Presidential Governing; Why not?
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by DanielB1989
Dear friends of the great eUnited Netherlands,
Today I am writing you about one of the most important issues which is currently being discussed;
The change of our political system.
AndreasIsaksson, proposed the idea yesterday and a heavy discussion followed after. I think we should really consider this proposal carefully; the eUnited Netherlands is very divided on this issue.
In this article I will explain what in my opinion should change and how the change should happen, and then I will shine my light on the pro’s and con’s and to conclude I will try to explain why this proposal is so important to be accepted.
The new system: Presidential governing
Why this proposal: In the current system we get a new President on the 5th of each month. The President has a lot of power in-game, however in the eUnited Netherlands the President is not given any capabilities to lead its country. It is merely a figurehead. On the 25th of each month there are congressional elections; the party president of the winning party has to form a coalition with other parties to form a government. This time-consuming (sometimes up to 10 days (that’s over 30% of the total governing time) ) procedure withholds the government from being as effective as it could be. Also the consensus- environment in the government doesn’t help the efficiency of the government. The government is backed by the congress, but it never is fully capable of working to its full potential. Now, when a new government is formed, just a few days after, a new president is chosen which also requires time to get adjusted to the new situation.
All together, in our current system, we have consensus but we lack a lot of efficiency
Q: So how would this system you are supporting work?
Ok, time to give a clear explanation about it.
I will make a basic assumption here, for the sake of argument that the presidential campaigning starts on the 1st of every month.
Before starting the campaign the Presidential-candidate designs his program and goals he would like to achieve. He then, selects people who he thinks fit best in the cabinet to achieve those goals.
‘’The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.’’
All the Presidential candidates debate with each other about who has the best program and goals; all in the ultimate goal to convince the voters to vote for them. This process is also calle😛
Then on the 5th of each month the time has come; after all heated campaigns and intense debates it’s time for you, for the citizens of the eUnited Netherlands to cast your:
Then the day after the elections when all votes are counted, no uncertainties are remaining, we have a NEW government!!
This whole system focuses on fast, transparent and efficient governing. However there still will be the congress that will have all the power to stop the government from pursuing their goals, if the congress believes there goals aren’t just and right.
To summarize quickly:
No time without government
You vote for the people who govern you
Higher quality of the government (due to being able to pick players from every party)
Some people are very much against this, but all together I hear just 1 main reasons boiling down to this:
Power shifts from the parties to the president;
This is certainly NOT true, the power shifts from the party president to the people of the eUnited Netherlands, from now on you will be able to choose the government yourself, which will greatly improve the power of the people. For example if an unknown candidate is trying to win the presidential seat, many people are afraid of the consequences, because of the uncertainties, it will help him/her if he/she can present the whole government who will support the president.
Furthermore, the power of the president will not greatly increase; it will only make sure the president is more transparent and clear on its goals. The power of the president can/will be eliminated mostly by the congress, the organ with the most power of the eUnited Netherlands, every time they have to vote on new law proposals and government acting.
So to summarize the new system gives:
A faster, more transparent and more efficient government
More democracy
Higher Quality
I hope you support this proposal just like me! Lets discuss and make the eUNL a more democratic place!
Love,
DanielB1989
Just another citizen
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Comments
first denie😛D
The president is active in the government and the government does work at full potential after the congress elections. I don't see how the government can't do that?
Good article 🙂
@ Yasupa, how can a government be fully functional when they know they are being replaced in 5-10 days. They will just handle the ongoing things but wont do anything special as policies might change.
I thought the United Netherlands broke up some time ago. o.0
thats right Tristan, but it was decided to keep the name, as we like to think we are a united country and open to everyone from the eWorld, therefore our official language is still English🙂
Interesting debate.
I think there can be good and bad points when having such a government. I'm just going to counter the boldtext to give some things to think about:
- A faster, more transparent and more efficient government:
There will only be one person that is going to make the government without restrictions. It won't be faster when he/she just uses random persons or persons not suited for the job in the common mind. The congress will counter this government and it will take days again. Only when the president makes a government before the elections are being held it can be best I think (that is the common idea now). If the president suddenly changes his mind bigtime there will be a problem. More efficient depends on the persons in this government and not on the government.
More democracy
Only when people vote based on the contents of the campaign, people selected for the jobs and ideas of this president. When people keep voting based on a party there will be a problem. When this kind of government is chosen then congress-elections should be about parties and presidential about the person for president and persons in the government. My advise is to restrain yourself from using sentences like "i'm nickX from party Y" in the campaigns and make a personal statement.
Higher Quality
Same as more efficient. It depends on the persons inside the government.
Good article, voted...
I wish i had the possibility to test this form of governance when i was President in the eUNL... The context is maybe better now than 4 months ago (Poland/UK merge) to give it a chance...
Last time there were people in favor, but I think also it was the timing/context at that time that made it fail.
Great analysis Kixtart, yes the plan is that people vote for a president on their program and their people. you will see that party politics will play a much smaller role. A president needs to be a man for all people not just for his/her and some other party.
I don´t see how this is perceived as more democratic, it most probably LESS democratic. I´m afraid it will nullify the most important election, the congress election.
How will there be a government proposed when there is no idea yet which parties holds the most congress-seats?
Do you think all parties are willing to supply their talented players to an unformed coalition ?
Now at least the bigger parties are forced around the table, but with this system that will definitely be less the case.
Their is less grounds anymore to form a coalition, to debate and form compromises. It will give more power to onces with elitist tendencies.
This is more power away from the voters.
It is really quite worrying that democratic principles are pushed aside in the name of ´efficiency´.
It is more democratic because the people Choose the Government. How would it nullify the congress elections? The congress remains the most important organ in the political system as the organ who have to approve or disapprove laws discuss etc.
It doesn't matter which parties hold the most congress seats, the President just has to work with the congress regardless their affiliation.
How could parties forbid their players to be a candidate cabinet member? That would not be very fair in my eyes.
And you keep talking about a coalition, but there is no coalition just a government and a congress.
You are giving parties so much credit but a potential President need to form a team as best as possible to win the elections so he will use players from multiple parties.
Again, there is NO coalition. There is a government who can debate come to compromises and then has to see if it passes the congress vote, this ensures that the congress keeps the ultimate power.
Because of this transparency instead of the backdoor formation which are currently happening this system would be MORE democratic.
Well i refuse to believe that it will be more democratic, it will most probably be less transparent, more friends-politics and less influence of PP´s in government program making.
In idea it sounds nice, but I fear it will create another monolithic power-block ruled by a few. Also... You don´t need a relative majority of votes to become CP, the more candidates running, the less citizens will support the winner. The current system via congress is a fixed number of seats, AND parties are forced to create a majority and percentage-wise it will be supported by a vast larger amount of citizens. That´s more ´demos´, therefore MORE democratic.
voted
Wait.. The congressional elections are still most important. You seem to have the rather odd idea this shifts power from the congress away to the President.. It certainly doesn't. It actually makes the congress more important because a President does not necessarily need to have a congressional majority.
If you want to have an interesting play of politics, instead of partypolitics, this is the way to go.
@frerk
it´s not about having it more interesting, it´s about keeping it democratic. Seen how a minority dictates the outcome of CP elections in this country, I´m afraid it will only get less democratic in the perspective of many more CP candidatures.
I don't see how a CP government would work better, it is only less transparant. The system we currently have is not perfect, but it works because parties are forced to work together with eachother which is a good thing. I certainly do not want to see that 1 person, can give cabinet positions to his "friends". The congress elections are the most important elections in our eCountry. Power lies withing congress, and not with one person.
Shakerr... less transparent? you vote for a government and now you never know what kind of government you can get. I dont see that being less transparent.
This will reduce the power of the parties and increase the power of the people.
Shakerr, if a candidate were to only select his friends, in stead of good qualified people, then that person wouldn't be able to win the elections... However if you pick a carefully selected cabinet with diverse people (from all parties) who however can agree on your policies you will make a much better shot to win the elections.
Again Power remains at the congress... it even increases congressional power, as congressman don't have the 'obligation' to vote in favor of their parties point of views.
Wait.. Shaker, DanielParker.. You don't play this game for fun? This is a game, remember to have fun..
"The President has a lot of power in-game, however in the eUnited Netherlands the President is not given any capabilities to lead its country."
Exactly. The Congress, and government formed based on congress seats, run the country. Not the President. That's exactly what I want to keep.
Good article, though; well structured and argumented. Still don't agree, but definitely voted it up 😉
[ "Wait.. Shaker, DanielParker.. You don't play this game for fun? This is a game, remember to have fun.. " Congrulations, you have just won the MOST INVALID ARGUMENT AWARD 😛 ]
@Frerk
Are you really serious or what?
Sometimes I take humor seriously. Sometimes I take seriousness humorously. Either way it is irrelevant.
Aside from that, I seldom find oligarchies to be humorous
maby elections every 2 or 3 months?? That we vote 4 or 6 times in a year.
Lyondell, CP elections occur every month, due to game-mechanics. 🙂
I was partly joking. Ofcourse the part about playing a game for fun was a joke. However, I find your seriousness about an internet game quite remarkable.
@frerk
I think I´m having more fun then you! If you disagree, disprove it! 🙂
so bok, you, one of the best ministers (of finance) out there should not be in the government because your party didnt get enough seats? that doesn't make sense in my opinion
@danielB1989 that is a totally different thing, I´m not opposed to having good players of other parties in government.
We just oppose that the CP forms the whole government before the congress elections results are in.
The disbandment of the PM position might be an option.
And have CP also be PM, which then could form the government of a coalition after congress elections, and additional posts can be filled with experts of other parties if the coalition&CP agrees on them having them in.
Politics shouldn´t be too much of a solo thing of the CP, that is too much honour. Thát is what I´m afraid of of all these proposals.
Sidenote: We as LP-party won´t supply/support government-members when not in government, however we won´t stand our individual members in the way if they are asked to join for a position in government.
voted
The government is still at his fully functional after the congress elections as far as I know and if you want changes you can keep contact with the following minister.
and I actually agree with Daniel
A CP lead government is simply not a good idea. example: A president who shouts out loud, "give the belgians nothing" (just an example don't want to fuss this issue itself up again) with a CP government you will have a huge problem, because this person/CP speaks for himself and thus government. A coalition government with PM as head of government has the option to correct the president if needed because the PM/government members cabinet, are the ones who are able to come up with government statements. Do not forget that a coalition government is supported by parties and being made after negotiating and talks betweeen Party presidents at beginning of formation of a new government. This process is more transparant then when a president can pick his own favorites for any position in government without even spoken about ideas/plans in new government period.
TRANSPARANT TRANSPARANT OLOLOLOL
I hear this word way too often.
If this is your only argument you can nibble my . and suck my .
@DanielB1989 "so bok, you, one of the best ministers (of finance) out there should not be in the government because your party didnt get enough seats? that doesn't make sense in my opinion"
It's because, perhaps, probrably, he didn't get any invitation of your I&W party president to participate in talkings about a new government last time 😉 Now that didn't make any sense in my opinion 😉
Also, if the government sucks, you can impeach the president and the whole gov goes down the drain to be replaced.
How can congress not be important at this change >.>
Suck your dot? Is it that small?
I Agree totally with the article. For example South Africa where I life at the moment in erepublik. We choose the president and he chooses his government. he chooses the people who are the best suited for the positions in the government. it is based on skills and not based on with what party that person is affiliated. The current system with parties the way it is facilitates bickering and disagreement between parties and peoples.