[PRIME MINISTRY] What happens now?

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

The Cosa elections have reconfirmed the Free Democrats as the leading party in the Kingdom; but the drop in turnout (including 9 Free Democrats voters) shows that we have to do more. We've got the message. In our own defence, I can only say that re-establishing ownership of the National Webspace was such a hair-raising and complicated process it left very little brain space for anything else.

This is to inform the broad masses that negotiations are already proceeding among various parties as to what shape the new Government of Talossa will take. If, as seems likely, the King gives me the nod to lead this new government, I announce that my priorities will be as follows:

1) sorting out the mess at the Bureau of Immigration. Senator Ian Plätschisch repeatedly asked to be relieved of his duties in this regard, and so the Ministry of the Interior appointed, first, Andy Park to that role - but he found it impossible to keep up with the tasks. Then, we appointed Gödafrïeu Válcadác’h to the role on a temporary basis until the end of the election, and... well, we all love GV, don't we? But I've been watching the immigration applications come in (they get copied to the Seneschál's mailbox still) and they just haven't been acted on, for whatever reason. So... yes, the Government has dropped the ball on this one, and it's our immediate priority to sort that out.

2) enacting the recommendations of the National Survey on things that could spark more interest in immigration, and engagement from existing citizens.

3) complete the move to New Wittenberg.

4) enact a comprehensive programme of Organic Law reforms that will have the support of 3/4 of the Cosa.

Questions? Comments?

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

What changes are being made to respond to the activity crisis that's been getting steadily worse? This seems like a continuation of previous priorities or the resurrection of lost ones, and some of the latter are starting to seem like rearranging the deckchairs on a sinking ship. Like with bringing back the Magistracy again, creating more jobs to do for a country with fewer people to do them, expanding a system that is basically unused already.

I remember when the Republic slowly shrank and began dismembering itself, looking from the outside as though it were paring down its governance to make it possible to run with fewer and fewer people, and competition became stale since anyone who would do a job was asked to just do it. I think it's possible for a situation like that to creep up on you without ever noticing it, until eventually things are too far gone for you to do anything more than disassemble everything that's non-essential and try to scrabble together enough interest to keep the lights on.

We are fortunate that we have a lot of legacy assets yet -- our monarchy, our continued legitimacy as the same Talossa from 1979, and an Organic Law with some impressive longevity. And we still have a good number of active and semi-active citizens. And we're still getting some new and active immigrants. But it seems like loud alarm bells should be going off with everyone, and we shouldn't be revisiting the same partisan fights unless we think they're going to solve the present crisis. It might be possible to jettison our legal system and introduce the Magistracy again, especially since so many voters have fled and reduced the opposition, but it's disheartening that we're not all rushing to enact a real change to business as usual.

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

Dec 2, 2019 15:10:41 GMT -6 Sir Alexandreu Davinescu said:

We are fortunate that we have a lot of legacy assets yet -- our monarchy

You will notice that in the last election the vote for parties which swore to protect the current Royal powers and prerogatives shrank from 48 to 25 seats. One man's asset is another man's dead weight. Who's to say? Only the incoming majority.

But note the essential incoherence of the argument: "Talossa needs radical action to stay afloat, and the essential part of that radical action is making sure nothing changes!"

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

If my garage is on fire, it is possible that demolishing my house will help matters. But it's not likely. Just because we need radical action, it doesn't mean that every radical action will be equally helpful.

I'm not sure that the general departure of a bunch of citizens is anything about which to crow, even if it gives you the power you sought. Yes, most conservatives and most vocal monarchists have departed or become inactive. That's sad to me, just as it was sad when the PP collapsed and left Talossa without a liberal contingent for quite some time. It's not healthy, whatever the temporal benefits. But benefits do exist, I guess, and you're in charge. I'll do my best in my role, and we'll check back in after seven months and see if anything is better. Nothing would give me greater relief than to see more people engaged and more activity throughout the land.