Democracy Day Discussion 2024

This year, again with the change to Manumission Day change, I am inviting past delegates to give their thoughts ahead of Democracy Day. 2024 is particularly important as it marks 10 years since the change in the day from Constitution Day to Democracy Day.

I have also built an index of Democracy Day celebrations from years past below.

2023 (Gorundu)
- speech: https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9197268/

2022 (Ghost)
- speech: https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9196053/

2021 (Prydania as MoCult)
- speech: https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9194847/
- event: https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9194849/

2020 (Syrixia as MoCult)
- speech: https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9192565/

2018 (COE)
- pitch for the printed constitution: https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9175149/

2017 (SillyString)
- speech: https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9066158/

Original debate from 2014
- debate: https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/7293740/
- vote: https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/7306401/

Please let me know if you find additional threads from that era.

I consider it an honour that I was Delegate during a Democracy Day celebration. What a one it was too, in the midst of the pandemic.

But be it as Delegate or Minister of Culture, I do love the celebration. I remember my first go as Minister of Culture doing Democracy Day. We sent out lamented maps of the Eras RP setting!
I still have mine, outdated as it is

Of course I value the democratic principals of this region. It's why it's a bastion of stability. We have a culture that transcends any one cult of personality, and makes us a true community. Like all communities we maybe don't always see eye to eye, but we value each other. We value the work we all do. We value the dedication we all show. And newcomers realize that they can be part of this community too because we truly don't revolve around one, or even a group, of players.

TNP is a special place. Not just in NS, but online, period. It's a place where not just a community, but multiples of them, nesting inside of each other, can grow and thrive.

Thank you TNP. For being... you.

I was asked to say a few words.

I have nothing nice nor good to say about the direction TNP is heading, nor in the standard of candidate for high office it is currently generating, nor in the overall health of our democracy.

So I will refrain from speaking.

I’ve been asked to say a few words and I guess I ought to, even as TNP’s most infamous recent Delegate.

What the last few years has shown is that the North Pacific has a crisis of identity—not quite really having a sense of itself in the way the others do beyond a way of doing things, but in some sense that is beautiful. The “anyone can do it” ethos, the ability for just about anyone to rise high, they’re all the things that make this region great. Of course, it may be hypocritical for a person leading a region that’s only nominally democratic to call democracy great. But in TNP’s case, it’s objectively true that democracy has been great because it has enabled some of the most talented players to ever play this game to be forces for productivity, forces for good, and forces for the very best ideals on this site.

I hope TNP figures out soon what it is that makes it TNP divorced from simply government, but what a grand ideal it is, and how great it’s been for one of the greatest regions on NationStates.

Having been kindly asked to add a few words I will gladly make a contribution.

Having left the delegacy over twenty years ago I have certainly seen plenty of changes since that time. It astounds me every day what this region and NationStates in general has grown into, particularly bearing in mind that when the game was set up it was only ever designed to be played for around thirty days before all the issues would be exhausted and people would probably become fed up with it.

When I first joined TNP in June 2003 we didn’t even have a forum let alone a regional government of any description. The fact that we have a democratic one in this region is something that we should all be very proud of. It is not perfect, as no democracy is completely but we should bear in mind that many people work hard and give their free time to keep it running.

Here’s to another 20 years of democracy in TNP. God willing, I’ll be here in 2044 commenting about it!

“Democracy”. To quote Winston Churchill: “No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”

Today is Democracy Day for The North Pacific. I firmly believe that we are the largest region - and, by extension, the largest community - in NationStates because we are a democracy - the ideals of which transcend borders, cultures, and generations. Every four months, our citizens, through either open or confidential ballots, make a decision on the future of our community - one that reflects the popular will of our citizens, and one that echoes through the corridors of power and impacts every region across NationStates.

On a personal note, I consider myself lucky that when I joined NationStates, I had my first - and current nation, Simone Republic - spawn in The North Pacific five years ago. This meant that I spawned in the game’s strongest democracy, and when I had more free time during Covid and started to delve further into NationStates, I realised that I was right at home.

TNP being a democracy meant I could see a clear path forward for myself in my own career - one that starts as a citizen, and one that may eventually lead me to growth, development, and greater achievements. I ended up pursuing a career in the World Assembly first, before events took another turn some years later and I landed in the TNP cabinet as Minister of World Assembly Affairs. The rest is, as they say, history.

My own career is not possible in any region where citizens do not directly influence the selection of their leaders. I believe I am living proof that democracy works and reflects the enduring strength of TNP. Some folks in TNP may disagree - and 42% disagreed at the last election - but it is this spirit of discussion, debate, and disagreement that democracy is nurtured and strengthened.

Happy Democracy Day.

One day I had some company visiting which included a retired US federal judge. I happened to have a copy of our free pocket Constitution lying on the coffee table. The judge picked it up and read it, then asked, "Did you get lawyers to write this? It's really good!" I said "No, WE wrote it." We the people of TNP. We created this ourselves out of an ideal, out of a vision. It was not imposed on us from on high - we made it.

Over the years we have made changes. We have certainly added to the Legal Code. We tried different things, knowing that if it didn't work out, we could always change it again. That's what is at the heart of the process - our ability to continue creating this legacy. I am so glad to be celebrating our commitment to the power of self-determination in government. We've done well.

Happy Democracy Day!