Sheynat for Senate (Senate 1/05)

[Sheynat]

First, I'll just go over my record and get that out of the way, since people seem interested in that. I have, by my count, 50 battle stars, and am waiting for a 51st. (This is counting the three battle stars for the North Pacific Liberation.) I have the North Pacific Liberation Star and the Order of the Black Eagle, a medal from the region of Prussia. I was an assistant minister of immigration for a while, although I was removed from that position for reasons I still don't understand. I was a co-president of the OEE, although I feel I should add I won by default; nobody ran against me. With all that record stuff out of the way, I'll get to my actual platform.

I believe in being able to overturn an executive veto. Currently, if the vote is 8-1 against, Grub dissenting, Grub needs only say "I veto this measure" and it's over. I'd like to see the Council able to cancel Grub's vetp and enact a measure. Six votes to overturn the veto should do it.However, I disagree with the idea of bringing it to a vote amongst the population for two reasons. First and most important is that some affairs in the Council are classified. Second is that, according to some Senators that I have spoken to, everything is passed unanimously, because all the kinks are worked out before the vote. This means it's just not that urgent to have a veto, much less be able to overturn it-nobody ever disagrees. However, American Presidents are rarely impeached, and thus far, never convicted. But the option is there, and the government is better for it.
I would like to see, in cases where the vote is not 9-0, each Senator post how they'd voted, for the public to see and decide if they approve of howeach Senator voted on the issue.
I am also for increased foreign contact. Many regional outsiders see us as being the same as DEN, which is not a good state of affairs. I believe this could be remedied by more outside contact. Further, the recently 10000 Islands Magazine could be (and I believe should be) used to this purpose.
I'm in favor of the idea of University classes. This is a good idea, but it seems like it's an idea on the verge of dying, like many others. I'd work to keep it alive and get it implemented.
I'm also in favor of increasing work on immigration. However, from experience, I know that the numbers that come in are quite beyond our control.

If you have any other questions, please ask.

[The Peoples of Yavanna]

I have some questions for ya, Sheynat...

1. What other new ideas do you have for new regional involvement? What would you like to see implemented, outside of your ideas of governmental changes?

2. How would you like to see Immigration proceed? Much has been made of Gatesville reaching 1000 nations; what ideas do you have about seeing us reach the same goal?

3. On the idea you brought up of foreign contact: Do you feel we need more ambassadors? Do you feel our image is compromised in the NS world, and if so, why... and how would you seek to improve our foreign relations?

4. University classes.... yes it is a good idea. What would you like to see happen with this idea, specifically? What qualifications do you think teachers should have? What classes would you like to see offered?

Thanks for indulging me.

[Sheynat]

1. I'd like to see the University finally gotten up and running, but I've already declared my support of that insitution. There is already an STFI unit; I'd like to see something similar for Education, which (I understand) is quite similar to Immigration in procedures. There is also a Chatzy chat for the 10000 Islands; however, this is rarely occupied. I think an IRC chatroom might be a good idea. Another idea I've had, I've gotten from similar forums. On these, you have serious discussion forums (10000 Islands.) You have forums for joking around (Taco Island.) Then, you have just plain ol' socialization forums; somewhere where the forumgoers go to just talk-not play games, nor discuss politics, but just talk about video games, life, or whatever.
2. We're doing something right, obviously; but not quite so right as Gatesville. When I was in Immigration, the department had had a long-standing objection to posting on the RMBs of the feeder regions. I'm unsure if this is still the case, but if it is, this would be a good start. Another good idea would be to try to find out what, exactly, Gatesville does. One thousand nations is a far-off goal, but Gatesville got there. It might be worth it to go see how.
3. I do feel more ambassadors would be good, and I do feel our image is compromised. I've recently been an endorsement leader for a TITO mission, and had to deal with a group of people that recognized and admitted no difference between defenders and invaders. They refuse to call defenders and invaders by the names they call themselves, lumping them into a single group called "raiders." This is an increasingly large demographic in NationStates. They usually describe themselves as neutral, but they are usually neutral only in that they are equally hostile to defenders and invaders. The idea of defender propaganda doesn't seem to be helping-indeed, it would seem to me that it may be linking us to invaders. When we adopted the practice, it had been used so long by invaders it may be tainted in the mind of NSers and forever linked with invading.
4.What I'd like to see happen with the idea is basically what's been proposed. People volunteer their services to teach about subjects they know. As for which classes, I would not limit them to "Defending 101", "RPing," "History of Nationstates," blah, blah, blah. I would suggest that somebody be chosen to maintain the University (if such a person does not already exist), and that suggestions for whatever topics somebody might like to see a class about-programming, foreign politics, whatever-be sent to this person. They occasionally put forward calls for volunteers to teach on these subjects, and they give lessons.
If anybody needs anything clarified, or has further questions, just ask.

[FThomason]

First of all I would like to say congratulations to all the canidates for senate. This years race will be very close, and all the canidates are extremely qualified.

Here is my few questions...

1. If there could be one constitutional amendment or addition in your term. What would it be?
2. How do you plan on greatly increasing are immigration numbers, but also keeping out spies. Will the TITO application process become more strict?

[Sheynat]

As to question 1, I have many things I'd like to see. The question of which single change I most want to see is tough. I would have to say the ability of the Senate to, with sufficient votes, overturn the Executive's veto would be my primary issue. While, as I said, we won't need it anytime soon, we will need it eventually. As to question 2, I'll be blunt. There is no one thing that I, as a Senator, could do. In this game, as in reality, the best counterintelligence is a group of skillful intelligence agents penetrating those who might wish to spy on us. Beyond that, there's really nothing anyone could do to prevent spying.except stay watchful, and keep your enemies thoroughly infiltrated.