A Brave New Knesset - I'm running for congress!!

Day 701, 11:19 • Published in Israel Israel • by Ezekiel Ben-Or


Ezekiel Ben-Or for Congress!

(!עברית שלי היא נורא. אנא סלח לי. אם להצביע לי אני אנסה לשפר)

This is to announce that I'm running for a seat in the Knesset in Haifa district. For those of you who don't know me, I'm the Press Secretary of the United Zionist Socialist Party (UZSP), a Squad Leader in the IDF and a familiar "face" on IRC. I was born here on day on day 638 (19th of August 2009) of the New World and I have yet to set foot outside this fair country!

I am a very active citizen, logging in to eRepublik and the IRC channel several times a day. As a congressman I will be approachable and attentive to my constituents' needs.

If I am elected congressman for Haifa I shall set about to:


1. BOOST IMMIGRATION

I have always been immigration guy. To me the demographics of eIsrael matter more than anything. Steady population growth through immigration and high birth rates (new users choosing to be born in eIsrael) is essential to economic development, a vibrant party democracy and general morale.

There came a point a few weeks ago when eIsrael's population declined. To reverse this trend I have, over the past month:

a. Published well-received articles and issued adverts in eUSA and eCANADA which led to eIsrael gaining a number of new citizens;

b. Set up an organisation (Etz Chaim Org - "Tree of Life" Org) which has dispensed gifts and advice to new settlers;

c. Spearheaded a party-based “Aid For Immigrants Programme” to help new immigrants find their way and settle comfortably in eIsrael.

As a congressman, I hope to fuse these personal initiatives with government programmes designed to attract and nurture new citizens from within and without eRepublik. I will also dedicate myself to reorganising the Ministry of Immigration and streamlining the foreigner vetting and naturalization process.


2. INCREASE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

I believe that a measure of deliberative democracy and collective decision-making is sorely needed in eIsrael. On such important matters as taxation and foreign policy (alliances namely) the voice of the average eIsraeli should be heard. This is why I propose the Knesset set up a system of public consultation (through internet polls) that would involve EVERY citizen in the democratic process. Elected officials may not be obligated to implement all of their constituents' ideas, but it behooves them to listen to what they have to say.

I further suggest the creation of a "Best New Citizen" award of 1 or 2 gold to be bestowed on a monthly basis to eIsrael's most active new player by the government (criteria will include number and quality of articles published as well as presence of the forum and IRC).

Finally, if I am elected to congress I will advocate the creation of a roster of the most active eIsraelis to be distributed to all new citizens of eIsrael (to migrants and the new-born).


3. CUT BACK THE FOREIGN POLICY BUDGET

CJ has done a sterling job of sounding out Sol on a possible alliance and involving us in the Czech/Slovak training wars. Yet eIsrael is spending far too much on Mutual Protection Pacts (MPPs). We should cut our MPPs down to 3 or 4: Romania, USA, Slovakia (for training wars) and possibly Greece. eIsrael should not squander its scarce resources on agreements with Croatia and Poland.

Lastly, if I am elected to congress I will donate my reward of 5 gold to the Israeli Infrastructure Fund. The wealth of this nation matters to me far more than my own!

One for the road?