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

[Ikania]

Second Amendment to Right to Choose Act (Amended): NAY
Organ Donation and Transplantation Act: AYE
Recognition of the Republic of Kosovo: AYE
Public Services and Opportunity Act: AYE
Calaverde Codetermination Act: AYE

A bit late there, friend.

[MERIZoC]

Second Amendment to Right to Choose Act (Amended): NAY
Organ Donation and Transplantation Act: AYE
Recognition of the Republic of Kosovo: AYE
Public Services and Opportunity Act: AYE
Calaverde Codetermination Act: AYE

OOC: Jesus, can't you people read?

[Davincia]

"Although I will oppose this bill on the grounds of expense, why is there no set time limit for shelter residents when searching for jobs? Or will that be decided by the prefectures?"

"Bloody hell is all you care about taxes?"

"Now that you mention it, yes."

"This bill fails to address the problems that may have caused the homelessness in the first place, and does not go far enough in attempting to prevent the problem. As my other colleagues have said, it is unacceptable to expect the disabled and diseased to be actively searching work. That is true. But my complaints go further. Housing is a basic human right. Does anyone suggest we make access to water conditional? Nobody should be forced to do anything to be able to live with simple human dignity."

"You know, I agree that something as basic as housing should be a fundamental and unconditional human right. When we passed my bill introducing the housing allowance, there were no requirements to work attached to a claim for that allowance.

"Housing is far from being an 'unconditional human right'. Temporary housing, however, is a justifiable measure to ensure that this government is doing something to promote job-seeking."

[Costa Fierro]

Hervé is torn on the issue.

"Don't be. It gives them enough incentive to actually look for a job now that they have a roof over their heads. Perhaps the government could look into bulldozing the slums afterwards." Campos said without looking up from his game of Candy Crush.

[MERIZoC]

"Bloody hell is all you care about taxes?"

"Now that you mention it, yes."

"You know, I agree that something as basic as housing should be a fundamental and unconditional human right. When we passed my bill introducing the housing allowance, there were no requirements to work attached to a claim for that allowance.

"Housing is far from being an 'unconditional human right'. Temporary housing, however, is a justifiable measure to ensure that this government is doing something to promote job-seeking."

"Housing is listed as the most basic of needs. If a you don't see a need as a right, your depravity is staggering."

[Davincia]

"Now that you mention it, yes."

"Housing is far from being an 'unconditional human right'. Temporary housing, however, is a justifiable measure to ensure that this government is doing something to promote job-seeking."

"Housing is listed as the most basic of needs. If a you don't see a need as a right, your depravity is staggering."

"Housing is property. Enforcing the use of property unto citizens is an overstep of any government."

[MERIZoC]

"Housing is listed as the most basic of needs. If a you don't see a need as a right, your depravity is staggering."

"Housing is property. Enforcing the use of property unto citizens is an overstep of any government."

"Nobody is talking about enforcing anything. I really am not sure where you got that idea. If we say "all Calaverdeans have the right to water" are we mandating drinking 2 cups of water a day? No, we are not."

[Atlanticatia]

"Housing is listed as the most basic of needs. If a you don't see a need as a right, your depravity is staggering."

"Housing is property. Enforcing the use of property unto citizens is an overstep of any government."

"If the government builds the houses then it is public property."

[Gradea]

Second Amendment to Right to Choose Act (Amended) - Against
Organ Donation and Transplantation Act - For
Recognition of the Republic of Kosovo - For
Public Services and Opportunity Act - For
Calaverde Codetermination Act - For

[Arkolon]

Guys, guys... guys you're late.

[Davincia]

"Housing is property. Enforcing the use of property unto citizens is an overstep of any government."

"If the government builds the houses then it is public property."

"Public property paid for by the working class, no less. Finding the homeless both jobs and education is more critical than government-given housing, which could be provided just as easily by the private sector once we prioritize job creation. Giving citizens the ability to support themselves is always preferable to simply throwing money at a problem."

[MERIZoC]

"If the government builds the houses then it is public property."

"Public property paid for by the working class, no less. Finding the homeless both jobs and education is more critical than government-given housing, which could be provided just as easily by the private sector once we prioritize job creation. Giving citizens the ability to support themselves is always preferable to simply throwing money at a problem."

"Have you seen the tax brackets in this country? Trust me, it isn't the working class paying for this."

[Davincia]

"Public property paid for by the working class, no less. Finding the homeless both jobs and education is more critical than government-given housing, which could be provided just as easily by the private sector once we prioritize job creation. Giving citizens the ability to support themselves is always preferable to simply throwing money at a problem."

"Have you seen the tax brackets in this country? Trust me, it isn't the working class paying for this."

"Ah, so we are pushing taxes on the very people who create jobs?"

[Ikania]

"Have you seen the tax brackets in this country? Trust me, it isn't the working class paying for this."

"Ah, so we are pushing taxes on the very people who create jobs?"

"Are you daft? He literally just said the workers are not the ones paying."

[MERIZoC]

"Have you seen the tax brackets in this country? Trust me, it isn't the working class paying for this."

"Ah, so we are pushing taxes on the very people who create jobs?"

"……Does it look like we're debating who we tax now?"

[Davincia]

"Ah, so we are pushing taxes on the very people who create jobs?"

"……Does it look like we're debating who we tax now?"

"No, but the effects of taxation does relate to the bill at hand. Public housing, although free for the tenants, is certainly not free for this government and it is certainly not free for those with [albeit occasionally higher-wage] jobs. Either way, many have already stated that this bill is insufficient. For many of my colleagues here, it does not go far enough in providing public housing. For myself, it goes too far. If this bill cannot earn the full support of the dominating left, it will either be reluctantly passed, or not at all."

[New Werpland]

Motion to dissolve the senate and appoint Augusto Werpina as Monarch of Calaverde.

[Southern Verusia]

Walks in, silently, observing...

[Prussia-Steinbach]

"Although I will oppose this bill on the grounds of expense, why is there no set time limit for shelter residents when searching for jobs? Or will that be decided by the prefectures?"

"It is not my fault, sir, that you value money over people."

"Only one city block? This legislation does not go far enough. No strong social services provided, barely enough homes for the homeless population, and no initiatives to end homelessness. Temporary housing is cruel, giving an inevitable eviction from the start. This legislation is alarmingly insufficient."

"I am doing my best to make the bill acceptable to all parties."

"I have concerns about the work requirements attached to the permanent housing. It would be unfair to, for example, force a recovering drug addict or war veteran with PTSD to look for work the second they get housed. I would propose introducing a grace period where the homeless person would work with a social worker so they can get medication, claim the appropriate benefit from the social insurance office in general. I would also propose tying the requirements to the work requirements for social assistance. For example, a person who is temporarily sick doesn't have to look for work when claiming sickness benefits, and a single parent who has a younger child doesn't have to look for work when claiming single parent benefits. I'm also opposed to evicting people if they don't look for work - we can't just throw people on the streets without offering them accommodation elsewhere.

I may propose an amendment if others feel the same way. I do however support the principle of this bill, but it seems like it could cause undue stress and hardship."

"I have to say that the Prime Minister makes a good point and I would support an amendment to allow exceptions in special circumstances.

"This seems quite acceptable."

[Prussia-Steinbach]

"Housing is far from being an 'unconditional human right'. Temporary housing, however, is a justifiable measure to ensure that this government is doing something to promote job-seeking."

"We should not be doing the minimal amount, sir, we should be doing the best we possibly can. A man is not worth less because of his financial circumstances."

[Lykens]

"Housing is far from being an 'unconditional human right'. Temporary housing, however, is a justifiable measure to ensure that this government is doing something to promote job-seeking."

"We should not be doing the minimal amount, sir, we should be doing the best we possibly can. A man is not worth less because of his financial circumstances."

"Hear hear."

[Ainin]

Motion to dissolve the senate and appoint Augusto Werpina as Monarch of Calaverde.

Out of order.

[Ainin]

"Up next, the Act to Legalize and Regulate Cannabis, proposed by the Honourable Winston Salem of the IWP."

[Atlanticatia]

"Seems fair enough. I can't see any issues."

[Electrum]

Mr. Speaker, you know that there have got to be issues with this kind of legislation, when the Prime Minster says their isn't. And there are issues.

"Section 3: 'Juveniles found to be in possession of any amount of cannabis shall be referred to private drug counseling for no less than one year.'"

Is this not contradictory? You're going to legalise the drug, and that everyone is allowed to have cannabis drugs everywhere, there is literally nothing stopping juveniles from abusing this drug. What the government is doing is legitimising the addiction industry, enforces those addictions that people have and making money off the process.

It then goes onto say 'may be drug tested for a maximum of one year', but at what frequency? How will this be managed? Who's going to do the drug testing?

Why on earth are we trying to wean them off the drug, and say that they need to be rehabilitated, then as soon as they are 18, they are free to do whatever they want? Is that not pointless?

Now that every man, woman and their dog can grow this plant, you may as throw all the restrictive regulations out of the book, because everyone will have their pot supplies, and it will be impossible to stop using the drug. Any who truly wants these drugs can just steal them -- of course, they're going to be everywhere.

Why on earth is the penalty at the first instance of using drugs whilst operating machinery 'one year's rehabilitation'? Why aren't we revoking their licenses immediately, putting the safety of thousands of Calaverdeans at risk every day?

Just why?