Kialga for Delegate

[Kialga]

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I am Kialga and I am here to present myself for the position of World Assembly Delegate.

During my time in TNP, I have served two full terms as a Justice of the Court, from November of 2014 until July of 2015. After leaving the Court, I remained quiet for a couple of months before making a run for the Vice Delegacy in September of 2015. After a heartbreaking, but bearable loss in September, I joined the Cabinet of SillyString to serve as Minister of Communications. As Minister, I have published one issue of the Northern Lights, a publication that does not see the dedication and care it deserves. I was narrowly approved by the Security Council to become a member, but withdrew my own vote at a time that real life was playing a tune that needed more attention. Now I am at a point of stability with my real life, and feel that I can adequately hold office once more.

My plans for my term as Delegate are easily placed into the acronym "F.E.A.R." Simply put, Foreign. Education. Aggressive. Restoration.

F - Foreign Strengths

I believe that while TNP is the largest region, GCR or UCR, in the game, the large number of embassies we hold is far too many. We maintain 8 embassies that are treatied, while 7 of the forum-side embassies have not posted an update since the end of 2014, if at all. I feel that scaling back the amount of embassies held, while strengthening relations with those who remain active, will benefit TNP greater in the long run. For many regions, especially those smaller regions, an embassy with a larger region, especially a feeder/sinker, is just a badge to wear. Regions willing to cooperate and build a healthy relationship with TNP are those we need to focus on, in addition to strengthening our relationships with our allies.

E - Education Enhancement

Education, as well as Home Affairs, are two ministries suffering greatly (putting aside Communications until later). These two ministries are centric to incorporating new members of TNP into the region and preparing them to become valuable assets to the community. Under my delegacy, I will combine Education into Home Affairs, so as to not stretch the primary duties of one Ministry across two. Home Affairs needs to put a larger focus on teaching new members on what TNP is, and guiding them into becoming long-term members. Should a new member need to understand a happening in TNP, they should have someone who is there to guide them and dedicate time to helping incorporate them into the region.

A - Aggressive Military

To bluntly put it, I feel the military needs to become more aggressive. I have left gameplay for a bit, being a former Defender and current (though gravely inactive) NPA Solider, I have switched viewpoints on gameplay. I have a raiding mindset, and the sooner that comes out the better. I feel that making the NPA more aggressive will make a military we as a region are more proud of. While not suggesting the NPA become a full-time raiding military, I feel that joining with both sides of gameplay and targeting larger regions, rather than smaller inactive regions, would benefit us far more.

R - Restoration Communication

Communications has been a ministry in long need of repair. The Northern Lights has the potential of being a publication that can be well respected across NationStates as a whole. We need to have a team ready to write many topics, from TNP-centered news to new that covers the NS world as a whole. These publications need to come out more often than once or twice a term, a goal I set and missed for myself as Minister of Communications. The publication of the Northern Lights is a great way to inform our allies, our friends, and the world as a whole of what TNP is doing, and what we observe from the world.

In short, there are primary focuses for my term I feel need to be ironed out. We need to strengthen and sever certain relations abroad, reform our policies at home to be better at incorporating newer citizens, build a military that is ready to pounce at a moments notice, and rebuild our communications with the world. For those who have stuck around this long, I thank you for reading, and hope for your support.

 

[Flemingovia]

You declared your candidacy very much at the last minute, leaving almost no time for debate or scrutiny. Was this your tactic or was it indecisiveness?

 

[Kialga]

You declared your candidacy very much at the last minute, leaving almost no time for debate or scrutiny. Was this your tactic or was it indecisiveness?

As bad as it sounds, it was very much indecisiveness. And that's the simplest answer there is. I thought it over time and time again, at some points deciding it was better to remain out of the limelight, and others deciding that I want to give it a shot. Ultimately, once I returned home from work I threw my hat into the ring, having thought it over while at work.

 

[Gladio]

I like your Ideas for the NPA.

 

[Flemingovia]

You declared your candidacy very much at the last minute, leaving almost no time for debate or scrutiny. Was this your tactic or was it indecisiveness?

As bad as it sounds, it was very much indecisiveness. And that's the simplest answer there is. I thought it over time and time again, at some points deciding it was better to remain out of the limelight, and others deciding that I want to give it a shot. Ultimately, once I returned home from work I threw my hat into the ring, having thought it over while at work.

Well, congratulations on your honesty. It is a refreshing change.

 

[Just a Lore]

I have one question for you. You say we need to cut down on the amount of embassies which will strengthen our ties with other regions, but by definition and intent embassies are supposed to be conduits for information between regions and to facilitate a dialog between regions. They mean nothing diplomatically in the realm you are assuming they exist in.

So how will our cutting out of other embassies manage to strength our ties with say Europia, Osiris or Balder

 

[Kialga]

I like your Ideas for the NPA.

Thank you, Gladio.

You declared your candidacy very much at the last minute, leaving almost no time for debate or scrutiny. Was this your tactic or was it indecisiveness?

As bad as it sounds, it was very much indecisiveness. And that's the simplest answer there is. I thought it over time and time again, at some points deciding it was better to remain out of the limelight, and others deciding that I want to give it a shot. Ultimately, once I returned home from work I threw my hat into the ring, having thought it over while at work.

Well, congratulations on your honesty. It is a refreshing change.

Thank you.

 

[Kialga]

I have one question for you. You say we need to cut down on the amount of embassies which will strengthen our ties with other regions, but by definition and intent embassies are supposed to be conduits for information between regions and to facilitate a dialog between regions. They mean nothing diplomatically in the realm you are assuming they exist in.

So how will our cutting out of other embassies manage to strength our ties with say Europia, Osiris or Balder

It not the cutting that will form the strength, it's dedicating more attention. Yes, removing embassies would lessen the information pathways. However, if one looks at the embassy request topic, there is a section that asks if said region would post updates. This is a standard that needs to be held up. Those embassies that haven't updated us for the better part of a year or more aren't up-keeping their end of the information conduit. If both ends of this "conduit" are upheld, the communications and relationship can flourish between both regions, rather than one send information and the other stare back like a deer in headlights.

 

[Tomb]

This is a cruel dilemma... do I vote for my NS spouse or father in law?

 

[Kialga]

This is a cruel dilemma... do I vote for my NS spouse or father in law?

Whoever you feel will fill the role the best. While many would preach on why you should vote for them, you should truly choose who you feel better fits the role.

(Or you could abstain. There's that option.)

 

[Deleted User (Guest)]

While I understand the direction you are attempting to explain, I feel it is fundamentally flawed and the antithesis of The North Pacific's foreign policy. Son, compacting our foreign policy will not mean the relations we have become any more valued than they already are. What that will achieve is reducing our soft-power via a decree in diplomatic weight. Value is only increased if we actually increase the attention and the type of the attention we give them.

By all means close embassies that are not involved or able to post regular bulletins, but an overall compacting of foreign policy is not necessary for The North Pacific to focus on integration and it is something that the region, its executive and even the RA can focus on at the same time. Should we be talking about raising the standards for an embassy? The last thing I think we need to see is any sense of elitist or nose-up requirements for Diplomatic communication. The North Pacific sits in a position where, we can be selective on who we pursue formal arrangements with, but its our current approach, where we welcome regions from a wide range of backgrounds that doesn't just showcase our wonderful community and our long history, it showcases that we want to hear from them, and that we are happy to listen to the stories they have to tell.

And that is worth more to us as a community, I feel, that a few, selective embassies. As we expose our community to wide ranges of regions, our community itself becomes more knowledgeable, and representatives of those communities who visits our board can see our activity, our life and the depth of our culture. I believe it is a symbiotic relationship between us and them that brings wonderful benefits to all involved.

 

[Kialga]

While I understand the direction you are attempting to explain, I feel it is fundamentally flawed and the antithesis of The North Pacific's foreign policy. Son, compacting our foreign policy will not mean the relations we have become any more valued than they already are. What that will achieve is reducing our soft-power via a decree in diplomatic weight. Value is only increased if we actually increase the attention and the type of the attention we give them.

By all means close embassies that are not involved or able to post regular bulletins, but an overall compacting of foreign policy is not necessary for The North Pacific to focus on integration and it is something that the region, its executive and even the RA can focus on at the same time. Should we be talking about raising the standards for an embassy? The last thing I think we need to see is any sense of elitist or nose-up requirements for Diplomatic communication. The North Pacific sits in a position where, we can be selective on who we pursue formal arrangements with, but its our current approach, where we welcome regions from a wide range of backgrounds that doesn't just showcase our wonderful community and our long history, it showcases that we want to hear from them, and that we are happy to listen to the stories they have to tell.

And that is worth more to us as a community, I feel, that a few, selective embassies. As we expose our community to wide ranges of regions, our community itself becomes more knowledgeable, and representatives of those communities who visits our board can see our activity, our life and the depth of our culture. I believe it is a symbiotic relationship between us and them that brings wonderful benefits to all involved.

I personally do not feel that I am trying to make the foreign policy of TNP more elitist, father. My view is holding certain standards, the primary one being communication being received from our embassied regions. I agree with welcoming region with any sort of backgrounds, as I did when I ran my own UCR, but we need to have a standard on receiving information. The information conduit, as Lore put it, needs to be strengthened. Cut the quiet and work with the talkative is the way I view it.

 

[Deleted User (Guest)]

The influence a region wields is determined by several factors James. With Game Created Regions some of those factors are Military policy, Treaties and World Assembly Endorsements. Other factors include "how open is the region" with the more transparent communities generally seeing a larger exchange of ideas; "how vibrant is the regional culture?" and "how cohesive is the community?" are also two variables considered.

I would much rather the first view people see of The North Pacific, whether as a new nation or a diplomat visiting, is one of acceptance, openness and enjoyment. Instead of putting the focus on closing the embassies of regions which do not meet your requirements, why not use the Consulates system already in place and downgrade them? Give them the medium to express their region's activity, and perhaps have your Foreign Minister take the time to explain the policy?

Be wary though, an open foreign policy is one thing, being needed to hand-hold every newer regional power that needs help is another. Balance must be kept.

 

[SillyString]

If you were to be convicted of a crime in TNP, which crime would you most want to be convicted of? Why?

 

[Kialga]

If you were to be convicted of a crime in TNP, which crime would you most want to be convicted of? Why?

While I would hate being convicted of any crime in TNP, if I had to choose, I'd want to be convicted of willful Gross Misconduct. Gross Misconduct seems to be the simplest crime to be committed, even if done willfully. Gross Misconduct would also be the only crime I'd even be able to come close to committing due to a guilty conscience that would come along with attempting espionage or fraud (a close second and not at all, respectfully).

 

[Mister Masses]

I will say that as Foreign Ambassador to The Pacific, I am also alarmed at your thoughts on foreign policy. We cannot control how responsive delegates/ambassadors from other nations are; we can however keep our embassies open and engaging.

After spending a lot of time in Pacifica, I believe there is a lot we can learn from them, and their willingness to work with us is a great success in my eyes since we previously shut down relations with them.

I believe a change is necessary, but not an overhaul. Do you have any particular embassies you would like to close for reasons other than lack of communication? I found that once I introduced myself to the people of Pacifica, they have been quite communicative and engaging.

I'd like to see that replicated within all our embassies, I just believe it takes the right ambassador for each nation. Looking forward to your reply.

Humbly,

Mister Masses

 

[Kialga]

I will say that as Foreign Ambassador to The Pacific, I am also alarmed at your thoughts on foreign policy. We cannot control how responsive delegates/ambassadors from other nations are; we can however keep our embassies open and engaging.

After spending a lot of time in Pacifica, I believe there is a lot we can learn from them, and their willingness to work with us is a great success in my eyes since we previously shut down relations with them.

I believe a change is necessary, but not an overhaul. Do you have any particular embassies you would like to close for reasons other than lack of communication? I found that once I introduced myself to the people of Pacifica, they have been quite communicative and engaging.

I'd like to see that replicated within all our embassies, I just believe it takes the right ambassador for each nation. Looking forward to your reply.

Humbly,

Mister Masses

I'm open to any embassy. My primary argument is for communication. Simple as that. I have no vendetta against any region, nor any high wants for a region to form an embassy. My primary feelings are for maintaining strong relations with regions who give us updates so that we can see into their way of life, while working with others to build that communication. Raven's consulate idea was great, and I wish I had thought of it when I was building my platform.

 

[Deleted User (Guest)]

I would like to note: We've had Consulates for a long time.

 

[Kialga]

I would like to note: We've had Consulates for a long time.

All the more reason I facepalmed when you mentioned it.