Speaking in Congress
wingfield
721 days since I last published - wow!
I've returned to this medium as I was just elected to Congress, the final successful position on the combined ESO/WRP ticket. Congratulations to my colleagues and to all other successful candidates. I look forward to working with you all.
Now, just a reminder: I don't do forums. This is a very long standing approach of mine. I have seen them misused too much and independently minded players bullied mercilessly.
That being said, there is ample opportunity within the game mechanics for communication and discussion before people push buttons. I remember the bad old days of rogue or maverick proposals: perfectly legitimate although often inappropriate. I will not propose any laws without 24 hours notice in this paper and in whatever feeds are made available to Congress members. Alternatively, if I am asked to propose a law for the good of the country (by the right people), I will do the right thing.
Now, I have just seen a law proposed on a tax question. I don't know what discussion took place but I will vote on its merits. My policy is always that work taxes should be 1%. Plato puts too much power into the hands of governments, including the power to put their grubby fingers into the pockets of workers. Let a government tax the market instead, at reasonable levels, of course, if it wishes to raise more revenue.
Accordingly, I have voted yes to the proposal to reduce the work tax from 6% to 2%. It is not quite enough but a step in the right direction.
Citizens are entitled to accountability of both government and Congress. Here is where I'll do my explaining and commenting.
Here's to a happy and successful month in our newly liberated country!
Comments
Hello again!
Good to see some activity in the media. Welcome to Congress
Good to see you in Congress. Congratulations.
To update you on work tax, after the US occupation ended a few days ago work tax was successfully increased from the 1% occupation rate to the current 6% rate. The idea is to replenish the Treasury and build up some funds before the next inevitable war.
That happened less than a week ago, and already one proposal to lower it to 2% has failed. It seems that the same person has proposed it again now that a new congress session has started. To my knowledge they haven't explained or justified the proposal to Congress.
Thanks for the update. I understand both sides of the argument. In our current game mechanics-driven model, I would think that the proposer would publish an article, making out the case, and then wait 24 hours before putting the proposal. That is the way I would operate, as stated in my article. This approach combines freedom of the individual Congress member with common courtesy to other members.
You've been away too long or in sensible countries if you think people would make their case for a proposal before making it.
Now that the defensive dictatorship has gone we're back to the bad old days of random proposals.
Replenish what exactly?
eUK government spent next to nothing... Keep our money in the pockets of our players!
Wingfiel😛 agreed. Some sort of reasoning is a good thing. There are also the Speaker's session articles that come out every few days.
Wayne: Because you've been away for so long, I'll update you. Generally governments have been trying to keep about £1 million in the country accounts, to cover emergency COs and other government spending requirements. Any surplus is used by MoF to play the markets and generate extra cash.
There's no point keeping more than that around, as - typically - some scallywag CP/dictator comes along and nicks it.
That has been eUK Gov policy since before you even joined the game VM71. It was something we al agreed would be good practice in like 2013.
As far as I'm aware we have 1.8m in the kitty. So I'll ask again. What was the tax hike hoping to replenish?
6% = Can't make any money from WAM in farms and mines.
Therefore I do not work or sell which means less cash from me and for me.
Great to see you in Congress, wingfield \o/
Come back to ESO soon
Of course!
It is good you have your own mind,please don't leave it so long to write again.