[Angrr] Belated Article Regarding Policy
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by Angrr
My last article did a couple of things, some intended, and some not.
The first thing it seemed to do was upset some people. Despite it's tone - which in hindsight was not ideal - I had not set out with the intention to insult anyone. In fact, I have long made it a rule to refrain from doing that in the media. The point that I had tried to get across - one shared by several others to whom I spoke - was that I looked at the candidate list and thought "This is the best we have to offer? This is in whom we must place our trust?"
This may seem a little harsh, and if so then I apologise, but it is not anything against the candidates themselves. I have no real issues with Shimiken, I think Yonsil is usually pretty funny, and although we don't get along (I think he "hates me more than anyone else in the new world"😉
I have long respected Nowe's point of view, and remain a subscriber to his newspaper. However, in my opinion, they were not ideally suited to being President - especially in the days ahead.
The next thing it seemed to do - although it may well be completely co-incidental and I do not try to take credit for it - a different type of Presidential candidate stepped up. Perhaps those who disagree with my points of view (or those of the other candidates) or maybe I or another candidate proposed something that was percieved as a threat to the plans of the new candidates. Regardless, We now see Dokomo - an experienced former President - running in place of Nowe, and Yonsil has apparantly dropped out of the race.
The last thing the article did was prove (to me at least) that there were still some people in eJapan who felt that something was missing - something that we once had. A sense of purpose, a unique identity.
Being brutally honest, eJapan is in a mess. We no longer have any sense of purpose. Our treasury is empty. We stirred up a hornets nest next door and our foreign relations are hindered by a horrible lack of diplomacy.
The past month leaves a huge question hanging over our nations direction. Right now, we are drifting rudderless where before our course always seemed so true.
I have run for President before, but I can see now that the nation didn't need me then. The question is - does it need me now?
Since there are clearly some citizens and parties in eJapan who have put their faith in me, I will in fact remain in the race and try to give them an option - someone to vote for who represents theirway of thinking. Whether or not I win is irrelevant at this point. To take votes means that whoever does gain power must acknowledge that there are still some people who want more than a war for fun, an empty treasury and secret reasons for actions that citizens will never be privy to.
I apologise for the lateness of this article, and for the unusual way in which I have gone about this campaign. It was important for me to know that I wasn't clinging to beliefs that were outdated and un-needed. So long as there are still citizens looking to make our nation a better place, I am happy to try to represent them.
Policy
Let me make my policies and aims very clear from the outset - I want to repair the damage done to our foreign relations by the war. There will be no continuation of this war, and efforts will be made to return to a country viewed as less of a threat by it's neighbors.
War may be a common part of erepublik, but there are many of them, and I feel we can support our allies and deploy troops to these wars, without making new ones on our borders. I would like to see an effort made to make it easier for newer players to get involved in overseas fighting, and would discuss this with the Minister of Defence.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs will need to be very active, and skilled management of his Ambassadors will be key. Our image - especially in Asia - is not good. Smaller nations now fear an unprovoked attack, and larger nations no longer look upon us as the peaceful neutral nation we once were. We have also upset eSouth Korea, who now have very different friends. A lot of effort will go into foreign affairs this month by myself and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
I would like to see stability at home. We need time to recover from the war, time to refill the treasury, and time to work out what is important for us as a nation. Is the Righteous Nation Philosophy that we stuck to for so long now of absolutely no interest to the people of eJapan? If so, then let us create a new set of principles - something that we can find it much easier to live by.
I hope to restart the Ministry of Education. This ministry is a great tool for new players, and ideally it should be publishing articles once or twice a week helping new players by explaining in easy terms how to do things that are important in this game. To be at this stage and still have many new players leave so soon is ridiculous.
Cabinet Accountability. I touched on this a couple of months ago when I ran, but it seems to me to be more important than ever now.
The war it seems - to me at least - to have shown some cabinet members who were thinking solely about themselves, and planning or advising based upon what benefits themselves most. Such behaviour is completely unacceptable, and actions like these must be explained. If elected, I would change the cabinet - removing the members I suspect of such behaviour - and start an investigation (by the Minister of the Interior) into these activities.
I can promise a few thing I will and will not do -
I won't open any new war.
I will listen to the views of the people of eJapan. This is not about forcing my ideals upon a nation.
I will work hard with my Minister of Finance to increase the national treasury and carefully control spending.
I will try my very best to improve foreign affairs.
Cabinet
I am aware that some people base their vote upon the cabinet every bit as much as the President. With this in mind, I will not present a cabinet until after the elections. It seems recently that to agree to join a proposed cabinet is to betray another candidate, or that individuals may promise to join a single cabinet only.
Instead, let me make some assurances.
I would never put any personal bias into the decision, and a balanced cabinet is assured. The candidates would be appointed solely on merit and those I have in mind would be more than capable of filling the roles. I have not approached anyone yet, and will not unless elected. At the same time, this is also a chance for the eJapanese people to step up and volunteer - if you are interested in being a part of government, then send me a message and you will be considered. Even if you have no experience, junior positins are an excellent start for those keen to get involved.
In Closing
I have presented my reasons for running and my intentions if elected.
I would like to round up this article by addressing a few points leveled at me by some opponents.
There are a few familiar themes, so I will address the main points-
Inactivity: "Angrr goes active and inactive on a regular basis"
Technically true, but not really.
It is true that more than a year ago, I left this game. I returned 6 months or so later, and re-integrated into society. Since then, I remained active until the last time I ran for President. As I was not elected, had no congressional ties and was largely just a citizen, I made the decision to take a few weeks off to deal with a heavy workload that builds up every year in April. I wrote an article and informed everyone that I would be inactive, and no-one was affected by my absense. Had I been President, or MoFA, or even a congress member, I would not have gone inactive. There was a time where I found myself with no commitments and I used this time to deal with some things in real life.
Time spent in game:"Angrr has been inactive now he wants to be President"
Geno Garon's article sums up this in a more eloquent fashion, but I agree that this is a valid concern. I would find it hard to support someone who returns and expects to be voted into power. My reasons - Like I said, I am a long-time player and I have a great affection for eJapan. I have invested a lot into this country, and to see what I percieved as a danger to the nation going unadressed prompted action. More has been made of this than is warranted though, as I was only inactive for a month, and have been back for a month since then. Trust me that I am fully up-to-date on recent events.
Not active on IRC:
I agree that IRC is important for government, but refute the claim that I am inactive. I merely refuse to idle all day in a channel when I have no real reason to be there. I am not in government, and I am not in congress. 90% of IRC chat is meaningless and foolish. It is not key to everyday life. When I served on the cabinet, I was active every day, and this would be the case if elected. In the last month, I have been on IRC almost daily, but only to have a discussion in private with a few friends / PPs and then I log off again.
Resistance war: "Angrr started a resistance war in a South Korean region once"
True. I do not deny this, and I do not regret it either.
Those who were there at the time would be spilt in half - those who understood the reasons and supported (or at least respected) the action, and those who were outraged by it. This was an action taken in the past - in a time where most of the citizens reading this were not yet introduced to the game, and where the political landscape in eJapan was very different. This was not a "temper tantrum" or anything of the sort, and anyone curious can PM me and I will happily give you the reasons for it. I see no point in discussing it here though.
So, all-in-all, I am far from the perfect candidate, but who is?
I am dedicated to the nation. I have no hidden agenda and genuinely believe that I can help restore some of what we have recently lost.
Regardless of the outcome, a vote for Angrr is not a wasted vote.
Angrr
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Comments
Well-written, Good luck! Hopefully whoever is elected will start to run the ministry of defense with more transparency, particularly in publication of the details on how the MoD spends it. eJapan's MoFA has a tough job ahead, but I know that you would do a fine job reassuring our neighbors.
Wish you the best of luck Angrr. I look forward to hearing from you again.
Thanks,
Kenji Nakamure
I would say that you're more of a middling player, who happens to be old because you go inactive for extended bouts of time...
As far as active on IRC, if you don't have a pattern of being available, why would anyone believe that it will suddenly change once you are in power? Further, it seems that unless you are in power, you aren't willing to assist in any change.
Aogo, I have to disagree.
I have offered assistance many times in many areas, but it getnerally gets flung back in my face or ignored. There is a growing trend of that in eJapan.
When I was MoFA, I was always available. Is that not a pattern? When I have a reason, I am available.
I appreciate you bringing up points rather than reorting to flames though.
I think in general everyone's just hoping this election goes smooth and is over soon enough. We've had a rough month and a lot of decent people who could have run but probably didn't because there's a lot to handle.
IRC might be some nonsense, but other times it has some solid discussion. Some people are notorious for talking about companies and giving advice.
The biggest thing there is that even if it gets random, its still social interaction. That's pretty much what holds a community together outside a few posts on a board or private messages in game. People crave that interaction and want more of it. If people don't go beyond the clicking in this game, they're always going to feel like an outsider.
Valid points, but if I must work or I go out for the day, to leave it running and pore over the logs later is kinda anti-social. 🙂
I chat when I am on, but if I have something to do, I generally shut it down and go do it.
I just see it as a repeating pattern. You run for Congress (or CP), stay around for 2/3rd of the term, then disappear. I have no idea where you go, and during the times you've been in Congress I've never actually witnessed you on IRC.
Don't underestimate logging all day and skimming them later. When I was in the government, I did just that, using my logs' search function to find important things I missed so I could discuss them later.
I think that you would make a good president if elected. Though I stand by my earlier comments, it's good to see competition at least. Fortune favors the bold.
I love you Akki. So much.
Oh, and Angrr, let us not forget that in resistance war that you started in the past, and wrote article on, you posted link on the article which automatically made anyone who clicked on the link to fight for red (resistance) in that war. Such deciet only backs my view that you are unfit for any leadership position. While because rule was not clear at the time you did it, you got away; but if you did the same offense now, then you would be permanently banned for cheating.
Cheaters make bad leaders. That is another reason voting for Angrr is a wasted vote.
As for my proof, read this article: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/goodbye-cruel-eworld--777454/1/20">http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/good[..]1/20
I am sure you would notice a fine comment from our dear emperor on the 5th comment.
An actually interesting discussion in the comments section. We don't see that much in eJapan these days, since some feel such exchange constitutes "lying" or "trolling."
Akki: "closest political supporters at the time and my personal friend Glados knew of my true desire to step down from presidency in the middle of my third term. In fact, search for a trustworthy successor began near the end of my second term. Why didn’t I make this known to public? Because it would have unfavourable political consequences."
I have always preferred a battle of ideas determine the winner of elections, rather than it be some kind of coronation or "hand-me-down" by political elites like Glados (in Penix days) or eUSA forum readers (in Brolliance days). I realize this level of activity is probably outside the scope of most people who play this game (as it is in real life democracies, unfortunately).
Hate to tell our "Bros," but with an active population of less than 500, eJapan isn't really going to have an effect on international events, which basically leaves eJapan with domestic politics and "the community" to interest players. I would like to see more focus on that, outside of the CP election cycle.
The comments section proves only that the resistance war was not clear-cut or black and white. There were those who supported it, those who found it difficult to support but understood it, and those who were against it.
Unfortunately, it was used for political gain then much as it is now.
I came to similar conclusions about the political situation in eRepublik. eJapan's low population means that the number of experienced players is also quite low, probably near the approximately 50 minimum highly active players (ministers, ambassadors, military officers, members of congress, etc.) to keep the country going. Still, I don't see any groups of inexperienced n00bs (the kind "Beta Giants" used to complain about) about to take over eJapan, so maybe an interesting political scene with real choice in the election would keep more people interested, since our participation in international affairs is limited?
Real life Japan's opposition came to power with a weak coalition that collapsed when Hatoyama failed to move that US base from Okinawa. The real life USA isn't leaving Japan anytime soon, no matter what some 平和ボケ want. That, or maybe it was that horrible shirt he was wearing last month. 😁
Stop fear mongering.
Why do you keep saying that other Asian nations don't like us or are scared of us? It is simply not true.
We all know that Arjay and Alfragem ARE South Korea, but they are not Asia and certainty not the world so stop listening to them.
Why don't you try contributing to the Government first before running for CP? Oh wait, you are inactive!
I too have had a Party to run from on around three occasions and I NEVER ran. Having a party doesn't mean that you automatically should run for CP, or that you would do a good job.
@Angrr
>Kokawayoshi Makoto
"😉on't click on the link, it makes you fight for the attackers."
From: http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/good[..]54/1">http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/good[..]54/1
And that was true, until you later edited it. I am sure others who saw your original article will confirm this as well.
>Erepublik Law 1.2
"Every citizen has the right to choose if he/she will participate in a fight or not."
Cheating much? Or does it not matter that you will use deceit to gain power as long as you gain them? How do you assure people it won't happen in future? or that you won't rage quit when congress doesn't agree with you? or perhaps the general public?
@Kita
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8684107.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/[..].stm
It indeed is terrible.
@Akki: Not a great idea, but the tactic was used the other way around in IRC first, so I followed suit. Not justifying or excusing it, just saying that the opposition had no high moral ground either.
Perhaps I was just upset that what I did was explained to some people in IRC, and those people told me "yes, I understand your reasoning and although I wouldn't have done it, I can see why you did and respect it" and then published articles saying "Angrr is a traitor and di X, Y, and Z"
As for you thinking that I was not a good candidate sine your second term - why did you then appoint me as your VP in the third term? If I was so horribly useless and dangerous, then surely you wouldn't do that.
Also, what should give you the right to determine who leads the nation? Why should it be on your terms or none at all? That was precisely the thinking that caused congress and most of the active part of eJapan to turn against you. That line of thought is precisely why your reign is still to this day looked upon unfavorably.
@Goku Jones : I am saying that the trust and friendships we once enjoyed have been altered. Whatever way you paint it, it cannot be denied. I don't think China fear us, but they don't view us the way the once did, and the change is not for the better.
As for not running for CP, good for you! I was PP of other parties too and have been PP for 4 1/2 months of the Ronin. That I have run twice is not connected to the fact that "I can so I must!". If I am so useless, and have no chance in the election, why is it important that you flame me and try to create a terrible (and largely fabricated) public image of me?
I get that you dislike me, and that is unfortunate. If the tables were turned though, I would not troll you for that reason alone.
"I have offered assistance many times in many areas, but it getnerally gets flung back in my face or ignored."
If you are unable to deal with the realities of dissenting opinion, or assert your opinion in a manner that is not ignored. I have doubts that you are capable of doing anything beyond screeching from the sidelines.
Your pattern of running away with your tail tucked also points at a lack of character. Even when one does not get what they want, does not mean they get to abandon their nation.
Thodol! You made it!
I was worried you forgot!
Why am I not surprised that Akki supports the LDP? Answer: Because the fixation on preventing change, positive or negative, with paranoid fears of how it would bring ruin is the same as he has shown in eJapan's politics.
Akki, if it is your honest belief that Angrr would have harmed the country, then I can respect your insistence on opposing him. I cannot respect the ignorance that allowed you to form such a negative opinion of Angrr, who was supported by nearly 50% of the voters including myself. You are correct that President Kokawayoshi was an excellent President. I also believe that had Angrr been your successor one month earlier, he would have been an excellent President.
These ideas of how someone will "run the nation into the ground" are baseless without an explanation of why you believe he would. All that I get from here is that you believe he would cause change. Change can be bad and it can be good. But in a time of stagnation, change is needed more than anything.
Angrr has promised not to open new wars, which would draw back from the negative changes of this past month. He also has the dynamic spirit to accomplish many positive reforms. Yet both of these would be categorized by Congressman Akki as follows: "You are only here to destroy, obliterate and annihilate the nation which had endured the test of time to develop into the state we have today." I can respect the courage to speak such sincere beliefs, even when so tragically wrong. I do hope, however, that readers will fully take the measure of these beliefs and call them what they are: Fears.