A bid for "President"

Day 1,256, 04:23 • Published in Japan Japan • by TheMakoto

Owls.

Rumors of me running for the presidency have not been greatly exaggerated.

Yes, I am actually formally running for President.

"Formally?", you ask? Well, let me explain what I have in mind.

Recent months have shown an increased inefficiency in government, owing to the fact that decision making was restricted to few people, often enough the people in charge of defense and the President himself. This, together with a shrinking community overall, has turned eJapan into an inefficient country - a lot of things could be solved here by either a) a super active president or b) more people. As neither of these things can be realistically achieved in the near future, I have instead come up with a third position, an alternative and realism-grounded solution to our problems if you so will.

Almost two years ago (god, been here for a long time...) when I was President of eJapan for the first time, I instituted reforms that allowed for common citizens to participate in Congress discussions for the first time - previously, even if they were not allowed to vote, citizens were not even allowed to raise their voices in discussions. I included more people into government and spread responsibilities, while keeping a slim cabinet and not randomly assigning cabinet positions just to accommodate people. I managed to end party division - my first time I ran, all parties in existence endorsed me. The result? A slim, yet inclusive government and probably one of the most active periods in eJapan's history. Active both in game terms as well as roleplay terms, with both factions peacefully coexisting. When I decided to leave office after three terms, I had an approval rating of over 70% still - a sign that inclusion into politics works, as more people will feel responsibility and consequently commit.

Now, I wish to return to the presidential bid at hand. To make things clear, I do not wish to run for President in the traditional style. A vote for me will be a vote for a new political modus operandi. If "elected", I will seek to put governmental responsibility into the hands of a body of several people, let's just call it the Genrō, because I dig Meiji Japan. I will seek to draw from the best of eJapan's community, to harness the intellectual resources of an entire ecountry and unite their potential in a single governmental authority. The community, through these Genrō, with its diverse approaches, backgrounds and experiences will come up with solutions together, and I will click the buttons, if needed from a game mechanics standpoint.

As said, I do not wish to be a traditional President. Rather, I wish to be the executive button pusher and instrument of an entire community. So to say, I wish to reinstall "Imperial" government and end divisive partisan politics. If the community desires, they will get to elect a Prime Minister that will do formalities such as setting Genrō agendas, but it isn't a must. It is all up to you. "My" bid is really about you, the citizens of eJapan. It is an experiment to implement government for the people, by the people.

I will not make false promises of seeking to raise community activity, make Congress more activity, recruit more people to the game or whatever it is every candidate in the history of ever promised. The only promise I make is that everyone here will have a greater burden of responsibility than ever before.

So vote for me if you seek to make the next step in democratic development in eJapan, not if you want me as "President" - because rest assured, I shall not be a President. But I shall be an Emperor that presses your button.

PS: Owls and Madoka.