[MC]Buy the people, for the people
Michael Crookes
Hello eWorld!
Abraham Lincoln is probably among the greatest figures in American History, well loved for his strong morality and character. But what can a group of British people on the internet learn from an American man who died nearly 150 years ago?
It is my hope that this article will challenge people and encourage people to keep pushing for the changes which I believe the community wants and needs. The article will be split into 2 parts, the first being a discussion on the issue of bribery, while the second section will briefly outline my views on vote buying.
Bribery
Lets be honest, bribery has always been a part of the fabric of the eUK. For years I can remember watching people trying to buy votes for congress elections or buy entry into country. I suppose it was only a matter of time until somebody tried to buy members for a political party. So if it has always been an issue, why bother writing about it now? Because it seems that lately bribery has become acceptable, something I find unacceptable.
I believe that the reason that bribery became acceptable in our country was because it was the norm before we truly knew what was happening. You see, parties haven’t always offered “new member bonuses” or “supplies” to members, in fact, to begin with it was something much less cynical than the system we have in place today.
The whole situation arose from the idea of party giveaways (something which I believe is not a bad thing, so long as it is unilateral and not party specific). Party members teamed together to raise funds in order to support new and existing members of the country through their generosity. Or perhaps if you are feeling a little more cynical, political parties trying to impress new members of the community in order to woo them into joining their party.
Giveaways and support for new members is of course a good thing, so when parties started embracing this idea it was hailed by many as a good idea. However, soon enough parties realised that if they offered more than their rivals, then new players would probably be more impressed. Of course, the more parties offered, the more they hoped for (and came to expect) in the form of players joining their party. Thus the current broken system was born
There may be some among you who believe that it is right for a party to supply their members, to support them as much as possible, and in answer I would turn to another nugget of wisdom from a slightly more recent American president
We have all heard it before; put the country first, and put ourselves second, but let’s be honest, its not an idea that appeals to us. We would far rather find a compromise; still looking out for the country, but at the same time enjoying some benefits for ourselves. I put it to you that while as individuals it is very easy to fall into that trap; we can’t allow our parties to be dragged in too.
You see, as a community of players together in a party, we can do more than any of us can individually (an idea called synergy). That means that together we have a unique opportunity to impact our country’s wider community in a much more positive way than any of us could when alone. However, that also means that together we can cause more damage and hurt than any of us could manage on our own. It is a very real danger that we must strive to avoid at all costs.
“Does giving our members a gift now and again really cause that much damage?”. Well on a superficial level no, it does not. However, by making party recruitment into a financial battle, you are destroying the principles and the substance of your party. Yes, people with all sorts of views will join you, but they will join with their eyes on one thing; your offer of supplies.
What substance does a party have when half their membership does not support their principles beyond filling their own pockets? Very little.
What use is a party which has lost its vision, which has lost its substance and abandoned its principles? None.
So what?
The sad truth is that not every party is going to abandon it’s “support” schemes tomorrow, but I am asking you, not as a member of a party, but as an individual, to decide for yourself whether you agree with your party’s stance. If you do then you need not change anything, but if you don’t agree, then stand up and be counted. We need people who want to put the principles back into politics to rise up in the parties of the eUK and to say enough is enough.
Perhaps your party will lose members, perhaps your rivals will gain an advantage, but at the end of your time playing this game you will be able to look back and say that you did not abandon your beliefs. Is that something worth fighting for? You decide
Vote buying
The vote buying debate is one which has been raging on for quite some time and shows no signs of abating any time soon. I could talk all day about what I think is right and wrong, but at the end of the day I would like you to make up your own mind.
It has long been my belief that it is very pointless exercise to judge many on the actions of a few. Not only does it unfairly lay the blame at the door of many innocent people, but it means you miss out on seeing the diversity that the many people have to offer. However, the truth is this: as a party people will judge you according to the actions of your members. In particular, they will judge you according to the actions of your leaders. For that reason, it is important to speak out as a member of a party implicated to denounce what is happening if you disagree with it.
With that in mind I would like to turn to the current media and in particular the articles recently released by Sir Nick Griffin and Goku Jones. Both articles purchased votes (220 and 150 respectively), both have knocked other articles out of the top five in order to be heard and both authors will happily do it again.
Both Nick and Goku claim to be fighting for the newer players. They claim to want to break the hold of an “elitist” community over the eUK and form a government which truly represents the people. To put it eloquently, they seek to create a “government of the people, by the people, for the people”. However, they have failed to start with the strong moral base which Lincoln created for himself 150 years ago.
Anyway, as I said, I don’t wish to just impart my views on others, so here are the simple stats, considering Nick's article, goku's article and the 2 they knocked out:
Over to you eUK community:
Do you new players feel your interests are being protected by Goku and Nick?
Does this really feel like it is of the people, by the people OR for the people?
What are you going to do about it?
Stay safe and play hard!
(Michael Crookes)
Comments
I'm just waiting for someone to buy this votes. The state of the eUK is disgusting right now.
Great article, however!
Great read and I was genuinely surprised at the end...I never realised I was knocked out the top 5 by brought votes
*drops to knees*
DAMN YOU....DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!!!!
Interesting. o/
Too much 'merica references 😛
Content however was first class.
TL😉R
Vote buying is bad 🙁
Dr Hugh Jardon is awesome at not buying votes and is awesome.Also he is awesome. w00t!
Even i disagree wit that!!! I'm an ****hole but one trying to get a better, more workable eUK.
Absolutely agreed. These people are not only blocking some worthy articles from the top5, they're also blocking some worthy new players from progressing in the UK!
As many managers are fond of saying... No player is bigger then the club... Nicks actions are not vindictive of UKPP, it's not like the obligatory election article from Nick is anything new. Nice how you also missed off The GoUK article that has votes paid for. But we all know who the real target of this article is.
There was no "real target"...I have played this game for long enough to know that today's political opponents are tomorrows ally's...The article is about the principles, which do not change. I highlighted Goku and Nick in particular because they are the main perpetrators, but i think the GoUK article is in just the same position, but then doing something once is very different from repeatedly doing it.
I think your view of me is much more cynical than I deserve...
The real target is Goku, as it has been along, adding Nick in there is a added bonus though. Take a look at Nicks comment section, then go have a look in Goku's New Era articles... The more you point it out the more you play into their hands and the more publicity they get (good or bad they don't care, there name is in the public domain). An article with 100 comments and 150 votes looks better then an article with 10 comments and 150 votes. Ignore it leave, the articles comment destitute and they'll soon realise its not having the desired effect (your a smart guy, you should be able to work out what effect they want), and stop doing it. The more you attack, the more they attack, round and round in fucking circles we go...
agreed Wayne, hence my attempt at self-control to ignore the articles
Check the article for my comment...you won't see it there
Im not using 'you' as in yourself, rather the side of the fence you wrote this on.
Thank you for a superb article. V & S
Well said
So UKRP will be stopping it's TESCO scheme and doanting it to the NHS as you know... bribery and all that...
It doesn't seem like this guy runs the UKRP or the Tesco thread, but I'm sure he took his own advice and has suggested to get rid of it intenally.
Don't you just love the eUK. We were once a great nation..Leaders of the world. Now we can't even play together nicely. I'm glad I have left the UK for rl as like in the game we conduct our nation's activities pretty much the same...Like shit.
P.S. Not great but definately not a bad article. voted.
The only interests being protected by Goku and Nick are those of Goku and Nick. False appeals to the widespread nature of the practice and disingenuous attacks on those who criticize it as being naive are the norm.
It's all very well and good to attack me for buying votes... as you know, I didn't buy them, Kravenn did. So please stop harassing me on this subject.
It's also worth noting that the people now shouting about vote buying are the people who've bought votes in the past and thought nothing of it! Please, get a grip of yourselves! If a new player wants to see what it's like to be part of the top 5 article section, they can simply sell a bar of gold and Hey Presto!
It is my right to write an article about my party and to get Kravenn to buy votes for it...