30 May 2024:
Immigration-Regular, standardized catchment area review: During my term as Immigration Minister I was proud to help enact the first catchment area reform in nearly a decade. I also initiated a successful catchment recompensation for Vuode (Florencia <3's Vuode Act). I'd proposed a regular review and updating of catchment areas but this was rejected without reason. Recent discussions have reasserted the wisdom of this idea. We will resubmit this legislation to the Hopper at the first clark.

30 May 2024:
Making Talossa more than a political playground: An election season every 8 months leads to constant political fevers. We would like to pursue electoral reforms which extend Cosa terms to one year while expanding the Civil Service to address any increased burden from this subsequent increased government terms. We also support a unicameral legislature.

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on Yesterday at 05:56:02 PM

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on Yesterday at 05:22:01 PM

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on Yesterday at 05:15:52 PMMore seriously, the Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs is not up for re-election this time, but the guy who was Seneschal in that government will be. I myself have been in the position of "I can't fire this Minister, even though he's incompetent/uncommunicative, because there's no replacement". But I paid, as you say, a political price for it.

Yes, you did, and good on Talossan voters for making you pay it, Miestra.

As the outgoing Distáin, I suppose I should ask you what you think of the performance of the Minister of Defence/Foreign Affairs?

I think the lack of progress on LOSS was regrettable but Open Society's membership certainly can't be described as low activity so voters can judge. The decision on who to bring into cabinet and keep in cabinet, though, is Therxh's so you might want to ask the leader of The Red and Green Party.

I do commend your terpelaziuns directed toward Mximo as Def/Foreign Min and Therxh as MinImm and Seneschal. There is is a workable balance between being considerate of extra-Talossan realities and ensuring the necessary level of accountability for the incumbent government and I am glad you eventually found it.

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Open Society policy placeholder

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29 May 2024:
An active head of state: We are pragmatic as to whether Talossa remains a kingdom or becomes a republic. But we do demand an active and unifying head of state. And are proud of our contribution to the recent multipartisan breakthrough on this issue. On this note, we will support the elevation of @Sir Txec dal Nordselvă, UrB as King John's successor.

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on Yesterday at 05:15:52 PMMore seriously, the Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs is not up for re-election this time, but the guy who was Seneschal in that government will be. I myself have been in the position of "I can't fire this Minister, even though he's incompetent/uncommunicative, because there's no replacement". But I paid, as you say, a political price for it.

Yes, you did, and good on Talossan voters for making you pay it, Miestra.

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on May 28, 2024, 07:49:23 PMOne of the failures of the Free Democrats this term have been that we were so focused on getting a solution to the constitutional issue that we slacked off on Duty One of any opposition, holding the Government to account. And the outgoing TNC government, despite their Seneschal being a polite chap, did, as we say around these parts, the square root of not very much. The complete flop of the Database Commission, and the fact that our web presence is now on the incumbent MinTech's personal server, is perhaps the most shocking. The implosion of the TNC might make it more difficult to run on that in the election, but to the extent that individual candidates/parties were responsible in the outgoing Government, we can still question whether they'd do anything different next time.

Miestra, appreciate the honest self-assessment here as I know I criticized the FreeDems during the start of the term for not holding the Government to account. I recall asking "citizen inquiries" about the Data Commission, the OrgLaw Standing Committee, etc. in an effort to fill in the gaps. And I am relieved that we were able to finally solve the constitutional issue after years of jar-jarring.

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on May 28, 2024, 05:41:32 PMIt is kind of fun, but it also means you become a "main character" in politics, with people from all sides lobbying you for your vote, to join their coalition, etc, and you make enemies as fast as you make friends. This is why we brought in the provision for "1 seat for new citizens", to bring in a low-stakes way to start in politics. For some reason people have just not been interested in that. Wild, as 1 seat in the last Cosa would have changed everything.

I know that I mentioned this as an option when I talked with new citizens. I don't know if it continued after I was MinImm. That may be why its use declined. But I am still glad to have co-sponsored the legislation and hope it will be used more in the future.

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on May 28, 2024, 03:40:03 PMMake that four Té-En-Tzells now. I'm reminded of Karl Marx's saying that organizing the peasantry is like putting potatoes in a sack with holes in it. It seems that the TNC was something like that. Interested to hear what their two sitting Senators plan to do!

Also, it's been pointed out to me that the IND Party's call for "a more pluralistic approach to Talossan politics" is interesting given that the IND Party's leader was one of the loudest voices for a "TNC-only cabinet" excluding Sir Lüc da Schir, at the time of the last government negotiations.

I really like the term Té-En-Tzells.

* Full Party name: Open Society
 
* Party Initials: OPEN

* 50 word statement: Pragmatic, less ideological problem-solving in open, democratic institutions with cooperative, respectful dialogue. Despite controversy, I've sought to address problems while protecting those institutions, and demonstrated through the recent historic breakthrough on the King that this approach can work. I promise my best work and pray it will be good enough.

* Party Leader: Breneir Tzaracomprada

* Candidate list (additional names not expected but welcome): 1. Breneir Tzaracomprada

Quote from: Iason Taiwos on May 15, 2024, 03:37:43 PM

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on May 13, 2024, 09:10:53 AM

Quote from: Iason Taiwos on May 12, 2024, 07:57:28 PMIs there a way to make Fora Talossa's videos more up to date? This weather report was from awhile back. We had tornadoes in my area the other night, and I probably could have recorded a live, but crude video of the proceedings. (Not in Talossa proper, but don't the catchment areas deserve some love?)

Were you being serious here, Iason? I assumed you were joking because Fora Talossa is not a live news channel.

Perhaps someday...

This is a superb response.

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For those who think they may not like science fiction this blends mystery with sci-fi for something that is gently different. Just finished the first season in one big juant.

Quote from: Iason Taiwos on May 12, 2024, 07:57:28 PMIs there a way to make Fora Talossa's videos more up to date? This weather report was from awhile back. We had tornadoes in my area the other night, and I probably could have recorded a live, but crude video of the proceedings. (Not in Talossa proper, but don't the catchment areas deserve some love?)

Were you being serious here, Iason? I assumed you were joking because Fora Talossa is not a live news channel.

Fora Talossa is delighted to present this weather bulletin from renowned Talossan weatherman, Barclamiu da Miéletz

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It is my pleasure to announce the honoree for the 3rd El Pretz Per Tomas Poetry Prize. But first please allow me to thank @owenedwards the originator of this prize.

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@Ián Tamorán S.H. is the winner of the 3rd El Pretz Per Tomas Prize for his poem, Avançamantisch! I want to also extend my thanks for the honor and pleasure of reading your work at length, Ian, especially a first look at the magnificant forthcoming volume, Poesie. The winning poem is a part of the forthcoming volume and I am told it will be available in the near future if you, like me, wish to enjoy more and support his great work.

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OFFICIAL CITATION: Ián Tamorán S.H. (Avançamantisch)

QuoteDr. Tamoran's voice of wisdom and experience here is indeed at "Revelation's core," to borrow his wonderful description. Avançamantisch is a structurally tight piece with measured rhyme while also containing a play on the title. The melding of superb imagery, wordplay and tight form is evidence of superior artistic skill. Talossan art-lovers do not just want more works like this, it is a need.

Avançamantisch

"And did those feet in ancient times" walk on
Valorious, wander hill and mountain, take
Amazing leaps by boulders, gazing on
New vistas, in the freezing blizzard shake?
Cold clamb'ring down to shelter, safe and warm,
And further down, to sit by glowing fire,
Mild neighbours, family in their friendly form
Around you? Did you then no more aspire
In courage to ascend the hills once more?
Nor seek the danger of the open view?
True trembling lies at Revelation's core,
Standing in danger stark to see the new.
Courage or captive – you can make the choice
How from this moment we will hear your voice.

Ian reads the poem in our official announcement video here:

It is my pleasure to announce the honoree for the 3rd El Pretz Per Tomas Poetry Prize. But first please allow me to thank @owenedwards the originator of this prize.

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@Ián Tamorán S.H. is the winner of the 3rd El Pretz Per Tomas Prize for his poem, Avançamantisch! I want to also extend my thanks for the honor and pleasure of reading your work at length, Ian, especially a first look at the magnificant forthcoming volume, Poesie. The winning poem is a part of the forthcoming volume and I am told it will be available in the near future if you, like me, wish to enjoy more and support his great work.

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OFFICIAL CITATION: Ián Tamorán S.H. (Avançamantisch)

QuoteDr. Tamoran's voice of wisdom and experience here is indeed at "Revelation's core," to borrow his wonderful description. Avançamantisch is a structurally tight piece with measured rhyme while also containing a play on the title. The melding of superb imagery, wordplay and tight form is evidence of superior artistic skill. Talossan art-lovers do not just want more works like this, it is a need.

Avançamantisch

"And did those feet in ancient times" walk on
Valorious, wander hill and mountain, take
Amazing leaps by boulders, gazing on
New vistas, in the freezing blizzard shake?
Cold clamb'ring down to shelter, safe and warm,
And further down, to sit by glowing fire,
Mild neighbours, family in their friendly form
Around you? Did you then no more aspire
In courage to ascend the hills once more?
Nor seek the danger of the open view?
True trembling lies at Revelation's core,
Standing in danger stark to see the new.
Courage or captive – you can make the choice
How from this moment we will hear your voice.

Ian reads the poem in our official announcement video here: