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Vanguard's Welfare Program at first seemed to be a piece of politics that could gather support from all parts of eDanish society. Higher, state guaranteed salaries, for the employees - allowing them to once again either spend their cash on the market, or save up for whatever projects they were considering. Employers, across the entire market, would be looking at improved market conditions, as people once again would have money to spend. The state would see increases in tax revenue from all this. Even if every single person in the program would start hoarding cash, the state would get back 10% of whatever was spent. Instantly, thanks to income tax.

Then, out of the blue, came opposition.
First in the shape of critical voices, which is respected and supported. We need more critical voices in eDenmark, and ideas should be tested before being implemented. In the last couple of days however, the debate has started to swing in unfortunate directions: contradictions.

Right now, the program is in the starting block of getting a test run. 10 randomly chosen people will participate in the program, running over 2-3 months.

We won't be able to see any big differences in terms of macro-economics, which is why these test subjects will be interviewed frequently to investigate how they use their wages and how they rationalize about their spending.
The discussion has made sure that transparency will be the first and foremost policy of the program; the Ministry of Labour will be under the Ministry of Finance. Two people will initially be employed in the MoL: an accountant and an complaints officer. The accountant makes sure plus and minus equals zero, the complaints officer makes sure that any and all employees in the program are paid what they're supposed to. If not, we pull the plug on those payments.

Employees have to check in monthly, employers weekly - submitting screenshots of the weekly productivity to the MoL. The Ministry of Finance has to clear the numbers before sending the next batch of money. In addition, the accountant will publish the weekly costs in an article for all to read. In this article he will also give new players tips on how to best spend their money/gold. A list of Danes selling goods, in all Q's and markets will also be added. To be on this list you sign up on the forums, and check in montly.

We think this might be overkill - but for the sake of making sure things are done right, we're willing to compromize.

Keeping all the money in Danske Bank is a waste of tax payers' money.
That's millions of DKK laying around doing nothing. Meanwhile, wages are so low players can - in worst cases - afford around 300 HP. That's it. That's not enough to complete a daily order - which you also have to do fist fighting, draining even more energy. The opposition then claims that training grounds are the way forward for new players. Sure, but in order to be able to afford training grounds you need medals. Such as Battle Hero, True Patriot, Mercenary. All those medals are effectively blocked for new players, since they cannot afford weapons to achieve damage - or have the DKK to spare in order to move.

The other alternative is a loan. From who, you ask? From the government.

The program, in it's trial stage will run on ~5000 DKK per week (10 employees x 70 DKK x 7 Days = 4900 DKK), around 20.000 DKK per month. Of that, we get - as previously stated - at least 10% back through income tax. So, for 18.000 DKK we don't just employ 10 people. We're creating a demand for 20.000 WRM per day.

Meanwhile, the current hand out system is reaching a small number of players - costing us around 10.000 - 15.000 DKK per month. There is little, if any, insight to how that program is run or where the cash and/or goods go.

Apparently we are considering to take part in the costs of running Germark. Meanwhile we're being told the state can't afford further investments. How does that add up, and what are the plans to increase tax revenue by the current government? Vanguard has proposed an alternative, that actually stimulates the market. The opposition has done no such thing.

I would also like to point out the main difference between the current program and Vanguard's: currently you have to ask, nay - beg, for funds and/or supplies. You have to beg for an increase of salary. Maybe we should start begging people to buy stuff in the media? That would be fun to read. Danes do not beg. Danes are to be treated with respect, and enjoy the benefits of living in a small, close knit society. A state supported salary when the private market fails is not wasting money, it's investing money in our own population.

Vanguard has laid down it's proposition. Let's see what the opposition can whip up.

Signed,
pho3nix
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