I've included the following text in a notecard in our dispensers on the Marktplatz and in the Forum. Maybe we could use those questions as the draft agenda for bi-weekly policy meetings for members of the party so as to get an open and transparent process for modification of our policy documents?
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
0. What is the vision of the Simplicity Party?
1. What will be the first 3 bills you want to bring to the RA?
2. What do you think of the Judiciary Act as approved by the RA in October?
3. Which steps do you suggest to bring the CDS out of the JA turmoil?
4. Do you agree with the idea of a Constitutional Convention to renew the CDS Constitution in a wide way?
5. What measures do you propose to strengthen the CDS community?
6. What measures do you propose to strengthen the CDS businesses?
7. How do you envision the CDS expansion, in terms of territory and population?
8. Which projects do you have for Neufreistadt?
9. And for Colonia Nova?
10. Do you foresee it will be necessary to establish some taxes to accomplish your program?
11. Who are the Simplicity Party?
0. What is the vision of the Simplicity Party?
The Simplicity Party envisions CDS as a prosperous, inclusive and democratic community of peers where people participate in shaping our collective future in accordance with their desire to do so.
As the community grows we need to pay more attention to keeping our government open, transparent, inclusive and responsive to the needs of citizens.
A transparent and inclusive government is one that works in ways simple enough to be understood at a glance without having to spend hours reading complicated texts and asking professional lawyers for advice.
Simultaneously, we want our government and laws to be effective in realising the community aims.
It is not easy to design a government that is simple yet effective at the same time. We desire that our community be developed cautiously - one step at a time. Starting out with simple solutions, which are discussed and evaluated in an open, inclusive and constructive manner.
1. What will be the first 3 bills you want to bring to the RA?
- " The Kill Bill" will eliminate 23 old and unused acts.
- The "Constitutional Simplification Bill" will give the Constitution a better structure and make it easier to read.
- The "Promotion of Democracy in SL Bill" will enable the CDS to help other communities in SL that wish to govern themselves democratically.
2. What do you think of the Judiciary Act as approved by the RA in October?
It contained a lot of good thinking and efforts but had become too much of a one-man show. The next Judiciary Act will build on the good thinking but be introduced cautiously with limited jurisdiction initially and only gradual delegation of power as it proves itself. It will also be a collective effort and be easier to read and understand.
3. Which steps do you suggest to bring the CDS out of the JA turmoil?
1) Entrust the SC with developing a checklist of what a fair and transparent judiciary system should contain on the basis of the existing proposal as well as outline the possible alternatives for each item on the list.
2) Establish a working group under the auspices of the RA to describe the advantages and disadvantages of each choice and make recommendations as to the best choice.
3) Publish the report in the forum and invite comments from the public for two weeks.
4) Let the RA discuss and take the final decisions.
5) Entrust the working group with drafting the resulting legislation under due consideration to drafting principles established by the RA.
4. Do you agree with the idea of a Constitutional Convention to renew the CDS Constitution in a wide way?
The Constitution could beneficially be reviewed for clarity and structure but we do not want to change the institutional relations radically. This is a political and potentially very divisive issue and we have so many constructive proposals to pass through the RA that we do not wish to bog it down with arguments over the Constitution.
5. What measures do you propose to strengthen the CDS community?
We have a policy on "Revitalising the Community" which contains the following highlights:
- Develop the unused areas in Neufreistadt to support community efforts
- Establish "The New Guild" as an NGO and help it run a foundation to encourage immigration of talented but money-less builders and artists
- More public art and garden space in new sims
- Create a one year calendar for all CDS sims listing thematically relevant holidays, which will help us plan festivals and the like
- Lend support to and listen to NGO's such as the CDS Traders Association, The New Guild, The Esperanto Community, The MoCA and others
6. What measures do you propose to strengthen the CDS businesses?
We have a policy for promoting business in the CDS :
1) Produce a communication plan to promote the message that CDS provides a safe haven for advanced businesses.
2) Work with selected business partners to test-run the institutions for their contracts.
3) Develop a funds management strategy for the reserves held by the Treasury to help create a financial sector in the CDS.
4) Develop a roadmap for establishing a "National Bank of the CDS" under the Treasury.
5) Script a system to automate common business transactions like company registration, incorporation, deposit of escrows and publication of outstanding liabilities.
6) Appoint a civil servant to be in charge for the execution of this strategy.
7. How do you envision the CDS expansion, in terms of territory and population?
We have a Policy for Territorial Expansion with the following highlights:
- Honour and reward participating artisans
- Finance new sims jointly with communities wanting their own democratic sim, land barons, investors and content providers
- Make new sims more community-friendly
We do not have a specific target for expansion as it will depend on our finances and our success in finding partners.
8. Which projects do you have for Neufreistadt?
- Develop the old Altenburg area to contain The New Guild and Artist's Retreat homes
- Do something about the Castle (renovation or demolition)
- Put more nature inside the walls
- Offer the MoCA as exhibition space for high profile galleries in SL on a rotating basis
9. And for Colonia Nova?
- Make the river wider to better allow sailing and swimming
- Give the streets names
- Try to rent out places like the baths, the barracks and the docks to interested entrepreneurs, who will maintain the theme and concept
- Flood the sewers
10. Do you foresee it will be necessary to establish some taxes to accomplish your program?
No. The CDS gets sufficient income from land fees.
11. Who are the Simplicity Party?
The following people are candidates for the Simplicity Party in the elections:
Publius Crabgrass
Gxeremio Dimsum
Brian Livingston
Beathan Vale
Diderot Mirabeau
In addition we have the following members:
Aliasi Stonebender
Blingbling Cassowary
Contact any of these members in world via IM to get involved or learn more about the party.