Department of Finance Press Release

Day 1,295, 04:00 • Published in Ireland USA • by Stranger Here Myself


President Irasian taking charge of the eIrish government assigned the task to the Department of Finance: "fix the economy". As our virtual toy economy has recently been subject to a series of much debated changes, and is widely considered to be in a state of constant turmoil it is rather reasonable to ask: is it really a realistic goal? The position of previous administrations had been stated clear: it is 'impossible to govern the economy' and government measures could barely focus on 'damage limitation'.



The current financial administration takes a different approach. We firmly believe that the responsibility of the government is to help the eIrish community to get as much out of this current situation as possible. We surely won't be able to 'fix the economy' in a sense of turning overproduction and financial crisis into prosperity. But we shall - and must - do our best to assist the community in adjusting to the changes and improving our competitiveness on a global scene.

1) Responsibility of Government

Instead of 'damage control' we offer 'challenge management'. Our ultimate goal is to tackle the disadvantages of our economy and the effects of the sudden and unannounced interventions of game administrators, and to improve the general performance of our virtual national community.

We cannot afford giving up on 'governing the economy' but must utilize all possible ways and means offered by game mechanics to optimize the performance of our workers, companies, communes and institutions.

Finance having been the most ignored and abandoned field of governance for long terms, we have much room for creativity and innovation - practically we must start from scratch. And we will do so.

Setting up the organization of financial administration we took these factors into consideration.



I'm glad to announce that we have eIreland's brightest monetary mastermind in our team: Sweet Drinker. This time he will fill in the position fitting his leanings and awesome insight the best: he will focus his efforts on the stability of our currency as the Governor of the New Ireland Bank. This new position means a semi-independence for the central bank - granting free hand in the intervention policy and trying to ease fiscal pressure on the central bank.

We also have an eIrish business legend working with us. Deputy Minister of Finance Bhane will also add his great insight and unmatched experience to our efforts. I will heavily rely on his incredible skills of and pioneering work in evaluating fiscal affairs.

2) Taking a Holistic Approach

Our vision is to serve the community as a whole. Quite contrary to some claims, there are much less contradicting interests in our little virtual economy than on the other side of the monitor. The private sector and the e-Socialist communes can co-exist - or even co-operate - without actually cannibalizing on each other too much. We are committed to exclude ideological considerations from our work - understanding that being Capitalist or Socialist has very little to do with the efficiency of production - it's all about distribution. And we will respect your freedom of choice regarding how you want or don't want to share the fruits of your efforts.

Our goal is to increase the gross domestic product. Of course not the indicator you will find here - those numbers are clearly and ultimately flawed. But the total economic output of eIreland.



3) Really Nothing to Hide - Your Right to Information

While some aspects of governing undoubtedly requires a certain level of secrecy (we want our diplomatic arrangements, military strategy or monetary interventions to come as a surprise to our enemies) fortunately issues regarding the Department of Finance are none of this kind. Thus we promise to establish and maintain the most transparency we possibly can.

Apart from our ultimate inability to cope with the extreme amount of butthurt we have suffered (as some of you will surely point out), we do this by principle. Our vision is not to rule but to assist and serve - and that is certainly not something you could do above the heads or behind the backs of the community. Thus we will initiate open and public debates on our proposals before taking steps to implement them.

4) What the Department of Finance Will Do



A ) Based on the agreement with President Irasian we will centralize and contro budgetary issues in order to establish fiscal discipline and to provide our citizens with information on how their taxes are used.

B ) We will address the issue of the efficiency of the private sector by a comprehensive Tax Reform Proposal - based on the proposals worked out by Eire Aonair.

C ) We will provide assistance to both private and communal enterprises in order to raise their efficiency and increase their contribution to national goals.

D ) We will provide the community with a variety of tools and databases to raise awareness of economic efficiency and the importance of rationalizing production and financial management.

E ) We will kindly request the New Ireland Bank to focus their efforts on providing stability of our currency in order to improve the general business environment

This is our agenda and we are committed to follow it - as long as the usual petty power struggles won't lead to an early fall of our cabinet.

Stranger Here Myself
Minister of Finance



Coming up next:

1) Introduction to the Value Added Concept
2) Starting a public debate on the first phase of our Tax Reform Proposals