor Party believe in the necessity of a substantial taxation. Taxes are a necessity in order for the government to establish public services and run them to the benefits of all, but they also have an intrinsecal positive value as a mean of redistribution and social solidarity. That's why the fiscal system shall be based on the principle of progressivity : every citizen should contribute depending on their means. The core of the fiscal system shall be a highly progressive Income Tax, with the highest marginal rate reaching a level superior to three quarters. Capital gains shall be included into the income tax, because it is unacceptable that stockholders be exempt of the taxes paid by the workers. Other sources of revenues (consumption taxes, corporate taxes, wealth taxes) might be established, but the main revenue shall still come from the taxation of incomes. Inheritances shall be subjected to taxation as progressive or more progressive than regular incomes. Tax loopholes might have some utility, but they should be capped so that they don't become a way for wealthy people to avoid contributing to the public wealth as they should. Finally, tax evasion and fraud must be fought restlessly, and the State authorities in charge of this task shall be heavily funded and equipped.

[Fritz]

Gay marriage has been legal in Atlasia for many years.

[dialectical fetishist]

Do we have any policy on a shorter workweek?

[Senator Napoleon]

Do we have any policy on a shorter workweek?

President Snowguy already shortened it, how many hours do you think it should be?

[Formerly Californian Tony]

Guys...