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My fellow Americans,

Over the course of the last sixty days, we have experienced discouragement, we have experienced loss and we have experienced the attrition of many of our best and brightest. Our national leaders, despite their best efforts and honorable intentions, have been unable to stem the wave of invaders; and our nation now stands at the precipice of complete inundation. As of the writing the eUS is a nation of 6 territories, just 12% of our 51 original regions.

Prior to the tidal wave, we were mistakenly comforted by the perceived safety of our MPPs, our informal alliances and the solidarity of our collective national identity. “Surely,” we thought “no invader would risk crashing against the walls we erected.” Yet as the rush and force of the wave crashed against those walls, it was the wall which yielded as the invaders coursed, unimpeded, through the vulnerable fractures and divisions in the barrier that we had been convinced was impregnable.

And now, all that remains on the shore are the widely strewn remnants just beneath the surface of the sea which now nearly covers, and obscures, our nation.

It is easy to point out the weaknesses which existed in the barrier prior to the inundation. We can all testify to the fractures caused by the narrow pursuit of personal power and influence at the cost of shared national purpose, and the wide chasms caused by the polarizing political rhetoric by staunch disciples of RL ideologies.

Yet, in this stark environment, a leader has stepped forward to re-weave our community together and unify our diverse population into a nation strong enough to drive back the waters: NeilP99

A few days ago, NeilP99, a long time friend and former congressional colleague of mine, asked me to serve as his running mate in the upcoming elections for Country President. My initial gut-check response was: “Of which nation?” considering that the eUS was rapidly being inundated, and I doubted that there would be any United States if America left in eRepublik to lead by September 5th, 2009. Such is the level of discouragement pervading our community when even a diehard optimist like me begins to question our likelihood of survival. So after a quick “shame on me” moment, I reminded myself that…

…we will survive…we will thrive…we will form a more perfect union…and we will drive back the sea of invaders…

There are many reasons why I could have courteously refused the opportunity, whether for fear of accidentally contributing to political divisions through the campaign process, juggling priorities as I continue working projects as a leader of eNOVA, and the various RL conflicts which emerge from time to time, to name a few. In pondering the decision, there was really only one reason to present myself, with NeilP99, for consideration to the citizens of the eUnited States of America:

We believe that the United States of America that we will rebuild together as a nation; an America which is committed to our shared goals; an America which is committed to respecting the contributions of every member of the community; an America which is committed to embracing diversity of thought; an America which is committed to unity in the face of adversity; is the only legacy worth passing on for future generations of eUS citizens.

To that goal, no matter what the sacrifice, we commit our effort to the last.

While I can assure you that you will read many brave words and patriotic rhetoric in the coming weeks during the campaign from many sources, some claiming that extraordinary feats of diplomacy or ingenious management of game mechanics are required to affect the restoration of our territory. While those contributions will, most certainly, help with some of our most immediate needs…our goal as a nation is not to become a more technically advanced and globally connected version of the United States with its pre-existing fractures and chasms to be swept away again in another storm. Our goal is to become a united community of contributors to our national cause and national identity, which will not yield to the next wave.

We will be a house united.

We must go beyond rallying cries and eloquent, patriotic rhetoric to form a unity and solidarity that can withstand the buffeting waves. We must, as a community, fundamentally change what we expect of our leadership, and more so, what we expect of ourselves. In the upcoming election the choice is not between good leaders or bad leaders, it is not really even about differing rebuilding plans…because, honestly, all of the candidates are good leaders or they would not have received the nomination, and all of the leaders have good plans, or they would not receive votes. The upcoming choice will inevitably be about leadership style.

There is an intentionality that is required in leadership of the United States, and intentionality which forgoes the simplicity of passively assuming that everyone will be in the right place and the right time to achieve our shared vision and goals as a community. We have been, for some time, lead by top-down direction, wherein our leaders use their wisdom and experience to direct us to a rallying point to congregate for a task. “Go here, do this, accomplish that, and then move to task” they might say, the effectiveness of which can generally be attributed to the wisdom of the leader.

Where NeilP99 and I diverge, as a team, from that system of leadership, is in our focus on developing and empowering citizens to contribute rather than simply be followers. We believe that, while in some cases people moving and directing may be effective, eUS citizens are not just warm bodies to be moved and directed, but instead that eUS citizens are the very foundation of our nations achievements. Therefore, rather than seeking only for followers, we are seeking to develop, and give opportunity to, contributors.

We want every citizen of the United States of America to recognize that they are individual agents of progress toward our shared goals as a nation, not subordinates awaiting their next set of directions. While in a military setting, with a solid and organized hierarchy, top down direction is not only effective, it is necessary, in a population as diverse in experience and motivations as the United States, the most effective solution is intentionally empowering citizens through providing both freedom of vocation, education and, most importantly, the opportunity to demonstrate their stengths.

Our focus is to create a nation of contributors; a team which achieves together, and will not yield to the next wave, because they are each, individually, driving forward progress toward the shared goal of restoration, and then improvement.

So, as we look to reclaim the eUS from the inundation, it will not be enough that we simply move the remnants of the once formidable wall to another location. We must instead, seek out each individual citizen, provide them with the opportunity to find the right fit for their contributions, and re-assemble the eUS into a solid team; a monument to unity, shared purpose and non-partisanship.

And that is the only legacy worth passing on.

To every American seeking restoration and unity, I urge you to vote for NeilP99 as President of the eUnited States of America on September 5th, 2009.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Ananias – Candidate for Vice-President of the United States of America

NeilP99/Ananias, Big Plans For A Better America
September, 2009