Post by XFracture on Mar 11, 2006 1:01:48 GMT -5
With the election time drawing near, I, XFracture, hereby set forth my platform.
NOTE: I have included the reasoning behind my platform. If you do not want to spend time reading that, skip to the italicized and underlined sections.
Government & Politics
Regional Infrastructure
Economy & Business
Technology & Education
Interregional Policy & Defense
Quality of Life
Immigration
NOTE: I have included the reasoning behind my platform. If you do not want to spend time reading that, skip to the italicized and underlined sections.
Government & Politics
Government is a necessary evil. Base to all humankind is disdain for any infringements upon personal freedom. Therefore, government is an intruder upon the basic nature of humankind, and thus is not a desired construction.
However, in so much as humanity has demonstrated its inability, at the individual level, to self-govern apart from selfishness becoming the over-arching impetus of decision and action, government becomes necessary for humanity to exist in mutual community.
However, despite its necessity, born of human selfishness, government ought to always be viewed with suspicion of motive and method. In so much as these two facts persist - that man must be governed and that government is a dubious institution – a democratic process is necessary to facilitate a balance between government and freedom. Thus, the political process is the quintessential tool of a democratic society, which ensures that such a balance is advanced, serving as a mediator between the government and the governed.
Therefore, it is my intention to engage the political process with virility towards ensuring that the government functions as it ought, and does not function as it ought not.
Regional Infrastructure
The government is a necessary evil, as previously asserted. Because it is necessary, the activity of government ought to be given our best efforts, especially as official officers of the government (elected or appointed). Additionally, government officials ought not to be tempted by the possibility of influence by unscrupulous enticements. As such government officials ought to be reasonably compensated for their time and resources sacrificed for the cause of mutual government.
In so much as government officials ought to be fairly compensated, and in so much as government must do some things, which require funding, there must be some method for funding the government. However this is done, it ought to be done as not to encumber or enslave the populace.
Therefore, it is my intention to promote and assist in devising a fair compensation plan for all government “officials” – to include the military. Additionally, I will support a consumption taxation system which seeks reasonable compensation be paid to the government for services it provides as they are used. Furthermore, to prevent the possibility of temptation, I will oppose any apparent conflicts of interests.
Economy & Business
A pervasive idleness is detrimental to society. Societies advance as its citizens contribute to the collective welfare of that society. Sometimes these contributions are direct, and other times they are indirect. Nonetheless, contribution to society by its citizens, in whatever form, is vital. As such, persons ought to be afforded the means to become productive citizens and/or to create opportunities for others to become productive citizens. Any and all barriers to this imperative ought to be viewed as suspect until an adequate assurance of appropriateness is demonstrated.
Therefore, it is my goal to see a capitalistic economy come to fruition. Such an economy ought to be as free of government regulation as possible and as full of personal innovation as possible.
Technology & Education
Progressivism is certainly an aspect of society, which is not only desired, but also intrinsic to the nature of humanity, which cannot rest in mediocrity. Stagnation eventually results in dissolution. However, progress without foundational underpinnings is not progression at all, but rather vacuous experimentation. Progress must always be dependent upon the prior work of those who have gone before us. These forebears built the institutions and societal norms that we benefit from today – often with much tribulation and trial.
It is in this vein that the term “constructionism” is actually more reflective of the ideals that “progressive” conservatives hold. One cannot remove present situations from the past. In cliché, we must not throw out the baby with the bath water in our “progression”. The blessings of our region are direct results of the persistent building of our forebears. Therefore our programs are constructed upon those foundations previously laid, and are thus circularly constructive to the perpetuation of those foundations.
In order to assure a “constructionism” mindset, the history of the region must be preserved and taught. Yet, that is only half of the task before us. We must also look forward, embracing discovery and innovation.
Therefore, I will wholeheartedly promote and support the educational system of our region, not only in word, but also in personal endeavor. Not only will I endorse efforts to preserve our fine history through teaching it to subsequent generations, but I will also promote programs of educational enrichment. These enrichment programs will foster discovery and innovation, which are necessary to build – upon our heritage – a future that will perpetuate our society.
Interregional Policy & Defense
No region stands alone. A region can certainly try to be an isolationistic entity, but interregional issues will eventually confront even the most ardent isolationist. In as much as interregional issues are inevitable, regions ought to attempt to maintain cordial relationships with all regions willing to reciprocate.
An extra-regional association, mutually supported can be of great benefit to the interregional health of NationStates. However, such an association, if left unchecked, can also become oppressive to member regions.
Some regions manage to elevate themselves above others, becoming singularities of political influence. These regions are intrinsically endowed with an ability to affect the NationStates universe. Such ability is of great responsibility. How such regions choose to wield that influence defines that region in the eyes of other regions.
Therefore, I will wholeheartedly support the mission of TITO and endeavor to maintain the integrity of 10KI in the interregional community. Additionally, I will wholeheartedly support the UN, but not blindly so. I will encourage open debate on issues up for consideration at the UN and I will endeavor to introduce some kind of measure to gauge the collective will of 10KI nations in order to ensure that the UN Delegate is aware of that collective will. I will also propose a measure to encourage cordial relations with other regions.
Quality of Life
A community is only as robust as its sense of community. Human beings are created with an innate appetite for relationships. If this appetite is left unsatisfied, people will seek another community. They will continue cycling through communities until that appetite is satisfactorily addressed. Additionally, community can never be seen as a top-down structure. It ought to be approached in a horizontal manner.
Therefore I will endeavor to join the dialogue concerning retention and enrichment of the 10KI community. Additionally, I propose polling the people who are active to discover why they are active. I also propose polling those who are not active to discover what they desire. Lastly, I propose polling those who leave to discover why they left. Guessing at the problems behind the trends does nothing to inform solutions. We must be willing to ask the tough questions in order to enact effective solutions. I also propose that our 10KI chat room service be promoted more vigorously as a community square. This will encourage communication and relationship building in a far more superior way than mere IM clients or semi-static forums.
Immigration
Any community, which desires to continue to thrive, must consider the relationship between immigration and prosperity. A thriving community is a growing community. When a community ceases to grow, stagnation attempts a foothold. When a community dwindles, decline attempts to gain a foothold. This region has always understood these truths, at least in principal. We can survive, for a time, only with the experience born from within. However, experience is not the fire that drives prosperity. It certainly grounds it, but the driving force behind prosperity is innovation. As a community ages, its innate ability to innovate is progressively hampered.
Therefore, I will wholeheartedly support our current immigration program, and devote my own time and energy towards improving it and engaging in it.
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