DoC for NRS: United We Stand!

[Dominion of Compassion]

Hey everyone!

It’s that time of season again! My name is Dominion of Compassion, but you can call me DoC!

I’m here to run for the NRS senate seat again!

For those newcomers who don’t know me or haven’t really met me yet, welcome to the 10,000 Islands! Here’s a brief overview about my involvement here, since March 2015:

- I’ve recruited on and off over that time period
- I’ve served several terms as senator for NRS and LE, and I’ve done multiple stints as Senior Senator, which I am now
- I won a term as Delegate back in 2017, I believe, and loved every moment of it! I focused heavily on monitoring foreign events and ensuring I knew what was going on in the NS world at large.
- I’m a Knight in TITO, and have served since I was eligible.
- I’ve served as a buddy and a mentor to TITO and non-TITO nations.
- I’ve kicked around Taco Island, playing games and spamming here and there
- I’ve opened my own business, Compassionate Campaign Management
- And in the real world, I study political science and public relations, two passions of mine!

Clearly, I absolutely love this region, and have always and will always work towards the betterment of our region, and ensuring that everyone feels just as welcome and at home as I felt when I first arrived!

I’m hoping to work together with the council and the region to find innovative new solutions to help increase interest in the political party system, and new ways to inspire people get active and run for office! Following that line of logic, I’ve formally signed on to Paffnia’s transparency pledge; because I believe that our people deserve clear, open, and compassionate leadership that gets results!

I truly look forward to serving this region during my next term as senator, and I look forward to getting to know all my new friends, and working closely to answer your questions and represent your interests! Because this campaign isn’t about me, it’s about us!

Because the bottom line is- United We Stand!

Viva the 10,000 Islands!

DoC

[Louisistan]

You are running for the NRS seat, which is responsible for the Political Party System.
In your opinion:
* What is the purpose of the Political Parties?
* Do the Political Parties as it stands serve that purpose?
* What improvements, if any, would you make to the System?

Please share with us your reasons for voting as you did on the following issues:
* 10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37636/297-lwu-threat-reduction-passed
* 10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37607/297-amendments-minister-education-passed
* 10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37179/291-discord-moderation-act-passed

Are there any issues beyond the NRS portfolio which you plan on bringing up in the Council?

[Dominion of Compassion]

Sept 9, 2019 4:37:42 GMT -5 Louisistan said:

You are running for the NRS seat, which is responsible for the Political Party System.
In your opinion:
* What is the purpose of the Political Parties?
* Do the Political Parties as it stands serve that purpose?
* What improvements, if any, would you make to the System?

Please share with us your reasons for voting as you did on the following issues:
* 10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37636/297-lwu-threat-reduction-passed
* 10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37607/297-amendments-minister-education-passed
* 10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37179/291-discord-moderation-act-passed

Are there any issues beyond the NRS portfolio which you plan on bringing up in the Council?

Political parties, as I see them, are meant to be places where people come to invest and get involved in the political system. It’s a place where people are able to find likeminded individuals to represent their interests at the council level. According to my perception of the system, we are doing well there. Three parties, that cover a whole gamut of philosophies and ideologies, all with a diverse set of people is an incredibly lucky thing to have in this region.

In terms of improvements, I can’t really speak on that right now. My last two ideas have either fallen flat through lack of interest or caused a riot in the region. It’s back to the drawing board to decide how best to increase interest and engagement in the party system, but I’m willing to work with everyone on the council to figure out a good, efficient, and safe way to achieve this goal. This is a very dynamic senate seat, and there’s no real way to plant an idea in stone and expect it to go exactly how we want. We need to be as dynamic as the senate seat is.

Now, for why I voted my way on those issues:

For the LWU act, my reasoning is simple. How long were we to let this war go on? It was made years ago, and we won, and we won, and we won big time. We won so often and so visibly that it’s actually comical. LWU failed to initiate even a single blow against us. However, because their founder is still active, this is not a fight that we can finish. On the flip side, they couldn’t finish it against us either, due to our founder nation being active. So what? Do we just keep beating a dead horse? No, we won- insofar as we could at this point- and it was time to acknowledge that by passing this act. LWU is no longer worth our time in regards to a formal war.

In regards to the education reforms, I agree with streamlining things by placing the buddies and welcome committee together. That just made sense to me. Allowing the education department to host cultural events is an interesting way to try and inspire an active region, and I feel confident in moving forward with that and seeing how it goes.

I wasn’t there for the discord moderation act. However, I would have voted for it, as it helps inspire a new area for people to get active and involved, new outreach capabilities for interacting with guests from other regions, event hosting opportunities- like the Harry Potter party that occurred during my tenure as delegate, if my timeline is correct- and ensures that our security is not harmed, as it is overseen by the Council of Nine and particularly the CE.

Currently I do want to work with Paffnia in passing his pledge into a mandated law. It’s high time that the region begins focusing on transparency and holding our leaders accountable, and despite opposing such legislation in the past, I see how necessary it is now, and I will work to ensure that such laws are passed into measure. . I’m sure something else will also come up, and when it does, it’ll be posted in my office thread and/or the Co9 Lobby, as well as inside the council chambers, in keeping with my dedication to the transparency pledge.

[Louisistan]

I have a follow-up (or rather: Two of them), if I may:
1.) You say " It’s high time that the region begins focusing on transparency and holding our leaders accountable" - That conveys a sense of urgency, as if there was a particular incident which prompted you to say that. Or maybe I'm reading too much into this?

2.) You have opposed such legislation in the past and now you have changed your mind. What caused you to change your mind?

I have another question which only occured to me yesterday evening:
Reading through the most recently released council debates I was unsettled (to say the least) by the confrontational tone and andversarial stance displayed by members of the Council. I recognise that we've had some difficult time this year and I regret having played a role in that, but I believe we can and we should be able to disagree with each other respectfully in this region. I especially believe that council members should collaborate in a collegial manner and not get entrenched in ideological or inter-personal conflict.

Do you agree with that? And will you try to approach council discussions with that in mind?
To put it another way: If you are elected and the council debates are published three months from now: Will I be reassured by your contributions to the council or is there a risk I will fill similarly ill at ease to the last time?

[Dominion of Compassion]

Sept 10, 2019 2:01:08 GMT -5 Louisistan said:

I have a follow-up (or rather: Two of them), if I may:
1.) You say " It’s high time that the region begins focusing on transparency and holding our leaders accountable" - That conveys a sense of urgency, as if there was a particular incident which prompted you to say that. Or maybe I'm reading too much into this?

2.) You have opposed such legislation in the past and now you have changed your mind. What caused you to change your mind?

I have another question which only occured to me yesterday evening:
Reading through the most recently released council debates I was unsettled (to say the least) by the confrontational tone and andversarial stance displayed by members of the Council. I recognise that we've had some difficult time this year and I regret having played a role in that, but I believe we can and we should be able to disagree with each other respectfully in this region. I especially believe that council members should collaborate in a collegial manner and not get entrenched in ideological or inter-personal conflict.

Do you agree with that? And will you try to approach council discussions with that in mind?
To put it another way: If you are elected and the council debates are published three months from now: Will I be reassured by your contributions to the council or is there a risk I will fill similarly ill at ease to the last time?

I would say, regarding my support of transparency laws now as opposed to early on, stems from the recent debacle. I won’t mince words about that. I was unhappy with the developments in the situation back in July, and I recognize that a portion of that issue falls squarely on me for not being open about the idea, and the process of eliminating that idea. Conversely, it falls on the people who read evil into my intentions as well. Rather than just communicating with me from the start, people flipped out and jumped at shadows that didn’t exist. I’m supporting these laws to prevent another councilor from being railroaded again, like I was back in July. This way, we avoid future misunderstandings and won’t have any more meltdowns of that nature.

I completely agree with you that people should be able to effectively communicate without being abrasive or rude or condescending. Following that train of thought, days ago I opened a channel of communication with another party involved, and we’ve been talking about how we can handle future disagreements in a way that isn’t rude or confrontational, but can help foster a sense of common purpose and friendship. I won’t reveal this person’s identity, nor what was sent in private messages, but if they wish to verify my statement here, then they may. I just don’t want to violate their privacy if they want this kept between us.

I feel that since we’ve initiated this channel of communication, it’s going to help things on the council return to a sense of normalcy. I feel perfectly confident that I can work with anyone on the council, and if we all put our minds to it, I’m sure we can find a way to be amicable if nothing else, although my goal is a sense of friendship rather than just amicability.

And if you felt ill at ease reading it, imagine how I feel about the whole thing.

[Louisistan]

Thank you for your reassurances. Yes, I imagine being in the middle of it is even more uncomfortable than just reading it.

[Dominion of Compassion]

Sept 10, 2019 11:09:21 GMT -5 Louisistan said:

Thank you for your reassurances. Yes, I imagine being in the middle of it is even more uncomfortable than just reading it.

It is, and I feel bad for the roles I’ve played in the mess, and the attitude I’ve at times displayed as well. I’m hoping that by communicating privately, we’re able to put some of these issues to rest.

I view everyone in this region as a friend of mine, and I’m saddened by how contentious things have become. I truly hope to help right the issues and help things find peace again.

[Dominion of Compassion]

Don’t forget everyone! Voting closes in 6 days!

Vote MSPP, because United We Stand!

[Paffnia]

A well-fought race, Dominion of Compassion.