WA Resolution Brainstorming

[Austerain]

One of the goals from my campaign was to begin community discussions to draft and propose resolutions to the World Assembly that promote liberal and leftist values. As resolutions like these would be proposed to the General Assembly, see the resources below regarding FAQs, existing resolutions, and existing committees:

GA General Rules and Advice

Bureaucracy Guide (Committee and Agencies)

Passed GA Resolutions

Here are a couple suggestions:

- Enacting a resolution to build infrastructure in impoverished regions and vocational training to promote economic growth and independence through long term economic policy

- Enacting a resolution to combat the wage gap

This is merely the brainstorming stage for ideas, so there's no need to draft a resolution yet. Submit your ideas below!

[Harndon]

Harndon would like to submit a proposal, aimed at closing the wage gap:

Something like "guarantee children from all backgrounds can attain a similar standard of education, so that they can then earn amount of money more similar to their counterparts, and lead a more fulfilling lifestyle."

How does that sound?

[Austerain]

Mar 29, 2017 20:43:41 GMT Harndon said:

Harndon would like to submit a proposal, aimed at closing the wage gap:

Something like "guarantee children from all backgrounds can attain a similar standard of education, so that they can then earn amount of money more similar to their counterparts, and lead a more fulfilling lifestyle."

How does that sound?

An education resolution, then? I like the idea. What would be your solutions to achieve it?

[Harndon]

Mar 31, 2017 21:24:06 GMT Austerain said:

Mar 29, 2017 20:43:41 GMT Harndon said:

Harndon would like to submit a proposal, aimed at closing the wage gap:

Something like "guarantee children from all backgrounds can attain a similar standard of education, so that they can then earn amount of money more similar to their counterparts, and lead a more fulfilling lifestyle."

How does that sound?

An education resolution, then? I like the idea. What would be your solutions to achieve it?

I suppose we could have it like an international OFSTED report, or similar, but with enforced powers. So a group of WA inspectors visit a country, and visit several schools, and comparing the grades etc. gap between the poorest and richest students. If the system is found to be lacking, the inspectors can force the government to provide extra support, grants, schools and teachers to bridge the gap, with free education for all. This would, of course, happen instantaneously, as that's how the WA in this game works. It could increase education spending, and increase rankings for education, intelligence, and income equality, as poorer families will be able to compete with traditionally richer ones, for jobs and higher wages. Other stats could also be affected.

I have no idea how we could get people to vote for this. Many conservative, libertarian and some liberals will hate the idea of being forced to provide a good public education programme, but we'll have support from most centrists, liberals and lefties.

This is just a brief sketch of an idea. I'd really welcome more suggestions on this.

[Hirematia]

I have a couple resolution ideas:

One would be a resolution that guarantees people the right to their genetic material, requires companies to not sell the genetic information of their customers unwillingly, prevents insurance companies from charging more for genetic predispositions towards certain diseases, etc.

My other one would be a resolution to protect internet privacy. It would prevent ISPs from collecting user data non-anonymously, prevent government surveillance of (most) internet activities, guarantee citizens the right to sue or press charges against others who upload their personal information without their permission, and disallow governments from penalizing citizens for subversive comments (unless the nation is in a defensive war).

I may think of a few more later.

[Courelli]

May 30, 2017 4:15:40 GMT Hirematia said:

One would be a resolution that guarantees people the right to their genetic material, requires companies to not sell the genetic information of their customers unwillingly, prevents insurance companies from charging more for genetic predispositions towards certain diseases, etc.

I am very much in favor of both of your ideas, but I believe the one quoted would be easier to pass in the World Assembly.

If I can be of any help, with drafting, editing, or campaigning, please let me know.

[Austerain]

May 30, 2017 4:15:40 GMT Hirematia said:

I have a couple resolution ideas:

One would be a resolution that guarantees people the right to their genetic material, requires companies to not sell the genetic information of their customers unwillingly, prevents insurance companies from charging more for genetic predispositions towards certain diseases, etc.

My other one would be a resolution to protect internet privacy. It would prevent ISPs from collecting user data non-anonymously, prevent government surveillance of (most) internet activities, guarantee citizens the right to sue or press charges against others who upload their personal information without their permission, and disallow governments from penalizing citizens for subversive comments (unless the nation is in a defensive war).

I may think of a few more later.

Is the former a reference to the issue with Ancestry.com had with sharing DNA? I think this one would be feasible, though I'll have to look at current WA resolutions to make sure there isn't a similar resolution already in place

[Austerain]

I've been neglecting this! Harndon and Hirematia, are you still open to beginning the drafting for your suggestions?

[Harndon]

Yeah, I don't see why not. Is there a guide for writing these?

[Austerain]

Aug 7, 2017 21:20:13 GMT Harndon said:

Yeah, I don't see why not. Is there a guide for writing these?

Here's an excellent dispatch with information for resolution-writing: www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=346295

Once a draft is completed on here, the author can post the proposal on the NS forum to gather opinions from the NS community, and we'll take suggestions for further edits if needed before submission.

[Harndon]

Thanks, I'll start work tomorrow morning :)

[Harndon]

How's this?

Promoting equality in education

Alarmed at the disparity of the quality and quantity of education between rich and poor students in many nations;

Recognizing that such a large disparity leads to a semi-permanent underclass, who will be less likely to vote, achieve good jobs, earn more money, and climb the social ladder;

Also recognising that a highly educated populace, including the lower classes, will increase economic output and trade due to a better skilled workforce;

Acknowledging the right of member nations to have private and market-controlled education;

Therefore:

1. Declares that there must be a maximum disparity between the outcomes of education between the richest and poorest citizens, with the means of measuring and achieving written below:
• The Global Initiative for Basic Education (GIBE) will be tasked with carrying out an inspection as to the results of the education, using national figures;
• These figures must be supplied to GIBE when asked, and must be complete, with no member of society being omitted from the data;
• This data will include from both the highest and lowest income families in each nation, and will be referred to as "results" in the rest of the document:

• Grades/scores
• Income 5 years after education
  
• Levels in further education (defined as college, apprenticeship, university, or technical college)
  
• Levels of employment

• The level of education will at least be in line with current educational resolutions passed by the WA

2. The taskforce set up by GIBE will be funded with a modest donation from each WA nation;

3. The GIBE will then use this data to set up a league table of all nations, using the percentage difference between the riches band and the poorest band in each nation, in each of the results listed above;

4. The GIBE will be given powers to prosecute WA nations that have a disparity (measured by range) in all the results of 25% or more, with large fines that will be redirected to fund schools with lower income students, or create schools where the GIBE feels it is required, until the WA nation in question changes legislation that the GIBE predicts will change the disparity of results to 25% or less, over a period of 10 years;

5. Encourages further legislation on the poor in education.

[Austerain]

Nicely written, although I'm unsure about provision #4 regarding the "prosecut[ion] of WA nations that have a disparity in all the results of 25% or more..." in terms of national sovereignty and acceptance from other WA members in the GA discussion forums.

Anyone else have any opinion on Harndon's proposal?

[Harndon]

Yeah, I wasn't too sure on that point myself. I'm just not sure what other power we could give this resolution, unless people think a league table is sufficient enough?
Should we just mandate countries to have the desired lack of disparity?

[Kanoria]

I have one recommendation that may help it pass, but isnt ideal to add from an ideological perspective.
Something alomg the lines of:

CLARIFIES that nothing in this resolution allows the WA to set or prescribe curricula for member states, nor in any way changes structures for measuring attainment within nations, providing only the stipulated external oversite.

[Harndon]

Thanks, Kan, good point. I'll add that to V2 once I've sorted out what I'm doing with point 4

[Harndon]

So, V2, with the controversial bit taken out. Is this now toothless, or is this sufficient to actually do something?

Promoting equality in education

Alarmed at the disparity of the quality and quantity of education between rich and poor students in many nations;

Recognizing that such a large disparity leads to a semi-permanent underclass, who will be less likely to vote, achieve good jobs, earn more money, and climb the social ladder;

Also recognising that a highly educated populace, including the lower classes, will increase economic output and trade due to a better skilled workforce;

Acknowledging the right of member nations to have private and market-controlled education;

Clarifies that nothing in this resolution allows the WA to set or prescribe curricula for member states, above curricular already voted on by the WA, nor in any way changes structures for measuring attainment within nations, providing only the stipulated external oversight;

Therefore:

1. Declares that there must be a maximum disparity between the outcomes of education between the richest and poorest citizens, with the means of measuring and achieving written below:
• The Global Initiative for Basic Education (GIBE) will be tasked with carrying out an inspection as to the results of the education, using national figures;
• These figures must be supplied to GIBE when asked, and must be complete, with no member of society being omitted from the data;
• This data will include from both the highest and lowest income families in each nation, and will be referred to as "results" in the rest of the document:

• Grades/scores
• Income 5 years after education
• Levels in further education (defined as college, apprenticeship, university, or technical college)
• Levels of employment

• The level of education will at least be in line with current educational resolutions passed by the WA

2. The taskforce set up by GIBE will be funded with a modest donation from each WA nation;

3. The GIBE will then use this data to set up a league table of all nations, clearly posted online, and must be circulated in each WA nations, using the percentage difference between the riches band and the poorest band in each nation, in each of the results listed above. This will ensure that families will know the level of education they are receiving compared to those on higher incomes, so that they can lobby their representative/government for change. Nations can also see these, and can apply appropriate pressure on foreign governments to improve, if that is what they so desire;

4. A new league table will be created each year by the GIBE, using the past year's results.

5. Awards will be granted to the top ten in each category each year to show achievement, with awards also given to nations that have achieved a large improvement in their figures over that year, or a set of 5 or 10 years.

6. Encourages further legislation on the poor in education.

[Austerain]

I don't think it's toothless, it seems sufficient enough to pass through GA with less question towards possible undermining of sovereignty

[Harndon]

I'll submit this to the NS forums tomorrow if no-one has any more improvements?

[Austerain]

Sounds good, the draft can be amended as the suggestions and criticism starts rolling in from more experienced WA writers

[Harndon]

Aaaand it's on. Let the slaughter commence

[Malcolm Jr.]

Mar 31, 2017 21:24:06 GMT Austerain said:

Mar 29, 2017 20:43:41 GMT Harndon said:

Harndon would like to submit a proposal, aimed at closing the wage gap:

Something like "guarantee children from all backgrounds can attain a similar standard of education, so that they can then earn amount of money more similar to their counterparts, and lead a more fulfilling lifestyle."

How does that sound?

An education resolution, then? I like the idea. What would be your solutions to achieve it?