Free books for all -- REVISED!!!
I have proposed that books be distributed freely and to no cost to anyone, everywhere in the world.
Each nation would be in charge of publishing books, and authors would still be paid, based on the popularity of their individual books.
I've spent a great deal of time researching this information, and have taken a great deal of the feedback I'd received the first time and have edited, extensively, this proposal.
Please support it!
Elizabeth Anne
I must say that while it is a lofty Ideal, we at The SillyMinion are a highly literate nation with sadly an already inflated income tax. Paper is not free, printing presses are not free, and then there is the authors fee for writing said book. Would you propose that we raise our Income Tax even higher, how about we publish the book, pay the author but then charge a special "tax" to any citizen who wishes to partake in this government resource.
Adejaani
03-09-2003, 04:35
One word: library.
Better word: Internet :lol:
Kyotonia thinks that having books given to all for free would be a great boon for the dictators of the world. It would be a learning tool for all the future dictators to learn how we all came about. Kyotonia would heartily back the proposal with a strong hand.
One word: library.
Sure, but what about those nations who don't have FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES????
One word: library.
Better word: Internet :lol:
Yeah, and for those impoverished, you suggest that they spend their annual salaries, five or so years running, so that they can purchase a freakin computer so that they can, then, access the Internet??? Oh yeah, screw food, clothing and shelter for the almighty computer.
It's an...okay idea. But I don't think it would work. You might as well make food free, since it's something many people don't have.
Spookistan and Jakalah
03-09-2003, 15:58
I must say that while it is a lofty Ideal, we at The SillyMinion are a highly literate nation with sadly an already inflated income tax. Paper is not free, printing presses are not free, and then there is the authors fee for writing said book. Would you propose that we raise our Income Tax even higher, how about we publish the book, pay the author but then charge a special "tax" to any citizen who wishes to partake in this government resource.
Exactly. Since you'd have to use tax money to implement this scheme, it would be less a case of "Free books for all" and more a case of "People who don't like to read being forced by the government to buy books for people who do like to read."
Catholic Europe
03-09-2003, 16:54
Depends what types of books they were...
Depends what types of books they were...
Free porn.
I must say that while it is a lofty Ideal, we at The SillyMinion are a highly literate nation with sadly an already inflated income tax. Paper is not free, printing presses are not free, and then there is the authors fee for writing said book. Would you propose that we raise our Income Tax even higher, how about we publish the book, pay the author but then charge a special "tax" to any citizen who wishes to partake in this government resource.
I'm all for the special tax, however, the poor are the ones at a disadvantage here, too. I'm sure that many people wouldn't mind higher taxes if the advantages of government funded everything were possible. Ultimately, each nation could become utopian.
I couldn't support the proposal. Primarily because as has been pointed out the cost in taxpayer revenue alone would be staggering. There are places where people can borrow books for free now anyway.
If the member for Elizabeth Anne could put forward a way this proposal could be revenue neutral then perhaps I could look this over again
One word: library.
Sure, but what about those nations who don't have FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES????
We the People's Republis Of Amyth would like to point out that for a fraction of the expense of giving free books to all, these countries could establish libraries. We at the PROA also notice that often when people recieve items for free they tend to have no apprecieation for the value of the item. We do now make the exception of gifts, which hold sentimental value, however, our citizens have little sentimental value for anything our government has ever given them.
One word: library.
Sure, but what about those nations who don't have FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES????
We the People's Republis Of Amyth would like to point out that for a fraction of the expense of giving free books to all, these countries could establish libraries. We at the PROA also notice that often when people recieve items for free they tend to have no apprecieation for the value of the item. We do now make the exception of gifts, which hold sentimental value, however, our citizens have little sentimental value for anything our government has ever given them.
We the Free Nation of Tipayimisoowin whole-heartedly agree.
Also, what about nations with a low literacy rate? What is the point of giving out free books to people who do not know how to read? It seems like a huge waste to me.
North-West Antarctica
05-09-2003, 01:29
Book publishing is NWA's largest industry... we can't see how this would help our economy at all.
We support libraries, not free books.
DaRight WingConspiracy
05-09-2003, 15:30
There is no such thing as Free Books, Free Healthcare, Free Medication, Free (insert your favorite pet project here)...
Grow up and take an economics course!
There is no such thing as Free Books, Free Healthcare, Free Medication, Free (insert your favorite pet project here)...
Grow up and take an economics course!
What about a free lunch?
Oppressed Possums
07-09-2003, 15:42
There is no such thing as Free Books, Free Healthcare, Free Medication, Free (insert your favorite pet project here)...
Grow up and take an economics course!
What about a free lunch?
It depends what you eat.
Oppressed Possums
07-09-2003, 15:45
I think the idea is "free" for the citizens. The burden of paying for it falls to the government. Unless we eliminate tangible things in the process, it would be extremely cost prohibitive.
You could make is an online version accessable from a "library." Once this library is established, other nations can join and create an online library network.
Eridanus
07-09-2003, 15:47
Gimme free books!
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-President Z.D. Meier
Alliance of Democracy
U.N. Delegate
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