The Social Liberals

[Talleyrand]

Party Chairman- Barnes
Parliamentary Leader- Talleyrand
Deputy Parliamentary Leader- SJoyce
Party Executive- Vega, Mr. X, BaconBacon
Political Position- Radical Centre to Centre-Left
Ideology- Social Liberalism, Liberalism
International Affiliation- Liberal International

The Social Liberals are a broad-tent internationalist political party devoted to the pursuit of individual liberties and human rights. We share a strong commitment to the open market, but understand that the state has an obligation to uplift those weakest in it as it addresses issues such as health care and poverty. We are deeply committed to environmental protection, a better standard of education, and support for a tolerant, open society.

Platform

Link

   Members

• Talleyrand MP
  
• SJoyce MP
• BaconBacon
• NYMillenial
• Dallasfan
• Blair MP
• Vega
• Mr. X
• Polnut
• Barnes
• Hashemite MP
• Harry S Truman

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[Talleyrand]

Great! We have 4 members now. Does anyone have suggestions for party organization and platform ideas?

I'm tempted by this

We'd love to have you!

[Talleyrand]

Some things we need to do pretty soon.

Elect a Party Leader

With an election likely right around the corner, we need to elect a party leader who will top our list for the upcoming vote and serve as our prime ministerial. They should be fairly dedicated to participating actively in the game and campaigning on behalf of our goals. Does everyone think it's best if at least for this election, the whole party membership votes? And please announce if you're standing and/or nominate someone.

Develop our Platform

So far we have a basic outline of our platform, but we should develop it a bit more as have the Worker's Party and Conservatives. I encourage everyone to pitch in ideas for this. In general, however, I think we should avoid being a redux of the U.S. Democratic Party and pursue the course of a more centrist European liberal party, with a mix of classical liberalism and left-liberalism.

[Talleyrand]

Some basic ideas our party should probably support.

-Reducing trade barriers
-Preserving and protecting our ecosystems, including the Amazon Rainforest
-Support for small business
-Tax breaks for the middle and working class
-Support for indigenous communities and culture
-Investment in renewable energy
-Support for gay marriage and abortion rights
-Poverty support for those who need it
-Support universal health care but with availability of private options
-A reduced, more efficient military
-Pursuing human rights and peace abroad

[Talleyrand]

Yeah, support for free trade, at least in principle would probably have to be a key tenet for a liberal party. It wouldn't mean we'd unilaterally approve every bill of that nature, but we'd generally be looking for ways to remove trade barriers.

I'll accept X's nomination for leader only if we decide to separate the parliamentary party and the organization, sort of like the Socialists are planning to do. You could have a chairman to run the party itself, and a parliamentary leader to run our group of MPs and head the ticket. I'd rather be the latter really.

Do people want the parliamentary leader to be party leader too or would they rather see the roles divided?

[Talleyrand]

That looks fantastic, SJoyce. I've gone ahead and put it in the platform (although we can have a vote on it if there are any objections).

Does anyone else want to contest the parliamentary leadership position and chairman position? (I'm assuming we're okay with organizing the party that way).

[Talleyrand]

I think platform votes shouldn't last longer than a week at most. Considering this will (hopefully) be a more fast-paced game than Atlasia, I'd suggest we do a maximum of one week for the vote, but with the option to end it earlier if no debate occurs for 24 hours.

As for the parliamentary leadership, I think that we should let the whole membership vote on it, but to take out a sitting leader who doesn't intend to resign, you should need the support of 1/3 of the party's parliamentary members to force a spill.

Since there were no objections raised, I've tentatively put down myself as parliamentary leader and Vega as chairman. SJoyce or Blair, are you interested in running for deputy leader?

Again, debate on the platform and constitution is welcome/encouraged.

[Talleyrand]

For a party list, I think the party leader and deputy leader might automatically be No. 1 and No. 2 on it, but that isn't necessary. For the rest, we can probably do an election, or have the party leadership put out a list after discussion with the membership? I'd probably prefer the former for fairness's sake.

I think for a party list, we can either put the whole party on it in some form (with those less interested in being MPs at the bottom, etc.) or put a limit on the number of candidates we want to put.

[Talleyrand]

I think our party color should be some shade of green, to differentiate ourselves from the other parties (who have gone with shades or red or blue as far as I can see) or yellow, which is common with European liberal parties.

Our temporary logo is the torch/leaf thing.



Here are some logos from other members of Liberal International so we can get some more ideas out there.











Edit: Just saw Barnes's post. I'd be open to using something by a South American Party too if that's what people want.

[Talleyrand]

I guess I'll join this party

Wonderful news! Welcome.


We can use the interim logo until the national flag is decided, unless people want to move already, which is also fine. I personally like the color scheme on Barnes's first logo, but I also like the idea of some sort of bird symbol, as BaconBacon has suggested.

Are there any other declarations for chairman, leader, and deputy leader, btw?

[Talleyrand]

We need two more people to put themselves up for slots on the executive.

[Talleyrand]

What do you all think about this?  We keep the color scheme and include a bird that gives a bit of a nod to South America.

I'm a fan of this personally.

I'll go for the executive, if I could hold that along with being deputy.

With the leadership elections, are they compulsory? I'd be against that, only if we get into government that could be a difficult thing to manage

Per the bylaws, you can only hold one, although you could probably run for both (I'd assume you'd have to give one up were you to win both).

I agree that compulsory leadership elections at the beginning of the parliament might need to be reconsidered, especially if we're in the midst of government formation negotiations. They might very well hinder us in that process.

[Talleyrand]

I second the motion.

And I third the motion.

[Talleyrand]

Aye.

[Talleyrand]

Deputy Leader

[  ] Blair

[X] SJoyce

Both excellent candidates, in my opinion.

[Talleyrand]

Right now we have six candidates in the field. I think we should nominate 7 or 8, if not 9. Obviously we won't win that many seats, but if we're going to fill vacancies by going to the next candidate on a list, we need some people willing to stand by and serve too.

[Talleyrand]

Wait, aren't we doing approval voting?

[Talleyrand]

Ok, after looking at the secret ballot option, I think it's feasible, but not in time for the upcoming election. I plan to propose a review once that is done.

For now, after speaking with Barnes, we'll just go with the approval method designed by SJoyce and in the Constitution. If there are ties, we're confident they can be resolved.

[Talleyrand]

• Barnes
• Vega
• BaconBacon96
• Blair
• X

[Talleyrand]

Since X said earlier he'd prefer a lower spot, I'm going to have to put him last (sorry X )

1. Barnes
2. Blair
3. BaconBacon
4. Vega
5. X

In addition, Polnut has informed that while he isn't interested in running formally this time, he'd be willing to take the last spot on our last this election so we have a candidate in place should a vacancy come up. That means we'll be able to have 8 candidates on the list.

[Talleyrand]

I will be addressing the convention this weekend. Expect a surprise announcement about the government's policies at that time. I think it will thoroughly fit in with Social Liberal principles.

[Talleyrand]

I would like to profoundly thank the Executive for two excellent speeches and the ideas they have espoused; rest assured the whole party stands with them on this matter.


However, as a result of the crisis unfolding in our capitol, my speech and major policy announcement will be delayed until tomorrow, although I have already announced its main goal in question time in response to a question by the Leader of the Opposition.

[Talleyrand]

The Leader's Address



My fellow party members, it is an honor to be here with you in beautiful Rio de Janeiro! I can say with no doubt in my mind that no organization as humble, hardworking, and connected to the grassroots as this one exists in all of South America! Thank you once again for your support.

This party has come a long way since our strong performance in the general election held last month, where we barely fell short of winning a sixth seat. We have been an equal and effective partner in government, with three ministers and the Speaker of Parliament. One of our distinguished former members served as our first President and now serves as our continent's first Judge. I have no doubt we will continue to make further strides in the future!

We have made much progress over the past few months, including the passage of a constitution, the creation of a federated military, establishment of relations with our northern neighbor, and now a currency union across the continent! Yet there is much work to be done, including the passage of universal healthcare, protection of civil liberties, incentives for small business, and increased education! We intend to work on solving these issues, along with many more, in the coming months.

But tonight I am proud to unveil to you two bills of this government, created by myself and the Chairman of this party, in order to protect our environment for years to come! A comprehensive cap-and-trade bill, working with our international partners to combat climate change, and an unprecedented ecosystem preservation bill, in order to prevent the eradication of our national heritage, such as the beautiful Amazon Rainforest, shall make it onto the floor tonight. If these pass, and I am certain they shall, we shall no longer continue with the destruction of our natural places, and leave behind a continent to be proud of for future generations of South Americans!

I ask you to stand with me in working to pass these acts; only with your continued support can we make these a reality. Thank you, and God Bless South America!

-Talleyrand

[Talleyrand]

I motion the following policies be added to the platform, under section one, A society that works for all

• We will introduce a comprehensive program providing for readily accessibly mental health services for South Americans
• We will commit to battling the scourge of homelessness through social housing and support for emergency shelters, among other methods

I motion that the section one, line 2 (education) be amended to read the following-

• We will standardize the system of education into a national program and ensure that education is free and completely accessible up to the end of secondary schooling, making sure that every child can get an equal chance.  We understand that communities work best on the local level, and will seek to partner with existing school authorities on a basis of mutual respect.

I also motion that the following policy be added to the platform under section three, Leadership in a changing world

• We will commit to investment in and the development of renewable energy for South America's future, ending our reliance on limited and environmentally harmful sources of power

I second these changes.

[Talleyrand]

I will be seeking another term in parliament.