TL;DR: Sparknotes On Gem's Platform
Throughout the upcoming election, EBC will be doing a sparknotes series, providing summary sheets of the major candidates platforms. We will release the articles in the order of platform release, with the goal of releasing daily. Private media will be partnering with the EBC and releasing a summary of Kazaman's platform.
Written by HEM
"I ain't reading all that I'm happy for you though or sorry that happened"
Please note: This is a subjective summary of a platform with a focus on distilling out key points. By only reading the summary, you might miss key arguments in favor of a proposed policy or other context. We encourage you to also read Gem's full platform.
Introductions
- Gem
- Europeia is no longer on the precipice, with monumental changes like Frontier/Stronghold in the past. But there are things to keep capitalizing on, and things to fix.
- The Gem/Sanju is the ticket to keep Europeia on the right course and establish a sustainable vision for the future
- Sanjurika is on the ticket and will provide foreign affairs expertise to the ticket (as well as their other great experience)
- Gem claims that the platform will demonstrate the Gem/Sanju ticket is extremely well balance (and also the fastest and furriest ticket)
- Sanjurika
- Has worked with Gem before and always admired their ability to move ideas forward
- Has led Culture, World Assembly Affairs, and Foreign Affairs Ministries. Has lots of experience in the executive branch
- Will revive former Vice President Grandfather Clock's What’s Kicking in Cabinet series to highlight Minister work
- Sees self as a super-deputy to help wherever needed in Cabinet. Will be confidant to the President
- Over the past few terms, there has been a tremendously inconsistent structure in the Executive Branch.
- "Umbrella Ministers" like Ministers without Portfolio, Advisors, proposed roles like Chief of Staff or Secretary of State have made a bit of a mess of the expected Cabinet composition
- Not to say these Umbrella Ministers haven't accomplished anything, but what reoccurring/underlining problem do they keep getting created to solve?
- Because we've transitioned to a frontier, Ministry duties are not as clear-cut as they used to be. It's harder to slice a Cabinet into little pieces with so many departments reliant on each other, so Umbrella Ministers have been the solution to close the gap.
- The worry is that this creates too many cooks in the kitchen. That's why Gem's solution isn't more Umbrella Ministers, but goal-based and collaborative management style. Broader executive goals will be divided amongst all the Ministers.
- Hence, this platform is divided into broader goals vs. divided by Ministry
- Being a Frontier offers a lot of advantages, but there is a big disadvantage: We can no longer assume that every new nation in our region has been "sold" on Europeia and what we offer. Additionally, nations are getting recruited from us at the same time.
- Our current welcome telegrams are not optimized for these spawn nations, so they are likely to move with a more compelling pitch
- This is an example of Integration for the Frontier Era
- Ministry of Outreach must perform a mult-touch approach to integration -- but on its own, this isn't enough
- We can provide resources and outreach, but ultimately, we must use ambition. We want new members to aspire for positions and to know that those roles can be available to them. That's why Gem will deploy a points system to reward newcomers going above and beyond.
- The Gameside Ministry also has a role to play in integration (and ergo this part of the platform). The Roleplay Council has been a great innovation, and we should use that to passively encourage nations to get involved in our greater region and community.
- Not every integration initiative will work, but it is crucial to create a pipeline of involvement so eventually new members can raise through the ranks and take the reins.
- Europeia has a strong communications and events culture. Comms, Culture, and Radio create great content and events for domestic audiences. That won't stop, but Gem will look to turn some of that energy outward.
- "Big C" cultural collaborations like festivals help our citizens build meaningful relationships with citizens in other regions and we can't stop doing that
- We also need to build out "Small C" culture. Because Nationstates is a social game, even small interactions like chatting on Discord with friends in our regions needs to be a part of our foreign policy.
- Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture will have a big role in this work. Sanju has spent this term as Minister of Foreign Affairs working to encourage ambassadors to be active and engaged in their assigned regions. That needs to continue.
- Not every efforts needs to be a huge, blown out event. Small catch-ups and gaming sessions can be effective as well.
- Comms and Radio Ministries will also be involved in Looking Outward. We have not been using Comms and Radio as effectively as we can to advance our foreign policy. Radio interviews, discussions, can all be used to improve our standing in the world.
- Big focus of the platform is a renewed energy around gameside affairs: For example, our NSGP forum embassy is clearly underutilized
- Two big focuses of gameside effort:
- Working to get nations involved who are not on Discord or the forum
- Engaging NSGAP: Our lack of involvement can cause anti-Europeian sentiments abroad, as we aren't engaged on the gameplay forums or discord and our opponents get a monopoly
- Part 1 - Getting nations involved
- The new Gameside Ministry will be a central focal point of these efforts. Gem recognizes that lots of efforts have been made this term like Roleplay Council, Question of the Days, This Week in Europeia news. These have been successful and they will continue.
- Additionally, next term there will be new efforts deployed. Like ways to engage card collectors and a Europeian map-making commission
- Even more can be done to facilitate nations getting involved in our community on Discord and the forums
- We are now at the table with gameside-only nations (Roleplay Council) and advertise our region's other offerings. Additionally, we can publish EBC articles as dispatches and hold events through dispatches and on the RMB.
- Part 2 - NSGP Engagement
- NS forum embassy is very underutilized
- We can publish our military operation reports there like other regions — this will build respect for Europeia
- EBC articles and speeches from the Goldenblock will also be posted
- This will flood our NS forum embassy with positive sentiment
- We will also do more to educate ambassadors about FA going on behind the scenes, so they are better prepared to work with citizens in their assigned region
- Finally, Presidential Technology Commission will focus on developing technology for tracking gameside performance
- We are still getting our foreign policy bearings since joining the Aegis Accords and aligning more firmly with defenders
- Last term, our commitment to Aegis was called into question. We must keep proving that commitment.
- Sanju was a part of the foreign policy team who brought the The Rejected Realms dispute to rest last term, but there is now a new administration in TRR and some citizens there have a lingering distaste for Europeia.
- We believe that despite the challenges, things will work out in TRR
- We have to keep doubling-down on the use of Libcord. We will notify our sailors about missions more often, not just during Liberations and Sieges
- We are also in the Modern Gameplay Compact and that remains an important alliance as well with old, close friends
- Gem will say in very bold terms that Europeia is now a defender region. Our primary alignment is no longer Independent.
- Things have been going pretty good (great work Presidents Rand and Adanna!) but some Ministries have done better than others
- Ministry of Outreach
- Needs to maintain greater 1:1 relationships with staffers
- Work with Presidential Technology Commission to develop new tools
- Hold recruitment contests that gamify recruitment
- Ministry of WA Affairs
- Needs to stop missing proposal discussion or IFVs for resolutions
- Heroes of Valhalla and other programs are great, but ultimately we need to be helping nations decide how to vote
- Ministry of Radio
- Ministry of Radio has actually been doing great, so why is it on our naughty list?
- Since moving from Mixlr to Spotify, there is a concerning lack of citizens who know how to use our technology
- Long-term sustainability problem. We need to fix this.
- Newcomers drive Europeia forward — getting them involved requires every single department
- Ministry of Outreach
- One of the first Ministries that new members come into contact with
- Welcome branch of the Ministry will give 1:1 attention to any new member who expresses any interest in doing more in NS
- Must also engage strongly with staff here. This Ministry must be fun and exciting at all times to set the tone for new members
- Gameside Ministry
- 1:1 engagement is paramount to build strong corp of staffers
- Need to create more resources to help staff know how to get new members involved
- Culture Ministry
- Culture is often seen as a great place for new members to start because the department allows for creativity — but it's hard to run events. New members need help if they are to succeed here.
- Radio and Communications Ministries
- Content creation and consumption will attract new members
- However, creating content isn't as easy as it looks
- Need to update training in Radio and focus on 1:1 relationships
- Give new members interesting ideas for content
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- FA is seen as super unapproachable for new members, but let's make new members ambassadors and have them join The Watch
- Encourage staffers to go to other regions, educate them, and engagement with them in 1:1 relationships
- When Gem was Minister of World Affairs, they worked with Pland Adanna on a WA Guidebook project to help newcomers get up to speed on department tasks. Unfortunately, Gem did not finish this project — but will be revived if Gem is elected President.
- Navy
- ERN is doing well, but we need to keep up recruitment with new sailors
- As a new member, sometimes the best way to learn is to just jump in headfirst
- Attorney General
- Should take on new members as deputies
- Key emphasis is on the collaborative executive — major goals spread out between multiple Ministries
- Please vote for a Europeia that works together
