The following was sent to the Editors of ENN by Caninope.
-- Ed.
It has been said that Europeia is a tame beast. Far too tame. For that, I would have to agree. It has been said that this is killing the region's politics. I would have to agree, like Oliver. Thomas Mann once remarked, rather truthfully that "Everything is politics" in Der Zauberg. This I find to be especially true in a game that's based around politics. But what happens when everything has become polite?
Politics, similarly reaches a civil discourse. This is impossible, as there are always conflicting powers, powers that will fight dirty, to the death. Oliver has recently outlined this with the Westminsterian ideas of shadow cabinets. America has had it develop with the press, especially since the development of the 24 hours new cycle, as well as the very present idea of legislative action against the President and the administration (the recent use of the filibuster within the Senate of the US seems a prime example). But what about Europeia? Does it have a loyal opposition? No. Instead it has the few who disagree, who may even be a bit disgruntled, but they say nothing.
This, this is our problem. Our politics need more conflict. Frederick the Great noted that every man was a beast on the inside. Why is it that we enjoy are beasts? Our primal side enjoys conflict. That's what Europeia is missing. This would do our system some good. We lose members because of burn out. While burn out would occur just as often if Europeia were to reach drama on the level of a soap opera, it is my solid belief that with conflict, people would be drawn to stay. With solid lines, people would be intrigued, they would have something to stand by, to work for than just getting burned out. I remember (to go back to my first days) of an old dead collection of regions called the Commonwealth. It's greatest moments often turned out to be the moments of the most infighting. The shining moment of the Commonwealth? A very, very ugly election. Three months of the year had been leading up to this- Henry facing Lord McEntire. Both are Europeian citizens of good repute, and both were citizens of good repute then. But this election was gruesome. The mudslinging started early, and it lasted. The best part about the whole thing? It was fun.
So, we move on to the important bit here. How do we bring this back? We revitalize the way things are done. We give more power to the Senate. We want the nouveau power to conflict with the old power. We want the Senate to be a hive of activity, not just on legislation but on every manner of topic, including "Executive" topics. Just today, I asked about Naval policy to a Senate candidate and Peaceful Llamas inquired into why I was asking a legislative candidate about an executive issue. I applaud Peaceful Llamas for upholding a separation of powers- for this he should be commended. The Navy does fall under the Executive, and it has been longstanding Europeian tradition to let it flow, to let the two branches act separately. No more. I say that we, the people, allow the Senate to turn confirmation hearings into tough hearings for the candidate, that we do not rubber stamp. We should threaten votes of no confidence if needed (although I would prefer to keep that to a minimum).
I say we turn the Executive into more than just a bureaucratic position. Oh yes, I know, I haven't been here long, and I haven't been President, but I've watched and I've been Executive in a similar place, and I know that it's the same everywhere we go. It's just a position overseeing what everyone else is doing. Well, let's not just do that. Let's let the Cabinet run their departments, and let the President get back into politicking. Like the Senate, let's give the President substantial power. Let's encourage him to use the Executive Order. Let's make him active, not a desk clerk, but a hero or villain. Let's stir the pot up.
And let's get some parties here! It seems that any region with interesting politics has a hivebed of political parties, but here, I see none. Of 25 members on the City Council (maybe 26 now), all of them are independent. Why? I ask why? What happened to the political party system that once dominated here when politics seemed to be made of close races? Parties are factions. Factions are what makes politics interesting, but since the disappearance of parties, and with them, factions, things have gone downhill.
Europeia, let's stir things up. Let's kick the beehive. Most importantly, let's jump in, headfirst
-- Ed.
It has been said that Europeia is a tame beast. Far too tame. For that, I would have to agree. It has been said that this is killing the region's politics. I would have to agree, like Oliver. Thomas Mann once remarked, rather truthfully that "Everything is politics" in Der Zauberg. This I find to be especially true in a game that's based around politics. But what happens when everything has become polite?
Politics, similarly reaches a civil discourse. This is impossible, as there are always conflicting powers, powers that will fight dirty, to the death. Oliver has recently outlined this with the Westminsterian ideas of shadow cabinets. America has had it develop with the press, especially since the development of the 24 hours new cycle, as well as the very present idea of legislative action against the President and the administration (the recent use of the filibuster within the Senate of the US seems a prime example). But what about Europeia? Does it have a loyal opposition? No. Instead it has the few who disagree, who may even be a bit disgruntled, but they say nothing.
This, this is our problem. Our politics need more conflict. Frederick the Great noted that every man was a beast on the inside. Why is it that we enjoy are beasts? Our primal side enjoys conflict. That's what Europeia is missing. This would do our system some good. We lose members because of burn out. While burn out would occur just as often if Europeia were to reach drama on the level of a soap opera, it is my solid belief that with conflict, people would be drawn to stay. With solid lines, people would be intrigued, they would have something to stand by, to work for than just getting burned out. I remember (to go back to my first days) of an old dead collection of regions called the Commonwealth. It's greatest moments often turned out to be the moments of the most infighting. The shining moment of the Commonwealth? A very, very ugly election. Three months of the year had been leading up to this- Henry facing Lord McEntire. Both are Europeian citizens of good repute, and both were citizens of good repute then. But this election was gruesome. The mudslinging started early, and it lasted. The best part about the whole thing? It was fun.
So, we move on to the important bit here. How do we bring this back? We revitalize the way things are done. We give more power to the Senate. We want the nouveau power to conflict with the old power. We want the Senate to be a hive of activity, not just on legislation but on every manner of topic, including "Executive" topics. Just today, I asked about Naval policy to a Senate candidate and Peaceful Llamas inquired into why I was asking a legislative candidate about an executive issue. I applaud Peaceful Llamas for upholding a separation of powers- for this he should be commended. The Navy does fall under the Executive, and it has been longstanding Europeian tradition to let it flow, to let the two branches act separately. No more. I say that we, the people, allow the Senate to turn confirmation hearings into tough hearings for the candidate, that we do not rubber stamp. We should threaten votes of no confidence if needed (although I would prefer to keep that to a minimum).
I say we turn the Executive into more than just a bureaucratic position. Oh yes, I know, I haven't been here long, and I haven't been President, but I've watched and I've been Executive in a similar place, and I know that it's the same everywhere we go. It's just a position overseeing what everyone else is doing. Well, let's not just do that. Let's let the Cabinet run their departments, and let the President get back into politicking. Like the Senate, let's give the President substantial power. Let's encourage him to use the Executive Order. Let's make him active, not a desk clerk, but a hero or villain. Let's stir the pot up.
And let's get some parties here! It seems that any region with interesting politics has a hivebed of political parties, but here, I see none. Of 25 members on the City Council (maybe 26 now), all of them are independent. Why? I ask why? What happened to the political party system that once dominated here when politics seemed to be made of close races? Parties are factions. Factions are what makes politics interesting, but since the disappearance of parties, and with them, factions, things have gone downhill.
Europeia, let's stir things up. Let's kick the beehive. Most importantly, let's jump in, headfirst
