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Idea: Library of Life; A Regional Public Library
Topic Started: Saturday Dec 24 2016, 05:47 AM (526 Views)
Culture of Life
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William F. Buckley

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LIBRARY OF LIFE
Beatus Homo Qui Invenit Sapientiam

Since May, we've been discussing the possibility of creating a Ministry of Outreach and Activism, which would have the duties of maintaining a list of pro-life and pregnancy resources and of keeping region members informed on the progress of the pro-life movement in the real world. In fact, a bill was even drafted; but no action has been taken on it. Given the lack of excitement for an Outreach Ministry and, perhaps, doubts regarding its necessity, I would like to propose an alternative: a public library.

Right to Life's public library -- the Library of Life -- would be distinct from the Law Library, which holds copies of the constitution, the regional code, regional treaties, founder's decrees, and judicial decisions. The Library of Life would, instead, be oriented toward the real world. It would contain links and references to pro-life websites, pro-life books, pro-life articles, and similar items of interest. Many of these materials could be read on the internet. Others might be available only in person. (For example, if you want to go to your local or school library, you might want to check out this book or that book.)

The Library of Life, like regional bank accounts, would be maintained on its own webpage here on the offsite forums; and it would be overseen by a three-member [duck]Library Board of Commissioners[/duck], which would have its own subforum in the Regional Offices. Two votes would be necessary for the addition of an item to the Library, and three votes would be necessary for an item's removal. In this way, there would be a bias toward expanding the Library and against censorship.

Several questions immediately come to mind:
  • Do you like this idea? Should Right to Life have a public library?
  • Do you like the name, motto, and logo that I've suggested?
  • What guidelines, if any, should be imposed on the Board?
  • Should there be an appeals process for removals of items?
  • How would the Library's commissioners be selected?
  • What would be the length of a commissioner's term?
  • How could a commissioner be removed from office?
  • Should the regional code impose limits on commissioners' partisan affiliations? For example, no more than two commissioners shall be members of the same regional political party.
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New Missouri
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I like this idea. The commissioners could be appointed by the president, a commissioners term could be 4 months, and I don't think that we need limits on party affiliation.
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Culture of Life
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William F. Buckley

New Missouri
Monday Dec 26 2016, 02:22 PM
I like this idea. The commissioners could be appointed by the president, a commissioners term could be 4 months, and I don't think that we need limits on party affiliation.
I was thinking that a three-month term or six-month term would be best. That way, the commissioners could be appointed on a rotation: either one every month or one every two months.

The hardest question to answer, in my opinion, is this: How independent would we want this board to be? At the moment, we have a wide spectrum when it comes to the region's appointed officials:

Independence from the Electoral/Political Process
No IndependenceModerate IndependenceHigh Independence
Foreign Minister
Interior Minister
Bank Director
Cartographer
News Director
Forum Moderators
Justice of the Peace

The foreign minister and interior minister are totally dependent on the president (an elected official); he can appoint them and dismiss them whenever he wants. The forum moderators and the justice of the peace are highly independent. The forum moderators are appointed and dismissed by the founder (a lifetime official). The justice of the peace is appointed by the president with unanimous senatorial consent, and he can be removed only by a unanimous vote of the Senate.

The bank director, cartographer, and news director are moderately independent. The bank director is elected by the Senate (majority vote) and can be removed by the Senate (majority vote). The cartographer and news director are appointed by the founder with senatorial consent (majority vote), and they can be removed by the founder or by the Senate (majority vote).

Certainly, giving the library commissioners set terms would guarantee them some degree of independence. Are there any other protections that we'd want to add (e.g., requiring multi-partisanship on the board) to make them more independent, or would we want them to be dependent like ministers?



EDIT: Before anybody suggests it, I don't think I should appoint the library commissioners. Originally, news director appointments were put in my hands on the beliefs (1) that the region's news coverage should not be political and (2) that the news director should not feel beholden to the president or the senators, whom he should feel free (to some extent) to criticize.

I think cartographer appointments were put in my hands on the belief that mapmaking is an entirely apolitical job; it has nothing whatsoever to do with politics.

Like it or not, deciding which items are placed in a public library is political. It's basically an education policy. Should people be encouraged to learn these types of things or those types of things? That said, are library appointments more like ministerial appointments (one appointer), banking/financial appointments (2/3rds support), or judicial appointments (3/3rds support)?
Edited by Culture of Life, Monday Dec 26 2016, 07:01 PM.
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Culture of Life
Monday Dec 26 2016, 06:32 PM
I was thinking that a three-month term or six-month term would be best. That way, the commissioners could be appointed on a rotation: either one every month or one every two months.

The hardest question to answer, in my opinion, is this: How independent would we want this board to be? At the moment, we have a wide spectrum when it comes to the region's appointed officials:

Independence from the Electoral/Political Process
No IndependenceModerate IndependenceHigh Independence
Foreign Minister
Interior Minister
Bank Director
Cartographer
News Director
Forum Moderators
Justice of the Peace

The foreign minister and interior minister are totally dependent on the president (an elected official); he can appoint them and dismiss them whenever he wants. The forum moderators and the justice of the peace are highly independent. The forum moderators are appointed and dismissed by the founder (a lifetime official). The justice of the peace is appointed by the president with unanimous senatorial consent, and he can be removed only by a unanimous vote of the Senate.

The bank director, cartographer, and news director are moderately independent. The bank director is elected by the Senate (majority vote) and can be removed by the Senate (majority vote). The cartographer and news director are appointed by the founder with senatorial consent (majority vote), and they can be removed by the founder or by the Senate (majority vote).

Certainly, giving the library commissioners set terms would guarantee them some degree of independence. Are there any other protections that we'd want to add (e.g., requiring multi-partisanship on the board) to make them more independent, or would we want them to be dependent like ministers?



EDIT: Before anybody suggests it, I don't think I should appoint the library commissioners. Originally, news director appointments were put in my hands on the beliefs (1) that the region's news coverage should not be political and (2) that the news director should not feel beholden to the president or the senators, whom he should feel free (to some extent) to criticize.

I think cartographer appointments were put in my hands on the belief that mapmaking is an entirely apolitical job; it has nothing whatsoever to do with politics.

Like it or not, deciding which items are placed in a public library is political. It's basically an education policy. Should people be encouraged to learn these types of things or those types of things? That said, are library appointments more like ministerial appointments (one appointer), banking/financial appointments (2/3rds support), or judicial appointments (3/3rds support)?
I think a 3-month term would be fine. I think they should be dependent like ministers.
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Culture of Life
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William F. Buckley

New Missouri
Tuesday Dec 27 2016, 01:35 PM
I think a 3-month term would be fine. I think they should be dependent like ministers.
So, in your opinion, would something like this be good?



SECTION X. The Library of Life shall be curated and governed by a Library Commission consisting of three commissioners. The President shall appoint the commissioners, who shall serve staggered terms of three months. The term of one commissioner shall end on the 15th day of each month.

SECTION X. By an absolute majority vote, the Senate may remove a commissioner from office. If a commissioner is inactive for five or more days, the President may remove him from office unilaterally. Whenever a seat on the Library Commission becomes vacant, the President may appoint a new commissioner, who shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of office.

SECTION X. The addition of an item to the Library of Life shall require the votes of two commissioners, and the removal of an item from the Library of Life shall require the votes of three commissioners. All other decisions of the Library Commission, including decisions respecting internal procedures and the organization of the Library of Life, shall be made by the votes of two commissioners.
Edited by Culture of Life, Tuesday Dec 27 2016, 06:48 PM.
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Culture of Life
Tuesday Dec 27 2016, 03:17 PM
New Missouri
Tuesday Dec 27 2016, 01:35 PM
I think a 3-month term would be fine. I think they should be dependent like ministers.
So, in your opinion, would something like this be good?



SECTION X. The Library of Life shall be curated and governed by a Library Commission consisting of three commissioners. The President shall appoint the commissioners, who shall serve rotating terms of three months. The term of one commissioner shall end on the 15th day of each month.

SECTION X. By an absolute majority vote, the Senate may remove a commissioner from office. If a commissioner is inactive for five or more days, the President may remove him from office unilaterally. Whenever a seat on the Library Commission becomes vacant, the President may appoint a new commissioner, who shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of office.

SECTION X. The addition of an item to the Library of Life shall require the votes of two commissioners, and the removal of an item from the Library of Life shall require the votes of three commissioners. All other decisions of the Library Commission, including decisions respecting internal procedures and the organization of the Library of Life, shall be made by the votes of two commissioners.
That sounds good!
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Dallas Unit 9
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A few thoughts in no particular order:

I think three commissioners is probably excessive. I expect a flurry of additions to the library in the first few weeks and months, followed by a much slower rate of increase afterward.

I suppose we can always make an amendment if necessary.

Since a president has a four month term, this means a single President will at some point have appointed all three librarians. I can see this being abused, particularly if the senate is split so that an absolute majority can't be obtained. The obvious solution is to make the librarian terms longer than the presidential terms, but I'm not sure that's a good idea either.

CoL, I like the logo, but perhaps it would be less ostentatious to have a motto in English? ^o)

I also think there ought to be some kind of appeals process for the addition / removal of particular works. Perhaps if there is not 3/3 agreement the work can be put in limbo for awhile?

I think there should be a way for citizens to request the addition of certain works to the library, but perhaps that ought to be a matter of internal protocol, rather than an issue of law.

I would also suggest that the Library be expanded from its initial conception to include the Law Library and significant documents from our region's history (e.g. newsletters, RMB discussions, military techniques), as well as the "Non-fiction" resource section. This way as our activity increases, everything will be neatly collated in one central location, rather than requiring scrambling through a half dozen different sub-forums like we do now.
No master but God, no Lord but Christ, no nation but the Kingdom.

“A man who does not have something for which he is willing to die is not fit to live.”
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Culture of Life
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William F. Buckley

Here's an updated version of the bill.

Spoiler: click to toggle

Any thoughts on pay?

My idea: Pay each commissioner ₤10-15 at the completion of his three-month term. If he doesn't complete a full term, he doesn't get paid.

Dallas Unit 9
Tuesday Dec 27 2016, 11:17 PM
I think three commissioners is probably excessive. I expect a flurry of additions to the library in the first few weeks and months, followed by a much slower rate of increase afterward.
Maybe, it's excessive. I suppose the commissioners could reach some sort of agreement where they divvy up the initial work. "I review this submission closely, you review that submission closely, and we'll trust each other's judgment."

Dallas Unit 9
Tuesday Dec 27 2016, 11:17 PM
Since a president has a four month term, this means a single President will at some point have appointed all three librarians. I can see this being abused, particularly if the senate is split so that an absolute majority can't be obtained. The obvious solution is to make the librarian terms longer than the presidential terms, but I'm not sure that's a good idea either.
This is exactly how I feel. This is precisely my greatest concern.

An absolute majority is a majority of all members in a body. There are three senators, and the President is one of them, so both of his colleagues would have to disagree with his appointment to overturn it. We could have six-month terms, but players tend to join and leave this game pretty quickly.

Another possibility is requiring multi-partisanship on the Commission. I borrow this idea from the real-world United States, where it tends to be fairly common at the federal level.

Examples of Bipartisan U.S. Commissions

I have no idea how multi-partisan appointments in Right to Life would work in practice.

Dallas Unit 9
Tuesday Dec 27 2016, 11:17 PM
CoL, I like the logo, but perhaps it would be less ostentatious to have a motto in English? ^o)
I like Latin. I like ostentation. (Just look at the pre-title and motto of my nation [nation]Christian Democrats[/nation].) :P

If the senators want me to remove the Latin motto, I shall.

Dallas Unit 9
Tuesday Dec 27 2016, 11:17 PM
I also think there ought to be some kind of appeals process for the addition / removal of particular works.
I agree. Maybe, some decisions could be appealed to the Justice Court. Perhaps, the Justice of the Peace could be authorized to overturn decisions based, in his opinion, on partisan, religious, or national bias.

Example: Three American commissioners reject proposed links to Canadian pro-life websites without giving reasonable justifications for their denials.

Dallas Unit 9
Tuesday Dec 27 2016, 11:17 PM
I think there should be a way for citizens to request the addition of certain works to the library, but perhaps that ought to be a matter of internal protocol, rather than an issue of law.
I anticipate that the Library Commission will post some sort of form for requesting additions or removals.

Dallas Unit 9
Tuesday Dec 27 2016, 11:17 PM
I would also suggest that the Library be expanded from its initial conception to include the Law Library and significant documents from our region's history (e.g. newsletters, RMB discussions, military techniques), as well as the "Non-fiction" resource section. This way as our activity increases, everything will be neatly collated in one central location, rather than requiring scrambling through a half dozen different sub-forums like we do now.
This is an interesting idea.

If this bill is enacted, I've already been planning on creating a portal with the options:

Posted Image

LAW LIBRARY

[Enter description here]
Posted Image

LIBRARY OF LIFE

[Enter description here]
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William F. Buckley

Culture of Life
Wednesday Dec 28 2016, 01:36 AM
Another possibility is requiring multi-partisanship on the Commission. I borrow this idea from the real-world United States, where it tends to be fairly common at the federal level.

Examples of Bipartisan U.S. Commissions

I have no idea how multi-partisan appointments in Right to Life would work in practice.
I have an idea . . .
Quote:
 
SECTION 2. The Library of Life shall be curated and governed by a Library Commission, which consists of three commissioners, who are appointed for terms of two months as follows:
  1. Not earlier than the 5th day and not later than the 10th day of the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December, the senators of Right to Life (excluding the President) shall each prepare a list of three nominees for the Library Commission and shall, in a private forum, present their lists to the President of Right to Life;

  2. Not earlier than the 10th day and not later than the 15th day of the aforementioned months, the President shall select, from the aforementioned lists of nominees, three citizens to serve on the Library Commission, naming one of them to be its chairman;

  3. On the 15th day of the aforementioned months, the citizens so selected shall assume their offices as commissioners, replacing the preceding Library Commission;
Pursuant to subsection (b), the President shall appoint at least one commissioner from each list of nominees. Senators are not prohibited from submitting identical nominations to the President.
Allow me to explain my thinking.

Under the regional constitution, the non-presidential senators are elected by [wiki]SNTV[/wiki]: each citizen votes for one candidate, and the two candidates who receive the most votes become senators. As a system, SNTV promotes greater representation and makes one-party takeovers unlikely. In our elections, the region's "conservative faction" usually wins one seat, and the region's "moderate faction" usually wins the other seat. Normally, these senators represent different parties. (Although sometimes, they've been representatives of the "conservative wing" and the "moderate wing" of the Conservative Federalist Party.)

Because the non-presidential senators tend to represent the region's two main "factions" at any given time, they're perfect for nominating citizens from their "factions" to serve on a bipartisan regional commission. Imagine the "worst case" scenario, where the region is totally divided:

"Moderate" Senator Nominates:"Conservative" Senator Nominates:
Citizen A
Citizen B
Citizen C
Citizen X
Citizen Y
Citizen Z

The President must select three citizens from these lists and at least one citizen per list. Therefore, the commission appointed will be composed of either (1) two "moderates" and one "conservative" or (2) two "conservatives" and one "moderate." It will not be possible for one "faction" to dominate the commission; one "faction" will have to appeal to the other "faction" in votes that require unanimity.

Now, imagine the "best case" scenario, where the region is totally unified, where the region's "moderate faction" and its "conservative faction" are practically the same:

"Moderate" Senator Nominates:"Conservative" Senator Nominates:
Citizen L
Citizen M
Citizen N
Citizen L
Citizen M
Citizen N

The President must select three citizens from these lists and at least one citizen per list. Apparently, Citizens L, M, and N are so eminently qualified that both senators have nominated them. Thus, the President is required to appoint them (three citizens in total and at least one citizen per list).

Probably, "real life" would play out somewhere between the "worst case" and "best case." That said, the system of appointment outlined here would guarantee that each "faction" would get at least one citizen whom it likes on the commission -- maybe a citizen whom it likes alone, maybe a citizen whom both "factions" like.

And if one "faction" is so organized and so popular that it can win both Senate seats under SNTV, it likely deserves to dominate the commission, filling the body with its own members.

Without using parties, this system of appointment would facilitate bipartisanship.
Edited by Culture of Life, Thursday Dec 29 2016, 05:54 AM.
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I like this idea.

The pay also sounds pretty fair, though that should probably be discussed with the bank director.

I had one other idea / suggestion. To ensure that the library of RTL continue to grow, what do you think about making a requirement that in order to be paid, each librarian add at least 3 (or another number of) new books for the library?
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