Official Party Platform

Discworld Freedom Party- Official Party Platform (Version 1.0 printed Fall 07)

Our Motto- “Freedom today, Freedom tomorrow, Freedom FOREVER!”

Our official party anthem- “The Touch” by Stan Bush

Our official party mascot- The Skunk Ape

Party Leadership: TBA

Founder: Count Lobula

OUR BELIEFS AND IDEOLOGY-

The Discworld Freedom Party is an organization dedicated to the preservation of individual liberty. We are a party that believes that councils should play a minimal role in the lives of players. We oppose the reckless expansion of Council power and jurisdiction. We believe that only ESSENTIAL laws should be proposed or kept. That is laws which deal only with the most serious and pressing of problems. We believe that individual players working in their own best interests can best meet the needs of the day and that a large intrusive Council only gets in the way.

OUR MISSION-

As it stands, we are the second political party founded on the Disc. Our founding was primarily to present an opposition party to the Ankh-Morpork Labour Party, which we believe is a serious threat to individual freedom. In accordance with this, our platform will discuss the problems we have with the AMLP and why the Discworld Freedom Party is the superior alternative you should vote for. We are more than a party, we are a Revolution in progress, and we hope with all sincerity that you will read this document and advance the cause of Liberty by joining our movement.

RULES AND AMENDEMENTS

The DFP believes that the current set of rules is quite comprehensive and effective. We do not believe that any major changes are needed at the current time.

DFP TAX POLICY

The Discworld Freedom Party is totally and completely opposed to all forms of taxes on the Discworld. We believe that players spend time on the Discworld to escape the harsh realities of real life. We believe that to impose a system of taxation on players is tantamount to a form of punishment and can only make things less fun and complicate the lives of players.

If the DFP attains a majority on the AM Council, we will make sure that all taxes are set to 0% as long as we are in power.

BUSINESS POLICY

We believe that having little regulation and no taxes is the best way to help businesses thrive in our fair city. The less money we take away from businesses, the more they have to invest, improve, and expand. The more money they have to keep means they have more to spend. This money then goes back into the economy helping other players and businesses succeed. To impose complex regulations and high taxes would essentially throw a huge wrench into this cycle of success and permanently damage our economy.

ANTI-MONOPOLY LAW

We believe in passing minimal restrictions on business ownership, therefore, the DFP proposes a very simple anti-monopoly law.

“It is illegal for any citizen to own more than 50% of the total number of existing shops within the boundaries of Ankh-Morpork.”

Any player who willfully violates this law will be ordered to release excess shops by whatever means are most convenient to the shop owner. The owner in question will have 14 days to adhere to the law. Refusal to comply will be punished by loss of citizenship, which leads to loss of property.

PRIVATE PROPERTY

We believe private property is one of the most important things that any society can have. It is vital that the Council respect the right of Citizens to own property. The DFP believes that as new properties become available, they should be affordable. In order to help make property as affordable as possible, we will continue to oppose all forms of taxation on the disc, especially property taxes. We believe that property taxes only make it harder on players to own the property they so desperately want.

In addition to opposing property taxes, the DFP will use it’s influence to encourage and support the creators in their ongoing efforts to create more property.

THE DEATH PENALTY

The DFP supports the death penalty. We believe this punishment should only be applied for two reasons.

Firstly, the death penalty should be applied to any player who causes another player to illegally lose a life.

Secondly, the death penalty should be applied to repeat offenders. The title “repeat offender” shall be conferred upon any player who intentionally violates AM law three or more times.

LAW AND ORDER

The DFP believes in affecting change through private initiative. Unlike the AMLP, we believe the Council should avoid interfering in the lives of players unless it absolutely has to. The primary responsibility of the AM council is to provide a safe and crime free environment so that players can better enjoy themselves while playing. In accordance with this, we will strive to crackdown on criminals so that the lives, goods, and services which players rely on daily remain intact.

GUILD POLICY

To put it quite simply, we believe in Guild Sovereignty. One of our most important goals is to preserve, protect, and defend the sovereignty of the Guild without exception. It is our belief, that since Guilds elect their own leadership, they should be treated as sovereign entities.

We are fully opposed to any expansion of Council Jurisdiction into the Guild System.

FOREIGN POLICY

We believe that the AM Council should promote a humble foreign policy. We believe in free trade with foreign entities. We believe that we should strive to get along with our neighbors while at the same time making sure we put our own interests first. We must be careful to preserve AM as a free republic and not let the tyrannical polices of foreign powers have too much influence. Also, and above all, AM must set a good example for the whole Discworld so that even those who oppose our system will look at us a portrait of success.

PRIVACY POLICY

The DFP respects and supports the people’s right to privacy. We are fully opposed to giving the AM Council any authority to collect “profiles” on citizens, create info databases on citizens, or illegally monitor the private lawful activities of citizens. This also applies to non-citizens.

THE CHANCELLOR

Every once and awhile you have to give the devil his due, and in this case, the devil is Calagan. His proposal of creating a “Chancellor” for the AM Council is a good idea. The DFP is fully in FAVOR of creating this position and will support it in any way it can.

The following text was “borrowed” from the AMLP manifesto.

“The position of “Chancellor” will be given to a single magistrate selected by their fellow magistrates. This magistrate will be solely responsible for managing the treasury, namely the raising and spending of the council’s money. They must report to the magistrates at regular intervals and report to the council in general every few months perhaps. The role of Chancellor will be a serious one, and any changes to the taxation or other fiscal tools available to the council should be undertaken with the approval of at least 4/7 magistrates and notice should be given of 1 RL week before a change takes place.”

The DFP does believe that one other thing should be added to whatever law creates the position of Chancellor-

“Under no circumstances shall the Chancellor of Ankh-Morpork ever be granted emergency powers.”

CITY PROSECUTION SERVICE

The DFP is IN FAVOR of creating a CPS. Why? Because we believe this is a program that actually enhances the role that the Council is supposed to play. The CPS would improve the ability of the AM Council to enforce it’s laws and provide a safe environment for players.

We also believe that the CPS can be funded while still keeping all taxes at 0%. The AM Council already has a large reserve of money in the vault. Most of this comes from fines imposed as punishments. We believe that if this money is to be spent, it should be to enhance the council’s intended role, rather than fund insane entitlement programs or useless bureaucracies.

The DFP also wants to make it clear, that it respects the right of private citizens to act independently as prosecutors and attorneys. We believe that the Council should never be the sole provider of legal services.

THE LAW REVIEW COMMITTEE

The DFP believes that not all of the current laws may be necessary. We believe that some laws need to be reexamined. In order to accomplish this, the DFP proposes that the AM Council organize a free public convention to take place at a popular location. This convention will be a one day event in which any CITIZEN is welcome to participate. The purpose of this convention, will be to act as an impromptu “Review Committee” who’s purpose is to spend some time going over the current rules and laws and discussing whether or not we need them all. At this convention, it shall be required that 4 magistrates participate. Their job is to record the proceedings which take place at the convention. The results will then be posted on the AM Council board in the form of a transcript. This transcript will be used as a vehicle to further debate on any issues which arise from the convention.

SUNSET CLAUSES

The DFP believes that the AM Council should start using “Sunset Clauses” in some of it’s laws. For instance, if a proposal is controversial, a “sunset clause” might be added to the text of the law so that it expires after a certain length of time. This would allow citizens to “test” laws and then decide whether or not to renew them later. Also, if a law passes by a very narrow majority, a “sunset clause” amendment could be immediately offered to give the large opposition crowd a measure of representation.

CHANGE THE HONOR ROLL

The DFP believes the Honor Roll has been misused over the years. For a long period, any former magistrate was simply “awarded” membership on the honor roll. This includes magistrates who were openly corrupt. This policy must end.

We believe that to gain membership in the Honor Roll you must do something extraordinary, not simply be active in politics. We believe that this issue should be re-opened and debated so that changes can be made.

THE MONEY!

We recognize that the AM Council is going to collect revenue through fines and that it will build up in the vault. While we propose having no taxes and almost no expenses, we still believe that this money should be used for something.

For this reason, we propose the following ideas for debate.

Council issued Loans?- These loans can be issued to citizens who want to use the money for purposes which will obviously improve the quality of life in the city. We do not consider this an entitlement since players must PAY BACK the money WITH INTEREST. This way, we create a cycle which benefits everyone. The citizen who receives the loan gets the money he or she wants, and in the end, the Council gets that money back plus interest.

A Stock Market?- We have no clue how this would work, but we’re sure their must be a way, so let us discuss it! If we find a way to create a Stock Market, then it could produce a new stream of revenue for both players and the Council.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

The Discworld Freedom Party is more than just a platform, it’s more than just a group of like-minded individuals, it is a Revolution, it is a state of mind, and if you agree with all, or even some of our platform then you can make a difference! With the threat of Labour Party Rule growing each and every day, your votes are more important than ever, so, in closing, if you believe in freedom, prosperity, and limited government, then I urge you to cast a vote for the DFP!

“Freedom Today, Freedom Tomorrow, Freedom Forever!”

     ***CLICK HERE TO READ WHY WE OPPOSE THE AMLP!***