- The Problems in America :: All 51 of them [update] -
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by Justinious McWalburgson III
Hello eAmerica,
I am to write a somewhat serious article with some jokes on the side. If you had not caught the joke in the title, I was referring to our congress and to the amount of states that we have. I know I have not been making any friends with those in congress these past few weeks with my articles and my forum postings, but I feel they need to seriously get their act together and step up. I will not point out and attack anyone individually, because although I am hard on congress as a whole, I have nothing but respect for the majority of them as individuals. The flaw thereby lays with the disorganization they have as a group, and the inability to lead and govern effectively although they ask for more power as a group.
I have no problem at all with congress holding on to more power in this country, but if they are going to do this, I want each and every congressmen held to the same standards that we hold the president to.
Obviously, this isn’t very easily done, the President has to campaign for nearly a week, answers countless PMs, petitions to get endorsed by party presidents (I’ll talk about them in another article) and is voted on by the American people.
Now lets compare that to what a typical congressmen has to go through.
One or possibly two articles with little knowledge displayed that usually just clogs up the media, navigate to his party page and click “run for congress”, possibly work up a presentation, PM a dozen people or ask his friends to send him a few votes.
So now we have a president with probably 6 or 7 months of game experience who has been voted by several hundred people.
and we have a congressman who has probably 2 months of game experience who has been voted by a few dozen people at most who mainly vote party line.
Obviously the system isn’t flawless, we are not going to have perfect Presidents all the time, and we most certainly are not gonna get a perfect congress through this system. Let me move on to my original point
Congressional Responsibility
Congress has this new kick which seems to be getting upset when someone spends money that they have been given. I’m all for Presidential accountability when it comes to his actions and his expenditures, but I feel the Congress is more at fault for this then any one person who spends the money they were given.
Congress has given out over 100,000 USD this past term along with several hundred GOLD to different purposes. So far none of those have been earmarked or contracted. Basically you have Congress handing out “blank check” for lack of a better word. These blank checks offer no accountability because Congress has already given away their ability to oversee how it is spent, and they have not drafted a single contract to ensure these funds are spent appropriately.
I made a proposal to congress about 10 days ago saying that I would be willing to sell my Q5 hospital to the country for 28,000USD. I gave them the full list of expenses incurred as well as the very slim profit percentage obtained from this. As we all know Q5 hospitals are one of the most vital pieces in the defense of a nation.
I gave congress the option in my proposal to either pay the money up front via donation or that they could just wait until it was finished and buy it the traditional way.
I was surprised at how fast the motion passed to be entirely honest, and even more so was I surprised that no contract came along with that 28,000 dollars. Even when I was President and Vice President before that, I had to sign a contract whenever large amount of money were involved and I had no problem with this.
We have an entire section of the forums donated to a mock court system, full of jurors, judges, and lawyers. Many of these are sitting Congressmen, but yet noone was able to devise a simple contract to ensure the safety of the tax payers money.
My Q5 Hospital was finished today, and instead of putting it up for sale to the US for 1USD I have it on the Romanian market for 100,000 RON. I do not intend on actually selling this to the Romanians, but I want congress to realize the consequences to their actions and inactions. There is nothing stopping me from selling that hospital for only pennies to another country besides my own consciences.
I am not sure when I will decide to actually sell it to the US, but you can bet it wont be until congress starts to realize the weight of their own actions, they begin to take responsibility for their own failures, and the american citizens begin to hold them accountable
- Justinious -
Update:
I have now sold the hospital to the eUS for 0.09USD. President Scrabman bought it earlier tonight and has placed it in NJ. Thank you
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oh snap
Great points 😉 congress needs to step up..
Yea this and the huge amount of "lulz" proposals gets on my nerves. Wish I had the time to join congress and then I would beat the crap out of the others.😛
Nice article Justin.
I'm trying to get things set up for congress to improve and step up, but if you can't fix a country as President in a month, I can't fix congress as SoH in a month. But I'm trying.
Now if you have beef with me, please write an article about it. If not have me on the podcast. 😃
Congress is THE organizing/controlling part of a country… if they don’t regulate what is done, who will?
Voted. 🙂
I'll give you 2 USD for the hospital!
I often wonder if Congress actually thinks before acting. The problem is as you say Justin. Too many of our congressmen are basically uninformed and will simply vote yes along with the crowd. While we do need accountability, I wonder if the current plan to turn full control of our funds over to Congress is truly in the best interest of America.
America should be able to trust its Commander in Chief, and the military often needs to be quickly funded. I am in favor of contracts as opposed to long drawn out debate, especially in the case of military funding. My only problem with the last administration was Sam's unwillingness to listen to the Joint Chiefs. The JCS should not have their hands tied by Congress, especially seeing how a lot of our Congressmen are new and unwilling to look at the bigger picture. The Joint Chiefs are all well versed in the events of the world. I would also add that all of them would be willing to sign a contract, providing it could be done without jeopardizing their goals.
Good article. Voted.
"I want congress to realize the consequences to their actions and inactions."
Kinda Childish don't you think. But I get your point. I was very surprised that all of this time they hadn't made a contract, for the "giving the president a the blank check" thing. You'd think that was the first thing they would do.
They are trying to step up, but you are all determined to knock them down. Congress needs to take responsibility, and the people need to take responsibility when they elect their congresspersons. They need to know who votes in what way and they need to be informed so they can make the right choice. I agree that there is much work to do before Congress is fully ready.
I just LOVE watching all this play out from my nice cozy pagoda. Justin, I could not have any more respect for you than I do now. Your explanation of congress' "Do As We Say, Not As We Do" policy is fantastic.
@ Citizen Dru:
The fact that two or three congressmen (five on the high side) are elected by a large amount of citizens and have enough experience to know what they are talking about does not negate the fact that the GRAND majority of congressmen (in any country, not just your always-entertaining eUSA) are elected by one of two manners; serendipity or gerrymandering. WHEN MICHAEL LEWIS gets elected to congress, you lose the ability to say that any individual congressman is likely on par with the competency of the President, and as the old saying goes...;
None of us is as dumb as all of us.
Great Article. I couldn't agree with you more.
All I have to say is putting the treasury in the hands of a body that can't complete a lunch order in 7 days time was probably the worst decision in the history of this country. This gives this congress complete and TOTAL power over the government, with no checks and balances. TBH, I am already disgusted with this new presidents actions. For a president that says he wants to be "closer to his military", I have this to say: Mr. President, when you say something, follow through. I don't believe a 3 word conversation with your joint chiefs is "closer".
Kyle. Do the right thing. Return the treasury to the president and MAKE him do his job. Thank you.
Sigh. The funny thing is, even if Congress becomes educated, can agree on what to do, and generally gets better in all the ways people love to point out they are lacking, it'll be the same people unwilling to accept that they are suited for handling THEIR OWN POWERS.
Instead of "teaching us a lesson" Justin, as a senior player, you need to be guiding us. This does nothing to me as a Congressman except reinforce your "elitist" mindset. Yeah, a lot of us are inexperienced, but a lot of us try to learn. We learn by watching and listening to you guys that have been around a while. When you don't help us learn, some of the blame falls on you. You're not innocent here.
Yes, it's easy to run for Congress and we get new people all the time (I seem to remember you put the stat at like 30% stick around each cycle?), but rather than helping create even more experienced players, you criticize and criticize relentlessly until new Congressmen start ignoring you. Just as you say the President can do no right in our eyes, with you Congress can do no right, ever. It's frustrating to hear it from the press in general, but especially from someone who holds so much sway.
Instead of criticizing and building callous feelings between Congress and yourself, why aren't you helping us? Why are we not all working in the same direction here? Infighting gets us nowhere. Criticism is fine, if it's constructive. All I see here is you saying "I'm going to teach Congress a lesson because they are inexperienced!" That helps no one (except Romania apparently) and isn't a solution to the problem you presented.
Oh yeah, great article Justin. Couldn't be more on point.
Holding the Hospital hostage is kinda funny, at the same time though it is rather disturbing. It was a good point to be made though. I should probably get on the forums more, it was my assumption that there was already a contract in place (it should be a standard operating tool, it doesn't take that long to draft one up). It is kind of frightening that so much of the money is tossed about without contracts. Thank you for bringing it to light.
So far, every comment coming from a Sitting Congressmen has been an accusation, been defensive, and lacking in any type of tone that could even be construed as apologetic.
Exactly my point. They will do what they always do, blame someone else, and never take responsibility for what they have done.
Justin, I agree 100% with your move. Now, if you sold it to any other nation then I would be a little peeved, but Congress needs a good slapping. First it is the idiotic minimum wage proposals, and now the blank checks. This is eAmerica's true danger, not PEACE or an incompetent President.
Not voted.
Justin, I respect the knowledge & experience you bring to the game. I am fortunate to sit with you and other nimble economic minds on the Economic Council, but I have not seen you push for safeguards in Congressional accounting practices -- or for any accounting system whatsoever for the budget, public or private.
You can point fingers at Congress. Fine. But as head of SADD & a member of the EC, please don't excuse yourself from their lack of accounting.
Justin what do you want us to apologize for? I personally have done nothing that I am ashamed about. I listen to my constituents, I try to learn, I vote on all proposals, and I'm active. That's a lot more than a lot of Congressmen. I don't need to apologize to you, I owe you nothing. Like I said earlier, I'm still learning, just like everyone. I try to learn from senior players as a freshman Congressman. You need to help us learn and guide us, not "teach us a lesson".
I work hard for the people who elected me, not for the e😜resident. If I feel I've done them a disservice, I'll apologize.
Time for change vote new people in congress so we can change policy
keep the hospital if you're going to be this childish, i'm serious-you won't have a political career and for good reason.
"Congress never explicitly said "Uncle Sam may not spend 430 gold to send his friends tanking in Romania," but to their credit, they shouldn't have had to."
QFT.
@Bill Brasky
I have over 1600 posts on the eUS forums, and I rarely frequent the XD random boards. 90% of that time is spent on the congressional boards where I have been told numerous times to basically "GTFO" including yourself on 2 occasions.
So please check your hypocrisy at the door.
@Geno
Great Quote btw
@Justinious
Please tell me why he should apologize for that? What hypocrisy was in his statement? He has nothing to apologize for, and if you think that it is proper debate to take USD and not put a hospital where it is supposed to go-you can go ahead and do that and simply get out of the country if you please.
If not, place hte hospital, and return to dialogue, not trying to play the US nation as puppets.
@ssomo
It is the not the EC or SADD's job to require congressional funds be properly documented and accounted for. Thats the congressional committees job
@Ricky blair
no, new congress will not help anything. This congress needs to wake up and do better. I dont want a different group of idiots to fight with. I want this group to do a better job.
@Hari
I couldn't disagree more. The Congress cannot act as Presidential peanut gallery voting on whether or not every expense he incurs meets their approval after they have given him the money. Thats just ludicrous to be honest.
@Aren
He said I should be helping congress instead of doing this. Well, I have been trying to help congress and people like him have in the past told me to go away. So I see hypocrisy from his former actions and the ones he is displaying now.
I have no intention of leaving the US
and in reference to what you said earlier. My political career has already lasted over an entire year, and I really have no interest in continuing it. So I will simply do as I please.
Though I dont like how you painted congress with a wide brush I do generally agree. I think the biggest problem is that only maybe half or a little more of all elected congressman actually become active. The result is that those of us that are active become frustrated by a king of inability to get anything done.
perhaps if you weren't so heavy handed like you are, people would listen to you, remember the popular article about the divide between Beta/V1 players?
You're not helping it.
@Aren
I wasn't heavy handed last month, I wasn't heavy handed two months ago when I was President, I wasn't heavy handed the two months before that when I was VP and was ordered by benn to "Keep Congress under Control"
I've been babysitting this group of toddlers for the past 6 months, and its time to bring out the big guns.
The problem is. Noone ever remembers those previous months of me being nice. That shock doesn't wit with people and stay in their memory.
Justin I have known you for a long time. A good 7 months or more. It has been one hell of a ride. My respect means didly squat to you or to anyone but let me say it takes alot for me to respect an individual. You amaze me. Sometimes I dislike like you and some of your actions. Other times I'm amazed at how I could dislike you.
This Article speaks the flat out truth! Justin one thing you do good is post unbiased articles based upon numbers and/or experiences. Congress is out of control. If Uncle Sam can be impeached over spending money because he wasn't told how to, then I am scared as to what they might do to other Presidents!
This Article comes as a good time. I'm sick of reading negative comments about Sam while the true crooks sit on their high almighty chairs.
bring out the big guns, but leave the country if this is how you treat your nation, you're hurting more than congress, you are hurting your entire nation.
Such actions are on a level of treachery beyond what Uncle Sam did-way beyond, as this is blatant, a breach of trust, and was specifically against what was agreed to.
I have never told you to "GTFO", and I'm calling you out to provide proof that I have ever typed that phrase in eRepublik.
I know I've called you out for posting personal objections in congressional vote-reporting threads, and it was moved as it should have been.
I'm not saying you don't post in Congress, that's not my point. And we can both agree that quantity does not always mean quality (triple "QFT" ring a bell?)
I'm saying you should try and teach players with your knowledge of eRepublik. It's all well and good that your active, and that you have your opinions. I would have a completely different opinion of you had you extended a helping hand to new Congressmen before criticizing them. But you don't. You sit on your high horse and criticize inexperienced players rather than help them.
you forget that people like Bill and even myself to some extent weren't back in congress 6 months ago, so your apparent effort whatever it was does not count here-you do not have the right to manhandle us because of whatever treatment was given 6 months ago to different people.
Haha Now we know Justin... No more money for you 😛
Voted.
@Justin: "I've been babysitting this group of toddlers for the past 6 months, and its time to bring out the big guns."
This is exactly the attitude I've raised an eyebrow about in other places. Yes, Justin. We get it. You have played this browser-based online strategy game way longer than most of us. For a whole year! Neato!
But now you've made it your job to insult the congress ("Toddlers"? Really?) and pulled this silly little muppet-stunt with your hospital to "teach them a lesson!" Are you still running in Alaska? Do you plan to show up in Congress on Thursday and browbeat the people you just insulted, bleating over and over about how much you know and how annoying it is that anybody would ever question you?
Doesn't strike me as a particularly good strategy.
Good article, well researched and considering the source reliable. But remember the congress is there for you, right now it seems they are there for themselves and the 5 GOLD bonus. It is alot harder to be elected congressman in the US than most places because you are alot bigger and its state by state. My point is, dont change the game, change the players.
@Citizen
I dont mind if people question me. I just wnat them to back it up and actually prove their point. Blind accusation will get you nowhere. I will be the first to admit I am wrong in any situation and I have proven this in the past. I just dont feel I need to appease those that are new to playing the game.
I love how everything is actually Justinious's fault lol. I am actually impressed and appalled that congress isn't full of requisition sheets. Haven't you guys realized creating a network of bureaucracy and then sitting back and watching it work can be one of the most enjoyable yet sadistic times ever?
An Interesting Turn of Events.
Good Article and Good point to hold the congressional members to their own mistake. I hope everybody from present to future Congressmen and Congresswomen will learn from the experience above.
voted
Haha
@Dru
Whomever said you people will make it back into Congress? Who wants people who hand out Money and then cry about it, representing them?
I AM PAYING THESE HIGH TAXES SO YOU CAN JUST GIVE THEM OUT FOR FREE WITH NO TERMS AT ALL. AM I THE ONLY ONE ANGRY ABOUT THIS? Oh yea this is just a game so im supposed to roll over and let all my hard worked time goes down the drain to these people.