A State of Mind
States in Europeia
By Comrade Snowball
On Saturday, Sopo initiated the randomized sorting of his Europeian States program. The program aims to create separate sub governments within a federal system, where the federal government is supreme. It was completely voluntary and over thirty citizens choose to take part in what is currently a trial program for the Ministry of Culture.
The program aims to explore the possibility of states in Europeia. The participants have been divided into three roughly equal states, currently labelled A, B, and C. Citizens of these states are currently drafting state constitutions as well as coming up with names for them. State B is now named Saxonia According to Sopo, "The states system offers a lot of opportunities for new cultural pursuits, integration methods, and activity in our region. Allowing the states to serve as incubators for innovation means that we can try new things and elect novice members without the same risk associated with the Senate or Presidency".
The State program does have a wide level of support, Supreme Chancellor Lethen among them. He believes that the program is "Low risk, high reward", and will reap many benefits for Europeia. Foreign Minister Darcness is also optimistic but a bit more tempered and has described the states are "...a great idea as a cultural initiative...''.
The politics of the states will not be overly impactful. The states could serve as a political training ground, reducing the amount of single digit post users campaigning for such positions as WA Delegate and President. Instead, they would be able to run for instate positions and gain experience on the local stage.
One of the greatest benefits of states would thus be helping newcomer integration. According to Interior Minister Coherbia, "...reducing the scope of government/political simulation while keeping the resources available in a region such as Europeia would theoretically give newcomers the simulated benefit of being in a smaller, more tight-knit region while being in Europeia". This would help efforts to assimilate newcomers vastly easier, as a smaller environment would allow for more one on one, and a more individualized experience. It would cause for less newcomers to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of topics on our forum.
However, there are detractors from the program, one of the most vocal being Vice Supreme Chancellor Drecq. Drecq believes that the small communities will not allow for newcomers to first experience Europeia "...because their first taste of the region is no longer a taste of Europeia, but of state X or state Y." He also asks how the high court can be able to deal with three separate sets of laws unique to the states, which would create legal problems. Drecq proposes allowing individuals to be able to opt out of the states so "anyone else who doesn't want that mess can stay out". A lawsuit has also been brought to the high court by WA delegate Malashaan, saying that the inability to move states in the trial period is unconstitutional.
Europeia will have to wait and see if the states turn out to be a success. The state trial run may end in fireworks, but may also end in disaster
