FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Most popular questions:
1. Does adopting Simpol mean losing my freedom to vote as I choose?
If you have a strong preference for a particular political party, your adoption of Simpol can alternatively signify your desire for that party to sign the Simpol Pledge. So Adopting Simpol in no way compromises your freedom to vote as you wish… Tell me more
2. For politicians, does signing the Pledge to implement Simpol alongside other governments entail any political risk or potential conflict with party policy?
By signing the Simpol Pledge, politicians show that they appreciate that lasting solutions to global problems can only be achieved through co-operation between nation states, with the backing of citizens… Tell me more
3. How can I support Simpol when its policy content hasn’t yet been defined? And how can Simpol still make a political impact?
The policy content of Simpol is to be formulated, or consented to, by citizens who have Adopted Simpol. So if the policy content were already decided, citizens who Adopt Simpol in the future would be denied the opportunity of having their say… Tell me more
4. Surely expecting all or sufficient nations to implement Simpol is just a dream. Is Simpol truly realistic?
It is important to remember that global policies are being set and implemented at present. They determine global trading and financial systems. But they are developed principally by rich countries which enforce their will on less powerful nations… Tell me more
5. You simply can’t trust politicians. They may say they’ll implement Simpol, but what’s to stop them simply signing the Simpol Pledge to get the extra votes they need but then going back on their commitment at a later date?
When widespread support for Simpol enables it to be implemented, not only would reneging on their commitment to implement Simpol likely cost politicians their seats, allowing the world to degenerate into chaos would be no more in their interests than anyone else’s, corporations included… Tell me more
6. How are you ever going to get the USA to support Simpol? Both main U.S. parties are influenced by corporate interests so surely neither party will ever support it?
Simpol’s strategy for gaining support for Simpol from political parties or governments would vary from country to country depending on the electoral system… Tell me more
7. What about China, or other countries where no democratic elections are held. How are they to be persuaded to support Simpol?
Although it is extremely difficult to predict what will happen, global problems seem destined to worsen and China will not be immune. It therefore seems possible that a point may be reached where it would become just as much in China’s interests to co-operate with the implementation of Simpol as it would for any other country… Tell me more
8. What about governments in countries that are either corrupt dictatorships or heavily influenced by foreign corporations or interests. How are you going to get those countries to support Simpol?
In many developing countries, citizens are very aware of the constraints put upon their governments by powerful vested interests… Even in undemocratic countries, the power of grassroots movements should not be underestimated… Tell me more
9. You say Simpol can only be implemented when all, or sufficient, nations have Pledged to it. But wouldn’t governments use Simpol as an excuse to delay implementing policies they could implement alone?
Simpol is very much a parallel strategy to other campaigns. It not only strengthens calls for action in the shorter term, but will increasingly provide a vision of what is possible when governments can be driven to co-operate instead of compete… Tell me more
10. Would the policy measures of Simpol be implemented globally, all on the same day, or would they be implemented simultaneously in agreed stages?
Although some Simpol policy measures would be implemented by governments simultaneously on the same date, some may be implemented in full immediately; others may be implemented in a gradual fashion… Tell me more
11. But on many single issues, all nations implementing a policy simultaneously doesn’t of itself completely eliminate the competitive disadvantage between nations. So how can Simpol overcome this obstacle?
Simpol overcomes this because it is a multi-issue policy… Tell me more
12. Wouldn’t Simpol mean a “one size fits all” set of policies which may not be beneficial for some countries?
Whilst it may be difficult today to imagine such policies, we can already see how many problems of the world economy, the environment and other aspects of life are becoming truly global in scope and, furthermore, made worse by destructive global competition… Tell me more
13. How is the range of Simpol policy measures to be formulated and by whom?
Simpol is fundamentally a democratic space in which people around the world can discuss, develop and approve the policies they wish to see implemented to address global problems… Tell me more
14. With many ideas being developed by so many groups, the policy development process could become chaotic and incapable of achieving consensus.
There is a process of bottom-up and top-down sharing of ideas. In addition, there is an international sharing of ideas at all levels as well as a means for making use of outside expertise. Local groups can twin with groups in other countries to bounce their proposals off each other. Tell me more
15. What organisational structures does Simpol have at national and local levels in order to achieve its objectives?
Simpol is based on the concept of nation states, and on how co-operation between them can be achieved. So, our aim is that National Simultaneous Policy Organisations (NSPOs) will, as far as possible, be established in every country of the world… Tell me more
16. How does Simpol relate to global governance and global democracy?
When implemented, Simpol would constitute a form of global governance because the effect of all or sufficient nations simultaneously implementing a commonly agreed set of policies would have global and binding legislative effect… Tell me more
17. How does Simpol differ from conventional methods of international treaty-making?
There are three main differences 1. Treaties will no longer be reneged upon by participating nations as the problem of first mover disadvantage will have been removed. 2. Agreements and treaties will be made binding rather than just being targets. The timing of policy implementation and specifics on affected industries will be included. 3. Policies will decided will be with people’s involvement, not without them… Tell me more
18. The Kyoto Protocol still went ahead without the USA’s participation. So why do we need Simpol?
If we are going to have international agreements that are going to have a really significant effect on the environmental problems they’re designed to solve, we’re not going to get them unless all nations implement them simultaneously. Hence the urgent need for Simpol!… Tell me more
19. Simpol would help to solve some of the world’s pressing economic and environmental problems, but what effect would it have on the arms trade and the threat of wars?
The best antidote for war is co-operation! Tell me more
20. There are so many local initiatives ranging from Transition Towns, LETS schemes to co-operative small businesses – and there’s more and more of them starting up all the time. And what’s more, they’re happening NOW! So why do we need Simpol? Aren’t these local initiatives the only way to go? Aren’t they sufficient to move the world towards sustainability?
Social and environmental commentators are increasingly agreeing that to be sustainable, and in a way that people will go along with, that is, in a way that will enhance, not reduce people’s standard of living, we need to act in a local and global way… Tell me more
21. What about consumer power, corporate social responsibility and the ‘triple bottom line’? Surely they are already bringing errant corporations into line, aren’t they?
To a large extent, therefore, corporations can only afford to be as responsible as their main competitors allow. So all initiatives to instill good corporate behaviour are to be encouraged – but they are not enough… Tell me more
22. There are so many campaigns these days. Why should activists join Simpol and how can we encourage them to see that it offers a complementary solution to other campaigns?
What Simpol does is to give everyone, including activists an additional and complementary way for them to press for their objectives in a completely new, undiluted and politically effective way which augments and supports their existing campaigns… Tell me more
If you have any further questions about Simpol or ISPO, please e-mail us at info @ simpol.org
