Learning a Lesson (or the Seven Points Speech, with apologies to Woodrow Wilson)
PigInZen
I'm relatively young by eRepublik standards - my eRep birthday is Day 553 which makes me just 79 days old. Early into my eRep career I developed a worldview that runs counter to the current trends of militarism and imperialism. I've written articles about this topic in the past. Today will be my foremost effort to present the USA in a different light. I am quite positive that the reaction at home in the USA will be one of controversy and accusations, while I am also sure that the usual detractors abroad will emerge to discount my statements. So be it, such is the way of the world, even here in eRepublik. As the current sitting Vice President of the USA I have insight into the machinery of the nation and the opinions of eRepublik citizens from around the world. I am taking this opportunity to make the following statements:
1. The current administration of the USA "gets it." We understand that the USA has in the past been a force for conquest and has not given fellow nation-states respect; respect for opinions, borders and sovereignty were lacking.
2. I cannot correct the slights and wrongs of the past but I can unequivocally say that I am truly sorry for the actions of my nation. I have never been a "my country, right or wrong" kind of person.
3. The current administration will state, for the record, the following:
- All nations in eRepublik are equal.
- All nations in eRepublik deserve territorial integrity
- All nations in eRepublik are sovereign with regards to decisions concerning internal matters and foreign policy
- The United States will no longer support or condone wars of conquest and occupation
- The United States will support any nation in its attempts to free itself from occupation and repression at the hands of a foreign power
- The United States will seek equal access to markets, raw materials and finished goods for all nations
- The eRepublik global community should construct international organizations to prevent wars of conquest and repression from occurring
For as long as I am involved with the US government by election or by appointment via an election official this will be my commitment and proposal to both the USA and the world.
The lesson has been learned. The USA is not alone and separate from the remainder of the eRepublik world. We are not in opposition to freedom from occupation and economic isolation. We believe that the 7 Points outlined above are an extension of our true national identity in real life and run through the blood of every patriotic American, be it in eRepublik or real life.
Let today be the start of a new beginning for global peace. Not one founded under the supremacy and hegemony of raw power but rather one founded under the ideals of global equality and respect among nations.
PigInZen
Vice President of the USA
Comments
First denied.
- All nations in eRepublik deserve territorial integrity
- The United States will seek equal access to markets, raw materials and finished goods for all nations
How would you combine these 2? How can a nation with 0 resources and one with 15 be equal, if you want to keep the original borders?
How are original borders that allow something like this fair in the first place?
And what would you be doing in this game if not figthing, the one thing the game is build one? Without wars, economies get ruined, people quit the game, even short periods of peace have proven this.
In my view those two points are not in opposition. Equal access to markets, raw material and finished goods can come from the marketplace. Access does not equal ownership.
"How are original borders that allow something like this fair in the first place?"
Fair? I'm not in the business of judging fairness. In my view this condition just is. It's a fact of life in eRepublik. Taking territory at the point of a gun is definitely not fair, however.
"And what would you be doing in this game if not figthing, the one thing the game is build on? Without wars, economies get ruined, people quit the game, even short periods of peace have proven this."
There will always be wars in eRepublik. That much I am sure of. What I am saying is that this US Government will not condone nor abide by expansionist or imperialist policies of others. If some other country wishes to make itself a target by pursuing wars of aggression and expansion that is their choice. This US Government will stand for the Seven Points outlined in my article.
"Access does not equal ownership."
Exactly. If you have a high iron region, i get the taxes from producing guns, and you get the taxes for producing guns and iron. Why should i accept this, when i am a better player then you?
To compare it to RL, it would be like a caste system: those born with the silver spoon in the mouth will always have it, while others can never get it.
Also, what you are proposing sounds like a very boring game in my opinion. Just sit around and wait for somebody ot attack? Doing exactly what in the meantime, clicking 7 times a day? This is a game, and games are about trying to be better then the one you are playing against.
This is really disappointing. I was willing to stick with the eUS through all the mistakes and losses. I was prepared to continue fighting for the eUS even if it was wiped off the map. However, basing our policies on silly moralistic arguments that have no place in a strategy game is something I simply will not tolerate.
If this is the way the eUS is headed, I'm defecting to EDEN.
Yes, but better at what? There is NO monetary market that can be played. There is NO other activites to be played. Suggestions call for a more active market and something other than WAR to get the game moving
Korin, don't look at it that way. It's simply a statement in opposition to wars of aggression and occupation. It's not a silly moral argument against war but rather that war for conquest is really a bad idea.
Clawy:
"Exactly. If you have a high iron region, i get the taxes from producing guns, and you get the taxes for producing guns and iron. Why should i accept this, when i am a better player then you?"
Because that's how the admins have decided the game should be constructed. They make many decisions that "aren't fair". And better how? That's a loaded statement.
"To compare it to RL, it would be like a caste system: those born with the silver spoon in the mouth will always have it, while others can never get it."
I disagree. There are always ways to build a strong economy without producing RMs. The biggest asset a nation has is its populace and it's no coincidence that the nations with the highest populations are also the most economically powerful.
"Also, what you are proposing sounds like a very boring game in my opinion. Just sit around and wait for somebody ot attack? Doing exactly what in the meantime, clicking 7 times a day? This is a game, and games are about trying to be better then the one you are playing against."
There's more to eRepublik than two-clicking and fighting in wars. Part of the allure of this game is the social aspect of it and leadership, organizing, diplomacy are some intriguing areas. I think you're really selling this game short if your enjoyment comes primarily from the war module.
Well. Native eAmericans were supported in their struggle for freedom. So the you should destroy eUSA accomplishing point 5.
In the past, it has been easy for our enemies to rally support against us when we have played the role of the conqueror, so I agree that we would be better off playing the role of liberator. However, when you make statements like "I cannot correct the slights and wrongs of the past but I can unequivocally say that I am truly sorry for the actions of my nation.", it certainly seems like you're making a moral argument.
I have no desire to repeat the mistakes of the past, but our mistakes were strategic and diplomatic blunders, not moral wrongs. I'm not sorry for anything.
Realpolitik :3 :3
How does this paper have only 79 subs?
"
Korin Dethanos
19
Korin Dethanos 5 minutes ago
In the past, it has been easy for our enemies to rally support against us when we have played the role of the conqueror, so I agree that we would be better off playing the role of liberator. However, when you make statements like "I cannot correct the slights and wrongs of the past but I can unequivocally say that I am truly sorry for the actions of my nation.", it certainly seems like you're making a moral argument.
I have no desire to repeat the mistakes of the past, but our mistakes were strategic and diplomatic blunders, not moral wrongs. I'm not sorry for anything."
Understood. I expected a reaction to that statement. There's been a bunch of discussions about just how we as a country ended up here. My apology is one of consistency, that is all. We can easily apologize for strategic blunders when they've obviously offended some.
Can eRep be played without a significant amount of war ?
Currently it seems difficult. The war module is key to ecitizens gathering experience. Current rules are too bias towards war, actually makes the countries stronger instead of having the devastating effects it usually has he real life. If we want that eRep plays like a strange war game, lets keep it like it is, but if you want eRep to be a society building game, you have to change the rules of the game.
Is it fair that only a few countries benefit from high resources areas ?
Probably it is not fair but this is part of the game. If the war module was not so dominant in the game would iron be more important than grain ?
Voted.
Combining a force for territorial sovereignty and open, non-protectionist markets could create a hyper-alliance of free states and bring the United States back to the forefront as the leader of an ideological pact of nations. The criticism that some governments would collect taxes on products and others wouldn't would be balanced by economic competition and a solid treaty of non-military intervention in those states that signed into this new Free World. Nations deserve their resources, and nations without resources should have lower populations than ones that have, they should not conquer for them, but they should also be free. This is an argument for an ideological realignment of the world, one that I think will play nicely with people's enationalism and the traditional role the US has claimed over the last half century.
God bless the RL and the eUSA.
😉
"I disagree. There are always ways to build a strong economy without producing RMs. The biggest asset a nation has is its populace and it's no coincidence that the nations with the highest populations are also the most economically powerful."
Wrong. There are many populated nations that have terrible economies, just because they lack the appropriate resources. While Hungary had no high resources, we had a terrible economy. When we got our high grain back, it got better. When we got high iron, it skyrocketed.
Just an example: the USA in its original state has high wood, oil and grain. Greece has high iron. Means that an US citizen working could produce 0.0084 gold per unit produced. A greek citizen would produce 0.0129 (i took the lowest prices, the difference is actually much higher).
"I have no desire to repeat the mistakes of the past, but our mistakes were strategic and diplomatic blunders, not moral wrongs. I'm not sorry for anything."
Allowing Croatia to due an eGenocide in Serbia was a very big moral wrong if you ask me. And i am sure i wouldn't want to wake up with my mailbox filled with nazi messages, as my Serbian friends did.
"Part of the allure of this game is the social aspect of it and leadership, organizing, diplomacy are some intriguing areas. I think you're really selling this game short if your enjoyment comes primarily from the war module."
Diplomacy is nothing without war. Take Russia: without wars, they could be the biggest jerks in the eWorld, got a trade embargo from everyone, and still have the best economy in the eWorld.
Organizing is really only important in wars here. And it was in PTOs. You do not need organizing in the economical part, more or less it is clear which tax levels bring the best results, those around 10%.
The only thing I dislike about this war is how Hungry and Indo think they have some kind of right to our land even after the war is over. I'm all for not attacking them and working towards the freedom of every nation. So long as we don't sacrifice our states I'm completely ok with laying on our own sword.
So eUSA is no longer a part of EDEN, because it wont help Poland, Spain etc - why dont you just leave, or do you have no balls?
See the image for EDEN setup:
http://i44.tinypic.com/213f311.png" target="_blank">http://i44.tinypic.com/213f311.png
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/usaballs-next-mission-1266100/1/20" target="_blank">http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/usab[..]/1/20
tl;dr piginzen is wrong