[MoC] An Císte (fund)

Day 1,185, 14:12 • Published in Ireland Ireland • by The Irish Community

Salve

First of all, awesome song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfjuVCyzToY

Anywho

As some of ye are aware, there is a community fund out there that needs a-spending. Digits and Luminara have both put forward proposals as to what to use this fund for.

These are the links:

http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/agenda-1664990/1/20
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/ministry-of-state-update-and-debate-1672733/1/20

From Luminaras article, the main passage about the fund is:
"I had offered community fund to be used for establishing a food company to help newcomers. Due to limitations like selling gold and lack of knowledge, most (if not all) newcomers find themselves in a 'poverty trap'.

A poverty trap is "any self-reinforcing mechanism which causes poverty to persist.". These newcomers usually fight (in fact game asks them to complete mission) until no longer possible (health 20) and then get trapped. They can not increase their health because they have no money and they get less money because they have low health. They either use 'wellness packs' mostly to spend again by fighting , or worse they don't care and they both inhibit their grow and make companies loss money.

In order to overcome this situation, a grain and a q1 food company may be used. As briefly expressed in workflow"



From Digits:
"I have given this idea a lot of thought, and while in theory it seems like a good solution, there are several drawbacks which makes me wonder whether it is worthwhile. One is that it is another company or two to run for any potential minister, which brings hassle and or robbing. Secondly, how is this company to be staffed? I would say that there is a shortage of workers anyway, particularly with the Irish army commune system, and taking any more workers out of this market would not be good for the economy. Thirdly, there is already a commune system within the army which can be used to "gift" new citizens wellness back up if they overfight (which they hopefully shouldn't if they are given a proper guide to start with). Fourthly, it is important for new players to become self-sufficient as soon as possible, and keeping a long-term welfare programme isn't in keeping with this. Fifthly, the food would have to be donated to the players, which is time consuming. Sixthly, this would take away players spending on the market, which reduces the flow of IEP in the economy, and increases supply without increasing demand. Seventhly, job offers for new players are offering quite high wages, they should not have difficulty buying enough food. There might be a few more reasons, but this is what comes to mind.

What then becomes of the Community fund? Personally I would like to see it utilised in the New Citizens Programme I outlined above. If the consensus was there should be a food company, then so be it. I would encourage a short debate on the matter, before having the issue finalised and rubber-stamped by congress within a week."



I am having the "debate" here and not on IRC or in the dáil because the former would mean everyone being on at the same time (which is virtually impossible), the latter would mean excluding newbs who are still getting familiar with erepublik, never mind off-site forums.

Simply put, in the comments, vote for either Digits or Lums proposal, or feel free to suggest your own.

"voting" will conclude at 22:00 on sunday

Gluck!