User talk:Rakhaldave/New Liberal Party of India

The New Liberal Party of India is at present an idea - in its formative stage.

If launched, it will most likely be the first political party whose manifesto was formed using Wikipedia as a tool for its creation.

Wikipedia offers a unique platform for the memetic convergence and evolution of ideas on a consensual basis.

Motivation
This party is expected to find its constituency in the globally minded and young burgeoning middle class of India. Historically this class was largely ignored because it was very small. The recent demographic shift of India has now reached critical mass - warranting the creation of a new party - to represent the aspirations of this constituency.

Manifesto
1. One Law for All: The party will act to oppose, modify or repeal (depending on its level of empowerment) any existing or proposed legislation or consitituional provision that distinguishes individuals on the basis of religious belief, caste and/or ancestry and if sufficiently empowered (by a 2/3rd majority) amend the constitution to purge it of all such divisive expression.

2. Rejection of Reservation: The party will act to oppose, modify, repeal or amend (depending on its level of empowerment) any legislation and/or constitutional provisions that grants special status to anyone for admission in educational institutions or obtaining jobs in Government or other institutions on the basis of belonging to one or another caste, tribe or ethnic group. This point should simply be a corollary to point 1 - but is emphasised as a separate point - because the repeal of Reservation (as it is implemented now on the basis of caste and other ancestral labels) is seen by the party as an important aspiration of the young middle class of India. The party will replace Reservation in its present form with an entirely new Affirmative Action policy based solely on economic indicators of the individual.

3. Free Market Socialism: The party does not view socialism in its narrow sense. One of the biggest changes the world has seen in recent decades is the increase in the speed of information flow. In old times information flowed from individuals to the state - but not efficiently between individuals. In these early times the development of efficient markets and new products and services required a central authority which could gauge demand and orchestrate a fair distribution of resources. In the present era - information flows rapidly and the states function is no longer seen as a distributor of resources and a regulator of supply chains but rather as a creator of a level playing field - which nurtures competition and entrepreneurship. The party believes in a new socialism in which the welfare of its citizens is maximised by the engine of a free market - with minimal regulatory framework.

4. Cultural Liberalism: Culture is not static. Like markets - where products compete for consumers - so also ideas or memes compete for adherance in human minds. If empowered - the party will protect every individuals freedom of thought and expression (even if such expression might violate mass sentiment) as long as the intent of such expression does not imply direct bodily harm to any individual or property (tangible, reputational or goodwill). The party views such tolerance as a traditional value of the culture of India as illustrated by the fact that India has historically been the birth place and/or sanctuary of several divers and mutually inconsistent belief systems. This position implies that citizens must decide for themselves what they may read, hear or see. While the state will require ratings or notices for books, films, plays, exhibitions, talks and other forms of communication - so as to warn people about the nature of what they may be exposed to - it has no power to ban such forms of communication. The party will strongly act to oppose, modify, repeal or amend (depending on its level of empowerment) any legislation or constitutional provision that attempts to control forms of expression or deny the questioning of belief systems.

5. Education Policy: The party believes that the presently unmet demand for educational resources in our vibrant entrepreneurial society can only be explained by a suffocating regulatory framework which puts a stranglehold on the potential for profit and growth in this area and consequently hinders private investment in this business area. The present regulatory environment with regard to accredition and affirmative action will therefore be reviewed to create a more open policy which will stimulate investment in education.

6. Agricultural Property Rights: The party believes that the observed asymmetry between rapid urban growth and the lagging rural sectors arises out of an archaic regulatory framework which prevents free commerce in agricultural land and hence curbs the flow of wealth into rural areas. If elected - the party will repeal this and other legislative curbs which restrict property owners from transacting freely.

Economic Agenda
• Simple and easy ways to start and operate an enterprise • No discretionary powers for government officials • The government to refrain from setting prices • Removal of regulations that prevent citizens from capitalising their assets • Low tax rates across the board. (Taxation must be treated as a fee in exchange for essential services that cannot be performed by any other economic agent). • Simple tax system • No interference in hiring and firing of labour • Localised wage negotiations • No restrictions or licenses on technology • Stable monetary polices • Managed transition towards freely convertible currency • Disciplined public financial management • Managed transition towards market determined interest rates • Managed transition towards elimination of subsidies • Freedom to maintain foreign currency accounts at home and abroad • Open and internationalized banking and financial sectors • No targeted lending to favoured groups • Unrestrained domestic movement of goods and services • Managed transition towards elimination of tax or subsidies on imports and exports • No hidden and regulatory barrier to trade • Free trade to ensure competitive market practices • Privatisation of government owned enterprises and institutions • No support to or protection of public or private monopolies / cartels