The Progressive Alliance details its commitment

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

I would still like to do this, and I actually have a plan in mind to replace the database overall with simpler different system (rather than using it for record-keeping, voting, and legislating).  I'd be happy to discuss it in detail if there's any interest.

Sure I'd love to discuss it - just not in this thread as I don't want to derail it.

I'll start a new thread.

Systematically voting for the fall of a Government when in opposition must not be a principle.

A small quasi-philosophical note on this; even if the government of the day was performing well, an opposition party that wished to lead a future government should by definition vote against Confidence, as otherwise they would essentially publicly admit they don't believe they could do a better job.

I honestly can't decide what I think about this.  On the one hand, this is philosophically sound... shouldn't every member of the Opposition lack confidence in the government's ability to do the job on the basis of wrong policies?  But on the other hand, often those are simply issues of priority.  No one in the Free Democrats seemed to really oppose the availability of more data on immigration or the like, but they were just skeptical it could be done well or was worth doing.  If applications are being handled in a timely fashion, deadlines are met in a reasonable way, and there's nothing happening that's actually objectionable on its own merits -- I can see voting to support a Government from the opposition.

Tricky one, in some ways, even though I know it's de rigeur to always vote Non when you're in the shadow.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

And Infotecă was created last term -- a system that's incredibly easy to maintain, and yet provides invaluable data for understanding the trends of our country.  If you think your government is screwing up the immigration process or that Witt is quieter lately, that information is just a click away.  And while it's just a spreadsheet, that very simplicity means it can become the basis for any number of other projects in the future.

I was pleased to help with keeping it updated.

Yes, I agree that intense passive-aggression is making it hard for you to communicate clearly.  See, you started your response here with a technique called "begging the question," where you state a very questionable assumption as if it were agreed-upon fact, before then proceeding to your request.  Answering either positively or negatively has the side effect of seeming to accept that assumption.

If you'd like to build bridges, put down the torch.

There ain't a thing passive about it, Baron. I will continue to aggressively defend the principle that our Secretary of State should not lead a party especially when it is contesting an election to which the SoS is administering.

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

I am just one guy, so I'll never be "Minister of Everything," but I have a knack for new solutions to fix hard problems.  I'd like to put that to work again and work out a new system for the Chancery. 

Yeah, I hope we'll all be working together post-election to replace the Database.

But you're skating over what I call the "constitutional" issue here, which is an important FreeDems principle: the principle of separation of governance and management. That being: the people who are most skilled at doing a job are not necessarily those who should be deciding what job should be done. Or, in other words: the question of whether AD should putting his undoubted talents towards a project, and the question of whether AD should be part of (or running?) the Government who decides what needs doing, are separate ones.

Unfortunately, there have been situations in the past where AD has withdrawn his labour from projects where he wasn't part of the decision-making team. An electoral choice where you have to put AD in government or he won't offer his labour is not necessarily invalid, but certainly what I'd call "anti-political". And it also raises the issue - which I tried to run past Þerxh but maybe he didn't get it - that basing a major project or an entire government on one hyperactive person has a quite obvious point of failure, as was demonstrated just last term. The same kind of failure whereby the current Database becomes a shambles whenever MPF isn't around to tweak it, which is very often.

To avoid ambiguity: if I'm in opposition next term, my services will be at the disposal of the Government for such initiatives as align with FreeDem political priorities and my own skill set.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Unfortunately, there have been situations in the past where AD has withdrawn his labour from projects where he wasn't part of the decision-making team. An electoral choice where you have to put AD in government or he won't offer his labour is not necessarily invalid, but certainly what I'd call "anti-political". And it also raises the issue - which I tried to run past Þerxh but maybe he didn't get it - that basing a major project or an entire government on one hyperactive person has a quite obvious point of failure, as was demonstrated just last term. The same kind of failure whereby the current Database becomes a shambles whenever MPF isn't around to tweak it, which is very often.

This kind of makes it sounds like I refuse to help with stuff unless I'm allowed to do what I want.  That seems unfair of you to imply.

I frequently volunteer help for things when I'm not in charge.  At various times while in opposition, I put together el Lexhatx when in Opposition, I helped vet and suggest questions on the civics test, I reorganized and led an entire new cultural paramilitary in the form of the Zouaves... Honestly, the only time I can recall withdrawing from an effort was the history project you were leading, and that's because we immediately came into conflict when you said I was trying to take over by contributing too much.

I am very proud of my record of civic service, no matter the Seneschal.

Now, certainly we have to face the reality that Talossan louise do not shine bright in any pecuniary sense.  People donate their time and sweat for prestige, the pleasure of doing interesting things, or to fulfill a promise.  When the Free Democrats replaced most of the website, it was done after promising to accomplish this task if given the mandate of the people.  That is completely reasonable -- we don't pay in gold, but in fun.

[þerxh Sant-Enogat]

A great thanks to my friends @Baron Alexandreu Davinescu and @xpb who both accepted to support the Progressive Alliance and joining its list of candidates !
I am proud to be able to benefit from the experience and the wisdom of these two eminent citizens.

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

A great thanks to my friends @Baron Alexandreu Davinescu and @xpb who both accepted to support the Progressive Alliance and joining its list of candidates !

I just noted that this expanded list isn't on the ballot?

[King Txec]

Unfortunately if this was not posted in the official thread and/or I wasn't tagged, I likely missed it.

[Mic’haglh Autófil, SMC EiP]

Unfortunately if this was not posted in the official thread and/or I wasn't tagged, I likely missed it.

It looks like Therxh did edit his post to contain the list, but he does not appear to have tagged you at any point.

[Glüc da Dhi S.H.]

Unfortunately if this was not posted in the official thread and/or I wasn't tagged, I likely missed it.

Clearly it would have been better if the Progressives had more actively communicated the update, but I'm assuming since it was posted in the official thread before the deadline, the updated list is still legally valid?

[King Txec]

Unfortunately if this was not posted in the official thread and/or I wasn't tagged, I likely missed it.

Clearly it would have been better if the Progressives had more actively communicated the update, but I'm assuming since it was posted in the official thread before the deadline, the updated list is still legally valid?

It was an edited post that I was not advised of in the official thread so I did not see the edit. Next time hopefully party leaders will let me know when they've made changes (like Dame Miestra did). I'll still count it though.

[þerxh Sant-Enogat]

Next time hopefully it should be made clear that the sending of a pm is not optional ;-)

All of the above can be done by posting in this thread, sending me a pm or sending an email to talossachancery@gmail.com. (Information can be updated at any time before the deadline, but the initial registration needs to include at least all the mandatory parts).
Candidate lists and Platform URLs can still be provided/updated the day before balloting day.

[Iac Marscheir]

It looks like Therxh did edit his post [...]

Acest num in la speliçaziun sloþ alternatïu isch "Tgerxh".

[That name in the lazy alternative orthography is "Tgerxh".]

[Barclamïu da Miéletz]

It looks like Therxh did edit his post [...]

Acest num in la speliçaziun sloþ alternatïu isch "Tgerxh".

[That name in the lazy alternative orthography is "Tgerxh".]

Isn't thorn pronounced as "th" though?

[Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial, UrGP]

Yes. Þ is pronounced like "th" and spelled as tg if you can't type it properly.

[owenedwards]

I was there the first time Alex and Miestra argued...all those millennia ago...the Endless War...