From Viteu with Love

[Ieremiac'h Ventrutx]

My Fellow Citizens of Vuode:

I have been absent from Witt but not from Talossa for a long time now. I have NO interest in returning to Witt unless I must. Due to reasons I need not mention, I have decided to just not rejoin Witt. It's that simple.

Not too long ago I let the RUMP know I will be supporting them in the upcoming election. I am now putting my name in, as a loyal citizen of Vuode, as running for the seat that is open. I know many of you do not know me well but I am open to whatever issues you would like to discuss.

I would usually have no issue with voting for Dreu, but some recent things have come up.

First off, I tried my hardest to be involved in the constitution writing process but was denied. I was essentially told "we have the votes without you." My concerns were not listened to. I am also not accusing anyone of anything, and I firmly believe it was an accidental oversight, but no where in my inbox was there ever an email for the Vuodian vote on the constitution, yet it was said to have passed anonymously (I voted against it in the Ziu.) If it was sent and got lost in the ether of the Internet, I understand. I think this answers the question on how the seat will be handled. Those who would question would be told "well my election isn't based on you because I have the votes to secure my seat." If we truly want the Senate to become transparent and be the will of the people, everyone must have a voice. I would work hard to not have this if I am elected. I would listen to all of our citizens questions and will gladly answer any questions, regardless of past-grudges.

Second, Sir T does ask a valid question. One which I am not exempt. Many of my actions in the past have contributed to people leaving Talossa. And for that I am deeply regretful. I had the misfortune of having some private mud thrown at me which ultimately lead me to trying to relinquish my citizenship. But, like breathing, Talossa is apart of me. Witt is not. That being said, I openly apologize to everyone whom I may have hurt with my actions and words.

Third, the obvious question is how would I conduct business without being on Witt. Simple, by having a Witt account only FOR voting and debating bills. Also, I would keep my email, phone, and any other means of communication open to whomever so that they may contact me at any point.

Fourth, I know the PP is strong in Vuode. But I appeal to everyone to look passed the parties of Talossa. I have notice a consistent attack on the Senate in Talossa which is starting to bother me. At first I wanted reform until I started paying attention. I can honestly say that not being on Witt has offered a totally different perspective on what is going on in Talossa. I appeal to all my Vuodians to come together and a) accept that the Senate actually does it job and protect against the radical and bipolar moodiness of our citizenry (of which I am included) or b) work to find a comprehensive and rather thoughtful reform that all citizens of Talossa can be proud of. As of yet, I have seen anything that I am fully comfortable with. In the most recent manifestation, calling for a sought of direct-democracy, well, as someone who's civil rights outside of Talossa has fallen victim to the misguided masses in two states, I am firmly against direct-democracy.

Finally, I am open to any and ALL questions. All responses will be posted in a timely and civil manner. I fear saying this next part, but do the large representation of PP in this province, I give my chances of actually being elected to be around 5%. But that does not mean I should not run and offer competition. Democracy is about choice. I have included my email, phone number, snail mail, aim/ichat contact, and skype account at the bottom. Please contact me if you would like to speak directly. Thank you all for your time.

Contact info:
Vito J. Oliver
102 Clinton Ave.
Apt. 3
Brooklyn, NY 11205
718-757-8848
[e-mail]
almosthuman718 (ichat/aim)
vitooliver (skype)

Best,

Viteu

[Dréu Gavárþic'h]

If it was sent and got lost in the ether of the Internet, I understand.

I sent it at to [e-mail]

John McGarry's and Yassine's emails bounced back to me. The rest were sent.

Dréu

[Glüc da Dhi]

Jan 31, 2010 9:01:51 GMT -6 Dréu Gavárþic'h said:

I sent it at to [e-mail]

Does every province has an email adress?
Can anyone use it?

[Eðo Grischun]

I have some questions for the candidate.

You say that you will work to find a comprehensive and rather thoughtful reform that all citizens of Talossa can be proud of. What initial ideas do you have in this respect? and what or how would you implement these ideas?

-quote - I am firmly against direct-democracy -end quote-
Could you please explain why?

If Talossa is a part of you, like breathing, what have you done for the country in the past four months except from casting Cosa votes over email to the SoS?

As Drue has pointed out, an email not reaching you was a genuine error in the mailing list. I still have the email and can screendump for proof if required. In light of this, it has been proven that the email system isn't always the best of the best ways of getting in touch with the citizens. I have even heard our good King gripe over the email system. For a citizen such as myself, whom lives in Scotland, thus snail mailing is an inconvenience, and I use a really bad old laptop which Skpe and Aim crash on a hell of a lot therefore those programs I dont use, where Witt and email are my only options, but it has been proven the email system is unreliable, how can you guarantee to me, as a potential voter to you, that I will be contactable by you, will be contacted and consulted by you and that I can also reach you if required?

Would you not agree that if one is going to stand as the province's directly elected representative, then one should address the provice directly?


with all due respect.

[Ieremiac'h Ventrutx]

I once again thank JP for his willingness to post what I ask him to on Witt pertaining to the Vuode Senate.
--------
S:reu Grishun,

I will attempt to answer your questions based on the previous post written by me and posted by JP.

At the moment, I am still open to all ideas on Senate reform. I do not believe what is being offered now (or has in the past) is the best course for democracy. But I do openly say I am still trying to figure out a comprehensive reform that will benefit Talossa as a whole and not just a few disgruntled individuals.

I do notice you quote me but left out the answer. I said, "I am firmly against direct democracy." You would like me to explain; I would point you to the prior sentence "as someone who's civil rights outside of Talossa has fallen victim to the misguided masses in two states." I was referring to the passing of proposition 8 in California and Proposition 1 in Maine when both states said no to my civil rights THROUGH their individual forms of direct-democracy. I do hope that clarifies. Talossa is a constitutional monarchy with a republican form of government. We are not a democracy. We fear, as most Western nations do, the unpredictable and often bipolar fear of mob-rule.

There has been a long going discussion on what exactly is Talossa and is WITT Talossa. My answer is firmly no. Yes, I have not presented any legislation in ages, mostly because I do not think there was anything substantial for me, as a person, to contribute to the government. Frankly put, I'm not too upset with how Talossa as a country functions. Many of the issues facing us are not political issues and, therefore, political solutions aren't the best. I am not a person who favors legislation for the sake of legislation. That being said, I am also not someone who wants to get my name on a bill just so I can go down in the history books. I believe that is the very antithesis of what being an elected official is about. I am pledging to work with EVERYONE in my province, not just a select few. To state this once more, Talossa is not just Witt. Passing legislation does not make me any less a Talossan, any less an MC, or any less a citizen than people that do.

I will say that irony of this is not completely missed on me. This is exactly one of the issues I had with Owen and I applaud you for bring it up in a respectable manner. While there were other issues with which I took exception, I was wrong in this regard. If Owen is out there, I apologize for coming down on this issue. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

My question to you is, does it really matter? If I was posting on Witt regularly, would it matter? Even if it was just in the regular chat, and only voting in the Ziu, would it matter? In most of my career as an MC, I have written few bills mostly because I didn't see a lot of pressing matters. When something was brought up, I engaged if I saw it was necessary, voted how I felt was best, and even co-sponsored bills that i truly felt were of value. That is not to say that many important issues haven't come up. They most certainly have. However, I tried to contact others and work together on bills. I do not have a track record of posting bills for the sake of getting legislation passed, doesn't mean I'm not active. I still talk to many Talossans off of Witt because, frankly put, Talossa is NOT, nor will it ever be, Witt. Witt is ONE medium of communication for Talossans.

As far as the email not reaching me, I already addressed that when I brought up the issue. I had already alluded that it probably was a mistake and I did say, and I quote, "I firmly believe this was an accidental oversight" and "If it was sent out and got lost in the ether of the Internet, I understand." I actually do not see the reason behind that paragraph outside of merely restating what is there for the sake of restating. Dreu answered the question adequately, had I felt it to be false, I would have immediately addressed it. I was rather satisfied with his answer. It was sent, only two bounce backs(none from me), perhaps it just got lost. But I have searched my google in every way I know how and it is not there. I did notice how neither refuted that fact that when I tried to participate in the constitution writing, I was rebuffed and told I wasn't needed because the "votes were there without me." I can offer screen shots of the conversation if needed. May I ask you, if you are looking for Senate reform to make the Senator more accountable, how can we put people in office with that stance?

The last election was specifically painful for Talossa and I was a huge contributor to a lot of the mud that was flung. I apologize to Talossa. My demise really had begun when I did not separate my non-Talossan politics from my Talossan politics. At that moment I left the RUMP and jumped Parties. However, my record does show that I am willing to work with just about anybody regardless of their party affiliation outside of Talossa, and I'm even willing to work with the PP if I get elected (or if I am in the Cosa again.) Ultimately, what I have noticed amongst many recent Talossans is the caucusing of individuals not based on Talossan issues but on extra-Talossan issues. This isn't right. I look for people with whom I agree in Talossa; if we disagree on extra-Talossan issues, we can talk about it and still be friends. My strong friendship with JP is a wonderful example of that. There probably isn't a single American issue in which we are in agreement.

As far as addressing the province directly, I most certainly am. JP is more than glad to post anything I ask him to with my name on it. Moreover, I have posted numerous ways to get in contact with me. My personal email is: [e-mail] and [e-mail]. Both emails go directly to my phone and there is very rarely (if ever) an issue. I also archive every message I get. I did say that for the sake of acting Senator, I would be back on Witt strictly in the confines of the Senator from Vuode. I do believe that offices should have Talossan accounts separate from personal accounts with the exception of the MCs. This would help to prevent the confusion of "did he speak as the Senator, Minister, SoS, etc or personally?"

I do believe I answered all your questions.

Moving on, my background in the study of politics is becoming more extensive with every passing semester. At the moment, I am a double major, History and Political Science. Below on the Political Science courses I have taken that have helped to expand my horizon and may come in helpful as Senator:

American Government
Democracy and Development
Comparative Politics
Political Theory

and the classes I'm doing this semester are:

International Relations
Model UN
Constitutional Rights (civil and minority rights)


None of these is a basis from which I should be elected outright. But my extensive experience in Talossa does speak for itself. I was a 'damn' good Immigration Minister and I did what was required of me as Minister of Stuff. Many of you know me to have a rather short-temper. All I can say to you about that is, I had a short-temper. A lot of reflecting and alone time in recent months have helped me to work out some personal issues that actually have made me a more understanding person. Talossans weren't the only ones who suffered during my child-like out-bursts, some close friends also. Friends with whom I have since reconciled and who have helped me become a better person. Now, you may question this "change of life" scenario being as I've only been gone a few months. Rightfully so! I'm not jumping to come back on Witt. I'm vying for a seat that I firmly believe I would excel in and am willing to demonstrate to my fellow countrymen that I have authentically changed for the better.

That all being said, I would gladly step down as Senator IF my constituents did not feel I was representing their views fairly.

On a final note, I would like to challenge my opponent to a debate. We can do it on Skype and post it as a TNP or we can all jump in Ventrilo (a fairly light program used for talking while gaming, I have a server that can be used) so everyone may listen live. I'm open to letting the political discourse in this country continue to evolve.

Again, I'm open to all further questions.

Thanks for your time!

Best,

V

[Eðo Grischun]

Firstly, please allow me to direct my attention to your final comments regarding your change of life scenario. I do fully believe that in a few short months you may have made good progress with the issues you raise. Only a month ago, I began therapy and anger management after a terribly regretable incident in my personal life where I demonstrated the worst beast in me. In only a month I have managed to make good progess and have achieved quite a lot, including forgiveness from the person that I hurt, which was the most important thing for me. So let me applaud you for any achievements and progress that you have made in this area...it is perhaps one of the only things that make you and I similar.

I wish I could address all of your comments but I feel I should not. Talossa has indeed endured too much mudslinging, some of which I was a party to, and to be honest I am still mentally recovering from the previous election somewhat. I really do not have the drive in me for another election so soon after the last one. For this reason, I shall respectfuly thank you for your answers and merely state that personal, and at some points religous, beliefs dissallow me to agree with most of yours.

I would quickly like to point out that at no point in my questioning did I imply that I had a grievance with the lack of legislation that you have put forward. I asked what you had done for the country? Not what laws have you written for the country? I feel that you put words in my mouth, perhaps misunderstanding my original question.

You also choose to pose a question to me, however, I respectfully decline to answer. I am not a candidate in this election thus I do not feel my own political views should enter the public eye during the senatorial debate. I merely ask questions as a concerned citizen.

As a concerned citizen though, and this indeed causes me concern, I want to talk to you about the Talossa is Witt argument. I agree that Talossa is more than just Witt, but of course Talossa is a country, with physical land, and not just an internet forum. However, Witt most certainly is the major mode of communication for the citizens of the nation, including the very few that do happen to reside in the Greater Talossan Area. Not only that, there are statutory laws in our legslative journals that mandate Witt as an official channel for many items of procedural, parliamentar and governmental business. With this in mind I am disturbed yet again by the fact that a Senatorial candidate can not address me directly but instead play a game of chinese whispers with his fellow party member.

While I know you will again recite your email address to me in response, I want you to know that I do not wish to contact you by email. I want my business done on Witt and out in the open. So, May I ask you, if you are looking for Senate reform to make the Senator more accountable, how can we be expected to believe in your own accountability if you wish to conduct all your business out of the public eye or through an intermediatary person?

Again, with respect and kind regards.

[Deleted]

S:reu Grischun,

As par your request, I am now on Witt for the purpose of my candidacy. Let's continue to discuss the issues.

[Capt. Sir Mick Preston]

Welcome back, my friend.

[Dréu Gavárþic'h]

Thanks for joining us again Viteu.

However, I believe it is with me that you should be discussing.

[Deleted]

Yes Dreu, we should be having a discussion. I would like to do a recorded or live debate for people to listen to. I haven't heard from you about this. But that doesn't mean everyone else in Vuode should be ignored. I want to have a discussion with our fellow citizens; see what they want; how either of us can best serve them. from there our discourse/debate can take root.

[Dréu Gavárþic'h]

I'd like to have a live debate, but I don't know if that will work out too well. I'm very busy these days, so it might be worth getting an impartial mediator (perhaps Mick would be willing to help us out) and do a debate like in M-M.

Dréu

[Deleted]

Dreu,

I work 40 hours a week and do 15 credits. I'm also very involved in a GLBTQI civil rights group in NYC (Queer Rising.) My point is that I understand being very busy. We're both busy and we both need to be able to make time for Talossa. Let's show our fellow Talossans that Talossa is not Witt. That politics can be both open and off of Witt. Let's set a precedent and help the political process evolve to offer more transparency, civility, and liveliness. I look forward to publishing a Stil da Vida/TNP episode of two candidates respectfully debating issues surrounding their province.

V

[Dréu Gavárþic'h]

Fair enough. I would like to ensure though that there is a third party mediating (which could get tricky). I trust you, but it would be a conflict of interest for you to be moderator and a debater.

[Eðo Grischun]

There may be a possibility that I would host the election commentary shows this year, due to the fact that V is a senate candidate in the elections. Still planning things, but V has agreed to this so far as long as I pledge total impartialness (is that a word?), which I would do of course. The show would be flying under the Stil da Vida badge and broadcast on the TNP network.

Obviously, I need to converse with both of you in great detail about the format of such debate, and when such debate would take place....

[Deleted]

Feb 12, 2010 10:41:50 GMT -6 Eðo Grischun said:

There may be a possibility that I would host the election commentary shows this year, due to the fact that V is a senate candidate in the elections. Still planning things, but V has agreed to this so far as long as I pledge total impartialness (is that a word?), which I would do of course. The show would be flying under the Stil da Vida badge and broadcast on the TNP network.

Obviously, I need to converse with both of you in great detail about the format of such debate, and when such debate would take place....

I don't mind having multiple programs. For the purpose of our debate, there should be a 3rd party impartial moderator. I encourage anybody to do broadcast shows and if it is impartial and unbias, throw the TNP banner on it with Stil da Vida!