NOTE: THIS IS A BIT LONG. READ THE LOT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE I AM COMING FROM, BUT I HAVE PROVIDED A SUMMARY AT THE END.
About Me.
Flemingovia was born here on 1st January 2004. I have tried to leave a couple of times, but never really made it. This is my home, and although I have interests in a couple of other regions, this is probably the only region I log into several times a day.
IRL I am married to “Cruithne” – another player – and we have 4 children. All 4 play NS, and the youngest is Sir Andrew, who at one time was the youngest player of NS, and is still the youngest ever candidate for delegate of the region. He was 6 months old. Sadly, Andrew has now outgrown the game, and is rarely online.
I have served in just about every democratic government the region has had, and fought against every rogue delegate. Been there, done that. I have been forum admin twice, delegate once, and sundry other positions. I founded The Underground, which fought valiantly against Pixiedance, and which formed the genesis of the current democratic government.
About Democracy in NS.
There has been a lot of talk about the viability of democratic government in Nationstates, and I think it is important for a prospective Prime minister to address this.
It is often said that NS is biased towards totalitarian government, and that democracy is impossible. I agree with the first phrase, but reject the latter. To be a dictator in a NS feeder is easy. It is the natural state of things, built into the coding of the game.
But that is why I regard it as the lazy choice, unworthy of attention if you want to be seriously involved in a political simulation. For me, democracy is the real challenge. Many cards are stacked against it, and probably eventually any democracy will fall – sooner or later a delegate will come along who is weak or venal, and that is that. But while it lasts, what a challenge in developing and leading a region by persuasion rather than oppression! And what a feeling when you manage, not to threaten people into obedience, but convince them by the power of your arguments.
That is why you will never find me turning rogue as a delegate or Prime minister – because for me that would be an admission of defeat, that I am just not damn good enough as a player to make democracy work.
About me as Prime minister:
Openness.
Total government openness is impossible. There will always be issues of regional security that needs to be discussed away from prying eyes. However, I would favour the opening up of the cabinet rooms to public gaze, so that most discussions can be seen by everyone. After all, if they can televise congress and the houses of parliament, TNP should have little to fear.
Cabinet and government:
The last two governments have both shaped and developed a good cabinet system in TNP. Some of the details need working on, especially in the area of term restrictions, but the larger problem is that some of the ministers do not have sufficient guidelines or duties to occupy them through a three month term. Too easily good ministers have become jaded and bored with pen-pushing duties, or have had too little to do that engages them.
I would draw on RL management experience, and work individually with each minister to draw up a game plan for their term of office – how and when and what was going to be achieved. Then it would be my job to make sure the government delivered. I would want each minister to think beyond tinkering with or administering what has gone before, and to start thinking about how their ministry could start to improve the region and involve more people in our community life.
Leadership
A Feeder ought to be active in world affairs. Personally, I would love to see TNP more active in defending, and more active in world politics. Long ago I was involved in the League of the Pacifics – a joint meeting of representatives of all the feeders formed by Loop - and although it was short lived it remained on my heart as a valuable body. I see no reason why, once the dust settles on the West Pacific, we should not be the ones to host a gathering of delegates and ministers of the Pacifics.
Developing the North Pacific as a feeder:
Finally, I would like to use this term to develop an idea I have had brewing for some time now. I believe none of the Pacifics have really grasped the responsibility that is ours as feeders. In fact I would go so far as to say that some of the malaise in the game at the moment is because new players are born in the feeders and find a discouraging atmosphere – conflict, militarism, suspicion.
What I would like to do is set up an area on the forum where key players could be asked to contribute articles on key areas of the game. The threads would be then left open for others to contribute ideas and insight, forming a “School of Nationstates”. I thought of commissioning articles from Sir Paul on journalism; Thel, perhaps, on setting up a region; Insane Power on recruiting (seriously – he is the best I have seen), Cathyy on gaining endorsements, ZetaOne on forum development, Pope Hope on defending, Ceaser or Scardino on invading/raiding, Yahwehland on how to spam* etc etc etc.
((*That was a joke, BTW. I am also open to suggestions of other areas that might be covered and people who might write))
These threads would be totally public - available to established and new players getting into the game, and hopefully they would move into founder regions, or remain here, better equipped to play the game.
There is a similarity here to the old “LemU”, and that is no coincidence since it was LemU that started me thinking about this. And I know Thel would have loved to have set up the university in its natural setting – a feeder region. Perhaps it is an idea whose time has come.
There is more than this. After two years in the region, my head is full of ideas. But this post is too long already. I will say more as I answer questions.
About Me.
Flemingovia was born here on 1st January 2004. I have tried to leave a couple of times, but never really made it. This is my home, and although I have interests in a couple of other regions, this is probably the only region I log into several times a day.
IRL I am married to “Cruithne” – another player – and we have 4 children. All 4 play NS, and the youngest is Sir Andrew, who at one time was the youngest player of NS, and is still the youngest ever candidate for delegate of the region. He was 6 months old. Sadly, Andrew has now outgrown the game, and is rarely online.
I have served in just about every democratic government the region has had, and fought against every rogue delegate. Been there, done that. I have been forum admin twice, delegate once, and sundry other positions. I founded The Underground, which fought valiantly against Pixiedance, and which formed the genesis of the current democratic government.
About Democracy in NS.
There has been a lot of talk about the viability of democratic government in Nationstates, and I think it is important for a prospective Prime minister to address this.
It is often said that NS is biased towards totalitarian government, and that democracy is impossible. I agree with the first phrase, but reject the latter. To be a dictator in a NS feeder is easy. It is the natural state of things, built into the coding of the game.
But that is why I regard it as the lazy choice, unworthy of attention if you want to be seriously involved in a political simulation. For me, democracy is the real challenge. Many cards are stacked against it, and probably eventually any democracy will fall – sooner or later a delegate will come along who is weak or venal, and that is that. But while it lasts, what a challenge in developing and leading a region by persuasion rather than oppression! And what a feeling when you manage, not to threaten people into obedience, but convince them by the power of your arguments.
That is why you will never find me turning rogue as a delegate or Prime minister – because for me that would be an admission of defeat, that I am just not damn good enough as a player to make democracy work.
About me as Prime minister:
Openness.
Total government openness is impossible. There will always be issues of regional security that needs to be discussed away from prying eyes. However, I would favour the opening up of the cabinet rooms to public gaze, so that most discussions can be seen by everyone. After all, if they can televise congress and the houses of parliament, TNP should have little to fear.
Cabinet and government:
The last two governments have both shaped and developed a good cabinet system in TNP. Some of the details need working on, especially in the area of term restrictions, but the larger problem is that some of the ministers do not have sufficient guidelines or duties to occupy them through a three month term. Too easily good ministers have become jaded and bored with pen-pushing duties, or have had too little to do that engages them.
I would draw on RL management experience, and work individually with each minister to draw up a game plan for their term of office – how and when and what was going to be achieved. Then it would be my job to make sure the government delivered. I would want each minister to think beyond tinkering with or administering what has gone before, and to start thinking about how their ministry could start to improve the region and involve more people in our community life.
Leadership
A Feeder ought to be active in world affairs. Personally, I would love to see TNP more active in defending, and more active in world politics. Long ago I was involved in the League of the Pacifics – a joint meeting of representatives of all the feeders formed by Loop - and although it was short lived it remained on my heart as a valuable body. I see no reason why, once the dust settles on the West Pacific, we should not be the ones to host a gathering of delegates and ministers of the Pacifics.
Developing the North Pacific as a feeder:
Finally, I would like to use this term to develop an idea I have had brewing for some time now. I believe none of the Pacifics have really grasped the responsibility that is ours as feeders. In fact I would go so far as to say that some of the malaise in the game at the moment is because new players are born in the feeders and find a discouraging atmosphere – conflict, militarism, suspicion.
What I would like to do is set up an area on the forum where key players could be asked to contribute articles on key areas of the game. The threads would be then left open for others to contribute ideas and insight, forming a “School of Nationstates”. I thought of commissioning articles from Sir Paul on journalism; Thel, perhaps, on setting up a region; Insane Power on recruiting (seriously – he is the best I have seen), Cathyy on gaining endorsements, ZetaOne on forum development, Pope Hope on defending, Ceaser or Scardino on invading/raiding, Yahwehland on how to spam* etc etc etc.
((*That was a joke, BTW. I am also open to suggestions of other areas that might be covered and people who might write))
These threads would be totally public - available to established and new players getting into the game, and hopefully they would move into founder regions, or remain here, better equipped to play the game.
There is a similarity here to the old “LemU”, and that is no coincidence since it was LemU that started me thinking about this. And I know Thel would have loved to have set up the university in its natural setting – a feeder region. Perhaps it is an idea whose time has come.
There is more than this. After two years in the region, my head is full of ideas. But this post is too long already. I will say more as I answer questions.
Oh, no. Now I can't decide who to vote for PM...So many good candidates.....
for style on your initial post, Flem.
You are more then welcome to hang out in The Exodus. enjoy your stay, and enjoy the wine and food.