Join the new world

Plato’s children have stepped into a new era. Internationally, conventional notions of what an alliance ‘is’ are being flexed, and more nations are exploring the military module as a tool of conquest, not just training. This will have implications. In the eUK our political and social zeitgeist has shifted dramatically over the course of the year. New levels of visibility and proactiveness are expected of Governments and Presidents that we haven't seen for years, and we are not the only country experiencing this. More and more nations are looking inward and pulling together to make their nations more enjoyable, and to counter the risk of stagnation and boredom that lies behind every one of Plato's corners. Players too are looking for nations that can rise to the enjoyment-challenge and over the next 12 months no doubt we will see some countries grow from this fun-driven migration, and some countries continue their decline toward catering only for silent, solitary and soulless farming. We must be proactive if we are to build a nation we want to play in.

In practice this means we must keep shifting towards a model of government that demands active ministers, directed by Presidents with ambitious ideas to harness that activity with. Under utilised ministries are a sign of stagnation, and there should be space for new ideas to be explored. Any nation failing to adapt, if it isn’t too late to do so, will suffer decline and brain drain. Ss politics becomes more active the presidency should be fulfilling broader leadership roles for the community. Trolling, multies, baiting shouldn't be left unchallenged or uncommented on, rather expectations around how we should be engaging with each other should be made clear. In the absence of conversation only boredom remains. Governance therefore has to be holistic, and cannot retreat into catering for a single module or function. We should not, for example, leave misconduct to bubble over time and again as though social cohesion is irrelevant. It should be a primary concern of the Presidency and Congress alike. Both need to be visibly asserting the eUKs values.

When I find myself engaging with new players I always say eRep is what you make of it. That is true - some players enjoy making money, others gaining medals, and some even like prophesying the return of gods. In exactly the same way the eUK is what we all make of it, as a collective. No one should be making it harder for people to enjoy the game their way, there is no reason we cannot all get what we want out of this eNation. But this sort of nation doesn't just happen, it has to be directed, it needs to apply standards, and it needs to be open minded. All of these things should be pursued and reinforced by community leaders and citizens alike, but most importantly they should be promoted by the Presidency and to a lesser degree, parties and Congress. I want to see politicians leading from the front, and that requires a change - no one can realistically feel that the eUK has been winning over the past month, and the leadership vacuum is a big part of the reason why.

It remains to be seen if kicking over a pedestal or two is how we, together, build the eUK we want to see. But the one thing that is undeniable is that without being an active representative of, and contributor to the community, the Presidency is in charge of nothing but a few buttons and pixels. So too is Congress. On the other hand, leading a community in achieving goals and exploring how to enhance everyone's enjoyment, whilst fostering an environment of collaboration, inclusivity and fun is what a successful Government looks like, and what fulfilling epolitics feels like. I know that first hand. Many of you do.

So as the world and the country shift and you ponder the kind of game you want to play when you log in to eRep, remember that on the 5th of each month you get a vote for whichever vision of nationhood you think will make your e-experience more enjoyable. We can be a lot more than we currently are. So use your vote wisely.




Thanks for reading,
Mr Woldy.