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Dear residents of the United Netherlands,

In recent weeks it became clear that it is impossible to create a "UNL-identity". There came several calls to liberate Belgium. The French speakers are hardly be seen on the forum. But also on Dutch side there are problems. The drop-out by early Dutch and Flemish people is bigger than thought!

What is the cause of this problem?

The basis is the fact that many people find eRepublik quit boring after a while and drop out. In order to keep them here longer, we need a strong community. A community where everyone feels at home. It seems logical that, as the United Netherlands become almost entirely in English, many people do not feel at home. Creating an identity, a melting pot of Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels, Holland, Brabant, Limburg and Frisian elements appears not to be as simple than originally thought. This effect is reinforced by the fact that since English is the VNL official language, people quickly drop out, and every month we need to start again with "making people feeling at home".

Will continue this madness, or we'll work to find a solution?

eRepublik consists of communities, that much is clear. Why don't we focus on different communities instead of stubbornly promote an artificial community? So everyone feels at home.
I call for a "Federation of the Low Countries". In this federation, the various communities of the Low Countries harmonious coexist. This coexistence is essential, because if the VNL fall apart, we are not "a strong country" more.

What does the federation mean in practice?

Let us first examine the possible communities present in the United Netherlands.
A clear community are the "Francophones". This group of people increased exponentially in the last month. This group consists of Wallonian and Brussels citizens.
A second community, the "Dutch", which consits both inhabitants of the Netherlands and Flemish people (also Flemish people in Brussels).
A third group are the "English speakers". These are mainly foreigners who emigrated and generally speak no Dutch or French.
2 small groups may not be present: the German-speaking Belgians and the Frisians. Most Frisians speak Dutch and most German-speakers zlive in Germany or speak Dutch, English and / or French. These citizens may seek membership in one of the other 3 communities.

Community-Based Federalism

I think federalism is the best way with the following structure:
We have a federal government, with an ingame congress. The ingame congress members will crry out the federal matters. This includes ingame president. These congress members get on the forum a place to debate in English.

In addition, we create 3 communities with their own government and parliament forum. These communities also have their own elected Minister-President.
In principle, all powers that fall not under the power of the federal parliament, are community responsibilities. Each community receives a forum where everyone can communicate in his own language.
Each community receives a share of the tax money allocated based on the number of registered citizens. If the federal government decides that 50% of tax revenues go to the communities, and there are 40 French-speakers, 35 Dutch and 25 English speakers registered, then the French-speakers get 20%, the Dutch 17.5%, English speakers get 12.5% and the federal government 50% of the tax money.

Obviously the 3 communities neet to decide together on certain issues. Consider the example External Affairs Department. It is inconceivable that each community develops its own foreign policy. An MPP or a declaration of war is valid for the complete United Netherlands. But a UNL-Dutch Community embassy in South Africa or a French one in France does make sense.

Therefore I propose a "Debating committee" to be set up, consisting of a delegation from each community government. They can each decide to transfer certain powers to the federal level. This must however be approved by the various community parliaments.

Towards a Federation of the Low Countries?

If the Almighty Admins would ever decide to add Luxembourg to eRepublik and the United Netherlands becomes a real BeNeLux, we might get a 4th community!

In this way it seems possible to bound the various communities of the United Netherlands and to keep each other closer together and still make sure that everyone feels at home.