Bill of Agricultural Subsidy Once Amended

Date: RY768 2nd Descending Earth.

Sponsors: V'neef Tapan, Nellens Poramo.

Summary: Bill that would introduce a system of tax exemptions for Blessed Isle peasants who produced agricultural goods, in order to stimulate growth in agricultural output on the Isle and alleviate problems with rising food costs. Though billed as an amended version of the earlier Bill of Agricultural Subsidy, it bore little in common with its predecessor.

Debate: Supporters declared that this measure would render the countryside stable, and serve to both keep Isle food competitive with Threshold competition and to counter urbanization trends that were causing unrest and economic difficulties in the cities. Opponents (of which there were many, perhaps the most vocal amongst them senator V'neef Kenet) dismissed the idea that peasants could do anything with tax exemptions other than waste the money on drink and rebellion... fixing the problems of the world is, after all a duty of Exalts not mortals.

Result: Defeated.