Vote: Negotiation is the key!

[Eluvatar]

Voting will be Thursday May 3rd through Sunday May 6th.

I petition that issue response (4) referring to "Negotiation is the Key!" be adopted by Taijitu Founder.

All of Taijitu Founder has been in an uproar since yesterday when a car exploded in the middle of Taijitu Founder City, killing dozens and injuring hundreds. This terrorist act was traced back to a violent minority group known as the Lilliputian Freedom Fighters. A group allegedly supported by an unfriendly regime, despising Taijitu Founder for its heathenish ways and political bent, but more particularly for supporting the recent occupation of their homeland by an ally.

1. "They simply crossed the line!" shouts General May McGuffin. "Far too long have we tolerated these terrorist threats, it's time that they realise they can't mess with us. Send the order to prepare an invasion, and we will show them who is boss! Our brave soldiers are prepared to die for their country, all we need is your signature and a lot of money. But what is the cost of freedom and safety for Taijitu Founder's peoples?"

2. "Attacking another country isn't the answer," says Agnes Dubois, director of the Taijitu Founder Intelligence Agency. "The problem doesn't lie abroad, but within Taijitu Founder itself! We should have more freedom to do our work. Protecting our nation from these cowardly scaremongerers would be much easier if we had an inherent right to tap phones and other communications, get search warrants whenever we need, and detain suspects indefinitely. Remember, to prevent is better than to cure."

3. "No, that's what those terrorists want us to do!" speculates chairman Natalia Woolf of the Patriots' Tea and Biscuits Club. "We don't want to give the Agency any more responsibility, they're the ones who messed up in the first place. What we need is to purge Taijitu Founder of these rats who don't respect the laws and traditions of our way of life. We know who they are and where they come from, so the solution is obvious: we just won't let those sorts of people cross our borders and kick out those who are already here. It might seem a bit harsh, but hey, we were here first. Long live Taijitu Founder!"

4. "I think it's clear to anyone with half a brain in their head that this will just not work," says Violet Broadside, a noted professor of social studies. "The people who perpetrate these terrible crimes do so because they feel they have no other recourse to demonstrate their political opinions. They'll do anything and I'm sure they're not above hiring mercenaries. You must understand why terrorists act as they do and fix it! What we should do is to reach out to the ethnic and religious minorities and seek common ground! Negotiation is the key! Violence solves nothing."

5. "We spit on Taijitu Founder!" expectorates Kathleen Janssen, leader of the Lilliputian Freedom Fighters. "You disrespect our people and our country and everything we are! You spread your sickening influence where it is not wanted! You must change your ways and cease to oppose us or else there will be more bloodshed. You have been warned!"

6. "Is terrorism such a terrible thing? Really?" asks Jessica Plath, avant garde journalist, discreetly sliding a pipe bomb under your desk. "These people are simply expressing their political opinion the best way they know how. I think we should legalise terrorism as a legitimate form of political commentary. It'll certainly get people interested, don't you think?"

If a quarter of the number of voters who voted in the last election or valid referendum sign the petition, a referendum will be held.

The last election had 7 votes so 2 signatures are needed to open a referendum.

[Eluvatar]

This passed, 7:2 with 11 voting (which is rather more than 7/2, making it valid).