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Robin for Delegate!

Arise, arise, Riders of Robin!
Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered,
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now! Ride to the Polls!

Democratically Endorsed, Lustrous and Eternal Guardian of Authority, Truth, and Excellence

Hello friends!  Once again I ride for the delegacy.  For a long time we've escaped the most grueling parts of inter-regional politicking and the politicization of the region, but more recently I fear that we have not. 

But mainly to respond to the accusations of "inactivity" and the like from my outspoken opposition (which we'll take as a sign of well-meaning enthusiasm, rather than intentionally malicious harangue) I have but one question. Are we, Wintreath, simply a "region" of an online political simulation game?  Is that all that we are?  Because if the answer is yes, then undoubtedly the approach to the WA should be radically different than what it is currently.  But this discussion has occurred before.  I should know.  I was there.  I was once a new WA delegate, eager to "expand regional influence" or something of the like.  We've had that conversation about the identity of Wintreath countless times, and each time, the answer is resoundingly for while we may have been just a region in NationStates at one point in the past, we've now been with each other in the good times and the bad for the better part of a decade.  That's incredible to me, and I don't think that we should lose focus there.  That is what we are.  That is what keeps me here.  You're my friends, and you can count me as yours.

However, I should also note that I entered the office of the Delegacy with some good advice from my one-time mentor, Reon.  At one point, I forget where, he offered the piece of advice to the region that was something along the lines of "I protect/insulate Wintreath from the politics of the WA." 

While I didn't quite understand that advice at the time, I think that as I have been delegate, I've slowly developed an understanding of what he meant. 

Anyhow, with that disclaimer out of the way, to the conventional upbeat portion of the campaign thread!Hola amigos!  It's your favourite delegate (at least I hope so ), running for re-election again!    To safeguard our region from horribly penned WA legislation, to approve all grammatically correct proposals to ensure an ample supply of legislation in the queue of the World Assembly, and to generate goodwill among the regions of the WA in the event that we want to get any Wintreath bills passed (obligatory attempt to get people interested in writing something for the WA)!!!

The last few months were relatively normal for the delegacy, we now have 82 endorsements, up pretty dramatically! (from 65ish).  I do plan on continuing the polling regimen as requested and such and to generate more interest in WA affairs.  Again, in the event that we have any other ideas for polls, you can always feel free to PM me on either here or on NationStates and I should probably respond to you/put up the poll within a week!  I really want to have a poll queue this next term.  That would be very fun!!  (Please.  Poll queue!!)

But fear not, though we have now figured out the Acronym for Delegate, there are but more things to accomplish in the WA!  Our goals for the next sequence are as follows, and as identical as usual to those of the previous term:

(1) To write and submit WA legislation as we deem it necessary and get what we write to vote!

(2) Continuation of the polling programme and getting us to keeping is in the 80+ range of endorsements.  Summer should prove an excellent time to get people from NS interested in what we have to offer here in Wintreath!

(3) From a logistical standpoint, I again think it would be valuable to try and integrate the Delegacy with some of our more WA-inclined peer regions, TNP is the most overt region with this capability, and we have good relations with them.  Then again, as the Ambassador to TNP, I may be biased. 

(4) If anyone in the community wants anything from the WA office, we are always willing to attempt any crazy plan, no matter how far fetched or half baked the idea may seem at first.  Seriously!  Nobody ever takes me up on this, but I'd totally think it'd be awesome if someone did!! 

Did you know the Rohirrim did Paperwork?

1) Why are you running for this position?
  I am sincere, thorough and a good communicator generally, and though I lack some of the more graphics-related skills necessary for other cabinet positions, I'm able to generate some interest in the WA, I think! 
2) What do you aim to accomplish as Thane? As part of this, you must include at least one thing that you promise to do beyond the minimum listed duties of the position during your term. It should be measurable, so that it's black and white whether you fulfilled this mandate at the end of the term if you are elected.
  Getting community involvement in creating quality polls that generate fun little activity is hard, but I'll continue my efforts there.  I'll also attempt to put a few more announcements in the RMB on the NationStates side of thing as well for important WA votes.  Keeping the endorsement level above 80ish endorsements for the entirety of the term would be awesome, but gaining more endorsements would be even better!  Also, getting people from NS (from RMB) is a good point that Katie has raised, and I think that it would be a good idea to bring them onto the forums or discord would be much better for getting more people in our community.  Also continuing to vote on WA proposals with majority rule from NS nations in the region will continue.
2a) If you are an incumbent running for re-election, did you fulfill your mandate from the December election? If not, why didn't you?
  We are significantly up quarter over quarter on endorsements (have 82)
3) What qualifications or experience do you have in the area that you are running in?
I have been delegate for several years, I'm Wintreath's Ambassador to TNP and Europeia, which are also cool reasons, and sometimes even have formatting that rivals Wintreath!!  (Jk.  We've got the best formatting, it's impossible to beat us )
4) How do you plan to have the time to fulfill the duties of the position until the next election in June?
It's late in my current university quarter so early this session may be tough but overall activity should pick up and then we can go from there! 
5) Are you currently a part of any other NationStates regional or organizational government? If so, please include those regions and positions.
I am still Lord of Development in New Hyperion!! (the Wintreath Vassal Region) 
Additionally, if you managed to get here without being bored to death, please reply with the phrase: "DEATH!!" as large as possible.  Thank you.

Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world's ending!

I just have one question. Are you aware of the discussion we had in the Discord cabinet chat about reforming WA?

I approve your campaign.

Now that that's out of the way,
DEATH!!

i'll come back and edit this when I have time to think about questions/criticisms, this was just a first-run readthrough because i may not get back to it tonight in time before voting starts tomorrow

DEATH?

However, I should also note that I entered the office of the Delegacy with some good advice from my one-time mentor, Reon.  At one point, I forget where, he offered the piece of advice to the region that was something along the lines of "I protect/insulate Wintreath from the politics of the WA." 

While I didn't quite understand that advice at the time, I think that as I have been delegate, I've slowly developed an understanding of what he meant.

Could you elaborate on this point? It intrigues me, especially since it sounds like an idea I would be receptive to.

I just have one question. Are you aware of the discussion we had in the Discord cabinet chat about reforming WA?

Indeed.  I'm aware of discord things, even though I rarely spoke for the past few months.  But I can chalk most of that up to not wanting to take sides in the whole disagreements thing because I had friends on both sides (at least initially) and didn't want to talk too much lest my opinion be requested on that other more serious matter.  Was that an error in judgement?  I don't think so considering I'm still here and I waited things out long enough.    (But perhaps I did, but that's your value judgement to make.) 

Also regarding that sort of methodology of reform, while sometimes useful, I think that the WA is something where its only fair to ask for reforms more organically from the population.  I make it quite clear always that I'm willing to entertain ideas for new fun things, and anyone who knows me should know that this is true.  It's just (if you would believe) nobody has really mentioned anything at these past few years.  I even tried to get people suggest silly polls and still have yet to receive a suggestion  

DEATH?

However, I should also note that I entered the office of the Delegacy with some good advice from my one-time mentor, Reon.  At one point, I forget where, he offered the piece of advice to the region that was something along the lines of "I protect/insulate Wintreath from the politics of the WA." 

While I didn't quite understand that advice at the time, I think that as I have been delegate, I've slowly developed an understanding of what he meant.

Could you elaborate on this point? It intrigues me, especially since it sounds like an idea I would be receptive to.

Essentially I've come to view the general attitude in the WA (especially the SC) as a sort of interregional beauty contest which can get really obsessed with the interpersonal relationships of figures of "importance" (or worse—convinced they're important) playing games of intrigue and other randomness.  We are first and foremost—as was most recently reaffirmed earlier this month (technically last month but semantics)—a region of friends, a region that is apolitical.  Intraregional power struggles are something that can seep into regions that get too invested in gameside political maneuverings, which can be shitshows, quite frankly.  The sheer number of diplomatic crises that we avoid by doing nothing is incredible, really.  If that sort of makes sense? 

There are some things we as a region don't want to be involved in if we want to maintain our unique, fun identity.  Growth for growth's sake as a NS "region" isn't worth prioritizing as much as it was in 2013-4, because we're more than that.  We aren't a company, we're a community from various diverse backgrounds, cultures, and opinions (heck even geographies!) connected in a way which wouldn't be even close to possible even forty years ago before the internet.  That's incredible to me, and I don't think we need to reduce ourselves to something lesser by prioritizing NS gameplay mechanics.  We're friends, not just mutual-gamemates. 

I just have one question. Are you aware of the discussion we had in the Discord cabinet chat about reforming WA?

Indeed.  I'm aware of discord things, even though I rarely spoke for the past few months.  But I can chalk most of that up to not wanting to take sides in the whole disagreements thing because I had friends on both sides (at least initially) and didn't want to talk too much lest my opinion be requested on that other more serious matter.  Was that an error in judgement?  I don't think so considering I'm still here and I waited things out long enough.    (But perhaps I did, but that's your value judgement to make.) 

Also regarding that sort of methodology of reform, while sometimes useful, I think that the WA is something where its only fair to ask for reforms more organically from the population.  I make it quite clear always that I'm willing to entertain ideas for new fun things, and anyone who knows me should know that this is true.  It's just (if you would believe) nobody has really mentioned anything at these past few years.  I even tried to get people suggest silly polls and still have yet to receive a suggestion

What are your thoughts on those proposed reforms on how the Delegacy is chosen, then? It would seem that Katie has made it a key feature of her campaign post (I'm kinda confused on that, since such a decision is up to Wintermoot, not the WA Thane, so I'm not sure how exactly this election would affect the reforms either way, but no matter).

DEATH?

However, I should also note that I entered the office of the Delegacy with some good advice from my one-time mentor, Reon.  At one point, I forget where, he offered the piece of advice to the region that was something along the lines of "I protect/insulate Wintreath from the politics of the WA." 

While I didn't quite understand that advice at the time, I think that as I have been delegate, I've slowly developed an understanding of what he meant.

Could you elaborate on this point? It intrigues me, especially since it sounds like an idea I would be receptive to.

Essentially I've come to view the general attitude in the WA (especially the SC) as a sort of interregional beauty contest which can get really obsessed with the interpersonal relationships of figures of "importance" (or worse—convinced they're important) playing games of intrigue and other randomness.  We are first and foremost—as was most recently reaffirmed earlier this month (technically last month but semantics)—a region of friends, a region that is apolitical.  Intraregional power struggles are something that can seep into regions that get too invested in gameside political maneuverings, which can be shitshows, quite frankly.  The sheer number of diplomatic crises that we avoid by doing nothing is incredible, really.  If that sort of makes sense? 

There are some things we as a region don't want to be involved in if we want to maintain our unique, fun identity.  Growth for growth's sake as a NS "region" isn't worth prioritizing as much as it was in 2013-4, because we're more than that.  We aren't a company, we're a community from various diverse backgrounds, cultures, and opinions (heck even geographies!) connected in a way which wouldn't be even close to possible even forty years ago before the internet.  That's incredible to me, and I don't think we need to reduce ourselves to something lesser by prioritizing NS gameplay mechanics.  We're friends, not just mutual-gamemates.

No doubt, the Security Council is tied to NSGP and all the politics, toxicity, and drama that comes along with that.

How about the General Assembly though? Is there a place for a fun RP legislation game in there? Or is it, much like NS Gameplay (and thus the SC), a source of toxic drama to be avoided?

On the one hand, I dislike the WA for all the things you've listed here, but on the other, I don't necessarily see why expanding our WA presence would lead to toxicity, especially if we choose to form a WA alliance with some more community-minded regions, like us.

My opinion is still very much that GP is cancer (but also a drug that I have to fight the addiction of), but the WAD doesn't necessarily have to engage with the toxic elements of it. In fact, it could have a positive effect on said toxicity.

I personally believe you when you say a large part of your inactivity was the recent drama.