Fundamentals Win Games

Day 861, 06:08 • Published in USA USA • by PigInZen
Thank Buddha for Butler University Else I Would Still Be Pissed



I'll say it. The past 25 days haven't been the most fun I've ever had in eRepublik. I have faced some of the most difficult personal challenges that I have ever faced in my life - both online in the virtual world and in Real Life. One of the most fascinating aspects of eRepublik to me is just how serious it can get. It's just a game, right? In a sense, yes, it is just a game. But in another sense, it's more. How is it more? I'll get to that... patience. First, a little story (hold your groans please):

In Indianapolis, Indiana there is a small liberal arts college, Butler University. Most people outside of Indy aren't aware of the basketball tradition at Butler. Butler has won two National College Basketball Championships, both before the NCAA Tournament was created. One in 1924 by winning the AAU national tournament and the other in 1929 through selection. The Butler Bulldogs play in Hinkle Fieldhouse: a National Historic Landmark built in 1928, the sixth oldest college basketball arena in use and the site of both the storied 1954 Indiana State High School Championship game between (very) small school Milan (161 students) and then-powerhouse Muncie Central (1,600+) students. Milan won that game and the story of that game and the Milan players was made into a famous movie you've probably heard of: "Hoosiers." That movie was filmed at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Until 1950 Hinkle was the largest college basketball arena in the United States.



Interior shot of Hinkle Fieldhouse



Old School Architecture: the exterior of Hinkle Fieldhouse

My wife's family is linked with Butler in many ways. Both of her parents went there in the 1950s and met there. My father-in-law was a pretty decent basketball player (still is) and played with Bobby Plump (of Milan fame) on the Butler Bulldogs basketball team in the 1950s. Finally, my wife herself earned her bachelor's degree from Butler in the 1980s. To say that we're huge Bulldogs fans would be an understatement. I, on the other hand, grew up in Palo Alto, California, blissfullly unaware of the basketball frenzy that exists in Indiana. Basketball was never my sport, I sucked at it (and still do). I played baseball, football and golf (and a little soccer too). Despite this I have been gratefully adopted as a Butler fan by my wife's family. It's not hard to understand why, there's a great story here.

OK, so that's the background. You see in college basketball, as in eRepublik, there are essentially two types of teams: the high-flying, slam-dunking, high visibility teams that rely upon athleticism and and the smaller schools that rely upon fundamentals and teamwork. In last Thursday's Butler Bulldog win over #1 seed and 4th-ranked Syracuse, the Dawgs held Syracuse to a season-low in points through the use of team defense and effective use of picks and screens. I'm not even getting into the win over #2 Kansas State, one of the toughest teams in the nation but it followed a similar script. This is, in essence, the basics of basketball.

How does this relate? Some of you have read my previous article about foreign policy priniciples and how I envision the United States' place in the eRepublik world. To me, winning now at any cost usually comes with a price. Many of the high-profile powerhouse college basketball teams usually have players that leave for the NBA in their freshman, sophomore or junior years. They win NOW at the cost of the future. Coincidentally, there are many eRep players and leaders of foreign nations that want to win now by sacrificing future potential.

What do I mean by this? My previous article outlined a set of guiding principles for the United States, not for the goal of winning now but rather for winning in the future. I am not about to sacrfice a potential future friend or ally of the United States for immediate gain. That's what it comes down to. Much like the Butler Bulldogs who build a fundamental base of skills and procedures based on teamwork, I too seek to do the same with the eRepublik pantheon of nations. This can only be done through the use of trust and honesty as the United States is not a powerhouse basketball team that can push its way through the world without regard to the future. We have to build a team of like-minded nations that see the true goal: defeating Phoenix.




I Have Asked Congress to Take the United States Out of the EDEN Alliance



This isn't a popular decision. I'm aware of that. There will be rabid disagreement over this both domestically and internationally. Accusations will be thrown around about this decision and what it will mean for the future. Allow me to provide some more background as to my reasons why and reassure all of you about our collective future.

Reasons why I believe that EDEN membership is no longer in the US national interest:

1. TAF payments. EDEN charges members a fee based upon a formula. From this fee things like battle costs and an EDEN mobile strike force, the EMC, are funded. Previously the United States' TAF commitment was around 50 gold a day. This is scheduled to increase to 70 gold a day under a new formula. TAF hasn't been functioning or been collected for over a month now so the budgetary impact to the United States will be huge. 70 gold a day is 2100 gold a month. That's more than the combined monthly budget for the US Marine Corps. That's one whole branch of the US Armed Forces capable of a ton of damage.

2. EDEN priorities and focus. EDEN has been somewhat listless as of late and this has allowed internal factions to pull the alliance in selfish directions. Case in point: three days ago the United States was asked by South Africa to provide some tanks to a Resistance War battle in Northern Cape. There was an additional Resistance War battle in Gauteng that was serving as a drain and distraction at the same time. Greyhunter, the true president of South Africa, and zamrg, the South African foreign minister, made it clear to me and the JCS that Northern Cape was the only battle they wanted to win. One region would mean only 10 members of Congress in the elections and they could handle that number. Two regions would mean 20 members of Congress, a number that the South Africans feared would leave them open to a PTO. EDEN was asked to provide mobile forces to assist in the RWs.

In the closing minutes of both battles it became aware to me that EDEN members intended on winning both battles over the wishes and desires of the South Africans. The US was asked to fight GREEN in Gauteng to prevent the RW there from succeeding. Why did this happen to begin with? I know that the South Africans made their intentions to EDEN about only freeing one region clear. I can only speculate as to the rest. But it goes to the heart of my fears and concerns with regards to EDEN motivations. EDEN was ready to sell out South Africa, a potential ally and friend, a strategic country with a wealth of resources for the sole goal of controlling those resources themselves. Whether this was the aim of EDEN HQ or certain members I cannot say. But instead of thinking about the future short term goals took priority.

3. Finally, and most importantly, attitudes of certain EDEN members. You're all aware of the incessant articles from pissed off EDEN citizens that have been ever-present in our media for over a week now. Well, let me assure you that similar conversations have been occurring to me in private. I've been personally insulted, had the United States' loyalty and competence questioned, and been painted as a moron in both private conversations and public press articles. I'm tired of it and honestly, everything else probably could have been worked out were it not for the harshness of tone we've seen. Both nxnw and I had written formal statements of apology which were answered by a completely inappropriate formal statement from EDEN member presidents that called into question our ability to fulfill the terms of our membership in EDEN. No mention was made of the acceptance of said apologies, instead we were reminded that we had penguin-bowled things up massively on many occasions. I decided at that time to ignore the criticism and move forward with an attempt to repair our relationship with EDEN.

Fast forward to last night: I was in preparations to draw up an agenda for a planned meeting at EDEN HQ with the Presidents of the member states, a meeting that I called after an intense questioning of me and our actions in South Africa by several EDEN presidents on Wednesday. During the meeting on Saturday I wanted to address what I believe are fundamental issues within EDEN: force commitments and how and when member forces can be requested for participation in battles, media trolling, EDEN goals and priorities, creating a list of acknowledge belligerents to EDEN members along with our collective future. I had jbdivinus' consent to this, he is the vice GC of EDEN and a Canadian. After discussing my proposed agenda with him he then directed me to yet another article critical of me and the United States, this one written by former Polish MoFA vingaer. I'm not going to link to it because it's in Polish but those of you interested can go find it yourselves and translate it. It's not pretty.

That was the final straw for me. I see no reason to continue bashing my head against this brick wall. It is obvious to me that total subservience to the wishes of specific EDEN members is required for membership. The United States is unable to set her own foreign policy principles without backlash from members of EDEN. Consider this important fact: there have been large-scale plans that involve landswaps with USA regions as a critical component. This brutal criticism has been occurring in the media for days despite the necessity of the USA to be a partner in these plans. If that's not short sighted I don't know what isn't.

So be it. We're out. I am reassured in that most of my Cabinet, the entire JCS and several former presidents support me in this decision.

What This Means for the USA

1. We will not be left defenseless. We will be protected by MPPs with those nations that still desire them with us. I expect that we'll have a strong set.

2. We're not making enemies with EDEN members, only voicing our disapproval of events both recent and long-standing.

3. We will be building our position in the world through a set of guiding principles that precludes advantageous action just because it exists.

4. We will be encouraging teamwork with those countries that seek to work with us for a common goal. A good example of this sort of arrangement is visible in Asia as shown by the joint actions of China, India, Thailand, the Philippines and the United States.

5. We simply will not be committing mobile units to EDEN. We will, however, continue to assist countries with whom we hold MPP agreements as needed. This will include members of EDEN.

6. We will be free to conduct military manners according to our priorities without constant harassment as to the reasoning and logic of our choices.

So fear not.





Finally, I Will Not Be Running for Reelection



I ask that those parties that have nominated me for President find another candidate. If nominated, I will not run. If elected I will not serve. Please do not make the US Congress have to deal with impeaching me on April 6th.

This past month has taken a toll on my enthusiasm for eRepublik. It would be unfair of me to run for reelection - I can just barely muster the will to log into IRC and check the forums. My ingame PMs have gone unanswered for days. I am doing the things that I absolutely must be doing right now but that's it. Any presidential campaign from me would be about my ego and my unwillingness to admit that I haven't lived up to my personal standards that I have set for myself as President. I apologize for the lack of leadership from me over the past few weeks. The least I can do is allow all of us to find someone with more enthusiasm and drive for the office. Right now, I have nothing left.

Fundamentals and consistency win games, both in basketball and eRepublik. I sincerely hope that the eUS can find the wherewithal to build a solid base of skills and policies from which we can achieve bigger and bolder accomplishments. I am saddened by the thought and reality that as a point guard I was unable to lead you to such. As of this point I'm best relegated to the bench.




E Pluribus Unum. From Many, One.



I'LL SAY IT AGAIN: Together we have strength beyond measure. Do your part. Follow DoD orders. Fight with weapons. Maintain your wellness. SUPPORT THE CAUSE.