A Look Into Today's Politics
Azazel Romanov
I don't normally write articles anymore, but when I do, I'd like to make them count for something. I've been following the election on the forum and in-game taking note of everything I read because I like seeing competitive elections. In fact, one of the things I complained heavily about before I left on a sojourn was a lack of elections where it was an actual race. I was also disappointed to not be challenged myself after my first term (because I don't think I ever considered myself or any sitting president unbeatable). Right now, the election is shaking out to be a contest between Wild Owl and Jude Conners, and despite some predictions, I think it has the capacity to be a highly contested race.
A lot recently has been made out of the "Wild Owl Doctrine" of foreign policy in the campaign so far as a key issue in the race. Wild Owl wants to ensure we protect what we have and keep a steady course unless things change. Jude has stated that he'd like to see something a little less boring and dull, and that we should have a more independent foreign policy again rather than being tied down to protection. In my opinion, and from what I've seen others post/say, this has the potential to be the defining issue of the campaign since they still seem fairly close on tax policy and Jude hasn't really come out with a rapid departure from Wild Owl's desire for possible USAF/DoD reform.
But is the foreign policy really all that dull? We're still able to have some fun as seen from our wipe of Spain and the fight to maintain what we have even if we do not face a strong threat currently. We're still able to post up battles for people to fight in and we can assist our allies. Even Wild Owl has stated, "we will be keeping North Korea, and expanding outwards, outside our comfort zone, and Americanizing more regions." So our current foreign policy doesn't eliminate any possibility of war, it simply means we continue fighting in wars that we can win that won't greatly endanger us. I know something about boring foreign policy, since my approach as president was to avoid conflict and go about renting regions from countries rather than taking risks. I can tell you that having a position of strength and being able to utilize it to your gain is something to envy, and now we are in the position to take risks without worry that it will immediately come back to haunt us in a country-wide wipe.
Finally, I read a recent article from Wooky Jack about why he thinks Wild Owl is running. Wooky was someone I was in the Feds with, and he always showed a strong passion for politics and rarely backed down on the issues, and that is admirable. In the article, he focuses on a conversation from third parties to argue that Wild Owl is simply running because he was pressured to make sure Jude doesn't win. Despite Wild Owl commenting the contrary, Jude then seems to comment in agreement with Wooky's claim. This bothered me a bit and was one of the primary reasons I wanted to write the article.
I go way back with Wild Owl, and even though we've maintained friendship, we have had our share of disputes and private disagreements. One of the reasons I wanted him as my Vice President was because of his bluntness, and that I knew he would speak his mind rather than simply tow the line and play nice. In fact, Wild Owl's foreign policy immediately following my approach is something I'd consider a fairly great departure (attacking Japan for resources, invading Portugal, etc.). I was content to sit still and play it safe because I was afraid of the repercussions, but Wild Owl proved me wrong and showed that taking risks would work, and eventually America was sitting on 10/10 bonuses and enjoying a smart foreign policy at the same time. He proved himself to be a far greater president than me, and greater than anything I would have imagined.
But back to the main point. Wooky asserts that people begged Wild Owl to run, and that it is more like a chore to him than an actual desire to lead. Knowing Wild Owl, this isn't the case. If Wild Owl is doing something, it's because he wants to do it. I don't think you can pull Wild Owl to do otherwise. And I hate to say it, but if someone is running to possibly dismantle your foreign policy, that's a pretty good impetus to run. If you want this to be an actual race, something I would like to see, at least keep it to the issues rather than trying to simply bring attacks on character. I know that Jude is someone who hates the personal game that people sometimes play to get ahead in the game, so I'd like to see this race be above what Wooky has written.
So, yeah. I'm basically done writing now. Let me know what you think.
Comments
Welcome back NewAz
I think I won't be disappointed either way.
Wild Owl v. Jude actually makes this election an interesting one. We have candidates with very different platforms, both are viable candidates with strong personalities and pov. The outcome should be a good indicator of the views of the community about something a little more substantial than which suit has better name recognition.
How I've missed your writing!
Meow! ♥
excellent writing, Naz. kicks memories of working together in Media, and I remember what quality work you did.
like Rainy said, there's actual differences between Owl and Jude's whole outlook and platforms, so, yeah, a long overdue election based on substance.
"let's shake things up a bit" has been said by candidates before, but usually it's a scary prospect to think of the nation in the hands of someone totally unstable who might think starting a World War and losing a loot of homeland ragions.. I'm sure enough that Jude's not that crazy.
hate to subscribe and wreck that pretty little "420" sitting up there.
Thanks NAz.
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-kneepads-palatable-politics-2560426/1/20#comment39943423
Good read NaZ, even if it is a WO endorsement article in disguise. 🙂
It is if I ever saw one.
Good article, although I see no disguising of the fact that it is a WO endorsement; what does impresses me is it has brought out some Old Guard Citizens...
Good to see you writing again....
I'm going to sidestep the issue of why people are running, if you don't mind, since I haven't been paying close enough attention to this cycle to feel like I have an informed opinion.
But, just for my two cents on the Foreign Affairs issue, I don't really think the current course of FA is drastically more (or less) boring than any other. There are usually always interesting things afoot if you have the right vantage point and care to really pay attention.
To me, the current "problem" of dull or boring FA is two-fol😛
1) Many people don't have a good view of the interesting things that do happen, and if they do, they often don't care enough to play close attention. Of course things seem boring if you're not invested and you're not seeing the whole picture.
2) Nostalgia - A lot of people were never adequately sold on our current position, and they don't feel much investment to our current MPP stack, but personally though, I think this is a case of a lot of folks having their nostalgia goggles strapped on a bit too tightly. I feel like many people just feel like they'd be more interested and entertained if they could relive the good old days and rekindle warm feelings they remember toward old allies.
Unfortunately though, in eRep, as in life, time is a constant and things change. This game is simply not the same game as it used to be, and a reversal (or realignment) of Foreign Affairs will likely not lead to some major revival of interest for the eUS. I mean, the upheaval might provide some folks with some interesting times for a while, but over time, most longtime players will settle back somewhere close to their established setpoint for eRep engagement.
Personally, I feel like more genuine and transparent media (like this) might help a lot toward giving people interesting things to pay attention to here, but even that is dependent on having writers interested enough to produce it...
Honestly, I don't know what the best solution is long-term (though I fear that people won't really gravitate back to this game en masse without changes that are out of our power as players to invoke).
For now, all we can do is to keep trying to play the game as we want to play it and do our best to entertain ourselves and others. Regardless of who wins this presidential election, I just hope it succeeds in doing that.
Oh, and it's great to see you still alive and writing. o/
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Have a good day.
We don't have to switch sides to make our situation "less dull and boring", as put by some. Trying to get more involved in our current alliance and the affairs of the world could solve it.
The same people complaining about lack of fun etc. are the ones who called the FYROM war boring and pointless. That was the best and most thrilling war eUSA has had in a long time, and if some people simply refuse to participate, there's nothing we can do to change it.
"The same people complaining about lack of fun etc. are the ones who called the FYROM war boring and pointless"
Please back that assertion up with proofs. Most people of my acquaintance were glad it wasn't yet more bullying of Spain, but did have concerns that FYROM might be a bit much to take on with their allies.
Talk about the old guard? This guy was in congress as soon as he made his account. The same thing took me two years.
Bullying Spain, standing on North Korea's throat and taking on yet another helpless country in FYROM; I mean a country who couldn't even think up a name for itself? Yet here the USA 'meta government' sits on REDACTED Reserve for National Defense. Please.
Who they afraid of?
I missed your articklings. Voted~
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This article ranks among the articles I have read.
http://www.erepublik.com/br/article/bienvenido-al-imperio-argentino-y-larga-vida-a-nuestro-imperio--2560968/1/20
Great Article
This article was sweet. But im dead and care less than 3 ❤
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