The Zocalo and Acropolis

[Gulliver]

So, our boards for civic and religious organizations still exist, but they haven't really been used much and I'm not longer sure that the rules for awarding and removing sub-boards are being honored. So what I'd like to discuss is basically three questions: do we keep the boards, who manages them if so, and what should the rules for adding and removing sub boards be?

My own initial opinion is yes to the first and not sure about the other two.

[Delfos]

their keep them or Merge into a new mega subforum called Metropolis

[AwesomeSaucer]

I'd say keep, but streamline.  Get rid of political parties - a direct democracy doesn't need them - and use the Zocalo as a place to publically make speeches pertaining to political matters/Taijitu itself/the general community/other "serious stuff."  The Acropolis you may want to get rid of, due to Worldbuilding taking over much of the uses of the Acropolis.

That said, I would like a reform on the University, perhaps with a new name, a new identity, and maybe even an IRC channel or two.  Let's see what happens.

[Delfos]

I'd say keep, but streamline.  Get rid of political parties - a direct democracy doesn't need them - and use the Zocalo as a place to publically make speeches pertaining to political matters/Taijitu itself/the general community/other "serious stuff."  The Acropolis you may want to get rid of, due to Worldbuilding taking over much of the uses of the Acropolis.

That said, I would like a reform on the University, perhaps with a new name, a new identity, and maybe even an IRC channel or two.  Let's see what happens.

Get rid of political parties over my dead body. Direct Democracy needs them as much as any democratic society does. Plus this isn't thaaaaaaaaat much of a Direct Democracy situation, sure we can tell the world that we are.

[AwesomeSaucer]

I'd say keep, but streamline.  Get rid of political parties - a direct democracy doesn't need them - and use the Zocalo as a place to publically make speeches pertaining to political matters/Taijitu itself/the general community/other "serious stuff."  The Acropolis you may want to get rid of, due to Worldbuilding taking over much of the uses of the Acropolis.

That said, I would like a reform on the University, perhaps with a new name, a new identity, and maybe even an IRC channel or two.  Let's see what happens.

Get rid of political parties over my dead body. Direct Democracy needs them as much as any democratic society does. Plus this isn't thaaaaaaaaat much of a Direct Democracy situation, sure we can tell the world that we are.

Trust me, I'm with you on the direct democracy situation in Taijitu.  We need a LOT of major change here.

Political parties could exist, but they're not necessary.  Everyone votes on their own merits, not someone else's.

[Myroria]

I think we should leave the political parties boards where they are. Worldbuilding hasn't taken over the uses for the Acropolis, and we just chose a new name for the University.

I also invite anyone who wants to see "major changes" to propose them to the Ecclesia.

[Funkadelia]

That said, I would like a reform on the University, perhaps with a new name, a new identity, and maybe even an IRC channel or two.  Let's see what happens.

We could, perhaps, redouble our efforts in the University, but we just picked a new name, and I don't know what you mean by "new Identity."

[AwesomeSaucer]

I also invite anyone who wants to see "major changes" to propose them to the Ecclesia.

Soon.  I promise. 

[Myroria]

k

[Dyr Nasad]

We obviously need the boards #ProP2015 #ElugarchyReturns

Perhaps give the C-I even more thankless bureaucratic functions and make it handle those boards?

Also, the government seems pretty direct to me...

[bigbaldben]

We have political parties?!? We typically average about twelve votes per issue, yet we need political parties? Does not compute.

[Delfos]

We have political parties?!? We typically average about twelve votes per issue, yet we need political parties? Does not compute.

It's the only way to fight Elugarchy. Secret associations are shameful douchebagery ways to conduct business.

[Khem]

We have political parties?!? We typically average about twelve votes per issue, yet we need political parties? Does not compute.

It's the only way to fight Elugarchy. Secret associations are shameful douchebagery ways to conduct business.

Can't fight the back room deals. I still see no use for political parties at this juncture.

[bigbaldben]

We have political parties?!? We typically average about twelve votes per issue, yet we need political parties? Does not compute.

It's the only way to fight Elugarchy. Secret associations are shameful douchebagery ways to conduct business.

Ah.  Interesting concept.  I've seen them called factions and stuff on some of the other regions updates to Taijitu and that sounds like it could be fun.  But if we don't utilize the established political parities then why bother?  I guess that's why Gulliver is asking?  To see if someone wants to step up and take the reigns of a party?

[Gulliver]

The political parties are largely a holdover for the past, a place for people with similar real life and NationStates political views to come together and discuss policy. They were more active before but are now pretty quiet, they were just never formally disbanded and no new civic organizations were created to knock them out of their place.

Ultimately though, they are private civic organizations whose existence is guaranteed by the right of association, so we can't legally ban political parties as a whole. More importantly, the important question, I believe, is not whether political parties are useful for us as a region but the general management and purpose of the board. I do think having a place for civic life and organizations is important but the old policies about what groups warranted sub-forums and processes for dropping sub-forums and special groups have fallen by the wayside with no one to create and maintain them.

Broadly speaking, if we keep the Zocalo I see two possibilities, one where its the responsibility of forum moderators or admins and one where it's the responsibility of some political office.