eNational Primary System - Part 4 - The Vote, mightier than the sword

Day 568, 23:27 Published in USA USA by Ananias

In Part 1 of this series, eNational Primary System - Part 1 - Land of Opportunity, I introduced my first line of reasoning for the development and implementation of an eNational Primary System:

The eNational Primary System being developed will allow for everyone, regardless of party affiliation, to be provided the opportunity to run for office.

I believe that the system is a critical leap in the direction of a more egalitarian culture of opportunity for congressional candidates of all parties of all sizes regardless of ideology.

In Part 2 of this series, eNational Primary System: Pre-empting eUS Political Vulnerability, I introduced my second line of reasoning for the development and implementation of an eNational Primary System:

(The eNational Primary System) preempts the takeover attempt, effectively neutralizing it by allowing the eUS voters to decide their representation from among qualified, good faith, eUS candidates from all political parties prior to the in-game congressional election mechanism.

I believe the system can provide a solution to the “default candidacy”, and therefore eUS vulnerability, to domestic PTO attempts; while, at the same time, provide a voter selected slate of talented and engaged congressional representatives.

In Part 3 of this series, eNational Primary System – Part 3 – Of Shenanigans, Snipers and Multi's, I introduced my third line of reasoning for the development and implementation of an eNational Primary System:

(With the eNational Primary System) every voter in the eUS can vote for a candidate of their choice without moving and the vote remains unpublished until the final certified vote is published following the closure of the “polls”.

I believe the system can significantly reduce, if not eliminate altogether, the incentives of election day shenanigans and sniping, as well as provide the opportunity for the identification and banning of candidates cheating the eUS electorate through the use of multis, which, in turn, will result in a significantly reduced threat of voter and candidate disenfranchisement caused by the illegal practice.

Part 4: The Vote, mightier than the Sword

My final (published) basis for advocacy is short and simple, because frankly I am going to plagiarize form the critical article which started me down the track of investigating the idea of a eNtional Primary System, role play vs. game play (the game within a game) by President Scrabman:

If we were as organized as these other nations we would organize an informal Primary system (as many of the top 5 parties do for the current races) and we would consolidate all of those winners into candidacy under the largest party in the eUSA to maximize the value of our votes. We could then take those other votes and dedicate them elsewhere. The military routinely does this to fend off PTO attempts in parts of the world that matter to us. If only we could do it on a wider scale.

In the last several months we have seen opportunity after opportunity to make a difference for our allies, for our friends and for the new nations of the world pass us by. Why?

Because we were unwilling to compromise our embrace of “rugged individualism” for a shred purpose. Someday we may have the strongest and most organized military in the New World (I truly believe we are on that path), but for today, and for the near future, we have one overwhelming advantage that can be used to leverage the current game mechanics to project powerful ally and new nation support around the globe…sheer numbers.

While it would be ridiculous to assume that we could emerge victorious by sending even 500 citizens with just 40-100 experience points up against the tanks of Indo or Iran, that same group sent to vote strategically in a congressional election across several regions could bring that same militarily powerful nation to its knees. Another voting group of that same size could ensure the continued sovereignty of 5 or 6 smaller nations under threat of PTO. Another group that size could ensure that hostile nations could never even gain a foothold or receive even the 5 gold for congressional victory domestically.

I am often reminded when I consider the things we could do by organizing and developing solutions like the eNational Primary System, of an adage: “Can” and “could” are statements of capability, “will” and “would” are statements of willingness. While most everyone can realize their potential, it is those that will realize their potential that are the world changers.

In short, my fellow Americans, I am confident that we have the capability to succeed in any goals we set as a nation. The question is: Do we have the willingness to sacrifice our individual accumulation of personal power and embrace of divisiveness to that end, for the greater prize of national achievement of a unified goal.

I will conclude this final reason with a response to the ultimate question, from the President’s article, that must be answered as it pertains to our core values as citizens of the eUnited States of America:

It would have taken only 227 votes to PTO the eUSA Congress last election. Looking at the bottom 25 states it would have taken between 3 and 13 votes to win each one while the top 5 states commanded 149 of the 549 votes in the top half of the states. So that is 776 of the 3185 votes cast for 184 candidates. How much better use could those extra 2409 votes have been put?

We could make much better use of those votes. We could provide much greater value for our allies with those votes. We could dominate our enemies with those votes…
…or we could continue down our current path and effectively surrender the value of our greatest asset in eRepublik by partisan warfare on election day…

My fellow Americans, what will we do?

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To those of you that have taken the time to read my reasoning for advocating for an eNational Primary System, even if in the end you are not persuaded by my rationale, I am truly, truly appreciative of your time and to those of you that voted or commented. I fully recognize and understand that there will always be disagreements…it is through that dialogue that truly great achievements are realized. It is just as natural for a rational, thoughtful reviewer to disagree as agree, and I respect those differences deeply. I personally believe that we are capable of an eNational Primary System and that, as I have outlined, there are excellent reasons to research and develop such a system. We, as a nation have the capability to accomplish this, and a vast array of alternative solutions, we just need to have the willingness to unite in the effort.

As I mentioned several times before, a commission has been formed and is led by presidential appointee and current Secretary of Education, Tiacha. The conversations thus far have included the whole spectrum of input from staunch advocates, like me, to staunch opponents, and all points in between. But we all have one thing in common, we are seeking a solution (even in disagreement regarding the most effective solution) together. And that is where it all begins.

The draft process and structure of an eNational Primary System that I initially submitted for the commission is listed below in chronological order… if you feel there is value in this solution, I welcome your feedback for refining the solution, if you do not feel that there is value in this solution, I ask that rather than being critical of what I have offered, that you propose an alternative solution to consider.

The eNational Primary System – Ananias’ Draft Version

1. On the 26th of each month the national party would be determined based on an agreed upon rotation from the top 5. For our example let's say that the AAP is identified for the following congressionals.

2. Before the 10th of the month, one unique candidate for each political party may be named for every state by the Party President and submitted via googledocs survey and validated as correct with the submitter.

3. On the 15th of the month, from that list an impartial Electoral Board will reduce the candidates for a given state to no more that 4 based on present incumbency, prior candidacy, eusforum participation, etc.

4. Between the 16th and the 20th of the month voters select the top candidate for each state. The primaries will be managed through googledoc surveys for each state and require some form of identification by the voters in the primaries (likely a link to their in-game profile) to avoid fraud. Voters are allowed to vote in any state for whatever candidate they choose.

5. On the 21st the verified vote tallies are certified. The results for the individual candidates for that state announced.

6. On the 22nd and 23rd, the primary winners for each state move to the selected party (AAP in this example) and file for formal candidacy for their respective state.

7. On the 24th, utilizing the official candidate list, the AAP (in this scenario) Party President selects each of the nominees as the endorsed candidate for the list.

8. On the 25th, the elections take place with all election day efforts by the coalition parties aimed toward channeling votes for victory to the identified party.

9. On the 26th, all congressional representatives, not originally from the selected party (AAP) quit the party and return to their formal party.

Obviously this is the initial draft and there have been several modifications suggested and alternative solutions forwarded, but I promised a more detailed outline of a possible structure for review and wanted to provide it for your feedback.

Thank you for your time,

Ananias - Congressman for Florida
Party President, United States Workers Party