Taijitu
Forum Meta => Election Records => Archive => Elections => Topic started by: Myroria on October 19, 2007, 12:57:24 AM
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"I will not resign."
This is a joke goal I set. I'm rather upset that elected delegates have a huge tendency to resign. Well, I won't. But though that goal is a joke, my delegacy will not be one.
Taijituans, with the large numbers in our region comes less of a feeling of a small town, but more of a big city where no one knows your name.
I have always found it gravely disappointing that we need a Minister of Community when Taijituans are supposed to be helpful. I have found it gravely disappointing that unless you're in the Senate, you have one chance to vote: For Delegate. If you vote for me, that vote you were given will extend. My goal is to allow all citizens to vote on all Senate issues. Those in the Senate constantly remind us that "anyone can join". But what if we don't want to join? What if we don't think we could remember to vote? Then, you get booted. Say good-bye to your say, because now you're a citizen. Go to General Discussion or something.
Why is this? How can Taijitu be called a democracy when those who vote are not allowed to vote on anything but the delegacy? Oh sure, you can say your opinion on UN issues. So? What bearing do they have on the region.
My view is that a Delegate is first a leader, then a UN ambassador.
NS is dying. No matter how anyone can deny it, it's true. NS is dying. Its summer slumps never end.
I hate to sound like IP on this one, but Taijitu is a community. Not an NS region. And communities need leaders - ones who are fair.
I know some of you think "Myroria? Fair? Pff, he's an asshole, I won't vote for him in a million years". But think back. Sure, I may be an asshole, depending on your point of view - I won't try to hide it - but have I ever, well, when I was allowed, abused my ops and kicked people because they disagreed with me? Of course not. For those of you who aren't IRCers - take note I am an admin. The law would allow me to ban anyone who's not a citizen. Have I? Of course not, I give people due process of law. You won't find any restrictions or bannings without FULL explanation, and an IMMEDIATE vote by ALL CITIZENS (should they wish to vote) on its legality.
A recent discussion was the TNP-ifying of IRC. The ops always respond "It's Eluvatar's channel, he can do what he wants". But IRC is first Taijitu's, then Eluvatar's. I'm not knocking him, but I hope to institute a program where IRC is integrated into Taijitu law - albeit with a few differences. Everyone is opped until they start a problem - they are then de-opped and given due process of law by all those in the channel - Justices taking precedence. Taijitu is about trust, not guilty-until-proven-innocent.
That's all. Questions can be directed to me now.
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I like your platform.
My question is what do you plan to do to keep Taijitu/NS interesting?
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1. Would you be in favor of liberalizing the induction process for Senate applicants?
2. What would you say to those candidates that advocate barring Ministers and Justices from sitting in the Senate?
3. Do you have any of the other candidates in mind when you say "I give people due process of law. You won't find any restrictions or bannings without FULL explanation, and an IMMEDIATE vote by ALL CITIZENS (should they wish to vote) on its legality"?
4. Wouldn't it be weird if I voted for you?
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alright i love the platform.
ok so i have stated many times that of everyone on the forum our views are perhaps the most similar. why do i say this?
what is your standpoint on the Govindia trial?
who do you most admire?
what qualities of leadership do you believe you posess?
would you try and turn Taijitu into a monarchy?
any ideas for any laws you think need to be passed?
any ideas for restructuring the ministries?
what is the most important thing in Taijitu?
why am i no longer a senator even though i could reapply?
what do you think was your worst moment in NS?
would you invit IP to join Taijitu?
what philosophical movement would describe your future delegacy the best?
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I find your campaigning for the rights of Citizens to be highly admirable and I simply wanted to let you know that before I started grilling you. ;D Off we go!
You say IRC is "first Taijitu's" but I admit to failing to understand the reasoning behind that statement; I have always seen #taijitu as being a chat channel with Taijitu as the subject rather than being an extension of the region itself. This may be a simple difference in opinion, but could you please explain why, precisely, you feel #taijitu should be brought under government rule?
Secondly, are you aware of the many things the Ministry of Community does beyond simply "being helpful" to members? If so, why do you feel our existence is "gravely disappointing"? If not, why would you make such a statement without the knowledge upon which to base it?
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I like your platform.
My question is what do you plan to do to keep Taijitu/NS interesting?
I still plan to have the Minister of Community in existance (See this as a short answer to your second question, Al'). We still need one to hyperlink the forum in the RMB and do other things. Right now I think Taijitu's level of activity is at a good position, even if NS' is not. Honestly, this is not at the top of my list because the problem of inactivity on Taijitu's forum does not seem to exist or be a thread.
1. Would you be in favor of liberalizing the induction process for Senate applicants?
2. What would you say to those candidates that advocate barring Ministers and Justices from sitting in the Senate?
3. Do you have any of the other candidates in mind when you say "I give people due process of law. You won't find any restrictions or bannings without FULL explanation, and an IMMEDIATE vote by ALL CITIZENS (should they wish to vote) on its legality"?
4. Wouldn't it be weird if I voted for you?
1. I would prefer all citizens have a right to vote, but since I still have to work in the legal system, I would take this as a viable alternative.
2. "You're all poopy-heads". No, not really. I think that Ministers and Justices should definately be able to serve in the Senate if they feel they can remain active; I don't see any conflict of interest between Ministers/Justices and the Senate. I, however, am not in the Senate, so if you feel there could be some potential problem, feel free to pose the situation and I will work on a possible solution.
3. Please elaborate. Do you mean if non-citizens should vote, or if Ministers and Justices should also be able to?
4. No. I don't see how anyone could NOT want to vote for me. :P
alright i love the platform.
ok so i have stated many times that of everyone on the forum our views are perhaps the most similar. why do i say this?
what is your standpoint on the Govindia trial?
who do you most admire?
what qualities of leadership do you believe you posess?
would you try and turn Taijitu into a monarchy?
any ideas for any laws you think need to be passed?
any ideas for restructuring the ministries?
what is the most important thing in Taijitu?
why am i no longer a senator even though i could reapply?
what do you think was your worst moment in NS?
would you invit IP to join Taijitu?
what philosophical movement would describe your future delegacy the best?
1. We both believe that everyone should be free to do as they please, and that government tends to be a force to be questioned, do a degree.
2. I think that the evidence against him is flimsy, and that it shouldn't be an issue. Yes, he can get on my nerves with his nagging, but overall I think that there was nothing beyond "probable cause" to convict him.
3. Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, and Martin Luther King, Jr..
4. I don't pussyfoot around. If I have something to say, I don't worry about how it makes people feel. If that attitude keeps me from getting elected, so be it. I won't complain about it.
4b. I'm somewhat paranoid of authority, as Pragmia loves to point out in debates. I think that Taijitu's authority - the Senate - is far too powerful and that they could potentially harm the region, should the best interests of it go infront of the best interests of Taijitu.
5. No. Taijitu should be a democracy, because I think a constitutional (constitutional being, the monarch is restricted by a constitution, not that there is a legislative body) monarchy could only be a viable government on a large scale. Besides, Taijituans are made for democracy. For a monarchy to work, the citizens must accept it and live with it.
6. As I said earlier, laws to make checks and balances against the Senate, and lower its power to a manageable rate. Get rid of the only-Senate-members-can-vote system as a priority, and greatly liberalizing the application process should my first option keep failing in the Senate. A law to make IRC Taijitu's, not Eluvatar's/
7. I often joke that if this growing of the government continues, Taijituans will have to pay taxes. I think that the Ministry of Community should be downsized - not eliminated, it still serves some important functions - but downsized. Combining the Ministry of Regional Security with the Army. Combining the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs into a Ministry of Diplomacy and Citizenship. The MoIA could serve as the MoEA and vice versa, if they so wished or if an emergency resignation would occur. The Deputy Ministers would be eliminated for this post ONLY, because I am on the forums often and the maximum time this crisis would drag on would be like, 16 hours, assuming it happened as soon as I went to sleep and that I sign on when I get home from school.
8. Me. No, I mean the community. Again, sorry to sound like IP, but Taijitu's community is perhaps the most important thing in this region. The Delegacy isn't about deciding on some fascist issues by the UN, but about being the leader of a great community. If everyone in Taijitu hated each other, who would we be?
9. Because you choose not to re-apply, or you've been denied?
10. The Dren Egral A scandal. I realize I shouldn't have removed his citizenship, but I still believed it was overblown, and that the law isn't always concrete. Granted, I won't go denying people rights - but a small little break was way overblown. Police have stopped so that I could jaywalk, why is it any more of a problem here?
11. I wouldn't invite him, but if he wished to join, I wouldn't care. He'd be a citizen or a Senator, and there's nothing the law that says "The Delegate shall not grant any Lexiconian founders rights".
12. I don't know, really. Whatever philosophical movement focuses on the rights of the individual above the rights of a body or organization.
I find your campaigning for the rights of Citizens to be highly admirable and I simply wanted to let you know that before I started grilling you. ;D Off we go!
You say IRC is "first Taijitu's" but I admit to failing to understand the reasoning behind that statement; I have always seen #taijitu as being a chat channel with Taijitu as the subject rather than being an extension of the region itself. This may be a simple difference in opinion, but could you please explain why, precisely, you feel #taijitu should be brought under government rule?
Secondly, are you aware of the many things the Ministry of Community does beyond simply "being helpful" to members? If so, why do you feel our existence is "gravely disappointing"? If not, why would you make such a statement without the knowledge upon which to base it?
1. I believe that #taijitu's new rules have failed. The ops have banned people for being annoying, and any discussion of "Hey, that's not right" is answered by "It's not under forum law" or "Complain in #taijituadmin", which is, of course, run by the ops themselves. I think things would improve if people in #taijitu were guarenteed the same rights they were under the Code of Laws.
2. Yes, I realize this. I just find it as a "Help newbies, work on getting people active" ministry. I want to change it to a "Work on getting people active, help newbies" ministry. As I said earlier, I think we still need it, but that Taijituans should be expected to be nice, not a ministry to do it. I think it should be downsized, but under no circumstances done away with.
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1. So what do you think of the current legislation currently being debated in the Chambers? Do you think it's adequate or that it should be even further liberalized?
2. What a great position.
3. I was asking if you were implying that other candidates have restricted the rights of citizens or would do so in the future.
4. Fair enough
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Combining the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs into a Ministry of Diplomacy and Citizenship. The MoIA could serve as the MoEA and vice versa, if they so wished or if an emergency resignation would occur.
This is a terrible idea in so many ways.
My goal is to allow all citizens to vote on all Senate issues. Those in the Senate constantly remind us that "anyone can join". But what if we don't want to join? What if we don't think we could remember to vote? Then, you get booted. Say good-bye to your say, because now you're a citizen. Go to General Discussion or something.
I'm not sure whether this idea is even worse.
Suffice to say I will not be voting for you, good luck.
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(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b68/IC79/Inglo-Scotia/MyroISdelegate.png)
Campaign Banners FTW!
Hello Taijitu.
For the first time in regional history a Delegate/VD ticket has been officially endorsed by a political party. This is a huge step forward in the evolution of Taijitu politics.
The election at hand. This election is a watershed moment in Taijituan history. It comes at a critical point. It comes during a period when prolonged and useless bickering keep the game from being played properly. It comes during a time when Raiders are persecuted. Most importantly this election comes during a time of a powerful Senatorial oligarchy. It comes during a time when the rights and liberties are eroded by a blurring of the three branches of government into a single block the Senate can control.
The Conservative Party of Taijitu represents the best hope for a return to responsible government.
We need balance and true separation of powers. We need a clear definition of the extent of power each branch has.
As it stands now the Senate has an advantage over the Delegate. Simply put, this is wrong. Both the legislator and the executive should have equal footing. The only way to achieve that is to give each checks against the other's power. The powers the Senate has over the Delegate are numerous. The Delegate needs to be strengthened in order to bring true balance to our government.
For the sake of responsible government, the Delegate must be given a way to check the power of the Senate.
The Senate can be brought to court by any citizen of the citizen feels the Senate has acted in an unconstitutional manner. A very good system indeed. Yet it is being rendered useless to appease the power hungry, arrogant Senate.
The Senate, buy admitting justices of the Supreme Court, has all but guaranteed that the Senate will never be found guilty in any court case; how could they if a majority of the SC sits in the Senate? This conflict of interests, this corrupt bargain, has allowed the Senate to bypass the only current constitutional check on its power. An amendment must be added barring justices of the Supreme Court from sitting in the Senate.
Likewise Ministers in the cabinet of the Delegate must also be barred from sitting in the Senate. I talked about balance between the executive and the legislator. In our current situation the scale tips toward the Senate, which is unhealthy. So would, however, a scenario where the scale tips toward the Delegate.
By having his or her Ministers sit in the Senate, the Delegate can create a powerful voting block he or she could use to sway the Senate. The same amendment that would bar Justices from sitting in the Senate would also bar Ministers from sitting in the Senate.
This "Separation of Powers" amendment would be the main goal of my Vice Delegacy should our ticket be elected.
We need balance and responsible government. Not a dictatorship or a Senatorial oligarchy.
Thank you.
Combining the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs into a Ministry of Diplomacy and Citizenship. The MoIA could serve as the MoEA and vice versa, if they so wished or if an emergency resignation would occur.
This is a terrible idea in so many ways.
Forgive me for not seeing what you're getting at, but from where I stand if anything it would streamline the way our government works.
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That's your opinion, you're entitled to it.
1. So what do you think of the current legislation currently being debated in the Chambers? Do you think it's adequate or that it should be even further liberalized?
2. What a great position.
3. I was asking if you were implying that other candidates have restricted the rights of citizens or would do so in the future.
4. Fair enough
1. Ideally, I would want everyone to be able to vote, but it is adequate until either that happens, or, as I said, my proposals repeatedly get struck down.
3. I can't say if other candidates would restrict the rights of citizens, but it seems many delegates have either slipped up or intentionally just barely followed the law, i.e. the Govindia case.
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Oh holy Pha, there are so many wrong things in here that I will have to wait till Monday to make a list and ask questions.
Combining the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs into a Ministry of Diplomacy and Citizenship. The MoIA could serve as the MoEA and vice versa, if they so wished or if an emergency resignation would occur.
<-- That, however, is special. I can't even believe that's not a joke.
I-S, this certainly isn't the first time that a ticket has the support of a party.
I sincerely am rather disappointed by how this platform is looking. You can't find anything worth changing and instead you have invented twisted alternatives and insulted other Taijituans' work, like in the case of the MoC.
*shakes head*
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I said "If they so wished". If one minister volunteers to do both jobs, fine. If they don't want to do both jobs, we have two ministers for that ministry. We don't need so many obscure ministries doing jobs that could be combined into one.
Secondly, I said time and time again I'm knocking how we NEED a minister to be friendly, not the ministers themselves.
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I know that our ticket is a long shot... and this is the closest thing I've made to a political speech since I don't know when, but this region is so full of idiocy that something has got to be done. This is NOT what I had in mind when I signed on to help make this place, and the Taijitu of my first Delegacy, and what it is now, couldn't be more different.
We've got a senate that thinks it knows everything, people being chastised just because they're pro-raider. I just seen something sad but amusing on our WFE.. and that's that the latest UN Resolution is to Repeal The "Common Sense Act" whatever the hell that's supposed to mean, I don't usually waste time with those things. But someone from Taijitu musta drafted it, because if I've ever seen a repeal of common sense, it's here.
We need separation of powers.
We need Checks and Balances against ALL BRANCHES of the Government
We need to make it clear that being here is not a right, it's a privilege, and that people shouldn't be allowed to act like morons and make complete pests of themselves. This place is... frankly... too damned tolerant! The Soly's the Ranholns, Delfoses, Govindias.. the colossal pains in the ass that just make you scratch your head and say 'what the fuck?!" People like that have no need to be here.
This region needs it's balls back, by God! If I coulda done it as a Delegate, I think each and every one of you knows I would have. I'm as much to blame for this problem, perhaps more so, than anyone else. Lord knows though, I never saw this shit comin' or I woulda put a stop to it way back when I had a chance.
Nationstates is frankly, dying. People would rather sit on their asses and debate endlessly than to actually play the fuckin' game. It absolutely reeks of stagnation. PoD Gunner tried doing something about that.. and look where it got him! A bunch of whiney asses screaming for his head on a platter! This region can be great in ways other than just numbers and post counts. It's up to CPT to make it happen, as i think it's the last shot this place is gonna have.
;D
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Oh, and thank you for pointing out that situation, I-S. I've
flipped-flopped reconsidered by position: Justices should not be in the Senate because of a conflict of interests, but I still don't see why Ministers, legitimate citizens, cannot.
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Oh, and thank you for pointing out that situation, I-S. I've flipped-flopped reconsidered by position: Justices should not be in the Senate because of a conflict of interests, but I still don't see why Ministers, legitimate citizens, cannot.
A check on the Delegate's power. He or she could use the Ministers as a powerful voting block, undermining the independence of the Senate from the Delegacy.
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Yes, but you see, if the delegate and his cabinet is that corrupt, he either shouldn't have been elected or he should be impeached. I can understand with the Justices; you can't charge someone for not wanting to incriminate themselves, but with a Minister going the delegate's way, every time, it's rather obviously corrupt.
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BUT WAIT! I smell a logical inconsistency. You want to streamline the Ministry organization, correct? This would mean that the "Delegate's voting bloc" would get smaller, less able to influence the outcome. Furthermore, I see no evidence that the Delegate would use the Ministers in that way (they haven't in the past), particularly if one of your oh-so-virtuous selves was elected. Unless you're impeaching your own character...
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Was that directed at me or...
/me puts on politicians face
My colleague?
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Your colleague. I wasn't aware that you had made a prior post.
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"I will not resign."
This is a joke goal I set. I'm rather upset that elected delegates have a huge tendency to resign. Well, I won't. But though that goal is a joke, my delegacy will not be one.
I'm rather upset at the inference of that statement. I, as Delegate, had to resign. Real life became, unexpectedly, a lot more tough only a couple of weeks after I won the election. No one, not even the smartest of us, can predict Real Life. There is always the possibility that, if you won the election, life could decide to make things damn hard for you, and you might not be able to serve the region as you had intended.
You say you won't resign? Well, if you're saying that, should you end up with an indefinitely lasting real life issue that means you can't get online and act as Delegate, you wouldn't resign? Or at least turn over the Delegacy to your VD? Because I know that resigning was one of the hardest decisions in NS I've ever made but I had to do it because it was in the best interests of Taijitu and would do it again. Personally, I would have far more respect to someone who would say - "I will do what's best for the region; no matter what it means." - than someone who stays in charge just to fulfill an election platform.
Secondly, your idea about the merging of Ministries. I don't agree, but then, what'd be the point in elections if everyone saw things the same way - but I have to ask, what gave you the idea of merging those two particular ministries - it would seem to me they are probably the two most active ministries... Also, wouldn't lowering the number of people on the cabinet reduce the wealth of experience that the cabinet can offer you as Delegate?
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I apologize for offending you, but, as I said, it was a joke.
As I said earlier, the MoEA/MoIA would be completely volunteer. If you don't want to be both, you don't have to. If you feel you're up for it, volunteer and you'll get double the salary you normally would.
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BUT WAIT! I smell a logical inconsistency. You want to streamline the Ministry organization, correct? This would mean that the "Delegate's voting bloc" would get smaller, less able to influence the outcome. Furthermore, I see no evidence that the Delegate would use the Ministers in that way (they haven't in the past), particularly if one of your oh-so-virtuous selves was elected. Unless you're impeaching your own character...
The very fact that the Delegate COULD use his Ministers as a voting block is enough reason to change the system.
If I'm impeaching my own character, why would I be pushing for this separation of powers? If Myro or myself were as corrupt as you're implying, I wouldn't be pushing for this change; I would want the broken system to stay broken so I could abuse it when I gained power.
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My question is for Inglo Scotia.
MY own experience has shown that there is a good possibility of a vice delegate eventually having to take up the duties of delegate. there are a number of jobs to do as delegate, and I am concerned that you are currently up for removal from the senate due to inactivity.
If you could not be bothered to fulfill your duty as Senator, how can we be absolutely confident that you will not bring the same attitude to the delegacy?
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My question is for Inglo Scotia.
MY own experience has shown that there is a good possibility of a vice delegate eventually having to take up the duties of delegate. there are a number of jobs to do as delegate, and I am concerned that you are currently up for removal from the senate due to inactivity.
If you could not be bothered to fulfill your duty as Senator, how can we be absolutely confident that you will not bring the same attitude to the delegacy?
I have asked a similar question to this in Myroria/IS thread, so I do not mind if you only answer it once.
There are a number of jobs to do as delegate, and I am concerned that you are currently up for removal from the senate due to inactivity.
If you could not be bothered to fulfill your duty as Senator, how can we be absolutely confident that you will not bring the same attitude to the delegacy?
It wasn't that I couldn't be bothered to fulfill my duty as a Senator, far from it.
What happened was that after debating two key issues, issues which are now planks of the Myro/I-S platform, it became apparant to me that I was severely outnumbered in the Senate. As it was, I had no chance of ever affecting any meaningful change, as the majority would always be against me.
Why bother taking the time to write out long, passionate posts defending my beliefs, when in the end the majority of the Senate would discard what I had to say?
The result was that I became disillusioned with the Senate and it dropped on my priorities as a result.
I'm not saying the Senate should have all converted to my line of thinking. I'm not saying that at all.
I'm saying that it soon became clear that the Senate was not the best place for someone who held the beliefs that I do.
If you're questioning my commitment to the Senate, please read the debates where I argued passionately for my beliefs.
After being shut down so many times I had to ask myself "why bother?"
As Vice Delegate you can rest assured that the program which I've outlined here and in the official campaign thread will be pursued to the best of my abilities for as long as my term lasts. Should the situation arise where I would have to take the reigns of the Delegacy I would pursue this program with even more vigour then I would as VD.
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I am not concerned about how you would pursue your programme. The question in my mind remains how you would pursue your duties.
Commitment to one's beliefs, and commitment to one's office are not the same thing, as you have displayed.
But thank you for answering my question.
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I am not necessarily in agreement with your views on the Senate, and I-S's views on the separation of power. So I have two requests.
Try and convince me to go along with your plan.
In the off chance that that doesn't work, tell me what else makes you better than the other candidates for Delegate.
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Right now the Senate is the sole law-making body in Taijitu. If - and this is just hypothetical - the Senate passed a law, say, really banning avatars, it would be legal, no matter how much the rest of Taijitu disagreed with it. If a system where all citizens can vote is made, then all citizens may vote on the said hypothetical law, which allows for a greater representation of the people. This is true democracy, even true republican democracy (By this I mean that in a real republican democracy the people can still vote on referendums and who gets to join the Senate. The latter is impractical here; I don't have any plans on pushing for its implementation).
As for your second question, I don't think I'm better than anyone. But I am more of a progress than the others. Pragmia has been Speaker of the House for what, two terms? And everyone knows running the Senate virtually means you run the region.
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The very fact that the Delegate COULD use his Ministers as a voting block is enough reason to change the system. If I'm impeaching my own character, why would I be pushing for this separation of powers? If Myro or myself were as corrupt as you're implying, I wouldn't be pushing for this change; I would want the broken system to stay broken so I could abuse it when I gained power.
So let's use this COULD theory.... technically an open vote for all citizens COULD be used to allow outside influences to take over the region.... technically it COULD be used to alter the constitution to pervert Taijitu into a fascist region. You could say it's unlikely, but then again so is the idea of a ministry voting block.
If you stopped being active in the senate because you weren't able to affect your will on two issues what would happen were you unable to enact your proposed changes to the region? Would you then quit being delegate?
On that matter, how will you go about making these changes since any such changes would have to be approved by the senate, which as you have said, does not support these changes?
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technically an open vote for all citizens COULD be used to allow outside influences to take over the region
If they literally swarmed us with spies and we never noticed.
technically it COULD be used to alter the constitution to pervert Taijitu into a fascist region.
Not unless the citizens LIKE to be oppressed.
On that matter, how will you go about making these changes since any such changes would have to be approved by the senate, which as you have said, does not support these changes?
Politics, and working with the Senate.
To answer your first question in full:
As I said, my situation was highly hypothetical. Maybe the Senate would prefer to do something not as absurd that people disagree with; like more checks against the Delegate or more Senate-only actions. Does that mean that we should have to be in the Senate to decide, and that our opinion should mean nothing simply because we don't feel like we want to join the Senate?
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Well as the argument has been made the Senate is open for pretty much anyone to apply to.. Even then it's the same as any other government. I vote for a party in Canadian elections, I don't vote for every action that party takes. Any citizen is allowed to make comments or express their views is senate discussions, but yes, if they want to vote they have to join the senate. If you want a vote in Parliament you have to be elected... if you want to dance you have to go onto the dance floor... if you want to make an omelet you have to break an egg...
So where are all these disenfranchised people who feel they are being abused and marginalized by the senate?
As far as I can see it's just you (who has repeatedly refused to join the senate) and I-S who couldn't get their view to be the majorities view, couldn't make a convincing enough argument for his view and as such decided to "take his ball and go home"... as such I'd have to say the problem isn't with the senate wielding power ruthlessly, it's with you and I-S not getting your way and making an issue where none exists.
Essentially your reforms would require a complete refounding of the region, a rewrite of the constitution and many amendments to the laws of Taijitu. Can you please show me any proof that such a severe problem exists as to require such action? Additionally how would you reword these new documents. I'd think that such sweeping changes should be a little more worked out then a rough idea of essentially abolishing the Senate, what would be the process for introducing, voting and enacting legislation? If being a citizen is to have a vote on all actions in the region, how would you address the issues of regional security without crippling the growth of the region?
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It's not the fact that it is easy to join the Senate, it is. But it's the fact that if you don't wish to join, you don't have a say. Having to join an organization to vote is not nearly the same as having to break an egg to make an omelet.
And about the re-writing of the Constitution: Outlawing slavery required a change in the law and amending the Constitution. Because it would be easier to leave it legal, does that mean it should have been? The USSR was getting along fine before Gorbachev's reforms, does that mean they shouldn't have been made?
It's also sad when one places a mere number above democracy in the region. If it slows growth, so what? How many new members do we get on the forum itself that actually stay? Maybe one a month?
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Well as the argument has been made the Senate is open for pretty much anyone to apply to.. Even then it's the same as any other government. I vote for a party in Canadian elections, I don't vote for every action that party takes.
Let me guess, NDP?
As far as I can see it's just you (who has repeatedly refused to join the senate) and I-S who couldn't get their view to be the majorities view, couldn't make a convincing enough argument for his view and as such decided to "take his ball and go home"... as such I'd have to say the problem isn't with the senate wielding power ruthlessly, it's with you and I-S not getting your way and making an issue where none exists.
Again, if you want to argue our platform like an adult, go ahead. If you want to piss over it and talk down to people who have contributed to this region more then you have, then please leave.
The fact of the matter is that there are problems and issues with the Taijituan government.
The Senate acts as an oligarchy. By absorbing SC members it has already safe-guarded itself against being found guilty in the courts of passing unconstitutional acts, even if they do pass such acts.
Essentially your reforms would require a complete refounding of the region, a rewrite of the constitution and many amendments to the laws of Taijitu.
Yes, it would be. Think of the current Constitution as the Articles of Confederation. It was written immediately after a huge upheaval. It was a reaction to a regional government that had been truly corrupt. It went to far in its reforms though, scared by the prospect of an other tyrant.
Like the AoC, however, its weaknesses have no become apparent, as the Senate looks to absorb the court and strip the Delegate of even the power they agree he or she has a right to.
A change, a complete overhaul is needed. The current Constitution needs to join the AoC in the dustbin of history.
Can you please show me any proof that such a severe problem exists as to require such action?
The Senate allowing SC Justices to join. How you, or anyone else, can miss this blatant conflict of interests, is beyond me.
I've had many discussions with the supporters of the current order, and here's what I can tell. They say the Senate is suppose to govern internally, while the Delegate takes care of foreign affairs and military matters.
If that's true, then why did the Senate force the resignation of PoD following the invasion of the RR? If the arguments the supporters of the current order are to be taken at face value, then the entire RR invasion was well within PoD's power as Delegate. Yet the Senate called for its head.
Not only is the system itself fundamentally flawed, but it would seem the Senate is using that system to grab even more power for itself. They're doing this by absorbing the Court and by trying to strip the Delegate of powers even they admit are rightfully his/hers.
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It's not the fact that it is easy to join the Senate, it is. But it's the fact that if you don't wish to join, you don't have a say. Having to join an organization to vote is not nearly the same as having to break an egg to make an omelet.
Citizens are allowed to vote for the delegate, just as a citizen of Canada I have the right to vote for a party. To become more involved I have to join deeper into the system. I have no control over what laws are enacted over me even if they are enacted by the party I voted for, supposedly I'm one of the most free citizens history has ever seen.
Citizens certainly have a say in the region as they choose to remain in the region, there is nothing keeping people in the region aside from the people themselves.
And about the re-writing of the Constitution: Outlawing slavery required a change in the law and amending the Constitution. Because it would be easier to leave it legal, does that mean it should have been? The USSR was getting along fine before Gorbachev's reforms, does that mean they shouldn't have been made?
So currently the citizens of Taijitu are slaves? Those reforms were made to correct obvious injustices. Where are these injustices in Taijitu? You admit it's easy to join the senate, and as I've said nothing holds a citizen in Taijitu except for the fact that they choose to remain here. Slaves didn't choose to remain slaves, they were abducted and forced to be slaves.
It's also sad when one places a mere number above democracy in the region. If it slows growth, so what? How many new members do we get on the forum itself that actually stay? Maybe one a month?
So you don't see the growth of the region as a priority? If we go any slower then one it's zero, so as Delegate you have no problem freezing the growth of the region? I see you've ignored my questions about regional security, so if you could answer those it'd be appreciated.
As long as were on the topic of democracy... Where is the support of people for these reforms? These ideas have been discussed and could not be agreed on by any but a small minority? So where is the respect for democracy? If of all the people that become citizens only one of them remains why should all the rest be given a chance to rework the laws and constitution of our region? Should I as a Canadian be able to go into the US and having made a few posts and said an oath to become a citizen of the US be able to make those changes if I'm just going back to Canada in a day or two?
Well as the argument has been made the Senate is open for pretty much anyone to apply to.. Even then it's the same as any other government. I vote for a party in Canadian elections, I don't vote for every action that party takes.
Let me guess, NDP?
Point being?
Again, if you want to argue our platform like an adult, go ahead. If you want to piss over it and talk down to people who have contributed to this region more then you have, then please leave.
Let me guess, NDP?
Could you please back up your claims that you do more for the region then I do Removed Senator? or should I address you as questionable MoF?
So because I disagree I have to "take my ball and go home", how mature is that? Given your "please leave' statement as VD will you seek to have removed from the region those who disagree with you?
The fact of the matter is that there are problems and issues with the Taijituan government.
The Senate acts as an oligarchy. By absorbing SC members it has already safe-guarded itself against being found guilty in the courts of passing unconstitutional acts, even if they do pass such acts.
So how is the senate an oligarchy? You like to throw this around but I see no proof of this statement. No system is going to be perfect but the current system as it stands presents far fewer problems then throwing open the flood gates. Under the proposed system would justices then be preventing from being citizens to prevent the same conflict of interest?
Yes, it would be. Think of the current Constitution as the Articles of Confederation. It was written immediately after a huge upheaval. It was a reaction to a regional government that had been truly corrupt. It went to far in its reforms though, scared by the prospect of an other tyrant.
Like the AoC, however, its weaknesses have no become apparent, as the Senate looks to absorb the court and strip the Delegate of even the power they agree he or she has a right to.
A change, a complete overhaul is needed. The current Constitution needs to join the AoC in the dustbin of history.
Please provide one ACTUAL example of when a justice has ruled in favour of a law that was a clear violation of the constitution. What of the senate abusing it's powers?
The reforms to the AoC were made because of valid concerns and existing problems, so if it is the same situation you should be able to provide many examples of how Taijitu is being harmed by the act of the senate or the justices.
If that's true, then why did the Senate force the resignation of PoD following the invasion of the RR? If the arguments the supporters of the current order are to be taken at face value, then the entire RR invasion was well within PoD's power as Delegate. Yet the Senate called for its head.
The issue was that people were used in a military action that were not a member of the army and which had not approved their being used in such actions. The guiding spirit of Taijitu was to allow people to play in the manner they want to, as such being forced into military action was a violation of that as well as their rights as citizens. The senate was well within it's rights to call for PoD's resignation as those actions were seen to be an abuse of the authority of the delegate and a violation of his oath of office, the constitution allows the Senate the authority to remove the delegate for such abuses authority or violations of their oath.
Again if the Justices and Senate are so corrupt you should be able to provide examples where this authority has been abused.
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Citizens are allowed to vote for the delegate, just as a citizen of Canada I have the right to vote for a party. To become more involved I have to join deeper into the system. I have no control over what laws are enacted over me even if they are enacted by the party I voted for, supposedly I'm one of the most free citizens history has ever seen.
Unless Canada is drastically different than America, you elect some kind of representative who will hopefully vote the way you want to. Since we don't elect Senators, we need to be able to decide ourselves what we want. The ideas of the Senate are not neccessarily the ideas of us, while the ideas of an RL Senate tend to be, at least those Senators that belong to your political ideology.
So currently the citizens of Taijitu are slaves? Those reforms were made to correct obvious injustices. Where are these injustices in Taijitu? You admit it's easy to join the senate, and as I've said nothing holds a citizen in Taijitu except for the fact that they choose to remain here. Slaves didn't choose to remain slaves, they were abducted and forced to be slaves.
Not being able to vote without being in the Senate is not an injustice? If you were told you had to join a single political party to vote, that's fine? No, that's what you call a "one-party state".
So you don't see the growth of the region as a priority? If we go any slower then one it's zero, so as Delegate you have no problem freezing the growth of the region? I see you've ignored my questions about regional security, so if you could answer those it'd be appreciated.
I would not like the growth of the region to freeze, and I will continue to encourage recruiting, but I find the rights of citizens more important than OMG WE HAVE 1,421 NATIONS.
Secondly, show me a question I was asked about regional security and I'll answer it. In other words, it's impossible for me to answer a question about regional security if I was never asked one.
You want proof of support?
Wouldn't it be weird if I voted for you? [I assume this is a token of "I agree with you and I will vote for you if you continue to please me", but correct me if I'm wrong.]
alright i love the platform.
I find your campaigning for the rights of Citizens to be highly admirable and I simply wanted to let you know that before I started grilling you.
And it can be assumed all that vote for me either agree with me or find me the lesser of evils.
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Let me guess, NDP?
Point being?
Nothing, other then the fact that they bankrupted Ontario, and Mike Harris had to come in to fix Bob Raye's mess.
The NDP had their shot. They can't govern. Besides, where are we going to get all the money for the programs Jack Layton's promising us?
Again, if you want to argue our platform like an adult, go ahead. If you want to piss over it and talk down to people who have contributed to this region more then you have, then please leave.
Could you please back up your claims that you do more for the region then I do Removed Senator? or should I address you as questionable MoF?
So because I disagree I have to "take my ball and go home", how mature is that? Given your "please leave' statement as VD will you seek to have removed from the region those who disagree with you?
I helped found the region, I was one of the ones who stood up to IP in the Lex in defence of my friends.
Good for you, you're active in the Senate. Taijitu is more then a Senate though.
When it comes to developing the RP area of this region, I've done more then you've done region-wide. RP is the reason I play NS anyway, that's why most of efforts have been directed there.
Additionally I'm in the process of producing visual representations of the tai currency as MoF.
So yeah, I would say I've contributed more to this region then you have.
If you take a step down from your pedestal and look in a mirror you'd see you aren't that special.
You call my actions are immature. No, I simply decided to stop wasting my time.
The fact of the matter is that there are problems and issues with the Taijituan government.
The Senate acts as an oligarchy. By absorbing SC members it has already safe-guarded itself against being found guilty in the courts of passing unconstitutional acts, even if they do pass such acts.
So how is the senate an oligarchy? You like to throw this around but I see no proof of this statement. No system is going to be perfect but the current system as it stands presents far fewer problems then throwing open the flood gates. Under the proposed system would justices then be preventing from being citizens to prevent the same conflict of interest?
The Senate's an oligarchy because a few leaders within it have become so influential they sway the votes any way they wish. Given the power of the Senate, these individuals, believing they know everything, have gained control of the Senate, and hence Taijitu.
Of course Justices would be allowed to retain their citizenship. Either you're trying to bait me, or you truly have no idea about the program I'm proposing.
Are SC Justices in the US allowed to retain their citizenship? Yes.
Are they allowed to sit in Congress while they sit on the SC? No.
Same principal.
Yes, it would be. Think of the current Constitution as the Articles of Confederation. It was written immediately after a huge upheaval. It was a reaction to a regional government that had been truly corrupt. It went to far in its reforms though, scared by the prospect of an other tyrant.
Like the AoC, however, its weaknesses have no become apparent, as the Senate looks to absorb the court and strip the Delegate of even the power they agree he or she has a right to.
A change, a complete overhaul is needed. The current Constitution needs to join the AoC in the dustbin of history.
Please provide one ACTUAL example of when a justice has ruled in favour of a law that was a clear violation of the constitution. What of the senate abusing it's powers?
"Lets wait until Hitler starts killing Jews and invading the rest of Europe" before we do anything."
The very fact that the conflict of interest is there is enough of a reason to fix the system.
The reforms to the AoC were made because of valid concerns and existing problems, so if it is the same situation you should be able to provide many examples of how Taijitu is being harmed by the act of the senate or the justices.
The AoC weren't reformed, they were tossed in the trash, and a new constitution written from scratch.
Anyway, I've done so many times. By not providing the Delegate with a check on the Senate, the Senate dominates the executive, when they should be on equal footing.
By allowing Justices into the Senate they create a conflict of interest in which the Senate will never be held accountable to the Courts.
If that's true, then why did the Senate force the resignation of PoD following the invasion of the RR? If the arguments the supporters of the current order are to be taken at face value, then the entire RR invasion was well within PoD's power as Delegate. Yet the Senate called for its head.
The issue was that people were used in a military action that were not a member of the army and which had not approved their being used in such actions. The guiding spirit of Taijitu was to allow people to play in the manner they want to, as such being forced into military action was a violation of that as well as their rights as citizens. The senate was well within it's rights to call for PoD's resignation as those actions were seen to be an abuse of the authority of the delegate and a violation of his oath of office, the constitution allows the Senate the authority to remove the delegate for such abuses authority or violations of their oath.
First off, I was here at the beginning, so don't preach to me about the guiding spirit of Taijitu.
It seems you're promoting a double standard. When the Delegate does what the Senate wants in regards to foreign affairs, then its all smiles, and you say the Delegate's power rests in foreign, not internal affairs.
Yet once the Delegate does something within the sphere you've said his power rests in, you call foul.
Sorry, it doesn't go both ways.
Either the Delegate's power rests in foreign and military affairs, making the RR invasion legal, and the Senate's enquiry into the invasion a breach of it's authority, or the delegate doesn't have any real power at all. Which is it?
Again if the Justices and Senate are so corrupt you should be able to provide examples where this authority has been abused.
The very fact that the Senate is allowing Justices to sit in the Senate is enough proof. Ever heard of the slippery sloop argument?
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Unless Canada is drastically different than America, you elect some kind of representative who will hopefully vote the way you want to. Since we don't elect Senators, we need to be able to decide ourselves what we want. The ideas of the Senate are not neccessarily the ideas of us, while the ideas of an RL Senate tend to be, at least those Senators that belong to your political ideology.
In an ideal world, yes. However one of the issues right now in Canada is the fact that government is increasing not ruling in the interest of the people. But politics in Taijitu and politics in Canada are different, the fact is that not everyone in Canada could choose to become a member of Parliament. In Taijitu everyone can choose to join the Senate....
Not being able to vote without being in the Senate is not an injustice? If you were told you had to join a single political party to vote, that's fine? No, that's what you call a "one-party state".
To join the senate is not to join a political party. We do have many different views in the Senate as well as separate political parties, even within those parties I don't see the party will superseding the will of the Senator.
It's not so much a case of "You have to join the party to have a say" it's more a "If you want to play ball you have to step onto the court, and anyone is welcome to step onto the court". It would be an injustice if we were denying people a vote and the opportunity to get that vote. As it stands we're not denying anyone the right to get that vote, but we are saying you can't play from the sidelines. If you're in the game, you're in the game until you opt to leave or stop playing.
Secondly, show me a question I was asked about regional security and I'll answer it. In other words, it's impossible for me to answer a question about regional security if I was never asked one.
If being a citizen is to have a vote on all actions in the region, how would you address the issues of regional security without crippling the growth of the region?
You can see my confusion as you answered one half of my question but not the other.
I-S
Nothing, other then the fact that they bankrupted Ontario, and Mike Harris had to come in to fix Bob Raye's mess.
The NDP had their shot. They can't govern. Besides, where are we going to get all the money for the programs Jack Layton's promising us?
Let me rephrase, point being as it applies to Taijitu's Senate/Citizen relationship. Is trying to insult voters really a good idea?
I helped found the region, I was one of the ones who stood up to IP in the Lex in defence of my friends.
Good for you, you're active in the Senate. Taijitu is more then a Senate though.
When it comes to developing the RP area of this region, I've done more then you've done region-wide. RP is the reason I play NS anyway, that's why most of efforts have been directed there.
Additionally I'm in the process of producing visual representations of the tai currency as MoF.
So yeah, I would say I've contributed more to this region then you have.
If you take a step down from your pedestal and look in a mirror you'd see you aren't that special.
See the responses in the Press Conference thread.
The Senate's an oligarchy because a few leaders within it have become so influential they sway the votes any way they wish. Given the power of the Senate, these individuals, believing they know everything, have gained control of the Senate, and hence Taijitu.
So the senate is corrupt because the senate has control of the senate? Has the senate been blocking admission? Strong handing other senators to vote? Removing certain senators for not being part of this ruling elite? No. So the senate has been about the business of the senate and any are welcome to join... that's not an oligarchy... that's an organization.
Of course Justices would be allowed to retain their citizenship. Either you're trying to bait me, or you truly have no idea about the program I'm proposing.
I ask this under the proposed system of all citizens having a vote in all regional affairs. If right now justices cannot be trusted to be senators because they are part of the organization then what of justices who are also citizens when all citizens have a vote, would not the same conflict of interest exist under this proposed system?
"Lets wait until Hitler starts killing Jews and invading the rest of Europe" before we do anything."
The very fact that the conflict of interest is there is enough of a reason to fix the system.
So we should all be in jail right now because we all COULD commit a crime? Well we all want things we can't afford and stealing is against the law so we should all be imprisoned because the conflict of interests exists there too. Reaction follows action for a reason, hence the concept of innocent until proven guilty.
By not providing the Delegate with a check on the Senate, the Senate dominates the executive, when they should be on equal footing.
So the voice of one should be equal to the voice of twenty some? This is democracy?
How would you structure this check in such a way as to ensure the delegate does not become corrupt?
First off, I was here at the beginning, so don't preach to me about the guiding spirit of Taijitu.
Ahhh yes... non-existent founder powers that some people like to think give them clout...
It seems you're promoting a double standard. When the Delegate does what the Senate wants in regards to foreign affairs, then its all smiles, and you say the Delegate's power rests in foreign, not internal affairs.
Yet once the Delegate does something within the sphere you've said his power rests in, you call foul.
Sorry, it doesn't go both ways.
Either the Delegate's power rests in foreign and military affairs, making the RR invasion legal, and the Senate's enquiry into the invasion a breach of it's authority, or the delegate doesn't have any real power at all. Which is it?
TRR was a matter of the delegate violating the rights of citizens and using non-military people in a military action without their knowledge or consent. The Delegate and the Senate have their powers as outlined in the Constitution. The Delegate does not have the right to override the rights of the citizens, hence the actions of the Senate. It wasn't that the Senate was objecting because the delegate did something that was supposed to be done by the senate, it was because the Delegate violated the rights of citizens.
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I apologize for overlooking your question on regional security.
I would, of course, want tighter security checks on Citizens to prevent this. However, I would consider my security checks not the long approval times of joining the Senate, as this would make me a hypocrite. In addition, as I see it, the enemy would very much have to sneak in tens of spies without us noticing; I find this unrealistic.
As for the Senate, I see the waiting time more of a useless thing. You wait two weeks, and those two weeks your questions are "Do you like cookies?". If the Senate was drastically liberalized, and the checks and balances implemented, I might very well accept that compromise.
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By mandating tighter security controls and checks and at the same time combining the MoIA and MoEA positions is there not a risk of 'overloading' that person?
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Yes, but as I said earlier, the double-position is completely optional. By optional, I mean "You must be crazy to take both jobs at once". So it would basically be like now, but with a little tighter security in the MoIA.
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So effectively just a name change?
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Yes, that and that it will focus more on sub-ministries than the numerous we have now. Consolidation. But I do have real changes for other Ministries; I'm not all talk.
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Nothing, other then the fact that they bankrupted Ontario, and Mike Harris had to come in to fix Bob Raye's mess.
The NDP had their shot. They can't govern. Besides, where are we going to get all the money for the programs Jack Layton's promising us?
Let me rephrase, point being as it applies to Taijitu's Senate/Citizen relationship. Is trying to insult voters really a good idea?
I never had your vote, nor would I expect to have the vote of anyone else who votes NDP, due to conflicting political ideologies. So I don't think I lost anything.
The Senate's an oligarchy because a few leaders within it have become so influential they sway the votes any way they wish. Given the power of the Senate, these individuals, believing they know everything, have gained control of the Senate, and hence Taijitu.
So the senate is corrupt because the senate has control of the senate? Has the senate been blocking admission? Strong handing other senators to vote? Removing certain senators for not being part of this ruling elite? No. So the senate has been about the business of the senate and any are welcome to join... that's not an oligarchy... that's an organization.
The Senate is an oligarchy because in reality only a few influential members make policy, and use the vast amounts of power granted to the Senate to pursue those policies.
Of course Justices would be allowed to retain their citizenship. Either you're trying to bait me, or you truly have no idea about the program I'm proposing.
I ask this under the proposed system of all citizens having a vote in all regional affairs. If right now justices cannot be trusted to be senators because they are part of the organization then what of justices who are also citizens when all citizens have a vote, would not the same conflict of interest exist under this proposed system?
Board members who are just citizens don't make policy, Senators do.
"Lets wait until Hitler starts killing Jews and invading the rest of Europe" before we do anything."
The very fact that the conflict of interest is there is enough of a reason to fix the system.
So we should all be in jail right now because we all COULD commit a crime? Well we all want things we can't afford and stealing is against the law so we should all be imprisoned because the conflict of interests exists there too. Reaction follows action for a reason, hence the concept of innocent until proven guilty.
My point is that when you can see something coming a mile away you do something to stop it before it gets out of hand.
No, you shouldn't be arrested just because you MIGHT commit a crime, but if some police officers saw you walking down the street with a butcher knife mumbling "he's gonna pay" then you should probably be placed in the back of the police car.
The same thing applies here. By allowing Justices to sit in the Senate, I see the beginning of a trend that will eventually result in the Senate no longer being held accountable to the Court. I would rather not wait until it gets worse before I try to change it.
By not providing the Delegate with a check on the Senate, the Senate dominates the executive, when they should be on equal footing.
So the voice of one should be equal to the voice of twenty some? This is democracy?
This is balanced and responsible government where branches have equal footing with one and other, and no one branch can dominate any other branch.
How would you structure this check in such a way as to ensure the delegate does not become corrupt?
Under my proposal a Delegate's veto would be overridden with a 65% majority vote in the Senate.
It seems you're promoting a double standard. When the Delegate does what the Senate wants in regards to foreign affairs, then its all smiles, and you say the Delegate's power rests in foreign, not internal affairs.
Yet once the Delegate does something within the sphere you've said his power rests in, you call foul.
Sorry, it doesn't go both ways.
Either the Delegate's power rests in foreign and military affairs, making the RR invasion legal, and the Senate's enquiry into the invasion a breach of it's authority, or the delegate doesn't have any real power at all. Which is it?
TRR was a matter of the delegate violating the rights of citizens and using non-military people in a military action without their knowledge or consent. The Delegate and the Senate have their powers as outlined in the Constitution. The Delegate does not have the right to override the rights of the citizens, hence the actions of the Senate. It wasn't that the Senate was objecting because the delegate did something that was supposed to be done by the senate, it was because the Delegate violated the rights of citizens.
No one's rights were violated.
Citizens take an oath of allegiance to Taijitu. They are therefore required to serve in the military if the region's interests demand it.
Seeing as the military is a power reserved for the Delegate, it's the Delegate who decides what's militarily in the best interests of Taijitu, and therefore is allowed to call on and force citizens to serve in the military and uphold their oath of loyalty.
The RR invasion was completely within the Delegate's power, by the Senate's own argument concerning the power of the Delegacy. Yet because the Delegate at the time, PoD, did something the Senate didn't like, the Senate forced itself on an issue it had no authority over.
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What is your greatest weakness?
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My temper.
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The Senate is an oligarchy because in reality only a few influential members make policy, and use the vast amounts of power granted to the Senate to pursue those policies.
By that logic I'm one of these mystical few because I've created and had passed pieces of legislation. Ultimately any senator can propose legislation and if the legislation has a valid purpose get it passed. Ultimately anyone can join the senate. It's not some cloak and dagger world controlled by a puppet master.
No, you shouldn't be arrested just because you MIGHT commit a crime, but if some police officers saw you walking down the street with a butcher knife mumbling "he's gonna pay" then you should probably be placed in the back of the police car.
So the local butcher coming back from having his knife sharpened and talking on a hands-free cell phone is in trouble then as our our non-corrupt justices? If the justices were corrupt (or handling more then two cases per year for that matter) I could see some reason for concern.
No one's rights were violated.
Citizens take an oath of allegiance to Taijitu. They are therefore required to serve in the military if the region's interests demand it.
Seeing as the military is a power reserved for the Delegate, it's the Delegate who decides what's militarily in the best interests of Taijitu, and therefore is allowed to call on and force citizens to serve in the military and uphold their oath of loyalty.
The RR invasion was completely within the Delegate's power, by the Senate's own argument concerning the power of the Delegacy. Yet because the Delegate at the time, PoD, did something the Senate didn't like, the Senate forced itself on an issue it had no authority over.
Quote from: Citizen
I, [forum name], do slomenly swear that I shall at all times obey and respect the laws of Taijitu, that I shall do nothing to imperil the safety and well being of the region or any of its members, and recognize that should I fail to comply to this oath that my citizenship and the immunities and privileges it entitles may by due process of law be forfeit.
So allegiance and blind obedience are the same thing then? Where in that oath do you see the clause which quashes the right to choice in military involvement? If all citizens are military pawns to be shuffled about, why do we have a separate and voluntary military?
Taco, you're an ass. Plain and simple. I thank Pragmia for standing up for me there.
Drawing pictures in paint shoppe pro?
Listen space-waster, this entire election, the entire notion of the Taijitu government, is just as useless as those pictures I've been churning out in and calling it currency. All of this, the senate, the delegacy, the constitution, the courts? It's all make-believe.
All I've been doing with the tai system is giving a useless currency a visual representation, which is ultimately within the entire useless system of the concept of a Taijituan government. My work as MoF hasn't been any less meaningful as this election, or your work in the Senate. It's all made-up. It's all for fun.
You said I should have made the Ministry matter? None of it matters. It's all a game we play, in the end, for fun. Given that, I simply did all I could as MoF. I made useless pictures for useless currency for a useless government and society.
Maybe I should stick to RP? That was the plan, actually. Then Myro asked me to run as his VD candidate. I decided to because I consider him a friend, and because I thought it would be a good opportunity to bring awareness to issues I felt were worth at least addressing and discussing.
In fact, I'm carious as to why anyone would join NS without at least planning on taking part in some RP. Do you even have a NS nation? If not, why the heck are you here?
No, I don't get overly emotional when confronted by conflicting views, any one else here, or anyone else who I have debated with in RL will tell you that.
My problem is you. Not your ideas or what you stand for, you. You exemplify everything negative associated with those who tilt left on the political scale. You're so self-righteous that you simply dismiss those who disagree with you as unintelligent or brainwashed. You're so convinced that you're in the right that you come off as arrogant, and self-righteous.
You take that to a whole new level when you develop a personal grudge with someone, your arrogance gives way to cheap shots and an ever greater feeling of self-superiority.
I mean come on, you accused me of "not getting it" when you found out I've read many of the same works you have. You openly told me that I must be an idiot because I didn't come away from those works with the same world view as you. Fuck you. It's your arrogance immortalized.
"If you don't think the way I do, then you don't 'get it.' "
It's called difference of opinion. Deal with it.
Why didn't I just resign from the Senate? Honestly, I never thought of it. Me deciding to wash my hands of the Senate didn't just happen one day, it was slow and gradual, to the point that I didn't even think of it at all when logging onto the forums. It just never occurred to me.
If you want to crucify me for inactivity in an ultimately useless legislator, go ahead. You can stay crouched over your keyboard, unable to see the forest for the trees, unable to see that in the end this is just a game, not a matter of life and death.
Point being, this is all pretend. My pretend currency, your pretend senate, this pretend election. It's all just for fun. Don't sit there and pretend any of this has any use. You think that I should have made the MoF useful? I did, as much as I could in a pretend world.
I started this as a way for me to defend my actions because I was partaking in an election.
Taco, however, took it upon himself to try and humiliate me here tonight. To him I say fuck you.
Go, take this game way to seriously, go try and degrade those who's opinions differ from yours, go find someone else who you can pretend to be brighter then.
I see Taijitu as a game, a game that can be made better. You see it as this holy beacon of freedom and equality that should never be changed. Enjoy your perspective on all of this, I'll enjoy mine.
Sorry to have to drag this into this thread, but you hurled a bunch of insults and then closed the thread before I could even respond...
If this is all so 'useless' as you describe it then why are you here? I've found a use for it, the use is fun and hence I remain. Now it's all well and good to say that Tai and everything else here is useless, but you could have also tried finding a use for it as MoF. Be it in making new games instead of just continuing the lottery your predecessor thought up, in making new services which require Tai (specialty title tags, new pay use emoticons, etc etc). You've gone on the assumption that because it's useless now it's useless forever and as such you've done nothing to try and improve it.
Yes it is all a game, but in a game when presented with a bunch of pieces that have no use, I create a use for them and that is part of the fun. So if you find everything here useless and come up with no creative solutions (or questioned other about ideas for that matter) as MoF, what will that say in your time as VD?
In answer to your question of:
In fact, I'm carious as to why anyone would join NS without at least planning on taking part in some RP. Do you even have a NS nation? If not, why the heck are you here?
Yes I do have a NS nation, it's linked in my signature.
And I do take part in some form of RP. I guess I just do it a little too well for some to see.
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You could have any historical figures, Taijitu citizens, or any other player in the realm of NS in your cabinet. Who would be where?
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Wouldn't it be weird if I voted for you? [I assume this is a token of "I agree with you and I will vote for you if you continue to please me", but correct me if I'm wrong.]
It was a commentary on how different our political positions ostensibly are, and yet you've proposed at least one program I agree with (the placing of #taijitu under the supervision of the government). It was not a general endorsement, nor is it an endorsement of your running mate's wrong-headed (from my point of view) views on government or his attacks on the personal integrity of the Justices.
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I apologize for the misunderstanding.
Gnoled Ttam - Let me get back to you on that after I think for a bit.
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I have known both of you for a long time, and count both of you as friends. I wholeheartedly support this campaign not on that basis however, and really not on the basis of your platform, though I definitely am in favour of the underlying ideals and goals.
Being a leader is about more than answering questions, it's about more than policy and making intelligent sounding speeches, it's about the character of those involved and the way their mind works. The only other cadidates I'd give two shits about as Delegate would be TGR and Korinn but my reasons for not giving them my primary vote will remain only my own. You guys have what It takes, I feel. You both have balls and you're not afraid to shake things up, and that's what we need right now. You have my support and my best wishes friends. May you taste victory!
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Gnoled Ttam:
MoF - Ronald Reagan, he brought down communism. Wiping out an entire economic theory gets you some cred.
MoD - Chuck Norris. Do I need a reason?
MoIA - WelshCorgi, he did it just fine for months back in Lex.
MoEA - Napoleon.
MoC - Florence Nightinggale. I could imagine she'd be a nice lady.
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MoD - Chuck Norris. Do I need a reason?
Exactly how tough is Chuck Norris?
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He's tougher than tough. He's the toughest man ever to walk this Earth. They tried to put him on Mount Rushmore, but, as they say, "The granite wasn't hard enough for his beard".
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It'd be nice to have an active delegate around here... I never remember seeing pod, sd, or flem around much at all. It makes me wonder why the hell they decided to run in the first place...
But anyway, here we go.
My:
Are you saying you want to eliminate the senate? If no, wouldn't that be what allowing everyone to vote would do?
What's so hard about remembering to vote?
Wouldn't treating Taijitu as just a community only quicken NS's decline? Perhaps that's part of the problem right there?
Would you care to amuse me by stating your position on raiding/defending, even though I think I have a fairly good guess of what your stance is?
I-S:
Please explain how you would... "fix" the Senate to keep Taijitu from being an oligarchy, assuming you believe it can be "fixed."
How will you or My change anything becoming delegate and vice delegate? If few individuals in the senate controls everything as you say, what's keeping them from shooting down anything you two try to do like they did when you were a senator?
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Now it's all well and good to say that Tai and everything else here is useless, but you could have also tried finding a use for it as MoF. Be it in making new games instead of just continuing the lottery your predecessor thought up, in making new services which require Tai (specialty title tags, new pay use emoticons, etc etc). You've gone on the assumption that because it's useless now it's useless forever and as such you've done nothing to try and improve it.
Soly's lotto would have been continued, regardless of who took over the MoF. So the lotto was his contribution to the Bank and MoF. The visual representations of the tai are mine. Again, this is all a game. My "useless" pictures of tai are just as useless or real as this election or the Senate.
Speciality member titles? We already get free member titles plus a marker for our status within the region. So...
1) where would these special member titles go, as the area reserved for things like that is already crowded?
2) what would they say? "Haha, I have more tai then you?" "Hey, look what I bought?" Come on.
new pay use emoticons?
Good idea, but in reality it would wreck havoc on the way the way the forum functions.
Again, you're not all that and a bag of chips. You aren't the first guy to think up this stuff.
Fact is, even within a virtual society like Taijitu, money will soon become worthless. We don't need to buy food, water, electricity, pay rent, etc.... By being completely virtual money's worthlessness soon becomes a reality.
I would question if tai, the MoF, and a Bank are even necessary.
Yet I was given the position of MoF, so I did the best I could. I continued the lotto, which at least did something with the currency, and I decided to use my skills in various computer arts programs to give the tai a visual representation, so at least people would become a little bit familiar with the currency.
In answer to your question of:
In fact, I'm carious as to why anyone would join NS without at least planning on taking part in some RP. Do you even have a NS nation? If not, why the heck are you here?
Yes I do have a NS nation, it's linked in my signature.
And I do take part in some form of RP. I guess I just do it a little too well for some to see.
Your arrogance knows no limits does it?
"I guess I just do it a little too well for some to see"? Get over yourself.
You're using a separate account for RP. No worries, that stuff isn't frowned upon here, I've got one two, I control the DSA as well as I-S.
I've opened up and shared, it's your turn.
Please explain how you would... "fix" the Senate to keep Taijitu from being an oligarchy, assuming you believe it can be "fixed."
By giving the Delegate the power to veto any piece of Senate legislation, which the Senate can overturn with a 65%+ vote. This would force compromise between both branches of government, eliminating the possibility of any one branch dominating Taijituan politics.
How will you or My change anything becoming delegate and vice delegate? If few individuals in the senate controls everything as you say, what's keeping them from shooting down anything you two try to do like they did when you were a senator?
By appealing to those Senators not included in the clique that runs the Senate, as well as those citizens that currently have no say in the Senate. By building support from the ground up the leaders in the Senate would at least be forced to compromise.
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Thank you for clarifying your position on the MoC from your original post, Myro. It allayed a few of my concerns on that point. :)
You want proof of support?
I find your campaigning for the rights of Citizens to be highly admirable and I simply wanted to let you know that before I started grilling you.
And it can be assumed all that vote for me either agree with me or find me the lesser of evils.
For the record, I simply wanted you to know I think you honestly believe you'd be doing the right thing with all of this and I find that quality admirable; I apologize if I mistakenly seemed to be adding my tacit support to your platform, of which I mostly disapprove. This being said, I ask that you do not use my words as support in the future. No worries, of course; the intent of my statement was, in hindsight, very unclear.
No one's rights were violated.
Citizens take an oath of allegiance to Taijitu. They are therefore required to serve in the military if the region's interests demand it.
I strongly believe Citizens owe nothing of the sort to the government of Taijitu, not in their Oath of Citizenship nor in their consciences. NationStates is a game, as you are so sure to remind us, and no one should be forced to play in a manner they do not desire.
Also, your highly confrontational attitude during this campaign is quite... unfortunate. If you feel someone is being rude to you, the best recourse is not to retaliate with insults and anger. I respect Myro in this election, no matter how much we disagree on, but you are behaving in a way that is very nearly shocking. In this thread and the Press Conference you have consistently responded to debate points (whether couched in pleasant language or not) in a very defensive, self-righteous, and accusatory manner.
Please note that I am not attempting to engender negativity between us; I simply felt the need to express my opinion.
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No one's rights were violated.
Citizens take an oath of allegiance to Taijitu. They are therefore required to serve in the military if the region's interests demand it.
I strongly believe Citizens owe nothing of the sort to the government of Taijitu, not in their Oath of Citizenship nor in their consciences. NationStates is a game, as you are so sure to remind us, and no one should be forced to play in a manner they do not desire.
Also, your highly confrontational attitude during this campaign is quite... unfortunate. If you feel someone is being rude to you, the best recourse is not to retaliate with insults and anger. I respect Myro in this election, no matter how much we disagree on, but you are behaving in a way that is very nearly shocking. In this thread and the Press Conference you have consistently responded to debate points (whether couched in pleasant language or not) in a very defensive, self-righteous, and accusatory manner.
Please note that I am not attempting to engender negativity between us; I simply felt the need to express my opinion.
You're right, it is a game. And if everyone here took that truth to heart more often, then in reality the RR affair was wrong.
Yet if were all going to delude ourselves into thinking Taijitu is really a beacon of enlightenment and freedom, as Taco seems to, then you have to look at things quite differently.
If that's the case, then citizens have every obligation to act in any way that they can to save or help the region. If that's the case then the RR affair was legal.
You can't take this game overly serious, calling people who suggest change tyrants and enemies of freedom, and then fall back and say "it's just a game!" when it isn't going the way you want it to go.
If you wish to snub out negative behaviour, perhaps you should look to Taco who started all of this.
The whole "it's all just a game" thing started when he criticized my work with the tai, calling my visual representations useless. My point was, in this world of Taijitu, they're just as useless or real as the Senate, its decisions or this election.
Furthermore, all of this negativity began with Taco, who's aim wasn't to bring about intelligent discussion of my ticket's platform, but rather to humiliate me, mocking our platform even before I could defend it.
Have I been harsh regarding Taco? Yes, but I do not apologize for it.
If you want to return all of this to a state of pleasantness, please look at your friend before you come to me.
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Yes. I was responding to Taco when he said "Name some people who agree with your goal of allowing everyone to vote", paraphrased. I never said all those people had my support. But nevertheless, I realize what you mean now.
Are you saying you want to eliminate the senate? If no, wouldn't that be what allowing everyone to vote would do?
The Senate would not be eliminated; I would still think that the Senate should be the single body that brings things up for a vote. But I think that said issues should allow everyone to vote on. In addition, the Senate would remain the only body that could move for a delegate's impeachment; otherwise anyone who doesn't like the delegate could start a messy court case.
What's so hard about remembering to vote?
There's nothing hard about it; I don't think joining the Senate is hard. It's just that:
1. If the Senate remained as strong as it is now, it needs to be liberalized. Two weeks of answering questions like "Do you like black-and-white cookies" and "Name the capital of Burkina Faso" are useless.
2. It's the principle of having to join an organization to vote. The CPT in general believes that one shouldn't be forced to do anything - there are differences to this rule, of course. I-S believes the citizens could be used against their will to invade a region since they took an oath of allegience, and I believe exactly the opposite. But, for this case, the CPT unanimously supports - to the best of my knowledge - more citizen's rights to vote.
3. Wouldn't treating Taijitu as just a community only quicken NS's decline? Perhaps that's part of the problem right there?
Taijitu shouldn't be JUST a community. My stance is, however, that the community is more important than a number in NS. I never plan to disassociate Taijitu with NationStates, that happened with the Lex, and look at them now. But, how many people we have in our region shouldn't take a front seat to citizen's rights.
4. Would you care to amuse me by stating your position on raiding/defending, even though I think I have a fairly good guess of what your stance is?
I consider myself adamantly anti-raider. I think it is stealing one's region. However, I also find the vast majority of defenders to be imperial, who just plant themselves in a region instead of freeing it. I will not, however, have my pro-defender views take over my politics. I don't plan to turn the military into a defensive force, nor do I plan to have defenders run the government. In fact, I have several raiders lined up for my hypothetical cabinet.
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Quote from: Osamafune
Please explain how you would... "fix" the Senate to keep Taijitu from being an oligarchy, assuming you believe it can be "fixed."
By giving the Delegate the power to veto any piece of Senate legislation, which the Senate can overturn with a 65%+ vote. This would force compromise between both branches of government, eliminating the possibility of any one branch dominating Taijituan politics.
I fully agree, the executive should have some sort of check on the ledislature. What you said sounds good to me...
But have to ask...
Why are you being so confrontational? Taco's attitude shouldn't provoke you to act in this confrontational way.
You failed to stand beside your beliefs and your position when you quit the Senate. Why should we believe you won't do it again?
Quote
What's so hard about remembering to vote?
There's nothing hard about it; I don't think joining the Senate is hard. It's just that:
1. If the Senate remained as strong as it is now, it needs to be liberalized. Two weeks of answering questions like "Do you like black-and-white cookies" and "Name the capital of Burkina Faso" are useless.
2. It's the principle of having to join an organization to vote. The CPT in general believes that one shouldn't be forced to do anything - there are differences to this rule, of course. I-S believes the citizens could be used against their will to invade a region since they took an oath of allegience, and I believe exactly the opposite. But, for this case, the CPT unanimously supports - to the best of my knowledge - more citizen's rights to vote.
Anyone can join the senate. If you want to vote, you can join the senate. Voting is easy, just log on occasionally, check the forum, and vote. Sure there's a ton of retarded questions that I wish people would just stop asking like Algerian's "Soly? Yes or no?" question, but there's a lot of meaningful ones in there too.
Anyway, I don't know why you want to change to law to try and add a something that's already there. Anyone who wants to vote on or propose a bill already can.
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Funny, I never thought of you as an anti-Raider/Defender-by-default. This is interesting.
*note, this is a noncommittal comment designed to conceal my own biases.*
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Quote from: Osamafune
Please explain how you would... "fix" the Senate to keep Taijitu from being an oligarchy, assuming you believe it can be "fixed."
By giving the Delegate the power to veto any piece of Senate legislation, which the Senate can overturn with a 65%+ vote. This would force compromise between both branches of government, eliminating the possibility of any one branch dominating Taijituan politics.
I fully agree, the executive should have some sort of check on the ledislature. What you said sounds good to me...
Good to know there's some sanity out there.
But have to ask...
Understandable.
Why are you being so confrontational? Taco's attitude shouldn't provoke you to act in this confrontational way.
Taco's attitude is that of an arrogance and a superiority complex. He thinks his way of looking at the world is the only legit view, and all others are either brainwashed or idiots. I have a general dislike for people so full of themselves, people who think they're that high and mighty. Having dealt with Taco before, this election only fuelled my dislike for him. He didn't make it any better by attempting to humiliate and degrade me rather then honestly discuss the issues at hand.
You failed to stand beside your beliefs and your position when you quit the Senate. Why should we believe you won't do it again?
Simple, popular will. This is the first ticket that's expressed a desire to introduce a true system of responsible government, a true system of checks and balances. So it would seem that should this ticket be elected, that these points would constitute the will of the electorate.
That's more then enough leverage to force the will of the senate, who claims to be the true arm of popular will.
Also, when your a minority in the Senate, the dog pile piles on rather quickly. So why should I have stayed, making long passionate posts? Why, when the majority would disregard them without finishing them?
As VD I would be in a better position to uphold my platform.
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Quote
Why are you being so confrontational? Taco's attitude shouldn't provoke you to act in this confrontational way.
Taco's attitude is that of an arrogance and a superiority complex. He thinks his way of looking at the world is the only legit view, and all others are either brainwashed or idiots. I have a general dislike for people so full of themselves, people who think they're that high and mighty. Having dealt with Taco before, this election only fuelled my dislike for him. He didn't make it any better by attempting to humiliate and degrade me rather then honestly discuss the issues at hand.
Hmm... let me rephrase the question: Why did you stoop to his level?
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Quote
Why are you being so confrontational? Taco's attitude shouldn't provoke you to act in this confrontational way.
Taco's attitude is that of an arrogance and a superiority complex. He thinks his way of looking at the world is the only legit view, and all others are either brainwashed or idiots. I have a general dislike for people so full of themselves, people who think they're that high and mighty. Having dealt with Taco before, this election only fuelled my dislike for him. He didn't make it any better by attempting to humiliate and degrade me rather then honestly discuss the issues at hand.
Hmm... let me rephrase the question: Why did you stoop to his level?
Well I guess that goes back to this question....
What is your greatest weakness?
I'm easily baited. I'm a very emotional person, and when someone acts like Taco was toward me, I tend to overreact.
Did I, in this case? Yes. I also give Taco props for accomplishing his goal.
Do I apologize? No. He set out to humiliate and degrade me, rather then debate the issues.
I'll apologize to other Taijituans I may have accidentally offended, but as far as Taco goes, I regret nothing.
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Again, you're not all that and a bag of chips.
I know I'm not. Technically as a Taco I'm all that with a side of guacamole. :-P
1) where would these special member titles go, as the area reserved for things like that is already crowded?
In place of the current tags, they wouldn't be a status symbol, they'd be yet one more way to personalize one's appearance and at the same time an additional use for Tai.
Your arrogance knows no limits does it?
"I guess I just do it a little too well for some to see"? Get over yourself.
You're using a separate account for RP. No worries, that stuff isn't frowned upon here, I've got one two, I control the DSA as well as I-S.
I've opened up and shared, it's your turn.
You just proved my point. Do you honestly think that somewhere in this world a person named "Tacolicious Spicy Grande" is sitting at a keyboard being only himself. Taco is my RP character, I'm just always in character when I'm on the forums. My real name is Kris, I'm a geek/hippie/philosopher, a beloved Uncle and a damn good cook. While elements of my personality may be exhibited in Taco, Taco <> Kris. Think of me like the Taijitu answer to Stephen Colbert.
Anyways, blame me for being a negative starter if you want (I'll let people read over this thread and the press conference thread (and nuclear iran for good measure) and make their own decisions about who started what exactly) .
Funny how I can have civil debates with everyone else here but you, so clearly it must be all my fault [/sarcasm]
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Furthermore, all of this negativity began with Taco, who's aim wasn't to bring about intelligent discussion of my ticket's platform, but rather to humiliate me, mocking our platform even before I could defend it.
Have I been harsh regarding Taco? Yes, but I do not apologize for it.
If you want to return all of this to a state of pleasantness, please look at your friend before you come to me.
It was not only responses to Taco in which you behaved rudely, but even if it had been so 'He started it!' does not hold up as valid justification. Again in the post I have quoted above, you have replied rudely to someone who was attempting to engage in civil debate. The "Please look to your friend" sentence is clearly impolite and vaguely provocative.
Secondly, you are running for office and therefore it is your conduct that is a proper subject of conversation in this thread. Kindly do not suggest to me a course of action that is not in keeping with the purpose of discussion as though I have been somehow improper in my conduct by failing to call someone else to task off-topic.
I'm easily baited. I'm a very emotional person, and when someone acts like Taco was toward me, I tend to overreact.
I will ask a question here, and please know that I am not trying to be contrary or personal... this is a very serious and (I feel) legitimate concern: As VD, you stand a very real chance of becoming Delegate. Why should we vote someone who has displayed and even admitted to an unwillingness to control his anger in the face of unpleasantness into an office where he would represent our entire region to the rest of NS?
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Furthermore, all of this negativity began with Taco, who's aim wasn't to bring about intelligent discussion of my ticket's platform, but rather to humiliate me, mocking our platform even before I could defend it.
Have I been harsh regarding Taco? Yes, but I do not apologize for it.
If you want to return all of this to a state of pleasantness, please look at your friend before you come to me.
It was not only responses to Taco in which you behaved rudely, but even if it had been so 'He started it!' does not hold up as valid justification. Again in the post I have quoted above, you have replied rudely to someone who was attempting to engage in civil debate. The "Please look to your friend" sentence is clearly impolite and vaguely provocative.
Secondly, you are running for office and therefore it is your conduct that is a proper subject of conversation in this thread. Kindly do not suggest to me a course of action that is not in keeping with the purpose of discussion as though I have been somehow improper in my conduct by failing to call someone else to task off-topic.
It's a valid justification, as far as I'm concerned. I'm not going to take lip from someone who's own self-righteousness allows him to justify his actions concerning me.
If you think Taco was attempting to engage in civil debate, then you're blinded by your friendship to him.
I can understand sticking up for your friend, I really can. IMO, however, he's the aggressor here, and I'm not apologizing for any of my actions concerning him. He's a self-righteous, arrogant, beatnik with a major superiority complex.
This is a guy who told me flat out that I didn't understand Des Cartes, Locke, Hobbes, and Nietzsche for the simple fact that I didn't look at the world the same way that he does after I had read them. That is arrogance in it's most blatant form. He basically said "if you don't think like I do, you're an idiot."
If he wants to parade that around and call it civil debate, that's his problem.
I, however, will not stand by while he uses it as a means to attempt to degrade and humiliate me.
Furthermore, I will point out his wrong-doings when someone decided to rest the outcome of them squarely on my shoulders. If you want to come here and scold me for not playing nice I'll kindly tell you, at the very least, that Taco shares an equal amount of guilt as I do.
I'm easily baited. I'm a very emotional person, and when someone acts like Taco was toward me, I tend to overreact.
I will ask a question here, and please know that I am not trying to be contrary or personal... this is a very serious and (I feel) legitimate concern: As VD, you stand a very real chance of becoming Delegate. Why should we vote someone who has displayed and even admitted to an unwillingness to control his anger in the face of unpleasantness into an office where he would represent our entire region to the rest of NS?
Two pronged answer here...
1) When placed in an appropriate situation I can, and have many times, controlled my anger.
2) Maybe after months of imposed PC rule we need someone in a higher office to shake things up?
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...
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Time for one last
shallow attempt to grab votes heartfelt campaign speech ;D
Taijitu,
The time is now. The plans for oligarchy and and the extinction of responsible government have been put in place.
We have a choice. To stand by and allow these plans to play out, extinguishing our best hope for good, responsible governance, or we can stand up, and fight.
As we speak the Senate is allowing Justices of the Supreme Court, Justices who's nomination is approved by the Senate. The web is being strung.
How much longer until the Senate appoints Justices willing to follow their agenda, and then giving them a seat in the Senate to boot? How much longer until the Senate is no longer responsible to the Court, so far the only body legally allowed to check it's power?
By seating the Justices in the Senate, the legislative body of this region is assuring itself protection from the very institute charged with checking it's power?
The web has been strung, no doubt about it.
The Senate has gone so far as to interfere in the Delegacy's military and foreign affairs decisions, the very realm the Senatorial elites claim the Delegate reigns supreme in.
The Senatorial elite have written themselves tremendous power in the form of the current Taijituan constitution, a document ratified in a heat of the moment revolt against a true tyrant.
Yet the Senate craves more. They have undermined and dictated terms to the democratically elected office of the Delegacy. They have removed any responsibility they once had to the Supreme Court. They have leached onto our judiciary and our executive, and have begun to suck the life from them.
We can see these plans in motion, so when do we act? Do we wait until the office of the Delegacy is nothing but a Senatorial puppet? Do we wait for the day when the Supreme Court hands out rulings, not based on fair, impartial interpretation of our rights, but based on the Senate's wishes?
Personally, I would rather not. I would rather we stop the flood of corruption now, before it extinguishes the flame of responsible government, and not wait until the day when that flame can no longer be re-lit.
The symptoms of the Senatorial oligarchy are clear. The cures are simple. A veto for the Delegate, a veto the Senate can override with a 65%+ majority, a barring of Supreme Court Justices from sitting in the Senate, and for the extra matter of restraining the Delegate's authority, barring Ministers and Deputy Ministers from sitting in the Senate.
Taijitu is sick, and the medication is responsible government, a true separation of powers, with a real system of checks and balances. Let no one branch dominate the other two. Vote Myroria/Inglo-Scotia to bring balance back to Taijituan politics. Vote Myroria/Inglo-Scotia to bring an end to Senatorial oligarchy.
Vote Myroria/Inglo-Scotia for true republican democracy.
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:clap:
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