Labor Party Convention - SPRING 2020 - Kalawao, Hawai'i

[Dr. MB]

Actually I might extend debate until Tuesday and then hold a vote on each individual platform plank.

[Dr. MB]

I'd also say amend the abortion thing to not put a 20 week deadline. It's kind of a weird mark and this shouldn't be dead set in the platform.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Offering amendments to the platform:

nn. A national energy policy should place the needs of the many in a changing planet ahead of mere profit. The government should act to establish collective ownership of energy by the creation of an Atlasian Energy Authority founded on the principles of democratic governance and local control.

nn. The government should act to establish collective ownership of the railways.

[Dr. MB]

adding a few more platform ideas:

x. The incarceration pandemic in Atlasia must end. Maximum sentences must be decreased for all but the most serious crimes. Life imprisonment should be used sparingly.

x. Large banks should be broken up and a public bank should be established in each region.

x. Nobody is worth a billion dollars. The wealth should be redistributed from the richest of the rich to the people as a whole.

x. The right to free speech should be protected - including in schools and in the workplace. The right to assemble should not be hindered by fees or permits.

x. A nationally run airline shall be created and maintained by the government.

x. The means of production should belong to the workers who use them.

x. The ultimate goal of the Labor Party is to establish a stateless, classless, communist society.

[Former President tack50]

Introducing yet another platform amendment

xx. The Labor Party is a democratic socialist party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to create for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few, and where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect

This is actually a slightly abridged version of the modern day Clause IV of the UK Labour party by the way (as edited by Tony Blair)

[Former President tack50]

Also I would recomend voting on each of the items from the Truman, MB and Wulfric amendments separately, even if it causes us to need a longer ballot

[OBD]

Wait, so are we gonna vote on each of the ~17 amendments individually? Might as well get started since it's gonna take forever :/

[S019]

I object to the amendment to establish a classless society, putting communist ideals in the platform is a bad idea

[fhtagn]

I object to the amendment to establish a classless society, putting communist ideals in the platform is a bad idea

you realize what party you are in, right?

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Objecting to all the amendments.

[Sestak]

Objecting to the amendment.

MB will be putting every proposed platform plank (including ones from the original platform) up to a separate vote at midnight; so objections are unnecessary.

[Dr. MB]

Objecting to the amendment.

I'm gonna hold a vote on every single clause don't worry. Also I'm objecting to the entire platform now in case I have to do that to officially hold a vote.

Anyway. Deadline to submit anything else to the platform ends at midnight Eastern time 9 pm Pacific.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Looking forward to the vote on this, not really excited by a lot of these amendments.

[S019]

We, the members of the glorious Labor Party of Atlasia, believe in creating a more equal, free, and just society that benefits all. We stand in solidarity with all the working people of the world and with their efforts to increase wages and working conditions. We believe the core powers of society should belong to the common people: from the small farmer to the factory laborer to the teacher, and everyone in between.

We believe:

1. Every person has the right to quality healthcare free-of-charge. Nobody should be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

2. People should take priority over profit, and therefore every worker must be paid a fair wage with guaranteed benefits including paid sick leave and vacation time.

3. The wealthy must pay their fair share in taxes, and a progressive tax system should exist to increase wealth equality while ensuring those at the bottom aren’t unduly hurt.

4. Every student has a right to a good, free, and public education. College tuition costs should be drastically reduced or eliminated and there should be more incentives and funding for other alternatives such as trade schools.

5. Jobs should never be outsourced overseas. Trade agreements should protect workers on both sides. However, at the same time, we believe that tariffs are not the best approach to protecting our workers, and we prefer renegotiating agreements that don't favor our workers rather than resorting to protectionist measures, like tariffs.

6. Large corporations need regulation in order to avoid the harmful consequences of unregulated capitalism and neoliberal dogma.

7. People have a right to privacy and as such should be free from unwarranted government surveillance. Government censorship of media and communications should not exist for any reason.

8. All people should be free from discrimination as much as possible. Businesses and the government should not fire or deny service to people based on their race, gender, or sexual orientation.

9. Prisons should focus on rehabilitating offenders, not locking them up and forgetting about them. Prison conditions should be improved and for-profit prisons should not exist.

10. Drugs should be federally decriminalized and anyone convicted of drug possession should be pardoned.

11. All of the rights and protections enshrined in the Constitution should be defended.

12. Combating climate change, pollution, and the degradation of natural resources is important for the health of the environment and all people.

[OBD]

Offering the following amendment in opposition to the Truman energy amendment.

xx. A national energy policy should place the needs of the many in a changing planet ahead of mere profit. Emissions regulations must be tightened to protect the Earth from damage brought upon by greenhouse gases. Additionally, the government should facilitate new renewable energy construction and work with the private sector to create new renewable energy solutions and phase out fossil fuels.

nn. A national energy policy should place the needs of the many in a changing planet ahead of mere profit. The government should act to establish collective ownership of energy by the creation of an Atlasian Energy Authority founded on the principles of democratic governance and local control.

[Pericles]

With the third clause in MB's amendment, I'm a bit unsure what the intended implications are. I support the general principle but believe that it should be enforced by stuff like really high marginal tax rates and the wealth tax. I'm inclined to oppose an actual maximum wage, so hopefully the clause doesn't mean we have to support that as the means to reduce inequality.

[S019]

x. Large banks should be broken up and a public bank should be established in each region.

Offering a competing proposal:

Banks that are too big too fail are too big to exist. We recognize that large banks took down our economy during the Global Financial Crisis, and we believe that such large banks should be broken up. Also, we believe that high-risk investments in the stock market should come to an end. At the same time, we support expanding the power of the Federal Reserve and favor giving organizations like the SEC and other watchdog agencies greater power to regulate and intervene in the stock market.

[AustralianSwingVoter]

adding a few more platform ideas:
x. A nationally run airline shall be created and maintained by the government.

No consideration for how expensive it is to found an airline and how expensive it is to run an airline? And what do taxpayers get out of the government wasting billions of dollars to try and found an airline?

[Mike Thick]

Try this one on for size.

X. Atlasia is not the world's policeman, and our military spending should be drastically reduced. The presence of Atlasia's armed forces abroad, except where absolutely necessary, should be eliminated.

[Mike Thick]

Try this one on for size.

X. Atlasia is not the world's policeman, and our military spending should be drastically reduced. The presence of Atlasia's armed forces abroad, except where absolutely necessary, should be eliminated.

Another one.

X. The American government's military aggression against Iraq and use of torture on prisoners of war, prior to the establishment of the Republic of Atlasia, were crimes against humanity. Former U.S. President George W. Bush, and any Atlasians responsible for the atrocities committed during these conflicts, must be criminally prosecuted.

[Dr. MB]

I'm withdrawing my airline amendment

[S019]

x. Nobody is worth a billion dollars. The wealth should be redistributed from the richest of the rich to the people as a whole.

Competing Amednment

We endorse a wealth tax, we also support a progressive tax system to help fund an expanded welfare state to held our most left behind citizens.

[Dr. MB]

x. Nobody is worth a billion dollars. The wealth should be redistributed from the richest of the rich to the people as a whole.

Competing Amednment

We endorse a wealth tax, we also support a progressive tax system to help fund an expanded welfare state to held our most left behind citizens.

I’m not really sure that’s an either-or thing. I’ll put them up separately.

[Dr. MB]

Labor Party Platform Approval

Vote whether or not to include each of the following clauses in the Labor Party platform:

DIRECTLY COPY AND USE THE BALLOT EXACTLY AS IT IS POSTED PLEASE, I HAVE TO COUNT ALL THESE VOTES AND THIS WOULD MAKE IT A LOT EASIER FOR ME

1. Every person has the right to quality healthcare free-of-charge. Nobody should be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

2. People should take priority over profit, and therefore every worker must be paid a fair wage with guaranteed benefits including paid sick leave and vacation time.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

3. The wealthy must pay their fair share in taxes, and a progressive tax system should exist to increase wealth equality while ensuring those at the bottom aren’t unduly hurt.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

4. Every student has a right to a good, free, and public education. College tuition costs should be drastically reduced or eliminated and there should be more incentives and funding for other alternatives such as trade schools.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

5. Which wording should be used?

Option 1: Jobs should never be outsourced overseas. Trade agreements should protect workers on both sides.

Option 2: Jobs should never be outsourced overseas. Trade agreements should protect workers on both sides. However, at the same time, we believe that tariffs are not the best approach to protecting our workers, and we prefer renegotiating agreements that don't favor our workers rather than resorting to protectionist measures, like tariffs.


[ ] Option 1
[ ] Option 2
[ ] Neither
[ ] Abstain

6. Large corporations need regulation in order to avoid the harmful consequences of unregulated capitalism and neoliberal dogma.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

7. People have a right to privacy and as such should be free from unwarranted government surveillance. Government censorship of media and communications should not exist for any reason.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

8. All people should be free from discrimination as much as possible. Businesses and the government should not fire or deny service to people based on their race, gender, or sexual orientation.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

9. Prisons should focus on rehabilitating offenders, not locking them up and forgetting about them. Prison conditions should be improved and for-profit prisons should not exist.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

10. Drugs should be federally decriminalized and anyone convicted of drug possession should be pardoned.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

11. All of the rights and protections enshrined in the Constitution should be defended.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

12. Combating climate change, pollution, and the degradation of natural resources is important for the health of the environment and all people.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

13. The Labor party believes the regions should protect access to abortion throughout the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

14. The Labor party is welcoming to all immigrants and would generally oppose efforts to mass deport undocumented immigrants or build/expand a border fence or wall.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain


15. The government needs to strike an appropriate balance between gun rights and protecting public safety.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

16. No Atlasian should be forced to live on the streets because they can't afford housing. The government must act to curb rising rents and prevent gentrification.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

17. A national energy policy should place the needs of the many in a changing planet ahead of mere profit. The government should act to establish collective ownership of energy by the creation of an Atlasian Energy Authority founded on the principles of democratic governance and local control.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

18. The government should act to establish collective ownership of the railways.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

19. The incarceration pandemic in Atlasia must end. Maximum sentences must be decreased for all but the most serious crimes. Life imprisonment should be used sparingly.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

20. Large banks should be broken up and a public bank should be established in each region.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

21. Nobody is worth a billion dollars. The wealth should be redistributed from the richest of the rich to the people as a whole.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

22. The right to free speech should be protected - including in schools and in the workplace. The right to assemble should not be hindered by fees or permits.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

23. The means of production should belong to the workers who use them.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

24. The ultimate goal of the Labor Party is to establish a stateless, classless, communist society.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

25. The Labor Party is a democratic socialist party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to create for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few, and where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

26. Banks that are too big too fail are too big to exist. We recognize that large banks took down our economy during the Global Financial Crisis, and we believe that such large banks should be broken up. Also, we believe that high-risk investments in the stock market should come to an end. At the same time, we support expanding the power of the Federal Reserve and favor giving organizations like the SEC and other watchdog agencies greater power to regulate and intervene in the stock market.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

27. The American government's military aggression against Iraq and use of torture on prisoners of war, prior to the establishment of the Republic of Atlasia, were crimes against humanity. Former U.S. President George W. Bush, and any Atlasians responsible for the atrocities committed during these conflicts, must be criminally prosecuted.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

28. We endorse a wealth tax, we also support a progressive tax system to help fund an expanded welfare state to held our most left behind citizens.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

29. Atlasia is not the world's policeman, and our military spending should be drastically reduced. The presence of Atlasia's armed forces abroad, except where absolutely necessary, should be eliminated.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

30. A national energy policy should place the needs of the many in a changing planet ahead of mere profit. Emissions regulations must be tightened to protect the Earth from damage brought upon by greenhouse gases. Additionally, the government should facilitate new renewable energy construction and work with the private sector to create new renewable energy solutions and phase out fossil fuels.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

72 hours to vote.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Labor Party Platform Approval

Vote whether or not to include each of the following clauses in the Labor Party platform:

DIRECTLY COPY AND USE THE BALLOT EXACTLY AS IT IS POSTED PLEASE, I HAVE TO COUNT ALL THESE VOTES AND THIS WOULD MAKE IT A LOT EASIER FOR ME

1. Every person has the right to quality healthcare free-of-charge. Nobody should be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

2. People should take priority over profit, and therefore every worker must be paid a fair wage with guaranteed benefits including paid sick leave and vacation time.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

3. The wealthy must pay their fair share in taxes, and a progressive tax system should exist to increase wealth equality while ensuring those at the bottom aren’t unduly hurt.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

4. Every student has a right to a good, free, and public education. College tuition costs should be drastically reduced or eliminated and there should be more incentives and funding for other alternatives such as trade schools.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

5. Which wording should be used?

Option 1: Jobs should never be outsourced overseas. Trade agreements should protect workers on both sides.

Option 2: Jobs should never be outsourced overseas. Trade agreements should protect workers on both sides. However, at the same time, we believe that tariffs are not the best approach to protecting our workers, and we prefer renegotiating agreements that don't favor our workers rather than resorting to protectionist measures, like tariffs.


[X ] Option 1
[ ] Option 2
[ ] Neither
[ ] Abstain

6. Large corporations need regulation in order to avoid the harmful consequences of unregulated capitalism and neoliberal dogma.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

7. People have a right to privacy and as such should be free from unwarranted government surveillance. Government censorship of media and communications should not exist for any reason.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ X] Abstain

8. All people should be free from discrimination as much as possible. Businesses and the government should not fire or deny service to people based on their race, gender, or sexual orientation.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

9. Prisons should focus on rehabilitating offenders, not locking them up and forgetting about them. Prison conditions should be improved and for-profit prisons should not exist.

[ ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[X ] Abstain

10. Drugs should be federally decriminalized and anyone convicted of drug possession should be pardoned.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

11. All of the rights and protections enshrined in the Constitution should be defended.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

12. Combating climate change, pollution, and the degradation of natural resources is important for the health of the environment and all people.

[X ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

13. The Labor party believes the regions should protect access to abortion throughout the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

14. The Labor party is welcoming to all immigrants and would generally oppose efforts to mass deport undocumented immigrants or build/expand a border fence or wall.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain


15. The government needs to strike an appropriate balance between gun rights and protecting public safety.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

16. No Atlasian should be forced to live on the streets because they can't afford housing. The government must act to curb rising rents and prevent gentrification.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

17. A national energy policy should place the needs of the many in a changing planet ahead of mere profit. The government should act to establish collective ownership of energy by the creation of an Atlasian Energy Authority founded on the principles of democratic governance and local control.

[ ] Aye
[X ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

18. The government should act to establish collective ownership of the railways.

[ ] Aye
[ X] Nay
[ ] Abstain

19. The incarceration pandemic in Atlasia must end. Maximum sentences must be decreased for all but the most serious crimes. Life imprisonment should be used sparingly.

[X ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

20. Large banks should be broken up and a public bank should be established in each region.

[ ] Aye
[ X] Nay
[ ] Abstain

21. Nobody is worth a billion dollars. The wealth should be redistributed from the richest of the rich to the people as a whole.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

22. The right to free speech should be protected - including in schools and in the workplace. The right to assemble should not be hindered by fees or permits.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

23. The means of production should belong to the workers who use them.

[ ] Aye
[ X] Nay
[ ] Abstain

24. The ultimate goal of the Labor Party is to establish a stateless, classless, communist society.

[ ] Aye
[ X] Nay
[ ] Abstain

25. The Labor Party is a democratic socialist party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to create for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few, and where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect.

[ ] Aye
[ X] Nay
[ ] Abstain

26. Banks that are too big too fail are too big to exist. We recognize that large banks took down our economy during the Global Financial Crisis, and we believe that such large banks should be broken up. Also, we believe that high-risk investments in the stock market should come to an end. At the same time, we support expanding the power of the Federal Reserve and favor giving organizations like the SEC and other watchdog agencies greater power to regulate and intervene in the stock market.

[ ] Aye
[ X] Nay
[ ] Abstain

27. The American government's military aggression against Iraq and use of torture on prisoners of war, prior to the establishment of the Republic of Atlasia, were crimes against humanity. Former U.S. President George W. Bush, and any Atlasians responsible for the atrocities committed during these conflicts, must be criminally prosecuted.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

28. We endorse a wealth tax, we also support a progressive tax system to help fund an expanded welfare state to held our most left behind citizens.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

29. Atlasia is not the world's policeman, and our military spending should be drastically reduced. The presence of Atlasia's armed forces abroad, except where absolutely necessary, should be eliminated.

[ X] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

30. A national energy policy should place the needs of the many in a changing planet ahead of mere profit. Emissions regulations must be tightened to protect the Earth from damage brought upon by greenhouse gases. Additionally, the government should facilitate new renewable energy construction and work with the private sector to create new renewable energy solutions and phase out fossil fuels.

[X ] Aye
[ ] Nay
[ ] Abstain

72 hours to vote.