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unmerged(26817)

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Mar 15, 2004
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Extraordinary General Meeting of the CUE

Held in the central press office and meeting hall of CUE HQ, this general meeting was publicised to be the time and location of the first major overhall of the party since its inception a term ago. Filled with party delegates, Strasse made his way through the crowd to the front of the room, sitting himself before the attendant party members and rose to speak with a serious composure.

"Our message is disunited and fractious. We have no idea in hell what we are. We once had a purpose. But that purpose has since been forgotten or become useless. We must seize upon our mission, we must push through a new agenda, and we will triumph over the pragmatic technocracy of the Fourgeres regime. But we must also reform our party. That is our task. Now is the time."

To loud applause, Strasse wielded a sheet of paper labled clearly as the CUE party platform.
"This was our party. Let me hear it from you all. What needs change?"

NB: This thread is temporary and will be deleted once the meeting is over.
 

unmerged(26817)

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Mar 15, 2004
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"As we have no comments from the floor, I can offer my own suggestions on the direction of the party?" Silence. "Fine, consider this;"

CUE Party Platform

Our Principles

The CUE believes in a small state, but a small state, a strong society, but a society governed by responsibility. Through respect for tradition and patriotism, through freeing and helping the individual and the family unit to succeed, we aim to offer the maximum prosperity and happiness to all Eutopians. The CUE does not believe in the abdication of social responsibility that today masquerades as “conservatism.” To claim that society is simply a collection of individuals who owe each other nothing is not conservatism, but robber baron mentality. Instead we want to use the market and to use strong local communities to help the individual to help himself and those around him. Society is founded on mutual responsibility.

While the CUE believes in the ideals of social responsibility, it also believes that inequality is a natural and necessary phenomenon. The kind of blind egalitarianism preached by the Left is detrimental to society and individual welfare. Society has an obligation to help its weakest members; that help does not extend to benefits and privileges that would weaken the state and society as a whole. We must not relieve citizens of responsibility for their own fate. Instead, the greatest encouragement possible must be offered to citizens to safeguard their own futures, rather than them relying on the safety net of state welfare.

Foreign and trade policy

The Eutopian people have been split apart and divided by a Republic with no regard for national unity. The principal aim and foremost duty of Eutopian foreign policy must be peaceful re-unification. A first step in this direction is to ensure an ever closer political, social and economic union between the three countries on our island. To this end, the CUE supports an unrestricted free trade and customs association with Tilapia and St. Esprit.

The diplomatic efforts of Eutopia must further be focused on making our nation respected in the world, to be treated as an equal and not as the "sick man of the Atlantic." This goal can best be achieved by pursuing a multilateral foreign policy. In this end, we favour joining NATO and further involvement in other multi-national organisations. We consider joining the EU, however, to be perhaps a step too far. EU Membership's implications on our sovereignty could be particularly dangerous.

Finally, for a thriving economy, it is essential that Eutopia freely trades with other nations. We believe that tariff barriers, although perhaps helpful to national industries in the short-term, could both receive adverse reactions from other nations and international bodies, and are also morally wrong.

Military and law enforcement

The hallmark of a strong state is its ability to enforce its rule. Recent events have shown what happens if the state is weak: anarchy, chaos and fragmentation result. We cannot allow that to happen again. Our military and law enforcement must therefore be a top priority. Military reconstruction in particular must proceed apace and with excellent, rather than merely adequate, funding.

The CUE envisions a modern fighting force, capable of effectively frustrating and responding to military threats against our country. We must ensure that our navy is able, as far as possible, to repel potential invaders and guarantee the safety of our shores. However, Eutopia is no longer an island. The old “navy first” doctrine is therefore no longer tenable. We must pay equal attention to our army and air force, and ensure they are in a position to effectively engage enemies that either invaded our country by land, or eluded the grasp of our navy.

Law enforcement must follow the doctrine of "zero tolerance". If someone commits a crime they must serve their punishment in full, and cannot be allowed to flaunt the criminal justice system by getting out after only a small fraction of their sentence. We agree with parole in some cases, but a punishment is a punishment. The CUE envisions a society where acceptance and rehabilitation follow penitance. It should be down to local communities and in-prison learning programmes to educate and to offer new chances to people who have wandered off the straight-and-narrow path.

We wish to start a free and healthy debate on the death penalty in the General Assembly.

Welfare

Inequality is both inevitable and necessary: not only are individuals born into different positions and with different abilities, but a society of equals has been shown to be unworkable and prone to collapse either into outright anarchy, or brutal dictatorship. Eutopia must be protected from both. Society as a whole has a duty to ensure the welfare of all its members, but the aim of a responsible welfare state must be to eliminate misery, not to eliminate inequality and incentives for individual achievement.

A socially irresponsible state advocated by many so-called conservatives these days harbours the seeds of its own demise. Where a large proportion of society is left to fend for themselves regardless of their capacity to do so, the result will be discontent, strife, and ultimately, instability. Society is not only morally obligated to eliminate suffering, it is also in its best interest to do so.

However, an overbearing caretaker state of the kind envisioned by the Left would have crippling effects on the economy. Not only does it breed dependency and curb initiative, it also stifles economic development through over-regulation and high costs. A socially responsible welfare state must aim at integrating those who have the potential to be economically productive into the economy; it must aim at increasing the capabilities of those who do not currently have that potential; and it must aim at becoming a permanent provider only for those who lack the means to provide for themselves and are unable to acquire them.

Economy

The CUE believes that capitalism is a just and effective method of generating and distributing wealth. However, the pursuit of economic self-interest that is at the heart of capitalism will, left to its own devices, not magically produce the "public good." This can only be brought about by embedding the market in a strong framework of social responsibility, thus ensuring that it serves rather than undermines society and the common good. A strong society is one where the state stays out of the business of being in business, but where the invisible hand of the market is also guided by the steady hand of the state.

In this light, we believe strongly in low taxes and regulations only where necessary. And while we don't want one company to dominate one service or industry (and will legislate to prevent such a dominance through new anti-trust laws), we do want to encourage healthy competition to push down prices and root out inefficiency.

Immigration, Citizenship, Diversity

Immigration can contribute to a vibrant Eutopian society, provided it does not undermine the attachment to common identities, values and traditions that are necessary to preserve a strong society, and does not threaten the welfare of Eutopian workers. Immigration must be strictly regulated with a view to these objectives, and must be to the benefit of Eutopia. Potential immigrants must be able to offer useful contributions, and must adhere to the principles of Eutopian citizenship and governance.

Eutopia is by its nature a diverse place. Tolerance of diversity - religious, cultural and otherwise - is therefore a cornerstone of a strong, successful Eutopia. However, tolerance cannot extend to practices that are harmful or threatening to individual citizens or society as a whole. Furthermore, diversity must be balanced by and embedded in an overarching commitment to Eutopian unity. Diversity must not be allowed to become divisiveness.

Monarchy

The CUE does not believe that the abolition of the Monarchy was legal or legitimate. Eutopia’s interests would be best served by dispensing with the current, divisive presidential rule and restoring Eutopia to a limited, constitutional Monarchy. A constitutional Monarch is the personification of a strong Eutopian state and society; it is no coincidence that Eutopia fractured a mere sixteen years after the coup d’etat that made it a republic. A restored Monarchy would be a strong unifying force, not only for the UPE, but for the island as a whole.

As Head of State, we envision the role of monarch as a unifying force and symbol for all of Eutopia, as an experienced advisor to elected representatives, as a protector of the constitutional order, and as a safeguard against forces that aim at eroding democracy. To effectively defend the constitutional and democratic order, the Monarch should be a permanent member and the presiding officer of the Council of State. In addition to its current power to impeach officials, the Council of State should also be able to dissolve Parliament if necessary for the protection of the constitutional, democratic order.

The CUE advocates the restoration of a Saxe-Coburg-Gotha monarchy under Maria of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

Education

The CUE believes that each and every child should have the opportunity to receive a good and free education, rooted in the values that our nation holds dear. As a party we generally believe that some of the more traditional teaching methods, unpopular with the "progressive" Left who would seek to inbed radical rejection of authority and alien concepts into our children's heads, are more effective for a good, rounded education. The CUE believes that an obsession with targets and examination results, although perhaps pushing up standards to a small degree, does more harm than good.

We also consider a private sector of educational establishments to be a necessary and perfectly acceptable. The pursuit of excellence, wherever it happens, should be encouraged, and we favour a large scheme of endowments and bursaries to allow less advantaged children to attend such establishments.
 

aussieboy

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Von Hapsburg arrives:
"Perhaps, we could advocate a plan which would give identification cards to students, and they would get rewards for good grades by requesting it at the school. It's beneficial to the students, as they can strive for something, and it takes the pressure off teachers, since they know that the students are trying their hardest, if only to get desired rewards. I dub this proposal the "Educational Renaissance Program"".
 

unmerged(26817)

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"I'm unsure about the scheme. Indeed, it is a worthy aim to strive for educational achievement, but is financial renumeration the best way of getting there? I would much rather see the money go into actively investing in our educational system rather than paying up young people who go to their classes.

But on the same theme, I do agree with incentivising education. Motivation is the best way by which anyone can achieve things, and motivation requires aims.

Therefore, I think it would be just as effective if we increased the importance of the pastoral system in schools. By this I mean every pupil being in a 'tutor group' - a number of pupils from all different years who meet together once a week with their 'tutor' (a member of staff). If a person is able to guide a pupil throughout the course of their school career, and if that pupil is able to be helped by his fellow tutees, he will surely be the better for it.

What do you think about it?"

Strasse paused, while von Hapsburg made his remarks about balanced budgets and a savings scheme for pensioners. [OOC: I just lifted this from the other thread, since it's better to have everything in one place.]

"I totally agree. A balanced budget is essential. For too long administrations have sold Eutopia down the river for short-term gains. Either we must raise taxes (and this is totally unacceptable), or we must make cuts to public services (and I think this is what we will have to do). But I agree, a balanced budget is a good idea.

I'm not so sure about this savings scheme. Yes, it would be a good way of keeping some money to one side for pensioners, but don't you think our fundamental principle of freedom prevents us from witholding money from people. They must learn to make their own mistakes."
 

aussieboy

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"Not financial, of course. That would be a drain on the budget. I mean stuff like homework passes, only one per student per semester of course, for the occasional slip-up of the good student."
 

unmerged(26817)

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"I'm not sure, Per von Hapsburg. It still seems horrendously 'new age'. I still rather think that our educational system should have a renewed emphasis on the basics of good, disciplined education and that should begin by instilling a work ethic in the youngest of our children.

Now I was wondering if with the proposed programme, the party would accept to relaunch the Headquarters and start the CUE anew?"
 

aussieboy

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On the other aspects, perhaps we should take a sort of 'internationalist' stance, trying to lift all the embargoes, and pushing for reunification, perhaps starting with St. Espirit, and if the monarchy should be restored, Tilapia
 

HJ Tulp

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I'd say we push for a referendum in New Bengal. Maybe Per Strasse could raise the subject in the General Assembly?
 

HJ Tulp

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HJ Tulp said:
I'd say we push for a referendum in New Bengal. Maybe Per Strasse could raise the subject in the General Assembly?

Per Strasse?
 

unmerged(26817)

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Mar 15, 2004
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I'm sorry. Yes, of course. I certainly think we should market ourselves as the 'Unionist' party of Eutopia - I'll bring it up in the General Assembly immediately.