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 Miriam Godwinson I'm not surprised that the two biggest proponents of totalitarian population control are the atheists Yang and Zakharov. It's clear that this agenda stems from a hatred of Conclave Christianity and of faith itself. From behind a shield of heartless theorems, they seek to dictate both the will of Man and the will of God. We will not submit to your cruel "rationality". Procreation is not just an unalienable human right, but it is also a duty. I can assure you that if you try to take our children, we will resist.
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| # ? Apr 1, 2013 10:51 |
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Dierdre Skye While I support population control, I can not agree to some of the proposals to confiscate the children who are born for reeducation by the state. Will we build the base of our society on forced labor? Any children born must have the same rights we grant all humanity, and indeed, all life. We have no need to rely on harsh and primitive methods of control and oppression. Not when temporary birth control methods exist that allow us to scientifically regulate reproduction.
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| # ? Apr 1, 2013 16:01 |
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 Sheng-Ji Yang Minister of Security What would the alternative be? We cannot allow them to remain under the jurisdiction of their criminal parents. My original proposal was simply to terminate them, but now I see that was a waste of life. No, educating, feeding, housing and introducing them to a greater family and purpose is the best way to deal with the surplus offspring.
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| # ? Apr 1, 2013 16:07 |
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Dierdre Skye They are human life, and therefore precious and with rights. I say we raise them in the children's creches with the same rights as all other children and the same ability to decide their fate and their future. We must not punish them for the faults of their parents, nor force them to be soldiers or experiments.
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| # ? Apr 1, 2013 16:38 |
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 Nwabudike Morgan I would be willing to sponsor some of the children in my Morgan Happy Fun Life® Orphanage. After all, you ain't having fun unless you're living with Morgan®!
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| # ? Apr 1, 2013 17:08 |
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 Academician Prokhor Zakharov Education, not Experimentation would be the fate of any children remanded into University custodianship - we have plenty of test subjects, but every potential scholar is a valuable resource. Minister Miriam, if this government instituted a lawful order regarding population control, would the Believers obey? If not, we have a far more pressing concern than a few extra people. The law must apply to all equally.
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| # ? Apr 1, 2013 17:19 |
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Miriam Godwinson You oversimplify a complex issue into a foolish and leading binary. How would a lawful population control order work? What would the consequences be? Could it exist in a way that doesn't violate the UN charter? Whose jurisdiction would it be under? Would there be potential for abuse? Would it be systematically persecuting the Lord's Believers? Furthermore, how would the order even be issued in the first place? When Yang started this whole farce Garland spoke up and told Yang he had no authority. Furthermore, Garland said that he would only allow the implementation of the policy if a consensus was reached. I can tell you, you're not going to be a favorable consensus about population control among a certain thirty-five percent of our population. Take a step down from your hypotheticals and get out of that ivory tower. Let's not forget what state our government is in right now. There are essentially no government policies in place right now, and no real structure to implement them with. Perhaps we should start working on that before we try to rush into your disastrous, totalitarian plans.
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| # ? Apr 1, 2013 17:40 |
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Sheng-Ji Yang Minister of Security I am tasked with protecting the cohesion and security of our society. The overpopulation of Planet through the calculated misuse of biological reproduction by the Conclave Christians is simply a tactic to seize control by default and force us down a path of irrationality, a clear threat to the cohesion and security of our society. I will stop it one way or another, as is my duty. You may cry of rights and morality now, but you will be silent the day when there are three of these irrational minds to every reasonable individual. Unless this breeding is stopped that day will be in this century.
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| # ? Apr 1, 2013 18:00 |
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So, are all the slots filled on this, or is there room for other characters (I don't know much about Alpha Centauri lore aside from the main faction leaders)?
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 02:44 |
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Our newsman is not in AC: The Game, so I'd guess there is still plenty of room for additional characters.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 03:35 |
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Miriam Godwinson You call us "irrational", but all you are is a soulless machine that can't see the world for what it is. Everything you observe and believe is done so through a heartless, paranoid lens. You see simple things such as having a family and believing in God as grave and imminent threats. These are simple human things, Yang, and you clearly have forgotten what it means to be human. It is not my place to judge you. It is the Lord's. Perhaps you may understand your foolishness when He sends you to burn in Hell for all of eternity. But it is the duty of myself, my brothers, and my sisters to protect the Lord's Believer's against people like you. Be aware that we will defend our families if you try to take them away from us. We will not tolerate the enslavement of our people once again.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 07:39 |
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If this government should pass population control, then it would apply to all equally. That the Believers would resort to no doubt violent resistance against a proposed piece of legislation is far more worrying to me than any plan of Yang's. What is next, mass revolts if taxes on Believers and Believers only aren't eliminated?
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 07:51 |
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Miriam Godwinson You are ignoring all the holes that I pointed out in your hypothetical, Zakharov. Don't you academics believe very strongly in not holding onto an idea once it has been shown to be incorrect? Intellectual dishonesty coming from you, of all people, is shameful. The government is not in a condition where I can realistically see it implementing a policy like population control. We will not reach a consensus and there presently is no structure to make policy without one.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 08:03 |
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 Arthur Donaldson Excerpt from an opinion piece in the Free Drones' Datalinks newsletter "Solidarity" ...and this pressing need for grassroots initiatives becomes crystal clear to anyone following this week's ongoing debacle on the Planetary Council. For those who don't keep up, Minister Yang has been brazenly overstepping his boundaries and trying to institute a radical policy of population control, legitimizing it with the nonsensical claim that the growth of the Believers is a "threat to security". In a transparent piece of factional warfare, he initially demanded that this policy openly discriminate against the religious and proposed a characteristically crude and repressive solution that amounts to government-sanctioned mass kidnapping. I would hardly be surprised if organized labor becomes the next "threat" to be stamped out with the boots of his vicious goons, especially since that fat cat Morgan is hinting at making this a business opportunity. Collusion between capitalist exploiters and fascist thugs is hardly new. That Miriam Godwinson, of all people, is somehow the voice of reason here speaks volumes about what a shambles this government has become. Regardless of distasteful rhethoric about hellfire, she is entirely correct to call for administrative reform, as a far-reaching policy like population control would currently be an abject failure. While unchecked overpopulation is a real issue, watching the debates would give one the impression that it is the only problem facing humanity at all. There are no clear lines between the responsibilities of the ministries, and it seems that the main tool for drawing them is sheer, bull-headed powermongering. No wonder there is no cohesive social security or even a welfare ministry - many in this government care more about grasping for power that is rapidly losing meaning than about the common man. Rather than do their jobs and help the struggling masses that they dismissively call "drones", a term we have reclaimed for ourselves as a point of pride, Yang and some of the others would simply cull our numbers to make their own job easier. Until the Ministers can hopefully stop squabbling and undermining their own legitimacy, it seems the people of Planet must fend for themselves. Our rallying cry remains the same, to do what the government is clearly failing at - organize!
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 09:19 |
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New rulings and military prices have been posted. DEADLINE IS IN LESS THAN 9 HOURS AND THIRTY MINUTES
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 10:37 |
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 400x550 Dr. Gafur Banerjee is a Planetborn researcher, spcializing in Psi-research and based out of New Sargasso, and of some renown among those interested in all matters regarding psychic powers and the scientific community.. While he has only slight psychic gifts himself, he is an accomplished investigator of it, having a background in nueroscience. The possibilities of psychic powers fascinate him, and he feels it is definitely the future path of humanity. While he is rather impressed with all of the ministers, and respectful, after all, they are one of the few Earthborn left, and all of them rather powerful each in their own way, he has a particular respect for Zhakarov and Skye, mostly treating them with great respect, even while disagreeing. He was raised by parents aligned by the UN Peacekeeprs though, and still maintains a care for civil liberties.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 13:38 |
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Academician Prokhor Zakharov I always welcome those who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of Science, regardless of the path they tread.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 13:52 |
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400x550 Dr. Gafur Banerjee I am very grateful for the council to give me some time to speak, Academician. Now, I have no vote on this of course, but all I can offer are my thoughts. As I see it, there are two issues at play in the population control question. One is the overpopulation. The other is that people aligned with Sister Miriam Godwison are more inclined to have large families, and fear of political imbalance that would be the result. As for the first thing, I have not seen the problem being so strict. If it really becomes an imminent threat, we can always consider such steps, but for now, there must be... less draconic methods to deal with it. I would propose for example that we make prohylactils freely available, as well as vasectomies and tubal ligations. We might even consider subsidizing people with 2 children to have this done. Laws can be laws, but history, evoluntionary psychology and biology both can tell us that most people will obey biological drives. As to the high number of people who share Sister Godwinson's faith, well, I can see how some fear it might disturb the political balance, but to limit people's control over their body or even seperate children from their parents for simply political reasons seems like a step too far. I'm not even arguing the thics of this, as I wouldn't presume to lecture you,, but it occurs to me that it will cause quite a lot of unrest. The prospect of children being taken from their parents is something humans have a biologically hardwired aversion against. It's one thing to remove a child from a rapist or murderer, but to take children from those whose only crime is 'having one too many' or even, perceived or real 'being a Believer and destabilizing society' is likely to cause substantional blowback. Among the Believers of course. But while the esteemed Governor is quiet now, I doubt the others who hold tightly to his convictions will be. Nor will those who back Mr. Donaldson. The cure you propose might be worse than the ailment you perceive, ah... no disrespect Sister Godwinson, I... simply want to speak plainly. To propose an alternative, rather than simply argue against it, it's not like the child of a Believer will always be a Believer. Parents have a large influence, but so does an education. If instead of causing emotional distress and possibly severe armed conflict, we channel the politicla impasse in an extra investement in education. Let all children have a full and thorough education, bring them in contact with a large sum of knowledge, and a wide variety of worldviews. If their faith is true, then of course, they will not be swayed by this, especially since they would not be taken away from their families, and if their views are so irrational, then a solid education will, if not cause a reconsidering of one's worldview and faith, to someone who's accepting that other's don't share it, and is unlikely to support a theocracy that I think many worried about. I would say education to 21 for all, mandatory. We cannot be so many on this world as the Earth you all knew, so we must make each single person count. And of course, it would likely produce many more brilliant minds. It is a peaceful compromize for the present, and a solid investiment in the future. Of course, there would be costs. And the money would need to come from somewhere. Perhaps from healthcare? As much as taking care of the sick and wounded remains a worthy place to spend our money on, investing in education now might save more lives tomorrow than health care would save today. So, in summary I propose 1: Make anti-conceptives, vasectomies and tubal ligations freely available 1.a: If needed, provide incentives to have vasectomies and tubal ligations after the second child 2: Raise Education spending to +4, healthcare to +3, mandatory education till 21.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 14:27 |
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Academician Prokhor Zakharov It has come to my attention that Planet lacks a formal education system. As education is the foundation for the future, as Science/Education Minister it is my job to fix that, and so I shall. Planetary Education Proposal All youths between the ages of 5 and 18 will attend mandatory education. Curriculum and teachers will be allotted by my department, focusing on STEM disciplines. Students will also be exposed to history and comparative philosophy to help round them out.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 14:55 |
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Sheng-Ji Yang Minister of Security I fully back this proposal. "Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity. A person is born with a liking for profit. If he gives way to this, it will lead him to quarrels and conflicts, and any sense of courtesy and humility will be abandoned. A person is born with feelings of envy and hate. If he gives way to them, they will lead him to violence and crime, and any sense of loyalty and good faith will be abandoned. A person is born with desires of the eyes and ears, and a liking for beautiful sights and sounds. If he gives way to them, they will lead him to immorality and lack of restriction, and any ritual principles and propriety will be abandoned. Thus, anybody who follows this nature and gives way its states will be led into quarrels and conflicts, and go against the conventions and rules of society, and will end up a criminal. Therefore, a person should first be changed by a teacher's instructions, and guided by principles of ritual. Only then can he observe the rules of courtesy and humility, obey the conventions and rules of society, and achieve order." - Xun Zi Let it be known that any and all truants will be punished as the criminals they are.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 15:00 |
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400x550 Dr. Gafur Banerjee I have no vote naturally, but if I were given the mandate by the Council, I would put my full effort in working together wiht the Council to create a Curricullum, hire competent teachers, organizing the infrastructure and laying the foundation for a brilliant and well based new generation of people!
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 15:18 |
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 Owner & Anchorman of Unity News 4 - Tom Maroon Coming up on the News at 7. Are your children safe from Shen-Ji Yang? We look at who is set to be affected by these proposed law changes from the Minister of Security, and what you can do to hide your third child from his death squads. New 'Ellen' expected to be huge success. Tom Maroon is excited to announce a new talk show with a new age 'Ellen'. The Talk show is hoped to revolutionise LGBT rights and to discuss current events in a moderate fashion. sniper4625 posted:Academician Prokhor Zakharov STEM, while very needed of course, does not allow children to explore their creative side. I am happy to support this, but only if Art, Drama and Music is included in the syllabus.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 15:21 |
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Academician Prokhor Zakharov If concerned members of Planetary Society wish to help fund the expansion of the program, we welcome investments in the future. Make your energychecks out the University of Planet.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 15:23 |
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Deidre Skye I give Dr. Banerjee's proposals my full support, and recommend they be adopted.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 16:04 |
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 Evolutionary Biologist - Dr Richard Hitchens PHD Critical thinking and reason are the keys to unlock the doors of our past, present, and future. -- stalin@c0balt.com I also made these for the other custom characters, you don't have to use them. 
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 16:05 |
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Nwabudike Morgan To help support our esteemed Science Minister's initiative, I'm proud to announce my latest and greatest project, the School of Morgan Arts, Recreation, and Technology! Our one of a kind learning institution will help raise kids K-12 in the skills they need to thrive in the modern world. Arithmetic to Worm drills, we've got it all. Worried that this sounds too institutional for your kids? No worries, we offer a full variety of recreational activities. Sports teams, a highly acclaimed Arts department, Anime club, there's something for all students! And with our state of the art Gymnasium, rec room and library, they'll never need another place to hang out. But don't listen to me, here's some customer testimonials:  So make the S.M.A.R.T choice and enroll today!
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 17:21 |
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The OP has been updated with our newest characters, Drs. Gafur Banerjee and Richard Hitchens.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 17:35 |
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Academician Prokhor Zakharov I applaud the recent investments of Morgan Industries into the educational arena. With support from our private sector, our public education system will provide a great foundation for the future!
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 17:47 |
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Dr. Richard Hitchens The question of home schooling has recently been brought up by Miriam Godwinson a few times; I fear that Miriam's true goals are to use the option of homeschooling to pull Christians children away from a secular education, and to confuse them on the differences between objective truth and unverified belief.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 18:10 |
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Miriam Godwinson So the hot topic to use against the Lord's Believers has changed from population control to education standards. This is a step up, at least, since educating our young isn't an inherently terrible thing. But it is a thing which can be so easily turned into a weapon to try to forcibly change the malleable minds of our children. Do not think that I am against education, however. Many of you seem to think that being religious means you can't be smart or educated, but that's wrong. I am going to follow in Morgan's footsteps and announce the creation of my own K-12 school, Covenant Academy. This house of learning will be funded and ran by the Lord's Believers, and will meet all mandated curriculum and teacher standards. Like the School of Morgan Arts, Recreation, and Technology, we will also have plenty of extra-curricular clubs and activities, such as athletic teams, bible study groups, charity organizations, and so on. The headmaster of the school will be none other than myself. I have a PhD in Psychology from Yale University, so I am more than qualified.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 18:18 |
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Dr. Richard Hitchens I believe it is a conflict of interests for the believers to run their own school; they are in the business of converting people to their beliefs to them education is just extra to worship. I believe at this stage it is critical that we establish a separation of Church from State and Education so that all children may receive a fair secular education. Religion is for the home not the school or the courthouse.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 18:42 |
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DEADLINE IS IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES! Get in your actions before midnight or risk automation for the turn.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 19:35 |
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DEADLINE PASSED The following people did not get their turns in:
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 20:01 |
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Yeah I thought the deadline had already passed by the time I checked what it was; I thought the deadline was 10:00pm. My fault.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 20:41 |
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Dr Gafur Banerjee Well, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. I had originally intended for the education system to be fully standardized, rather than each faction having their own system. But far be it from me to go against the Council's wishes. If I am given permission to oversee education matters, I would make sure all private schools meet the standard curriculum. Which would inlcude factual duscussion of religions and systems both Morganites and Believers would not support themselves. But considering these institutions would be privately funded, they are not really State matters.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 22:08 |
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Arthur Donaldson Dr. Banerjee's proposal is sensible, humane, egalitarian and practical. It has my full support. Any increase to spending on necessities like healthcare and education is a step in the right direction. While it is good to see the factions care so much about education, the good doctor is also right to say that a standardized curriculum is important - parents are free to teach their children what they will at home, but school needs to represent the whole spectrum of society. State-run, tax-funded schools should be prioritized. However, there is an important socioeconomic question here. If we truly must allow the private sector into education, I hope it is not given free reign. Private schools must not be allowed to demand tuition, but be limited to state funding. I fear that if for-profit, "elite" schools are permitted to do as they like, they might poach staff from the public sector and foster inequality in access to knowledge.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2013 23:06 |
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Academician Prokhor Zakharov As discussed and announced last night, Morgan is shifting his funding into supporting public schools, rather that set up a competing system. The Believers are encouraged to do the same. Thank you! Obviously I cannot prevent any faction from creating any organization they wish, but the children of Planet will still be required to go to public school. What they do with their free time is up to them.
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| # ? Apr 3, 2013 01:04 |
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Miriam Godwinson I don't see anything in last night's records which indicates that Morgan is putting his funding in public schools. But even so, it is too late to shift my funding. The credits have already been allocated and construction of Covenant Academy is already underway, and I can't just pull funding and put it somewhere else, the deadline for that has already passed. It looks like you're going to have to accept the existence of my school, Zakharov. This is a big, multi-million credit project which is going to meet the public education standards just like any other school. There is no reason to force students to go somewhere else when my institution is very much good enough.
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| # ? Apr 3, 2013 04:56 |
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Academician Prokhor Zakharov Any obstruction with attendance of the new Standardized Schooling will result in continuing fines. Chairman Morgan has committed to supporting public education, and the implication that a Believer indoctrination facility is equivalent to secular, scientific schooling spits in the face of proper education. The Believer inability to recognize the selfishness of some of their "religious duties" vis-a-vis society at large is bad enough. I have no official problems with the Believers building their facility or running whatever programs they may wish to on the side, private organizations may do as they wish. However, primary education will remain universal. If you are offering your school facilities to the Standardized Educators and Curriculum, then I thank you for your generosity. On another note, I am happy to announce the "Coalition for Progress on Planet". A loose confederation of scientists, scholars, businessmen and any others seeking to build a foundation for the future based on reason, science and fact. If you are interested, feel free to stop by #coalition.
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| # ? Apr 3, 2013 05:08 |
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Miriam Godwinson What indicates to you that this is a "Believer indoctrination facility"? Tell me, what shred of evidence do you have? After all, a man of science such as yourself places such high value in basing hypotheses on observable fact. Covenant Academy is an institution of learning, like any other. It will teach our youth reading, writing, arithmetic and everything else that the public curriculum demands. This isn't an indoctrination facility or just a church re-labeled as a school. I am setting out to create a wonderful place to get educated and all you are giving me is a slap in the face. Zakharov, look at yourself. You are accusing us of being crazy, irrational fanatics when we just want to do something reasonable. The real problem here is your fervent anti-christian prejudice. My only 'ulterior motive' in creating Covenant Academy is to make sure that people like your don't harm our children with your clear, rabid bias. I said before that I am to meet public standards with my school, and I will stick that. Send us your curriculum, we will teach it. Send us your qualified teachers, we will employ them. The only restriction I will place is that the school will be run and managed by myself. With my PhD, I am more than qualified to do the job, and there is no reason to not allow me to do so. If you wish, I can apply for the job in your system and you can register me as an official educator just like yourself.
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| # ? Apr 3, 2013 05:40 |
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