Open Discussion of Political Encouragment

[Bratesbourgh]

Hello,

After talking with Grub, I have decided to open up a discussion on political activity in the region. In my opinion, it seems to have died out. In the last election, we had a uncontested seat.

As such, I wish to discuss and open this up with idea to promote political activity, civil activity, social, and all aspects of communal life in the region.
Everything can be discussed, ideas for reform, ideas of new political insitutions, new concepts, etc. etc.

So, I open this up with these questions:

1) What do you find lacking in the current political structure of the region?
2) What do you find lacking in the political parties?
3) What would you recommend to encourage political and social activity in the area?
4) What new structures or governmental agencies could be formed, altered, or removed?
5) What do you think of the current system? Political Parties? Council? Etc.

[Goldenloser2241]

1) Interaction from the people. In order for the Senate or CO9 to have anything to decide over we need the people to become active themselves or else we will be serving over floating pixles.
2) Political parties within the region have always seemed to take on a life of their own. I remember when there were multiple liberal parties when one canidate admited defeate he would endorse the other. The gist of what I am saying about the parties is once again man power.
3) Possibly more games like the treasure hunt that we had a while back. Political activity can only be made I think through elections. With the only elections being the Senate and Delegate...I don't know exactly how to get that done though.
4) I need to think a wee bit more.
5) Refer to 4

[Alfonia]

1)

I think the old threads from all depts. that no longer threaten our security should be viewable by everyone, a more open system would stimulate activity i think.

Let's scrap the 5-member rule for parties. As it is now, there aren't enough people that are politically active to justify this rule. All it does is that it makes it harder to start a new party, and we need new parties, even though they're small, they're better than nothing.

Maybe we could have a debate on chatzy once every second week or so?

If we have to keep this (in my humble opinion bad) 5-member rule, let's demand that the parties that now exist prove that they indeed have 5 active members, i'd love to see what the outcome would be.

A cleanup in the political parties forum. Take out the trash. no really, threads that haven't been posted in since May 13th 2005 shouldn't be lying around on the first page. I don't know if this would encourage more nations to become active, but at least it'd look clean and neat.


2)

More active nations... It's hard for would-be political leaders to lead if there's no interest or response from member nations.

3)

Well i think i said some stuff under point 1) that could be considered.

Openness, the people need to feel that they can see and touch what happens.

4)

Hard one... How about we make these other changes, and see how they work with our current system, then if a problem arises, let's work together to make new rules to solve it?

5)

It's too inactive... i guess most of us think that... perhaps we should just re-launch the political parties forum under another name, so it will feel new to everybody..?

[Elgarve]

1) I agree with Alfonia on this point.
2) ACTIVITY!
3) Perhaps opening up the Government structure some. People need to feel they can be a part of something big. Also the five person limit should go.
4) We NEED a Foriegn Minister at least. Probably some more to.
5) Frankly I am for an open democracy but I can see that would be a liability. In general an open government could help.

[Grub]

It is too much work to move 5 pages of Political Party board messages, but I can put this board into storage and start the board afresh. How does that sound? Just let me know what would need to stay.

Elgarve, with a Foreign Minister, what exactly would be the duties of that position?

With the 5 nation requirement, if we scrap that rule we'd have about 10 different parties. I think having too many small parties would not help the region.

[Alfonia]

I don't see why having many small parties would be worse than having like... one or two active parties. Many of the small new parties probably won't do any good, but some of them might come up with some good ideas, leading to debates, and hopefully more activity. Chanses are the nonsense parties will die pretty soon anyways, especially if they get their entire platform shot to pieces by the other parties.

Resetting the board or something like that would be wonderful i think.

[New Dracora]

To be perfectly honest, I believe the reason for political in activitiness is a direct result of apathy and a lack of interest in the political process. That's not necessarily a bad thing, since it means those that play a part in the region are more interested in the region itself than petty politics.


Until a political party can come up with something relievent in regards to the region and NS and NOT what's going on in RL, political parties are going to be useless.

[Elgarve]

A Foreign Minister would (in my opinion) appoint ambassadors and would coordinate alliances (to be approved by th Co9). He would also stay abreast of foreign affairs and alert the Co9 about invasions, takeovers etc.

[Sinn Féin's Ireland]

bratesbourgh said:

So, I open this up with these questions:
1) What do you find lacking in the current political structure of the region?
2) What do you find lacking in the political parties?
3) What would you recommend to encourage political and social activity in the area?
4) What new structures or governmental agencies could be formed, altered, or removed?
5) What do you think of the current system? Political Parties? Council? Etc.

My responces:
1.) When i made my suggestion for a Regional Union it was resoundingly rejected on the basis that official representation etc is manifested in the form of the Senate.
Since i have been here (permenantly for over 2 months, but a regular guest for the last year), and increasingly so more recently, i havent been aware of the actions of the senate, or indeed what purpose they have. They're not very public, and the political activity that IS ongoing must be saught out, rather than being self evident. The structure doesn't seem to exist.
2.) The political parties are dead. So life is lacking. I want to make my own. Now with this Taco monetary system, lobbying, policy influence, backing, etc, the parties can be infused with a sense of greater realism. I also want to create a more padded manifesto.
3.) In order to breathe some new life into the Parties i would make a series of official advertisments in the region, and perhaps hook new nations from the beginning (ie in the recruitment message, encouraging them to join a party) There's something to be said for incorperating almost an aspect of roll play. Embelish the rolls they serve. Make sure that activity and policies, and scandle are still around when its NOT election time.
4.) The department of Labour SHOULD HAVE taken on board and created a Union. (I have all the documents pertaining to the idea behind it if ever it were to be resurrected.) So thats both a subsiduary creation, and amendment. I would also increase employment by the government. With the money system, there can be wages, and new incentives. The more people you have, and the more employees (eager to get ahead 'financialy') The more efficient the region can be. Simple.
5.) The Council of Nine has to the best of my knowledge been recently resurrected, but i'm still in the dark as to what the senate, and parties are doing. If the parties dont have the backing of any kind of Union then there isnt any ammunition to their words, and anyway, the fact that there are only Two regional constituencies, and corresponding MP's is ludicrous. How can any party get a parliamentary majority.

Infact, thanks for creating this thread...I'm going to elaborate on these ideas a little (for the electoral system, and subsequent policies, power etc)
-All fired up now-

[Jaymen]

IMO, I think the government of 10K Islands needs to be expanded more and we need to think of some more positions in the government. I am not prepared to propose any new positions but I feel that if we can "debate" as a group, something could be created.

Some positions I have in mind is a Deputy Delegate (similar to what a Vice President would be), Economic Advisor (with the monetary system of tacos; would this be the newly created position Chairman of Reserve Bank?), maybe ranks for TITO like General (would be a step below the Commander-in-Chief). These are just some suggestions to liven up the Regional government a little. Go ahead and give your opinions about what you think.

[Sinn Féin's Ireland]

Those are good ideas. I have made extensive blue prints for a whole economic system we could impliment. It involves more positions available, but unless it goes ahead, theres no point mentioning specifics here. Keep thinking guys, keep it simple but good.

[Jaymen]

For the more RL conservatives out there, I have this thread made up to debate on a platform for a new party to go against UPP. It's time to get rid of the RL parties we have here! They just WON'T work!