[Groot Gouda]

National Systems of Tax

A resolution to reduce income inequality and increase basic welfare.


Category: Social Justice


Strength: Mild


Proposed by: Powerhungry Chipmunks

Description: The United Nations,

RECOGNIZING unbalances in monetary wealth between different citizens as unavoidable in most, if not all, member nations,

DETERMINING the interpretation of this unbalance, whether as an incentive for achievement or as the bane of the poor, differs among member nations,

RESIGNED to the fact that member nations will likely never agree, with any convincing degree of consensus, on specific theories regarding taxation or agree on the quality of various economic models,

DISGUSTED that there might be some member nations which attempt to pass legislation as a cudgel to force those of dissenting economic and moral opinions on taxation into their collective, arbitrary molds of ?rightness? and ?wrongness? in taxation systems,

VALUING member nations' right of self-determination, since they may determine the individual characteristics of their government much more adequately than the UN, which is far removed from the individual nation?s various situations and unique qualities,

DEEMING, still, it worthwhile to advocate a few basic measures of social justice upon the tax systems of member nations, which are generally agreed upon by all as a middle-ground:


1 ENCOURAGES member nations, and all nations in the world, adopt progressive systems for taxation, which is to say that the tax rate for a citizen increases as a citizen increases in earnings;

2 REQUESTS member nations allow for those who cannot pay their debts to declare bankruptcy: so they may not be pursued by lenders whom they have no means to pay;

3 EXHORTS all nations to investigate, critically, their respective taxation systems, detached from political motivation, to uncover what values of human liberty and social justice their taxation system upholds and in what ways it may fail to address one or the other;

4 DECLARES it the right of the individual member nation, ultimately, to determine its individual system of tax without interference by the United Nations,

That is to say, we RESERVE the right for individual nations to determine ?who?, ?what?, ?how?, and ?how much? to tax--exclusively and independently (including, but not limited to, a nation?s tax model, tax exemptions, those who are taxed,tax rates, targeted taxation and all other choices regarding a nation's system of tax), excluding, of course, cases in which the United Nations has already resolved upon international standards for certain aspects of a member nation's system of taxation at the time of the passing of this resolution

[Groot Gouda]

I'm in favour of progressive tax, though I doubt whether the "national sovereignity clause" (nr 4) will impact what future resolutions can do negatively.

[Mikitivity]

Groot GoudaMay 28 2005, 10:57 AM I'm in favour of progressive tax, though I doubt whether the "national sovereignity clause" (nr 4) will impact what future resolutions can do negatively. [/quote]
Hmmm, my government agrees with your opinion of the significance of the last clause. Given that this resolution only recommends and urges, and that the UN Secretariat haven't seemed to complain, my government will vote in favour (if the vote is opened still by the 31st) and would encourage our delegate to consider Mikitivity in favour.

[Sober Thought]

FOR / AYE / YES.

It's a really weak resolution, but it does no harm. Ours are better written, though.

[Grosseschnauzer]

We're abstaining from UN activity during our mourning period.

[Keeslandia]

In principle, it's a good resolution and the Empire will be supporting. The weak language still permits adjustment of tax codes to customize for local conditions and economies, so it's a fine idea.