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PARTY VIEWS ON MAJOR ISSUES
This page lists a number of significant political issues and gives the views of each political party. The views are grouped into five categories: the political system, foreign and defence policy, economic policy, law and order, and moral issues. Each section gives a table showing the views of each party, followed by a short paragraph outlining each issue and giving the major arguments made.
Key to Parties
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VALBalance
PartyBurovian
PartyCommunist
PartyEcotopian
PartyFascist
PartyImperial
PartyLibertarian
PartyNationalist
PartyProgressive
PartyReform
PartySocialist
PartyValues
Party
Political System
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VALYes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No Yes No Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes No No No No No No No Yes No No No No Yes No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No Yes No No Yes No Yes No No No Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Retain Democracy: All parties but the Burovians and the Fascists are committed to retaining a democratic system of governance. The Burovians wish to replace democracy with a bureaucratic meritocracy, which they say will provide better governance than the "popularity contest" of elections. The Fascists wish to replace it with an autocratic leader-centred system, which they say will allow stronger and more decisive leadership.
Consider restoring monarchy: The only parties that would give serious consideration to restoring the monarchy are the Imperial Party, the Nationalist Party, and the Values Party, although none of these groups go beyond merely advocating a referendum. Balance, Reform, and the Progressives would not consider restoration simply because they do not see any real reason for it, while the Communists, Ecotopians, the Libertarians, and the Socialists are all explicitly hostile to the idea of monarchy. The Burovians and the Fascists reject monarchy because it might interfere with their own views on government.
Bar religious parties from elections: The only parties which support the participation of religious parties in politics are the Libertarians and the Values Party. The Libertarians say that it is a matter of freedom, while the Values Party cites the "importance of religion in our heritage". Most of the parties hostile to religious participation cite the need to "defend the secular nature of the state", although the Fascists claim that religion should be excluded because it is "weak".
Bar ethnic parties from elections: The Burovian Party believes that parties with an explicit ethnic basis should be barred from elections because they promote voting based on ethnic allegiences rather than the merit of candidates. The Communist Party supports exclusion on the grounds that "such parties draw attention away from a person's socio-economic class to superficial groups such as a person's race".
Bar racist parties from elections: The only parties to support the participation of openly racist parties in elections are the Fascist Party, the Libertarian Party, the Progressive Party, and the Value Party. The Fascists and the Values Party say that "racism" is a matter of opinion, and that "reasonable policies could be falsely declared racist by those obsessed with political correctness". The Libertarian Party and the Progressive Party both say that it is a matter of freedom.
Bar fascist parties from elections: The Communist Party and the Ecotopian Party both advocate the banning of fascist parties from electoral participation, saying that fascist ideology - even if stripped of overt racism - is inherently harmful to society. The other parties all oppose such a move, either disagreeing with the sentiment or believing that it is a matter of freedom.
Bar communist parties from elections: The Fascist Party and the Values Party both advocate the banning of communist parties from electoral participation, believing that communism is a danger to society. The other parties all oppose such a move, either disagreeing with the sentiment or believing that it is a matter of freedom.
Relax campaign funding laws: Lendosa has strict campaign funding laws compared with other nations - the expenditure of private funds in an election is strictly forbidden, with only government funds (assigned to each party on an equal basis) being used. It is also forbidden for candidates to spend money independently of their party. The Libertarian Party, the Reform Party, and the Values Party all support a relaxation of these regulations, saying that they represent an infringement on freedom. The other parties all claim that the laws are necessary to prevent elections from being determined by money.
Abolish the 18 appointed senate seats: The Senate currently has eighteen members appointed by various branches of the government, including the civil service, the police, the military, and the judiciary. The Ecotopians, the Libertarians, the Progressives, the Reform Party, and the Socialists all support the abolition of this system, saying that its existence is anti-democratic. The other parties, however, argue that the seats are a bulwark against populism, ensuring that there will always be some members of the Senate who do not depend on popularity with the public.
Foreign and Defence Policy
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VALYes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No Yes No No No No No No Yes No No Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No No No Yes Keep Lendosa neutral: The Imperial Party, the Nationalist Party, and the Values Party all support the abandonment of Lendosa's official neutrality in international affairs, saying that it hampers the country's ability to promote its interests. The Fascist Party believes the same, but also adds that neutrality is "a sign of inner weakness". The other parties support the retention of neutrality, either due to a committment to the concept or because they believe it is practical.
Cut defence spending: In recent years, Lendosa has had high defence spending. The Ecotopians, the Libertarians, the Progressives, the Reform Party, and the Socialists all support defence cuts, saying that the maintenance of a large military is too costly and unnecessary. The other parties disagree, saying that a strong military is needed to ensure security. The Fascists support an increase in spending, saying that militarism is "healthy" for society.
Reintroduce conscription: The Fascist Party and the Values Party both say that conscription (or at least, compulsory military training) should be reintroduced, both for defence purposes and to "provide discipline" to Lendosa's youth. The Communist Party advocates it for the same reason, but also adds that conscription "shares out the burden of military service equally".
Reactivate nuclear arsenal: The Lendosan Confederation inherited nuclear weapons from its predecessors, but disassembled them. The Communists, the Fascists, the Libertarians, the Nationalists, and the Values Party all believe that the weapons should be reassambled and deployed. The Libertarians say that nuclear weapons are a "cheap and effective" means of securing the country without maintaining a large conventional army, while the Communists, Fascists, and Values Party merely say that the country should defend itself with whatever resources are available. The other parties say that nuclear weapons are immoral, unnecessary, or dangerous.
Economic Policy
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VALNo Yes No No No No Yes No No Yes No Yes No Yes No No No Yes Yes No No Yes No No No No No No No No Yes No No Yes No Yes No No No No No No Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Cut personal tax rate: Lendosa has relatively high personal tax rates. The Burovians and the Reform Party believe that the rates should be dropped to encourage economic growth, the Libertarians believe that they should be cut because "the government has no right to take more than it needs", and the Values Party believes that they should be cut because "high taxation discourages hard work by removing incentives". Other parties disagree - the Communists and Ecotopians support higher personal taxes, particularly for the rich, while the Fascists, Imperials, Nationalists, Progressives, and Socialists all support no change. The Balance Party supports a levelling of tax rates, but no reduction of the average. The Libertarians, the Reform Party, and the Values Party support a levelling in addition to an overall drop.
Cut corporate tax rate: Lendosa's corporate tax rate is lower than the maximum personal tax rate, but are still relatively high. The Burovians, the Imperials, and the Reform Party support a reduction to encourage economic growth. The Imperial Party, which does not support a lower personal tax, nevertheless supports a lower corporate tax, believing that this encourages economic growth without encouraging personal greed. The Values Party takes the opposite stance - while it supports a lower personal tax rate, it opposes a lower corporate tax rate, saying that it is employees, not companies, that should reap the benefits of hard work. The Communists and Ecotopians support a higher corporate tax, while the Balance Party, Fascists, Nationalists, Progressives, and Socialists support no change.
Privatise state assets: The only two parties to support a privatisation of current state assets are the Libertarians, the Reform Party, and the Values Party. The Libertarians argue the case primarily on the grounds of minimising state interference in the economy, while the Reform Party and the Values Party both say that the private sector and competition can sometimes provide better services in certain sectors. Other parties reject this idea, either believing that privatisation is inherently bad or that the public-private balance is currently about right. The Communists are the only party to advocate a reversal of previous privatisations.
Deregulate private sector: Many sectors of the Lendosan economy are subject to a relatively high amount of regulation and control. The Libertarian Party and the Progressive Party oppose this situation on the grounds of economic freedom, while the Reform Party and the Values Party make the same case but add that "the economy cannot grow if the government puts too many chains on it".
Support free trade: Lendosa's foreign trade policy is relatively open, but many parties oppose this state of affairs. The Communist Party and the Ecotopian Party claim that free trade is damaging to the economy, creating unemployment and increasing exploitation. The Fascist Party, the Nationalists, and the Values Party, meanwhile, claim that free trade undermines Lendosa's economic sovereignty. The Burovians advocate the so-called "partisan free market", which they say allows the government to promote economic growth by careful management of trade barriers and incentives. The remaining parties argue that free trade is either fair, economically beneficial, or both.
Law and Order
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VALNo Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No No No Yes No No No No Yes No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes No No No No No No No No Yes No Yes No Yes No No No No Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes No No Yes No Yes No Yes No Death penalty: Lendosa has currently abolished the death penalty for all crimes, although extrajudicial killings by intelligence and security forces is permitted if it is necessary for state security. The Burovians, the Communists, the Fascists, the Imperials, the Nationalists, and the Values Party all want the death penalty reintroduced, however, saying that it deters crime and removes the worst crimanals from society. The Fascist Party is particularly keen on the death penalty, seeking to impose beheading as the mandatory sentence for all serious crime, while the Imperial Party is relatively lukewarm on the matter, believing that the death penalty should only be used in extreme cases. The Ecotopians, the Libertarians, the Progressives, and the Socialists all believe that the state has no right to execute people, while the Balance Party and the Reform Party both say that there is too much scope for error.
Corporal punishment: Corporal punishment was abolished around twenty-five years ago, but the Fascist Party and the Values Party wish to see it reinstated. The recommended implementation of both parties is the lash. The Ecotopians, the Libertarians, the Progressives, and the Socialists all believe that the state has no right to inflict violence on people, opposing corporal punishment for the same reason they oppose the death penalty. The Burovians, the Communists, the Imperials, and the Nationalists, who support the death penalty, say that while the removal of criminals from society by painless execution is permissable, it is not acceptable to inflict pain. The Balance Party and the Reform Party make similar arguments.
Public may own guns: The ownership of weapons by private citizens has been illegal for a very long time in Lendosa, dating back to laws aimed at eliminating banditry and rebellion against feudal lords. Only the Libertarians and the Values Party support a change, with the Libertarians arguing that it is a matter of freedom and the Values Party arguing that people "should be able to defend themselves". All other parties are opposed, generally saying that gun ownership will increase crime and lawlessness.
Relax drug laws: Substances such as marijuana and cannabis are currently illegal in Lendosa. Four parties seek legalisation. The Ecotopian Party argues that they are no more harmful than cigarettes. The Libertarians and the Progressives say that the matter should be left to individuals. The Reform Party says that prohibition is costly, and merely provides a source of revenue for organised crime. Other parties oppose legalisation, saying that marijuana and cannabis are dangerous, immoral, or both.
Relax regulations on smoking: Tobacco smoking is highly regulated in Lendosa, and it is illegal to smoke in a public place or in the presence of anyone who does not smoke. The Libertarian Party, the Progressive Party, and the Socialist Party consider the regulations to be excessive - the Libertarians and Progressives cite personal freedom, while the Socialists say that smokers are "victims who need help, not criminals who need punishment".
Relax regulations on alcohol: The consumption of alcoholic beverages is likewise heavily regulated, and it is illegal to be intoxicated in public. The Ecotopians, the Libertarians, the Progressives, the Reform Party, and the Socialists all oppose these regulations, believing that they excessively regulate an activity that is not particularly harmful.
Restrict activities of Panopticate: The Panopticate, Lendosa's intelligence agency, has wide-ranging powers to ensure state security. The Burovians, Ecotopians, Libertarians, and Socialists believe that the Panopticate's powers are a violation of individual privacy, and should be reduced. Other parties say that the Panopticate needs its powers to ensure public safety.
Moral and Social Issues
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VALYes No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No No Yes No Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No State regulation of religion: The Balance Party and the Communist Party both believe that all religious groups should be subject to state supervision, arguing that they can have a detrimental effect on society if they abuse their positions. Other parties disagree, either saying that the proposals violate freedom of religion and are unnecessary.
State regulation of marriage: At present, the Lendosan state plays no role at all in marriage - it will recognise partnerships, but does not take it upon itself to decide whether people may be described as "married". The Values Party is the sole group to challenge this, believing that the state should give legal recognition to marriages (particularly religious ones) in order to protect the concept. Other parties argue that the state has no business trying to define marriage, or that there is no point in doing so. Some parties, such as the Libertarians and the Progressives, argue that having the state regulate marriage would merely provide a tool for certain groups to impose their moral viewpoints on others.
Equal rights for homosexuals: The Lendosan government currently grants equal recognition under law for homosexual relationships. The Values Party and the Fascist Party oppose this, as both consider homosexuality to be immoral and perverted.
Laws against racism: Lendosa currently has strong laws against the expression of racist views. The Fascist Party and the Values Party oppose these laws, saying that "racism" is a matter of opinion, and that "in the current climate of political correctness, it is too easy for reasonable debate on racial matters to be mistaken for racism". The Libertarians, the Progressives, and the Reform Party say that people should be free to express their views even if they are unpalatable.
Laws against sexism: Lendosa has laws against sexism that are very similar to its laws against racism. The Fascist Party and the Values Party oppose these laws a similar reason they oppose the racism laws, with the Values Party adding that "the idea that men and women are meant for different roles cannot be dismissed out of hand". The Libertarians, the Progressives, the the Reform Party say that it is a matter of freedom of speech.
Pornography is legal: Mainstream pornography is currently legal in Lendosa. The Burovians, the Communists, and the Ecotopians all oppose this state of affairs, saying that it exploits women - the Communists also add that "the beneficiaries are usually wealthy corporations, not individuals". The Values Party opposes it in the belief that pornography is inherently immoral. Other parties wish to retain the status quo, saying that it is a matter of personal choice.
Prostitution is legal: Prostitution is currently legal in Lendosa, provided it is kept discrete. The Burovians, the Communists, the Ecotopians, and the Values Party wish to see it made illegal, for much the same reasons as they wish to impose restrictions on pornography. The Burovians, Communists, and Ecotopians see prostitutes as the victims, and wish to penalise those who hire them, while the Values Party says that the immorality is on the part of both prostitute and customer. Other parties wish prostitution to remain legal, usually saying that it is a matter of personal choice. Some say that it is better to have prostitution legal but regulated, rather than have it operating underground.
Abortions are legal: Abortion is currently legal in Lendosa except late in a term. The only parties which wish to change this are the Communists and the Values Party - the Communists claim that it is a luxury of richer nations, and the Values Party claims that it is immoral. The Ecotopian Party is the only one to promote advertising of abortions, however - it claims that active measures to reduce population growth are necessary.
