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Stark: Wintreath is going places!

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I am very excited to be running in the elections for the Underhusen. I thank Alterra for nominating me and the advice he has given me since joining the region.

As most of you will know I am a fairly new face to Wintreath having joined at the end of April. Although I am a fairly new member to Wintreath I am not one of the most recent people to join. That is testament to the great progression the region is making. We are gaining new citizens every day and I am enjoying being a part of it. I hope I have started to make friends here and I certainly have liked getting to know people in the region.

As a member of the Underhusen I want to concentrate on ensuring this influx of new members results in active members that contribute to the forum. I would look to work with the Jarl and Thane of Integration to see how this could be achieved. One possible idea is to bring in a mentor scheme to help new members learn about the region and become active long term members of the forum.

I also believe that at this stage of the region’s development, more government and legislature positions should be opened up for active enthusiastic members. It is a worry that too few people control all of the main positions in the region. I would urge the Jarls to ensure they have appointed a Thane, giving an opportunity to a citizen.

Although I am fairly new to the region, I am enthusiastic, very active and looking to improve the region!
Thank you and I hope I can count on your support. I open for questions.

Good luck! I know I'll vote for you.

Same here, brother! Best of luck!

Welcome to the campaign!

When you first joined, many of your initial ideas were geared around making Wintreath a more political region...have you moderated your views in that area since then, and if so, how?

Politics is apparently your thing, Stark.

Anyway : What would you do differently than other nominees?

Welcome to the campaign!

When you first joined, many of your initial ideas were geared around making Wintreath a more political region...have you moderated your views in that area since then, and if so, how?

Haha not letting me forget my initial statements when I got here I see!

Since my initial days I have learned a lot more about the region and the people in it. I do like politics, but I feel like I am making friends here and getting on with people. Wintreath is clearly more of a community and not a region characterized by political battles. I embrace that!

Politics is apparently your thing, Stark.

Anyway : What would you do differently than other nominees?

I do enjoy politics I admit but I have certainly seen the community sentiment in Wintreath and have enjoyed being part of that!

Many other nominees have been in the region for a long time and have held positions in the region, or even currently hold positions. They are of course more experienced than I am and I will look to learn from members with experience and greater knowledge of Wintreath. However I think being enthusiastic and fairly new to the region will mean I will have a different perspective on some issues and different priorities.

I want to see greater activity in the legislature, that includes the Citizens Platform as well as the Underhusen and Overhusen. It certainly could be doing more than it has been currently. I also want to see greater opportunities for citizens who are active but have not had a chance in government positions. That is not happening currently and I am not sure other nominees would do much about that issue either.

I think your campaign is good overall, but I will have to ask you the same question I have asked everyone else who has said it, how do you propose we increase activity?


In addition, no offense meant, but some of the candidates seem to be confusing the Jarl of Information's and the Jarl of Integration's role.
It is my job to create more influx into the region, and I have been thinking up of ways to do so.
The Jarl of Information's role is to create regional publications and maintain people both within Wintreath and outside of Wintreath informed of our regional happenings.


I appreciate your enthusiasm, but the Underhusen is there to create laws that are not covered by any of the ministries, like justice. I think the greatest challenge imposing itself on Wintreath right now is the lack of our legal code. What do you plan on doing about that?

I think your campaign is good overall, but I will have to ask you the same question I have asked everyone else who has said it, how do you propose we increase activity?


In addition, no offense meant, but some of the candidates seem to be confusing the Jarl of Information's and the Jarl of Integration's role.
It is my job to create more influx into the region, and I have been thinking up of ways to do so.
The Jarl of Information's role is to create regional publications and maintain people both within Wintreath and outside of Wintreath informed of our regional happenings.


I appreciate your enthusiasm, but the Underhusen is there to create laws that are not covered by any of the ministries, like justice. I think the greatest challenge imposing itself on Wintreath right now is the lack of our legal code. What do you plan on doing about that?

I am aware of the responsibilities of the Underhusen and the responsibilities the appointed Jarls have in each area. I guess as a member of the Underhusen I will perhaps have more influence in the region to try and argue for ideas of mine to be considered by the Jarls. I will always point out steps I think the region should take going forward and try to gather support for any ideas I have that I think could be implemented, even if I do not have the jurisdiction to do so myself.

In terms of the law book I have argued in the past for more activity in the legislature and the need to propose more laws.

This could be done by the region setting out its position through legislation, and therefore discussion and debate on various issues. This could be on anything, for example foreign aid on principal. This would certainly create a regional direction and plenty of activity. I don't think the legislature should just be prohibited to bills that are practical for the forum necessarily.

As a member of the Underhusen I would look to improve the communication with the citizens. Through the use of the citizen's platform, with debate and polls, I will look to harness an active citizenry to debate and pass bills that citizens want to see. There should be a clear and active link between the legislature and the citizenry.

On the activity issue, more needs to be done to make the forum more attractive to citizen participation.

My ideas include therefore:
-Legislate the formation of a Mentor Scheme. When new citizens apply for citizenship they are assigned a voluntarily mentor who will message them regularly, answering any questions they have and attempt to keep them active on the forum.
- Work with the Jarl of Information, and any interested others in establishing a regional newspaper. Not an outlet that simply summarizes the events in the region but a newspaper that has opinion columns and creates debate and therefore activity.
- Work to make the Citizens Platform more active with the use of debate topics and Polls to engage citizens.
- Possibly through legislation, the Monarch and individual Jarls need to be encouraged to ensure a full cabinet and active Thane's are appointed. I think a lot more could be done to create an active government.

As a member of the Underhusen I would look to improve the communication with the citizens. Through the use of the citizen's platform, with debate and polls, I will look to harness an active citizenry to debate and pass bills that citizens want to see. There should be a clear and active link between the legislature and the citizenry.

On the activity issue, more needs to be done to make the forum more attractive to citizen participation.

My ideas include therefore:
-Legislate the formation of a Mentor Scheme. When new citizens apply for citizenship they are assigned a voluntarily mentor who will message them regularly, answering any questions they have and attempt to keep them active on the forum.
- Work with the Jarl of Information, and any interested others in establishing a regional newspaper. Not an outlet that simply summarizes the events in the region but a newspaper that has opinion columns and creates debate and therefore activity.
- Work to make the Citizens Platform more active with the use of debate topics and Polls to engage citizens.
- Possibly through legislation, the Monarch and individual Jarls need to be encouraged to ensure a full cabinet and active Thane's are appointed. I think a lot more could be done to create an active government.

Good:
Attempt to increase activity in Citizen's platform
Increase communication between citizens and UH
Bads:
The whole point of the Underhusen and the Riksrad being separate is that they're separate. The Mentor scheme will run through without legislation, thank you very much; the JoInfo I cannot speak for; and the Monarch and Jarls will appoint Thanes if they see someone capable or they feel like they need one.

I for one see Stark's point. As members not privy to Riksråd discussion, we aren't seeing any moves towards Mentorship etc, so we may as well try and legislate it. After all, I don't see anything about it not being within the remit of the Underhusen...

As far as the activity of the Executive is concerned, that does fall outside of our remit, Stark.

1. What do you feel is the most important legislative goal to be accomplished during the coming term?

2. What do you feel should be the nature of the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government? Do you believe the current relationship between the two is appropriately balanced or out of balance, and why?

3. Name one thing that's wrong with one of our laws (including the Fundamental Laws) and how you would fix it.

4. Do you see treaties as a means to develop a new relationship with a region, a means to make official an already solid relationship, some combination of these, or something else entirely? Please be as detailed as possible.

5. Do you believe that members of the Riksråd should be part of the Underhusen? Why or why not?

Bads:
The whole point of the Underhusen and the Riksrad being separate is that they're separate. The Mentor scheme will run through without legislation, thank you very much; the JoInfo I cannot speak for; and the Monarch and Jarls will appoint Thanes if they see someone capable or they feel like they need one.

Interesting that you concentrated on all that. There isn't a mentor scheme currently in place and it's bad that I want to introduce one?

I can also create my own regional newspaper if I want to. There is no law against it?

1. What do you feel is the most important legislative goal to be accomplished during the coming term?

2. What do you feel should be the nature of the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government? Do you believe the current relationship between the two is appropriately balanced or out of balance, and why?

3. Name one thing that's wrong with one of our laws (including the Fundamental Laws) and how you would fix it.

4. Do you see treaties as a means to develop a new relationship with a region, a means to make official an already solid relationship, some combination of these, or something else entirely? Please be as detailed as possible.

5. Do you believe that members of the Riksråd should be part of the Underhusen? Why or why not?

Firstly, am I right in guessing your new avatar is Sir Richard Dannatt? Interesting choice.

1. I think it is difficult to answer this as it won't become clear arguably until the end of my term. I think the most important aspect will to be increase the activity in the Underhusen and the quality of the debate between members of the legislature. So in answer to the question, the quality and the number of bills passed may be the most important thing.

2. As far as I understand it the relationship between the cabinet and the legislature overlaps as some members hold positions in both. It is a key relationship that should be a co-operative one. I don't support the argument that the legislature should stay out of the way of the Jarls and vice versa. Both should work together to make progress in Wintreath and that is certainly what I will be looking to do if I am elected to the Underhusen.

3. As the monarch himself has spoke about, one area that the law should be careful on is trying to curtail the power of the executive to attempt to take Wintreath to a more political system. This should not happen and Wintermoot is the greatest asset this region has.

4. I have limited experience of foreign policy on Nationstates. However I am enthusiastic and learning quickly. I have quickly put myself forward and currently Wintreath Ambassador to the FRA. I certainly think treaties can be used to cement ties with a region as well being part of developing new ties. You do need to be careful however of getting in to treaties with regions you perhaps do not have enough knowledge on.

5. I believe the executive, that are appointed by the Monarch, should be separate to the elected Underhusen. I understand this perhaps could not have been avoided in the past due to lack of viable candidates for the Underhusen. It therefore shouldn't be banned as practicality sometimes dictates the need for it. Having said that, it should not be encouraged in my view. Let's create an active and thriving legislature in Wintreath as well as a full and active executive. Hopefully having a large number of active and enthusiastic citizens being part of the government as a whole will become a reality as the region grows and grows.

Firstly, am I right in guessing your new avatar is Sir Richard Dannatt? Interesting choice.

Indeed it is, very good