Apollon Meeting #8

Topic: Should we introduce sales taxsystem?


Moderator: Kate


Agree side: Rie, Rachel, and Amy
<Rie> Low income people should pay more and more, but high income family don't have to pay so much. It's unfear. So he thinks income tax system is better than sales one.
<Rachel> It is hard for low income family to pay sales tax, so such people may have difficulty to live.
<Amy> If we place tax, people may tend not to buy products. And she is a doctor, so when her hospital buy medical machine, it costs too big sales tax.

Disagree side: Anna and Alex
<Anna> The government needs much money, for example in order to hold sunflower festival, the sales tax system can get money easily.
<Alex> She has a chid and don't have to pay money for education thanks to tax, for example textbooks.

<disagree → agree> Both the rich and the poor should pay same tax even though they were given different income, so it is unfaer.
<Anna → disagree> It is good for both of them to introduce the reduced tax system.

<disagree side> Then income tax system is better than sales one.

<Consensus>
They can't decide which sales or income tax system is better, and introduce or not.

<Comments>
Today's topic seemed to be a difficult issue, and I couldn't understand some idea. However all panelists not only stated they opinions but also listened to each other. We couldn't get consensus but it was very valueable meeting, I think.

Apollon Meeting #7

Topic: Making points system in apollon?

 →If we do something good for Apollon, we get points.
   We can use the points with our own cards.

<Moderator/Belle> What is "something good for Apollon?"

<Jack> Tour guide volunteer - People should attend program to get knowledge about guide.

<Tama> Volunteer works as sunflower festival - Last meeting, we consearned about people, so we can gather by using this system.

<Mac> Buying stuff that are made in Apollon.

<Angelina> Recycle box - When we throw away garbages into recycling boxes, we can get points.


<Belle> Where can we use these points?

<Jack> We can use points for public transportation fee or utility bill.

<Mac> We can use them at shopping center, because we often spend money to shopping.

<Angelina> She thinks it is not good to use them for amusement or hobby.

<Laura> She thinks using points for amenity is good.








<Consensus>
We make point-system.


<Comments>
 Today, moderator made time to think or ask question many times and it is very good thing. However it seemed that panelists didn't want to grand audiences' idea. Of cource to speak out our own idea is important thing, but to listen to other people opinions is more important, I think. We should reacknoeledge that it is not always that our opinion will be granted for everyone.

Apollon Meeting #6

Topic: Should we make a national holiday, Sunflower day?


Moderator: Lucus

Agree side: Finnian, Kofy, Allie
Disagree side: Carol, Hanna

<Finnian> Sunflower is our symbolic flower, so we should praise them on such special day. If we hold some event on the day, our tourism and economy will be stimulated.

<Kofy> We should be aware of our symble flower and we can remember sunflower every year throght the day. Besides we have no holiday now, so we need a national holiday.

<Allie> She wants to hold a festival and cereblate like Thanksgiving day. If we do that, all Apollon people will get more closer.


<Carol> If we make a national holiday, we need a lot of money, places, and people. Besides, children will lose one school day. She thinks holiday is enough Saturdays and Sundays.

<Hanna> She thinks using sunflower is good idea but we don't have to have such day. Young people are not so interested in sunflower, so she worries about that we can't get any merits from the day.


<Lucus> Disagree members worry that we need a mad amount of money, places, or people. So what do you agree members think about that?

<Kofy> She expects that we can earn many incomes more than the costs, so it's not so serious problem.
<Carol> Who does pay the costs?
<Finnian> She thinks it doesn't cost so much, so government will pay for it.


Question: What is the definition of "national holiday"
→ The day that all students don't have to go to school, and company can deside to take off from work or not.


<Carol> She worries about students, so if the national day will set on weekend, she will agree.



<Consensus>
We make Sunflower day on last Saturday in July and hold a sunflower festival.


<Comments>
I enjoyed today's meeting, but I couldn't understand what panelists are talking about during the early part of the discussion because it sometimes seemed back-and-forth meeting. However every panelists said their opinions and listened to each other. It's very important thing, I think.

Apollon Meeting #5

Topic: Do we associate with other country?

Moderator: Emily

Agree: Lucy, Ashly, Sara

<Lucy> It's good for Apollon's developing. Besides, we can trade and the oppotunity of getting to know other cultures will increase.

<Ashly> If we start to associate with other country, we can introduce foreign technology. And if big disaster happen, we can help each other.

<Sara> She is a photographer,

so she wants many people to enjoy her photos. And she wants to read foreign photographers' books but there is no photo such books in Apollon. 

Disagree: Sophie, Isabera

<Sophie> We live without associating other country and it may cause various problems. Besides we can develop Apollon more and more if there is a possibility of declining of our tourism.

<Isabera> She worries about war. We have to help each other, so if the country we associate with starts war, we should help. Besides our culture will disappear.

<Lucy> Our culture will not disappear completly and it is more important to understand foreign cultures.

<Sophie> We can buy foreign stuff on the internet, I think.

<agree side> 

We should associate with other country. For example, if we trade with other country, it will be also advertisement for us.

<disagree side> 

We also agree with associating with foregin country only trade. Then we can advertise Apollon more. If tourism is unstable, we can both of that. 

<Consensus>

We should associate with other country while developing our country Apollon.

( Comment )

I should show some information not just ideas. However I think this meeting is better than first one. Icould talk my thinkings much more than last time. And I really appreciate to moderator, Emily.

Apollon Meeting #4

Topic: Should the elementary school students have their own cellphones?

Moderator: Anna

Agree: Amy, Alex

<Amy> In order to avoid crimes that happen during children go to school, students can use cellphone as a noisemaker. And we can teach them the correct way to use.

<Alex> Both she and her husband works, so her son leave alone. Cellphones have GPS, and parents can keep in contact with children whenever they want. 

Disagree: Rie, Kate, Richel

<Rie> Cellphone has bad influences on children and it's waste of time. Due to cellphones, children tend to be unhealthy or not to play out side.

<Kate> There are a lot of things to learn, for example the way to get along with people. It's more important than the way to use cellphones.

<Richel> Children use not only mail or phone but also internet. And it can implicate crimes. It's too dangerous for students to use.

<Alex> We can block such dangerous sites in order not to access. And every parents should teach how to use cellphones in correct way. Then, the risk will decrease.

<Kate> If parents should leave children alone at home, relatives

can take care of them.

<Alex> It's a good idea.

<Richel> To have cellphone costs too much. We should use such money to more important things.

<Amy> Children is much more important than money, so she can pay it to save children.And it is good way to make a family rule, because children's situation depends on their family.

<Consensus>

We should make a rule that every family should make their own rules.

( Comment )
I think it doesn't have to be only one rule. We can combine some panelists ideas. Then we can conclude much better one, I think. However every panelist spoke positively and also listened to each other. I want to follow them.