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In the far reaches of colonized space, there exists a fairly unremarkable system with a single planet suitable for life. Traveling to Janus IV from the nearest settled system would take at least 3 months with the fastest transport ships widely available in modern times. Back in the late 30th century, it would have taken much longer. Despite this, the Solar Union, which was nearing the peak of its’ power, decided to found a small colony on it. They called it Sirta, to honor a prominent figure instrumental in the early years of colonization. As time passed, the Solar Union, met with crisis after crisis, redirected its’ resources to the core territories at the expense of the colonies. In response, while the Union was occupied with yet another internal crisis, many of the colonies declared their independence in 3024 one after another. Sirta was among them and, unlike most of the others, its’ declaration wasn’t challenged, likely due to its’ remote location. In the initial decade following independence, Sirta experienced rapid growth fueled by foreign investment and a nascent biotechnology industry. However, this prosperity was limited to a relatively small elite made up of professional workers, independent entrepreneurs and foreign investors. Prices on common goods began to rise, well out of reach for wide swaths of the local population. Soon, an urban underclass developed, and many people turned to crime for a chance at a comfortable life. The young nation didn’t have the proper institutional knowledge to deal with this, so organized crime soon established a firm foothold in Sirta and corruption became commonplace. This climate gave rise to a particularly strong-willed politician – Adrian Vallstein – who promised to enact radical changes aimed at reducing corruption and removing criminals from the street. Instead, he spent most of his first term in office removing what little checks and balances existed on his power. Despite his policies of harsh punishments and increased police powers making very little progress in eradicating crime, he easily won re-election. Having removed all obstacles, he was free to spend his second term on purging anyone who opposed him from the government, arresting journalists and activists, while weaving a sprawling web of corrupt officials loyal only to him. By the time his popularity finally fell, it was no longer possible to remove him by legitimate means. Every candidate that was allowed to stand for office at any level of government was already part of his web. Any opposition was swiftly and ruthlessly dealt with. This continued for decades, with no prospect of stopping. Suddenly, after 27 years in power, Vallstein died from a terminal disease. It soon became apparent that his handpicked successor – Robert Greene, selected mainly for his loyalty – didn’t know the first thing about governing. A series of disastrous decisions by his administration plunged the economy into a rapid downward spiral, removing the relative stability present during his predecessor’s administration. Active opposition to the regime, which until that time was confined to the fringes of society, experienced a swift resurgence. The streets of the capital – Sard – were filled with constant protests on a massive scale, organized by the Popular Resistance – a union of most underground opposition groups. Meanwhile, the rural settlements which were experiencing severe resource shortages and relied on citizen militias to secure order, banded together and formed the Citizens’ Liberation Front – an armed group intent on violently overthrowing the regime. After two years of never ending protests and the active insurgency of the CLF, which didn’t shy away from assassinations and terrorist attacks on government targets, several divisions of the Sirta Defence Force finally turned against the regime, declaring its’ leaders “a mob of thieves robbing the country blind while the people suffer”. This led to half a year of what was effectively a low-intensity civil war. Finally, on the 7th of May 3061, an unexpected coup brought an end to the government. Greene and his closest allies escaped the country. The leaders of the coup immediately began a tense negotiation process with representatives from the various opposition groups, aiming for a peaceful and orderly transition of power. In late July 3061, they reached an accord that satisfied all sides and the transitional government took power. The date is the 10th of November 3061. The festive streets of Sard are filled with unrestrained joy and, for the first time in decades, hope. The result of yesterday’s referendum on adopting the new constitution was just announced: 89% in favor with an 82% turnout. This outcome is widely perceived as proof of the revolution’s success, heralding a new era of government that serves the people rather than its’ own interests. The constitution is filled to the brim with awkward compromises, but no one cares. The only thing people care about is that it represents real change, real soon – the first free and fair election in over three decades is to be held on the 25th of December. The transitional government has been somewhat successful in freezing the economic freefall Sirta has found itself in, and is making strides in fighting high-profile corruption. However, the economy is still in poor condition, organized crime retains its’ strength and low-level corruption is commonplace. On top of that, it isn’t clear how the municipal police forces, which were frequently used as a tool of oppression by the regime, will operate going forward. Overall, Sirta is still beset by a litany of systemic problems and factional struggles. Can you, the players of this game, steer the country towards a brighter future? It’s time to find out. Welcome to my post-revolution sci-fi government sim. If any of this interests you even a little bit, read on to see how you can participate. AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 13:01 on Dec 11, 2018 |
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Nov 25, 2017 12:53
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Here is a nice player-written FAQ for newcomers. Read it if you haven't been following the game since the beginning. Since it was written, there were a few mechanical changes you should be aware of. At any time, the fastest way to catch up on what's been going on in the game lately is to read the latest Quarterly Report and follow the links from there. There are five ways to participate in this game: 1. Create your own party. That is, register a list of players for the next election, with you at the head. In most cases, you have to be a party leader to get a chance at being Prime Minister. If you win more seats than the number of players you have (this is very likely, unless you have dozens of players behind you) the rest of your seats will be filled by NPCs aligned with your party. In order to create a party you need to fill out the following details: Name: Your party’s name. Color: The color you want to be associated with your party. Platform: The main ideals your party stands for. You can go into as much detail as you want. This can include policy proposals and stances on various political issues, but can also be just a general statement of intent. Leader: The party leader, who has the authority to make all of the important party-wide decisions. By default, this is you. List: A list of players and/or NPCs (if you want them to have specific names or include NPCs that already appeared in the narrative) that will get into Parliament if you win a big enough proportion of the vote. The order is important, since it will determine who actually gets seats in Parliament – for example, if your party wins 4 seats, the leader and the first three characters on the list will get them. The party leader determines who gets to be on the list and in what order. It can’t be changed mid-election. Party leaders may exchange generic NPC MPs for player characters but not vice versa. Type: This determines how the NPCs in your party make decisions (voting in Parliament, policies as Ministers, etc.). There are three options: Leader Oriented means that the leader gets to determine all of the NPCs actions, Consensus Based ensures that the distribution of opinions among the NPCs will reflect that of all players in the party, and Ideological will have NPCs behave according to the party platform. 2. Join an existing party. You can join any player-led or NPC-led party, provided the leader agrees to put you on their list. The advantage of joining an NPC party is that you don’t have to be at the mercy of another player. If you manage to get into Parliament you will be able to propose and vote on various bills and motions. If you are named as a government Minister, you will be able to set your Ministry’s policies and make crucial decisions in moments of crisis. 3. Register for a citizen seat. Five of the seats in Parliament are randomly selected from among everyone who applies. This is your chance to get some power without exerting any effort whatsoever. 4. Vote in elections. Hold your representatives to account. Elections and referendums are great opportunities to get your voice out there and have the parties listen (well, hopefully). 5. Participate in a People's Assembly. A majority of Sirtan settlements now rely on direct democracy in place of a local government. Choose a settlement to reside in and get directly involved in making decisions. See the link below on Local Government. As of the date this post was last edited, registration of parties for the next election, whenever it takes place, is now open. Existing party leaders may change their list, but any such changes will not affect their current Members of Parliament (i.e. any new additions will remain outside Parliament, and current MPs can't be removed). Registration for the next round of citizen seats (selected about a year from now in game) is also open. Characters and setting details: Guardian Council, Sirta Overview, Interstellar Politics, Coup Timeline. Game Mechanics: Parliamentary Elections, Legislating, Voting on Legislation, Opposition, Government Roles, Special Committees, Local Government, NPC Popular Sentiment. Discord for general, party and government discussions. Discord for committee meetings. AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 06:15 on Aug 5, 2018 |
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Nov 25, 2017 12:55
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Current Parliament:  Latest election result. Speaker - Radek (SRLF) Leader of Opposition - Lorenzo Shimizu (SnnSP) The current Parliament's term expires on November 3065. Current Government: Prime Minister - Luxemburg (SRLF) Minister of Justice - Frederick Hope (SRLF) Minister of Defence - Radek (SRLF) Minister of Internal Security - Radek (SRLF) Minister of Foreign Affairs - Arkham Dixit (SDU) Minister of Interior - Micheal Saint-Just (SRLF) Minister of Finance - Denver Axo (SDU) Minister of Education - Bookchin (SRLF) Minister of Infrastructure - Luxemburg (SRLF) Minister of Health - Kikue Yamakawa (SDU) Minister of Agriculture - Praxis (SDU) Attorney General - Bookchin (SRLF) Current Budget: Lasts until the end of December 3063. Structure of Government: The 3061 constitution is a result of a series of compromises between the major factions that were at the forefront of the revolution: the Popular Resistance, the militant Citizens’ Liberation Front, the dissenting elements of the regime, and, of course, the rebel divisions of the Sirta Defence Force. It outlines the main organs of the state: Parliament – Functions as the legislature, and is the source of the executive’s power, as any prospective government must secure Parliament’s confidence and hold it throughout the duration of its’ term. There are 80 seats in Parliament, 60 of which are elected via closed list proportional representation, 15 of which are appointed by the Guardian Council and 5 of which are randomly selected from eligible citizens. The constitution mandates elections at least once every 3 years, but both Parliament and the Guardian Council may decide to hold an election at any time. The 5 “citizen seats” have fixed 2 year terms and are unaffected by elections. Government – The executive consists of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Attorney General. The government is led by the Prime Minister which may appoint and remove the other members of government at their discretion. The constitution lists the following Ministries: Justice, Defence, Internal Security, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Finance, Education, Infrastructure, Health. If necessary, Parliament has the power to create additional Ministries and define the scope of their responsibilities. After an election, or collapse of the prior government, the Guardian Council must select a Member of Parliament who will attempt the formation of a new government that can gain Parliament’s confidence. If no government is formed within 60 days, a new election must be held. Additionally, if a government loses the confidence of Parliament it becomes a “care-taker government” and must relinquish its’ powers to the next government that gains Parliament’s confidence. Constitutional Court – The only court with the authority to rule on the constitutionality of laws and the relationship between the various branches of government. Consists of 7 judges appointed for life-long terms by the Judicial Appointments Committee. Guardian Council– A body designed to ensure that the government follows the ideals of the revolution and doesn’t abuse its’ powers. Initially consists of 5 AMRs* of leading figures in the revolution. Every 5 years, a special election takes place to select a citizen who’s AMR will be added to the Council. If the Council ever reaches a point when it has more than 21 members, one of the Councilors must retire. *AMR – Active Mind Recording, a simulated personality based on a scan of someone’s brain. In Sirta, AMRs are legally recognized as persons distinct from their originals but sharing the same past (i.e., if a human committed a crime before being scanned, both they and their AMR are criminally liable). Local Government: - Sard: People's Assembly - Opal: ## Mayor - Cynthia Grimmet (Dawn) ## City Council - 7 SRLF, 4 FDG, 4 The Community, 3 Dawn - Topaz: ## Mayor - Conrad (SRLF) ## City Council - 7 SRLF, 7 FDG - Sapphire: ## Mayor - Professor Melanie Bak (Restoration) ## City Council - 4 Restoration, 3 FDG, 2 SRLF, 2 Dawn, 1 Unity Coalition - Amber: ## Mayor - Soo-min Rivlin (FDG) ## City Council - 3 Industrial Resurgence Party, 3 FDG, 2 SRLF, 2 Dawn - Peridot: ## Mayor - Kyra Petrov (FDG) ## City Council - 3 FDG, 2 SRLF, 1 Dawn, 1 Unity Coalition - Panorama: People's Assembly - Venderstookburg: People's Assembly - Prosperity: People's Assembly AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 11:32 on Nov 28, 2018 |
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Nov 25, 2017 13:01
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Quarterly Reports: - Status of Major Policies (April 3062) - First Quarterly Report (February 3063) Surveys: - First Census Report (February 3063) - Details: Opal, Topaz, Panorama - Local Issues Survey (March 3063) Elections and Referendums: - December 3061 Parliamentary Election - Self-Determination Referendum (April 3062) - June 3062 Municipal Elections - December 3062 Parliamentary Election Parliament Votes: - Speaker Selection (January 3062) - January 3062 - February 3062 - SIRTRAK and TRC Confirmation Votes (March 3062) - March 3062 - April 3062 - May 3062 - June 3062 - July 3062 - August 3062 - September 3062 - October 3062 - November 3062 - December 3062 - January 3063 - February 3063 - March 3063 - April 3063 Interstellar Treaties and Agreements: - Lotus Accord, with the Kingdom of Hesperides - Maat Accord, with the Kingdom of Hesperides - Osiris Accord, with the Republic of New Frontier Constitutional Amendments: - Abolition of Slavery & Anti-Trafficking - Right to Due Process Passed Laws: - SIRTRAK Act - Amendment - SISTER Act - Amendment - Census Act - First 3 amendments, fourth amedment - Care and Shelter Act - Sirtan Budget Office Act - Bill F-1 - Truth and Reconciliation Act - Repealed (by Truth and Justice Act (December 3062), then again by Restoration of Peace and Justice Act) - PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY Act - Amended by Self-Determination Act - Self-Determination Act - Right to Know Act - Police Reform Act - Bootstrap Act - Free and Fair Elections Act - Opposing Syndicated Crime And Racketeering Act - Property Appropriation Process Act - Amendment - Urgent Rescue Act - Rehabilitation Act V2 - Public Lands Act - Sirtan Historical and Social Touchstone Act - Property Appropriation Mortgage Act - Sirtan Drug Administration Act - Sirtan Survey Administration Act - Perpetual Friendship and Foreign Exhibition Act - Bill F-2 (Bank Act) - Amendment - Alternative Youth Sentencing and Reform Act - Ministry of Agriculture Act - Arms Production Rationalization and Transparency Act - Amendment - Emergency Budget Restoration Act - EYIP Budget Amendment - Capital Punishment Act - Truth and Justice Act (December 3062) - Repealed (by Restoration of Peace and Justice Act) - Truth and Justice Act (January 3062) - Repealed (by Restoration of Peace and Justice Act) - Wage Enforcement Act - Tax Bill P-1 - Financial Holdings Transparency Act - Restoration of Peace and Justice Act - PASS Act - Bill T-1 (Taxation) - Bureau of Labor Creation Act - Transport Cooperative Act - Declaration Act - International Money Transfer Act - Public Financial Cooperative Act - Foreign Caregivers Tax Exemption Act - Infrastructure Funding Release - Emergency Nationalization Act - Immigration Promotion Act - Economic Direction Committee Act - Restroom Access Act - Court Protection Officer Act - Witness Protection Act - Anthem Selection Act - Deposit Insurance Act - Vast Heaven Headquartering Act - Labor Act of 3063 - Financial Advisor Act Local Laws and Decisions: - Sard: -- Tax Plan -- General Proposal on Government and Property v. 2 -- Addition to the Tax Plan -- Effective Government -- Legal Counsel -- Sound Advice -- Proper Taxation -- Sard Appropriation of Blighted Properties Act -- Establishment of the Sard Municipal Bank and Fund -- Establishment of the Sard Community Grant Program -- Sun Rises on Sard Program -- CEC Authorization Act -- Emergency Proposal on Inspection of Blighted Properties in Sard -- Compensation Payment for Blighted Properties -- Sard Unemployment Allowance -- Solidarity Against Crime Act -- Sard Budget Restoration Act -- Rehabilitation of Blighted Properties -- To Build a Home Act -- Building a Better Future Act -- Sard Self Sufficiency Act - Topaz: -- Topaz Local Railway Improvement Act -- Establishment of the Topaz Municipal Bank and Fund -- Establishment of the Topaz Community Grant Program -- Bedrock of Topaz Program -- Basic Unemployment Allowance Act -- Financial Oversight Act -- Topaz Inspection Act -- Free Education Act -- Free Shelter Act -- Clean Streets Act - Panorama: -- General Proposal on Government and Property -- Property Appropriation Committee Decision on the Panorama Regional Government’s Request -- June 3062 Budget -- Proposal for Holidays -- Proposal for Truth and Reconciliation in Panorama -- July 3062 Budget -- August 3062 Budget -- September 3062 Budget -- October 3062 Budget -- November 3062 Budget -- December 3062 Budget -- February 3063 Budget -- March 3063 Budget -- April 3063 Budget -- Chemical Company Investment Act SBO Estimates: - January 3062 - February 3062 - March 3062 - April 3062 - June 3062 - Child Care (April 3063) Reports and Overviews: - Ministry of Internal Security Overview (February 3062) - Ministry of Education Overview (February 3062) - Ministry of Interior Overview (February 3062) - Ministry of Health Overview (February 3062) - Neighboring Countries Overview (February 3062) - Ministry of Finance Overview (February 3062) - Ministry of Infrastructure Overview (March 3062) - Child Care Overview (April 3062) - Organized Crime Overview (April 3062) - Panorama Overview (May 3062) - Prosperity Overview (May 3062) - Status of Sirta Transportation Network (May 3062) - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Overview (June 3062) - New Federal Police Overview (June 3062) - Environment Overview (July 3062) - Ministry of Defence Overview (September 3062) - Ministry of Defence Budget Breakdown (October 3062) - Outer Alliance Overview (October 3062) - Emergency Youth Intervention Program Outline (November 3062) - Ministry of Justice Overview (January 3063) - Likely Intentions of Foreign Nations (January 3063) - Organized Crime Update (January 3063) - Preliminary Design for Federal Penitentiary Alpha (January 3063) - Ministry of Interior Update (January 3063) - Ministry of Health Update (January 3063) - Review of the Community Justice Program (March 3063) - Arms and Military Equipment Manufacturing Overview (March 3063) Nominations and Appointments: - Committee Appointments (February 3062) - Constitutional Court Appointments (February 3062) - Truth and Reconciliation Commission Nominations (March 3062) - SIRTRAK Board Nominations (March 3062) - Regular Court Appointments (July 3062) - Emergency Youth Intervention Board Appointments (October 3062) - Bureau of Labor Director Nomination (March 3063) - Peace and Justice Commission Nominations (March - April 3063): Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, Guardian Council Misc: - Directives on SDF Policing During the Transitional Period (March 3062) - Defence Objectives Committee Directives (June 3062) - Intelligence Service Restructuring (July 3062) - Property Appropriation Committee Decision on Sard Blighted Properties - Arrival of Foreign Delegations (September 3062) - Foreign Embassies Reactions to Perpetual Friendship and Foreign Exhibition Act (October 3062) - Sudden Development in Truth and Reconciliation (October 3062) - Major Crimes in Fringe Politics (November 3062) - Parliament Dissolution (November 3062) - Ministry of Health Budget Directives (November 3062) - Statement From Citizen’s Rights Commissioner on the TJC (January 3063) Income and Expenses Summaries: - January 3062 - February 3062 - March 3062 - April 3062 - May 3062 - June 3062 - June 3062 - Local Governments - July 3062 - July 3062 - Local Governments - August 3062 - September 3062 - October 3062 - Novemeber 3062 - December 3062 - January 3063 - February 3063 - March 3063 - April 3063 - May 3063 Special Committee Transcripts: - Judicial Appointments Committee: 1, 2 - Defence Objectives Committee: 1, 2 - Property Appropriation Committee: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 - Emergency Youth Intervention Board: 1, 2 Speeches and Interviews: - Start of Parliamentary Election Campaign (December 3061) - First Meeting of the New Parliament (January 3062) - First Acceptance Ceremony (February 3062) - First Coup Anniversary Ceremony (May 3062) - Start of Local Election Campaign (June 3062) - Start of Parliamentary Election Campaign (November 3062) - Election Debate (November 3062) - First Meeting of the New Parliament (December 3062) - Prime Minister's Speech at Second Acceptance Ceremony (January 3063) - Left Behind: On the Present State of Past Leaders (January 3063) Existing Parties: Dawn Color: Light orange. Current Platform: “Over the last half-year, our government has taken major strides to undo the damage wrought on the people by the old regime. Together, we have begun giving homes to the homeless, food to the starving, power to the powerless and aid to those who need it the most. But, that is only the beginning. We can do so much more for those most vulnerable and those most helpless among us, if we put our minds and hearts into it, if we take the opportunities the world presents before us. If you give us your trust once more, we promise to use our place in government to help you, the people of Sirta!” The party still sticks to its core values of social welfare, honesty and transparency. It still maintains the need to take out loans to fund a massive expansion of government aid and the safety net. Original Platform: The party consists of many of the most notable activists in the Popular Resistance. Its’ main goal is reforming the government to serve the people and bringing about a major positive change in everyone’s lives. They want to focus on helping the most vulnerable and marginalized segments of the population – the poor, the ill, and the unemployed. They dream of a country where no one has to worry about whether they’ll make it to the end of the week. Their major policies are taking out a loan to fund a gradual expansion of welfare programs, making an effort to fight corruption and indifference in existing police forces and creating an honest and transparent government. Leader: Lenore Hughes, a former entertainer and prominent network personality who abandoned her career in favor of leading protests against the regime. Her energetic speeches, filled with genuine hope and constructive optimism, are often credited with sustaining the protests, which continued without pause for many months despite the frequent brutal responses from the regimes’ forces. The party’s name comes from her speech on the day of the regime’s fall, broadcast throughout the entirety of the Sirta Communication Network. The closing line was “A hard road still lies ahead of us, but I am confident that this is the dawn of a new and better era for our society.” List: No one. Type: Ideological. Forward Development Group Color: Deep blue. Current Platform: “…given these facts, the reader should now understand the perilous state of our present economy. The gradual recovery we have been experiencing since the start of the year is not guaranteed to last, nor even to reach a stable state. On the contrary, considering the SRLF’s strident ideological opposition to foreign investment and hostile posture towards domestic private industry, there is every reason to fear another downward spiral. Early signs of this regression can be seen in Sard, where the SRLF concentrated most of its localized efforts, attaining spectacularly poor results…” The party has renewed its emphasis on implementing its own plan for the country’s long-term stability and prosperity, largely based on foreign investment and a new generation of skilled workers. It calls for accelerating the schedule for making all public education tuition free, constructing more CECs, offering incentives to foreign investors and obtaining full membership in the Outer Alliance. Original Platform: This party is home to most of the academic wing of the Popular Resistance. It advocates for a long-term, sustainable development program for Sirta. They hope to stimulate the economy by attracting foreign investment and focusing on training a new generation of skilled workers. They claim that this program will usher in a stable era of prosperity for the country. Their major policies are improving all levels of the current education system, opening free specialist schools, offering incentives to foreign companies and applying for membership in the Outer Alliance. Leader: Stefan Borisov, a sociology professor that was forced into hiding in the later years of the Vallstein administration for criticizing government policy. Wrote many articles in underground publications, analyzing the regime’s policies, decisions and mistakes. His name is widely known in core Popular Resistance circles, but he doesn’t have a talent for public speaking and many of his acquaintances describe him as having a quiet, somewhat meek personality. List: No one. Type: Consensus Based. Direct Action List Color: Crimson. Current Platform: “There is just one thing I don’t understand. How is it possible that after all this time, after all of the people who fought and bled and died for the revolution, there are still so many regime thieves and murderers roaming free? Not only that, but some of them even have the gall to show their faces in government! How have we allowed that to happen? When did our revolution decide to spit in the faces of countless still living victims, to trample on the graves of thousands? No more. We can’t allow this farce to continue for even a moment longer.” This party, seen as a CLF proxy, is campaigning for the rapid expansion of the TRC’s powers and resources, as well as introducing especially harsh punishments for old regime criminals. Original Platform: The political arm of the CLF. Their stated goal is to “continue the violent struggle against corrupt tyrants and their self-serving bootlickers”. The CLF has repeatedly insisted that the struggle is not over until every one of the “hired killers” and “traitors to the people” gets their “just punishment”. They intend to avenge the countless victims of the regime by punishing every former official and soldier that lent active support to its’ crimes. Their major policies are swift punishments for every soldier and police officer who fought on the regime’s side, purging the so-called “regime enablers” from the civil service, exiling those deemed to have been supportive of the regime, seizing their assets and distributing them among the families of victims, and replacing the current police forces with a bolstered CLF. Leader: Victor Knapfstein, a former businessman who was in charge of the CLF’s supplies during their long campaign against the SDF. Is widely seen to be a proxy for the CLF commanders who still enjoy the fervent personal loyalty of their subordinates. List: No one so far. Type: Ideological. Sirtan Revolutionary Liberation Front Color: Rainbow  Current Platform: - Tax reform, particularly reducing the tax burden on lower income brackets and instituting a federal-level wealth tax - Continuation of justice efforts, especially following through on recent revelations about former government members. Regime-era criminals are just expected, but those supposedly representing the Sirtan people today must be held to the highest standards. - Continuing the campaign against organized crime and corruption - Continuing to promote democratic rule, both politically along the People's Assembly model and economic workplace democracy - Nationalization of major industries to ensure that capital best serves the interests of the Sirtan people - A commitment to sustainable development and socialist ecology. - Long-term, an ambitious plan to introduce large-scale industrial automation and promote research into artificial intelligence/further automation technologies Original Platform: Here Leader: Crazycryodude List: HiHo ChiRho (Bookchin), Sniper4625 (Radek), paragon1 (Michael St-Just), HattieMasters (Hope) Type: Ideological The Union of Civil Services Color: Navy Blue Leader: Lillian Ford (NPC) Current Platform: “Any successful government must rely on a professional, competent and impartial civil service. Policy must be formed only after carefully consulting all of the available information on any given issue, noting all possible approaches to resolve it and analyzing the potential consequences of those approaches.” This party believes in a carefully considered and evidence based approach to politics, and advocates for an expanded, empowered and highly qualified civil service. Original Platform: Here List: Vivian Gray (NPC) Type: Consensus/Ideological Sirta Democratic Union (SDU) Color: Deep Green Flag: A field of green, with the silhouette of a tiger in white in the center Logo: A white tiger Platform: Here Leader: Denver Axo, 32, of the Panorama Regional Government (Tatankatonk), List: [PCs]Brian Praxis, 61, Landowner (AJ_Impy); Kikue Yamakawa, Epidomoligst from Peridot (cat_herder); Arkham Dixit, unknown weirdo from Opal (Crion); [NPCs] Nourredine Saqqaf, 48, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure ; Behar Gali, 26, community organizer from Feldspar; Stanislav Sykora, 29, Militia Union garrison commander of Nielsen's Hill; Binh Ngai, 67, physician from Prosperity; Vong Savang, 45, current professor of Agronomy at PARI. Type: Leader-Oriented Sensô no nai Sekai Party(SnnSP) Color: Flat blue Platform: Here List: Lorenzo Shimizu (HerrTog), Robert Bernquest, and Franz Pescador Type: Ideological AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 09:27 on Dec 6, 2018 |
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Nov 25, 2017 13:04
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As the first in a series of setting and character posts, here are the bios of the current members of the Guardian Council: Councilor Aurora – Based on Lenore Hughes, a prominent leader in the Popular Resistance. Background: Despite both of her parents being academics, Lenore ended up dropping out of the Sociology program at Sard University in order to pursue a career in entertainment. Starting out at an amateur student radio station, she soon gathered the requisite experience and contacts to get a position as the co-host of a new weekly talk-show style program produced by Vital Media, a major SCN entertainment company. She soon became a prominent network personality, as her confident attitude and infectious optimism proved to be extremely attractive to many viewers who sought an escape from the ever present hopelessness and discomfort in their daily lives. Role in the Revolution: As Greene’s policies made people’s lives ever more miserable, and organized opposition to the regime gathered widespread support, Lenore retired from all of her entertainment roles and dedicated herself to “the struggle for our future”. She joined the Popular Resistance, where her significant popularity among the general public and natural charisma made her a shoe-in for a leadership role. Unlike the other PR leaders, who focused their rhetoric on denouncing the regime’s corruption and demanding free elections, Lenore’s speeches extolled collective action to “build a better society” and “improve the lives of each and every citizen”. She emphasized that the protests were a necessary step towards a radical transformation of Sirta into a prosperous country that takes care of it’s citizens, instead of pushing them down at every turn. That vision of a better future was essential to motivating the public and allowing protests to continue for many months in a row, despite the harsh response from the regime’s forces. “There is a light at the end of this tunnel. We need only persist, and soon, it will be within reach.” Age at Scan Time: 28 Councilor Minerva – Based on Professor Elizabeth Styles, an influential voice in the Popular Resistance. Background: When Elizabeth was born, Sirta was still a colony of the Solar Union which was experiencing a rapid decline. Her parents have just recently arrived from Earth, since her mother got a position at a major biotechnology firm based in Sirta. Elizabeth was working on her own biology degree at Sard University when Sirta declared its’ independence, which ignited Elizabeth’s interest in politics. She switched to the Political Science program and eventually ended up as a senior member of the faculty, known for her extensive analysis of the structure and role of modern governments. Role in the Revolution: Professor Styles was a vocal critic of the Vallstein administration from the very beginning, writing lengthy opinion pieces decrying the government’s policies as increasingly authoritarian and subservient to corrupt interests. Eventually she was arrested for “incitement to revolt” and served a 7 month sentence. While in prison, she met several opposition activists who introduced her to the anti-regime movement. Upon her release, she was welcomed into an underground opposition group, where she created The Midnight Digest, an illegal news site that sought to keep the public informed about the activities of the regime and coordinate resistance among the disparate opposition groups. It proved instrumental in the formation of the Popular Resistance as well as protest organization during the Greene administration. Age at Scan Time: 62 Councilor Rhamnusia – Based on Sara Lindt, First Commander of the Citizens’ Liberation Front. Background: Sara was born to a blue-collar family living in Nielsen’s Hill, a small rural town built near a rare metal deposit. Mining and processing this metal was the town’s main source of employment. However, by the time Sara was 18, most factories had switched to using cheaper, more plentiful metals, which crippled the town. Sara barely managed to finish mandatory education, and, as a result wasn’t accepted into either of Sirta’s universities. Since she didn’t have the money for a private college, and she didn’t want to spend her entire life working a dull dead end job in her lifeless hometown, she decided to join the military in a combat role. It soon became apparent that she was an excellent field leader. Her talents were recognized by her superiors, and she eventually attained the rank of Captain. Role in the Revolution: Greene’s economic policies were especially disastrous for many rural settlements, which experienced severe shortages of basic goods, and were left reliant on regime handouts which were carried out by the SDF. Due to pervasive corruption, many of the goods ended up in the hands of criminal gangs which used them as leverage to take over many small towns. After hearing that a childhood friend in Nielsen’s Hill was killed in a gang war, Captain Lindt, already sick of the corruption all around her, deserted the SDF with some long-time friends, made her way back home and formed a militia called Nielsen’s Defenders to secure the distribution of basic necessities and defend the town from organized crime. As the economic situation deteriorated, Nielsen’s Defenders, like many such militias, ended up clashing with the SDF and incurring severe losses. Lindt decided to approach the commanders of the other militias and offer to form a common front. As a result, the militias merged together, creating the CLF, united behind the common goal of violently overthrowing the regime. Lindt wasn’t the foremost commander in the CLF at first, but her superiors were killed one after the other, over the course of two bloody years of struggle against the regime’s forces. So too were many of her friends and comrades in arms. After the struggle had finally come to an end, First Commander Lindt vowed that “not even a single one of the hired murderers and uniformed bandits still residing in Sirta will escape their just punishment”. Age at Scan Time: 34 Councilor Ariadne - Based on Vivian Grey, the informal leader of the dissident elements of the regime. Background: Born to upper middle-class parents, Vivian always had top grades at school, and easily made it through both the Statistics and Sociology undergraduate programs at Sard University. After three years of work on statistical models for a government contractor, she somehow managed to get a position as an intelligence analyst at the Intelligence Service (the exact details are unknown). After Vallstein was first elected, he greatly loosened the restrictions and oversight on the Intelligence Service’s information collection capabilities. It was during this time that a new taskforce headed by Vivian was formed within the IS – its’ name was THREAD and its’ official purpose was to “discover and monitor any and all plots against our government or its’ members.” Everything else about the taskforce – its’ membership, methods, operations, successes and failures – is shrouded in mystery, as the little bits of information that are occasionally heard in rumors are incredibly contradictory. Nor is it clear how Vallstein (or perhaps some of his advisors) knew Vivian or why it was decided to appoint her as the head of the newly created Department of Information in the later years of his administration. Role in the Revolution: Despite her high position in the regime, Vivian never liked Vallstein’s authoritarian and often arbitrary style of governance. In particular, she resented the practice of filling major positions in the administration solely on the basis of loyalty rather than competence. She was not alone in this feeling. Even before Vallstein’s death, there existed a rift within the regime between the so-called “professionals” (technocratic functionaries) and the so-called “tribe” (a derisive term for the Vallstein loyalists). Very early on during Greene’s administration, Vivian “understood that they will lead the country to ruin” and began plotting a “transition of power” with other elements of the regime. The full extent of her machinations to that end is unknown, but some of them are obvious in retrospect. The Department of Information didn’t block The Midnight Digest’s proxy sites, despite it being a trivial matter, nor did it bother to warn the SDF about planned CLF attacks on their bases. Moreover, when several SDF divisions finally rebelled against the regime, the loyalist forces would often find that their troop movements were leaked to the enemy. During the coup that marked the regime’s fall, the Sirta Communication Network was down due to internal sabotage of vital infrastructure. In fact, it is known now that Vivian was heavily involved in all stages of the coup, and may even be the mastermind behind it. Whatever the case may be, it’s clear that the regime would not have fallen this soon (if at all), if she wasn’t urging it along. She claims that her primary motivation was concern for the well being of the country and its’ people. Nevertheless, the other members of the council remain wary of her. Age at Scan Time: 48 Councilor Saturn – Based on Colonel James Anders, the highest ranking SDF officer among those who rebelled against the regime. Background: Raised in a family of poor immigrants, James was an unruly child. At the age of 16, he was thrown out of his home when his parents caught him stealing from them to fund his nightly excursions to the bar with his neighborhood friends. It didn’t take long for him to end up in police custody, charged with assault. He decided to opt into a convict “rehabilitation program” in the SDF, which was one of the ways the early Vallstein administration coped with the growing overcrowding problem in Sirta’s prisons. James managed to befriend some of the sketchier officers at the base he was stationed in, and decided to continue his service past the mandatory three years. He gradually rose through the ranks, mainly based on his flexibility and the personal contacts he developed over many nights at the officers' bar. Role in Revolution: The Colonel was never overly concerned with politics, nor did he hold any particular feelings towards the regime. He merely carried out his orders reasonably well while turning a blind eye to the actions of those around him, which was a common attitude in the SDF at the time. However, as the campaign against the CLF started to heat up and the SDF’s casualties began to rise, the Colonel, who had strong personal ties with many of the soldiers and officers under his command, was growing increasingly irritated with the gross ineptitude and self-serving attitude on display by the military brass and their counterparts in the government. After yet another failed operation, he lost his temper at his debriefing and openly clashed with his superiors. He managed to get away with only a reprimand, but the incident changed his perspective on the regime for good. It didn’t take long for him to get drawn into the now infamous “Officers’ Plot” which culminated in the defection of several SDF divisions and eventually led to the regime’s downfall. He was quick to assert his authority after the coup, acting to guarantee the position of the SDF “rebels” in the post-regime reality. Many of those present during the critical negotiations that led up to the transfer of power describe him as being unreasonably stubborn when it came to matters even tangentially related to “his soldiers” - to the point of throwing fits and indulging in lengthy rants - but being utterly unconcerned with any other topic. Age at Scan Time: 46 AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 11:44 on Mar 6, 2018 |
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Nov 26, 2017 20:40
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Godlovesus posted:
This is a good opportunity to explain what happens when you put an existing NPC from the narrative on your list. First, you have to keep in mind that just because you put them there doesn't mean that they'll actually agree to run with your party, though in this case the platform aligns with Vivian's goals remarkably well, so she will run with this party if you decide to keep her on the list. Additionally, these NPCs aren't bound by the party's type like the player created or generic NPCs that come with your party. Instead, they will make decisions according to their own existing goals and considerations. This means that, in a sense, having them in your party might be a risk if you aren't sure that they are fully aligned with your vision. However, it can also prove to be rewarding, at least some of the time. Godlovesus posted:
How should I interpret this, when it comes to the decision making of the regular NPCs in your party?
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Nov 27, 2017 20:21
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As the second of a series of posts about the characters and the setting, here’s an overview of Sirta as it is in the weeks leading up to the election: Geography: Legally, the State of Sirta is sovereign over the entirety of Janus IV and the surrounding area of space, but, in practice, the vast majority of the population is concentrated on a sizable peninsula in the eastern part of the northern continent. Most of the settlements were founded by Solar Union colonists based on proximity to arable land, fresh water and valuable mineral resources. Sirta has 6 cities, 3 of which are more populous by far than the others, and plenty of widely dispersed smaller rural settlements. The major cities are: * Sard – The capital, it houses most of the departments (now ministries) of government, as well as the old congress building and other government structures. Many government contractors also have their headquarters in this city. Aside from that, Sard is the center of both the high-speed train network and the Sirta Communication Network, and Sard University is considered to be the best higher-education institution in the country. Sard is located in the central area of the peninsula, roughly in the middle of the other cities. It has a population of 5 million. * Opal – The most populous city in Sirta, this is where most of the corporate offices and research facilities were located, once upon a time. The damage of the Greene administration is most immediately visible here, as many of the office buildings are all but abandoned and entire neighborhoods are openly controlled by gangs. In the recent decade, it has gained the nickname “drug capital of Sirta” as sketchy looking establishments selling heavily addictive substances are around every street corner. Also rumored to be a major human trafficking destination. It’s located on the south-eastern shore of the peninsula. The population is 7.5 million. * Topaz – The industrial center of Sirta, this is the city with the biggest concentration of factories in the country. Having been in decline for the last several years due to the economic failures of the Greene administration and the civil war, things are looking up for the city as many factories are beginning to return to their Vallstein-era productivity. It’s located in the north-west of the peninsula, near a mountain range. The population is 3.5 million. The other cities are: Sapphire, housing the Sirta Biotechnology Institute, population 1.3 million; Amber, secondary research and light manufacturing center, population 850,000; Peridot, a quiet city on the shores of the great lake, population 420,000. The rural settlements are far too numerous to list, with most having a population smaller than 10,000. Infrastructure: All of the cities and many of the rural settlements are connected via a partially underground high-speed train network, which has gradually fallen into disrepair over the last years due to the lack of maintenance. Entire sections of the network are now inoperable, greatly impeding passenger and freight transport between cities and isolating many rural settlements. Most private citizens don’t have their own vehicle, instead relying on the train network and surface shuttles for transport. Most of the energy in Sirta is generated in four nuclear power plants evenly distributed across the peninsula, but most of the rural settlements aren’t connected to the power grid, relying on their own solar and wind farms. The Sirta Communication Network is satellite based and offers all of the population ready access to vast quantities of information and allows for instant communication between any devices that can interface with it. It’s possible to use the physical hardware to block network transmissions from any specific source from reaching any specific destination. This functionality saw heavy use by the regime, to the detriment of opposition publications. Population: The total population of Sirta is slightly over 22 million. The Sirtan culture is mostly homogenous, especially in the cities, and hasn’t greatly diverged from the original culture of the Solar Union colonists, albeit developing a cynical and self-centered “me and mine before anyone else, don’t concern myself with the business of others” dimension over the decades of authoritarian rule, which is only now beginning to change. Nevertheless, local cultures exist and are most prominent in the rural settlements. Law and Crime: Organized crime is heavily present in all of the cities, unaffected by the civil-war and change in government. Ordinary citizens are used to it by now, and “respecting” the gangs and criminal establishments “ruling” the local area is an accepted part of everyday life. The police forces, the SDF, government contractors, the courts and the civil service are all heavily corrupt at the low public-facing levels despite the change-over at the top. If anything, the municipal police forces have become even more corrupt since the revolution, as many common officers lean on ties to criminal organizations to protect themselves and their families in the face of an uncertain future under a new government. On the other hand, the rural settlements are relatively crime free, with the CLF continuing to serve the de facto policing role it took on since the start of the insurgency, now with the tacit approval of the transitional government. Economy: In better days, Sirta had a robust economy fueled by the biotechnology industry and the manufacture of specialized electronics. A series of increasingly short-sided decisions by the Greene administration, combined with the existing strength of organized crime, led to a rapid downward spiral of qualified researchers and engineers fleeing the country, the decline of the manufacturing sector and a string of major corporate bankruptcies. Foreign investment in the country ceased entirely, the government contractors turned even more incompetent and corrupt than before, and unemployment surged on an unprecedented scale. The revolution put a stop to the spiral, as the transitional government’s measures against major corruption in the higher ranks of the civil service and government contractors, together with the promise of tangible positive changes in society, are causing a gradual return of foreign investment as well as some of the qualified talent that previously fled. However, the economy is still in dire straits, and may plunge into the spiral again at any moment. Military: All members of the former SDF brass have been arrested, and the entire structure of the military has been reorganized under the joint direction of the officers in charge of the coup and the commanders of the rebel divisions. In general, the new SDF is a much more centralized organization, with Central Command having far more direct control over all branches and divisions. Currently, Central Command is focused on removing any corrupt officers from service, especially those with ties to organized crime. There is a long-term plan in place to transform the SDF into a much more unified, motivated and efficient force. However, while the transitional government largely lets them do as they please, Central Command is keeping a close watch on the upcoming election and has a number of contingencies in place to deal with a more uncooperative government. Government: The transitional government, led mostly by the leaders of the Popular Resistance and some CLF members, has been ruling on an ad-hoc basis with the assistance of the dissident elements of the regime, using the apparatus left behind by the previous administrations. The most important achievement of the present government is successfully drafting a constitution that satisfied all of the sides involved and carrying out the referendum to approve it in a remarkably transparent and problem free fashion, paving the way for the first truly free and fair election in decades to be held in late December. Aside from that, the government moved swiftly and decisively in punishing the corrupt remnants of the old regime in high office, and put in place a variety of strict monitoring and enforcement mechanisms against embezzlement of public funds and acting in concert with private interests. It also granted a blanket amnesty to every person charged with a “political crime” and released hundreds of other citizens held without any charges in “unofficial” prisons. The government hasn’t made any major changes in social, economic or judicial policy, citing the need for a democratic mandate to make any significant alterations. It also hasn’t gone after the lower-level supporters of the regime, for the sake of avoiding further violence. This is also the reason it keeps out of the way of the Intelligence Service, SDF and CLF, not even attempting to bring them under its’ direction. Public Mood: Despite the continued hardships most of the population still faces on a daily basis, the citizens are incredibly excited by the upcoming election. No matter the ideology of any given person, all are cautiously optimistic for the future. The energy and overwhelming feeling of eager anticipation present in the streets is unparalleled by any other time in Sirta’s short history. For many, the future looks brighter than they could ever imagine. Whether or not this impression is justified remains to be seen. AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 11:59 on Mar 6, 2018 |
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Nov 28, 2017 16:07
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As the third of a series of posts about the characters and the setting, here’s a rough outline of the current state of affairs in interstellar politics: Ever since Sirta’s declaration of independence was accepted, the world of interstellar politics ceased to be relevant in the public consciousness. Due to its’ remote location, Sirta enjoys a relative freedom from the influence of foreign powers. However, interstellar trade and foreign investment still tie Sirta to the interstellar community, if only in a relatively small way. With a handful of exceptions, of which Sirta is one, all nations in colonized space can be divided into three “blocks”: The New Solar Union is the phoenix that arose from the ashes of the old Solar Union. While nominally a union of independent nations, the NSU is an extremely centralized federal state in all but name. Despite the meager size of its’ territory when compared to its’ predecessor at the peak of its’ power – encompassing only the Solar System and its’ closest neighbors - it is an economic and industrial juggernaut rivaled by no one. Unlike its’ predecessor, it is incredibly isolationist, devoting all of its’ efforts to internal affairs and conducting only minimal trade with external nations. The Outer Alliance is an economic and military supranational organization which consists of most of the old Solar Union’s former colonies. While possessing a strong military and a unified monetary policy, the Outer Alliance holds no authority whatsoever over the domestic policies of its’ member nations. Instead, in a sense, the member nations are the ones to control it, as the Outer Alliance is led by AMRs of their current heads of state. The Established Nations are not formally united under any organization, but, through an overlapping network of trade agreements and strategic alliances, can be clearly identified as belonging to the same block. These nations trace their roots to humanity’s first wave of space colonization hundreds of years ago, long before the formation of the Solar Union. They are fairly prosperous but also stagnant, retaining the same level of economic activity and quality of life for the last century, as the rest of the world changed around them.
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Nov 28, 2017 18:16
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As the fourth and last in a series of posts about the characters and the setting, here’s the timeline of events on the 7th of May 3061, the day of the regime’s fall: Background - At this point in time, the war against the rebellious SDF divisions had been going on for more than 5 months, the CLF’s insurgency for two and a half years and the protests in Sard even longer than that. The forces on the regime’s side were the majority of the SDF, the municipal police forces and the Public Security Force, which was the government’s primary tool of repression. It later came to light that, ever since the defection of the SDF divisions, Vivian Grey – head of the Department of Information – and her former subordinates at the Intelligence Service were busy with secretly coordinating between various elements within the regime itself, preparing for this day. 4:40 – The Central Train Station in Sard is unexpectedly seized by the SDF Special Operations Division, which has been considered to be loyal to the regime before this day. The few employees and passengers that were at the station this early in the morning are detained in an underground maintenance room, and all entrances and exits to the station are sealed. 4:51 – An unmarked freight train takes off from a nearby SDF base, despite not appearing on the schedule. All other trains heading to Sard are rerouted back to their previous stations. 4:56 – The entire Sirta Communication Network goes down due to the unexpected failure of critical network infrastructure. 5:02 – A loud explosion is heard from inside a police station on the other side of Sard. 5:14 – The aforementioned freight train arrives at Central Station. 5:34 – Dozens of armored SDF vehicles are seen on the roads around Central Station. 5:37 – A “flock” of unmanned drones is spotted in the sky over the eastern neighborhoods. Similar reports are heard from other areas of the capital. 5:39 – All roads leading to the PSF Headquarters are sealed off by armored vehicles and imposing soldiers in plain uniforms. 5:45 – A series of explosions is heard from all around the city, originating at police stations, PSF barricades and government buildings. 5:58 – Sensing an opening and driven by an “indescribable collective high”, the crowd of protesters at central plaza push through the weakened PSF barricade and, for the first time ever, enter the government district. 6:05 – The SCN goes back online but all devices are only able to receive transmissions broadcast from a single source – an unidentified music channel alternating between classical pieces and Today, We Sing of Freedom – an opposition song popularized by the Popular Resistance. 6:12 – Gunfire is heard from the vicinity of the PSF Headquarters. 6:17 – Taking advantage of the general confusion, the rebellious SDF divisions begin advancing on Sard. 6:25 – A crowd of protestors, led by Lenore Hughes, bursts into the congress building with chants of “The time is now!” and “Long live the revolution!”. 6:38 – A fast moving PSF convoy is spotted swiftly departing the upscale neighborhood housing Robert Greene’s official residence. 6:50 – The only channel broadcasting on the SCN finishes its’ music program and switches to a repeating announcement read by a stern female voice – “Attention all citizens! Attention all citizens! The struggle for our future is underway! I repeat, the struggle for our future is underway! Please remain calm and stay indoors! I repeat, please remain calm and stay indoors!” 6:59 – Several government ships depart from Sard spaceport. 7:05 - The rebellious SDF divisions exchange several barrages of artillery with the Sard garrison. 7:20 – The voice on SCN switches to reading a new announcement – “Attention, Sard garrison! Attention, Sard garrison! The PSF has surrendered! I repeat, the PSF has surrendered! Greene has fled the country! I repeat, Greene has fled the country! There’s no point in fighting anymore! I repeat, there’s no point in fighting anymore!” 7:50 – The rebellious SDF divisions march into Sard unopposed. 8:00 – One final explosion goes off in Sard, this time at the feet of the tall Vallstein statue in front of the president’s office. 8:10 – The voice switches to a final announcement – “Attention, all citizens! Attention, all citizens! The fight is over! The people have won! I repeat, the people have won!” the message repeats three times before the channel goes back to its’ previous music program. 9:00 – The channel switches to a video feed of the floor of congress, which is filled to the brim with joyous protesters. After a few minutes, the crowd quiets down and the person at the speaker’s podium – Lenore Hughes – begins speaking. She speaks for twenty minutes. Her voice is underlined with an excited trepidation, her words genuine and hopeful. She describes her experiences over the last two and a half years – passion, pain, violence and yearning for a better future. She reassures her audience that dialogue with the coup leaders is already underway. She calls for calm and patience. Finally, she implores the viewers to hold on to hope in spite of the hardships facing them and to work towards a better tomorrow. 9:30 – The SCN returns to regular operation.
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Nov 29, 2017 07:07
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Over the past month since the new constitution was adopted, a wide variety of social movements and like minded groups have coalesced into the official framework of political parties. The relatively large amount of parties running for Parliament was a surprise for many, and is considered to be a reflection of the citizens’ excitement at the prospect of actually having their voices and opinions affect society as a whole. What little election polling exists points to a plurality of the vote going to the Sirtan Revolutionary Liberation Front, but there is no past data to build a remotely accurate model on, and the novelty of the concept of a free election to most of the population is bound to frustrate any attempts at accurate prediction. No possible outcome is perceived as implausible. Almost anything can happen, and everyone knows it. Party registration for this election is closed. All registered parties are listed at the end of the second post. Registration for citizen seats is still open, and will remain open until the end of the election. Time to explain how elections are going to work in this game. The general concept is fairly simple – each voter chooses a single registered party to vote for, and at the end the parties will gain seats in proportion to their share of the overall vote. However, party members and leaders can’t vote. Instead, their votes will automatically go to their party. For example, if Party A with 3 players on its’ list receives 5 votes in the election, their total vote count will be 5 votes + 3 player members + 1 leader = 9. So, party size will be reflected in the election result, though it can easily be overcome by enough “real” votes. Parties are strongly encouraged to actively campaign and try to convince voters to grant them their support throughout the entirety of the election. All that said, let’s commence the first Sirtan Parliamentary Election! In order to vote, write the full name of your desired party in bold. The election will run until Friday – the 1st of December – at 12:00 UTC. Important Edit: As of the date this post was last edited, the standard election system is used alongside the new NPC Popular Sentiment system. AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 06:19 on Aug 5, 2018 |
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Nov 29, 2017 15:50
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In a recent live question and answer session with the public conducted through the SCN, Lenore Hughes fielded questions about many subjects: her experiences during the long protests against the regime, her impressions of the current state of Sirta, her views on the transitional government, her hopes for the future and, of course, her party’s policies. The session was quite long, so only a segment of it is transcribed here, for brevity’s sake: Q - “Recently, your party has received significant attention following the statements of several prominent members, such as Dr. Xavier Dubois, on the controversial issue of amnesty for many of the corrupt officials, soldiers and others who aided the regime in its’ crimes against common citizens. Can you clarify your stance on this issue?” A - “Well, I think that Dr. Dubois’ stance is too broad and too lenient, but I am fully behind his sentiment. As I see it, administering punishments on this scale – to hundreds of thousands of people – would be an undertaking of immense scope, and is beyond the capacity of our nascent judicial and enforcement systems to handle properly. Such a process is almost guaranteed to stir up powerful feelings of mutual resentment, fear and uncertainty in entire segments of our society. Feelings, that, in time, can lead to a resurgence of violence.” Q - “What about justice for the victims? How can you possibly justify letting known criminals walk free? What is the point of your revolution, if you are going to protect the enemies of the people?” A - “You ask how I can justify it. In truth, I can’t. I can’t, because it isn’t just. I promise to hold those most culpable to account, to the fullest extent possible, but countless others would escape punishment. We have to be honest about the reality we live in. We can have justice, or we can have peace, stability and the chance to help still living victims and other vulnerable populations have a better life. This is the choice that we – all of us – have to make for ourselves. I’ve made my choice, and the CLF with their proxies - the DAL and SRLF – have made theirs. The only question left then, is whether you’ve made yours. And this is one question that I can’t answer.” Q - “What about the proposals from some of the other parties, concerning the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission?” A - “I am in favor. The only thing left to fill out is the details, which I look forward to discussing with these parties post-election.” Q - “A few moments ago, you called the SRLF a CLF proxy. It’s true that it was founded by former CLF officers, but I was under the impression that it’s an entirely separate organization. Can you elaborate on your remark?” A - “Certainly. I don’t mean to imply that the party is controlled by the CLF, or at least, not directly. Instead, I invite you to look at their stated short-term policies. Aside from infrastructure improvement, which is a matter of near universal consensus, and their vague promises of social-programs, the main planks of their election platform are police reform and “justice, prompt, severe and inflexible”. How do you see them carrying these policies out? By relying on the SDF, the Intelligence Service, and the corrupt municipal police forces? I think not. It seems clear, at least from my perspective, that they are going to ask the CLF to step in. At that point, who do you think will make the relevant decisions, when it comes to who deserves justice and what reforms are necessary? Will it be a political party with no force of arms, distrusted by the existing enforcement mechanisms? Or, will it be the highly motivated and close-knit armed force that openly flaunts its’ willingness to continue “the struggle”? All of us know the answer, whether or not the SRLF wants to acknowledge it.” Q - “From your answers, it seems that you resent the CLF, despite their, many would say, indispensable contributions to the revolution. Is that true?” A - “It isn’t. It may seem like that at times, because I can’t help but wonder. You see, I have been striving for a better future for this country’s people, alongside many others, since before the CLF existed. In my mind, the struggle against oppression is behind us, and now comes the important part – actually realizing that better future which we have been striving towards. It’s obvious that the CLF thinks differently, that the struggle is far from over. Which is why I wonder – what exactly is the CLF struggling for, other than perpetuating a cycle of revenge? I don’t know. I honestly, truly don’t know. I can see what the SRLF stands for, and even admire it in a way, but they aren’t the ones who will matter, once the CLF is given free reign. Just between us, the regime’s allies weren’t the only ones committing horrible crimes during the war.” AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 11:28 on Nov 30, 2017 |
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Nov 30, 2017 08:57
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CourValant posted:What are your thoughts on how to handle a single popular party running away with the game? Or is that your planned end state? You'll just have to wait and see.
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Nov 30, 2017 11:34
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A press release from the Direct Action List has just appeared on the SCN. It reads: “We would like to address the ongoing debate among the public on the absolutely baffling, and frankly, deranged proposal for a mass amnesty to the hideous criminals who willingly facilitated, or even personally carried out, abominable crimes on behalf of the regime. Such a proposal, with all due respect to the esteemed Miss Hughes and her party, is unthinkable, unconscionable and is a slap to the face to the survivors of the regime’s atrocities. We will not allow it! Furthermore, to attack the brave and valiant men and women in the CLF who have fought, for so long, to rid the people of tyranny and corruption, seeing their brothers and sisters in arms sacrifice their lives for our cause, enduring countless hardships and carrying on in their struggle even to this day, is an absolute disgrace! We remind the people once again, that the struggle is not yet over. There are still far too many criminals in positions of power, far too many bootlickers and murderers roaming free. Our struggle will not be over, and can not be over until all of them get their just punishment. We salute our former comrades-in-arms in the SRLF for defending the honor of the CLF and for taking a firm stance on justice. They have recently said “The CLF is the people!” and they are absolutely right. Which is why we, the only party officially endorsed by the CLF, are also the only party that deserves your vote!”
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Nov 30, 2017 18:31
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A message from Lenore Hughes appears on her party's channels in the SCN: "I am pleasantly surprised by the SRLF's recent militia union proposal. While still far from my preferred solution, I will grant it my full support once elected, provided we can agree on the precise details. I am looking forward to cooperating with the SRLF on this and other issues, toward our common cause of helping the weakest of our society, despite our major disagreements on amnesty." At about the same time, another press release from DAL is released: "The recent proposal by our former comrades-in-arms seems reasonable at first glance, but can be easily subverted by regime bootlickers and criminals, some of which are running for Parliament in this election. We will not allow any organization that threatens to interfere with our and the CLF's struggle for justice. If this "militia union" becomes such an organization, we will not allow it to exist! We will only support it on the condition that our party be involved in its' creation and have meaningful input at every stage of the process. Once more, I remind you that our struggle isn't over until the last of the regime's remnants are plucked out and punished. Our party is fully committed to this struggle and will accept no compromises that will hurt our and the CLF's capacity to wage it."
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Nov 30, 2017 22:14
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CourValant posted:
Vivian keeps walking, as though nothing happened. Nothing further comes from the encounter.
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Dec 1, 2017 11:30
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First Sirtan Parliamentary Election result: Total: 20 (4 player votes, 5 player members, 7 player leaders, 3 NPC leaders, 1 GM vote) – 100% - 60 seats Party Breakdown: * Sirtan Revolutionary Liberation Front – 6 (2 player votes, 3 player members, 1 player leader) – 30% - 18 seats * Dawn – 3 (1 player member, 1 NPC leader, 1 GM vote) – 15% - 9 seats * The Union of Civil Services – 2 (1 player vote, 1 player leader) – 10% - 6 seats * Direct Action List – 2 (1 player vote, 1 NPC leader) – 10% - 6 seats * Forward Development Group – 2 (1 player member, 1 NPC leader) – 10% - 6 seats * Freedom and Stability Party – 1 (player leader) – 5% - 3 seats * The Unity Coalition – 1 (player leader) – 5% - 3 seats * verumMediae – 1 (player leader) – 5% - 3 seats * Kikuzakura no Kai – 1 (player leader) – 5% - 3 seats * The Community – 1 (player leader) - 5% - 3 seats Guardian Council Appointments: * Vera Albright (25) – Singer, Popular Resistance activist. * Thomas Gill (36) – Investigative journalist, wrote for The Midnight Digest and other underground publications. * Frank Probst (67) – Economics professor. * Lucia Caldera (32) – Teacher, Popular Resistance activist. * Sander Hansen (41) – Retired CLF commander. * Lisa Wyatt (23) – Former Intelligence Analyst for the regime’s Department of Information, amateur poet. * William Viner (39) – Retired Lieutenant Colonel of one of the rebellious SDF divisions. * Roger Rockwell (53) – Lawyer, Popular Resistance activist. * Janet Oliphant (72) – Former “Senior Coordinator” in the Intelligence Service. * Silvia Collins (56) – Political History professor, prolific mystery fiction author. * Rachel Hoffmann (35) – Retired CLF commander, survivor of the 24th of March massacre. * Paul Thiede (46) – Opposition activist during Vallstein administration, released earlier this year after spending 17 years in an “unofficial” prison. * Della Jalbert (31) – CEO of Safe Place, a charity dedicated to helping victims of human trafficking. * Sofia Juhl (27) – Former “Consultant on Societal Modeling” for the regime’s Department of Information, chess grandmaster. * Jade Ross (42) – Retired Captain from the SDF Special Operations Division, participated in the 7th of May coup. Citizen Seats: * Rutherford T. Vanderbush (The Lord of Hats) – Owner of Apex Industries. * Jessica Ramsey (20) – Unemployed. * Susanne Brandt (34) – Convenience store owner. * Autumn Black (84) – Biotechnology expert, locally famous for not setting foot outside her small house in Peridot for the last 6 years. * Grace Wright (25) – Control system technician, works at a nuclear power plant.   Parliament will convene for the first time on the 1st of January 3062. That’s in narrative. In reality, it will convene in about 3-4 hours, once I finish writing the relevant posts. In the meantime, feel free to discuss the result. AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 15:40 on Dec 1, 2017 |
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Dec 1, 2017 13:00
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Before I forget, registration of parties for the next election, whenever it takes place, is now open. Existing party leaders may change their list, but any such changes will not affect their current Members of Parliament (i.e. any new additions will remain outside Parliament, and current MPs can't be removed). Registration for the next round of citizen seats (selected two years from now in game) is also open.Shogeton posted:A question for the moderator, because the subject came up. It is mentioned there were terror attacks on government targets during the civil war. How... bloody should we see that, in terms of collateral civilians dead? Over the course of the two years of their insurgency, the CLF has conducted dozens of terror attacks on government targets, ranging from police stations and SDF checkpoints to government offices and warehouses. Overall, at least 500 civilians have lost their lives in these attacks, mostly among the civil service and contracted workers.
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Dec 1, 2017 16:55
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The date is the 1st of January 3062, and all of Sirta’s attention is focused on one event – the opening of the first session of Parliament. The SCN is registering an almost unprecedented number of devices tuned in to a single channel – a video feed from inside what was once the Albert Worrel Convention Hall in downtown Sard, and is now the seat of Sirta’s Parliament, in place of the old congress building in the government district which was turned into a museum of the regime’s corruption and the revolution. According to the Guardian Council, the new location was chosen due to its’ “greater proximity to the people”. All of the MPs have already arrived, and a mixture of emotions can be seen on the faces of these people, which all of Sirta entrusted with their future. For many of them, this is the first face-to-face meeting with their colleagues, whom they have only ever witnessed through the SCN. Several conversations are taking place at the same time, some are merely polite greetings and strings of inane chatter, but others are the beginnings of constructive discussions about their first goal – the formation of a government. Given the lack of historical precedent, the inexperience of all involved and the sheer number of different parties present, this is not likely to be a simple feat. The ornate digital clock embedded in the wall shows 9:00 and the invisible speakers fill the hall with the overpowering sounds of a familiar melody – an instrumental rendition of Today, We Sing of Freedom, the unofficial anthem of the revolution (in the absence of any other reasonable alternatives). All of those present quiet down and find their seats, directing their attention to the stage at the center of the hall, where a small podium has been placed. The lights dim. A moment later, a lifelike hologram appears behind the podium. It depicts Lenore Hughes, a prominent leader of…no, on second thought, it depicts Councilor Aurora, the member of the Guardian Council most familiar to the public. “I don’t have the words to properly describe what I feel at this moment, standing here in front of you on this momentous occasion. I must admit, that despite my confident words over the last three years, there has been a small part in the back of my head whispering “What you want is impossible. The future you yearn for is outside of your grasp. All of this pain and struggle and hope is for nothing.” I truly can’t convey the full extent of my happiness, my relief to be standing in this place, giving this speech for this purpose. So, instead of trying to do that, I want to congratulate all of you, the Members of this Parliament, for being here with me today. All of our past struggles mean nothing if we can’t build on their outcome to reach for our true goal - building a better future for all citizens. You are the ones I, and the rest of Sirta, is relying on to make that goal a reality. After considering the outcome of the election, the Guardian Council has decided to bestow the hefty task of government formation on the leader of the SRLF, known as Luxembourg. Their task will not be easy, nor should it be easy, considering what is at stake. Without further ado, on behalf of the Guardian Council, I hereby open this first session of the first Parliament!” The lights return to their usual brightness and the hologram disappears, leaving only the MPs in the hall. Left alone with each other and the great responsibilities they have taken upon themselves… Welcome to Parliament! For ease of reference, I have split the mechanics explanation into two posts: this post will go over what you need to do in the near future, while the next post covers the general mechanics of legislating. First of all, you need to choose a speaker by this time tomorrow. The speaker can be either a player or an NPC and needs to be confirmed by a simple majority of the votes in Parliament. Mechanically speaking, it’s a purely ceremonial role, which consists of overseeing procedural matters, such as collecting the proposed bills and motions in one place, pointing out contradictions with previous laws, reminding MPs of the rules and other such things. If you choose an NPC from outside a player-led party, I will gladly take this role upon myself, but do you truly want to miss out on an opportunity to be able to legitimately berate other players? Next, Crazycryodude must present a government within the next two in-game months, and that government must gain the confidence of Parliament (see next post for details). Otherwise, we will have to hold another election. When I say present a government, I mean tell me (and Parliament) who will gain each Ministerial portfolio and who will be appointed as the Attorney General. Only MPs can be Ministers, but anyone can be the Attorney General, who is mainly in charge of representing the government in court. You can find a full list of Ministries in the second post - the Infrastructure Ministry also includes control over the SCN, the Interior Ministry is all about citizen records, statistics, and any social programs not covered by the other Ministries, and the other Ministries are about what you would expect. Be aware that being a Minister will require you to be constantly available, in case there is a crisis or other urgent event you need to respond to. Aside from all that, you can begin legislating to your heart’s content this month (see next post for details) but I would recommend not making any proposals that require extra funds or deal with taxation quite yet, since I will write a detailed post on that aspect of the game sometime tomorrow. The drafting phase for January 3062 begins now, and will end on Tuesday – the 5th of December 2017 – at 12:30 UTC.
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Dec 1, 2017 19:46
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This post goes over the game mechanics of legislating in Parliament. First, you need to know that, in ordinary circumstances, the game is divided into months. For each month, time is abstracted away and all decisions happen simultaneously, from a game mechanics perspective. If necessary, the timeline of the corresponding events in the narrative in that month can be established after the fact. Like other legislatures, Sirta’s Parliament has a variety of processes for drafting, amending and voting on legislation of all kinds, usually involving readings, debates, review by the relevant committee and so on. In terms of game mechanics, all of this is also abstracted away, but you should be aware that it is happening in the narrative. The mechanics of legislating are as follows: each month is divided into two phases – the drafting phase and the voting phase. In the drafting phase, any Member of Parliament can submit bills and motions to be voted on by the entire Parliament in the voting phase. Parliament is sovereign, so it can legislate on any topic, except when prohibited by the constitution. In addition to regular legislation, which requires a simple majority of votes to pass, there are several types of motions and special bills: * Motion of Confidence – Relevant during government formation, this is the means by which Parliament approves a proposed composition of government. Confidence can only be granted to a government presented by an MP selected by the Guardian Council for this purpose. Needs a simple majority of votes to pass. * Motion of No Confidence – Can be submitted by any MP at any time, provided the government holds Parliament’s confidence. Approval of this motion means the withdrawal of that confidence, and requires the Guardian Council to select a new MP to try and form another government, and if the attempt fails, Parliament is dissolved and a new election is held. Requires an absolute majority of votes (at least 41) to pass. * Motion of Dissolution - Can be submitted by any MP at any time, this results in the dissolution of Parliament, leading to a new election. Requires an absolute majority of votes (at least 41) to pass. * Budget Bill – The allocation of the government’s funds among the various Ministries, agencies and initiatives for a period of time ranging up to a year. Can be proposed only by the government, if it holds Parliament’s confidence. If approved, it goes into effect immediately, replacing the previous budget, if it exists. A government acting without an approved budget for long enough (40 days) automatically loses Parliament’s confidence. Requires a simple majority of votes to pass. * Constitutional Amendment – Any change to the constitution requires a special majority of votes (at least 61) to pass. * Member Suspension – Removes an MP from their position. If passed, the MP will be replaced by the next person on the electoral list of their party. Requires a special majority of votes (at least 61) to pass. These are the most important details. If anything is unclear, or if you want to know whether a bill is constitutional, don’t hesitate to ask. AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 19:50 on Dec 1, 2017 |
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Dec 1, 2017 19:47
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Expected Government Income and Expenses for January 3062: All amounts listed are in millions of New Sirtan Credits. Income Breakdown: Entries are listed in the “income source – income amount – algorithmically estimated loss from tax evasion and other relevant forms of crime” format. Meaning that, in a crime free world, you would have both of them combined. Sources that are one-time only (aren’t replenished on a monthly basis) are marked with square brackets. * Income tax, bottom bracket – 75 – 15 * Income tax, lower middle bracket – 78 – 21 * Income tax, upper middle bracket – 70 – 20 * Income tax, top bracket – 80 – at least 140 * Sales tax – 56 – 30 * Personal Vehicle Tax – 12 – 15 * Legal Addictive Substances Tax – 0.4 – 3.1 * Corporate Tax – 65 – too many factors for remotely accurate estimation, but at least 50 * Foreign Aid – 8.5 – 0.2 * Trade Tariffs – 10 – 8 * [Industrial Council for Frontier Development Donation – 5 – 0.03] * [Seized Assets From Former High-Ranking Regime Officials – 83 – 0] * Other Sources – 1.3 – 0.6 Overall Income: 544.2 Expenses: The transitional government doesn’t actively undertake any new initiatives, policies or programs that require funds. It doesn’t have a formal budget. The vast majority of expenses are salaries for public employees and scheduled payments to government contractors. Any proper government will see a dramatic increase in expenses, even without any new projects, welfare programs and initiatives. Overall Expenses: 473.7 Remaining: 70.5
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Dec 2, 2017 05:40
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Magnusth posted:What are the current tax rates for income and corporate taxes? Income tax, bottom bracket - 15% Income tax, lower middle bracket - 30% Income tax, upper middle bracket - 50% Income tax, top bracket - 75% Corporate Tax - 20% sniper4625 posted:
Determined how? In this act, by the end of the drafting phase? By the Infrastructure Ministry after the act is adopted? In some other way?
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Dec 2, 2017 06:04
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A public letter addressed to the SRLF from Stefan Borisov, leader of the FDG is posted on the relevant channels of the SCN: “To the leadership of the Sirtan Revolutionary Liberation Front, Congratulation on your impressive election result! Such an outcome shows that your program and ideals have found purchase in the minds of many citizens. From my meager understanding, your program doesn’t conflict with ours, more than that, they are complementary. We have prepared a program focused on long-term prosperity via raising a new generation of skilled workers and the return of foreign investment, while your program promises swift reforms in the short-term, in both infrastructure and policing, which would also benefit our development program. Therefore, I see no reason why we wouldn’t be able to join together in coalition. Naturally, we have several conditions for our participation in your endeavors, to ensure that our joint government carries out its’ program in accordance with our vision: 1. That the government commit to radical improvements on all levels of the present education system. 2. That the government open free specialized schools, available to all citizens, by the end of this year. 3. That the government offer incentives to foreign companies and organizations to invest or work in our country. These incentives shouldn’t come at the expense of ordinary citizens. 4. That the government give significant attention to investigating the feasibility and benefits of applying for membership in the Outer Alliance. We want a public document affirming the future government’s acceptance of these conditions as part of any coalition agreement. Additionally, we request the portfolios of Education, Finance and Foreign Affairs for members of our party, so that we may hold responsibility for all aspects relevant to our program. Hoping for fruitful cooperation between our parties, Stefan Borisov, Chairman of the Forward Development Group” AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 07:12 on Dec 2, 2017 |
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Dec 2, 2017 07:10
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Pakled posted:Private message, dated 01:47 03 January, 3062. Response from Central Committee Chairman Borisov: The Forward Development Group contains many individuals from a variety of backgrounds, united by the common goal of creating and implementing a long-term program of prosperity for our country. We appreciate your efforts as the most outspoken and well-connected member of our party, and you are quite welcome to conduct your own discussions, both within and without the party. Yet, I can't imagine any reason why something as significant and potentially sensitive as coalition negotiations should be left solely to your discretion. Ultimately, it is the Central Committee that will approve or reject any finalized agreement with other parties, and while many members of the Committee are satisfied with your performance, there are many others with their own strong opinions on how any negotiations should be conducted. I would advise you to refrain from making any firm commitments on behalf of our group, without first ensuring that all of us agree to them. Remember that the FDG is a Consensus type party, with all that entails, and the NPC leader is very much a "player" in this sense.
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Dec 2, 2017 08:13
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Without any prior notice, Victor Knapfstein, leader of DAL, walks on stage and begins speaking in front of Parliament, his words relayed to the entirety of Sirta via the constantly active SCN channel displaying a live video feed of the hall. “I have several important things to say. To start with, I want to congratulate our former comrades-in-arms at the SRLF for their success in the election. I am glad to see that there is a significant appetite among the citizens to continue our struggle and bring all of the regime’s criminals to account! It is obvious that our parties should join together, alongside any others that aren’t afraid of the people’s justice! Now, there are two promises that any of our partners MUST give unconditionally. First, they MUST guarantee that ALL of the bootlickers, hired murderers and uniformed bandits aiding and abetting the regime’s crimes against the people will receive their deserved punishment. Second, they MUST formally recognize, through legislation if necessary, the authority of our valiant brothers and sisters in the CLF to police the areas they are already policing without formal recognition. Whether that is as a part of the “militia union” proposed earlier or another means, all is welcome, so long as the CLF’s autonomy isn’t violated. In order to ensure that these promises are carried out properly, we, the staunchest allies of the CLF should hold the portfolios of Justice and Internal Security, which are the government positions most relevant to the matter. I am certain, that our former comrades-in-arms in the SRLF, dedicated as they are to our struggle, will be quick to give these promises and expedite our course towards true justice!” AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 15:17 on Dec 2, 2017 |
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Dec 2, 2017 09:14
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unwantedplatypus posted:The Community believes that the CLF is an institution with much promise, and we would like to see this decentralized, locally organized structure be taken elsewhere and applied to different aspects of our nation. Would the DAL support this goal, which we consider quite noble? "We are open to cooperating with your party towards any projects of this type. We believe that there are plenty of organizations in Sirta that could learn a lot from the CLF - the municipal police forces and the SDF being chief among them."
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Dec 2, 2017 19:23
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On hearing Luxembourg's speech, several MPs raise their hands, requesting their right to respond. The acting speaker picks Silvia Collins, a Guardian Council appointee. She immediately fires off her question: "I am not sure I understand. You announce these policies as part of a coalition, and promise Ministerial portfolios to a variety of parties, but, at least when it comes to legislatures in other countries, coalitions are a result of an agreement between several parties. It isn't very clear to me, from your speech, whether the parties you've named have actually agreed to participate on these terms. On the contrary, some of them have even named conditions that contradict your commitments in this speech. Can you please explain? I am mildly confused at the moment." Unrelated to this, it seems that despite the nomination of two players, there's been no progress towards the choice of a permanent speaker. As such, you have until Sunday - the 3rd of December - at 6:00 UTC to vote for a speaker. Obviously, the vote is restricted to player MPs. As with any other Parliament vote going forward, I will decide the NPCs' votes according to party affiliation and party type, or their personal motivations if they are major NPCs or not part of any party.
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Dec 2, 2017 21:20
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The next to be granted the right to speak is another Guardian Council appointee, William Viner: "I want to register my extreme opposition to granting the Defense Ministry to a party openly affiliated with an independent armed grouped involved in terror attacks and war crimes against the SDF and which likely harbors hostile intentions towards it."
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Dec 2, 2017 21:56
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A couple of hours after the leader of the UCS made his speech, Lenore Hughes goes up on stage to speak: "I am glad that the coalition seems to be coalescing at a swift pace, and wholeheartedly support the policies and ideas it leans on. I am certain the other members of Dawn feel the same way. Therefore, I officially announce Dawn's entry into the coalition under the agreed terms. May this be the first step on the way to a government that serves the people, helping those in need and providing safety and comfort to all citizens. In this coalition, I personally won't get to serve as Minister. Nevertheless, I plan to do the utmost to improve life for all of Sirta through legislation and continuous constructive dialogue with the Ministers of this government. We must remember that we are here because of you," she looks into one of the many SCN connected cameras in the hall, "the people, and it is your future that we must strive for!"
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Dec 3, 2017 07:13
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January 3062 Parliament Speaker Selection: Nominees: ReSeAu Gen. Party Breakdown: * SRLF - 18 ReSeAu Gen * Dawn - 9 ReSeAu Gen * UCS - 6 ReSeAu Gen * DAL - 6 Abstain * FDG - 3 ReSeAu Gen, 3 Abstain * FSP - 3 Abstain * Unity Coalition - 3 Abstain * KNK - 3 ReSeAu Gen * The Community - 3 Abstain * VM - 3 Abstain Guardian Council Appointments: * Vera Albright - ReSeAu Gen * Thomas Gil - Abstain * Frank Probst - ReSeAu Gen * Lucia Caldera - ReSeAu Gen * Sander Hansen - Abstain * Lisa Wyatt - ReSeAu Gen * William Viner - ReSeAu Gen * Roger Rockwell - ReSeAu Gen * Janet Oliphant - ReSeAu Gen * Silvia Collins - ReSeAu Gen * Rachel Hoffman - Abstain * Paul Thiede - Abstain * Della Jalbert - ReSeAu Gen * Sofia Juhl - ReSeAu Gen * Jade Ross - ReSeAu Gen Citizen Seats: * Rutherford T. Vanderbush - Abstain * Jessica Ramsey - Abstain * Susanne Brandt - Abstain * Autumn Black - ReSeAu Gen * Grace Wright - ReSeAu Gen Overall: 52 ReSeAu Gen, 28 Abstain. Outcome: ReSeAu Gen selected as new Parliament speaker. Congratulations to Godlovesus! Now that you hold this almost entirely ceremonial role, you are in charge of collecting all motions proposed in the drafting phase into one post, looking out for any contradictions with existing law in those proposals, reminding other MPs of the rules and so on. Use your new authority wisely.
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Dec 3, 2017 07:54
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Stefan Borisov is the first to go up on stage and respond to Luxemburg's announcement: "Let me say this, at the conclusion of the negotiations between our parties - the People's Coalition and its' principles are fully in accord with our group's long-term development program. Despite not acquiring everything we set out to, I have no regrets in joining this coalition and working alongside the other parties towards the long-term prosperity of our country. Like the esteemed Miss Hughes, I will not hold a portfolio in this government, but am unwavering in my confidence in Danube's compatibility with the position. Therefore, I will be working to advance our program through legislation. That is all." *** Next, Victor Knapfstein is the one to speak: "It is fitting that those who fought alongside us against tyranny in times past are those to join the struggle once more. We are confident that our allies in the SRLF and their partners in this coalition can work with us to deliver justice to the enemies of the people, who have evaded it for far too long. As they used to say in the Popular Resistance - Long Live the Revolution!" *** I'll take this opportunity to remind everyone that a Motion of Confidence is no different from any other bill or motion, in that it's proposed in the drafting phase and voted on in the voting phase. In the time remaining in the current drafting phase, feel free to draft as many bills as you want. If your bill requires funding, it will come into effect only after the next Budget Bill is approved. AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 21:01 on Dec 3, 2017 |
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Dec 3, 2017 20:55
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unwantedplatypus posted:The Community objects to the SRLF putting a guardian council appointee in a ministerial position. Minor nitpick, but the Attorney General isn't a ministerial position.
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Dec 3, 2017 21:17
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Lenore Hughes submits a bill:Care and Shelter Act posted:0.1. For the purposes of this act, a “homeless citizen” is any citizen with no registered place of residence and no residential properties on record, not employed by any organization providing onsite housing for employees and not serving in the SDF. "I think this is a good way to help some of the most vulnerable members of our society, and that, while it may not be a radical change, it will aid a lot of people in need at an insignificant cost. There are over 350 upscale private homes, retreats and even some luxury hotels owned by corrupt high-ranking regime officials that now belong to our government. It would be an incredible waste to let them sit unused when they can be turned to the benefit of society. We estimate that this initiative will cost less than 500,000 credits a month, a paltry sum compared to the other expenses of government. I hope that our partners in the People's Coalition, as well as any other parties that care for citizens in need, will support this act." AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 08:26 on Dec 4, 2017 |
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Dec 4, 2017 08:11
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The Lord of Hats posted:I don't doubt the good will and motivations behind this proposal. What I am skeptical of is that budget estimate. With the financial situation the government presently finds itself in, we must be cautious of the commitments we make. It does us no good if so noble a program were to fall victim to budgetary concerns. With that in mind, I have a proposal to make: "Our estimate isn't spurious. I assure you, the feasibility of our proposal has been investigated at length and the expenses estimate was arrived at after a consultation with the transitional government. Regardless, your budgetary office proposal is a very good idea. It has my full support, and I don't see why anyone in our or any other party would oppose it. Having more information to work with will benefit all of us." The Lord of Hats posted:Outer Alliance Resolution "However, your other proposal is hasty in the extreme. I don't know about the rest of you, but I personally know almost nothing about the benefits of Outer Alliance membership or, more significantly, about what we'll have to give up to obtain it. I think a detailed study of the matter should be carried out, before we can begin to consider whether or not membership is something we even want. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs, you will be in the best position to carry out such a study and convince the rest of us that membership is a good idea. Until then, I won't support your act. I urge everyone else to adopt this position as well, and not make any uninformed statements of intent. After all, the people of Sirta have entrusted us with their future - we owe it to them to be responsible with it."
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Dec 4, 2017 18:51
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Crazycryodude posted:I request that the budgetary office of Transitional Government prepare an estimate on what operating costs a fully organized government will incur. An official response to this request is sent out to the entirety of Parliament: "This isn't a matter which can be accurately estimated by us, since our role has been very limited relative to any proper government as described by the constitution, meaning we lack the proper experience to base our calculations on, and the regime's records can't be relied on. However, we have done our best to provide an answer to your request, and, having combined our own expenses with the salaries of the ministerial staff and other organizational and operative costs, have arrived at a rough number range: Running the most limited government the constitution allows for will cost somewhere between 520 and 540 million credits."
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Dec 4, 2017 19:27
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unwantedplatypus posted:As of right now, the Guardian Council can appoint nearly a fifth of the parliament. The Community understands the intent behind the Guardian Council seats, to have a group of MPs not beholden to the whims of party politics. Silvia Collins, a Guardian Council appointment, responds to the the Community's proposal: "Our seats weren't created out of some aversion to party politics, but rather as a way to protect the core values of the Revolution from being abandoned in favor of narrow electoral considerations, a duty which the Councillors are well equipped to carry out. As the core values of our society evolve over time, the special elections to elect new Councilors will allow the Guardian Council to accommodate these changes without altering its' character all at once, as a result of a single election. In that respect, replacing their appointments to Parliament with citizen seats is a notion worthy of ridicule. Frankly speaking, I suspect that their apparent deeply-ingrained prejudice against AMRs is clouding the Community's judgment on this issue." AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 07:56 on Dec 5, 2017 |
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Dec 5, 2017 07:53
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Victor Knapfstein responds to Danube's bill: "While the proposal's spirit is admirable, we in the DAL believe it to contain several major deficiencies. As such, I submit an alternative bill and ask everyone truly committed to justice to support it." Truth and Justice Act posted:Definitions for this act: AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 09:08 on Dec 5, 2017 |
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Dec 5, 2017 09:02
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The drafting phase is now over. From now until the end of the voting phase, you are prohibited from editing any of the bills and motions submitted for Parliament's consideration. Now, each player MP can vote to either Support or Oppose each individual bill, amendment and motion, with the default being Abstain. At the end of the voting phase, I will determine the NPCs' votes in accordance with their party affiliation and party type, or their goals and motivations if they are major NPCs. Remember that most legislation requires a simple majority of votes to pass, meaning a majority of the votes that aren't Abstain, so if you want to prevent something from passing, make sure to actually vote Oppose. To compensate for the fact that all of the votes happen simultaneously from a game mechanics perspective, you can make conditional votes. For example, you can declare that you vote to Support Bill A only if Bill B passes, and Abstain or even Oppose it otherwise. Please use a conditional vote only if you feel that it is absolutely necessary, because if there are too many of them things can quickly spiral into conditions that are difficult for me to evaluate (e.g. MP 1 will vote in favor of Bill A only if Bill B passes, and MP 2 will vote in favor of Bill B only if Bill A passes, and both of them are the decisive votes for the respective bills). The voting phase will last until Thursday – the 7th of December – at 12:30 UTC
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Dec 5, 2017 13:26
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With thanks to the speaker, here is the list of proposals for this voting phase: 1. A Motion of Confidence for the formation of government under Comrade Luxembourg from the SRLF. 2. The SIRTRAK Act, proposed by Member Radek of the SRLF. 3. The SISTER Act, proposed by Member Bookchin of the SRLF. 4. The Census Act, proposed by Member Subtallier of the Unity Coalition, along with associated amendments with Member Danube of the FDG (each amendment needs to be voted on separately). 5. The Care and Shelter Act, proposed by Member Hughes of Dawn. 6. The Sirtan Budget Office Act, proposed by Member Vanderbush 7. The Outer Alliance Resolution, proposed by Member Vanderbush. 8. Bill F-1, also known as the Tax Enforcement Act, proposed by ReSeAu Gen of the UCS. 9. Constitutional Amendment on Parliament's Composition, proposed by Amnesty of the Community (requires 61 votes to pass). 10. The Truth and Reconciliation Act, proposed by Member Danube of the FDG. 11. The Truth and Justice Act, proposed by Member Knapfstein of the DAL. 12. The PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY Act, proposed by Member Bookchin of the SRLF. AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 16:02 on Dec 5, 2017 |
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Dec 5, 2017 13:27
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Actually, as written in the first post, party registration for the next election is already open, it's just that the election may not be for a while. You can also register for a citizen seat and wait two in-game years for a chance to get selected. You can join a party without getting into Parliament yet, getting involved in their decision making and increasing their member size for the next election. Finally, even only being a voter you can still influence Sirta's politics right now - some of the parties will want to appeal to you in the hopes of getting your vote in the next election.
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Dec 6, 2017 17:55
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| # ¿ Apr 25, 2024 01:09 |
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Volmarias posted:Register me for a citizen seat, please! Done.
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Dec 6, 2017 19:39
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