Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, SMC EiP on Today at 01:20:09 AMHey you two -- maybe let's let Braneu have his platform thread and carry this one on elsewhere? Valid discussion to be had, but right place and all that.

You're right, thanks Mic'haglh. I have deleted my latest post.

31 May 2024:
An apolitical Chancery: Some call it a crusade, some call it a hobby horse. I call it defending the norms that underpin Talossan democracy. And that is something for which I will never tire. In the absence of any internal policy to address the precedent set by the current Secretary of State I will resubmit previous legislation concerning an apolitical Chancery. If it comes, as a part of broader Civil Service rules, all the better but this issue ain't going anywhere just like me.

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on Yesterday at 11:18:46 PM

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on Yesterday at 08:43:33 PMYou offered Sir Luc the Finance Ministry in early December 2023 and he declined. This is in your post from 1 December 2023 titled "Budget Bill."

This is not what happened. True, Sir Lüc was not very enthusiastic about joining Cabinet as Finance Minister, but he was prepared to "take one for the team", as (a) the Government had been left high and dry by a leading figure quitting and attempting to sabotage a TNC-FreeDem agreement; (b) Lüc was in the best position as a FreeDem-aligned independent to bridge the gap. But it was Bråneu's decision to drop the proposal himself as he felt real enthusiasm would be required; this was a decision made without consulting Lüc.

Edited: Ah so it was Braneu that decided against a cross-partisan cabinet. I stand corrected with that context. You've tried to state that it was opposition from the TNC that prevented a cross-partisan cabinet. This is not the entire truth. As it is also untrue that I attempted to sabotage Braneu. A weird kind of saboteur that offers to help when informed of his difficulties but is twice rebuffed.

Wait, wasn't Bentxami also considered for a cabinet post? I know he took a post with the Home Bureau but was he also unethusiastic about serving in a cabinet position? @þerxh Sant-Enogat

Quote from: Bråneu Excelsio on Yesterday at 08:11:34 PM

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on Yesterday at 04:23:59 PM

Quote2. Micronationalism
Talossa has a rich history that deserves the utmost respect. We must have a representative at every MicroCon to affirm our prominent status. We must establish a taskforce dedicated to building relations with the most prosperous and influential micronations.

Any comment on the performance of the Foreign Minister in the outgoing Government? ;)

He didn't ask to become the Minister of Foreign Affairs nor the Defence Minister, that's why I think it's important to boost the immigration. As Senator Plätschisch once said "There's almost no difference between active citizens and the government", and to reserve all ministries to one party alone is detrimental to the Kingdom.

Braneu, I just reviewed the TNC Party Board. Mximo did sign up to be Defence Minister after you asked for volunteers. This was on 2 November 2023 in your post titled "Help Wanted Inquire Within." A lot has happened since then so I can see how it was forgotten.

And I wanted to add, it was not all down to TNC opposition concerning a cross-party cabinet under your leadership. You offered Sir Luc the Finance Ministry in early December 2023 and he declined. This is in your post from 1 December 2023 titled "Budget Bill."

Quote from: Barclamïu da Miéletz on Yesterday at 05:10:54 PM

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on Yesterday at 05:09:23 PM

Quote from: Barclamïu da Miéletz on Yesterday at 05:02:58 PM@Breneir Tzaracomprada I feel like making an honest government ad about Talossa (strong inspiration from thejuicemedia on YouTube).

It will be genuine satire though.

Sounds like a fantastic idea to me, Barclamiu. Satire is a storied way to explore one's Talossanity.

Be warned though: I WILL swear since as I said, heavy inspiration from TheJuiceMedia. You can check them out on YouTube if you want.

I come from the rural part of a state in the American South. Swearing is a vital part of our vocabulary.

Quote from: Barclamïu da Miéletz on Yesterday at 05:02:58 PM@Breneir Tzaracomprada I feel like making an honest government ad about Talossa (strong inspiration from thejuicemedia on YouTube).

It will be genuine satire though.

Sounds like a fantastic idea to me, Barclamiu. Satire is a storied way to explore one's Talossanity.

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on Yesterday at 04:34:47 PM

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on Yesterday at 10:20:17 AMI'd proposed a regular review and updating of catchment areas but this was rejected without reason.

Well, no, not no reason. Free Democrats gave plenty of reasons, whether you liked them or not.

There does seem to be cross-party consensus for some kind of major review, despite your specific proposals from last time not getting the vote.

Ian alone expressed opposition specifically to regular reviews of catchment areas by the MinImm.  And the idea was resurfaced later with no opposition expressed so, as I mentioned, I will resubmit this at the first clark.

On review, Ian did actually elaborate on his opposition here:

Breneir

QuoteYou are suggesting that a future MinImm will ignore a statutory requirement. And that no Opposition will be active enough to call them on it.

Ian

QuoteYes, that's exactly what I'm suggesting. It's a silly report and no one should spend time putting it together or complaining that it hasn't been (unless there is a real need for it).

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.

*Corrected, as there was a reason provided by Ian...it would apparently be too time-consuming to review catchment areas every five years. :)

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 May 29, 2024, 05:56:02 PM

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on May 29, 2024, 05:22:01 PM

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on May 29, 2024, 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 May 29, 2024, 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.