You realise that Lüc had to wait THREE MONTHS for his membership :D

It was my job to wake up Iac and XPB to vote last time - can someone else do it?

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This is going to be epic. The Seneschal defending the Free Democrat platform to the face of the actual King himself.

Certainly it's to your credit that you reversed course. But: have the TNC considered what led them to make the mistake of adopting that plank in the first place?

QuoteWe should accept crypto donations,

"These are the TNC's top priorities for the coming term. And if you don't like them, we have others!"

I joke not because I have any love for the "crypto" Ponzi scheme. But a party's 50 words are their fundamental policy for the election. And to adopt a fundamental plank on the basis of "a guy says he'll vote for us if we have this plank", and then instantly toss it because *two* guys say "we won't vote for you if you have this plank"... suggests a certain lightmindedness.

I note that the TNC are not even daring to argue that the King's level of activity is, currently, enough. We can't allow them to deflect attention that this has been a problem for most of a decade.

If anything, I kind of regret that - out of personal affection for John - I didn't insist on putting the problem this plainly in the past. Instead, I hoped programmes for reform would encourage him to "shape up or ship out", if they made a creditable threat of dismissal if he did not do so. But the TNC have put paid to any schemes in that regard, for the moment.

Quote from: Ian Plätschisch on January 06, 2023, 08:33:36 PMThe Cabinet's shortcomings during the 48th Cosa are really irrelevant to the discussion.

If AD wants to know more about the 48th Cosa Govt, he could very well ask Senator Tzaracompradă, his party colleague, who was a minister in it...

QuoteIt's almost as if you don't think the office of King is that important.

I mean, what's a good King? Someone who's active in the cultural life of his nation, always available to "advise, consult and warn" the elective Government, someone who greets new citizens? If I were a monarchist, that's the kind of King I'd want (and the kind of elected Head of State I'd want anyway).

On the other hand: a virtually inactive King, only budging when prodded or to defend his own powers, who was nevertheless sympathetic to my party and hostile to my opponents, and might well be expect to name me his successor when he finally got too bored to continue... I can see why I would support that, were I a monarchist, and also very self-interested.

If a Seneschal doesn't do his job right - people are going to be putting down those who were associated with him, a year later. If a King doesn't do his job right for seven long years, to even raise the issue is "grinding the country down until the ragged bones suit your preferences"

The Free Democrats do not agree that this is a taboo subject on which debate cannot be entertained.

This was at the time of the 48th Cosa Cabinet. We were exasperated by the King suddenly galvanising into action to cause the Proclamation Crisis, but do nothing else that was requested of him. Nothing has changed - although I believe some of the people who were in that Cabinet have now done a complete "turncoat" and seem happy for another 7 years of the King doing nothing.

The funny thing is that - should our opponent parties win this election - I would actually expect an uptick in Royal activity, in that he'll feel much happier once "his guys" are in power. But that in itself is pretty terrible. Non-partisan Head of State, fuhgeddaboutit.

I don't believe co-signing is necessary

WHEREAS we just had a delay of 3 months to adopt a new member;

AND WHEREAS the way that SIGN's rules are currently written, ár Società may well grind to a total halt if enough members become inactive;

I propose Rule 3 of SIGN be amended by the addition of the text in bold:

QuoteRule 3 Anyone who is interested can ask to join SIGN. If a majority of members support this, or if at least one positive vote and no contrary votes are received from any member within 2 months, the applicant becomes a full member. If the applicant was a member of the Comità per l'Útzil del Glheþ as of Llimbaziuă 2019/XL, the voting is skipped and they become a full member immediately.

This would be an excellent time for a challenge. After months of ambiguity, the TNC have nailed their colours to the mast, not only as a Monarchist party, but as a party which wants the current barely-active King retained indefinitely. The Free Democrats hoped that we could make this election an up-or-down vote on this question, and we seem to have got our wish.

A debate would put the arguments before the people to judge. But more importantly, it would demonstrate good faith from the TNC - a chance to prove that, should they get a chance to lead the Government, they will do so with courtesy and inclusiveness, and not simply ignore their opposition (as they've done their best to ignore Free Democrat statements so far). A prospective party of Government who treats their opponents with contempt - considering them wicked, corrupt, not worthy of even talking to - smacks as something from the bad old days of KR1, which might make Talossa intolerable for republican and reformist opinion.

How times change.

That second one! It sounds funnier.

Seriously, I can't believe we're in a position where I'm the one arguing against you against abolishing a quirky Talossan tradition. It's usually the other way around.