III. Social Life
Our basic mission is to meet the individual’s growing demands in social life at the standards set by developed countries and with regard to the requirements of the 2lst Century. Turkey being a rapidly growing, young country, the individual’s ever-increasing needs in this regard are highly urgent.
In a liberal democracy, the individual is the focal point. All social, cultural and economic activities are designed around the individual’s requirements so as to serve his/her well being and happiness. It is believed that this, in turn, serves to create social development in the most effective manner (ref. A General Assessment).
III.l. Culture
III.l.l. The State will not pursue a particular culture policy as this would mean that the individual and thereof, the social development is hindered because, expression of self is discouraged. We are not at all of the opinion that all people living in Turkey must share similar cultural features or receive similar cultural inputs.
III.l.2. In this context, the State will not involve in arts. All forms of state controlled art activities will be ended. We consider State involvement in any form of art as an insult to art and the artists. The artist employed and paid by the State would be negating his/her being an artist!
III.l.3. Citizens of the Republic of Turkey will be completely free in their cultural preferences and will not be subjected to any cultural coercion. In this way, Turkey’s cultural richness, her most important and resourceful feature, will be protected and allowed to develop (ref. A General Assessment).
II.l.4. The Liberal Democrat Party will create a free environment where the citizens of the Republic of Turkey are open and exposed to all foreign cultures. Cultural interaction will be encouraged with the belief that great world civilizations are but a cultural synthesis.
III.l.5. We believe that religion is also an important element of culture and therefore, should be treated within the framework of human rights. Thus, religion will maintain its highly valued and respected place with the individual under the principles of secularism.
III.l.6. Language is considered as another element of culture and thus, will be treated within the framework of human rights. Citizens of the Turkish Republic will be free to speak, write, receive education and communicate in any language provided that the official language is Turkish.
III.l.7. We believe that only individuals who love their country and a society made up of such individuals can have a high level of patriotic feelings. Attempts to define the concept of “nationalism” are vein and an insult to the Republic. The Liberal Democrat Party promotes free identification with, expression and protection of past and present cultural values and realities of Turkish citizens with the understanding that only this can be the “life water” of Turkish nationalism.
III.l.8. Similarly, we believe that i.e. National History may best and most correctly be written in the free thinking and free expression conditions provided by liberal policies. The understanding of “official history” writings as attempted by political parties in power through the history of the Republic and only to brainwash the people will be abandoned.
III.l.9. To encourage cultural interaction is one of our primary objectives. To serve this end, the sectors of communication (media) and culture will be kept exempt from taxation. Great importance will be attached to revitalizing international cultural interaction (ref. II.2.7.).
III.l.lO. We believe that science and technology, like arts, are products of individual’s needs. In societies where the individual is placed before all, which aim at the well being and happiness of the individual and which are governed by liberal minds, technology and science flourish. So it will in Turkey.
III.2. Education
III.2.l. The State will have no part in education except for primary schooling of eight years. The final goal is for the State to withdraw from primary education as well. We believe that centrally controlled education is a product of totalitarian, fascistic regimes.
III.2.2. Foundations or private organizations will carry out education at all levels. This will be encouraged to create a highly competitive system. We believe that education technology, which has acquired great importance at the threshold of the 2lst Century, will thus be rapidly adopted and disseminated.
III.2.3. The significance of a diploma will be made proportionate to the skill and the local, national, international reputation of the educational institution that issues it.
III.2.4. Curricula at all levels will be full decentralized and each education institution will be free to make its own. We believe that curricula should be designed to meet the social, cultural and economic realities of the individuals with, of course, consideration of global developments. This can not be made possible through the statist approach as experienced in Turkey i.e., through curricula developed by a single center who is insensitive to the realities of the individual, the society and the world.
III.2.5. People will be free to receive education for any amount of time and in any area they wish to provided that they have completed eight years of compulsory education.
III.2.6. To improve equality of opportunity in education, the State will grant scholarships to poor and disabled students with regard to their talents and performance.
III.2.7. To serve the basic objectives outlined above; the Law for the Unification of Education will be reviewed and updated to meet today’s requirements.
III.3. Health
III.3.l. Convinced that healthy individuals make up a healthy and happy society, the Liberal Democrat Party believes that all necessary arrangements should be made in order for health services to be conducted in an efficient manner (ref. I.5., II.6.4.).
III.3.2. Legal arrangements will be made in this context allowing the creation of private health insurance schemes in which everybody may participate. The insurance sector will be supported through tax exemptions (ref. I.5.6., II.2.1.).
III.3.3. In this context, all hospitals owned by the State and existing state social security organizations will be transferred to foundations and private bodies. In his way, it will be ensured that hospital services are carried out professionally.
III.3.4. The State will provide free treatment for only the poor and the disabled through issues of vouchers.
III.4. Consumer Rights and the Environment
III.4.l. We believe that in a liberal democracy, protection of consumer rights and the environment is among the primary duties of the State. This will be made possible through enactment of new laws and establishment of courts, which specialize, in these areas.
III.5. Mass Communication: The Media
III.5.l. We believe that mass communication and therefore, mass communication means will have an effective part to play in the establishment and development of a liberal democracy in Turkey. Thus, Liberal Democrat Party intends to include in the Constitution various provisions concerning mass communication (the media) referred to as the “fourth power”.
III.5.2. With this belief, special incentives to the mass communication sector will be provided, i.e. total tax exemption (ref. I.1.6., II.2.7., III.l.8.).
III.6. Sports
III.6.l. We believe those sports, by its very nature, have and will continue to nave great part in the establishment end development of a liberal democracy. The qualities acquired by an individual active in sports reflect best the liberal philosophy which aims at primarily creating peace and happiness among the people’s of the world
III.6.2. In today’s world, sports have ceased to be national activity and/or an engagement but has become an international event just like arts. This means that it has significant impact on the interaction of individuals and nations thus, creation of world peace and order. Thus, the Liberal Democrat Party attaches great importance to the development and encouragement of sports in general.
III.6.3. Sports education and thus, development of sportsmanship begins at early ages. The Liberal Democrat Party, with an Olympic spirit, will make all the necessary arrangements in this regard.
III.6.4. Sports will be rid of all bureaucracy and politics. Private entrepreneurs will be encouraged to engage in sports to create the administrative and material conditions necessary for its fast development.
