A Lesson in Gardening for BSP & SFP
Aeriadne
Rising from Fall
Another Congressional cycle has come and passed us by. As we settle in to the dulled tempo of the winter months, several changes have already come about. There will not be those who survive to the New Year.
While the Socialists and Sheep have supplanted themselves firmly in the top 5, the American Military Party has fallen quite out of favor. For the second time in a row, the once established party has failed to garner the necessary member count to place itself on the ballot. Having fallen to over forty members behind BSP, it is now safe to say that the time of AMP has finally - and sadly - come to a close.
Some might view this event, in correlation with BSP's and SFP's rise, as heralding the Era of Anti-Establishment. And yet, the tax rate still weighs heavily, our foreign affairs are still familiar, and no revolution has yet to revolve.
Why is this?
Why has SFP's supplanting of AMP in the T5 not lead to radical, sweeping change? Why has BSP's roughly year long presence in the T5 not led to reform? Why have these two parties thus far failed to deliver on the dreams promised of these members? These, and other questions, I hope to hypothesize answers to here. What follows is - as always - my highly biased account of things, and over-embellished viewpoint. What truth can be found in it is up to others to discern.
I'm just a bored guy with itchy fingers.
King-Making
To begin with, let's examine the function of parties.
Open wide.
Mechanically, there's not a lot a Party President does in game. Specifically, there's only five things they can do. They can:
-Assign titles to party members
-Select who will run for Congress from party
-Select who will represent party in country president elections
-Resign
That's it. Those are all the buttons they get to press. Taking one step further into meta duties, the Party President is usually also tasked with making sure the Party itself doesn't fall into the unruly clutches of PTOs and trolls. In essence, the Party President isn't really a president of any sort.
They're actually a promoter.
Just with politicians instead of Muhammad Ali.
Look at the functions again: select who's on the Congress list, nominate someone for CP, make sure there ain't a takeover; those mechanical functions directly into a meta-duty to guide players up the rung and help them make the nation run. The Feds got it right: parties are all about country uber alles.
And for that matter, USWP has gotten it right as well. Both those parties have had more Presidents come from their ranks than all other historical eUS parties combined. These two parties have survived since 2008 for a reason. Meanwhile, a party like We The People - who has been around since 2012 - has only ever put up two Country Presidents, and AMP, who had about half a dozen CPs to its name, now can't even find its floaties.
What makes the difference? Actionable ambition meeting effective promotion.
The Feds and the USWP are king-makers for this country because they put the country first, and they do so by making their clubhouses training grounds as opposed to pillow forts. Members come in, their value assessed by the senior party members, they're given titles to not only make themselves feel important included but also to execute delegation and authority. Those who show promise and desire begin to climb the rung; those who are either incompetent or happy not having ambitions in a political RPG stay where they're at. Leaders have to have followers, after all. A shepherd without sheep is just a desperate loner with a stick.
Magical powers not necessarily included.
WTP and AMP have both succumbed to this, though from opposite sides really. WTP has always had hard worker newbs come through it... and then usually pass on to better opportunities. If everyone else is climbing ladders and all you're offered is a step-stool, eventually your ambition will find greener pastures. AMP, meanwhile, has begun capsizing due to apathy. Whereas WTP has been traditionally a party filled with hard-working, well-meaning individuals with nowhere to get to, AMP has generally hosted merry pranksters and content job-doers. Both paths lead to stagnation, and worse.
And perhaps its a sign of the times. And sure, this whole game sucks so why even bother? But while some of us say this, there are others still trying and fighting. BSP and SFP now have their roots down, with unfurled leaves soaking in the congressional sun. Budding time is over; it's time for them to make some fruit.
Errors and Outcasts
BSP and SFP have both built themselves up from the T6 racket by capitalizing on the power of difference. Rhetoric and revolution have fueled their idealism, with many gleefully joining the band wagons and pulling up stumps to espouse virtues upon. And this is a good thing if done correctly. However, there have been some early missteps between the two that have cost opportunities.
First and foremost, it's important to note that a political momentum cannot be sustained by the promise of change alone; it must actually deliver. The Occupy Wall Street movement is a classic example of this. Having myself attended many of those rallies and shouted those slogans along with others, I can tell you from first hand experience, that after a while a question began to slip into my min
😛"to what end?"
Railing against an issue is all well and good; it's important to identify problems. But when you offer no solutions, when you yourself do not become a leading cause of change, your audience can grow a bit deaf.
Lookin' at you, Anita.
We saw this with the Jude/Wild Owl election. We saw this with the ineffectiveness to pass lower taxes. And this last Congressional election, we saw the Socialist Freedom Party - a party which in the last few months has dominated the Congressional and CP primaries as one of the most active voting blocs - fail to get even the 4th most congress men and women into their seats. They were beat by WTP, a party which is by and large just a whale, a cat, three clerks, and a horde of multis and know-nothing newbs at this point.
Again, how has this happened? How has this reversal occurred? Well, let's go back to examining parties, specifically the tools that can be used to promote their members.
Once more unto the breach.
So let's say you're a Party President. You've got members, a couple buttons, and a lot of people looking at you not to mess up. It's your first time in the medium sized chair of power, and you're a little lost. I mean, sure, you know how to organize the Congressional list, but how do you make sure you get the members on that list into Congress? And more importantly, how do they then make the sidelong jump from climbing the Party affairs ladder to the National affairs ladder?
How do you get them to graduate boot camp?
Assuming your members wanting promotion are capable enough to warrant said promotion, it's really about one thing: cooperation. You have to have members that are worth something, and you have to have a willingness for other people to see it. If your party has only produced belligerent congress peeps and you've consistently refused to work with national interests on the basis of your party line, the nation as a whole - and by extension its parties - aren't really gonna want to work with you.
This is how Wild Owl was able to handily beat Jude Connors. You see, BSP assumed SFP and them were buddies. So when SFP started going against them in various ways in Congress directly, they nominated Wild Owl instead. And this is politics. SFP in turn has allowed this rut to develop into something of an enmity between the two, and now the two parties who had for so long worked against the supposed establishment have now begun working against one another.
And that unwillingness to cooperate has left its small casualties.
The Fruits of Ambition
The two newest members of the T5 stand on a precipice. SFP's own PP acknowledged it, and everyone knows it. The activist and revolutionary mindset have gotten both far. But it's time to put down the picket signs and put up the picket fence. It's time to put away slogans and pull out trowels.
Winter is time to garden for both.
Colonoscopy's not looking so bad now, is it?
A lot of folk will ignorantly say that the reason Feds and USWP have had so much success with king-making is cus it's a conspiracy, maaaaaaan. But that's like blaming your bronze medal on the judge being biased. Sure, some competitions in the world have been the outcome of tampering and cabalism. But the vast majority of gold medals throughout time have been earned.
So how do you earn it? Well, you need a healthy member base. Something that's active, engaging, and with mentors who can culture education. Next, you need ambition to be fostered and hard work be rewarded. And third, you need a place to go and a way to get there. Unless you have an overwhelming majority of votes held in your party, you don't have one of your party members become Country President without cutting some deals and having a cooperative history.
BSP and SFP are both planted, both sprouted, both rooted. Stems are shooting up; some blossoms have come and fallen. I would charge both with finding a way to make their gardens grow. The promise of change that has brought so many people together can be delivered, but it can't be done by blazing the traditional rebel path.
Both parties formed around a culture of misfitness and outcastdom. Both grew out of dissatisfaction with the perceived norms and a desire to change. But this country houses all of us. You can only cry rebel for so long before someone asks where the revolution is.
So where's the revolution, guys?
I get it BSP: the great white hope that was eShades is gone. Your best shot at a CP had to leave. It's time to make others positioned well. And that isn't done with belligerence. We get it, you're the black sheep. But really, when you're all voting the same, it just looks like you're white. At least other parties have some variation among their members. Stop enjoying having a precipice to shout from and keep on climbing. And if you need a helping hand to get up higher, don't be afraid to ask. A black sheep is still part of a herd.
And SFP, it's super great you guys have a wonderful community within yourselves. Why not bring some of that outwards? I have nothing but respect for this party, and how long it's labored in the sixth column to get to the fifth. It's been years. Don't get jaded; adapt. Freedom has a pricetag, sometimes, and socialism isn't just for the benefit of one group, but for all. The time for activity for activity's sake is at an end; make a means out of it.
These are just my ramblings. Again, whether this is all just shrouded in subjective bias or grounded in some objective fact will be for others to figure out. We have shrinks in the world for a reason.
Stay frosty, y'all. But hopefully not too much so.
Comments
Just let me know about all the typos here. There's probably a lot.
sfp should boycott eusa forums, but that's just me.
I would disagree. lol
lmao, that would literally do you no good whatsoever. Did you pay any attention, whatsoever, to what this guy just wrote?
As I read this, I went through a vast range of emotions, including agreement, frustration, and determination to make change. To everyone reading, remember that SFP is not represented by the few, but by the many. There are over 25 members in our current leadership council. I may be the Party President, and I try to represent my party as well as I can, but we should remember that the loudest voices are not always the most correct.
For the sake of politics by some members, cooperation between SFP and BSP was demolished. There is no reason why the cooperation cannot be brought back and continued. I envision an SFP that is both revolutionary and involved at the National level. Let's hope I can see this vision as a reality. Thanks.
Too many chiefs, not enough Indians.
Disagree. A couple of loud chiefs, lots of indians.
HOLY MOLY 25????????????????????????
V
President "Bobby": Mr. Gardner, do you agree with Ben, or do you think that we can stimulate growth through temporary incentives?
[Long pause]
Chance the Gardener: As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden.
President "Bobby": In the garden.
Chance the Gardener: Yes. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again.
President "Bobby": Spring and summer.
Chance the Gardener: Yes.
President "Bobby": Then fall and winter.
Chance the Gardener: Yes.
Benjamin Ran😛 I think what our insightful young friend is saying is that we welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, but we're upset by the seasons of our economy.
Chance the Gardener: Yes! There will be growth in the spring!
Benjamin Ran😛 Hmm!
Chance the Gardener: Hmm!
"Why has BSP's roughly year long presence in the T5 not led to reform?"
Because I've yet to do anything remarkable.
"The Feds and the USWP are king-makers for this country because they put the country first..."
Anyone looking to be effective in the exec side of politics MUST put the country first or they are a joke. For that matter Congress had better have damn good reason for doing what they do. I align myself with Black Sheep for two reasons. They were the only party that actually greeted me openly. That's not to say I wasn't approached by others. Big difference between approached and greeted. Second I am assured that I am free to express myself and have an opinion. Of course it's important that I am somewhat in line with what the party is about.
To reply in general to your article, my personal plans are to be true to what I believe is best in the various situations. No matter where I've been "doing things" the last few years I have left a trail of people who love me and those who hate me. Never really heard any "Yeah, pickle is cool most of the time but he's still a jerk.". I could have possibly sat my ass in Canada and racked up several more CP medals but (no offense to the Canuks) the place was bringing me down. The last couple months I was there I couldn't have cared less. Yet I've been told that if I ever want to come back I'm more than welcome.
Anyhow, I plan on making my presence known again. Anyone that knows me will tell you I can't keep my mouth shut for long. (Some say I like to hear myself talk.) I really don't want to put enough time and effort into PotUS but I never say never. Seems like every time I make up my mind not to do something I get talked into it. 😃
"Why has BSP's roughly year long presence in the T5 not led to reform?"
Well there were those two times we lowered taxes.
"The Feds and the USWP are king-makers for this country because they put the country first..."
To accuse any party of not putting the country first is a one-sided display of ignorance. The reason every T5 party is T5 is because they put the country first. They all simply have different means to get to the same ends.
"So when SFP started going against them in various ways in Congress directly, they nominated Wild Owl instead"
Actually we nominated Wild Owl because we believed he was the best man for the job. But yea ok, you weren't there, you clearly know everything.
"We get it, you're the black sheep. But really, when you're all voting the same, it just looks like you're white. At least other parties have some variation among their members."
You need to see our party walls and congress discussions. We disagree a lot more than you think.
Overall this article was filled with A LOT of sheer ignorance in general and specifically of how certain parties work. Also you made a lot of assumptions of the motivations behind the actions of parties. Was well-written, but even a well-organized pile of trash is still trash. (Or without the possibly offensive analogy: Was well-written, but next time you might want to get some facts before you start making accusations.)
I don't think you and Aramec are on the same wave length. He's not saying the BSP doesn't do what they think are best for the country, it's more institutional. Read more of what was written in the "country first" paragraph than that quote imo
I read the whole article.
I don't think you you and I are on the same wave length with this one.
Well I take everything literally, it's my way. If anything I quoted was not intended to be taken literally, then please point that out.
USWP thanks you for following our lead in the lowering of taxes, when appropriate.
I thank USWP for carrying out my plan to lower taxes that month!
I whispered in the hear that gave you the idea. So you were just my puppet. Thanks again Pfluffy!
to prove it is true I put you guys up to lower the taxes that month I suggested to someone to lower taxes to smooth over dictatorship with people that was what USWP seen as appropriate time because they wanted that dictatorship soo bad. That was my idea to get you to lower taxes and it worked. Dance my puppet!
Fun fact: The first time we lowered taxes, all of USWP opposed it.
WTP has Big Boss
SFP and BS only supported the same presidential candidate, once, in my elife.
Which one was that, I don't recall.
I though it was gnil, but we may have never endorsed the same candidate.
We've never endorsed Gnilraps.
This was pretty damn good.
Thanks brah.
I liked the article.
I find it hilarious that the two opposition parties can't work together. I see SFP going the way of WTP.
care to explain?
SFP as less of a unified front when it comes to passing legislation, and more a collection of people who have come together for whatever purpose. SFP seems to be moving in that direction, as a party that doesn't seem to stand for anything concrete.
Well I guess WTP does have the purpose of benefiting Oblige, but other than that I'm not exactly sure.
-read below-
if a party votes according party lines it still doesn't mean standing for something concrete.
wtp members benefit more from Oblige through the whalefare and young writers guild programs then the other way around, especially newbs.
Do they though? Do they really? Because the past few months of party cabinet and executive cabinet beg to differ.
It most definitely does. It shows a party consensus around an issue. I'm not saying it's something that has to be done on every vote, but most definitely on the important ones. WTP just doesn't have that, and I see SFP going in the same direction, just replace Jude for Oblige.
Also, Oblige benefits a great deal from the programs you have mentioned. He uses his popularity gained from financing such programs to exert influence nationally. Meaning anyone that wants WTP's endorsement for CP is going to have to give Oblige a lot in return.
I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing. In fact it's pretty smart on Oblige's part. I'm just saying that's how it is.
C'mon Colbert. This is laughable at best. You really think SFP exists for the sole purpose of raising Jude as a player?
That's the only accomplishment coming out of SFP I've seen. Of course other players have risen to success under SFP, but they could have done so without the party. Whereas I'm not sure I could say the same about Jude.
Taking it from an old guy the Feds and USWP are two elistest groups and if you don't fall in line with them they will do what they can to sink you and / or sweep you under the rug. They both have a ton of back room/channel deals that go on and if they really put the country first why keep information from the party membership? Do we really need to revisit what happen the end of last year and into the spring of this year? From my personal experience the Fed's only offer opportunity if you manage to stay in the favor of many old players who without staying active use their past as reason enough for their actions and why it should be their way.
The BSP and I have a good relationship and I haven't seen any of the signs I did while with the feds but then again it took me 6 months to see what was really going on. You came they are king makers but in reality they simply support their friends and that is it. I have a personal issue with how the feds are run and I still consider many to be friends but there are far more that I once thought were friends but in the end decide to push people aside who don't fit their molds.
I got burnt out because of all the drama from within the party and the complete lack of support from the "Administrators"; or whatever the heck you want to call them, when it came to article votes, comments, shouts and so on. When I tried to freshen up somethings instead of being talked to as an equal I was brutally pushed aside and when I asked for only one favor it became a "tense" issue ....
You know what, if you want to know why I have an issue with the fed's this is more then enough reason:
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/2514505/1/20
Frosty hmmm ... does 19 degrees make it frosty enough lol
As a Fed I personally disagree.
The Feds are not run in an elitist manner, gaining leadership is incredibly easy and I have seen no-one willing to work within the party blocked.
I was not active when you left, I was active before you left when you were dissatisfied with us for what I imagine was apathy in the party and in leadership. We had a rough time, currently we're doing better and I'm thrilled about it.
If you really wanted to see, you could join again, but while I have been active I have never seen a player barred from participating and leading fully because of how they play. As of right now, elitism in the Feds is imagined, we are run according to how parties are run in this stage of the game's evolution. All hands on deck, in leadership, and in all decisions.
I was USWP leadership for many many months and to put it succinctly, you're wrong.
"Taking it from an old guy the Feds and USWP are two elistest groups and if you don't fall in line with them they will do what they can to sink you and / or sweep you under the rug. They both have a ton of back room/channel deals that go on and if they really put the country first why keep information from the party membership? "
This is way out of line and totally incorrect.
Is it now? I was USWP Chief of Staff & Zombie Hoard Leader for many months. I can tell you first hand how accurate it is. But silly me, why do I bother telling you this? Will your view change with the introduction of first hand accounts and knowledge from the inside? I think not. Silly you.
It's been years since we had proper back channeling, but even when we did Arrden wasn't involved in any of it.
Henry never participated in the leadership during Alexander Auct. USWP Admin. Neither did he participate in the apathetic Admin. of Fhaemita Molodouras, who I had to shadow PP for back then. Even Henry praised me for picking up the slack and Shadowing for Fhameita back then. He won't admit it now of course. lol But who ever wants to go ahead and believe that Henry is forever an Oz behind the curtain, I surely won't stop you.
I'm in Feds, have been for few months now. I know what it's like there first hand - it's not like what Scott said. Maybe it was at some point in the deep past, but that's not true in the present
Fed leadership declined to move our forums to one administered and hosted by Scott and a now defunct player. Scott took this as we were unappreciative of his other tremendous efforts on behalf of the Party. So he left. I would like to once again thank Scott for all of the hard work and dedication he poured into the Feds. I was sorry to see you go and I know I wasn't the only one.
In this thread we see Arrden pretending that he was ever important.
I also remember the past. In fact I recall Arrden approaching me when I was PP of Vox Populi essentially begging me to help him PTO USWP through a merger of our parties.
But how could that ever be, given Arrden's love for transparency and fair elections?
It "may" not being going on now under Orik's leadership but it was quite present only a few months prior; April isn't the deep past, so sorry MrCarey isn't still an issue that hasn't been addressed.
As for Tyler it was never going to be hosted by Howard he was only helping me to transfer things over and helping me improve it. What in the world would make you; or anyone else for that matter, think I would ever leave control to someone who had only been with the party a month or so? In all your comments are just confusing and make no sense on one hand you call me a liar and on the next you thank me for my work? What are you trying to pull!
Also Tyler I didn't leave simply because it wasn't accepted by your friends , I left because of several reasons which I listed months ago with the majority of it being an issue with how it was handled. It was a "Public" fu Scott we don't want what we think you are wanting to do and then turn around and ignoring anything I said! I was merely trying to improve the old party look, it was cosmetic and nothing about how the party was ran although now I look back and realize at the time I should have been working to get rid of the secret party crap and force you guys to be more transparent. I made that mistake only once and now you have to deal with the consequences.
As a current member of the USWP Exec Board, what you're saying is just not accurate.