[HELLO, IDEA] No Import Taxes on Books

[Erythrina]

This World Assembly,

Recognizing that literacy and its fruits are paramount to the betterment of civilizations;

Further recognizing the vast number of nations that rely on books as means to retain and spread knowledge;

Concerned that international import taxes on books do more harm than good, for the benefits of literacy far outweigh eventual fiscal revenues on the international importation of books;

Enacts that international import taxes on books are henceforth abolished.

Be it clarified: This act in no way whatsoever affects what books a sovereign nation can or cannot ban, within its borders.

Thinking about Free Trade, Strong.

[Unibot]

This World Assembly,

Recognizing that literacy and its fruits are paramount to the betterment of civilizations;

Further recognizing the vast number of nations that rely on books as means to retain and spread knowledge;

Concerned that international import taxes on books do more harm than good, for the benefits of literacy far outweigh eventual fiscal revenues on the international importation of books;

Enacts that international import taxes on books are henceforth abolished.

Be it clarified: This act in no way whatsoever affects what books a sovereign nation can or cannot ban, within its borders.

Thinking about Free Trade, Strong.

This would hurt the book publishing industry in my nation, as not all foreign books are 'original', they're just cheaper made copies of own quality products. It seems to me odd that the prevention of censorship is not a concern to you, but taxes on books are? Should we protect the state's ability to censor books?

[Erythrina]

This would hurt the book publishing industry in my nation, as not all foreign books are 'original', they're just cheaper made copies of own quality products. It seems to me odd that the prevention of censorship is not a concern to you, but taxes on books are? Should we protect the state's ability to censor books?

Please read again:

Be it clarified: This act in no way whatsoever affects what books a sovereign nation can or cannot ban, within its borders.

It is this. It only affects international taxation of books. And only that. Whatever other national/international laws there are out there regarding books, they remain unaffected. They stand.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

That's a very good idea, honoured ambassador!

You may wish to clarify that the resolution also "does not affect member states ability to tackle the counterfeiting of copyrighted books under national and international law".

[Erythrina]

That's a very good idea, honoured ambassador!

You may wish to clarify that the resolution also "does not affect member states ability to tackle the counterfeiting of copyrighted books under national and international law".

That is really, actually nice. Thank you! May the Winds clear the fogs ahead of you!

[Erythrina]

This World Assembly,

Recognizing that literacy and its fruits are paramount to the betterment of civilizations;

Further recognizing the vast number of nations that rely on books as means to retain and spread knowledge;

Concerned that international import taxes on books do more harm than good, for the benefits of literacy far outweigh eventual fiscal revenues on the international importation of books;

Enacts that international import taxes on books are henceforth abolished and prohibited.

Be it clarified: this act in no way whatsoever affects what books a sovereign nation can or cannot ban, within its borders.

Be it further clarified: this act in no way whatsoever affects a sovereign nation’s ability to tackle the counterfeiting of copyrighted books, within its borders.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Be it clarified: this act in no way whatsoever affects what books a sovereign nation can or cannot ban, within its borders.

Be it further clarified: this act in no way whatsoever affects a sovereign nation’s ability to tackle the counterfeiting of copyrighted books, within its borders.

Formatting improvement suggestion for your consideration:

Be it clarified:
• This act in no way whatsoever affects what books a sovereign nation can or cannot ban, within its borders.
• This act in no way whatsoever affects a sovereign nation’s ability to tackle the counterfeiting of copyrighted books, within its borders.

or better still:

Nothing in this resolution shall affect the member countries' ability to:
• Censor or ban the sale of publication of any book within their jurisdiction that is in violation of national laws on moral decency or security, provided that such censorship or prohibition respects international law;
• Tackle the counterfeiting of copyrighted books within their jurisdiction.#

Bear in mind that some nations choose to ban books because of national security or moral decency. We're not alone either as we are tackling that cult that falls under terrorism.

[Glen-Rhodes]

I cannot see that there is a compelling need for this proposal. Is there any substantive evidence that a duty on books is actually detrimental to literacy?

- Dr. B. Castro

[Embolalia]

I cannot see that there is a compelling need for this proposal. Is there any substantive evidence that a duty on books is actually detrimental to literacy?

And the author conveniently sidestepped the Unibotian ambassador's concerns, which I share, that this would harm domestic printing industries by allowing the printing to be done less expensively elsewhere and imported, tariff-free.

[Erythrina]

I cannot see that there is a compelling need for this proposal. Is there any substantive evidence that a duty on books is actually detrimental to literacy?

- Dr. B. Castro

More expensive books -> Less consumption of books -> Less literacy -> Ignorance.

Cheaper books -> More books! -> More literacy -> Virtuous cicle -> Even more books! -> A literate, capable population,

[Erythrina]

this would harm domestic printing industries by allowing the printing to be done less expensively elsewhere and imported, tariff-free.

You are satisfied and comfortable about your own people reading less, because the fat cats that control domestic printing industries are inefficient lazy fat cats? I say a little competition is in order. May more people read more.

[Erythrina]

Nothing in this resolution shall affect the member countries' ability to:
• Censor or ban the sale of publication of any book within their jurisdiction that is in violation of national laws on moral decency or security, provided that such censorship or prohibition respects international law;
• Tackle the counterfeiting of copyrighted books within their jurisdiction.#

Bear in mind that some nations choose to ban books because of national security or moral decency. We're not alone either as we are tackling that cult that falls under terrorism.

I very much liked this formatting, and agree with what was later said.

[Mousebumples]

One possible area of concern:

Could the outlawing of import taxes on books adversely impact trade sanctions on particular nations? A lot of that, I think, would depend on the particular wording of the proposal and would be (obviously) much more likely to impact nations who wish to discourse importing of goods from a nation with a well-established Book Publishing Industry.

[Belschaft]

The Confederate Republic wishes to express clearly and firmly its opposition to this proposal. While we have historically supported most acts that attempt to increase access to education we do not approve of the precedent of the WA legislating on what we me or may not tax. Aside from essential humanitarian goods it is simply not, in our considered opinion, the job of the WA to enforce regulations regarding what a state may or may not tax.

[Erythrina]

One possible area of concern:

Could the outlawing of import taxes on books adversely impact trade sanctions on particular nations? A lot of that, I think, would depend on the particular wording of the proposal and would be (obviously) much more likely to impact nations who wish to discourse importing of goods from a nation with a well-established Book Publishing Industry.

Hi, butterfly! As I understand, trade sanctions are blanket sanctions... Maybe particularized as to weapons or nuclear fuel, but never heard about sanctions on books; in any case, as much I don't see any country with a vibrant, well-established Book Publishing Industry (therefore on average being more educated and intelligent people) being a target of sanctions, I see the merit of not allowing for loopholes in sanctions. I could further clarify this shall not alter the application of any sanctions, whaddya think?

And people from sanctioned countries should have easier access to books, not less... my thoughts...

A kiss from the witch!

Edited, tyoo thingies hihi

[Erythrina]

I am getting some strong, negative, leeching vibes from some people regarding this text.... My gifts tell me all that is about this being "Free Trade"... could it be true?

[Embolalia]

I cannot see that there is a compelling need for this proposal. Is there any substantive evidence that a duty on books is actually detrimental to literacy?

More expensive books -> Less consumption of books -> Less literacy -> Ignorance.

Cheaper books -> More books! -> More literacy -> Virtuous cicle -> Even more books! -> A literate, capable population,

this would harm domestic printing industries by allowing the printing to be done less expensively elsewhere and imported, tariff-free.

You are satisfied and comfortable about your own people reading less, because the fat cats that control domestic printing industries are inefficient lazy fat cats? I say a little competition is in order. May more people read more.

Mm. Mm. I see the problem here. You're assuming that all people read are books purchased with their own money. "Libraries" and "e-books" are two concepts you might want to look into. I would also like to hear from a nation that has a tariff on book imports. Embolalia doesn't, but I assume there must be one out there somewhere. There must be quite a few of them, if it warrants a proposal.
And I think you may have missed the point of what the delegate from Mousebumples was saying. Let's say Unibot's proposal, Ethics in International Trade, passes. It would require tariffs on goods produced without due respect to workers' rights. Your proposal would insist that books be exempt from that tariff. That's just one example of a blanket economic sanction. Tariffs aren't generally aimed against a nation's own people, they're aimed against another nation's government.

[Erythrina]

Mm. Mm. I see the problem here. You're assuming that all people read are books purchased with their own money. 1) "Libraries" and 2) "e-books" are two concepts you might want to look into. I would also like to hear from a nation that has a tariff on book imports. Embolalia doesn't, but I assume there must be one out there somewhere. There must be quite a few of them, if it warrants a proposal.

I'm all for 1) libraries. Look, and I actually do appreciate your help, I am the new witch on the block. I was under the assumption that the scope of the World Assembly are international issues. That's one way I thought to increase literacy by dealing with an international subject, that subject being, international taxes. Of course there are other ones. This one is legitimate, and I'm dealing with it now. That's it. I also understand people might have privacy concerns accessing libraries open to the public. Many people might not be comfortable with Big Brother knowing what they do read. As for 2) "e-books", please, please I beg of you. I will NOT include what the fucking definition of a BOOK is. A book is a book is a book, and that's enough.

Let's say Unibot's proposal, Ethics in International Trade, passes.

Oh. (silence) Ooooooh! Now I understand some of the commotion. *laughs*

[Glen-Rhodes]

Cheaper books -> More books! -> More literacy -> Virtuous cicle -> Even more books! -> A literate, capable population,

I'm not convinced. Nations that are part of the international book trade -- however large it may be -- are obviously not plagued with illiteracy, as people are purchasing books, presumably to read them and not simply to burn them for heat. I have sincere doubts that illiteracy is caused by book duties, in nations that have substantial illiteracy problems. For instance, why would there be a duty on books in the first place, if nobody purchases them (because nobody can read)? Your argument is very, very weak.

Besides, how prevalent are book duties, anyways? I doubt they are very prevalent. So, the idea that removing largely non-existent book duties would increase the demand of books is fairly uninformed and imaginative. If you want to increase the flow of books, why not actually focus on literacy programs, rather than coming up with a solution in search of a problem?

- Dr. B. Castro

[Erythrina]

I have sincere doubts that illiteracy is caused by book duties

I do too. Funny, I don't remember saying that.

[Strategion]

More expensive books -> Less consumption of books -> Less literacy -> Ignorance.

We disagree with the idea that people don't buy books because they're expensive. They don't buy books because reading isn't a habit, the cost of books has little to do with it.

Anyway, we'll support this legislation because we believe merit goods shouldn't be taxed.

[Glen-Rhodes]

I do too. Funny, I don't remember saying that.

It's exactly what you're saying. When faced with a logical rebuttal, hiding behind semantics is all but accepting the argument.

You're saying that if we ban book duties, it will help literacy rates. Which means you're arguing that book duties are a cause of illiteracy. You made that clear yourself here:

More expensive books -> Less consumption of books -> Less literacy -> Ignorance.

- Dr. B. Castro

[Erythrina]

More expensive books -> Less consumption of books -> Less literacy -> Ignorance.

We disagree with the idea that people don't buy books because they're expensive. They don't buy books because reading isn't a habit, the cost of books has little to do with it.

Anyway, we'll support this legislation because we believe merit goods shouldn't be taxed.

I thank you! Please accept this Love Potion... ah tip, tip... it works best during a full moon.

[Erythrina]

*whatever*

Madam, please hear me out. I never said taxes are the cause of illiteracy. What I did say is that they contribute to the problem, wherever they exist.

Further, Madam, I've been observing your demeanor on other threads. I will not engage you. Your demeanor is contemptible and despicable. I'd have more pleasure arguing with a dining room table.

Now suit yourself.

[Embolalia]

I'm all for 1) libraries. Look, and I actually do appreciate your help, I am the new witch on the block. I was under the assumption that the scope of the World Assembly are international issues. That's one way I thought to increase literacy by dealing with an international subject, that subject being, international taxes. Of course there are other ones. This one is legitimate, and I'm dealing with it now. That's it. I also understand people might have privacy concerns accessing libraries open to the public. Many people might not be comfortable with Big Brother knowing what they do read. As for 2) "e-books", please, please I beg of you. I will NOT include what the fucking definition of a BOOK is. A book is a book is a book, and that's enough.

I am unsure as to whence this vituperation comes. I'm simply saying tariffs on books isn't really a big enough issue for this assembly. Nor do I think that removing a tariff on book imports will significantly increase literacy. As to e-books, I was actually assuming you meant printed books, and that e-books (and the Internet) were something you should consider as far as alternative from which people might get literary material. (And if you think defining book is ridiculous, go back into the archives for when we tried to define water...)