[SENATOR] 48th Cosă, Fourth Clark. Discussion

[Magniloqueu Épiqeu da Lhiun]

I am very sorry for the inexcusable delay. Every night, I remembered having to initiate this discussion, but I kept procrastinating!

Anyway, here I am, let's do this in fast-track this time. Remember that by the 21st, I must have cast my votes (again, really sorry about the delay!)

RZ17 - Sense of the Ziu: Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Whereas, the member states of the United Nations are preparing to begin implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs) to direct global policymaking initiatives and agendas from 2015 onward, and

Whereas, these goals include ending absolute poverty, promoting gender equality, creating greater food security, inclusive and equitable quality education, water management and sanitation, sustainable energy production and industrialization, reducing income inequality, better urban environments, action on climate change, sustainable resources development and natural conservation, and

Whereas, these goals have been drafted, debated and finalized during a period of profound and unprecedented challenge in the form of anthropogenic climate change, and

Whereas, this profound and unprecedented challenge is the result of centuries of industrial development, and portends great instability with respect to the global commons, finance and trade, food security and international migration and thus threatens the achievement of the sustainable development goals.

Therefore, it is the sense of the Ziu:


to call on all nations to be mindful that anthropogenic climate change is not an issue for tomorrow but a clear and present danger to the flourishing of contemporary human civilization, and

to endorse the sustainable development goals as important and urgent directives for all nations in helping to realize the success of nations and the potential of each human being, and

to express its support for the December 2015 negotiations between nations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris and urge nations to conclude a binding agreement as not the culmination but the progressive continuation of a globally coordinated response to anthropogenic climate change, and

to encourage all Talossans to consider actions in their own lives and communities to reduce their carbon footprint and raise awareness of this urgent challenge.

There can be no question; I absolutely support this bill, which — by the way — has bi-partisan support from MRPT and[/and] RUMP, and then there is the Seneschal, so tri-partisan support, I guess, including the FD... uh... [insert letter]. T?

RZ18 - The Royal Commission on the OrgLaw (by Popular Demand) Bill

WHEREAS the current Organic Law was originally designed in 1997;

AND WHEREAS the current Organic Law has had to be amended several times over the term of each Cosă since then;

AND WHEREAS the need for amendments has only increased since the functions of government moved entirely onto the Internet;

AND WHEREAS the upshot of this is that most of the significant business of our legislature has become amendments to the OrgLaw;

AND WHEREAS amendments to the Organic Law not only need a 2/3 majority in the Cosă and to win a referendum, but as recently shown, can be completely ignored by the King without recourse to an override;

AND WHEREAS the combination of the above points means that a parliamentary majority or even a super-majority can no longer be sure of the power to enact its programme, leading to legislative gridlock;

AND WHEREAS this might be great if you like things exactly the way they are, but as recent polling shows, most Talossans don't;

THEREFORE the Ziu enacts the following bill:

1. With regards to El Lexhátx H.4, a Royal Commission on OrgLaw Reform shall be set up.

2. This Commission shall consist of seven (7) the following members; three (3) to be chosen by the current Government majority in the Cosâ; two (2) to be chosen by the largest opposition party in the Cosâ; one (1) to be chosen by other parties represented in the Cosâ; and between one and three (1-3) to be chosen by the King from non-members of the Ziu.

3. The members of this Commission shall be chosen and their appointments confirmed by the King no later than November 1 2015/xxxvi.

4. a) The members of this commission shall deliberate upon and produce, no later than February 1 2016/xxxvii, a proposal for a new Organic Law for Talossa, or else for amendments to the current Organic Law. This proposal must be endorsed with the signatures of an absolute majority of the Commission members and shall be known as the Majority Report.

b) Any dissenting commission members may present a Minority Report or Reports, collectively or individually.

c) Any Majority or Minority reports shall be presented in the form of legislation for an Organic Law amendment or replacement, ready to be introduced to the Hopper. The King will present the Majority Report to the Hopper, and may present any Minority Reports to the Hopper at his discretion.

5. The Commission may call for public witnesses or expert testimony as it sees fit.

While I do see the dire need for the OrgLaw overhaul, I feel that this bill, and indeed this Commission, is being shoved down our throats with promises of compromise, and so on. But I cannot trust this Commission to be willing to enter into compromises, when its creator does not budge out of her comfort zone to accommodate other voices. And we should indeed be hearing other voices in this matter, as this is the Organic Law, for crying out loud! I sadly oppose this bill.

RZ19 - The Where Did I Put My Wig Act

WHEREAS the legislation creating Emblems of Office are currently in Title A of el Lexhatx, and



WHEREAS Title A is about crime, and



WHEREAS The emblems of office don't have anything to do with crime, and more to do with culture, and



WHEREAS Title F is about culture





THEREFORE, Section A.18 of el Lexhatx is repealed and other sections are renumbered accordingly



FURTHERMORE, Section F.39 is added to el Lexhatx, which reads;



39. The office of Seneschal, Secretary of State, and Chief Justice shall be symbolized by totem items of rank. These items will be provided as speedily as possible by the government, with care for their quality and the economics of the matter. Designs and the nature of the items are the responsibility of the government, through whatever channels it deems appropriate. (38RZ3)

39.1. The Seneschal shall wear a chain of office of sufficient ostentation as befits the leader of Talossa, representing the burden of being shackled to the nation's welfare.

39.2. The Secretary of State shall wield a stamp embossed with the logo of his office, being both an effective and appropriate totem that can be used henceforth.

39.3. The Chief Justice shall bear a silver-haired wig of reasonable quality, indicating a traditional role as a judge and the flowing locks of Lady Justice herself.

39.4. Each bearer of these items shall be required, if they lose their office, to mail them to the King within two weeks, from whom the items shall be passed on to the next holder of the office.

Sure, makes sense, seems intelligent. I support.

RZ20 - The Science Rules! Act

WHEREAS BEER and UTal are both fairly defunct, and

WHEREAS BEER does not even have a permanent residence under one of the Cabinet ministries, and

WHEREAS Science is cool and we should do more of it, and

WHEREAS If we created one large science association, it would encompass more than just teaching and rocketry, which, while cool, are just small niches, and

WHEREAS A more all-encompassing association would be more active and produce more findings

THEREFORE Lex.C.1.8, which currently reads

1.8. The University of Talossa, headed by the Regent of the University of Talossa. The function of the University of Talossa is to provide educational opportunities and recognize achievement in Talossan academic studies and accomplishments.


shall be amended to read



1.8. The Royal Society for the Advancement of Knowledge, headed by the President of the Royal Society. The function of the Royal Society is to conduct and promote research and academic study in all areas of human endeavor.
1.8.1 Schools may be created within the Society for the purpose of focusing on a specific subject. The exact procedure for establishing a school shall be chosen by the President, who shall also appoint a dean to supervise each school.
FURTHERMORE Lex.D.2.12 is hereby repealed.

Not sure. While I do like the general idea, I am not sure about what the public feels, so therefore I am indecisive at the moment, and need your input for this one especially.

So please, comment, yell, scream, dance, sing, whatever! Participate and make yourself heard!

My twitter is: @epicdalhiun; you can tweet me, comment below, or send me a PM...

[Ian Plätschisch]

I share your sentiment that it is doubtful the Commission will actually be able to make changes. I don't prefer major substantive overhauls anyhow, but I wouldn't be concerned about it if I thought it had a chance of success (which it doesn't really).

Yes on the Science Rules! Act. It will make scholarly pursuits more frequent, especially because UTal has stagnated quite badly. It also expands the range of what intellectual activities can be done.

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

As one of the very few people to teach full courses at the Uni (Hemingway course, multiple wiki courses), I endorse the rearrangement bill.

[Magniloqueu Épiqeu da Lhiun]

Thank you for the replies you have given. As I have heard no more voices, I went ahead and cast my votes as follows:

RZ17: PER

RZ18: a protesting CONTRA

RZ19: PER

RZ20: PER