Malviet

I would like to address the common request for more transparency. 
This government is completely transparent. 
 
Many seem to believe that there is some secret cabal of people meeting to govern this region. The truth is that you see everything.  There is indeed a seeeekrit chamber for Guardians to discuss strategy.  But this area has been very much under-used recently.  And besides...  The Guardians don't run the forum government.
 
I'm saying these things because I believe that people are holding back their opinions in the false assumption that things are predetermined by people who "know better than we do."  I am here to tell you that this is not true at all.  Please, if you have any thoughts at all about the way you want to see the region governed, express them.  I can't promise that people will agree with you, but I can promise you that if it is a question or comment you have in your head, it is very likely that you are not the only one with these thoughts.
 
Speak up!  This is The Voice afterall

This thread can be used to discuss the changes we need to make to the Voice.  Here is my list of things the Voice should incorporate now that we have returned normality.  This is supposed to get discussion going, and is by no means final.  Bear with me.
 
I would like to put this excerpt from the Delegate’s proposal somewhere in the Charter because it clears any possible confusion over how the lawmaking starts.
​"​LAWMAKING: Each and all members of the voice can make law proposals that will govern and limit the actions of the off-site community (no law shall pertain the in-game aspect); this laws can be discussed freely by all members of the voice and the delegacy, as moderated by the Advocate and its deputies.​" The Voice needs to actually create laws about its procedure, otherwise nothing will get off the ground.
 
I’ve had this idea for a while and never really put it out there, but this could be a good tool for increasing activity.
New Nation Affairs Ministry: It would be the task of this ministry to provide a centralized location for all help links, extra help material beyond what already exists, and answers other questions that may be asked. This ministry would not be just for the newbs, of course.  Anyone could come here to ask a question about the game or the forums, so a different name may be appropriate in that sense.  It could utilize in-game mechanics such as the RMB and telegrams to get the word out. If it was included in the WFE and welcome telegram, then it could increase traffic to and draw in more new nations to take part in the forums.  
This line of the Charter needs to be changed.  Currently it doesn’t specify how the Voice can remove appointed officials other than the Advocate.
(11) The Voice may, by two-thirds majority vote, dismiss any official appointed by the Advocate from office.  
To simplify the application process instead of using threads and such to say what positions are up for grabs.  Also changing the way DAs are chosen.
Applications would to an "Application Officer of the Voice" who would handle the application procedure with the Voice, then they went to the Voice itself to see which one's passed there, and finally to the Advocate for the final choice.  Or perhaps to the Advocate first and then to the Voice in more of an appointment and confirmation style setup. The Application Officer would simply receive the applications by a set deadline, then report them to the Voice or whoever for a vote.  This simply makes it more formal and a little simpler for the layman to understand.  
To combat a potential inactive Advocate:
A council with rotating (active) members along with the DAs and Advocate would run the day to day tasks of the Voice, while the whole Voice would be used for legislative purposes. Also, in the case of an inactive member in a leadership position, there could be an "Inactive Vote" where 2/3 of the Voice votes to replace said official with an interim replacement, and then another vote ending the replacementship (there's a better word for that, I just can't think of it).  
Overall, in order to promote ease of access to the Voice, there should be as few grey areas as possible as well as explanations of how things work so there is as little confusion as possible.
 
 
 

Any sarcasm delivered was unintentional, sorry. 

Composing a TG now, I'll get it out by the end of today.

It is your duty and privilege as resident of TWP to shape the offsite government into whatever you wish. I tried to realize that privilege, but the delegate does not have that privilege. They give it up when they take the seat and regain it when they leave.
I will fully back any government created by the residents as long as it does not attempt to break game rules.
I can't win in terms of criticism so at this point I'm not even going to try.

*grabs brand new pen,  starts filling out forms*

Let's see... write your full name at the top of the form

O_o

No one said there was going to be a test.....

Of course you can - here fill in these forms.
*hands over 75 page booklet*

What do I want from our Delegate?
To use the powers given to him by Max, such as sending region-wide telegrams, to promote contributing in the Voice, or if that is not sufficient, at least get our fellow TWPers to join the forum community.

I had sent region-wide tgs for ambassador and TWPAF recruitment during my short time in the chair and there was a reasonable return rate so, let's do it again, ...... and again, ...... and again ......

What do I want from our Delegate?
To use the powers given to him by Max, such as sending region-wide telegrams, to promote contributing in the Voice, or if that is not sufficient, at least get our fellow TWPers to join the forum community.

I definitely believe that within one month's time we would have been more active in the Voice. Not even a question in my mind about that. 

If we can jumpstart the voice, then I'm sure we could focus our first efforts on recruiting back former and new active forum members

Not even then.

Say yes!  Say yes!
 
NS is the perfect place to learn by trial and error.  No one gets killed when we screw up.

I support Elegarth's cause on restarting the Voice, OUR Voice. No offense, Russo.

Thank you Elegarth, you have restored my faith in sanity.  I was logging in to post a motion to recommission the Voice and its Charter.  I believe it is a workable system given a bit of time and effort from this community.  I agree with you completely there.
 
I also believe that the Delegate unilaterally declaring it void as Fujai said was a violation of trust between that office and this community.
 
Count me in!

Which is now morphing into Elegarth's proposal to bring back the Voice.
Cool to have you on board!

Ask all the people busy creating/restoring one.

This will not end well.

What a complete and utter cluster. Bureaucratic, controlling - I've seen some misguided attempts at forming a government and constitution in my time in TWP, but this just about takes the cake.
Your mask is slipping Vlagh.

randomness
 
 
I think you should let the govt. on the forum choose it's own form as long as it proclaims it's fealty to the Delegate and the Guardians.
 
 
unless of course this is a revolutionary govt. then revolt away.
 
 
there is no reason to have Governors and Ministers and Advocates, is this an attempt to give roles to promote activity? ok fine, pick one, call the Advocates so you don't sound as if you're setting up a NPO colony, if you're doing that why wouldn't the players just go to the Pacific?
 
When I said something about a Union that was two independent regions acting in concert to project a proper image, images are important in branding.
 
 
 
RP on the forum, general silliness on general, does military exist anymore in the game? are the ways to get activity going.
 
 
That and the Delegate needs to double as Entertainment Chairman.

You love that hypocrite word.
 
Me saying that your opinion of the role of the Delegate makes sense because of your role in TP =/= me claiming you are NPO influenced in the decisions you make in TWP.
 
All it shows is that I don't care for duality, which I've been clear on. Your general opinions in each region cannot be compartmentalised. That does not mean you cannot /act/ without being influenced by ambitions from the other region. Which I've said elsewhere at this point.
 
Your opinion is that the Delegate's opinion is all that matters. That makes sense because you are a Delegate (and an authoritarian one at that).
 
Nice try though.

You seem to be on some ridiculous crusade to victimise yourself.

So you're resorting to using your position in another region, despite your own belief in duality, as a defence for a crime I never actually accused you of.
 
What a strange conversation this is.

But you've also been clear that I've been part of it, when I've been explicitly avoiding placing any blame on you at all.
 
As for how it looks, I'm just echoing the voices of those who have raised issue. I only really felt the need to do so because Elegarth was rather offhandedly dismissing them, and I felt they deserved a tad better than that. I don't think I was out of place to say there has been an increase in these complaints -- there have been an uncharacteristically large amount since the Voice or whatever it's called was dissolved.
 
I suppose the difference between you and every other person in NS, is you are the leader of a regime that has been through some rather controversial events lately, specifically ones that involved deliberate and calculated attempts to remove the sovereignty of another GCR. Despite the friendship between our regions that probably makes some people a tad nervous.
 
I'm not going to deal with that last line, since it's just an attempt to extrapolate this issue into something it's not.

The difference here (which I thought was rather obvious) is that in that case you were being defensive against outsiders. Now you are being defensive against residents of TWP, who have a much greater right to be critical and deserve to be responded to constructively rather than dismissed.
 
You are using claims of paranoia and insinuations that people are groundlessly fearmongering as a defence against the opinions of your own people. You therefore belittle those opinions, when you should be using them to understand the attitude of the region and adapt your own stance as a leader appropriately.
 
   
I am an administrator in Albion and have been closely involved with the community for a number of years now. Whilst I do my absolute best to separate my ambitions and do the best for each region independently, I have never claimed any sort of nonsensical immunity to bias based on duality. Tancerlo and Consular are one and the same, and my opinions are not separate from region to region. One can be responsible and balance multiple interests, but to do so it is important to recognise the limitations of this and how conflicts can arise, as through awareness you can try to avoid them. Duality hides from the problem and is misleading to others.
 
  They are the same person, that is the end of that for all practical purposes. There is no such thing as 'subject to duality'. Duality is not a special status that gives protection or anything ridiculous like that. Most players don't even recognise it as a valid thing these days.   Besides, as Westwind noted it's all about politics. Regardless of whether Vlagh acts independently of the NPO Emperor's ambitions or not, you are still allowing the person who is simultaneously the NPO Emperor to dissolve the civilian government in TWP. Just think about how that looks, and it might explain the surge in anti-NPO sentiment that Elegarth is trying so desperately to dismiss.       You're being a bit obtuse. Calling people's opinions stupid is very close to calling them themselves stupid and most will take it this way. Your words should always be judged by how others will receive them, not by how you might have subjectively meant them.       You certainly have the right to play that way and I don't begrudge you it. But people get to have opinions on that style of playing too, and said style very much does make you just as vulnerable to accusations of influence, just as vulnerable (in my opinion more so) than players who are the same everywhere.   The people of TWP do not have to shut up about anything.