Some Information for the Ill-Informed
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by Evry
Hello,
I’ve been hearing a lot of rumors, claims, and false statements about the Economic Council lately. Today, I’m going to settle it.
For those that don’t know, my name is Evry. I’m the Chairman of the Economic Council (aka Econ Council or EC). I’m the elected spokesman of our group. I also hold a position as Director of the Congressional Budget Office. This places me in co-control with 2 other people (Publius and Laxsnor) of the country’s money.
What is the EC?
The EC is a self-regulated think tank. Unlike what others claim, we hold NO power. We are not mentioned ANYWHERE in the constitution, or the eUS’s Code. We have no buttons to press in-game, and no powers on the forums, IRC, or the meta-community. Anyone who claims we do hold power or authority is woefully confused.
What other people claim is “power” is when members of congress ask us for advice. That is called respect. Other people like us and respect our opinions and recommendations, therefore, they ask us for advice. It’s as simple as that.
I’d like to offer my apologies on behalf of the entire EC that people respect us. It happens sometimes, Sorry.
We’ve got respect, do you?
Who is the EC?
We are a group of people who spend time and effort on the economic module. We discuss, debate, and hypothesize about the econ module, and we like doing it. Some of us have Real Life PHDs in Economics, others are businessmen, accountants, and students. We have a wide variety of different types of people.
We’re too cool for real pictures.
The people on the EC are as follows:
AlexBerkman
AlphaZette
Anyonymous
Bobby Canell
Chesehead
Eli Crownover
Gnilraps
Leroy Combs
PearlSwine
Woxan
xDavidx
In addition, the CBO directors (me, Publius, Laxsnor) as well as the Secretary of the Treasury (Kemal Ergenekon) have full voting seats on the Council as part of their position.
Where is the EC?
We have a IRC channel and a forum subboard. We read and comment on articles and let people know our opinions.
What does the EC do?
We regularly recommend various courses of action to Congress and the POTUS. Every month we recommend a budget to Congress which they are free to amend, pass, or completely re-write at their will. We are typically big players in tax debates and we are typically involved in just about every econ-related topic in congress or the executive branch.
Debate, debate, debate.
Like I’ve said before, we have no authoritative or legislative powers. We just recommend things and others take those recommendations under advisement. What they do with those recommendations is completely up to them.
How transparent is the EC?
If only her shirt was a bit more transparent.
We’re only somewhat transparent. Since we have no regulatory, legislative, or executive powers, there is no pressing need for all our discussions and debates to be public. HOWEVER, the POTUS and SoH both are given access to our forum and are allowed to provide whatever input they desire. The only limitation is they are prohibited from participating in membership and chairman voting elections.
In addition, when the EC presents a recommendation, to, for instance, Congress, we typically first contact the SoH and ask them where they’d like the thread posted. If they tell us they’d like it in private congress, that’s their decision. Same goes for public congress. It’s all on them.
What about the recent tax changes?
Yes, it’s true, we played a significant part in the recent tax changes. However, these are NOT merely a way to impoverish the poor, enrich the rich, or raise more government revenue. The reason for these tax changes which include a VAT decrease has multiple parts to it.
In no particular order here’s the reasons:
1) We are being invaded. By lowering the VAT tax on food and weapons we have lowered the cost of goods for consumers. This means more food and more weapons are purchased resulting in more damage output which is super important while under invasion.
GASP!
2) We wanted to shift the tax burden from the active population to the 2-clickers. By lowering VAT and raising incomes we are putting the majority of the tax burden onto the shoulders of 2-clickers rather than on the active fighters and players in the country. This allows our active players to fight more and in the right places. This also encourages people to join MUs in order to be in communes which essentially dodge the income taxes. By encouraging people to join MUs we are able to direct their damage more effectively by way of the NSC and our current damage coordination systems.
Join a MU, don’t let this be you.
What are you trying say?
Don’t believe everything you’re told. The rumors and wild claims circulating lately about the Econ Council have made me both angry and dissapointed in the eUS at the same time. Mostly because not only are they unsubstantiated, but, very few people have actually come up to me and asked questions like, “what exactly IS the EC?”, “Why should I trust the EC?”, “Why did the EC do what they did”, etc.
It’s waiting for you!
I have an inbox, I’m on IRC more than is healthy, and I’m on the forums more than most people. If you have a question, idea, complaint, or compliment, find me, PM me, or query me. While the EC forum itself isn’t open to public comment or public eyes, I am open to suggestion and if people send me reasonable, logical ideas, I will bring them before the EC. All you have to do is ask.
-Evry
Chairman of the Economic Council
Director of the CBO
Member of the Special Forces
Major in the Army
Former XO of the Army, CoS, Secretary of the Treasury, dSoD, Brigadier General of the eUSMC, and more.
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Comments
The EC is super srs bsns.
The EC is super srs bsns.
Well EC is a great idea but cant Congress also ask what the PEOPLE have in mind as a budget so everything can be met in the middle of the table?
Insightful article.
As EC I completely support this article.
Evry is so kawaii~~
*srs bsns face*
Each term, all Congress members are informed of the role of the Economic Council and all have ample opportunity to present their own proposals concerning tax rates and budget concerns.
The public is also welcome to bring concerns to Congress (as well as guest Economic Council members) in The Legislative Branch @ http://eusaforums.com/forum/index.php/board,14.0.html
@Dirty Scarlet Silverbeard Sure, contact your congressman. They have much more say in the discussion than the EC does. Typically, when making the budget, I (as EC chairman) go to all the people in charge of the budget lines and talk to them about the current economy and the status of their programs and their requested amount of funding for the following month. Then I and the other members of the EC discuss and debate over the budget which is then presented to Congress. After that, Congress debates/discuss/votes on a budget after taking into advisement the one the EC presented and that is how a budget is made.
If you want a say in the budget, post in the public posting area linked above me by SoH Rainy Sunday. Also, make articles, PM a congressman (or two or three). You can even contact me and I'll see what I can do. Like I said, I'm open to suggestions/criticism as long as it's based in logic and reasoning.
There are plenty of ways to get involved, all you have to do is pick one.
Dirty Scarlet Silverbear😛 I agree. This is more a question for congress but a good one.
Evry: I'm glad you guys are easing up on the Skull and Bones stuff but don't count on the conspiracy theorists to take this article seriously. Good luck dealing with them!
surprised you didn't touch on the Evry is a girl rumor
Evry is a girl.
It is awesome how you keep pushing those pro-tax-hikes arguments which have already been clearly and factually debunked by actual market figures. The announced goals of the tax plan have pathetically failed. However, every time those delusional claims got debunked by factual data, various figures of the EC come up with newer and newer 'explanations', completely ignoring that they are contradicting what they themselves had stated before - and that those claimes have already been proven plain wrong by actual figures.
It is also a completely dishonest argument trying to mix the benefits MUs offer with your intention to force people into tax evading communes.
The claim that the EC was an independent think tank that would merely offer advice to Congress to take or leave and has no 'real power' is also an unmitigated falsehood. Anyone following the public congressional proceedings (now in the Congress archives), could see how the plan was pushed through by people simultaneously holding EC membership and Congress/govt positions.
Gnilraps, Vice President; Ergenekon, Secretary of Treasury, Eli Crownover, 'Congress Whip'(this position would be worth an article alone - factions have whips, not whole freaking legislatures), you - the CBO director, EC member congressmen, the head of the NSC ... you 'recommend' decisions to yourselves and you 'trust' and 'respect' yourselves. How very surprising, isn't it?
"Like I said, I'm open to suggestions/criticism as long as it's based in logic and reasoning."
Utter rubbish.
"By lowering the VAT tax on food and weapons we have lowered the cost of goods for consumers."
This claim was clearly debunked by actual and historical market figures. And you keep repeating the same old lies and claim that criticism was 'unsubstantiated'. No, it wasn't it was based on hard facts and ice cold logics. And you have never managed to disproof them - you only keep denying the obvious.
Evry: EC head & CBO director & Congressman (at the time of the tax hikes)
Kemal Ergenekon: EC member & Secretary of Treasury
Gnilraps: EC member & Vice President & Cogressman
Eli Crownover & Congress 'Whip' & Congressman
Leroy Combs: Ec member & Congressman
xDavidx: EC member & Congressman
"Independent" much?
5 out of, what, 50 seats in Congress? 10% of the vote was determined by the EC.
Whoopty doo. They still had to convince at least 40% of congress to actually go along with them.
SHM has a very strong conspiracy theory complex. I, as a Congressman, rather listen to intelligent people on the EC and other Congressman than SHM who is just stirring up crap for self-fame. He use to be in Ireland and there have already been a few that have voiced warning about SHM and his actions when he was staying there.
EC are smart people who have played this game for a long time. We are all looking for what is better for this country, which in turn is better for our allies as well. Damage is priority for this game, and that is what we focus on increasing.
Join a MU and a commune today. Fight efficiently!
Why did you not simply increase the income tax rate to 25%, keep the VAT as it was, and lower import taxes to 5% or less? Unless I am missing something, Federal revenues would be slightly higher than they are now, company owners would lose nothing, and would-be importers could bring goods into the eUSA legitimately instead of evading the outrageous current import tax.
That being said, the level of enmity generated by the new tax plan is incomprehensible. At current wages, you lose about $16 compared with previous tax rates if you have a job from the job market. $16 would buy around five hits or half of a tank. If you were in a decent MU, you would get at least 100 hits subsidized. In most cases, you would also receive a supply of Q5 weapons. Additionally, there are government programs to give away free food to new players for simply asking. Unlike many governments in RL, the eUS government truly does give back FAR more than it takes from most people. All that you need to do is participate. Non-OMS MUs like the eUS Military or SFP Bear Cavalry are not affected by the new taxes either, so long as members participate in communes.
In my opinion, this is only the latest rendition of InCI is taking over, the USWP is ruled by the eIlluminati, the USAF vs. the JCSF, PtH vs. the eWorld, and every other form of eRepublik drama in the 1,445 day history of this game. I do not care one bit about it anymore and neither should anyone else. This is a browser game, not a daytime drama. What will it be next, the eBilderberg Group? eMasons? The eGlobal eBanking cartel? PtH as the eAntichrist? I will not say more, lest give certain people ideas.
"SHM has a very strong conspiracy theory complex. I, as a Congressman, rather listen to intelligent people on the EC and other Congressman than SHM who is just stirring up crap for self-fame."
Empty rhetorics again. I prove my points with hard evidence and actual market figures. You keep trolling and having ad hominem rants.
"He use to be in Ireland and there have already been a few that have voiced warning about SHM and his actions when he was staying there."
As a Minister of Finance I have crafted and got passed a tax system (the one they still go with) that does not parasite those who work & contribute to the common goals. Very much unlike you and your trolling friends from eIreland, I did it totally transparent and public. No behind the scene debates, no clandestine groups, no favoritism, no bullsh*t. I made my point in the media, available to all and put it up for open debate. And surprise, surprise, TERRBL POPULISM worked! eIreland now has a tax system that noone has challenged since. Pretty much different from your sneaky theft, isn't it?
Hekter is right.
"They still had to convince at least 40% of congress to actually go along with them"
Oh, sure:
http://eusaforums.com/forum/index.php/topic,12639.0.html
USAF simply decided that they deserve to be funded at the cost of everyone else. Those unwilling to do so are 'lazy', 'inactive' 'two-clickers' who 'do not contribute'. And surprise, surprise - they managed to convince themselves!
SHM, explain how you would do it, but stop being so butthurt. Link me or something, you're just shitting all over an article.
I'm getting tired with all you trolls calling me names, accusing me with being a Pizza-clone, striving for power, etc. Let me remind you it's not me returning insults to arguments based on facts & figures, neither it is me holding fancy role-played positions, and making stuck-up statements about me being a 'respected big player' and stuff.
I'm also getting really tired with the same moronic responses I get. I have publically made my proposal a zillion times now:
----> restore the tax regime as of Day 1429 <
and then start a PUBLIC, OPEN and TRANSPARENT debate on how VATs could be cut by a couple of percentage points without leaving the parasiting communes seriously butthurt. Also start thinking about how community initiatives aiming to promote and assist methods of self-supply could be sponsored and aided. Generally, pull your heads out of your *sses and start working FOR the majority of eUS people, not trying to work out ways and means to squeeze more money out of them to support the select few.
so go write up your draft proposal and post it on forums. what's the hold up?
@SHM
First of all, I haven't been in congress in a year and a half. So, make that 4/55 (there were 55 people in congress) making the EC represent a measly 7.3%. Also, I'm not the Head of the NSC, never was. Thanks for all the extra credit though, it makes me feel good.
Secondly, I know you're going to yell at me for repeating debunked theories or whatever, but, these tax plans were instituted during an invasion. This skews our data resulting in non-mismatches in prices, MM data, and revenue. For instance, I claim the decreasing of our VAT lowers prices on weapons and food. However, due to the invasion, people tend to buy more food and weapons raising demand, which in turn raises prices. This would completely mask the decreases envisioned in the tax plan.
Thirdly, as far as having a transparent discussion on taxes, like I said, I put the thread where I'm told. And, as you said, there's stuff in the public congress boards. So, start a mirror thread in the general legislative area which is open to everyone to post in, and there's your darned public discussion.
Fourthly, since you claim to have all the answers, I want to see your tax plan. You've been attacking the country's for a week or two now, so you must obviously have one made. Unless you're just another one of those people who tear things down without ever offering any way to fix it. Where's YOUR plan?
Back to my original request, how would you do it? Should I just check out Ireland's tax structure?
SHM, I would like to see your tax plan as well. I am not a member of the EC. I too am just getting tired of you saying the same things over and over without actually suggesting something different. You are standing there with your arms crossed saying "No, you are wrong", but not suggesting anything better. Show us your tax plan.
USAF doesn't just 'decide' it wants the most money. USAF contributes a third of the total damage dealt by the entire citizenry of the eUSA. We've EARNED that money.
Always like seeing my name in an article, woohoo EC tax plan(voted in by 90% congressmen) FTW.
@Evry
Don't even bother. I have given him more than enough explanations, even a freaking MATLAB code with 300+ lines if I'm not mistaken, and he repeated the same old stuff.
He is the kind of person who never takes a step back, and who never admits defeat when he should. Theory, data, computation: nothing satisfies him.
I just pity the time I have wasted trying to make him see the rationale of the plan.
"Also, I'm not the Head of the NSC, never was. Thanks for all the extra credit though, it makes me feel good."
I was referring to Vanek26, only missed out the name.
"these tax plans were instituted during an invasion"
False. They were instituted before and invasion, and was crafted during a time we held Spain occupied.
"For instance, I claim the decreasing of our VAT lowers prices on weapons and food. However, due to the invasion, people tend to buy more food and weapons raising demand, which in turn raises prices. This would completely mask the decreases envisioned in the tax plan."
If you claim so, prove. Also prove that the bot purchases a fixed amount of goods, so demand/supply relationship works as you had supposed based on real life economics.
"Fourthly, since you claim to have all the answers, I want to see your tax plan. You've been attacking the country's for a week or two now, so you must obviously have one made. "
So yo are now "the country" itself, lol.
So ok, for the zillionth time: restore the tax table as of Day 1429 and cut VATs by 2 percentage points. For a start.
Evry, Anyonymous, wapu:
Are you guys dyslexic? What part of RESTORE THE TAX REGIME AS OF DAY 1429 AND CUT VATS BY A COUPLE OF PERCENTAGE POINTS did you not understand?
"USAF contributes a third of the total damage dealt by the entire citizenry of the eUSA."
From half of the taxes paid by the entire citizenry of the eUSA. And you call that efficiency, right?
Kemal:
"He is the kind of person who never takes a step back, and who never admits defeat when he should. Theory, data, computation: nothing satisfies him."
Yesterday you claimed that your import tax cuts INCREASED licenced foreign sales on the markets, and I showed yo the markets with absolutely NO foreign sellers at all. Do not make yourself a bigger clown than you actually are. I don't care about your matlab code, eRep is not a freaking particle accelerator, present your case in a comprehensive form - on if you can, of course. So far you presented nothing, but delusional theories which have not been debunked by Matlab models, but figures even a well-trained chimpanzee could understand. I know you can too. So cut the bs. Your tax plan pathetically failed.
Anyonymous:
"Should I just check out Ireland's tax structure?"
I can hardly believe this question was asked by someone from the group proclaiming themselves 'economic gurus'.
@SHM
Are you suffering from memory loss? I said I advocated for 5% Import Taxes. And your immediate claim that there are no sellers is utter rubbish, because you don't have data that there are no foreign sellers throughout the day. You are just redirecting us to the marketplace page; how convenient!
A simple Matlab code became a particle accelerator, huh? What happened to your "virtal econometrics"? Why do you fear calculations when they reveal your mistakes?
When I drew graphs you said they were too simple, and not completely correct. You were right, and it was for a reason: They were AIMED to be simple.
When I sent you the complete solution you started chickening away and calling the model "a particle accelerator". It was complicated BECAUSE you wanted the complete explanation.
What do you want me to do? To find an explanation that is simple enough that you - lacking the tools and training that any economist worth his salt has - can comprehend it?
On the contrary: What you want is more drama and boost for your ego. Your post on the "EC Fail" article proves you have NO FREAKING IDEA on the amount of tax revenue different taxes generate. Still you press on, and the uninformed think that you know something.
You obviously don't. I despise populists like you who hypnotize the crowd just to **** them over in the end. Go be a politician, you don't understand anything about economics, but I daresay you are very good at manipulation and enticing mobs.
"As a Minister of Finance I have crafted and got passed a tax system (the one they still go with) that does not parasite those who work & contribute to the common goals... eIreland now has a tax system that noone has challenged since."
Words out of your mouth, don't be a jackass.
I couldn't possibly hope you were being serious about restoring the old tax plan, it was terribly inefficient. Do you understand an efficient tax structure combined with the mechanics of the game?
I will quote myself from our EC boar😛 " An interesting observation is that all of the taxes in the game on goods (so discounting income) are taxes on the seller. This seems like a good start, but when you consider that all the markets we have are perfectly competitive we find ourselves with a problem. Because demand is perfectly elastic in a perfectly competitive market it means that any tax on a sellers good means that the consumer will end up paying the bulk of the tax. As long as we're planning on maximizing the welfare of majority of the nation, we should keep VAT low as to minimize loss of trade caused by the tax."
inb4 rahrahpopulism
"And your immediate claim that there are no sellers is utter rubbish, because you don't have data that there are no foreign sellers throughout the day."
Yeah there are foreign sellers, but - unlike home ones - they got their offers sold immediately. You are really a joke, Kemal.
"consider that all the markets we have are perfectly competitive"
None of the markets we have are perfectly competitive.
What will it be next, the eBilderberg Group? eMasons? The eGlobal eBanking cartel? x2
And Matlab code ? Really ? I gotta go to my work computer to figure out the EC's economic model ? Really ?
Lot of arrogance here. Not much common sense. Business as usual in the good ole eUSA. The last people I would trust to look after the common players interests would be Publius, Woxan, and Laxnor.
It's amazing how SOME Americans can NOT get behind something that helps more ACTIVE citizens do more DAMAGE!("X factor"?)
Awesome article Evry.
"something that helps more ACTIVE citizens do more DAMAGE!("X factor"?)"
Time to prove that claim at last, don't you think? None of you have managed to do so so far.
nomnom good article
SHM talks WAY too much. zZz