After most of a term, where are we when it comes to our goals?  We already know that we've failed on our promise to rob His Majesty and give everyone all of His Grace's money, but where have we succeeded?

We promised to prioritize immigration by publicizing the issue and trying lots of new ideas.  This has been a huge priority for our government, and we've tackled it in a bunch of different ways.  We've tried different forms of advertising at different times, and kept an eye on what worked.  More on that later.  But before we could even accomplish this, we had to remake the entire immigration system!

Now and the first time, everything isn't hosted on a web-based form accessible to anyone with login information to the national website, but instead on a secure form accessible only to a few authorized people.  And we've begun tracking how the immigration process proceeds -- when and from where are we getting applications that are successful eventually, what is causing hiccups in the process, and how are things going generally?

We also conducted an experiment: we promoted Talossa with Reddit posts and short-form videos at the start of the term, then took a break in the middle of the term, then resumed.  And how about that: we saw healthy immigration at the start of the term, then zero after we stopped promotion, and then it's back to decent (but not great) levels again.

Now, obviously it's a good thing on its own that we rebuilt the immigration system to save time and energy, and that we are getting actual information back, and that we fixed a security hole with hundreds of people's private information, and that we ran a cool experiment.  But we need to concentrate now on putting this all to work and getting this machine running.  Let's introduce more people to this amazing thing that is Talossa!

We promised to update and support Infotecă, the people's immigration portal.  We accomplished this in a big way!  The entire thing has been overhauled.  Now it's not just a collection of dry statistics... it's now presented in a beautiful manner with an automatically generated summary at the top of the page.  It's still all of the people's information, but now it's even better.  And the best part is that it's still just the same amount of work for future governments: five minutes a month!



We promised to cut administrative red tape and reduce bureaucracy.  While we did okay here, we didn't succeed in making many permanent changes.  Our main success was fixing a bunch of blank spots and hiccups in the law with 67RZ10, as well as creating El List del Seneschal to actually organize everything and make it accessible to everyone (more on that one soon).

We also wanted to change the way the Cabinet works so that it's not bound by such rigid jobs, so that roles can instead be swapped around as needed in a more sensible way.  But this plan got a lot of push-back, and it's going to need more thinking on the best way to accomplish that fluidity.  Maybe there are better aspects to focus on?  Let us know your thinking!

We promised a fresh look at our web presence, making sure our online tools are being used in the best way possible.  And while we did take a look at it, our conclusion was that we think we might need to entirely rethink how we're approaching our web presence.  We'll talk more about this in the campaign, but it's 2026 and in a lot of ways we're still operating like it's 1996, focusing on this forum.  That's holding us back and it doesn't match the way a lot of people (most people?) are using the Internet today.  So before we make big changes, we want the people's vote of confidence.

We promised to make access to government infrastructure easier, promote a repository of useful files and images, and create starter kits for everyone to use.  Unfortunately, the two organizations which formed this term did not have any interest in this assistance.  We're going to continue to encourage everyone and we'll get this done!

We promised never to secretly block potential immigrants, and promised we would pass legislation to eliminate this government power.  The first bill of the term was a revamped Public Process Bill, 62RZ01!  That particular government power is completely gone and dead, and we won't let it return.

In fact, we did some other work to preserve the rights of the people.  Did you know that the Seneschal used to be able to make permanent laws as long as they were counter-signed by His Majesty?  It was an incredibly broad power, but it cut out almost the entire Ziu!  But thanks to 62RZ07, this power has been cut down to size.  Once the referendum passes, the Seneschal will only be able to make temporary laws that will automatically sunset after three months.  Emergencies and oversights happen, but if the Seneschal can't get the Ziu to agree to a law, then it will automatically be canceled.

GROUP 5
4 - The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil
3 - Derek & the Dominos - Layla
2 - Wombo - Dreamsickle
1 - Teho Teardo and Blixa Bargeld - A Quiet Life

GROUP 6
4 - The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want
3 - B-52's - Legal Tender
2 - Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
1 - Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train

Quote from: Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial, UrGP on Today at 06:51:09 PM

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on Today at 06:46:11 PMI think you could make that case for sure if that provision had been removed from the Organic Law, but we made sure to keep it in and it refers to laws in general. This was even discussed during the drafting process specifically, with regards to what effect it would have on the clock - it didn't reset the clock, but neither did it eliminate the clock.

No, this was in reference to something else. I was asking whether specifically renumbering Lexh.H.4.1.1 would reset the clock, and came to an understanding that it didn't. Enshrining the 20-seat Cosă into the OrgLaw was something I insisted on pretty much at the tail end of the drafting process, and personally I had assumed that all amendments enter into effect immediately after the appropriate referendum passes, and that the one-year delay refers exclusively to statutory changes -- if it didnt, the word "such" in "with the provisos that any such change" wouldn't make much sense to me, though this could be a language barrier thing.

EDIT: I don't mean to kick off a debate in this thread, I was moreso wondering about the precise wording of the referendum question, and whether that's all legally sound. As far as I understand it as a non-lawyer it wouldn't be, and I wanted to direct attention to it to clear up potential misunderstandings.

I think it's a great question. I understand where it's coming from! In my opinion, it's hard to read "law" in such a way that it doesn't include the Organic Law, though, and I wouldn't quite understand how to make it that way so that the proviso doesn't apply.

I also think you're right that we probably shouldn't chat about it more on this thread. @Sir Lüc , would you split off the last few posts please into their own thread?

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on Today at 06:46:11 PMI think you could make that case for sure if that provision had been removed from the Organic Law, but we made sure to keep it in and it refers to laws in general. This was even discussed during the drafting process specifically, with regards to what effect it would have on the clock - it didn't reset the clock, but neither did it eliminate the clock.

No, this was in reference to something else. I was asking whether specifically renumbering Lexh.H.4.1.1 would reset the clock, and came to an understanding that it didn't. Enshrining the 20-seat Cosă into the OrgLaw was something I insisted on pretty much at the tail end of the drafting process, and personally I had assumed that all amendments enter into effect immediately after the appropriate referendum passes, and that the one-year delay refers exclusively to statutory changes -- if it didnt, the word "such" in "with the provisos that any such change" wouldn't make much sense to me, though this could be a language barrier thing.

EDIT: I don't mean to kick off a debate in this thread, I was moreso wondering about the precise wording of the referendum question, and whether that's all legally sound. As far as I understand it as a non-lawyer it wouldn't be, and I wanted to direct attention to it to clear up potential misunderstandings.

Quote from: Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial, UrGP on Today at 04:50:32 PMI have a question about the referendum on 62RZ26.

It mentions that the reduction of the Cosă's size to 20 seats would only take effect after February 2027, which is the timeline set forth from the Pseudo-Real Cosă Act. However, since 62RZ26 is an amendment, and the delayed effect of Cosă size changes only applies to changes made via statute (at least that's how Org.IV.2.1 reads to me), is it not rather the case that, were the referendum to pass, the size change would go into effect immediately?

I think you could make that case for sure if that provision had been removed from the Organic Law, but we made sure to keep it in and it refers to laws in general. This was even discussed during the drafting process specifically, with regards to what effect it would have on the clock - it didn't reset the clock, but neither did it eliminate the clock.

I have a question about the referendum on 62RZ26.

It mentions that the reduction of the Cosă's size to 20 seats would only take effect after February 2027, which is the timeline set forth from the Pseudo-Real Cosă Act. However, since 62RZ26 is an amendment, and the delayed effect of Cosă size changes only applies to changes made via statute (at least that's how Org.IV.2.1 reads to me), is it not rather the case that, were the referendum to pass, the size change would go into effect immediately?

Miestra Schiva is a candidate for the Praisideu.

50 words:
Fiova has the very best, directly democratic constitution of all the Provinces. It's a tragedy we don't use it more. Give me your (1) vote for leadership, and use your other preferences to choose the Fiovans who most want to DO things.

GROUP 5
4 - Desireless - Voyage, Voyage
3 - Toto - Africa
2 - Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
1 - Derek & the Dominos - Layla

GROUP 6
4 - The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want
3 - Supertramp - Breakfast in America
2 - Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
1 - Prozac+ - Acida

I kind of surprised myself by some of these rankings, but I'm sticking to it. Ever since hearing the acoustic version on Anthology, I've been unable to properly appreciate the full band version of While my guitar gently weeps. I don't know why. Being a certified Beatles fanatic, it's a capital offense in some circles, I'm sure.

We will vote on groups two at a time (although you can vote on only one of the groups if you want). Each voting period will last three days (72 hours). Votes cast after that will not be accepted, with the exception that we will always keep going until we have at least three votes per group.

Give your top four songs 4, 3, 2, and 1 points, respectively. You must give points to exactly four songs.

GROUP 5
Derek & the Dominos - Layla
Desireless - Voyage, Voyage
Eagles - Lyin' Eyes
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
Muse - Knights of Cydonia
Peter Gabriel - My Body is a Cage
Teho Teardo and Blixa Bargeld - A Quiet Life
The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil
Toto - Africa
Wombo - Dreamsickle


GROUP 6
B-52's - Legal Tender
Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Het Goede Doel - België (Is er leven op Pluto ...)
New Order - Blue Monday
Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train
Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton - While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Prozac+ - Acida
Supertramp - Breakfast in America
The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want
Tony Bennett - I Left My Heart in San Francisco


Tiebreakers:
- Number of voters giving 4 points
- Number of voters giving 3 points
- Number of voters giving 2 points
- Last year's result (1 > 2 > ... > 20 > Round 4 > Round 3 > Round 2 > other)
- PPV in Round 1 (if applicable)
- Rank in Round 1 (if applicable)
- Year first nominated (special edition > earlier > later)
- Random chance

8 voters again

GROUP 5
1. Take Five - 13 _{(2 voters giving 4 points)}
2. Starman - 13 _{(1 voter giving 4 points)}
3. Take Me Out - 13 _{(0 voters giving 4 points)}
4. You Give Love a Bad Name - 8 _{(2 voters giving 4 points, 2017 nomination)}
5. Such a Shame - 8 _{(2 voters giving 4 points, new nomination)}
6. I'm Still Standing - 8 _{(0 voters giving 4 points)}
7. September - 5
8. Energy Flow - 4 _{(1 voter giving 4 points)}
9. Walk - 4 _{(0 voters giving 4 points, 2 voters giving 2 points)}
10. Don't Stop Me Now - 4 _{(0 voters giving 4 points, 0 voters giving 2 points)}

GROUP 6
1. Telegraph Road - 16
2. Ring of Fire - 11
3. Wuthering Heights - 10 _{(1 voter giving 2 points)}
4. Hurt - 10 _{(0 voters giving 2 points)}
5. Under Pressure - 8 _{(1 voter giving 4 points)}
6. Rock the Casbah - 8 _{(0 voters giving 4 points)}
7. Zitti e Buoni - 6 _{(1 voter giving 4 points)}
8. The Gambler - 6 _{(0 voters giving 4 points)}
9. Papaoutai - 3
10. No More I Love You's - 2