Flemingovia for Prime Minister

[Flemingovia]

Flemingovia for Prime Minister,

Well, after three months break from government I am back refreshed.

I think TNP faces a tough choice for Prime minister in this election. Heft is an excellent candidate, and would make a fine Prime minister. I believe that I could do well too.

What would I bring to the post of Prime Minister?

Most of you know me well by now, but I feel I bring….

Experience.

I have been part of just about every legitimate government of the region for years. I have served as PM before, as well as delegate, MoIIA, etc. In the present climate I also bring experience of leading the region in wartime.

All of this has given me an understanding of how TNP ticks. There are few people who know our nations better,

Time

The RL work pressures of the past six months have eased now, giving me more time for NS. I am regularly online, and

So Do I have any ideas?

Two ideas really.

Firstly, to seek an end to this war.

Cathyy stated in another thread

I am rather interested that no official or otherwise of TNP has considered whether there is a way to bring an end to this war

I am encouraged that both GBM (candidate for delegate) and myself (candidate for Prime Minister) have posted in response to this, asking what the Lexicon consider to be an way to end this war. Unfortunately there has been no response yet, but The truth has also posted…

Umm, the Lexicon do not make decisions through the call of just Cath and IP. We are a true democracy and, the high council and founders have as much of a say as anyone. They must be consulted before a decision is reached, and, as proved recently on the Lexicon, they have the judgement and reason far beyond the average.

Therefore I would hope to make contact with the Senate (via an intermediary, as I am not allowed on the Lexicon forum). I am sure they would not have started this war without an objective in mind, and what the Americans call an “exit strategy”, so perhaps an end to this war is through dialogue and negotiation.

Secondly, to seek to revise the constitution.

Our present constitution has served us for over a year now. But I believe that it is in need for revision. People have made the reasonable criticism that it is over long and over complex. I would seek to establish a constitutional convention to first ask the question “what sort of government do we want to have?” Do we wish to remain a democracy? (for the record, I do!) or do we wish to become a constitutional monarchy, a feudal system, a dictatorship? Having answered this question, the Constitutional convention would then seek to draw up new ruling documents for our region, perhaps drawing the best from the current constitution, as our present constitution does from the one that preceded it.

There is more to say, but I guess that is enough for an opening post. Feel free to ask questions.

 

[mr_sniffles]

To be honest, I really don't think a Constitutional Convention is necessary or smart. We might end up iniating a WP like chain of events. But if it must be done, it should be under your helm. More to the point, why do you feel that the government and our processes have become so ineffectual and disconnected with our values?

 

[Flemingovia]

Mr S, Speaking personally, I do not feel that our government is out of touch or ineffectual. I think they have done their best in the face, often, of individuals who are looking out for the slightest slips, errors and loopholes. That is a difficult environment to work in, and successive administrations have done admirably.

Rather, I think that NS is a dynamic game. Relationships, situations and general gameplay are constantly shifting, and so is the zeitgeist of the region. TNP today is hugely different from the region I joined at the end of 2003, and different even from the community which created the constitution we now follow.

Therefore it makes sense to me to open the debate - what sort of region do we want to be?

It also makes sense to me to examine the constitution to see whether, a year on, the constitution still reflects our community's values.

 

[Fedele]

The Prime Minister in The North Pacific is basically held responsible for the success of the entire cabinet. If nothing gets done, he gets the blame. If progress is made by leaps and bounds, he gets praised as a great Prime Minister.

If you were the MoIIA, what would be your goals and how would you go about your business? As Prime Minister, how would you go about helping the MoIIA to be a better MoIIA?

If you were the MoD, how would you utilize the NPA and keep it active? As Prime Minister, how would you go about helping the MoD to do this?

If you were the MoA&E, what would you do to keep the parts of the forum centered around entertainment active and inviting to new members? As Prime Minister, how would you go about helping the MoA&E to do this?

If you were the MoC&E, what vision, if any, would you have for the North Pacific University and how would you go about gathering material for it? As Prime Minister, how would you assist the MoC in doing this?

If you were the MoEA, how would you go about improving TNP's relations with other regions and improving our public image? As Prime Minister, how would you go about assisting the MoEA in doing this?

If you were the MoJ, how would you seek to make the legal process in The North Pacific run smoothly? As Prime Minister, how would you go about assisting the MoJ in doing this?

If you were the MoC, how would you go about improving communication in TNP? As Prime Minister, how would you go about helping the MoC to do this?


As I'm sure this will take a while to write a response to, I'd like to thank you in advance for answering my questions.

 

[Ator People]

Would you have any suggestions or proposed changes for the NPA?

 

[dont pick it up]

What would you change about the TNP?

 

[koona]

Why are you running?

You pointed to some stuff you might want to work on, but what is your motivation to running.

 

[Former English Colony]

In the current situation of a war, do you expect to revise the Constitution? Or would you wait until after the conflict is resolved? There have been complaints previously of people being excluded from the last Const. Convention. How inclusive would you expect this to be?

In your opinion, should the government (cabinet/PM/delegate) have more or less powers or is it just about right? There have previously been complaints that the PM doesn't have enough power. Do you think that needs to be changed given your previous experience as PM and watching others?

 

[Romanoffia (Guest)]

Why a Constitutional Convention instead of a general revision?

Should we move more towards a Republic system or more towards a pure Democracy?



R

 

[Flemingovia]

If you were the MoIIA, what would be your goals and how would you go about your business? As Prime Minister, how would you go about helping the MoIIA to be a better MoIIA?

Were I MoIIA, my goal would be to develop the immigration part of my job title. As PM I would hope to help the MoIIA to cope with the admin part of the job. I would be suggesting to them that they appoint TWO deputies (if the const could allow it - one might have to be unofficial), one to help with the RA processing, one to help with recruitment and welcoming newcomers to the board.

If you were the MoD, how would you utilize the NPA and keep it active? As Prime Minister, how would you go about helping the MoD to do this?

I think I could do little better than the most recent incumbents of the office - training programmes during peacetime, regular defence missions, fun and good humour in defending (this is a game, after all), incentives in the way of medals and promotion. Also, recently, the NPA has not been dependant solely on the one minister's involvement and command, and this has been a good thing.

Helping the MOD? I think the biggest problem in the NPA has been numbers. In NS the more people you have, especially around update, the more effective army you have. As PM I would hope to steer as many people as possible into a career in the army.

If you were the MoA&E, what would you do to keep the parts of the forum centered around entertainment active and inviting to new members? As Prime Minister, how would you go about helping the MoA&E to do this?

OOC has always been a mainstay of the North Pacific, and the first port of call for nations registering on the forum for the first time. Certainly was for me! Sometimes the OOC is a victim of its own success, with good and vibrant threads quickly disappearing to the obscurity of page three as other threads are spammed. If I were MoAE I would split off the best threads into their own area, to keep them in the public view. Only the minister would be able to move threads there, but any thread could be nominated for a place in the “hall of Fame”.

If you were the MoC&E, what vision, if any, would you have for the North Pacific University and how would you go about gathering material for it? As Prime Minister, how would you assist the MoC in doing this?

A TNP university has always been a dream of mine, but unfortunately it would be incredibly hard work. Universities in other regions have tended to flounder because of the level of activity needed to maintain them. I would still like to see a series of articles in the region from experts in their field, covering areas like raiding, defending, endotarting, recruiting, Roleplay, etc, to which others could then add their ideas and input.

If you were the MoEA, how would you go about improving TNP's relations with other regions and improving our public image? As Prime Minister, how would you go about assisting the MoEA in doing this?

Apart from one or two regions, I do not think our image is bad in the wider NS world, and we are on friendly terms with most regions. Our biggest problem has been activity in our embassies. If I were MOEA I would sit down and say “how many regions can we realistically maintain relations with?” Then I would prioritise the other feeders, RR, Lazarus, and then key Founder regions and alliances. Then it would be a matter of making sure our ambassadors were doing their job, and they had material to post in the embassies.

As PM, I am an active visitor to a number of forums, so I would hope to help the MoEA keep an eye on affairs in the wider NS world

If you were the MoJ, how would you seek to make the legal process in The North Pacific run smoothly? As Prime Minister, how would you go about assisting the MoJ in doing this?

ooh boy, I hope I never get to be MOJ! The processes are in place; the biggest problem has been the slowness with which the wheels of justice have turned. Successive ministers have done their best, and as PM I would hope to help the MoJ keep an eye on proceedings and chivvy them along if necessary.

 

[Flemingovia]

Would you have any suggestions or proposed changes for the NPA?

I think I have answered that above. If you want to know more, ask again!

 

[Flemingovia]

What would you change about the TNP?

I have been here constantly, logging in pretty much every day, since 1 Jan 2004. I would not still be here if I was grossly dissatisfied with the region.

Truth to tell, I am very happy here, and there are few things I would change. Most of our problems over the years have come from OUTSIDE the region - whether from the Lexicon, as now, or from New Sparrow etc in the past.

So If I had one wish, it would probably be that TNP would be left to decide its own fate without interference from outsiders seeking to foist their agenda onto us.

 

[Flemingovia]

Why are you running?

I enjoy being part of the government of TNP. I also feel I would make a good PM, and am looking forward, after 3 months break, to being part of the cabinet again.

Also, I feel something of a sense of obligation to the region. TNP gives me a lot. I think I should give something back.

 

[Flemingovia]

In the current situation of a war, do you expect to revise the Constitution? Or would you wait until after the conflict is resolved?

I would do it now. The Lexicon are a minor irritant - rather like fleas on a dog. I would not give them the satisfaction of letting them feel they could stall our developement as a region.

There have been complaints previously of people being excluded from the last Const. Convention. How inclusive would you expect this to be?

I would expect all RA members to have a say and, ultimately, a vote. The biggest challenge will be to keep it moving and keep it constuctive. Fortunately I have a lot of RL experience in facilitating projects similar to this. It is partly a matter of setting - and sticking to - timetables and deadlines.

In your opinion, should the government (cabinet/PM/delegate) have more or less powers or is it just about right? There have previously been complaints that the PM doesn't have enough power. Do you think that needs to be changed given your previous experience as PM and watching others?

I PERSONALLY think the balance is about right. But, if we do seek to revise the constitution, what will matter is the opinion of the region as a whole. I can see an argument for giving the delegate more powers to act swiftly in the interests of regional security. The context of the last constitution is that it was drawn up at a time when we were very cautious about delegate powers. Perhaps, in that climate of caution, we went too far.

 

[Flemingovia]

Why a Constitutional Convention instead of a general revision?

Because I feel we need to do something slightly more radical than patch what we have. I think we need to decide what sort of region we want to be, then draw up a set of principles and laws that will create that. We cannot do that within the boundaries of the constitution we have.

Should we move more towards a Republic system or more towards a pure Democracy?

I would personally prefer a republic to a monarchy, and a democracy to a republic.

 

[Hersfold]

What, in your opinion, is the best thing about TNP, and what is the worst? How would you improve that problem?

 

[Fedele]

Thanks for the reply, Flem.

 

[Flemingovia]

What, in your opinion, is the best thing about TNP, and what is the worst? How would you improve that problem?

The best thing about TNP is the commitment and loyalty shown by a number of players over the months and years, and the fact that this has given time for real friendships to build up.

The worst thing is that sometimes we try so hard to be nice and inclusive and fair that we allow outsiders to take advantage of that good nature.