How can you prove yourself in politics?
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by Gali.
This is just a discussion point.
This Viking is pondering how one can prove oneself in the field of politics without running for any positions...
After seeing WayneKerr's comment on Neil Lewis' article on the UKRP Congressional elections, "why not have the babies prove themselves first... Congress is not a training ground for Politics.", I realised that it was a great discussion point, but mainly a question that would be great to know the answer to, as it applies to me and also x Tank Girl x (The babies being us two).
So what is a training ground for politics? My first guess would be to have joined a smaller party and have used that party as a training ground for politics. Wayne makes a very good point as it was a big gamble for Neil to invest his faith into me and TankGirl, but one that will pay off. We've also just thrown ourselves, two players who've never been congress members before, into relatively the deep end of politics.
So Wayne has a very good point, but so does Neil, as he said earlier: "giving the babies a go; they'll be supported by at least 4 experienced congress members". With dwindling numbers, eRepublik really does need an influx of new-ish players, and in that sense Neil is doing exactly the right thing. It's also true that most of the time "babies" aren't given a chance, simply because there are much more experienced options, but it is a game after all, and a game that everyone should be allowed to play to its fullest.
Any added opinions or answers to the question would be welcome!
Please remember that I don't write articles to be nasty to anyone, and that constructive criticism is welcome.
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That viking has brown eyes, odds are that they should be blue
illuminati confirmed
The way I "proved myself" was more or less doing a joke run for UKPP PP then miraculously winning because nobody actually cared.
RL is pretty much the same...
o/
By writing an article?
Being active within your party and MU for a few months and learning the game, then going into a deputy role or apprenticeship in a ministry- then into congress.
Congressmen need to be active, competent players who have spent time in the eUK community and learnt the game properly. They should be 40 of our best, not random newbs who are just being chucked in to see how they fare.
This isn't a slight towards yourself, as it isn't your fault you've been chucked in and I'm sure you have the best of intentions, but for me, its too soon for you to be in Congress
40? My, where did those extra 10 come from?
There are 40 members of congress. ffs If you don't know that then why on earth are you in congress
This subject is really starting to annoy me. Sure you need to have a good grasp of the eUK and such, but an active enthusiasm to epolitics and your party will keep you in good sway. This was my first time I have run for congress in my five years in the game, and I feel incredibly confident despite only coming back to the game two weeks ago after a very long break.
If you get elected, good luck to you. If you don't do a good job, you won't be made a congressman again (one hopes). I think a good start for new congressmen (and even the older ones) is to point out what you want to do with your time in the house.
Get ready for the plug: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/baron-chris-congressman-at-large-2450597/1/20
I think this snobbery towards new, less experienced congress people is uninviting and unhelpful towards making this country a great power once again.
Its got nothing to do with age or experience. We've had shit congressmen and CPs who have been experienced oldfags plenty of times. Its about activity, knowledge and competence. I'm sorry, but if you have been back only two weeks then there is no way you have proven activity, and it takes a fair bit more than two weeks to get to grips with whats going on in the eUK to be a good congressman.
We have had some great congressmen who have been newer players, look at VoodooMike recently, or Rob the Bruce who was run for congress only a couple of months after he started. There is no predjudice towards younger players, but simply a couple of weeks is too short a period to develop enough to be a good congressman. Sure there *might* be a couple of exceptions but almost every random newfag chucked into congress has either gone inactive, or thrown random proposals around with no discussion, or just voted how their PP tells them to.
What is your definition of a "good congressman" then?
Activity is vital, as is having an excellent grasp of the game mechanics and knowledge of what govt ministries do and don't, so you can scrutinise their work. Free thinking, challenging the CP, other congressmen and your PP over their work and coming to your own conclusions on votes.
Congress's primary job is to hold the CP and his ministers to account, and a good congressman will be badgering them to explain their decisions. To do this properly the congressman needs to know the subject material, and have the kind of knowledge which can only come from being active in the eUK community (Party, MU, IRC/Forums) for a few months prior to congress.
As Wayne said, Congress isn't a training ground for politics, its (or should be) one of the most important positions