Renewing the Left - Open Party Convention

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Citizens,

attentive observers of Eutopia's political scene have no doubt noticed that the Left has, unfortunately, entered into a lengthy period of stagnation. While there have been clear successes of Centre-Left and Left parties as members of the government during the last two terms, this has not translated into public interest in and greater engagement with parties of the Left. What does seem to affect our fortunes, however, are perceived failures, of which there are inevitably some.

After considerable internal discussion, the members of the RD have decided that in order to renew and revitalize the Left, a symbolic, programmatic and structural overhaul is needed. In keeping with our convictions, any such overhaul has to be based on broad democratic input and discussion. Hence, as current RD-leader, I hereby open a policy convention on "Renewing the Left."

The convention will be held under the auspices of the RD, and decisions made at the convention will be adopted by the RD as its party programme and organizational structure. As a sign of its commitment to revitalization and a continued role for the Left, the RD will also change its party name at that stage. We hope to conclude the renewal process before the next elections, so we can contest them as a reinvigorated Left.

However, the policy convention is designed to revitalize citizen interest in and active engagement with the Left. Therefore, *all* citizens of the Left (not just members of the RD) who are interested in establishing a party that can offer a broad home to social democrats, social liberals, centre-leftists, and moderate, democratic socialists are invited to attend the convention and participate actively in its proceedings. We'd only ask that any contributions be constructive; the idea is to reinvigorate the Left, not to undermine that effort.

For a better Eutopia,
P.N.H. Schwarzerd

 

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Delegates,

welcome to this convention of hope and progress! The occasion is momentous and the task ahead is daunting, but I have no doubt that we will succeed in our goal to revitalize the Left, for succeed we must - for the sake of social justice, for the sake of solidarity, for the sake of democracy! Succeed we must, that is, for the common good of Eutopians, and for the future of Eutopia!

The convention will follow this format:
(1) The presiding officer (myself) will present delegates with a preliminary agenda, party structure and party programme (the last one based mostly on the current RD-platform purely for purposes of expediting the process).
(2) Delegates will then post an initial position statement on any and all agenda items they wish (Days 1 and 2 = September 3 and 4); they are also free to suggest additional items for discussion.
(3) Beginning on Day 3 (September 5), delegates will begin discussions on agenda items. Discussions should be limited to the section of topics assigned to specific days.
(4) On Days 8 and 9, we will vote on a new party programme and structure.

Thank you all, and let's get started!



Convention Agenda

Days 1 and 2 (September 3/4)
Initial statements, questions about process

Days 3, 4, 5 (September 5/6/7): Section A
MDIA-related issues (foreign affairs, military)
MECT-related issues (education, ethnic groups)
MTEF-related issues (economy, trade, industry, energy, utilities, renewable resources, non-renewable resources)

Days 6, 7 (September 8/9): Section B
MILE-related issues (citizenship, immigration, crime and punishment , law enforcement, same sex rights)
MHES-related issues (health, environment, labour, welfare, family, abortion)
Party structure

Days 8 and 9 (September 10/11)
Vote

-- P.N.H. Schwarzerd

 

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Discussion platform

Please note that the following is just a starting point for discussion; also, feel free to suggest additional items.


Section A (Days 3, 4, 5)

Foreign affairs: We support membership in NATO and an increase in foreign aid.

Military: We support increased military funding to replace outdated and unsafe equipment, and to improve training facilities. We call for the abolition of male conscription and the establishment of a purely professional army.

Education: We believe that every student is entitled to receive instruction delivered in any Eutopian language they choose, provided this is feasible and numbers warrant. High school: we believ that every student should be able to speak two of the three major Eutopian languages on graduation. University: we believe that post-secondary education must be accessible to all Eutopians; tuition is acceptable only if other sources of fudning cannot be found, and must stay within reasonable (affordable) limits to avoid discrimination against students from underprivileged backgrounds.

Ethnic groups: Eutopia is a multicultural country. Minority members must have equal access to societal goods and services. Disadvantage based on language must be avoided as far as possible, for example by providing defendants with the services of an official translator where the language of the Court is not their own.

Economy: Capitalism, when embedded in strong systems of regulation, has proven effective in generating unprecedented levels of wealth. However, unfettered capitalism will produce socially disastrous outcomes. We believe that capitalism has to serve the public, not the other way around. We therefore support a social market economy, that is, a capitalist system with strong controls to ensure social justice.

Public transport: Public transport should *be* public; we support the nationalization of railways, bus systems and subways to reduce consumer costs and make public transport more widely accessible.


Section B (Days 6, 7)

Crime and punishment: The goal of punishment is the protection of society and the rehabilitation of the criminal; we therefore supports reforms of the current retributive system. In particular, we strongly opposes the death penalty. We also support the decriminalization and legalization of soft drugs such as marihuana, but oppose the decriminalization of hard drugs. The goal of a national drug policy should be to punish those who earn a livelihood from selling hard drugs, not to punish those who use them.

Terrorism: added at Delegate request.

Immigration and citizenship: We call for the introduction of two separate pieces of legislation governing refugees and immigration, respectively. Any bona fide refugee must be granted unconditional asylum; they should be allowed to participate in the labour market. Prospective immigrants (permanent residents) should be able to communicate in at least one of the three major languages at the time of entry. Applicants for citizenship must be permanent residents, must have resided in Eutopia for at least three years out of the four years preceding their application and must have basic communication skills in at least two of the three major languages. The state should provide programmes which allow permanent residents to integrate into Eutopian society and acquire the skills necessary to apply for citizenship if they so desire.

Federalism: We favour the introduction of a truly federal system with self-government for all the provinces and territories in policy areas which are primarily local or regional in nature.

Minority rights: We call for the constitutional entrenchment of a basic rights catalogue and protection of historically disadvantaged groups, and for constitutional recognition of Eutopia’s multicultural heritage.

Same sex rights: We strongly support equal rights and status for same sex couples in their relation to the state. This includes the right to a civil union and the right to adoption.

Abortion: We support the right of mothers to choose, though abortion should generally not be available beyond the first three months. Parents should be provided with counselling to help them make an informed decision. In cases where the continuation of a pregnancy poses a risk to the mother's health, abortion should be available throughout the pregnancy.

Health care: We are strongly opposed to two-tier health care; we believe that health care can be privatized under strict regulation, but health insurance must remain in the hands of a single state-regulated provider to ensure social equality.

Welfare: All individuals and groups are shaped by society and shape society in turn. Our fates are bound together; hence we have an obligation to society. In particular, those who benefit from the current organization of society have an obligation to protect the weaker members of society, and to prevent poverty, destitution, or the marginalization of groups or individuals. The workforce and consumers must be protected through strict enforcement of economic regulations, a fair distribution of economic costs and the cost of government, and state control over sensitive sectors of the economy. The effectiveness of labour in representing and protecting the interests of employees must be safeguarded. At the same time, society has an obligation to protect the unemployed and those members of society who are not able to fully and equally participate in the labour market.

Environment: The environment is the foundation of our society, economy and way of life; its protection must be one of our primary goals, both for its intrinsic and instrumental value. Eutopia must give priority to sustainable development, the development of environmentally friendly technologies and the replacement of environmentally detrimental ones.

Party conventions: One month after each national election, there will be a party convention to (a) elect the party leaders, (b) set priorities for the next three months, and (c) review party policies.

Party leadership: The party will be led by a Spokesperson and Deputy Spokesperson. Both posts will be filled in regular party elections occuring at a party convention one month after a national election. The person who receives the most votes in a party election will become Spokesperson; the person with the second-most votes will become Deputy Spokesperson. It is the Spokesperson's responsibility to officially represent the party and to organize party debate; s/he is aided in these taks by the Deputy. If the Spokesperson is temporarily unable to fulfill his/her duties, the Deputy Spokesperson will fulfill them. If the Spokesperson is permanently unable to fulfill his/her duties, the Deputy Spokesperson will become the new Spokesperson; party members will then elect a new Deputy Spokesperson.

-- P.N.H. Schwarzerd

 

[Jools]

You think those pink headliners will give you a plus with the gay croud?

 

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Thank you for the invitation extended to the Moderate Party.

While I am no longer the chairman of the party, and cannot speak for the party as a whole, I want to commend you on the idea.

Our party, too, has planned a convention of sorts, and we will be touring Eutopia on a listening tour to generate honest, open feedback about our work to date, to present our new platform, and to solicit ideas for cooperation and change.

Honestly, I believe the most Moderate Party members would still consider themselves to be in the Center, not the Left. However I think that we still have many areas of common interest, and if your invitation still stands, I am sure that members of our party may wish to participate.

Admittedly, our interest may well be on the policy-outcome focus, rather than on building a leftist-ideology.

If these terms are acceptable to you, please confirm and I will encourage interested MP members to participate.

Thank you again for including us in this debate.

Jack Teano
Member, Moderate Party

 

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*Dr. Glasser gets up to the front of the convention room, takes out his reading glasses and puts them on before taking out a speech from which he begins to read from. In front of him are two microphones. One of which is for the room and one of which will be simulcasting much of the convention's proceedings on TNT.*

With the far right and monarchists posing a continued threat to the very democratic nature of Eutopia, it brings me great pleasure to attend this convention. I sincerely hope that all, whether members of the RD or not, who can proudly state that they are liberals attend this convention. If this convention fails, then I fear that our common causes, of ensuring that each individual has a fair opportunity to succeed in society, of ensuring that we are a country of compassion and not coldness, of ensuring a place for Eutopia in the world community, I fear that these causes will be lost.

However, I have faith in my fellow liberals. In the US, liberal is a profanity, in much of Europe the right has control of the government. But here in Eutopia freedom, democracy, and decency have not been erased and I hope this convention will give us the momentum we need to face the serious threats before Eutopia today. If we do not speak, and speak as one, then the solutions that will be imposed will be answers that many of us will find intolerable and even repugnant. I look forward to this next week as a time when we can chart, together, the course the Eutopia should embark on.

 

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Mr. Teano,

thank you for your kind interest in this convention. In the same spirit of cordiality and frankness that characterizes your statement, let me respond to your inquiry with the following:

(1) As you yourself point out, the MP is not (and does not consider itself) a party of the Left. Hence, MP-members can unfortunately not be given full delegate status at this convention.

(2) However, interested MP-members are welcome to attend the convention in the capacity of official observers. They can still contribute to the discussion by way of inquiries or suggestions if they wish, but they should submit their contributions in written form [OOC: by pm] to the presiding officer of the convention (myself), rather than addressing the convention directly. The presiding officer will then forward their submissions to the convention.

Sincerely,
P.N.H. Schwarzerd

 

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Mr. Schwarzered,

Thank you. This clears up the slight distinctions between the invitation we receieved and the opening statement of this convention. I think those are very fair terms and we appreciate your willingness for our input.

All future communications will take place in the manner you have detailed. I will make sure all of our interested members are briefed on these rules.

Best of luck with your convention effort,

Jack Teano

 

[Josephus I]

The ESRP has decided to participate in the Convention.

I, Josephus I, hereby register. Do i get one of those "My Name Is" tags? Also, is there a free bar?

 

[I Killed Kenny]

Originally posted by Josephus I
The ESRP has decided to participate in the Convention.

I, Josephus I, hereby register. Do i get one of those "My Name Is" tags? Also, is there a free bar?

erg... free bar... I mean, I need to contact BrewTopia...


okay now to business... a speech comming...

 

[I Killed Kenny]

*Goes to the little stage*

We are here to talk about the future of the left, I presonally belive it has a brillant future, why you ask?

Because If we look to our right, I mean look to what the right do... I mean look to what the right destructs, with their ideal of a perfect budget, they forgot what the people WANT what the people NEED! Just need to look to the national assembly and see what they try to do. The Only try to destroy what WE in the govern try to build, never constructing. It's sad.
Oh and the best part, is that they want more money to the arm forces and to the police, because of the terrorrism and the coups. But let us think about that, WHO here do terrorrism and coups... that's right! THE RIGHT and the MONARCHISTS. So they want to defend Eutopia from them self, because they can't even control their members. Again, it's said...

This are just some thoughts I have about the "enemies" that we have. Now let's look in what we can do, do renew our selfs, what we can build toguether something with a strong base that NOBODY will destroy...

I welcome, every delegate to this Convection... I hope we can build toguether

-Vasco I Killed Kenny

 

[Deaghaidh]

Though not truly a leftist organization the Commonality would like to see a more vigourous left and would therefore like to join the discussion.

However recent events have necessitated my continued presence in Farpoint, so if you;ll permit I'll be telecommuting from Farpoint city hall.

 

[I Killed Kenny]

Originally posted by Deaghaidh
Though not truly a leftist organization the Commonality would like to see a more vigourous left and would therefore like to join the discussion.

However recent events have necessitated my continued presence in Farpoint, so if you;ll permit I'll be telecommuting from Farpoint city hall.

The commonality is welcome to join the discosson

 

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I would like to register.

*Goes to join Josephus in the free bar

--- John Liep

 

[Bramarius]

Count me in.

*Walks off to join his comrades*

----Bram Borgman

 

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Renewable energy

I would like if the ESE were allowed to join this convention, so that we could all discuss renewable energy.

--- John Liep, MTEF

 

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Re: Renewable energy

Originally posted by JohnLiep
I would like if the ESE were allowed to join this convention, so that we could all discuss renewable energy.

I'm not sure why ESE-attendance is a precondition for discussing renewable energy. But seriously, this convention welcomes the input and participation of all progressive citizen initiatives, organizations and social movements.

In fact, I believe all members of the ESE who are on the Left already have delegate-status by virtue of their party memberships. Members of the ESE who consider themselves to be on the Left but belong to a non-Left party will be given observer status if they wish. The same rules apply to members of the EHA, WAE, and any other organization.

For reference, the following are considered "Left" for the purposes of this convention (their members enjoy full delegate status unless otherwise stated during the course of the convention):

ESRP
RD
ELP
Commonality
Citizens who are not affiliated with a party but consider themselves Leftists

The following are considered non-Left:

MP
EPP
CC
UDA
CRE
Citizens who are not affiliated with a party but consider themselves non-Leftists

-- P.N.H. Schwarzerd

 

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Re: Re: Renewable energy

Originally posted by Melanchthon
I'm not sure why ESE-attendance is a precondition for discussing renewable energy.

All I ment was that it would be nice with some experts on the subject, but of course you right.

 

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*Capt. Tretiakov registeres for convention and moves up to a free bar to sit by his comrades.*

 

[Jools]

I protest! The CC is sooo far right that it bend over into the Leftist category!