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#1
Fora Talossa / Re: [FORA TALOSSA] Call for i...
Last post by Breneir Tzaracomprada - Yesterday at 07:50:47 PMQuote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC on Yesterday at 07:04:29 PM¡Estimadas es estimats Uniunistaes!
The Abbavilla Digest notes that, so far, the URL Convention has seen participation from just two people. Which was the same number of members the PdR apparently had pre-merger... We look forward to publishing a story about the URL's convention but earnestly hope it becomes more than a conversation between its two leaders.
#2
L'Uniun dels Reformistaes Livereschti (URL) / [CONVENTION] Nomination of a c...
Last post by Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC - Yesterday at 07:04:29 PM¡Estimadas es estimats Uniunistaes!
As mandated by Constitution II.E, this Convention is entitled to nominate a candidate for Seneschal in the upcoming elections, who will be placed first on our party list.
It seems that it falls to me to do so; as I did at the inaugural Convention. And reading my speech from that Convention, I'm struck with a feeling of detxa vischtă.
We still have a party run by an unrepentant sexual harasser. I give that leader credit, though, to have figured out a way around being shunned by everyone else in Talossa: procuring the immigration of a new member who is not going to complain about being sexually harassed by their party leader. I wonder if this person is actually aware of their party leader and beloved companion's recent behaviour in Talossa, though.
Happily, the cordon sanitaire is mostly holding; although not entirely. The Foreign Minister seems to see fit to allow sex pests to act as "information liaisons" to other countries. When I questioned the Seneschal about this at the Informal Session, he seemed somewhat less than full-throated in defending this; I wonder whether it was a "solo run" by the Foreign Minister which the Seneschal backed for the sake of Cabinet unity. Nonetheless, this kind of thing will not survive the election of a URL-led government. For us, no sex pests means no sex pests in any role in the gift of the Government; short of sincere repentance.
And we still have a major political party - one now leading the Government! - which dislikes the basic principle of representative democracy. The Seneschal holds firm to his belief that a Cosa vote is a vote for a "brand", a party leader; that the Cosa is simply a mathematical construct demonstrating how popular each brand/leader was on Election Day, that "seats" should be in the free gift of such a leader to hand out post facto.
In contrast, the URL believes that a Cosa election should be just that - an election of members of the Cosa. Voters should be, as far as practicable, choosing their preferred representative or team of representatives. If a party benefits big from getting the approval of less-active voters, but does not have the will or capacity to find people who wish to actively represent voters, that should count as a penalty against such a party. This is our Democracy Agenda. We think Talossa should be a representative democracy (under a constitutional monarchy, if you insist), as that would be understood in any other country. We bluntly think that anyone who disagrees - even using the figleaf of "Talossan peculiarity" - is someone who benefits from a lack of democracy.
To this extent, our victory in pushing through the Pseudo-Real Cosa - and our agreement with the Government to let the Broosking Swing amendment through - is a huge, positive step. If this survives through to the 64th Cosa, then at least there will no longer be a situation where one MC's vote will count more than 20 times than another. Although - if the Seneschal's argument were to prevail - of course a party leader who wins a majority could say "I assign 11 seats to me!", and therefore be the Cosa, in the same way that King Robert I could in the late 80s. So let's not let that happen.
In any case, that brings up the biggest victory for Talossa of this governmental term; the belated conclusion of a "non-aggression pact" between the Government and the URL. This should have happened before the First Clark. The URL were out there offering not only an abstention, but even a YES on the VoC, in return for policy/legislative concessions. The Progressive Alliance were not interested - as the Seneschal-to-be said openly, because they were personally angry at the URL's campaign. I'm not sure why I would have expected any thing else. Part of the PA leader's political approach is to collect a "broad tent", held together less by positive policy planks but by resentment of the outgoing government. The more we critiqued this negative politics, the more resentful they got.
But we saw where this "government by spite" ended up. It ended up with the Government cutting a deal with an absolute monarchist party led by a relatively new citizen - one for whom I have quite a lot of personal affection! - who ended up both politically and personally unreliable. Which led the Government back to us, to make a deal that could have been done better and earlier if we weren't voting out of hurt feelings. The Democracy Agenda is, in part, a hope for a Talossan politics which is based on political principle rather than personal beef. It requires a Cosa consisting of teams of representatives, not by Big Bosses trading "seats" as if they were poker chips.
Nonetheless, I have actually enjoyed relations with the Seneschal over the last month or so. When you take the partisan heat out of the equation, patriotic Talossans of goodwill can come to agreements. And the Seneschal is patriotic, in the sense that KR1 defined: "Talossan patriotism is the determination that Talossa should continue to exist". The URL are, in our own way, also patriots.
***
Leaving all that aside, though; the Democracy Agenda/constitutional issue, and recriminations about how PA/URL relations have gone during this Cosa, is all well and good. But it doesn't make an argument for a change of Government.
How, for example, should the URL respond to the Government's recent Immigration statement? The statement makes a lot of assertions about immigration statistics and immigration policy. I confess that my personal attitude to all this is that it's somewhat irrelevant. I'm not a "natalist". I think the raw number of Talossan citizens is of far less interest than the number of active participants in Talossan culture and institutions. Although, to go back to points mentioned above, it shouldn't surprise me that the party leader who's insistent that his party shouldn't have to find active legislators is more interested in raw numbers. ("If you can't quantify it, it doesn't exist" is one of the regular traps of economic theory, parenthetically.)
I mention this as an example, because a lot of people out there don't vote on the constitutional issue, more or less democracy. They don't vote based on personal beef, alhamdulillah. They vote based on perceptions of general "competence" and "activity". This is the role of any party who wants to make a positive case that we should replace the incumbent government.
This is the challenge for the Union of Free Reformists. The argument for the Democracy Agenda is our raziun d'estar. But that won't win us an election. An alternative Seneschal who can promise to administer and to promote an active and healthy Talossa, and to build a team of not only legislators but shadow Ministers to do so, is what is required.
And there is none more qualified to do that in this party than @Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be , whom I nominate to be the URL candidate for Seneschal of Talossa at the 63rd Cosa election.
¡Så vivadra Talossa! ¡Så vivadra Talossa democrätic!
As mandated by Constitution II.E, this Convention is entitled to nominate a candidate for Seneschal in the upcoming elections, who will be placed first on our party list.
It seems that it falls to me to do so; as I did at the inaugural Convention. And reading my speech from that Convention, I'm struck with a feeling of detxa vischtă.
We still have a party run by an unrepentant sexual harasser. I give that leader credit, though, to have figured out a way around being shunned by everyone else in Talossa: procuring the immigration of a new member who is not going to complain about being sexually harassed by their party leader. I wonder if this person is actually aware of their party leader and beloved companion's recent behaviour in Talossa, though.
Happily, the cordon sanitaire is mostly holding; although not entirely. The Foreign Minister seems to see fit to allow sex pests to act as "information liaisons" to other countries. When I questioned the Seneschal about this at the Informal Session, he seemed somewhat less than full-throated in defending this; I wonder whether it was a "solo run" by the Foreign Minister which the Seneschal backed for the sake of Cabinet unity. Nonetheless, this kind of thing will not survive the election of a URL-led government. For us, no sex pests means no sex pests in any role in the gift of the Government; short of sincere repentance.
And we still have a major political party - one now leading the Government! - which dislikes the basic principle of representative democracy. The Seneschal holds firm to his belief that a Cosa vote is a vote for a "brand", a party leader; that the Cosa is simply a mathematical construct demonstrating how popular each brand/leader was on Election Day, that "seats" should be in the free gift of such a leader to hand out post facto.
In contrast, the URL believes that a Cosa election should be just that - an election of members of the Cosa. Voters should be, as far as practicable, choosing their preferred representative or team of representatives. If a party benefits big from getting the approval of less-active voters, but does not have the will or capacity to find people who wish to actively represent voters, that should count as a penalty against such a party. This is our Democracy Agenda. We think Talossa should be a representative democracy (under a constitutional monarchy, if you insist), as that would be understood in any other country. We bluntly think that anyone who disagrees - even using the figleaf of "Talossan peculiarity" - is someone who benefits from a lack of democracy.
To this extent, our victory in pushing through the Pseudo-Real Cosa - and our agreement with the Government to let the Broosking Swing amendment through - is a huge, positive step. If this survives through to the 64th Cosa, then at least there will no longer be a situation where one MC's vote will count more than 20 times than another. Although - if the Seneschal's argument were to prevail - of course a party leader who wins a majority could say "I assign 11 seats to me!", and therefore be the Cosa, in the same way that King Robert I could in the late 80s. So let's not let that happen.
In any case, that brings up the biggest victory for Talossa of this governmental term; the belated conclusion of a "non-aggression pact" between the Government and the URL. This should have happened before the First Clark. The URL were out there offering not only an abstention, but even a YES on the VoC, in return for policy/legislative concessions. The Progressive Alliance were not interested - as the Seneschal-to-be said openly, because they were personally angry at the URL's campaign. I'm not sure why I would have expected any thing else. Part of the PA leader's political approach is to collect a "broad tent", held together less by positive policy planks but by resentment of the outgoing government. The more we critiqued this negative politics, the more resentful they got.
But we saw where this "government by spite" ended up. It ended up with the Government cutting a deal with an absolute monarchist party led by a relatively new citizen - one for whom I have quite a lot of personal affection! - who ended up both politically and personally unreliable. Which led the Government back to us, to make a deal that could have been done better and earlier if we weren't voting out of hurt feelings. The Democracy Agenda is, in part, a hope for a Talossan politics which is based on political principle rather than personal beef. It requires a Cosa consisting of teams of representatives, not by Big Bosses trading "seats" as if they were poker chips.
Nonetheless, I have actually enjoyed relations with the Seneschal over the last month or so. When you take the partisan heat out of the equation, patriotic Talossans of goodwill can come to agreements. And the Seneschal is patriotic, in the sense that KR1 defined: "Talossan patriotism is the determination that Talossa should continue to exist". The URL are, in our own way, also patriots.
***
Leaving all that aside, though; the Democracy Agenda/constitutional issue, and recriminations about how PA/URL relations have gone during this Cosa, is all well and good. But it doesn't make an argument for a change of Government.
How, for example, should the URL respond to the Government's recent Immigration statement? The statement makes a lot of assertions about immigration statistics and immigration policy. I confess that my personal attitude to all this is that it's somewhat irrelevant. I'm not a "natalist". I think the raw number of Talossan citizens is of far less interest than the number of active participants in Talossan culture and institutions. Although, to go back to points mentioned above, it shouldn't surprise me that the party leader who's insistent that his party shouldn't have to find active legislators is more interested in raw numbers. ("If you can't quantify it, it doesn't exist" is one of the regular traps of economic theory, parenthetically.)
I mention this as an example, because a lot of people out there don't vote on the constitutional issue, more or less democracy. They don't vote based on personal beef, alhamdulillah. They vote based on perceptions of general "competence" and "activity". This is the role of any party who wants to make a positive case that we should replace the incumbent government.
This is the challenge for the Union of Free Reformists. The argument for the Democracy Agenda is our raziun d'estar. But that won't win us an election. An alternative Seneschal who can promise to administer and to promote an active and healthy Talossa, and to build a team of not only legislators but shadow Ministers to do so, is what is required.
And there is none more qualified to do that in this party than @Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be , whom I nominate to be the URL candidate for Seneschal of Talossa at the 63rd Cosa election.
¡Så vivadra Talossa! ¡Så vivadra Talossa democrätic!
#3
L'Uniun dels Reformistaes Livereschti (URL) / [CONVENTION] Election of el Co...
Last post by Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC - Yesterday at 05:26:58 PM¡Estimadas es estimats Uniunistaes!
Under Constitution II.A.1, I rise to nominate as the three members of the Comità to be elected by this Convention, the outgoing Comità: namely, myself, @Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be , and @Antaglha Xhenerös Somelieir .
Under Constitution II.A.1, I rise to nominate as the three members of the Comità to be elected by this Convention, the outgoing Comità: namely, myself, @Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be , and @Antaglha Xhenerös Somelieir .
#4
L'Uniun dels Reformistaes Livereschti (URL) / Re: Debate on the Democracy Ag...
Last post by Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC - Yesterday at 02:51:13 PMQuote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be on March 10, 2026, 05:20:36 PMQuote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC on March 09, 2026, 04:14:44 PMWouldn't that be addressed by Party List Reform #2? People who are unwilling to take seats can simply say "no thanks, please don't put me on the list".Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be on March 08, 2026, 07:34:53 PMParty List Reform #1: The URL supports legislation to prioritize party lists, ensuring that "off-list" candidates can only receive seats if no "on-list" candidates are eligible, in order to improve transparency and allow voters to better judge the intentions of the parties on the ballot.
I'd add "... or willing" here. If someone doesn't want to take seats you can't make them. I'm aware that this might mean packing a list with people who agree in advance not to take seats, but if people want to game the system to such an extent there's not much you can do about it.
No. Consent to go on the list <> consent to take up seats
#5
L'Uniun dels Reformistaes Livereschti (URL) / Re: Debate on the Democracy Ag...
Last post by Mic’haglh Autófil, O.Be - March 10, 2026, 05:20:36 PMQuote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC on March 09, 2026, 04:14:44 PMWouldn't that be addressed by Party List Reform #2? People who are unwilling to take seats can simply say "no thanks, please don't put me on the list".Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be on March 08, 2026, 07:34:53 PMParty List Reform #1: The URL supports legislation to prioritize party lists, ensuring that "off-list" candidates can only receive seats if no "on-list" candidates are eligible, in order to improve transparency and allow voters to better judge the intentions of the parties on the ballot.
I'd add "... or willing" here. If someone doesn't want to take seats you can't make them. I'm aware that this might mean packing a list with people who agree in advance not to take seats, but if people want to game the system to such an extent there's not much you can do about it.
#6
Immigration Archive / Re: Introducing Alex Sanchez o...
Last post by Baron Alexandreu Davinescu - March 09, 2026, 08:13:03 PMThis prospective not having posted within a month of his introduction to the nation, his application is discontinued.
#7
L'Uniun dels Reformistaes Livereschti (URL) / Re: Debate on the Democracy Ag...
Last post by Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC - March 09, 2026, 04:14:44 PMQuote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be on March 08, 2026, 07:34:53 PMParty List Reform #1: The URL supports legislation to prioritize party lists, ensuring that "off-list" candidates can only receive seats if no "on-list" candidates are eligible, in order to improve transparency and allow voters to better judge the intentions of the parties on the ballot.
I'd add "... or willing" here. If someone doesn't want to take seats you can't make them. I'm aware that this might mean packing a list with people who agree in advance not to take seats, but if people want to game the system to such an extent there's not much you can do about it.
Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be on March 08, 2026, 07:34:53 PMParliamentary Reform: The URL supports codifying and strengthening the powers of the Tuischac'h and Mençei to allow them to better maintain order and enforce parliamentary procedure within their respective chambers.
Agree; but we need more detail on what this might mean before we put it in a platform. Does the incumbent Túischac'h @Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial, UrGP have any ideas?
With these caveats, this is an excellent program, and what's even better, a program that could, realistically, be enacted in one Cosa with a 2/3 majority and an agreeable Senäts. It is realistic.
#8
Coletx d'Armeux Rexhital/The College of Arms / Re: The three Questions answer
Last post by Moinul Moin - March 09, 2026, 03:47:37 PMWHAT is my name?
Moinul Moin.
WHAT is my request?
If it so please the Squirrel King of Arms, I request the assistance of the College in designing and obtaining arms for myself and my lawful heirs.
WHAT is my favourite colour?
Green,Red,Blue.
Moinul Moin.
WHAT is my request?
If it so please the Squirrel King of Arms, I request the assistance of the College in designing and obtaining arms for myself and my lawful heirs.
WHAT is my favourite colour?
Green,Red,Blue.
#9
Fora Talossa / [FORA TALOSSA]: A special comi...
Last post by Breneir Tzaracomprada - March 09, 2026, 02:51:48 PMI am delighted to announce that with the assistance of an international volunteering grant from the German Mennonite Peace Committee I will be travelling to Palestine (Al-Khalil/Hebron) later this year. I will be participating with human rights workers from Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT) and this will be my first human rights/peacebuilding mission since Colombia in 2019. I am beyond grateful and appreciative of this opportunity to participate in peaceful resistance to occupation.
For Talossa, this will mean that I will be taping some segment to show what the Occupation looks like on the ground.
For Talossa, this will mean that I will be taping some segment to show what the Occupation looks like on the ground.
#10
Wittenberg / Re: Announcing the 4th El Pret...
Last post by Breneir Tzaracomprada - March 09, 2026, 02:49:02 PMQuote from: owenedwards on March 09, 2026, 06:00:32 AMI hope to see some good entries this year!
Just to note publicly, I've received zero submissions. I too am excited to see some submissions soon.