[PASSED!] Safety in Difficult Times (GA #156)

[Opaloka]

Corummian cheap and shoddy goods will be sold in Opaloka, whether its government approves or not.

Ah! Actually no such goods tend to fall foul of our vigorous health & safety legislation, but hey thanks for making out customs guys jobs interesting. As to only 1/5 of world is in WA that's an arguement for doing nothing about anything. As we have pointed out to our esteemed corummian brother there are ways to control imports from nations that trade on an unacceptable basis.

[Jedi8246]

Sir William stands up and grabs a microphone.

"While we feel the well being of people is a great thing to have, and we firmly support that in our nation don't you worry socialists, we feel that- Hold on."

Sir William pulls out his money pouch,taks out Gold Coins, the currency of Jedi8246, and places them on the adjacent representative's desk.

"You see what I did there? I gave him money, for free. While in your little socialist nations, you feel it's ok to give money for free without having to work for it and promoting laziness, which mind you helps society in no way, we sane ones realize that sort of nonsense is what ruins economies. You can feel free to run your little socialist countries, but don't try to put that nonsense on us. Cause in all reality, what will this do? Those who support this bill, probably already have such programs, and those who don't support it, will create little workarounds where such social programs created by this bill will have no funding. So in other words, this bill is a waste of everyone's time and money. And while your nations may be comfortable with this, I for one, don't feel comfortable taking my government's money to stand around and waste time on bills such as these."

Sir William then spits on his copy of the bill, before taking a match and setting fire to it. The bill burns to an ashy crisp, before being put out by other Jedi8246 people.

[Zooey Deschanel]

Our nation already has all these social programs. Now the WA Redundancy Department of Redundancy wants us to do it all over again and force us to pay.

No. No, it doesn't.

Yes. Yes it does.

ESTABLISHES that:

1) Social Assistance (SA) shall grant benefits to workers and their families, as provided by this resolution. Each nation will determine the method, whether public, private or a mixture thereof, by which SA shall be financed.

There is no wording about what local programs will be doing. It doesn't say they're merged, obsolete, etc. It says the SA HAS to be formed and it will dispense certain benefits that we pay for. It doesn't say "If National programs meet or exceed SA requirements, the SA will not be need" or "National programs will be absorbed in SA." The SA is created as an entirely separate body and doesn't say otherwise.

It is poorly worded and misleading.

[Glen-Rhodes]

There is no wording about what local programs will be doing. It doesn't say they're merged, obsolete, etc. It says the SA HAS to be formed and it will dispense certain benefits that we pay for. It doesn't say "If National programs meet or exceed SA requirements, the SA will not be need" or "National programs will be absorbed in SA." The SA is created as an entirely separate body and doesn't say otherwise.

"Social Assistance" isn't a mandated agency, it's just the name of what has to be provided... Yes, an agency probably has to be created if one doesn't exist already. But it's pretty absurd to say that the resolution would force member states who already have social welfare to duplicate these services.

[Opaloka]

Labour is the sole producer of wealth. thus the gold in sir williams coins was worth nothing until labour a/ found it b/extracted it. The proposition offers assistance to the sole producers of wealth whilst they are unemployed due to imperfections in the market system. To use an advertising slogan "they're worth it" because they produced the worth in the first place.

[Romanar Broom Closet]

Now I know why we have millions of people crowding into a Broom Closet. They want the benefits from this resolution!

[Scorpiostan]

I must say that we of Scorpiostan agree fully with the esteemed representative of Jedi8246 Sir William. Our "peasants"... I mean our citizen's understand the value of hard work in order to promote a strong economy and nation. Requiring us to pay people for doing nothing is ludicrous and counter productive. It would only encourage our citizens to slack off and not do any work. At the same time the cost of this plan would be a detriment to our own social welfare plans and education system not to mention our police and armed forces to survive in this chaotic world. We much rather have smart people able to provide for themselves rather than have many stupid peons surviving off our good will. We feel it is better to teach a man to fish so that he can feed himself rather than give him a fish and feed him for a day. Besides if it does pass we will just ignore it anyways since the plans we have are already sufficient for our nation and it is not like anyone is going to do anything about it. We would also like to thank Sir William for his kind donation of gold coins to Scorpiostan.

[Cyrod]

The Empire of Cyrod sees no advantage to it's economy in this proposal. This proposal does not support any of the Empire's goals, nor does it in any way resist what we oppose. The Empire suggests that this proposal is rejected outright, voided, and never spoken of again.

[Motuka]

Excellent. Now all the people who don't feel like working can simply get their bosses to fire them or pop out a few kids. And every time a member of a clan dies, everyone else in the clan can file for benefits.

This isn't just completely unnecessary -- charity for those who truly need it is best provided at the smallest level, by one's kin, friends and neighbors, rather than by faceless bureaucrats with no idea of what is needed or wanted and no time to volunteer -- but actively harmful. It essentially establishes SA and requires nations to fund it, irrespective of prior social programmes, size and power of the government (the Model Citizen cannot levy taxes), or social acceptability. The costs of providing food, water, and shelter to millions -- and rates of welfare fraud have rarely been accurately discerned, so we've no way of knowing how many of those millions actually need it -- will destroy the economies of smaller countries, leading to poverty and crime and yet more unemployment in an endless ouroboros of welfare statism. Nations that already provide welfare and are then burdened with SA will have to repeal their existing laws, which can hardly fail to be more adequately tailored to the peculiarities of that individual nation, or face increased costs and, ultimately, debt.

Too late to swing the tide against this drivel, but we will be campaigning for a repeal once the lemmings have completed their suicidal plunge.

- S.K.

[Dilsnufi]

Delegate Lenny Bruce removes his clerical collar, puts out his cigarette and stands to speak to the forum.

It is the opinion of this delegation that we do not have the authority to tell other nations what services they offer their citizens. In Dilsnufi we offer free education and free health care for all our citizens, our people have the liberty to live life as they choose, but we do not any type of welfare program. If we are forced to start offering one now by this assembly, I will personally see to it that this program does not receive one cent of funding.

Delegate Bruce returns to seat and toasts shots of Bourbon with delegate Thompson.

[Romivul WA Mission]

The Republic of Romivul wishes to call to attention the fact that ''Safety in Difficult Times'' act violates two major articles of the ''Rights and Duties of WA States'' resolution. Section I: Article 2 says:

'' Every WA Member State has the right to exercise jurisdiction over its territory and over all persons and things therein, subject to the immunities recognized by international law.''

In other words, the WA has no right to force a nation into providing welfare for it's people.

Article 1 § Every WA Member State has the right to independence and hence to exercise freely, without dictation by any other NationState, all its legal powers, including the choice of its own form of government.


This part states that every WA nation has independence and cannot be forced into providing welfare. It also states that if their form of government is an anti-welfare capitalist one then the WA has no right to force them to do otherwise which the ''Safety in Difficult Times'' act would do.

[Dilsnufi]

The Republic of Romivul wishes to call to attention the fact that ''Safety in Difficult Times'' act violates two major articles of the ''Rights and Duties of WA States'' resolution. Section I: Article 2 says:

'' Every WA Member State has the right to exercise jurisdiction over its territory and over all persons and things therein, subject to the immunities recognized by international law.''

In other words, the WA has no right to force a nation into providing welfare for it's people.

Article 1 § Every WA Member State has the right to independence and hence to exercise freely, without dictation by any other N ationState, all its legal powers, including the choice of its own form of government.


This part states that every WA nation has independence and cannot be forced into providing welfare.
It also states that if their form of government is an anti-welfare capitalist one then the WA has no right to force them to do otherwise which the ''Safety in Difficult Times'' act would do.

It appears this assembly has two faces

[Mahaj]

The Republic of Romivul wishes to call to attention the fact that ''Safety in Difficult Times'' act violates two major articles of the ''Rights and Duties of WA States'' resolution. Section I: Article 2 says:

'' Every WA Member State has the right to exercise jurisdiction over its territory and over all persons and things therein, subject to the immunities recognized by international law.''

In other words, the WA has no right to force a nation into providing welfare for it's people.

Article 1 § Every WA Member State has the right to independence and hence to exercise freely, without dictation by any other N ationState, all its legal powers, including the choice of its own form of government.


This part states that every WA nation has independence and cannot be forced into providing welfare.
It also states that if their form of government is an anti-welfare capitalist one then the WA has no right to force them to do otherwise which the ''Safety in Difficult Times'' act would do.

It appears this assembly has two faces

No, just that Romivul's delegation has a hard time reading and understanding resolutions.

[Flibbleites]

The Republic of Romivul wishes to call to attention the fact that ''Safety in Difficult Times'' act violates two major articles of the ''Rights and Duties of WA States'' resolution. Section I: Article 2 says:

'' Every WA Member State has the right to exercise jurisdiction over its territory and over all persons and things therein, subject to the immunities recognized by international law.''

In other words, the WA has no right to force a nation into providing welfare for it's people.

Article 1 § Every WA Member State has the right to independence and hence to exercise freely, without dictation by any other NationState, all its legal powers, including the choice of its own form of government.


This part states that every WA nation has independence and cannot be forced into providing welfare. It also states that if their form of government is an anti-welfare capitalist one then the WA has no right to force them to do otherwise which the ''Safety in Difficult Times'' act would do.

Wrong, the way those clauses are worded they basically say, "You can do whatever you want unless the WA says otherwise."

Bob Flibble
WA Representative

[Aetrina]

Wrong, the way those clauses are worded they basically say, "You can do whatever you want unless the WA says otherwise."

And there is the ultimate truth....

[Krioval]

The Imperial Chiefdom has cast its votes in alignment with our region. We feel that this effort by the Sionis Prioratus delegation is an honorable one, but that the economic impacts will have to be carefully studied in the days ahead to assess the benefits and detriments of this act.

Henrik Søgård
Imperial Chiefdom of Krioval

[Jedi8246]

The Republic of Romivul wishes to call to attention the fact that ''Safety in Difficult Times'' act violates two major articles of the ''Rights and Duties of WA States'' resolution. Section I: Article 2 says:

'' Every WA Member State has the right to exercise jurisdiction over its territory and over all persons and things therein, subject to the immunities recognized by international law.''

In other words, the WA has no right to force a nation into providing welfare for it's people.

Article 1 § Every WA Member State has the right to independence and hence to exercise freely, without dictation by any other NationState, all its legal powers, including the choice of its own form of government.


This part states that every WA nation has independence and cannot be forced into providing welfare. It also states that if their form of government is an anti-welfare capitalist one then the WA has no right to force them to do otherwise which the ''Safety in Difficult Times'' act would do.

Wrong, the way those clauses are worded they basically say, "You can do whatever you want unless the WA says otherwise."

Bob Flibble
WA Representative

Sir William grabs his mic once more.

"That is troublesome indeed. Our nations have no protection from the WA forcing corrupted principles like socialism upon them without either having to leave the WA, or bombing their nation's citizenry. As most would find the latter option rather cruel and unusual, this basically means that leaving the WA is one's only safety beacon against terrible bills. That is no way to run an international organization. If the goal of this body is to bring everybody together for peace, then having no protection against having our government's type changed is flat out counter productive. Which leads one to assume that the true goals of this body are more shrouded than one initially thought."

Sir William leaves it at that, setting down his microphone.

[Sionis Prioratus]

OOC inspiration, or... what could have been.

FDR's Second Bill of Rights (video)

It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth—is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.

This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.

As our nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

America's own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens.

For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world.

[Arivali]

There is one way around this. There is nothing in this bill that says we can't add our own laws implementing income limits, or child limits, or benefit limits... I know, my Lords and I are evil geniuses.

[Iksalvor]

There is one way around this. There is nothing in this bill that says we can't add our own laws implementing income limits, or child limits, or benefit limits... I know, my Lords and I are evil geniuses.

That this passed has our citizens in outrage. Chairman Surcraft has already told me that, should Assembly enforcement threaten the currently unstable economy we have been tasked with salvaging, the Iksalvorian Parliament will likely have to pass benefit limits. While we hope it doesn't get to the point of child limits, I've been told we will do as necessary except income limits and outright population control.

I, for one, am not surprised this was passed. I pray for its repeal post-haste. Sadly, there is naught left to discuss at this time now.

Sincerest Regards,

[Knootoss]

The ideological gloating of the author shows once more how he misses the point. The World Assembly is not a single nation, yet he continues to treat it as if it is. This is the worst IntFeditry that has shamed these halls in recent memory.


Ambassador Aram Koopman
World Assembly representative for the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss

[Romivul WA Mission]

The fact that this notorious bill was allowed to pass by such a large majority is a testament to how people just look at the title and say ''More money for poor sounds like something good'' and vote in favor. It's time people actually start reading what the opposition has to say.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

(RP-wise) It is confirmed that Minoa's economy has been unaffected, but it does pose doubts about the credibility of the World Assembly. As such, the general policy has changed to opposition by default, until its repeal.

[Lexembourg]

Le Gouvernement de
Sa Majesté, le Princesse plus noble haute et puissant
Adélaïde
par la Grâce de Dieu, Grand-Duchesse de Lexembourg,
Princesse du Ruhr, Défenseur de la Foi

The passage of this Resolution has left the Grand Duchy of Lexembourg with no other option than to resign from the World Assembly with immediate effect.

The Assembly has consistently passed resolutions which have fundamentally changed the nature of the Lexembourgienne economic model. GA #156 has seriously threatened the stability and prosperity of our small nation's economy.

It is with great regret that the Assembly's meddling in our national economy has forced us to resign from the body, the work of which we applaud.

Her Majesty's Government hopes to be able to rejoin the World Assembly in the future. However, such an undertaking cannot and will not occur as long as GA #156 is binding.

[Guillaume Durand]

Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

[Mahaj]

7 hours ago: Mahaj WA Seat was reclassified from "Anarchy" to "Civil Rights Lovefest".

And I didn't answer any issues because of it. Its purely because of the WA resolution affecting at update.

Unbelievable.