NationStates Jolt Archive

Democratic Labour Party

INTRODUCTION

The Democratic Labour Party's goal is simple: to guarantee a free, full and fair life to every man, women and child. We believe that it is the government's duty to protect and care for its citizens, and that the wellbeing of the people of the whole should always be our first and foremost concern. To fulfil this goal, we will implement the following policies:

ECONOMY
Key public services, such as gas, electricity, water and telecommunications shall be publicly owned and regulated.
With the ultimate target of employment for all, we will enact policies to provide safe and well-paying jobs for our citizens.
Minimum wages, a 40-hour work week and welfare regulations will be designed to protect employees in the workplace.
We advocate a progressive income tax as the only socially just taxation

EDUCATION
Education will be compulsory from the ages of 4 to 18
Tutition fees and the graduate tax will be abolished, and grants will be offered to students from low-income families to go to university
Schools will be granted more freedom in the curriculum, to provide enriching and vocational education to all students
Religious and selective schools will be a matter for local governments
An emphasis on responsible citizenship, tolerance and sex education will be an essential part of every child's social education

HEALTH
The National Health Service will be a nationalised body offering free healthcare to all citizens (although private clinics we also be permitted)
All essential medicines and treatment will be totally free
Healthcare in local communities will be geared towards promoting a healthy lifetyle; including balanced diets, exercise, sex education & contraception, and free medical advice
We believe in a woman's right to choose during the first and second trimester

WELFARE AND PENSIONS
Our goal is to drastically reduce the number of people (especially children) living in poverty
All benefits and pensions will be tied to the growth of wages per year
A state pension system will be operated for those who have passed the retirement age of 55

DEFENCE
The overall defence budget will be cut, as there is no longer a need for large standing armies following the end of the Cold War
However, more funds will be channeled into intelligence and counter-terrorism operations in order to protect against a growing threat

CRIME AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
We will protect the right to freedom of speech in any circumstances where it will not cause harm to others
We reject any form of mandatory ID cards as contrary to the notions of liberty and privacy
Crime policies will focus on prevention and rehabilitation rather than punishment
The death penalty will be illegal

TRANSPORT
Key transport services, such as buses and railways, will be collectively owned by a co-operative business
The government will invest more money into public transport on both the local and national level
Public transport will be free for under-18s and over-55s and fares will be heavily subsidised for all other passengers
The government will encourage automobile manufacturers to research more fuel efficient designs using tax breaks and other incentives

ENVIRONMENT
Free recycling will be mandatory for all businesses and encouraged for all citizens
We will ratify Kyoto with the aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions
Fishing and agriculture will be monitored to prevent exhaustion of resources
Sustainable industry will be rewarded with financial incentives, whereas companies with a poor environmental record will incur extra taxes
The government will shift power production away from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy

INTERNATIONAL
We will aim to co-operate fully in our global society, using our place in the United Nations to build a world free from hunger, war or destruction
Aid spending will be increased to a minimum of 0.7% of GDP in order to help fulflil the Millennium Goals and thus benefit those most in need
Negotiation and non-violent means will be looked to first in any incident; war will only be used as a last resort under any circumstances
All genuine refugees and economic migrants will be welcome

If you believe the Democratic Labour Party is the best hope for NationStates, then please show your support and join up today! All are welcome. Feel free to ask any questions you may have on DLP policy.

Vote justice. Vote liberty. Vote DLP.

I don't understand why you don't just join the democratic socialist party?

They don't have a manifesto. Of course, we could always try a merger.

They don't have a manifesto.
Actually, we do. Click the Official DSP thread link in my signature.
Of course, we could always try a merger.
NO NO NO

Plus I don't really want to see a democratic left vote split.

This guy seems a bit more populist than socialist. Interesting.

Are you seriously suggesting to decrease the retirement age to 55?

How on Earth do you propose to pay for that?????:confused:

Higher taxes for the rich. Plus, if people do not work as long, we can expect the strain on our healthcare system to decrease as well.

Actually, we do. Click the Official DSP thread link in my signature.

NO NO NO

Plus I don't really want to see a democratic left vote split.

Firstly, you did not have one when I proposed this, secondly my manifesto is prettier.

Higher taxes for the rich.
:eek:

I hope you dont mind if I burst out laughing, right? Current research shows that for most countries, labour taxes would have to be increased with approximately 5-20 percentage points as it is already... (and if it is the rich half: 10-40 percentage points. And that does not take into account the general equilibrium effects which would cause a vicious cycle in which taxes are so high that people do not have any incentive to earn money, so taxes need to be increased, so people work less, etc, etc)

And mind you, these numbers are in the case in which the current retirement age is held steady. Decreasing it would multiply the effect...


Plus, if people do not work as long, we can expect the strain on our healthcare system to decrease as well.

:confused:
What? I could see your point if you say "banning smoking reduces the strain on the healthcare system" or something, but since when is working bad for your health???

And mind you, these numbers are in the case in which the current retirement age is held steady. Decreasing it would multiply the effect...

Real-life nations have an ageing population; I'm not sure you could prove that with NationStates.

What? I could see your point if you say "banning smoking reduces the strain on the healthcare system" or something, but since when is working bad for your health???

Making people work past the age of 55, at a time when they are past their physical best, creates a lot of wear and tear on the body. We spend most of our healthcare budget on the elderly already: cut out the stress and physical damage caused by over-work and you reduce the strain on the NHS.

Real-life nations have an ageing population; I'm not sure you could prove that with NationStates.


Fair enough. But you can say that for pretty much most topics in your manifesto.
Nationstates doesnt have public transport either, right? And I would like you to prove the existence of water utilities in Nationstates.

Anyway, to summarise: I will not want to join your party, despite it's attractive points...

You had me up until the line about Defence....

Firstly, you did not have one when I proposed this, secondly my manifesto is prettier.* Shakes my head *

This is the old DSP Thread:

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=418666

The manifesto has been there since DECEMBER 5th, 2005!!!

I can see you're not a NS General regular.

You had me up until the line about Defence....

What's wrong with the defence policy? I assure you that civil liberties will not be sacrificed in anti-terrorism measures.

* Shakes my head *

This is the old DSP Thread:

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=418666

The manifesto has been there since DECEMBER 5th, 2005!!!

I can see you're not a NS General regular.

Oh, sorry, the main election thread said "to be confirmed".

# With the ultimate target of employment for all, we will enact policies to provide safe and well-paying jobs for our citizens.
# Minimum wages, a 40-hour work week and welfare regulations will be designed to protect employees in the workplace.

So whos going to do the unsafe jobs?:gundge:

And theres no way I'm increasing my working week from 36 hrs to 40 hrs:upyours:

# With the ultimate target of employment for all, we will enact policies to provide safe and well-paying jobs for our citizens.
# Minimum wages, a 40-hour work week and welfare regulations will be designed to protect employees in the workplace.

So whos going to do the unsafe jobs?:gundge:

And theres no way I'm increasing my working week from 36 hrs to 40 hrs:upyours:

1. Well, of course some jobs are going to be less safe than others, but the DLP will require employers to make sure their employees are not exposed to excessive risk - ie. they may be required to provide protective clothing, install alarm systems, build fire escapes, etc.
2. By 40 hour work week, I mean a MAXIMUM work week of 40 hours.

Hooray. Another near-clone party further fragmenting the left vote. :p

1. Well, of course some jobs are going to be less safe than others, but the DLP will require employers to make sure their employees are not exposed to excessive risk - ie. they may be required to provide protective clothing, install alarm systems, build fire escapes, etc.
2. By 40 hour work week, I mean a MAXIMUM work week of 40 hours.

Well glad to see you are well up to date with modern building and factory regulations... since they ALREADY say that you should have fire escapes, fire alarm systems, protective equipment etc etc etc
And who decides on the 'excessive' risk?, the people with the experience of doing the job? or more likely some over educated idiot who could'nt get a job working anywhere else who decides using a ladder to change a streetlight bulb is dangerous:eek:

So who's going to do the work when we need to work a 60 hr week to get the jobs out? ok this only happens for 3 weeks a year(on average), we cannot hire someone as it takes between 4 and 7 years to train someone to do my job, and hiring someone for the entire year just for 3 weeks work will bankrupt the company.:mad:

More seriously......... when will the socialists move out of the past and realise the reason they lose elections is not because their policies are'nt socialist enough, its because nobody wants them in power.:D

Oh, sorry, the main election thread said "to be confirmed".Wow, you are so friggin SLOW!!! :rolleyes:

Hooray. Another near-clone party further fragmenting the left vote. :pEXACTLY!!!

Well glad to see you are well up to date with modern building and factory regulations... since they ALREADY say that you should have fire escapes, fire alarm systems, protective equipment etc etc etc
And who decides on the 'excessive' risk?, the people with the experience of doing the job? or more likely some over educated idiot who could'nt get a job working anywhere else who decides using a ladder to change a streetlight bulb is dangerous:eek:

Consultation with unions and experts would be necessary.

So who's going to do the work when we need to work a 60 hr week to get the jobs out? ok this only happens for 3 weeks a year(on average), we cannot hire someone as it takes between 4 and 7 years to train someone to do my job, and hiring someone for the entire year just for 3 weeks work will bankrupt the company.:mad:

Maybe I'm suggesting the obvious, but why not just pay overtime?

Hooray. Another near-clone party further fragmenting the left vote.

For proposing a party at a time when the DSP's manifesto had not been announced? Or offering a merger only to be turned down? How is this splitting the vote?

For proposing a party at a time when the DSP's manifesto had not been announced? Or offering a merger only to be turned down? How is this splitting the vote?We DO have a manifesto way before you create this near copycat party. Last week we made minor revision to our platform and posted on our new DSP thread. Also, your party will cause UNNECESSARY left vote split!

Well, not really cause' Ariddia said your party is not eligible to run for now. :p

Consultation with unions and experts would be necessary.




See...... consult with 'experts' whats more expert than the people who do the dangerous stuff all day every day?:headbang:

Maybe I'm suggesting the obvious, but why not just pay overtime?

But you just said a maximum working week of 40 hrs ...........or is it like our current system of a maximum 48hr week unless you want to work extra hours (and not get fired/passed over for promotion ):mad:

See...... consult with 'experts' whats more expert than the people who do the dangerous stuff all day every day?

I never said the views of the people who work there should be ignored, which is why I said the unions should be consulted.

But you just said a maximum working week of 40 hrs ...........or is it like our current system of a maximum 48hr week unless you want to work extra hours (and not get fired/passed over for promotion )

IRL there are already laws to this effect - you can work for more than 40 hours, but only voluntarily.