[Constitution] Politics in eRepublik

Day 3,706, 17:59 • Published in USA USA • by Gnilraps

Date: Day 3706 of the New World

A new era is dawning in eUSA. The Constitution Party is just days away from becoming an available option for those interested in playing eRepublik as a citizen of eUSA. This will be an opportunity to work together on something truly great.


The Military Unit is a beautiful tabula for enjoying the diversity of playing in a global browser game. Because the bottom line is directed damage, people from all kinds of different cultures and interests can become a perfect Band of Brothers. I am immensely proud that my Military Unit, Easy Company, exemplifies that diversity and brotherhood. And don’t even get me started about how excellent our sisterhood is at EZC. We are AWESOME.


CURRAHEE!!!




But what makes the Military Unit so spectacular for fostering diversity makes it terrible for politics.


The Political Party in eRepublik, on the other hand, is an excellent vehicle for doing politics. By politics I mean the utilization of game mechanics in order to increase leverage on those things which are controllable.


Playing Politics in eRepublik is famously good (and there are RL politicians who have played it!). Those who do not remember V.1 will not fully understand just how good this game was. All of the mechanics which made this game that good were Political mechanics. They were control mechanisms which required social coordination.


eRepublik Politics is literally the pinacle of my gaming life. There has been nothing better.


The important question for most of us is, “can the game still be as good as that?”


It’s the exact same question that gets raised every single time V.1 is mentioned. There’s literally no other good reason for talking about V.1, actually, it was quite sucky. But what it did well was beautiful. So there is no such discussion about V.1 that isn’t nostalgic.



The reason playing eRepublik in today’s eUSA is so good is that we have preserved the architecture of what made V.1 great. eUSA remains a true political environment where more than 5 distinct political forces impact life in the game. It's no accident that the multi-party system is still vibrant in eUSA.


And the instrument which is so worth politicking for is the eUSA Constitution and Code which is curated at the eUSA Forum.


The life and times of that document is the story of eUSA.


This past month was a fantastic example of it, actually.


Something happened in the halls of eUS Government that shows off the beauty of our meta.


In a fantastic debate that spanned three different (two of which were successful) ingame Work Tax Laws, Congress was lit up with discussions about how we generate and spend revenue.


The result was the passage of two Work Tax laws,
the first at 3%,
the second at 2%
followed by a failed attempt to re-raise the tax to 3%.


In the end, the “lower tax lobby” was able to turn the tide of the successfully-passed law from the “higher tax lobby” and make it stick.


The true result, of course, was fun and excitement. That’s why we play internet games, remember?



Melissa Rose, a Federalist, was asked about her experience from the Tax debates. She said that they were “an example of what the forum is good for. That type of communication can’t happen in discord (where) egos get in the way and people get lost in the mix.”


She’s right. The eUSA Forum honors respectful dialogue about significant gaming concerns. It’s awesome. You need thick skin and a good sense of humor most of the time, but again, that’s what makes internet browser games so interesting. It’s always the meta.



I also spoke with We The People member Oblige about last month’s debates. He said, “It was a wildcard debate for sure.” He continued, “this was the most well-organized campaign (the low-tax lobby) has lead in years…”


When I pressed him for further insights from his perspective, he said, “The rhetorical calisthenics individuals had to embrace in order to argue that a tax cut that primarily benefits older, established players (many of whom are Congresspeople) was the will of the average player were also amusing to observe.”


Obviously, Oblige is pressing his opinion that the higher tax was better for most of eUSA, and in philosophy I agree with him. But what is so interesting to me about his comment is his expression of “amusement”. Think about this for just one second. Oblige is a grizzled veteran of eRepublik, someone who has seen it all. But because of the glorious eUSA Forum, the Constitution, and the Code, Oblige found amusement.


eRepublik is still entertaining in eUSA.



Herr Vootsman, another Federalist was also quite taken with the proceedings. Speaking as a self-identified "long-time government person", he said, "it was great to get more involvement with the average congressman in the running of the country".


Let me interpret his statement: increased activity due to the forum is a good thing.


What made all of this possible was the meticulously maintained eUSA Forum. Every voice had an equal place, and those prevailed who persisted in pressing their agenda best.


It reminds me of V.1.


If you like eRepublik because you like running a script that clicks the red button for you while you go play other games, perhaps eUSA isn’t for you.



What's that?


But if you still like being involved in the social aspect of the “Social Browser Game” genre, eUSA is the place to be because we have a Constitution and because our Constitution actually preserves something valuable - valuable in terms of the game itself.


One fantastic example of how our Constitution is valuable is what happens to a citizen/Congressperson who threatens the basic tenets of Constitutionalism and decent internet gaming.


I referred to these tenets in my last article as:


Access to legislative power
Stewardship of tax revenue
Soveriegnty of eUSA


If a citizen violates or threatens these, s/he can be effectively banned from exerting direct influence on the proceedings that protect them. We call it a “Blacklist”. The list itself is shockingly small, considering all the shenanigans we’ve put up with over the years from a cast of characters who all fit well into the “does not play well with others” label. eRep labs has the ban, our Forum has the blacklist. They serve the same purpose - maintaining the integrity of the proceedings. The ban/blacklist exists so that true equal access can be guaranteed to all, and so on.


(We can also debate how liberally to implement the Blacklist. That debate also keeps things lively in the halls of Congress.)





Again, because the Constitution and Code exist to protect and preserve important aspects of making eRepublik a better game (our Forum is not a playground for derpy RP), high standards have been set and maintained. And they work.


Want evidence that they work? Ajay Bruno.


If you haven’t gotten involved in eRepublik at the eUSA Forum - and this invitation applies to non-citizens of eUSA as well - what are you waiting for? Do it.


The conversations there are quite a bit more interesting than those which unfold at the eRepublik Forum. The moderation is fair and consistent. And there is lots that goes on extending beyond eRepublik itself. The eUSA Forum is a hotspot for tech geeks, philosphy wonks, trolls, poets, and ne’er-do-wells of all kinds.


There are tons of cool people there. Be another one.


Now I want to say a few words that pertain specifically to the Constitution Party.


I have accepted the United States Workers Party nomination to run for Party President. This nomination, knowing what changes I intend to bring, represents the affirmation of those people who are my party mates. I’ve been a fellow Worker with all of them. And the fact is, they are interested to see where the Constitution Party might lead us. Some of them are excited enough to have already begun publishing their own thoughts.


And my inbox has even begun lighting up with curious inquirers.





Here’s what I have to say to anyone who might be considering participation in the Constitution Party:


Publish your interest.


You can read my philosophy about what makes for a fun eRepublik experience. I believe it is wrapped up in the sandbox environment of the eUSA Forum, specifically the creation and maintenance of the Constitution and Code. What goes on at the Forum is not Role Play, it is the codification of how to make the most of the eUSA experience.


That’s how I’m defining what it means to be a Constitutionalist.


And some of you are interested in getting involved. Here’s what I would ask you to do: publish an article describing your philosophy on what makes for a good eUSA experience. If, in sorting out your thoughts, you find yourself gravitating towards the importance of equal access to legislative power, proper stewardship of tax revenue, and preservation of the sovereignty of eUSA, you might just be a Constitutionalist too.


Much will begin on the 16th. Where will you be?
That is where you'll find me.


You may now return to your regularly scheduled clicking.