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On the 5th of March 2009 I will be running as the Movement for Democratic Unity and Free-Thinking Party candidate for President of the eUnited Kingdom, with my running mate Anaxima. You may have already seen our introductory article, where we detailed our plans for the future of this great nation and our vision, entitled “The Dream” for the long-term future of the eUK.

In this, my official manifesto, I will elaborate on my points and explain in detail the real issues that the next President will have to deal with and the real solutions that I, as your President, would exercise to combat these problems.

Firstly, for those that do not know me, I will briefly introduce myself. My name is Oexis and I am the current Party President of the Movement for Democratic Unity. I joined the eUK on the 4th of December 2008 and on every single day since I have been online, enjoying the fun and freedom offered by this game. In my short time here I have also been the Undersecretary of Educational Services, the Undersecretary of Work, the NHS Director for Wales, a Corporal in the Royal Guard, and an active citizen.

Anaxima, who will be the most powerful woman in eUK’s history should she be elected, is the congresswoman for Northern Ireland, a Corporal herself and an upstanding citizen of the eUK. She is a brilliant politician and will be a truly exemplary Vice President.


The World Stage

ATLANTIS

For several months now, the eUK has been a member of the ATLANTIS alliance. Successive Presidents and officials have worked continuously through out its existence to create the most powerful organisation in the entire world. To leave ATLANTIS in our current state would be a disaster for this country. We would lose many allies, upset a lot of people, and put ourselves at risk of wars that we can neither afford nor win. For the long-term viability of an independent eUK we must remain in ATLANTIS.

However, our place in ATLANTIS must change. We continue to put up with our allies throwing their weight around and bullying fellow nations. I propose that in ATLANTIS the eUK actively discourages such behaviour and sets a positive example to other nations through diplomacy and discussion.

We must push for reform that ensures all ATLANTIS members are treat equally and fairly. We need to make sure that the charter we all signed is being adhered to; that punishments are delivered and fines paid. Without discipline in ATLANTIS rogue nations take things too far and cause problems for everybody.

It is important that we maintain a pragmatic but positive approach to this alliance. ATLANTIS for some is the greatest asset we have, and for others is a liability and an embarrassment. I agree that it has its good and bad points but I believe it is in the best interests that we stick with it for the foreseeable future and do all we can to change ATLANTIS for the better.

The ESA

Similarly, the European Social Alliance, or ESA, is an issue that incites strong reactions from citizens. I personally believe it is a great opportunity to build strong relations with countries outside of ATLANTIS. As a simple social friendship between the European nations, I believe that the eUK should not miss out on such an opportunity. However, in the future, should the ESA change its policies and start to move away from a social friendship and become a military alliance to challenge PEACE GC and ATLANTIS, it is time to go. If we are put in the situation where I must choose between the ESA and ATLANTIS during my Presidency, I will choose ATLANTIS.


The Military

The Military
Upon my election, I will promise to do everything I can to make sure that the military receives the funding it needs in an emergency, and I plan to invest in the military for future wars so the soldiers of the eUK are well equipped and well-prepared. I promise that our military will have everything they need so that they are both ready and able to defend this country from the forces of tyranny if needed.

Training is of the utmost importance and, once funding is available I plan to again start training wars - but only when we can afford them. This way our fighting men and women can gain ranks, heal so they are at peak wellness, and can be fully prepared for combat.

We have the best military structure in the eWorld, with the Royal Guards diligently defending home soil, the Royal Navy both protecting home and abroad and the Paratroopers, one of the most skilled military divisions in the eWorld, serving as the elite forces, using their tremendous might to fight with glory and honour for the nation. I will never take these brave men and women for granted, and neither should the eUnited Kingdom.

I will never plunge this country into war without a just reason. I will always pursue the diplomatic option wherever possible, and will never start a military campaign for conquest or with imperialistic motives. This will help keep intact both the integrity of the eUnited Kingdom, and protect our economy without squandering our dwindling finances on pointless missions. The eUK actively opposes all forms of expansionism and imperialism in the eWorld.


Politics and Economy

The Ministry of Finance

For months the flow of GBP and GOLD throughout the eUK has been subject to little control. As President, I would increase the powers of the MoF and the Chancellor to effectively govern budgets and the movement of money in the eUK. Ministries will be required to publish detailed, broken-down budgets in order to accurately identify where money is needed, and the MoF will be able to approve or veto any requests for budgets. A cap will be set on the amount of business loans that can be approved, and applicant entrepreneurs will have to meet strict standards to receive any government money to establish a company.

We need to cut government spending in all areas, and increase taxation when needed. I will work with experts in these areas to correctly formulate a fair and profitable tax system to ensure that the government is making enough money to ensure the same standards of government services and the stability of our Treasury. I am not prepared to resort to excessive privatisation of government services, so unfortunately a small tax increase may be necessary.

The NHS

Before its closure, the National Health Service was a drain on the British economy, gifting sometimes inactive citizens tens of GBP worth of gifts every day and spending thousands and thousands in government cash every month. This system was ineffective and contributed to the current economic situation.

To tackle this problem, I wish to promote people asking for wellness rather than being given it. This system ensures only people who want wellness are given it, improves communication between Director and citizen, and means that inactive citizens are not given wellness when they do not require it. It allows Directors to speak with citizens, inform them about how the wellness mechanism works, and suggest a suitable course of action to help increase their daily wellness.

I also wish to promote the NHS through clinic newsletters. I want to let people know that the NHS is here and is ready to help the needy. Through the newsletters, similar information to the private consultations will be broadcasted as a way of getting public access to information about wellness. Also, through shouts, small tips can be sent to all the clinic’s patients, and help advertise informative articles.

I would like to make the NHS a charity. If we can utilise newspapers and shouts to advertise voluntary donations, the NHS will have to rely less on government funds and more on the good will of citizens. In order to provide a suitable incentive to donate, it is important to educate people about the wider importance of a high national wellness, and the benefits it will bring in the long term. If citizens realise that if maybe their 5GBP will contribute just one little bit to a future tax decrease, they may be more willing to help it. In turn, I would like to create standards for this by introducing a membership fee. Citizens must have a recorded donation of at least 2GBP to be eligible for NHS gifting.

I would like to introduce new benchmarks for wellness distribution. It needs to be made clear, through the newspapers, that only employed citizens can be gifted, and only those that have paid the 2GBP membership costs. We need to review the standards for gifting, and we should introduce suitable training for NHS Directors as how to perform their duties to the best standards possible.

Activity

For any person to get the most out of eRepublik, it is almost vital they join the forums. I expect many people are rather sick of such a message, but it is very important and once you are there, most people are hooked. We need new incentives for people to join the eUK forums.

Parties

As a Party President, I understand that sometimes parties can seem a little isolated from each other. It is important that we establish good inter-party relations, and promote friendships. I would like to see more things that unite people from different ideologies and beliefs, and to look beyond the political orientation to discover the person. I hope to see games, activities and competitions to try to foster and build these friendships.

Fun

Its why we are all here! As your President I will support all measures that make eRepublik just that little more fun. I am a fan of the IRC quizzes and the eUK Lottery, and I supported the creation of the Department for Entertainment. I would like to try and make these activities more accessible to everybody.


The Dream

The Dream is my vision for the eUK. It is the realisation of this country as a benevolent superpower – a nation with considerable economic, military and political strength and an example to others that uses its power fairly and wisely to make sure everybody can get the most fun out of their time on eRepublik. It will be the greatest achievement the eUK has ever seen, but it will not be easy.

However, isn’t that part of the fun? The journey towards the actual manifestation of The Dream is just as fun and challenging as it is when it actually happens. I hope that I will lay the foundations for this ongoing project as President, and I hope that future Presidents will continue to work towards this common goal. I am confident that the passion hard-work of the British will make sure that one day The Dream becomes reality.

There is no straightforward plan for this. The Dream can be achieved through an optimistic attitude, common sense, and preparing for the future. The immediate issues I will address as President will all be one little step on the way to realising this achievement.

So what is The Dream, specifically? Well, it is a lot of things. It is a strong economy, and a powerful military. It is inter-party co-operation, and activity on the game and on the forums. It is less unemployment, and a high average wellness. It may not happen straight away, but it will happen and that’s what we should look towards.


Thank you
Oexis, MDU and F-TP candidate for President