Questions for Senate Candidates 11/19

[HumanSanity]

Questions for Senate candidates:

Do you intend to follow Paffnia's Transparency Pledge while a Senator, including its subsequent amendment? If no, why not? If you've already answered this question before, feel free to link to your old answer.

How do you feel about my recent proposal to clarify the meaning of the Constitutional phrase "function as Supreme Court of 10000 Islands" as a power of the Council of Nine? If you've already shared your thoughts, feel free to link to where you have.

Are there changes you would make to the way your current portfolio (Houses or Role Play) is run?

What do you feel is distinctive within 10000 Islands' Constitutional system about the role of a Senator as opposed to other unelected members of the Council of Nine (e.g. the Chief Executive and Ministers) or the WA Delegate? What is the role of elections to select Senators? How should the public influence a Senator's prerogatives? How will you imagine your role differently than if you were a Minister appointed by the Chief Executive to take care of your portfolio?

Are you concerned about balance between the 10000 Islands Discord and Forum? What do you believe to be the proper role of each? Are there any functions currently carried out mostly on one rather than the other that you think should be moved or restructured?

What do you believe to be the role (conceptually) of Senate job responsibilities? Can/should they categorically be moved to payroll positions, as has happened in the past when the Himes West lottery duty was reassigned to the job of Casino Manager?

Will you maintain a public office in the Council of Nine lobby?

Tagging all declared candidates - United Royal Islands Haivon Marxist Germany

I may add more questions later and others may contribute as well!

HS

[Marxist Germany]

Nov 6, 2019 13:46:39 GMT -5 HumanSanity said:

Questions for Senate candidates:

Do you intend to follow Paffnia 's Transparency Pledge while a Senator, including its subsequent amendment? If no, why not? If you've already answered this question before, feel free to link to your old answer.

How do you feel about my recent proposal to clarify the meaning of the Constitutional phrase "function as Supreme Court of 10000 Islands" as a power of the Council of Nine? If you've already shared your thoughts, feel free to link to where you have.

Are there changes you would make to the way your current portfolio (Houses or Role Play) is run?

What do you feel is distinctive within 10000 Islands' Constitutional system about the role of a Senator as opposed to other unelected members of the Council of Nine (e.g. the Chief Executive and Ministers) or the WA Delegate? What is the role of elections to select Senators? How should the public influence a Senator's prerogatives? How will you imagine your role differently than if you were a Minister appointed by the Chief Executive to take care of your portfolio?

Are you concerned about balance between the 10000 Islands Discord and Forum? What do you believe to be the proper role of each? Are there any functions currently carried out mostly on one rather than the other that you think should be moved or restructured?

What do you believe to be the role (conceptually) of Senate job responsibilities? Can/should they categorically be moved to payroll positions, as has happened in the past when the Himes West lottery duty was reassigned to the job of Casino Manager?

Will you maintain a public office in the Council of Nine lobby?

HS

Greetings.

1. Yes, I see no reason not to allow public discussion on npn confidential matters.

2. This one is a bit of a hot topic but I'll keep this short and concise. I think that since it already exists in the constitution, it should be clarified upon. It helps to clear up any ambiguities concerning its fumction. However, I won't be getting into the details of how it should function yet as I have not made my mind on that.

3. RP is heavily neglected and has been for the past couple of months in XKI. I will try working with experienced RPers, the Cartographer General and his Deputy, and other newer RPers. I am going to be honest here and say that I am not so experienced in RPing itself, but I know how to run/oganise RP. I do not intend on making changes to the role itself.

4. A Senator is elected by the people directly unlike Ministers, this means that they have to please a wider base as opposed to one person in order to claim the spot. The difference between the WA delegate and Senators IMO is the workload. The delegate has a much larger duty to the islands in the form of representing the Islands in foreign affairs, managing emissaries, ensuring that WA votes are conducted, and serving for longer terms means that the workload is carried for longer. Ministers also control a much more important aspect of the islands compared to Senators, and have to generally carry out more work. Elections ensure that the Co9 is representative of the people whilst maintaining a balance between CE appointees and elected individuals. The public influence a Senators prerogative through ensuring that they do their work to please them and possible get reelected. I would imagine my role would'not have been affected much assuming the same duties apply.

5. The balance is currently well managed. Most casual topics that normally wouldn't go in the forums are done on the discord. And using discord for military communication is much more efficient than what was being used on the forums as I have been old. However I think that the discord has had a negative impact on University debates as most debating was happening on the discord. I do not think changes are necessary.

6. Currently I do not see the need to transfer senate roles to payroll jobs, running the Casino was a much easier job than managing the House Competitions for example, so it was a good call to transfer that job to a paying job. I cannot imagine how writing up the monthly report, managing RP, or running houses or parties can become paying jobs.

7. Yes, I think a office is a great method of communicating with Constituents.

I hope you find these answers sufficient.

[Haivon]

Nov 6, 2019 13:46:39 GMT -5 HumanSanity said:

Questions for Senate candidates:

Do you intend to follow Paffnia 's Transparency Pledge while a Senator, including its subsequent amendment? If no, why not? If you've already answered this question before, feel free to link to your old answer.

How do you feel about my recent proposal to clarify the meaning of the Constitutional phrase "function as Supreme Court of 10000 Islands" as a power of the Council of Nine? If you've already shared your thoughts, feel free to link to where you have.

Are there changes you would make to the way your current portfolio (Houses or Role Play) is run?

What do you feel is distinctive within 10000 Islands' Constitutional system about the role of a Senator as opposed to other unelected members of the Council of Nine (e.g. the Chief Executive and Ministers) or the WA Delegate? What is the role of elections to select Senators? How should the public influence a Senator's prerogatives? How will you imagine your role differently than if you were a Minister appointed by the Chief Executive to take care of your portfolio?

Are you concerned about balance between the 10000 Islands Discord and Forum? What do you believe to be the proper role of each? Are there any functions currently carried out mostly on one rather than the other that you think should be moved or restructured?

What do you believe to be the role (conceptually) of Senate job responsibilities? Can/should they categorically be moved to payroll positions, as has happened in the past when the Himes West lottery duty was reassigned to the job of Casino Manager?

Will you maintain a public office in the Council of Nine lobby?

Tagging all declared candidates - United Royal Islands Haivon Marxist Germany

I may add more questions later and others may contribute as well!

HS

Thank you all, I really not expected in ever try in to be Senator or something else in 10000 Islands, so thank you a lot.

1.Well, in first of all, I can do this with no problems, I think is even a good thing.

2.Nah, I don't care about a reference at all. It's good because it is more direct to see and think about the Council of 9. As Marxist Germany says, It's already in the Constitution, so, I don't see why change it. It's very used term in real countries too.

3.I have two ideas here what could be done in this case, and they  are for help new people enter in the Forum:
We could do a better opening for new members that advises everything. This would help a lot in help them entering and participate even more. Yes, I joined have less than a month and it was very difficult to understand everything. I had lucky to have some people that helped me. Yes, that includes things about parties, Houses and even more.
The second one is do lower prices to beginners in the Shop thing. This will help them for get more things for help them to get things, and the price increases more with more time you be on the Forum. 

4.Senator is not a such private thing as WA Delegate, so it must be a very open thing since it was direct elected and not choose by someone, so it must serve everyone with not desires of someone that is in a elevated level in power as Kuriko or even Grub ( It doesn't meant to offend anyone, it's just an example). It's a very easy thing to do compared to a lot of other charges as WA Delegate, but it doesn't mean that someone don't need to be active, but the opposite, since it would be needed at every time.

5.I'm concerned about the balance between the Forum and the Discord. Getting to the point, I think the balance is equal with the two, and every topic is in it's exactly place, so it's not that such important matter in my point of view.

6.I believe in that every job have someone that works for it, so I'm concerned what I should do and what I shouldn't. For example I don't think I can do reports and that busy things, so I didn't think of a lot of things 

7.To finish it, I will maintain it. It's a very good thing for communications at all, and helps a lot in Constituents.

[Marxist Germany]

The second one is do lower prices to beginners in the Shop thing. This will help them for get more things for help them to get things, and the price increases more with more time you be on the Forum. 

I would imagine that the Regional Reserve would have to be consulted for this, and I don't really think it is possible. But good start! I will be looking forward to this competition.

[Haivon]

Nov 6, 2019 20:06:26 GMT -5 Marxist Germany said:

The second one is do lower prices to beginners in the Shop thing. This will help them for get more things for help them to get things, and the price increases more with more time you be on the Forum. 

I would imagine that the Regional Reserve would have to be consulted for this, and I don't really think it is possible. But good start! I will be looking forward to this competition.

Yes, I've thought a lot in this, to be serious, I think it would be very difficult for we do this, but if we be able, we could have a better gameplay, but thanks for questioning. Good luck for you!

[HumanSanity]

Thanks to both Marxist Germany and Haivon for your answers. This question doesn't apply to United Royal Islands because she already has record votes on these questions.

How would you have voted on each of the following items in the most recent Senate term? Why?

10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37860/299-world-assembly-secretary-passed
10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37885/ns-299-lazarus-embassy-passed
10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37912/ns-300-hartfelden-embassy-passed
10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37915/establish-east-pacific-embassy-passed
10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37954/300-close-embassy-inwu-passed
10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37965/300-modify-duties-senator-passed

[Marxist Germany]

Nov 10, 2019 15:07:31 GMT -5 HumanSanity said:

Thanks to both Marxist Germany and Haivon for your answers. This question doesn't apply to United Royal Islands because she already has record votes on these questions.

How would you have voted on each of the following items in the most recent Senate term? Why?

10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37860/299-world-assembly-secretary-passed
10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37885/ns-299-lazarus-embassy-passed
10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37912/ns-300-hartfelden-embassy-passed
10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37915/establish-east-pacific-embassy-passed
10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37954/300-close-embassy-inwu-passed
10000islands.proboards.com/thread/37965/300-modify-duties-senator-passed

1. For, a WA Secretary job is necessary to develop WA authorship, an area we are lacking in
2. For, Lazarus is a large GCR that is independent in R/D so I see no reason to oppose.
3. Delegates Prerogative, I am not so sure if Hartfelden would be committed to defending so I'll leave it up to our Delegate to decide. 4. For, TEP is a great region to establish embassies with, especially since we only closed our embassies due to a raider getting elected delegate.
5. Delegates Prerogative, I do not know enough about the situation to justify holding an opinion.
6. For, NRS senator should be more suited towards debates, as opposed to managing parties, the workload is also significantly smaller than other duties. Its better to let the CE manage the board.

[United Royal Islands]

Nov 6, 2019 13:46:39 GMT -5 HumanSanity said:

Questions for Senate candidates:
Do you intend to follow Paffnia's Transparency Pledge while a Senator, including its subsequent amendment? If no, why not? If you've already answered this question before, feel free to link to your old answer.

10000islands.proboards.com/post/1699023/thread
TLDR: While transparency have some objective good, we have processes and procedures which allow for flexibility while retaining regional security.

Nov 6, 2019 13:46:39 GMT -5 HumanSanity said:

How do you feel about my recent proposal to clarify the meaning of the Constitutional phrase "function as Supreme Court of 10000 Islands" as a power of the Council of Nine? If you've already shared your thoughts, feel free to link to where you have.

10000islands.proboards.com/post/1709323

10000islands.proboards.com/post/1713353

Nov 6, 2019 13:46:39 GMT -5 HumanSanity said:

Are there changes you would make to the way your current portfolio (Houses or Role Play) is run?

As of right now the major concern facing the region remains activity levels. While there were positive signs this past term with the Houses, I am looking forward to ways we can improve upon that success and retain our great houses. Overall the portfolio of the senators seems more well balanced than it has been in prior years, and I am looking to how the status quo will play out before recommending or suggesting any changes.

Nov 6, 2019 13:46:39 GMT -5 HumanSanity said:

What do you feel is distinctive within 10000 Islands' Constitutional system about the role of a Senator as opposed to other unelected members of the Council of Nine (e.g. the Chief Executive and Ministers) or the WA Delegate? What is the role of elections to select Senators? How should the public influence a Senator's prerogatives? How will you imagine your role differently than if you were a Minister appointed by the Chief Executive to take care of your portfolio?

While elections influence how I view the difference between senators and ministers; I do believe that those who run for a senate seat should be fully committed to the work of the roles. Recent changes to the portfolios have leveled out the required work for each of the seats, requiring similar levels of effort and experience. As a senator I do think I have an greater obligation to the islands to be candid in my views and how I will act as a representative. Perhaps the only constitutional difference is that senator’s are uniquely vested with legislative power instead of subsequently with executive authority as the other council members are. As such, given the closer elective nature, the lack of administrative authority, and the lesser workload- I feel it is obligatory of senators to do their best to elevate views and arguments which are made by non-council members.

Nov 6, 2019 13:46:39 GMT -5 HumanSanity said:

Are you concerned about balance between the 10000 Islands Discord and Forum? What do you believe to be the proper role of each? Are there any functions currently carried out mostly on one rather than the other that you think should be moved or restructured?

The discord/forum balance is a crucial component of the ongoing activity problems facing our region. I do believe that there are areas where better interfacing between the forum and the discord could be used to help retain members and generate activity on both. I am currently discussing with our discord technical advisor the hurdles to implementing some ideas. As to the specific balance, I remain unsure exactly where those lines should be drawn.

Nov 6, 2019 13:46:39 GMT -5 HumanSanity said:

What do you believe to be the role (conceptually) of Senate job responsibilities? Can/should they categorically be moved to payroll positions, as has happened in the past when the Himes West lottery duty was reassigned to the job of Casino Manager?

As of now, I am opposed to further portfolio changes until the effects and impacts of prior changes change be better assessed for their impact on activity.

Nov 6, 2019 13:46:39 GMT -5 HumanSanity said:

Will you maintain a public office in the Council of Nine lobby?

Yes : 10000islands.proboards.com/thread/33700/united-royal-islands-office