[DEFEATED] National Economic Liberties

[Krasnovian Peoples Republic]

TROTSLEY: (mumbling) Ought to bloody well be more clearly stated... bloody pickpocket overlords...

Assistant Trotsley returns to his place - kneeling behind the Captain's chair, as the Captain shoves an enormous wedge of Stilton into his maw...

[Losthaven]

Luft's question remains unanswered. Your government brings this proposal to ban earmarked spending and yet, we remain unconvinced to the nessecity of such a piece of legislation. What is so bad about earmarked spending? If our facts are correct, the term applies to all fund raising applied to a specific cause as opposed to the general fund. Yes, we understand the frustration with recent bills asking for 1% of national GDPs, but wouldn't a simpler solution be to vote down such proposals that ask for too much rather than ban earmarked spending completely?

Parsons: (sentimentally) Whilst it was a great burst of fun, I expect, for many to have watched World Space Administration and the soap opera drama which entailed, Bitely's replacement (which would have been submitted by now if not for his ejection from the World Assembly) called for a percentage point of everyone's GDP into their coffers. (hits table) That is unacceptable. May I remind you that World Space Administration passed and that if you have multiple resolutions which call for multiple percentage points of GDP, those add up?

I can't imagine the WA ever passing enough such resolutions to take 100% of national wealth.

Moreover, Bitely is the only nation that I can remember to get that kind of a hard number passed into law... and their reputation is pretty tarnished at this point. Why should we block any attempt to put resolution funding in the language of the resolution based on the (ultimately) unsuccessful dealings of a single bad egg? If authors in the future want to put in place funding mechanisms based on - say - population figures, or use of services, or the like, why should we preempt them just because Bitely went with a model that would only support about 100 resolutions doing the same thing before every dime were gone?

This just seems like powerful medicine for a mild ailment to us, that's all. Or, put a different way, it seems like we're cutting off a lot of future author's noses to spite Bitely's face. I'm sure at least one of those old saws makes my point clear.

[Alqania]

"So, what we have here is basically a reactionary resolution, drafted no longer than a few days, shamelessly and sweepingly blocking 'non-general' funding to the WA without any justification whatsoever, employing a fluffy title and an unrelated concern of questionable sincerity about the WA interfering in free market systems as the purported raison d'être, failing to milk that premise for a legality-ensuring non-blocker clause and thus adding a third subject into the same resolution as nothing more than an unapologetic rider", surmised Lord Raekevik.

"A for effort, but lacking in execution; greater creativity could have been shown by flexing the original theme rather than adding unrelated language. Also, almost anyone can be successful at fooling the uninformed masses by use of tools adopted here - for the author's next project, I would suggest setting the bar higher and trying to fool some of the regulars by more subtle and indirect methods. More of a challenge and more rewarding if successful."

"The Queendom has voted against this resolution", the Ambassador clarified before yielding the floor.

[Luft]

"So, what we have here is basically a reactionary resolution, drafted no longer than a few days, shamelessly and sweepingly blocking 'non-general' funding to the WA without any justification whatsoever, employing a fluffy title and an unrelated concern of questionable sincerity about the WA interfering in free market systems as the purported raison d'être, failing to milk that premise for a legality-ensuring non-blocker clause and thus adding a third subject into the same resolution as nothing more than an unapologetic rider", surmised Lord Raekevik.

"A for effort, but lacking in execution; greater creativity could have been shown by flexing the original theme rather than adding unrelated language. Also, almost anyone can be successful at fooling the uninformed masses by use of tools adopted here - for the author's next project, I would suggest setting the bar higher and trying to fool some of the regulars by more subtle and indirect methods. More of a challenge and more rewarding if successful."

"The Queendom has voted against this resolution", the Ambassador clarified before yielding the floor.

"The Principality requests that your Queendom reconsiders and takes some time to discuss the resolution with the author. It is frank to us that the bill is far from malicious; it just appears rather rough.

Luft requests that when the bill is defeated, the author take the time to redraft it and open said draft for discussion before taking it to vote. Your title could be reworded to better describe the contents, the rider can be dropped, loopholes can be fixed, and your argument can be better prepared. If such makes it to vote, Luft will most certainly vote 'Aye'. Its noble idea that would improve efficiency, but improvement could certainly be seen in methods of readying it for vote. Simple words of honesty often serve far better than complex sentences providing for a variety of misconception."

[Alqania]

"The Principality requests that your Queendom reconsiders and takes some time to discuss the resolution with the author. It is frank to us that the bill is far from malicious; it just appears rather rough."

"Apologies, I was expressing myself rather collegiately, which I hope His Grace the author would not find too presumptuous, in discussing the... composition of this resolution. However, the primary reasons for the Queendom's vote against are the actual contents, the effects, of the resolution. While we are sympathetic towards an intervention against the 'X percent of GDP/budget' tendency, we are not convinced of the need or desirability of going as far as this resolution does in its prohibitions on WA fundraising. We are also concerned about the ban on the WA and its affiliates to charge fees for services."

"I fear there may be little His Grace could do to persuade us to deliver a positive vote at this stage, as our grievances with the resolution at vote would seem to be of such a nature that mere discussions would be hard pressed to assuage them. It does remain within the realm of possibility however, should His Grace be inclined to redraft, that a more fruitful session could be had after the vote."

[Vancouvia]

It's a real shame folks, but it looks like the majority is going to win on this one.

[New Aquilia]

It's a real shame folks, but it looks like the majority is going to win on this one.

It's a shame?

Sorry, but no.

[Mousebumples]

It's a real shame folks, but it looks like the majority is going to win on this one.

ProTip: the majority generally wins, as a rule - especially as that's how WA resolution voting is coded.

[Vancouvia]

It's a real shame folks, but it looks like the majority is going to win on this one.

ProTip: the majority generally wins, as a rule - especially as that's how WA resolution voting is coded.

ProtiP: obvious joke

[Separatist Peoples]

ProTip: the majority generally wins, as a rule - especially as that's how WA resolution voting is coded.

ProtiP: obvious joke

OOC: It wasn't obvious. I genuine couldn't tell if you knew the difference. Do better next time.

[Blaccakre]

ProtiP: obvious joke

OOC: It wasn't obvious. I genuine couldn't tell if you knew the difference. Do better next time.

In the WA not everyone's vote is equal so sometimes the true majority loses, as when large delegates use their one super-powered vote to support a view that's against the will of a majority of other nations (even their own constituents). So the joke was not necessarily obvious.

That said, it was rather comical. Though the humor has been thoroughly lost due to this OOC discussion of the joke.

[Vancouvia]

ProtiP: obvious joke

OOC: It wasn't obvious. I genuine couldn't tell if you knew the difference. Do better next time.

protip: do better at recognizing jokes next time!!!!

[Wrapper]

OOC: It wasn't obvious. I genuine couldn't tell if you knew the difference. Do better next time.

protip: do better at recognizing jokes next time!!!!

ProTip: Write better jokes.

[East Oceania]

Pardon our ignorance, but where exactly are the WA's rights to expropriate member nations' wealth enumerated or defined?

[Separatist Peoples]

protip: do better at recognizing jokes next time!!!!

ProTip: Write better jokes.

OOC: this ^

[Imperium Anglorum]

Though the humor has been thoroughly lost due to this OOC discussion of the joke.

THE JOKE.

[The Dead Parrot]

Though the humor has been thoroughly lost due to this OOC discussion of the joke.

THE JOKE.

(Watches video, dies laughing.)

[Vancouvia]

as a member of the GA elite, I don't have to take this

[Separatist Peoples]

as a member of the GA elite, I don't have to take this

"Now, that was amusing. However, the last thing we should do is substantiate a totally false claim regarding the existence of any elites within the WA. Certain claimants of the charge are strongly likely to ignore the inherent jest and take it wrong."

[Vancouvia]

you honestly think you can try to convince the masses that our elite doesn't exist? I saw you at the meeting the other day

[Tinfect]

you honestly think you can try to convince the masses that our elite doesn't exist? I saw you at the meeting the other day

"Ah, yes, the World Assembly Elite Summit for World Domination, I remember it well..."

[Separatist Peoples]

you honestly think you can try to convince the masses that our elite doesn't exist? I saw you at the meeting the other day

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Ordinarily, I would be willing to say that simply to obfuscate the issue at hand, but in this case, I am willing to believe that you are either attempting to cast my character in a slanderous light for political gain, or are stark raving mad, and suffering hallucinations. Given your political savvy to this point, my money is on the latter..."

[Tinfect]

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Ordinarily, I would be willing to say that simply to obfuscate the issue at hand, but in this case, I am willing to believe that you are either attempting to cast my character in a slanderous light for political gain, or are stark raving mad, and suffering hallucinations. Given your political savvy to this point, my money is on the latter..."

"Ambassador, you cannot mean to tell me that you do not remember the meeting..?"

Markhov's voice lowers to a whisper
"Back away, slowly. We should not be near him when he finally snaps."

[Vancouvia]

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Ordinarily, I would be willing to say that simply to obfuscate the issue at hand, but in this case, I am willing to believe that you are either attempting to cast my character in a slanderous light for political gain, or are stark raving mad, and suffering hallucinations. Given your political savvy to this point, my money is on the latter..."

"Ambassador, you cannot mean to tell me that you do not remember the meeting..?"

Markhov's voice lowers to a whisper
"Back away, slowly. We should not be near him when he finally snaps."

They must have got to him

[Separatist Peoples]

They must have got to him

"Are "they" the same ones who give you your happy pills, ambassador?"

Markhov's voice lowers to a whisper
"Back away, slowly. We should not be near him when he finally snaps."

Bell nods, signaling to his interns to call security, who would no doubt take the clinically paranoid ambassador to a medical professional.

"Er...I guess I forgot. Hitting the sauce and all that."