On this final day before Balloting Day, I thought it might be a good idea to highlight some of our priorities for the upcoming term.  We're going to try to push for these things to get done, even if we don't win a majority -- just like we saw this past term, where we highlighted the unwieldy immigration form and demanded common-sense changes.  We've been a very effective Opposition, but the more seats we have, the more effective we can be.

One of our policies is to reject negative and angry politics.  You've seen the Seneschal's speech about how they are the "Good" and we are the "Bad," and you've seen the URL emails with lengthy personal attacks.  And while that might work for them, we're not going to take the bait.  The URL is a party of decent people who want to help Talossa, and we just have different visions about how to achieve that.  No matter how you vote this term: if you're a Talossan patriot, you're one of the Good ones.  That's our pledge to you.

We urge transparency in government.  The government should not have the power to secretly control who's even allowed to apply to immigrate... we need the bipartisan Public Process Act!  And let's make sure this power was never abused by anyone of any party or government.  If it was, the people deserve to know.  And on a different note, laws like this should be accessible to everyone -- let's get some regular citizens to read over our laws and figure out what's hard to understand!

We also want to make it easier for everyone to "do Talossa."  That means fixing up our website so that the links all work and the merchandise is available.  It means being vocal and supporting everyone's efforts -- the Seneschal should be an active booster of fun stuff, promoting it!  It means making space to be silly, and never yucking someone's yum.  And let's make sure we have plenty of people to have fun with us: let's turn our lucky breaks into sustained growth, and end these periods of zero immigration for months at a time.

I'll have a video out soon on our Tiktok, because we also want to put a human face on Talossa.  Let's get away from just message boards, since that's more interesting and makes it possible for us to reach a broader audience.  The people agree -- that's why the current leader in our poll asks for "regular Zoom meetings with His Majesty and the Seneschal."  We can make that happen!

It's time to move Talossa forward -- let's vote for the Progressive Alliance!

Mic'halgh, you could just rephrase your questions so they're not -- as Miestra calls them -- too provocative.  There's lot of ways you could ask these things without trying to make the moderators campaign for you.

I mean, take this other question they've asked to be rephrased:

Quote from: Mic'halghYour platform calls for the Government "taking a public stance", "being an active advocate", and being "an active voice right from the top" when it comes to the direction of Talossan culture -- a direction you feel should be more like the Talossan culture and internet culture of years past. Given this strong advocacy for cultural dirigisme, how would a Davinescu Government respond if citizens reject their attempts at "compulsory fun"?

You're not going to get them to ask why we're insisting on "compulsory fun" because that's basically just a URL campaign statement, and there's nothing specific to back it up.  But that could fairly easily be rephrased into something that's more reasonable and neutral.

I'm a little unhappy to hear that the moderators have been discussing their decisions with URL leadership, but I'm going to assume it's innocent complaining about the process with their old friends.  So no worries.

Anyway, I guess there's a day left for you guys to rephrase the questions that the moderators have asked be changed.  All three of them would be fine if the provocative campaign statements are removed.

The Progressive Alliance is proud to urge all Florencians to vote for Mximo Carbonèl.  He's often out in front with new ideas -- but he's also a passionate Talossan with a long history.  He's going to work with us on moving Talossa forward, without discarding her past.  A vote for Mximo is a vote for important work like The Public Process Act and new infrastructure plans -- and for the proud independent voice of Mximo !

Let's move Talossa forward!

@Sir Lüc , I know we're down to the final few hours, but I am beyond delighted to request you please add the eminent @Baroness Litz Cjantscheir, UrN-GC to the party list of the Progressive Alliance.

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC on Yesterday at 01:11:03 PMAs you know, we offered to rephrase the word "fishing expedition" as too provocative

Actually, Mic'halgh has declined to rephrase.  But you're right: the problem is that the phrasing is way too provocative.  And I'm glad you agree.  That's my concern, too.

The basic approach is fine, since believe me when I say that I'm more than happy to talk about The Public Process Act and the need for transparency.  The problem is exactly what you say: the phrasing is absurdly provocative.

There is nearly unanimous agreement on that fact, it seems!  So please: let's rephrase this question.

That'd be fine with me!

My friend, the whole point of a shared Google Doc, used by all four of us, was so that we could all comment on the questions together.  Otherwise we would have just sent them to the moderators.

But if you had wanted a rule for the debate where we had to remain silent about each other's questions, then you definitely could have asked for that.  It would be unusual, but okay.

You just suddenly seemed to have a problem with the process when your questions came under fire.  And I mean... come on, you're demanding that the moderators ask outrageous things:

Quote from: Mic'halghCan the PA confirm that, if they lead the next Government, they will lead a fishing expedition through all the available immigration records of the last two years, seeking for improperly processed or not-processed immigration applications? Given the immigration boom we've seen this term, why is he calling for a level of scrutiny that has NEVER been applied to the performance of any past Cabinet Minister?

It's not a surprise that they're asking you to rephrase.

No, I wouldn't like to switch to a debate form where you can submit the questions rejected by the moderators.  I'd like you to please come up with three more questions that aren't just campaign statements, and that a neutral moderator could ask with a straight face.  Sir Ian has already suggested some rephrasing you could use.

Sir Ian and His Majesty are both completely reasonable and not liable to be swayed just because I object to a question.  And prior to their current positions, they were both also close political allies of the Most Honourable Miestra Schiva.  So if they agree that there are problems with some of your questions, it's possible that they're right.

Let's finish up some questions that you can get the moderators to agree to, and let's debate as agreed.

Regular Zoom meetings with the Seneschal and His Majesty together is now leading, while "everyone gets a necklace of mysterious teeth" has fallen far behind.

Okay, I think I have got my goaltenders the way they should be!  We'll see if I have better luck.

In a surprising outcome, the early leaders are regular Zoom meetings and an eldritch horror.

Hearing from the people means giving them an opportunity to be heard... What would you like to see as part of a Progressive government in the next term, if we are fortunate enough to succeed?

Either one is fine with me.

No, sorry -- we arranged it a while ago and now we're just working out the details.  I'd be happy to also debate with you, if you'd like?

If both moderators agree there's a problem, then there's probably a problem.  Sir Ian and His Majesty are pretty fair-minded.  They've certainly also given me feedback :)

All five Progressive questions are set, and so are two of the URL's questions, folks!  We're nearly there!

Side note: Can we agree to aim for fifty minutes total?  I'd like to help my wife with something right after the debate.  She's spent a few weeks organizing a big local event about some books, and I want to be supportive.

Quote from: King Txec on November 10, 2025, 02:14:21 PMI'm trying to weigh in but Google Docs are always conflicting with my work Google account. I'm doing my best though (even though getting them in the correct orange highlight is not fun on a phone haha)

-Txec R

I fixed your highlighting for you -- in retrospect, maybe we should have used the comment function.  Sorry about the difficulty.

Really need the moderators to weigh in again on a few of these questions, please.  @King Txec and @Sir Ian Plätschisch

Okay, the new version of the bill is finished.

• As before, the bill eliminates the ability of the government to secretly block people from applying to immigrate, requiring public disclosure if they do so, and
• As before, the bill does not require this disclosure if the application is returned as incomplete or nonsensical, but now this is also explicitly stated in the bill, and
• As before, it would be completely impossible to prosecute anyone for breaking this law in the past, since it's not currently the law, and ex post facto laws are illegal, but now this is also explicitly stated in the bill, and
• There's a new requirement that immigration applications be automatically forwarded on to an email address controlled by the king, inaccessible to the government, and accessible to the Leader of the Opposition (as already defined by law).

Let's get this passed and end the power of the government to secretly control immigration!

Quote from: Sir Ian Plätschisch on November 09, 2025, 01:44:04 PMI will review the questions though.

Okay, thanks!  I shared them with you last week, so check your Drive shared.

It seems to make more sense to make a new thread about the debate; my apologies to the URL for cluttering up their thread.  I'm just glad we're able to make it happen!

Right now, it's scheduled for this Saturday, Balloting Day, at 11 TST.  The questions are partially set -- we're waiting to hear back again from Mic'halgh and the moderators ( @Sir Ian Plätschisch , take a look!)  It's going to be very exciting!

I posted a video on the Progressive Alliance Tiktok so that our legions of loyal followers will know about the debate, by the way!

What do we mean when we talk about infrastructure?  We're talking about making it possible for you to do the things that you want to do!  Check out the latest Tiktok from the Progressive Alliance here.