Democratic Alliance Party HQ - Snap July Convention [PARTY PLATFORM ADOPTED]

[Continential]

I support this

Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Updated Proposal:

Foreign Policy

- Democratic Alliance recognizes Atlasia has a role to play in the security of countries around the world, but believes Atlasia should avoid war whenever possible through the use of diplomacy.
- Strategic cuts to defense spending where practical should be made.
- We will stand firmly with our allies so long as they do not commit major offenses against human rights or international law.
- Expand our partnerships with fellow democratic nations and create competitive incentives for nations to democratize and cooperate with the greater democratic community.

Social Issues

- We believe in the constitutional right to own guns, and support responsible gun ownership alongside reasonable measures to prevent gun violence such as comprehensive background checks and reformed sentencing laws for gun-related crimes.
- Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare. The right to have access to abortion services should not be restricted to women during their first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
- The rights of everyone, especially the LGBTQ+ community and other minority groups, must be protected.

[FairBol]

On the proposed amendments:

Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.

I can't support this amendment (as authored by Ishan).  I believe that abortion is the termination of a human life (aka murder), and should only be permitted when the mother's life would be at risk from childbirth. 

- Strategic cuts to defense spending where practical should be made.

I'm also in opposition to this plank. 

In order to keep pace with potential enemies, we must continue to lead in the area of technological development.  This means maintaining at least the current level of funding.  Our troops cannot be inferior, whether in training, technology, or combat itself. 

[FairBol]

I assume we will vote on the several amendments/proposals soon, correct?

[FairBol]

Got a few more amendments to propose.  As with the others, additions in blue, deletions in red.  

Economic Policy

- Democratic Alliance is a firm believer in capitalism, with regulations that are necessary to protect consumers and ensure fair business practices where needed.
- Democratic Alliance supports a progressive tax system of limited taxes and federal regulation. that promotes financial equity. Tax loopholes need to be closed so that no person can avoid paying the taxes they are supposed to.
- Taxation and regulation should be made simpler, and easier to understand.  
- Welfare and social programs must be focused on helping those who cannot work, rather than those who can, but choose not to protected from harmful funding cuts.
- Limit outsourcing of Atlasian jobs by businesses through fair trade agreements and implement tax repercussions for companies that outsource.
- Pass incentives for businesses to move operations back to Atlasia and create jobs on the home-front.
- The enforcement of anti-monopoly laws should be strengthened and the government should prevent excessively large corporate mergers that are harmful for the consumer.
- Immediately expand assistance programs for struggling businesses and start-up businesses, with emphasis on small businesses and non-corporate farms.
- Rural areas of Atlasia continue to be lacking in basic social services such as healthcare and education. We support increasing investments rural development programs and providing subsidies and relief to ensure that all citizens have access to this.
- Investment in infrastructure development and maintenance to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure will create jobs and modernize Atlasia.
- Increase investments into programs that help communities suffering from economic decline to rebound.
- The High-Speed Rail Act of 2018 should have been passed. We support expanding high-speed rail systems and continual expansion of community access to public transportation.

Regarding the first line, my amendment is strictly grammar-based.  The sentence should have a comma in it.  

Also, I find the language of "where needed" to be redundant...we've already said that regulations are "necessary", which means the same thing as "needed".  

On the issue of assistance programs, I find that the first line dealing with it..."immediately expand...farms" is also redundant.  The language "increase investments...rebound" should be sufficient, IMHO. 

[tmthforu94]

I assume we will vote on the several amendments/proposals soon, correct?

You'll need to become registered with the party in order to vote, but my suggestion is that once we've completed it, we allow an objection period where we vote on each plank that is contentious. I don't think we should vote on this as a whole.

The best option for the abortion issue is to probably have 3-4 options and allow people to rank them based on which view comes closest to their own.

I also don't support the military cuts amendment - while I would probably support this in RL, here in Atlasia, the military budget has already been cut quite a bit, so I think we're probably at the point where any cut made would have greater consequences. This is a good example of us shaping our platform around Atlasia instead of America, which I think will help us rise above.

[FairBol]

I assume we will vote on the several amendments/proposals soon, correct?

You'll need to become registered with the party in order to vote, but my suggestion is that once we've completed it, we allow an objection period where we vote on each plank that is contentious. I don't think we should vote on this as a whole.

I was hoping I would be allowed to vote as an "unofficial member/associate".  Depending on the final language of the platform, I may or may not officially join up.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Got a few more amendments to propose.  As with the others, additions in blue, deletions in red.  

Economic Policy

- Democratic Alliance is a firm believer in capitalism, with regulations that are necessary to protect consumers and ensure fair business practices where needed.
- Democratic Alliance supports a progressive tax system of limited taxes and federal regulation. that promotes financial equity. Tax loopholes need to be closed so that no person can avoid paying the taxes they are supposed to.
- Taxation and regulation should be made simpler, and easier to understand.  
- Welfare and social programs must be focused on helping those who cannot work, rather than those who can, but choose not to protected from harmful funding cuts.
- Limit outsourcing of Atlasian jobs by businesses through fair trade agreements and implement tax repercussions for companies that outsource.
- Pass incentives for businesses to move operations back to Atlasia and create jobs on the home-front.
- The enforcement of anti-monopoly laws should be strengthened and the government should prevent excessively large corporate mergers that are harmful for the consumer.
- Immediately expand assistance programs for struggling businesses and start-up businesses, with emphasis on small businesses and non-corporate farms.
- Rural areas of Atlasia continue to be lacking in basic social services such as healthcare and education. We support increasing investments rural development programs and providing subsidies and relief to ensure that all citizens have access to this.
- Investment in infrastructure development and maintenance to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure will create jobs and modernize Atlasia.
- Increase investments into programs that help communities suffering from economic decline to rebound.
- The High-Speed Rail Act of 2018 should have been passed. We support expanding high-speed rail systems and continual expansion of community access to public transportation.

Regarding the first line, my amendment is strictly grammar-based.  The sentence should have a comma in it.  

Also, I find the language of "where needed" to be redundant...we've already said that regulations are "necessary", which means the same thing as "needed".  

On the issue of assistance programs, I find that the first line dealing with it..."immediately expand...farms" is also redundant.  The language "increase investments...rebound" should be sufficient, IMHO.  

I disagree strongly with your amendments. I'm not a member of DA, but with such an initial platform, we could very well work together, though i'd like to see more focus on the environment.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Let it be known that I stand strongly opposed to all of Fairbol's amendments except the grammar fix.

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

I strongly object to the substance of most of FairBol's amendments, with the exception of Ecomonic 1, Economic 3, and Economic 8. I most strenuously oppose his position on abortion, given our policy is far to restrictive to start with.

I support declaring that abortion is a fundamental human right, and women are always best equipped to make decisions about their own bodies.

Two more suggestions:
We will actively promote Atlasian values of liberal democracy, free and fair markets, and the rule of law around the world to combat the rise of illiberal, authoritarian regimes.

Working class and middle class Atlasians should pay less in taxes than they do today, compensated for by higher taxes on the very wealthy and reduced military spending.

[AustralianSwingVoter]

I'm strongly opposed to the amendments proposed by Fairbol. And given he isn't even a party member I fail to see why he is trying to completely overhaul our entire platform to suit himself.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

I'm going to suggest to Mr. Fairbol that if he is unsatisfied with the current platform, that he should look into creating his own party. No offense, but we're supposed to be a big tent party with generally center-left leanings. I'd be willing to change a couple of platform planks, but not to the extent you seem to want, and certainly not as many of them.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Update:

Economic Policy

- Democratic Alliance is a firm believer in capitalism with regulations that are necessary to protect consumers and ensure fair business practices where needed.
- Democratic Alliance supports a progressive tax system that promotes financial equity. Tax loopholes need to be closed so that no person can avoid paying the taxes they are supposed to.
- Taxation and regulation should be made simpler, and easier to understand.
- Welfare and social programs must be protected from harmful funding cuts.
- We believe strong stimulus measures are needed in times of economic recession or hardship.
- Limit outsourcing of Atlasian jobs by businesses through fair trade agreements and implement tax repercussions for companies that outsource.
- Expand trade agreements with countries which share Atlasia's values of liberal democracy, strong workers' rights, and environmental protection.
- Pass incentives for businesses to move operations back to Atlasia and create jobs on the home-front.
- The enforcement of anti-monopoly laws should be strengthened and the government should prevent large corporate mergers that are harmful for the consumer.
- Immediately expand assistance programs for struggling businesses and start-up businesses, with emphasis on small businesses and non-corporate farms.
- Rural areas of Atlasia continue to be lacking in basic social services such as healthcare and education. We support increasing investments rural development programs and providing subsidies and relief to ensure that all citizens have access to this.
- Investment in infrastructure development and maintenance to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure will create jobs and modernize Atlasia.
- Increase investments into programs that help communities suffering from economic decline to rebound.
- The High-Speed Rail Act of 2018 should have been passed. We support expanding high-speed rail systems and continual expansion of access to public transportation.

Foreign Policy

- Democratic Alliance recognizes Atlasia has a role to play in the security of countries around the world, but believes Atlasia should avoid war whenever possible through the use of diplomacy.
- We will actively promote Atlasian values of liberal democracy, free and fair markets, and the rule of law around the world to combat the rise of illiberal, authoritarian regimes.
- We will stand firmly with our allies so long as they do not commit major offenses against human rights or international law.
- Expand our partnerships with fellow democratic nations and create competitive incentives for nations to democratize and cooperate with the greater democratic community.

Social Issues

- We believe in the constitutional right to own guns, and support responsible gun ownership alongside reasonable measures to prevent gun violence such as comprehensive background checks and reformed sentencing laws for gun-related crimes.
- Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare. The right to have access to abortion services should not be restricted to women during their first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
- The rights of everyone, especially the LGBTQ+ community and other minority groups, must be protected.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Gonna formally introduce that grammatical fix since that's the only part I'm really in favor of. I'd introduce some other amendments but thinking about it, it would basically be left-wing Fairbol amendments, that meaning too far from the middle of the party to be considered reasonable. We'll all have our own disagreements with bits of the platform, we have our own personal platforms.

Economic Policy

- Democratic Alliance is a firm believer in capitalism with regulations that are necessary to protect consumers and ensure fair business practices where needed.

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

A modification to make the HSR plank more forward-thinking:

High speed rail is key to Atlasia's prosperity and sustainability. We support new legislation bringing high speed rail to all major cities nationwide, as well as expanded connectivity in underserved rural areas. This should be accompanied with unprecedented mass-transit expansion in our urban cores to build a country truly ready for the 21st century.

[SevenEleven]

A modification to make the HSR plank more forward-thinking:

High speed rail is key to Atlasia's prosperity and sustainability. We support new legislation bringing high speed rail to all major cities nationwide, as well as expanded connectivity in underserved rural areas. This should be accompanied with unprecedented mass-transit expansion in our urban cores to build a country truly ready for the 21st century.

This might be an unnecessary plank by the time the next election rolls around.

[FairBol]

I support declaring that abortion is a fundamental human right, and women are always best equipped to make decisions about their own bodies.

Sorry, but no.  I understand the whole "my body, my choice" argument....but that's in error, at best. 

It is an actual fact that the fetus meets all scientific criteria for a living organism (I'll go into detail if requested to).  That being the case, it is not simply part of a woman's body. 

The fetus is a living thing, and thus has the right to life.  Taking away that right is tantamount to murder. 

[AustralianSwingVoter]

I support declaring that abortion is a fundamental human right, and women are always best equipped to make decisions about their own bodies.

Sorry, but no.  I understand the whole "my body, my choice" argument....but that's in error, at best.

It is an actual fact that the fetus meets all scientific criteria for a living organism (I'll go into detail if requested to).  That being the case, it is not simply part of a woman's body.

The fetus is a living thing, and thus has the right to life.  Taking away that right is tantamount to murder.

If you want a party that upholds your arch-conservative views then I would suggest you rejoin the Federalist party instead of trying to get us to rewrite our entire platform to suit yourself.

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

I support declaring that abortion is a fundamental human right, and women are always best equipped to make decisions about their own bodies.

Sorry, but no.  I understand the whole "my body, my choice" argument....but that's in error, at best. 

It is an actual fact that the fetus meets all scientific criteria for a living organism (I'll go into detail if requested to).  That being the case, it is not simply part of a woman's body. 

The fetus is a living thing, and thus has the right to life.  Taking away that right is tantamount to murder. 

A fetus is not a person and therefore abortion is not murder.

[FairBol]

When speaking of gun violence (as in the Social Issues plank), are we saying that regarding reform, sentencing for gun-related crimes should be more strict, or the other way around? I generally support enforcing the gun laws that are already on the books...but I can compromise on the proposed language. 

[Dr. MB]

Think it’s kinda funny that the #1 person who seems to care the most about the platform isn’t even a member of the party.

[FairBol]

If you want a party that upholds your arch-conservative views then I would suggest you rejoin the Federalist party instead of trying to get us to rewrite our entire platform to suit yourself.

Heck of an attitude there.  What, I can't submit amendments now? Contrary to your belief, I'm not trying to rewrite the platform.  I'm merely suggesting changes to the parts of it that I disagree with. 

[Mike Thick]

If you want a party that upholds your arch-conservative views then I would suggest you rejoin the Federalist party instead of trying to get us to rewrite our entire platform to suit yourself.

Heck of an attitude there.  What, I can't submit amendments now? Contrary to your belief, I'm not trying to rewrite the platform.  I'm merely suggesting changes to the parts of it that I disagree with. 

I too often walk into the houses of people I don't know and yell at them about their interior decor

[AustralianSwingVoter]

If you want a party that upholds your arch-conservative views then I would suggest you rejoin the Federalist party instead of trying to get us to rewrite our entire platform to suit yourself.

Heck of an attitude there.  What, I can't submit amendments now? Contrary to your belief, I'm not trying to rewrite the platform.  I'm merely suggesting changes to the parts of it that I disagree with. 

Since when have non-party members ever been allowed to submit platform amendments in any party? Otherwise every Federalist convention since the dawn of time would be full of Labor trolling over the Federalist platform.

[FairBol]

A fetus is not a person and therefore abortion is not murder.

:: sighs ::

I was hoping to avoid doing this, but I guess I will have to educate you on what exactly a "person" is, and why a fetus meets that definition.  Here goes. 

To understand why a fetus is a person, we first must look at the definition of such.  Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines a "person" (in part) as something that has "human form or attributes"; that is, a human. 

"Wait a second...a fetus is not a living thing", you say.  This brings up another point...just what, exactly, is a "living" organism?

Scientifically speaking, in order for something to be considered as "life", it must meet several criteria. 

• The subject must be capable of taking in, as well as expending, energy.   
• The subject must be capable of cell division; that is, the reproduction of cells.
• The subject must have an organized system of cells.   
• The subject must be able to respond to outside stimuli, such as light and sound. 
• The subject must be capable of genetic form. 

Let's look at the biological properties of a fetus.  Can it:

• Take in and expend energy?

YES.  A fetus needs certain nutrients for survival, nutrients that are present during pregnancy.  The fetus will use these nutrients for the purpose of cell reproduction.

• Reproduce cells through cell division?

YES.  (See above). 

• Does the fetus have an organized system of cells?

YES.  It has been conclusively proven that a fetus develops organs and systems very early on.  OK, so is the fetus:

• Capable of genetic form?

YES.  Early on, the fetus already has DNA, RNA, and all that good stuff.  Finally, can the fetus:

• Respond to outside stimuli, such as light and sound?

This too is a YES.  In fact, a fetus can sense pain as early as seven weeks into the pregnancy.  Its senses, though still developing, are in fact present. 

Taking all these factors into account, is a fetus a living thing? Scientifically speaking, the answer is YES. 

As it is living, abortion can be properly defined as the involuntary termination of life.  I would hope that we're all smart enough to know that's murder, as defined. 

BTW, whether you believe the fetus is a person or not, this question is somewhat of a "red herring".  Even non-humanoid organisms have a right to life, do they not? For example, your pet dog has a right to live, regardless of the fact that it's not human.  Can we at least agree on that?

Your biology lesson for the day is now complete, LOL.