NSG Senate Chamber: I came, I saw, I cleaned up after myself

[Atlanticatia]

"Do you understand that this is not a protectionist tariff? It is a neutral import and export duty. Pretty much every country has minimal customs duties like this. It'd be a good idea to actually read the bill."

"Do you understand that free trade is the elimination of all tariffs on all goods and services? The reason the tariff is there is irrelevant, it's presence means we will not have free trade. It would be a good idea if you read a book about economics before making it up as you go along."

"I was referring to protectionism - which means policies to explicitly favour the nation's exports, and penalise imports. This treats all trade neutrally, affecting neither imports nor exports."

[The Nihilistic view]

"Do you understand that free trade is the elimination of all tariffs on all goods and services? The reason the tariff is there is irrelevant, it's presence means we will not have free trade. It would be a good idea if you read a book about economics before making it up as you go along."

"I was referring to protectionism - which means policies to explicitly favour the nation's exports, and penalise imports. This treats all trade neutrally, affecting neither imports nor exports."

"So you are now not refuting that you are moving away from free trade? Something you supposedly seemed to be unaware of previously."

[The Liberated Territories]

"Do you understand that free trade is the elimination of all tariffs on all goods and services? The reason the tariff is there is irrelevant, it's presence means we will not have free trade. It would be a good idea if you read a book about economics before making it up as you go along."

"I was referring to protectionism - which means policies to explicitly favour the nation's exports, and penalise imports. This treats all trade neutrally, affecting neither imports nor exports."

You know this is not true. Imagine a business that makes money mostly through exports to another country, as opposed to one that imports some singular pieces and creates stuff at home. Which business would a tariff hurt more?

The tariff is just destroying outside trade. If we were America, this might work, but we aren't, as we have a limited amount of natural resources here.

[Atlanticatia]

"Osborne & Cable have found no net negative economic benefit from this duty, when you factor in public spending. Would you prefer a $6.4 billion increase in income taxes - perhaps, or perhaps a repeal of the Universal Family Assistance Act and cuts to the health care budget?"

[Heraklea-]

"Osborne & Cable have found no net negative economic benefit from this duty, when you factor in public spending. Would you prefer a $6.4 billion increase in income taxes - perhaps, or perhaps a repeal of the Universal Family Assistance Act and cuts to the health care budget?"

"I think we all know what he would prefer. That said, I should point out that not only would these duties help pay for the multitude of welfare services the government is legally bound to provide, but also provide funding that is used for matters such as port and airport security, inspection of goods entering and leaving the country, border crossing checkpoints and other services specifically related to international travel and trade. Surely those who utilize and benefit from such services can afford to support them through a minor duty."

[Arkolon]

OOC: Arkolon actually gave me the idea for this tax and is a full supporter.

OOC: What sort of nonsense is Ark feeding you? Tariffs are arguably as bad as corporate taxes.

"In the early 2000s Curious George attempted to raise steel tariffs in the US from 8% all the way to 30% in some cases. The results were devastating; 200,000 Americans lost their jobs to the steel tariffs during 2002, or $4 billion in wages. One out of four of these job losses occurred in the metal
manufacturing, machinery and equipment and transportation equipment and parts sectors. Sauce. The tariffs were primarily designed for, like all protectionism, for the few at the expense of the many. They were so bad for everyone, the World Trade Organization called the tariffs, illegal. Thankfully, he lifted "some" to prevent a trade war with the EU, which would of damaged the US economy.

Tariffs suck."

That's a 275% increase in protectionist tariffs of a single commodity. What we're proposing is a minimal import/export tariff of 4% on all imports or exports. It's not protectionist, but neither is it fully free trade-- but it's a lot closer to the latter than the former. We're a country with high rising labour costs with industrial concentration on sectors we should be inefficient in. Agriculture and industry is anyway more expensive in Calaverde than it is in any of our neighbouring countries simply because of rising wages. Calaverde can propose a fresh business environment and a stable government, but that's our only edge in those sectors. A small tariff would only make customers prefer homegrown produce instead of produce taken from anywhere else around the developing world. At such a small level, it can only protect Calaverdean jobs, and it's a minimal contribution from international commerce that can be better used to balance a budget.

[Arkolon]

"Osborne & Cable have found no net negative economic benefit from this duty, when you factor in public spending. Would you prefer a $6.4 billion increase in income taxes - perhaps, or perhaps a repeal of the Universal Family Assistance Act and cuts to the health care budget?"

"To expand on this," explained Marino, I guess, "Money taken from net trade would be used to fund public spending, so at the very basic level demand would have to be unaffected by the tariff. Exports and imports are on the rise with increased consumption, so any small change would at most curtail exports for a slight period of time. Job growth is also picking up in the sectors with higher consumer and business confidence, so any potential job losses due to this tariff (not to mention how improbable that is at this scale) would be taken over by quick job growth elsewhere. The tradeoffs are small, the costs are minimal, and the benefits are much greater. Don't get me wrong, there are bad times for tariffs, but this definitely isn't one of them."

[Mollary]

"On the basis that I seem merely to be quibbling over margins, I withdraw my objection, but would suggest the government keeps a reduction in or elimination of tariffs when it is a viable option in future."

[Collatis]

You know this is not true. Imagine a business that makes money mostly through exports to another country, as opposed to one that imports some singular pieces and creates stuff at home. Which business would a tariff hurt more?

The tariff is just destroying outside trade. If we were America, this might work, but we aren't, as we have a limited amount of natural resources here.

OOC: Shouldn't your Senator be rather pro-tariff, since the FNP is all nationalist?

[New Bierstaat]

I am no longer a protectionist. I oppose this tarriff and will only support tarriffs as a retaliatory measure against other countries that impose tarriffs on our goods or unfairly compete in some other way.

Cause that turned out well for the Americans with the Hawley-Smoot tariffs right?

Well, we don't have to be quite that drastic about it, but we need a retaliatory recourse in case another country tries to compete unfairly in the global market.

[Zurkerx]

ORDER.

"We will now begin the debate on the Paid Parental Leave Act".

Paid Parental Leave Act

[Atlanticatia]

"I think this private member's bill would put an undue burden on small businesses, as it would ask them to contribute towards an employee's wages whilst on parental leave, while also being slightly bureaucratic and insufficient in length of benefits. The government's plan will be more transparent and efficient, whilst also being more comprehensive. That bill will amend the Social Insurance and Retirement Security Act to provide for up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new mothers, 12 weeks of paid leave for their partners, and 40 weeks of paid parental leave that the parents could share however they'd like, paid by the Social Insurance Office, rather than the employer. That bill will also provide a flat-rate benefit for self-employed people.

Therefore I will be voting nay on this bill."

[The Sarian]

"This is the third bill in as many weeks which the government has poo-pooed because it has something they class as 'better' in the queue, they're beginning to make a habit out of it. Do you lot base all of your bills off of those that are already written?

That being said, I will be opposing this bill, in addition to the government sponsored one currently in the queue."

[Atlanticatia]

"This is the third bill in as many weeks which the government has poo-pooed because it has something they class as 'better' in the queue, they're beginning to make a habit out of it. Do you lot base all of your bills off of those that are already written?

That being said, I will be opposing this bill, in addition to the government sponsored one currently in the queue."

"Obviously, the government is going to prioritise its Government bill over a private member's bill."

[Lykens]

"This is the third bill in as many weeks which the government has poo-pooed because it has something they class as 'better' in the queue, they're beginning to make a habit out of it. Do you lot base all of your bills off of those that are already written?

That being said, I will be opposing this bill, in addition to the government sponsored one currently in the queue."

"Motion to grant MP Ojeda-Campos a sticker."

[The Sarian]

"This is the third bill in as many weeks which the government has poo-pooed because it has something they class as 'better' in the queue, they're beginning to make a habit out of it. Do you lot base all of your bills off of those that are already written?

That being said, I will be opposing this bill, in addition to the government sponsored one currently in the queue."

"Obviously, the government is going to prioritise its Government bill over a private member's bill."

"I always thought your main concern should be for the citizens of this nation, but whatever floats your boat."

[Atlanticatia]

"Obviously, the government is going to prioritise its Government bill over a private member's bill."

"I always thought your main concern should be for the citizens of this nation, but whatever floats your boat."

"It is - that's why I'll be supporting the Government's plan. The Government's plan will help working families even more, by increasing the proposed paid parental leave from 28 weeks to a full 52 weeks, which is better for parents and children. And I also believe the Government should support small and medium sized businesses who make up the backbone of our economy, by making paid parental leave a social insurance scheme, rather than a mandate on the employer to pay the employee out of their own pocket when they are not working. If you're on the side of working families and small businesses, you'd support the Government's bill."

[The Nihilistic view]

"Would there be any chance of seeing a copy of this other bill so members can compare the two and chose the one they like best?"

[MERIZoC]

"Would there be any chance of seeing a copy of this other bills so members can compare the two and chose the one they like best?"

"Sounds suggestive."

[Atlanticatia]

"Would there be any chance of seeing a copy of this other bill so members can compare the two and chose the one they like best?"

"Yes. You may view it here."

[The Nihilistic view]

Boris reads through it before going over the bill at debate.

"Well I find the relevant measures in this act much better on the whole. I therefore motion to remove the Paid Parental Leave Act from the floor and move debate to a new bill so as to waste as little time as possible now it's clear the government support this new plan instead of the previous private members bill."

[MERIZoC]

Boris reads through it before going over the bill at debate.

"Well I find the relevant measures in this act much better on the whole. I therefore motion to remove the Paid Parental Leave Act from the floor and move debate to a new bill so as to waste as little time as possible now it's clear the government support this new plan instead of the previous private members bill."

Seconded.

[Heraklea-]

Boris reads through it before going over the bill at debate.

"Well I find the relevant measures in this act much better on the whole. I therefore motion to remove the Paid Parental Leave Act from the floor and move debate to a new bill so as to waste as little time as possible now it's clear the government support this new plan instead of the previous private members bill."

Seconded.

Thirded.

[Atlanticatia]

Seconded.

Thirded.

fourthed

[The Sarian]

Thirded.

fourthed

For the sake of saving parliaments time, fifthed.