It's like no-one remembers
the shit Earth, and others, went through. It's like no-one noticed how Henry went off the deep end
after he was in politics here. I think very few noticed or listened when even I said it was getting to me; hell, I left during the resurgence of dickishness in 2011. Sopo left too, for a time, as did HEM, and Rachel kind of burned out and went elsewhere for ages. Abbey left too. All good, hard-working people, who actually served in Government instead of serving themselves in "opposition".
I think it is extremely easy when you're the one being the opposition, when you're the one being the dick to people, to say "oh yes this is so very necessary, oh indeed rather quite, such a good thing to be 'challenging' our governments". Bloody easy to complain; very difficult to actually do something useful for once.
Simply put: robust discussion and good political challenges come from people who not only have
solutions instead of just pointing out problems, but are also willing to roll up their sleeves and do something about it. If the usual suspects decide to bitch and moan, and tell us they're doing the region a service without actually
doing anything, I call bullshit.
You know what's amazing about these two candidates? They're not nasty, they're not taking shots at each other. They're conducting civilised, decent campaigns, and I believe therefore that whoever loses will be decent to the winner thereafter, and actually work to help them in their term, instead of being a meaningless critic. Why anyone would want to go back to the bad old days is beyond me - and I say this in the full knowledge that I was pretty much unanimously popular (certainly more popular than today) during the NCP era - even Falconias couldn't really say much against me as I opposed him,
decently.
PhDre said:
The presidential contest having no clear front runner is not a sign of political activity or political quality, it is also possible that the reason we don't have a standout candidate is that voters are equally unenthusiastic about both candidate.
This is indicative of the negativity. I say we have two solid candidates, ready, enthusiastic, and willing to take up the reins and move Europeia forward, but because they are
both good, the race is close, which should make things exciting. Indeed, if the electorate was so unenthused, why were there so many votes in such a short time period? Surely an apathetic electorate wouldn't bother much with polling. Instead, however, you suggest a negative view of the situation without really having any basis for such, because it suits the narrative that our political culture is somehow weak in your view.
CSP said:
I think, though, that political intrigue has moved to the international stage and I don't think that's a bad thing. Rather the opposite. Instead of battling each other we have the opportunity to oppose competing interests in the wider world to our collective benefit.
Yeah, isn't it shocking that after a large amount of the internal division and fighting was resolved/quelled, we actually started to make more of our region, especially on the world stage? For all the "glory" of the fighting in early 2010, we were something of a joke internationally. It was only as we matured and began thinking in the long term instead of sniping at one another that we were able to make consistent, solid gains.
Zenny said:
Anumia gives us a lot of room because he knows how me and my team operate: almost independently.
In the first 2-3 weeks I did have stuff he wanted done. The Equilism festival and Vinage's ovation, both of which were overdue by months under the previous minister. After that, all this has been us. Its a horrible idea to pressure your team, and I have never been told do things in the name of activity. I do these events because I want Europeia to have a very active Culture Ministry, to set a precedent for my eventual successor, I really enjoy making you guys happy or at least trying to do so, and because I want to learn how to do these things and how to improve them for the next time around.
If anything, Anumia has gone out of his way to be understanding to our Ministry, the timing of events, and the work we put into it. He has, apart from the single debate (grumble grumble ^_^), given me 100% creative control over the ministry, and he should be thanked for that. I was so thankful when Anumia made me Culture Minister, because I was really upset that nothing was being done in the Ministry and I kept spilling my ideas to him every other day about what should be done in Culture.
In a nutshell, with Zenny, I pointed her at the goalposts, and let her make her own way there, with input but not micromanagement when necessary. She has done marvelously as my Culture Minister with that approach, and will be an asset to any future Cabinet.
Skizzy said:
But I was here, and I saw the region as it existed then (unless you contend there was a sea change in just a few weeks' time after Falc left). We spent all our time fighting one another. We tolerated people treating one another abominably. We naively allowed ourselves to be f'd over repeatedly by the same people in the name of "second chances." That culture was tearing this place asunder.
You weren't here a year later when that culture damn near killed this place. In response, we came together and built a new, more collaborative culture. We developed a generation of leaders who never would have stuck around to deal with the old Europeia. We figured out what we were all about, and we made a mark on the broader game. After a long absence, that's the region you came back and found -- and you wish we were still at each other's throats, because you found that more entertaining (until you lost interest, that is).
This. Just. This. (bold emphasis mine, but the whole quote is spot on)
Maybe it's more fun for those being critical to see the fights, but for those putting in the harder work, it's not exactly fun to do that and then get shit on in the game of "political discourse". If you want to be a serious competitor and present your own ideas and assert why your way is better, fine. Don't just seek to find fault and do nothing else.
Modern Sin said:
And I'd like to stop seeing Senate races where we have an equal number of candidates and available seats. That's definitely not a sign of a well-balanced political culture.
I'd like to see you running, then. Maybe properly, instead of "I'll get elected for being lazy lol". I know that you are more than capable of being an energetic, intelligent Senator if you want to get involved there again; you're no fool, and can bring alternative ideas to the table. I might not agree with these ideas personally, but at least putting your own forward is better than just complaining about the status quo.
Modern Sin said:
And before someone tells me to put my money where my mouth is, I am seriously planning on standing for Senate on the next go 'round. As I've mentioned elsewhere, my activity will continue to increase in the coming weeks, so I have no problem with getting back into some kind of office. I hope others will be equally willing over the summer; it doesn't have to be a dry spell if we don't want it to be, after all.
Oh good. This is called being part of the solution!
Privately, I'm hearing a lot more disappointment regarding the GAP - I'd like to be in an Europeia where people can say "this and this is not working, I'm disappointed the Administration hasn't done enough here." And I don't think Europeia currently encourages that attitude.
Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps your approach might be wrong? I have had plenty of conversations with plenty of people about plenty of things, and if they're not, say, going to
start with "Foreign Affairs Seem Foreign to Anumia Administration" (lolbecausetwoalliancesandbeingastakeholderintheOFOistotalfailureinternationally), I or whoever is being criticised might respond a bit more readily. Put simply, if you're full of crap, or going to come out swinging, I'm either going to swing back or ignore you, and that's pretty much how all of humanity is going to respond. Like it or not, it is not the President's job to get 100% of the electorate approving of them, and ultimately in a night they can choose to spend four hours having a dick contest in a thread or they can spend four hours doing work that clearly isn't appreciated by that critic anyway.
I consider it an absolute fact that the most constructive criticism comes from your own supporters, if they are genuinely wanting you to be the best. Many of my own Ministers over the past three terms have provided the best advice and the most candid evaluations of how things are going, and because they're actually, y'know, working towards the same goals and putting in the effort to make this a better place, I'm going to respect them a hell of a lot more than someone who starts on the offensive and doesn't even bother attempting to be reasonable.
Swakistek said it very well in the above-linked thread:
I just hope that we can be allow the happy, "I can change this" attitude to live on in Europeia instead of spreading discontent and division, and I think a little positivity and kindness could really go a long way. And you all know what I mean by that.
If you want a more energetic and active political culture: make it one yourself, by presenting a credible alternative to what you are currently seeing. If you have no ideas yourself, or have not the ability to prosecute them, don't tear down those willing to put themselves on the line and call that progress.
Back then I'd log on to the forums every day just to see what crazy new thing was brewing at the time. People were more assertive, and there was a more competitive atmosphere that, while occasionally skirting the edge of outright insanity, was undeniably effective in maintaining consistent levels of engagement and compelling discourse. I'm not saying we should jump feet-first into that kind of atmosphere again, but it's worth noting that it's part of the reason why political interest has waned in the last couple years.
