[The Senate] Coalition of Workers and Farmers

[Maklohi Vai]

I'm absolutely in favor of infrastructure development, I think that's a great idea. As for the Social Credit movement, I'm not a fan. I think it does nothing to curb inequities within our society, and instead throws one blanket solution over many problems that in reality warrant more nuanced attention. I think that money could be better spent on more specific and targeted programs.

A valid point. Perhaps only pay the employed?

No, I think that's even more contrary to the goal I'm envisioning, which is decreasing inequality. Welfare programs tend to be more effective when they're tailored and targeted who need them the most, and certainly those who are unemployed will need more help.

[Werftkrieg]

A valid point. Perhaps only pay the employed?

No, I think that's even more contrary to the goal I'm envisioning, which is decreasing inequality. Welfare programs tend to be more effective when they're tailored and targeted who need them the most, and certainly those who are unemployed will need more help.

Perhaps a series of work-related education campaigns? The goal of our party, as I understand it, is threefold, ensuring that the workers and farmers of Fernao are treated fairly, industrializing Fernao, and ensuring that the workers of the world are treated fairly. All our policies should be geared towards that end.

[Maklohi Vai]

No, I think that's even more contrary to the goal I'm envisioning, which is decreasing inequality. Welfare programs tend to be more effective when they're tailored and targeted who need them the most, and certainly those who are unemployed will need more help.

Perhaps a series of work-related education campaigns? The goal of our party, as I understand it, is threefold, ensuring that the workers and farmers of Fernao are treated fairly, industrializing Fernao, and ensuring that the workers of the world are treated fairly. All our policies should be geared towards that end.

Yes, I'd be amenable to that. Do you think these campaigns would be promoting alternative industries of work, and/or of technical education, or something else?

[Werftkrieg]

Perhaps a series of work-related education campaigns? The goal of our party, as I understand it, is threefold, ensuring that the workers and farmers of Fernao are treated fairly, industrializing Fernao, and ensuring that the workers of the world are treated fairly. All our policies should be geared towards that end.

Yes, I'd be amenable to that. Do you think these campaigns would be promoting alternative industries of work, and/or of technical education, or something else?

Well, if we have a surplus of the unemployed, and we need more jobs in a certain industry, we train them to do that job. If we have no need for expanding a specific industry, then we just use a general job training program.

[Maklohi Vai]

Yes, I'd be amenable to that. Do you think these campaigns would be promoting alternative industries of work, and/or of technical education, or something else?

Well, if we have a surplus of the unemployed, and we need more jobs in a certain industry, we train them to do that job. If we have no need for expanding a specific industry, then we just use a general job training program.

Ah, I see. Yeah, that sounds good, though in principle we'll be limited in scale.

What are your views on the place, or lack thereof, of a foreign policy? I ask with relation to international organizations bills currently in the shop: UN and cultural organizations fine, WTO/IMF/Commonwealth of Nations not so much.

[FreYhill]

Well, if we have a surplus of the unemployed, and we need more jobs in a certain industry, we train them to do that job. If we have no need for expanding a specific industry, then we just use a general job training program.

Ah, I see. Yeah, that sounds good, though in principle we'll be limited in scale.

What are your views on the place, or lack thereof, of a foreign policy? I ask with relation to international organizations bills currently in the shop: UN and cultural organizations fine, WTO/IMF/Commonwealth of Nations not so much.

[Werftkrieg]

Well, if we have a surplus of the unemployed, and we need more jobs in a certain industry, we train them to do that job. If we have no need for expanding a specific industry, then we just use a general job training program.

Ah, I see. Yeah, that sounds good, though in principle we'll be limited in scale.

What are your views on the place, or lack thereof, of a foreign policy? I ask with relation to international organizations bills currently in the shop: UN and cultural organizations fine, WTO/IMF/Commonwealth of Nations not so much.

Well, nice as foreign aid money is, we can't be too dependent on it. My position is that we should do our best to establish an autarky.

[Maklohi Vai]

Ah, I see. Yeah, that sounds good, though in principle we'll be limited in scale.

What are your views on the place, or lack thereof, of a foreign policy? I ask with relation to international organizations bills currently in the shop: UN and cultural organizations fine, WTO/IMF/Commonwealth of Nations not so much.

Well, nice as foreign aid money is, we can't be too dependent on it. My position is that we should do our best to establish an autarky.

Economic independence is good, but diplomatic integration is good as well.

[Werftkrieg]

Well, nice as foreign aid money is, we can't be too dependent on it. My position is that we should do our best to establish an autarky.

Economic independence is good, but diplomatic integration is good as well.

Certainly, but maybe we should stay out of ASEAN, NATO, or any other military pacts. The working class is not helped by war, rather the opposite.

[Maklohi Vai]

Economic independence is good, but diplomatic integration is good as well.

Certainly, but maybe we should stay out of ASEAN, NATO, or any other military pacts. The working class is not helped by war, rather the opposite.

We wouldn't be eligible for ASEAN, for one, and it's not a military pact.

[Maklohi Vai]

A new point: what is the preferred healthcare system?

[Werftkrieg]

A new point: what is the preferred healthcare system?

Private, with the government paying expenses. The patient gets treated, the government pays the expense, and the balance is directly taken from the person's tax bill.

[Maklohi Vai]

A new point: what is the preferred healthcare system?

Private, with the government paying expenses. The patient gets treated, the government pays the expense, and the balance is directly taken from the person's tax bill.

Late response, sorry. This seems to be different from how a lot of systems that I'm aware of run. Where has a system like this been implemented elsewhere in the world?

[Beta Test]

I strongly encourage the party to vote against the proposed attack on religious school funding currently before the Senate. This is a strike against religious freedom in our nation.

[Maklohi Vai]

I strongly encourage the party to vote against the proposed attack on religious school funding currently before the Senate. This is a strike against religious freedom in our nation.

Hear, hear!

[New Werpland]

Since a full-blown party program seems like to much work let's adopt another format.

Like this:

• brief explanation of party ideology, ex: "we are farmers and workers who wish to create a just society for farmers and workers, + social welfare state, centrism, etc"
• list of specific policies we support plus a brief explanation of why, literally just that, we don't want to cover every single thing

[New Werpland]

A party organ would be nice too.

[Maklohi Vai]

A party organ would be nice too.

I would prefer a party piano, but..

Oh wait. Not that.


Should we just do a Chairman, Leader, Whip type of setup?

Since a full-blown party program seems like to much work let's adopt another format.

Like this:

• brief explanation of party ideology, ex: "we are farmers and workers who wish to create a just society for farmers and workers, + social welfare state, centrism, etc"
• list of specific policies we support plus a brief explanation of why, literally just that, we don't want to cover every single thing

This makes sense. I actually wrote a manifesto statement and it was on the old thread, but that's all lost.

[New Werpland]

Should we just do a Chairman, Leader, Whip type of setup?

Yes.

Since we have lost the old thread I decided to have a go at writing a draft.

Is this suitable?

An union is defined as the action of joining together, an alliance is defined as an association for mutual benefit, but a coalition is defined as an alliance for action. Similarly the name Civic Union has vague relation to what the organization is supposed to stand for, while the Red-Green Alliance is slightly more clear, but the Coalition of Workers and Farmers is the only one which is explicit. This undoubtedly speaks volumes about what defines the Coalition of Workers and Farmers, unlike all other parties in Fernao we value legitimacy and honesty as the most fundamental principles. A political party must be the legitimate representative of the constituents that vote on its list. If democracy is supposed to be a system for people power, we cannot say we live in one when senators vote with the principles of their ideology rather than their responsibility to voters. Senators owe it to their constituents not the other way around.

It still needs to say something about actual farmers, workers, the welfare state, and centrism, though.

[Maklohi Vai]

The election cycle also starts shortly, so we should think about a nominee.

All those wishing to declare their candidacy for the CTA's presidential nomination should do so within 72 hours. We will then have some debate/campaigning time, and then a vote.

[New Werpland]

I do not think I would make a good presidential candidate.

However I did do this:

An union is defined as the action of joining together, an alliance is defined as an association for mutual benefit, but a coalition is defined as an alliance for action. Similarly the name Civic Union has vague relation to what the organization is supposed to stand for, while the Red-Green Alliance is slightly more clear, but the Coalition of Workers and Farmers is the only one which is explicit. This undoubtedly speaks volumes about what defines the Coalition of Workers and Farmers, unlike all other parties in Fernao we value legitimacy and honesty as the most fundamental principles. A political party must be the legitimate representative of the constituents that vote on its list. If democracy is supposed to be a system for people power, we cannot say we live in one when senators vote with the principles of their ideology rather than their responsibility to voters. Senators owe it to their constituents not the other way around.

As such we define our party ideology around how we help those we represent, namely workers and farmers. For this reason we endorse pragmatic and centrist economic policies, for the interests of workers and farmers are not ideological like the left and right are. Our main goal is the maximization of comfort and security for the community of workers and farmers, not to create an ideal society. This brings us to our second principle: communitarianism. Since our constituencies are communities and not bands of isolated individuals, we see communitarianism as the best way by which to represent them and identify their interests. Because communities do not have the same interests as the market economy, we endorse the creation of a welfare state; there must be a way to preserve and subsidize the institutions which are seen as important to rural communities and as problematic by individual capitalists.

It was pretty fun to write. It's a suitable interpretation of this party's ideology right?

[Maklohi Vai]

I declare my candidacy for the presidential nomination.

I do not think I would make a good presidential candidate.

However I did do this:

An union is defined as the action of joining together, an alliance is defined as an association for mutual benefit, but a coalition is defined as an alliance for action. Similarly the name Civic Union has vague relation to what the organization is supposed to stand for, while the Red-Green Alliance is slightly more clear, but the Coalition of Workers and Farmers is the only one which is explicit. This undoubtedly speaks volumes about what defines the Coalition of Workers and Farmers, unlike all other parties in Fernao we value legitimacy and honesty as the most fundamental principles. A political party must be the legitimate representative of the constituents that vote on its list. If democracy is supposed to be a system for people power, we cannot say we live in one when senators vote with the principles of their ideology rather than their responsibility to voters. Senators owe it to their constituents not the other way around.

As such we define our party ideology around how we help those we represent, namely workers and farmers. For this reason we endorse pragmatic and centrist economic policies, for the interests of workers and farmers are not ideological like the left and right are. Our main goal is the maximization of comfort and security for the community of workers and farmers, not to create an ideal society. This brings us to our second principle: communitarianism. Since our constituencies are communities and not bands of isolated individuals, we see communitarianism as the best way by which to represent them and identify their interests. Because communities do not have the same interests as the market economy, we endorse the creation of a welfare state; there must be a way to preserve and subsidize the institutions which are seen as important to rural communities and as problematic by individual capitalists.

It was pretty fun to write. It's a suitable interpretation of this party's ideology right?

Yes, I'd only make one major change: we don't want to define ourselves in opposition to other political parties, because that risks antagonization and isn't actually why we're distinct in the way we are. Also a couple minor edits, so I'd end up with this edit:

An union is defined as the action of joining together, an alliance is defined as an association for mutual benefit, but a coalition is defined as an alliance for action. This undoubtedly speaks volumes about what defines the Coalition of Workers and Farmers: we value legitimacy and honesty as the most fundamental principles. A political party must be the legitimate representative of the constituents that vote on its list. If democracy is supposed to be a system for people power, we cannot say we live in one when senators vote with the principles of their ideology rather than their responsibility to voters. Senators owe it to their constituents not the other way around.

As such we define our party ideology around how we help those we represent, namely workers and farmers. For this reason we endorse pragmatic and centrist economic policies, for the interests of workers and farmers are not ideological like the left and right are. Our main goal is the maximization of comfort and security for the community of workers and farmers. This brings us to our second principle: communitarianism. Since our constituencies are communities and not bands of isolated individuals, we see communitarianism as the best way by which to represent them and identify their interests. Because communities do not have the same interests as the market economy, we endorse the creation of a welfare state; there must be a way to preserve and subsidize the institutions which are seen as important to rural communities and as problematic by individual capitalists.

[New Werpland]

I changed it a little and made it less clunky.

An union is defined as the action of joining together, an alliance is defined as an association for mutual benefit, but a coalition is defined as an alliance for action. Therefore as a Coalition of Workers and Farmers our purpose is for action with our ideology firmly fixed on the principle of legitimacy. It is fundamental that political parties must be the legitimate representatives of the constituents that vote on its list. If democracy is supposed to be a system for people power, we cannot say it is democratic when senators stand by a foreign ideology rather than with their voters. Senators owe it to their constituents not the other way around.

As such we define our party ideology around how we help those we represent, namely workers and farmers. For this reason we endorse pragmatic centrist economic policies, because the interests of workers and farmers are not ideological like those on the left and right are. The main goal is the maximization of comfort and security for workers and farmers. This brings us to our second principle: communitarianism. Since workers and farmers are clearly a community, not a category for isolated individuals, we see communitarianism as the best way by which to represent them and identify their interests. For example, an individual farmer may not seem so different from anyone else, but the aspects of his/her lifestyle that define his community, those are the characteristics that stand out. By developing policy with community in mind, we treat the average worker or farmer as he truly is. This consideration affects much of our policy, but our emphasis on a welfare state that goes further than caring for individuals is key.

Very amusing. It's a shame I no longer have photoshop.

[Maklohi Vai]

I changed it a little and made it less clunky.

An union is defined as the action of joining together, an alliance is defined as an association for mutual benefit, but a coalition is defined as an alliance for action. Therefore as a Coalition of Workers and Farmers our purpose is for action with our ideology firmly fixed on the principle of legitimacy. It is fundamental that political parties must be the legitimate representatives of the constituents that vote on its list. If democracy is supposed to be a system for people power, we cannot say it is democratic when senators stand by a foreign ideology rather than with their voters. Senators owe it to their constituents not the other way around.

As such we define our party ideology around how we help those we represent, namely workers and farmers. For this reason we endorse pragmatic centrist economic policies, because the interests of workers and farmers are not ideological like those on the left and right are. The main goal is the maximization of comfort and security for workers and farmers. This brings us to our second principle: communitarianism. Since workers and farmers are clearly a community, not a category for isolated individuals, we see communitarianism as the best way by which to represent them and identify their interests. For example, an individual farmer may not seem so different from anyone else, but the aspects of his/her lifestyle that define his community, those are the characteristics that stand out. By developing policy with community in mind, we treat the average worker or farmer as he truly is. This consideration affects much of our policy, but our emphasis on a welfare state that goes further than caring for individuals is key.

Very amusing. It's a shame I no longer have photoshop.

Sounds good to me.

We'll have a vote on adopting this after the nomination period for the presidential candidates is over.

[Costa Fierro]

Once again I will run as the CTA's candidate for President.