[Seanan] My Thoughts: Irish Referendum

Day 2,279, 03:17 • Published in Ireland Ireland • by Seanan


Lets keep it short&sweet (lol),

Yesterday I didn't login as there was a pressing blonde in need of pressing, so a little late on giving my opinion about Ireland's upcoming choice in this referendum. There are some aspects I'd like cover 1) Why I'm Voting NO and 2) Why You Should Also.

This is not my advise as a Minister, its purely personal challenge to the fundamental attitudes Ireland has in choosing her foreign policy but quite frankly, last time Ireland had a vote on a referendum I said nothing and the vote went uncontested to choose an alliance I voted against.

Edit: After attending a meeting of the proposed alliance yesterday, I explored the military capacity of the proposed alliance - read about it here. Key change in position to this article: The proposed alliance is a viable option for Ireland from a strategic preceptive, although Sirius still represents the best security. Do not be swayed by my opinion alone - explore the subject.



I am voting NO to the eloquently named "Bulgaria-Chile-Macedonia-Indonesia-Russia-Germany-Paraguay-Mexico" alliance because I will be voting YES to pursuing membership with Sirius (SPoland-Cro-US-UK) along side Albania and Bosnia.

Why?
For one, I like the name Sirius. Two, Sirius is actually a formed alliance and not a "likely to form" alliance. Three, it makes perfect sense for Ireland.

There should be no pussyfooting around the issue. The.. I'm just going to call it the "Etc etc Alliance".. has members which Ireland likes, all of them - those guys are cool but its still going to be a support alliance to Sirius.

You may be told that it will have an "independent HQ"; this game only works in two major blocks, blue v red. You're either pro-SPoland or pro-Serbia at this moment in time. The choice between Sirius and Etc Etc is a choice between Navy Blue and Baby Blue, understand sailor? Its a natural progression of two groups coordinating against a common enemy to be incorporated into eachother, either formally or informally. My message is that we cut the inefficiencies of separate HQs, and simply encourage these nations pursue a super block with Sirius so the actual matter at hand can be properly addresse😛 ruining Serbia's day.




The barrier I see to joining Sirius instead of Etc Etc is that we're friends with every member of Etc Etc, whilst with Sirius we have a couple friends but mostly just amiable relations. However, Navy Blue or Baby Blue, we're going to be following the lead of this alliance 'block' more than likely headed by the dipole of the alliance struggle: SPoland.

And I'm thinking forward. I do not want to ally with Serbia, and if Baby Blue eventually splinters and turns to pro-Serbia... we're either allying with Serbia out of necessity or pursuing Sirius well past when it might of been cool to join. Etc etc is a large group without a solid regional stronghold (i.e. tons of bloody fronts), history teaches us that doesn't often work - I am sceptical about its sustainability as much as I was sceptical about CUA's sustainability.

And that's the sort of situation I feel is being repeated. An uneven footing being pursued because someone asked us to join. Ireland sticks by our friends, sure - but doesn't mean putting our neck on the line every single time.

It's been mentioned about joining an alliance which is directly attacking our brother Canada... well considering Canada has MPP'd Serbia and we're voting between Pro-SPoland Navy Blue & Pro-SPoland Baby Blue... directly or indirectly, we're fighting against Canada. A horrific fact, but its true. Will I fight against Canada? No. I expect a great many in the United Kingdom won't fight against Serbia either, at least not aggressively (but most are keeping quiet about that, unlike us).

I feel for Canada, I am sad that they MPP'd Serbia because otherwise might of found a way for them to be on amiable relations with Sirius - but there is still a reason why I have Irish citizenship, and I can't be to blame for them MPPing one of the few countries I enjoy fighting. We're helping them not be completely buggered over, just like we were with Portugal - the United States is having some fun, its not overly 'Sirius' (oh ho ho) so we're helping to even the odds a bit, but in the end, US is also our friend and we have a sake in improving their military capability by renting regions for their weapon production (or least, we will likely re-implement the arrangement once Cupid's Annoying RW Mission ends).


We are continuing to handle these conflicts between our friends with pride and class by supporting defensively, but there should be no illusion that many of our friends have made their choice and we need to make our own.



I've said my piece as an individual, I have no qualm in being open with it. My last comment is a slight rebuke for my boss;

Dear Don Croata,

Boss and Buddy 'ol Pal - In the referendum article you say VOTING NO is a Vote for Neutrality. Your reasoning is that the Dail/Congress gave a majority approval for this referendum and we'd need to pursue another lead if rejected.

That is out right misleading.

1) Voting NO means we DO NOT pursue the Etc Etc Alliance.
The next referendum would then be asking about pursuing Sirius.
It is NOT a vote for neutrality.
Rejecting the next referendum would be.

2) Counting all votes on whether to put up the "Etc Etc Referendum" or "Sirius Referendum" first; the Dail voted 54% in favour of Etc Etc and 46% in favour of Sirius. That vote was won by 2 votes, and 1/3 of the Dail did not vote.

These figures tell me that the debate is ongoing and there are those who need convincing either way, but we are far from a 'sure thing' in public opinion and we are far from neutral; we are pro-SPoland in one way or another. However, I still believe the referendum has been run fairly - but in the case of rejection, there should be another referendum on pursuing membership with Sirius.

If the Nation Rejects the Referendum for Bulg-Chl-Mkd-etc-etc, then the Nation will have a vote on Sirius. The Dail has not given a clear preference. That is the message to the voters.