Join the new world

Good evening people, plebes and pets:

There’s been much discussion in the media about the goings on in Congress and a lack of accounting for what has been discussed and voted on by its members. To help clarify some of this issue, I’ve decided to release a summary of my voting record in Congress.

But first, I would like to proudly present the most recent gift bestowed upon eCanada by its diligent Congress team. Earlier today, the vote on our membership in Circle of Trust finalized and I would like ot officially announce that eCanada has been welcomed in as a Trial Member:

Alliance Membership
Proposed by potato134, yesterday

Your country has received an invitation to join Circle of Trust alliance.

Proposal Link: http://www.erepublik.com/en/main/law/Canada/132523
Results:
-- 8 YES
-- 2 NO
== 100% of Congress Representation (10/10 voted) with 80% Approval


Yes, it’s been quite a while, but Big Bro has finally gifted us with his attention

One issue that came up with the vote, or rather votes, on CoT membership was the transparency and haste of discussing this matter in Congress. As explained elsewhere, I did not participate in the forum-based discussion and practice vote because I did not feel it supported the values that Clan Wolf and its Charter stand for: “ Clan Wolf is a party of ingame communication, and prefers means available that do not require the player to leave the eRepublik.com website in order to communicate.”


Keeping it fo real (no faux fur for us)

First of all, I do realize it was a dickish thing of me not to get involved with forum discussions, but it was more than about me just slacking off in the basement and letting others do the work. I suppose an apt simile would be that I am like the guy who doesn’t show up for hockey practice yet gets to be on the first line for the actual game. Yeah, we all hate that guy.

I just don’t get why Congress has to be at arm’s length from the game itself and closeted away with its own discussions and votes. Stranger still, Congress does a vote in the forum that is then replicated in the game. 8 people vote yes in the forum, with 2 members abstaining. For the in-game vote, we get 10 people voting with 2 choosing “No.”

I voted “Yes” and the other Congressmen who did not vote supported joining CoT. That means 100% of 10 Congressmen who would have voted in the forum should have said “Yes.”

Yet, now we have all 10 voting in-game and 2 people choose “No.” Hey, I thought we established during the practice vote what you were supposed to do…Vote Yes. Why have a practice if people are not going to follow the drill when the real game starts. Congress rehearsed the vote and yet the same could not be replicated in-game. Why bother having a pre-vote in the forum if the results are going to be different in game, if people who do vote change their mind. Just skip the redundant and inaccurate pre-vote and do it once for real.

Okay, so I get it that there is better transparency and record in the forum. It can be moderated, catalogued, classified and declassified, and fancied up with profile signatures/pictures. There’s just no beating that. The best I can do is provide a public record of what I have voted for in-game to account for my activity here:


A look back over the ages…of the past month

1. President of Canada proposed a mutual protection pact with Sweden
My vote: Yes

2. A law to leave Asgard alliance has been proposed
My Vote: Yes

3. Do you want the current president of Canada to end this office?
My Vote: No

4. The Work tax will be changed from 20% to 1%
My Vote: Yes

5. Do you agree to transfer 50000 CAD from the country accounts to Banco de Espana?
My Vote: Yes

6. President of Canada proposed a mutual protection pact with France
My Vote: Yes


Holiday break and article filler

7. President of Croatia proposed a mutual protection pact with Canada
My Vote: Did not vote, away for Labear Day long weekend

8. President of Canada proposed a mutual protection pact with USA
My Vote: Did not vote, away for Labear Day long weekend

9. President of Canada proposed a mutual protection pact with Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
My Vote: Did not vote, away for Labear Day long weekend

10. President of Canada proposed a mutual protection pact with Bulgaria
My Vote: Yes

11. Do you agree to transfer 80000 CAD from the country accounts to Canadian Civil Defence?
My Vote: Yes

12. President of Canada proposed a mutual protection pact with China
My Vote: Yes

13. President of Canada proposed a mutual protection pact with Mexico
My Vote: Yes

14. President of Canada proposed a mutual protection pact with Russia
My Vote: Yes

15. President of Japan proposed a mutual protection pact with Canada
My Vote: Yes

16. Foo😛 Value added tax (Vat) 1%
My Vote: Yes

17. Weapons: Value added tax (VAT) 1%
My Vote: Yes

18. Iron: Value added tax (VAT) 1%
My Vote: Yes

19. President of Finland proposed a mutual protection pact with Canada
My Vote: Yes

20. President of Canada proposed a mutual protection pact with Bulgaria
My Vote: Yes

21. President of Bulgaria proposed a mutual protection pact with Canada
My Vote: Yes

22. President of Canada proposed a mutual protection pact with Belgium
My Vote: Yes

23. Grain: Import Tax 1%
My Vote: Yes

24. Foo😛 Import Tax 1%
My Vote: Yes

25. Your country has received an invitation to join Circle of Trust alliance.
My Vote: Yes

26. President of Canada proposed a mutual protection pact with Switzerland
My Vote: Yes

As you can see, I was quite the ‘Yes Man’ but that’s because, for the most part, I saw no reason to shoot down any of the proposals. I usually gauged what was being said in the media and other discussions about tax votes and would click on the countries when a mutual protection pact vote came up. When in doubt, I held back and waited to see how Congress was responding to the votes and followed their lead, since I trust all those elected.

I’m not sure if a majority of these votes had forum pre-votes, and I’m not sure it would really be necessary. I know there was an issue with proposal methods that almost sunk the Weapon 1% VAT, yet it managed to pull through.


Lowering Taxes: we did it, together...choosing a new alliance, well nearly so

The only major issue was the Circle of Trust membership vote. To me, this seemed a good move for eCanada, but I was really split on the timing and a desire to consider other options. I don’t know what these would be and I’m not sure what kind of waiting period would be better. Instead I followed the mandate earlier established in my surveys to improve relations with eUSA and CoT seems a good route in that direction.

I doubt I will be in Congress when the trial membership comes up for review with another vote (no idea where or how, but probably in a forum somewhere). However, I would like to take a moment now to encourage future Congressmen in December/January to conduct an extensive survey to see how the general group of players in eCanada feels about CoT. Even if this does seem an unnecessary step, it’s a good way to show you are listening, that you’re open to other ideas, and that your covering your ass with due democractic process (even if you have your opinion is set in stone). Learn how to wag the tail of public opinion, lest it turn and wag you.

To end off, I’d like to dedicate the closing song to Circle of Trust, our rekindling Brolliance, and the hat that makes for a great pet:

Song: Pets by Porno for Pyros


Will there be another race
To come along and take over for us?
Maybe aliens could do
Better than we've done

We'll make great pets!
We'll make great hats!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great hats!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great hats!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great hats!