[Congress] The Slow Death of Democracy in the eUK
Sven Goran Duran-Duran
The Slow Death of Democracy in the eUK / or why I'm rejoining New Era
I've seen some low tactics in my time playing this game. And no, not all of those tactics were spawned in #tup.private.
Recent events in the eUK however have left me extremely concerned for the future of our country.
Firstly, there was the "election" of our new "Speaker", Adastros.
In this specific example, there were some worrying abnormalities about how this Speaker entered office and how the vote was carried out.
There were 3 candidates:- Adrastos, Acroc and I. However, I didn't want to run and neither did Acroc. Indeed, I didn't even know I'd (apparently) been nominated.
Neither did the elections happen when they were supposed to happen / usually happen. Instead they held some time later, on a whim, with no forewarning as to when the vote was likely to occur.
25 out of 40 congressmen voted.
Needless to say, Adrastos got a free run which is surprising given how poorly his planned "reforms" were receive
😛-
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-congress-in-pursuit-of-reform-2377443/1/20
(only 6 votes?)
Emboldened by his success in the dodgy Speaker elections, Adrastos then set about his agenda.
Whilst his reforms were allegedly driven by a desire to help congress more effectively hold Government to account, it seems clear that the real drive behind the reforms were a personal hatred of one party:
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/pto-threat-to-the-euk-be-vigilant--2378154/1/20
In his article - Pressing Forwards - http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-speaker-pressing-forwards-2381563/1/20 we then learned that:
"...some of you will have seen the Goku Jones quote that I and others shared from the meeting, before sharing the rest of the logs. Please be assured that this is not a bias attempt to smear Goku [orly? -sven] I simply judged that what he was saying was so serious that it had to be shown ahead of the rest of the meeting; if you need the full context to that quote, it will be out by the end of today.
As a result of what Goku said...i[n] my opinion, and the opinion of a few other congressmen who were there, this statement amounts to a betrayal of the eUK and it is reasonable to presume him to be working against the interests of our community; he has subsequently been removed from Congress discussion on both PMs and the IRC channel.
Can I just make clear again, this decision was not taken because Goku disagreed with me or because he’s a New Era member [orly? -sven], it was taken because I just don’t think its safe to have someone who is so openly working against the best interests of the eUK [in whose opinion? -sven] for his own political gain privy to potentially sensitive congress discussions. I am not an entirely impartial Speaker though [no sh*t? - sven], nor do I have to be- I have my opinions on what is best for the eUK, and I see nothing wrong with me airing these opinions like any other member of congress. But no special or harsh treatment is given to anyone or any particular party, I do not abuse my position as has been implied by some."
So basically, our "Speaker" has banned a member of Congress from discussion because he "and a few other congressmen" that were in the IRC meeting decided so.
wha?
For the record, I was in that meeting and no-one asked me my opinion.
Nevertheless, more importantly, there is nothing in the Speaker Act (in its amended or unamended form - see below) that allows the Speaker to take such draconian action.
There hasn't been a banning of a congressman in a long, long time.
There is absolutely no provision in the Speaker Act or elsewhere for this kind of action.
There is no law underpinning what Adrastos has done here; not even in his poorly drafted amendments that managed to gain the support of 8/40 congressmen (see below).
Even when there used to a law which provided sanction against congressmen (the old Congressional Procedure Act), congressmen were always given a warning before such sanctions were handed out.
Whilst I don't necessarily agree with what Goku was saying I will defend his right to say it as an elected member of this House.
And I will ferociously defend that right.
It's absolutely wrong for Adastros and "a few others that were there" to take this kind of arbitrary action.
This sort of thing was common in the 1930s Reichstag.
a familiar scene in today's eUK congress?
Worringly, when I raised objections to this banning I was told that:
"Sven, a) there's [sic] been two other congressmen banned from sensitive discussion this month already for being members of enemy MU's." - Adrastos
Oh really? When was congress told about this? Who authorised this? What authority do they have to carry out such action?
Are the public aware that congressmen are being arbitrarily banned without any procedure or law being followed?
[edit - update: After the publication of this article, Kravenn - everyone's favourite perma-MoFA - has decided to launch a proposal banning ALL New Era Congressmen from IRC, forum and in-game pm discussion. Never in my time here have I witnessed such a misguided proposal which only seeks to divide this country further. Of course, New Era launched a counter-proposal soon after - proposing all TUP congressmen are banned for the same reasons they want to ban us.
I didn't vote for either proposal. Why? Because banning a party on mass from IRC, forum and pm is undemocratic and just plain wrong.
The Speaker Act and its supposed Amendment
Another worrying development is Adrastos' attempt to reform our Speaker Act.
The original Speaker Act, drafted by King Woldy I, reads as follows:
Speaker Act
Aims:
To establish procedures surrounding the election of a Congressional speaker to manage legislative and Congressional affairs.
Procedure:
1a. Citizens running for Congress may nominate themselves or be nominated to take on the role of speaker; and must communicate this to their Party President before election day.
b. Nominations will end at 00:00 erep time on the 24th of each month.
c. Congressmen/women will vote on those nominees who were elected to Congress on the 26th of each month.
d. The CP or outgoing speaker must oversee the process and run the vote.
2a. The speaker will process proposed legislation and legislative changes.
b. Any amendment or proposed bill will have a maximum 48 hour discussion period with members of Congress and the public followed by concurrent vote.
c. Any bill must receive %50+1 of Congress’ vote to become legislation.
3. The speaker is to track activity and attendance of Congress members, information recorded is to be made publicly accessible.
4. Speakers may rerun for the position provided they are reelected to Congress.
5a. If the Speaker needs to be replaced whomever came 2nd in the vote on the 26th will take up the role.
b. Speakers may stand down at any point.
c. Congress may vote to replace their Speaker should they feel that they are not fulfilling their responsibilities, with a %50+1 vote needed to depose them.
source - http://forums.erepublik.co.uk/index.php?topic=86448.0
Adrastos however seemed to think it important that the setting up of pm's and suchlike should be legislated for : http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-congress-speaker-039-s-report-2-2380572/1/20
Not that any Speaker in the last has ever had any trouble setting up pm's - apart from Lord Farhan - but nevertheless, there we are.
Important issues such as where congressmen vote, how, and how long for were completely ignored in these proposals. Instead, we were presented with poorly drafted "guidelines" that seemed to centre around the need to set up IRC meetings and pm's - great \o/
Legislation for legislation's sake anyone?
Nevertheless the proposals were pushed through to vote (held at a time of Adrastos' choosing and only open for 24hrs).
The results were as follows:
(1) Yes Adrastos
(2) No Sven Goran Duran-Duran
(3) Yes FNB
(4) Yes Lonqu
(5) Yes Mario RIO Smerc
(6) Yes Lord Halifax
(7) Yes Rob the Bruce
(
😎Yes Ayame Crocodile
(9) Yes PerilousPanther
(10) Abstain Kravenn
(11) No CottonPicken
(12) No mwcerberus i just canne put it though in it's current form
(13
😉No Goku Jones Too late
As you can see only 13 congressmen voted on the proposals at all, 4 of which voted No, 1 abstained and 1 congressmen tried to vote but (unsurprisingly) his vote was "too late".
Of the only 8 congressmen that voted yes (out of 40), one of them was Adastros.
For the record, I do not recognise the amendments to the Speaker Act as they failed to pass rule 2(c) of the original Speaker Act:
"c. Any bill must receive %50+1 of Congress’ vote to become legislation."
- I and others choose to interpret that as meaning 50% +1 of congress' total potential vote. i.e. at present, that's 20 congressmen +1.
The alleged amendments are therefore, unlawful.
All of the above goes to highlight the standard of our democracy today in the eUK. Votes happen where and when the ruling elite want them, and are closed quickly to prevent independents logging on an having a say.
As few as 7 congressmen are it seems, required to amend our constitution.
Puppets are given a free-run at speaker-elections and the ballot is instead filled with people that don't want to run or don't even know they are running.
Personally, I cannot stand aside and watch as the small specks of democracy we have left in this country are being slowing swept away.
I tire of this one-party state in which we all live.
For me, this means I am rejoining the only real opposition to the status quo this country has:
New Era
For you the reader, whilst I would urge you to consider joining me too, it may only mean as little as you thinking twice before you put your cross in the box and vote in another TUP whitewash.
In any event, thanks for taking the time to read this.
Sven Goran Duran-Duran, DSO
Congressman for New Era
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me."
Martin Niemöller, 1946
Comments
Godwin point won by Sven
So rather than challenge any of the points raised in this article, you choose to jump on an admittedly OTT, and misjudged comparison.
good going chap
This is basically the quality of debate we have around here.
And has nothing to do with your statement, sorry but I view any congressman making such a threat, whether they're joking or not, as someone who should be stripped of the position irrespective of which party they belong to
[removed]
Kravenn, after the publishing of this article, has now proposed that ALL New Era congressmen are banned from IRC, forum and pm discussion. lol
You proposed the same with TUP members and your PP wished that I rest in peace as soon as possible.
How I will be killed ? I will receive a bullet in the head ? Crushed by a car ?
I proposed the opposite of what you proposed to show the silliness of what you are trying to do. I didn't even vote to ban all TUP congressmen from congress - u know why? Because banning an entire party from IRC, forum, in-game discussion is just plain wrong
You can't really turn this around on Sven when you started it?
Yes NE the party that once said 'F*ck congress, we own congress' true believers in the democratic process as long as it's their democratic process. NE the party to perfect your goose stepping and multi'ing in. Those individuals who have their own ideas and thoughts need not apply because you're obviously an evil TUP troll, multi who should be banned
I didn't put my point across in the best way to be honest, I was trying to point out that there was a totally different attitude to citizenship requests depending on which party gives them out. I also wanted to say that it was pointless figuring out citizenship rules when inevitably all the descisions would be in favour of one party and against another ("because we all know New Era are evil PTOers!").
I can see how it looked like blackmail since I phrased things in an overly dramatic way for effect, but actually since I would be letting the same people either way it isn't really blackmail if the same thing will happen no matter what you do?
I wasn't agressive or rude to anyone, the closest I came to misbehaving was writing "EQUAL RIGHTS" about three times. Adastros is getting exhausted debating with me because he cannot defeat my logic and therefore has to resort to banning me.
Adastros now needs to state his evidence for this PTO which he is using to take emergency powers over congress and rule it as a dictatorship. If he cannot, he must resign.
He also needs to give up his legislation drive if he is just going to make up new rules because two congressmen agree with him in a debate.
Firstly, You rage quit the debate.
Ergo you lost it, Adastros didn't give up. You showed your true colours as usual.
I'm amazed you were even given access in the first place given your history.
And by all means, Impeach or force Adastros to resign.
Then you've got me to deal with instead.
Good day sir.
I went to bed because work actually.
I had a chat with Adastros and sorted most things out, read my newest article.
Is this the same as those NE congressmen that should have resigned when they blocked the impeachment process on a former CP who then robbed us blind due to either their, the NE congressmens, sheer incompetence or their blind hatred for anything that has not been proposed by themselves. The hypocrisy of the NE leadership knows no bounds is their no level to which the party's dictators will not stoop to.
Goku you are always full of drama. I remember you tried to become a sage. Sadly (but not surprising) that failed. You are trying to look like innocent, but what you show is like opposite. I do hope your trying to sort things out will be successful. I do hope it will be possible to have some truce more than one month.
On the other hand, there have been several nasty towards myself and other players by Congressmen like CottonPicken with no action taken.
You forgot to add me in the list when I was racist by telling you not to let in PTOers. 🙁
*nasty insults
the words pot...kettle.....black spring to mind here. Please stop trying to portray yourself as an innocent victim when you've been just as 'nasty', as you put it, as others.
In the past some of the things you've said would have made Robert Mugabe proud
voted !!
You complain about democracy dying, but you're in a party which has cast out 5 of the 6 PP candidates in the next election. How does that make you feel that you complain about democracy which is something that your party does not seem to provide?
all spoilt by ireland great idea
I wasn't necessarily around when this whole Goku saying he will PTO UK and let in Serbs took place but surely you realise Adrastos is from ESO and not TUP? And surely you realise UKRP ran ESO and not TUP? I mean does everything have to be thrown at TUP?
What's next? It's raining! Blame TUP!
Goku left New Era 🙁
BLAME TUP!
He thinks he's being clever. I'd be surprised if any other party wants him.
Shouldn't really matter, It's a strange character that's always done what It wants to do. I'd just let It play in a corner.
It's not gay marriage that has been causing the storms and floods, it's tUP.
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/de-escalating-the-situation-2382005/1/20
why is always comparison with the Nazis?
Communists are/were just as bad. Fascism has many faces but most people associate it with being right wing ideologies when it can be from any aspect of the political spectrum
Nazis and commies both extremist bad guys (until now?)
I thought the picture was from the last NE meeting
wow, for a party that is against this kind of role playing non-sense, you sure do take it seriously.
Just what I thought.
Anti-roleplaying party express outrage at someone trying to change a bill originally drafted by 'King' Woldy.
Woldy is a usurper.
Nice to see you've shown your true colours, yet again, some of us never believed you'd actually 'quit' the party because you 'disagreed' with their antics. All smoke and mirrors from one of the NE inner circle as usual
[Speaker] Pulling back from the Brink: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-speaker-pulling-back-from-the-brink-2382034/1/20
"For the record, I was in that meeting and no-one asked me my opinion." - Only bit of the article that made sense...
good one xD
That was an amazing zinger Rory - solid laugh from me
You lie! You're a traitor to UK and are aiding PTOers.
Proof of you accepting in Serbians in Serbian MU: http://oi57.tinypic.com/2rg010o.jpg
Interesting that there is no direct reference to what Goku had prposed to do. For the record, he promised to let in as many Serbs (our enemies) as he could until Congrss agreed to what he wanted. In other words he is willing to risk our national security and a potential PTO in order to get what he and his party wants.
For New Ego, blackmail and treason continue & are seen as less important than party political point scoring.
For the record, I don't support the ban, as I believe in free speech. However, New Ego, as usual, show only one side of an argument and twist the facts for their own political gain.
Everyone twists everything, no party is innocent in anything, they're all equally messed up.
Even the Spamicans ApronChef?
The speaker does absolutely nothing, you all do absolutely nothing, government sucks full stop.
New Era same old rubbish. I feel so sorry for the self confessed traitor and cheat Goku Jones.
It is quite disgusting that any party should put forward such scum as a candidate.
What can we expecct from the likes of Dapper,Winston,Gorran,Goku et al.
Yes you are right we get what we expect, every effort to undermine and destroy the eUK.
Goku, I may not agree with everything Adastros has done, but you still need to work on your own problems before you blame the world for them.
What Goku said was really bad and genuinely worrying for the country. Also a ridiculous overreaction.
Adastros should never have banned him
Kravenn's proposal is not only completely ungrounded but just counter-productive to his own goals.
Three people doing stupid things....
Could have saved your wordcount a bit Sven 😉