RUMP Campaign Underway

[Vitxalmour Conductour]

It seems that after M:sr Vercáriâ's disappointing declination, I have been assigned as the RUMP's campaign manager.

As the chump on the stump for the RUMP, it is my honour to present the RUMP's platform. (Platform del RUMP)

[Glüc da Dhi]

Congratulations. The platform looks nice.

[Istefan Perþonest]

It is, well, interesting that the RUMP writes off the failure of a stamp project to a lack of volunteers for the Finance Ministry, and asserts its willingness to staff a government with ministers from any party. It is certainly quite difficult to square with the fact that there's been a public volunteer to handle the job for over seven weeks.

[Hooligan]

May 14, 2012 15:57:36 GMT -6 Istefan Perþonest said:

It is, well, interesting that the RUMP writes off the failure of a stamp project to a lack of volunteers for the Finance Ministry, and asserts its willingness to staff a government with ministers from any party. It is certainly quite difficult to square with the fact that there's been a public volunteer to handle the job for over seven weeks.

Believe me, Istefan, this has not gone unnoticed, and had the budget for this Cosa not already gone in six months (way longer than seven weeks) ago, and had the Cosa not been about to end (and our Seneschal, well, so out of contact, which has been remarked upon quite a bit, and God knows that although there are three things that really need to be done, like right now, I'm not about to do them as Distain after the recent uproar when I have acted!), a ministerial post would surely have been offered.

It is indeed the case that many times we have had activity on this excellent project -- stamps and coins designed -- but no one has said, "I will run the Finance Ministry and will get an active person running the Royal Bank & Post, and when it comes time for a budget to be put in, I'll say how much it will cost, how much we will make back for the royal treasury, I'll then take the money once the Ziu authorizes it, and I'll make it happen." We have asked, many times, for this next step to be taken, and many have been appointed (and many have declined).

If someone is saying that right now, then I'm sure the next Prime Minister (whoever he or she may be) would love to know it, since the budget will be put in for the Second Clark.

We're as sad as anyone that this project is a real big one and no one has taken it past the design phase yet. Sad, but not upset. We know how it is. Big jobs are real hard to get all the way done, and this is not meant in any way to slight any of the excellent work done by everyone interested in this project. Heck, XPB even took it upon himself to print his own stamps and use them in mailings!

(That said, anyone who takes the job should be well aware that the actual amount of money in the Royal Treasury is far less than the figures being quoted for the minting of currency or commemorative coins, etc.)

(( Hool ))

[Óïn Ursüm]

I am surprised by the radical nature of the proposed immigration reform! It sounds very interesting to discard the geographical catchment areas and allow immigrants to choose their province. Not in a bad way.

[Istefan Perþonest]

May 14, 2012 16:04:08 GMT -6 Hooligan said:

but no one has said . . . "I'll say how much it will cost, how much we will make back for the royal treasury, I'll then take the money once the Ziu authorizes it, and I'll make it happen."

Interesting, because I thought I had done, you know, all that. Detailed how much would have to be paid to a specific printer to print and ship a specific quantity of a specific design, proposed method of raising the money without even having to touch the treasury if funds were an issue, amount returned to the treasury a simple matter of multiplying face value times number of sales (which can't be known in advance, but maximum return easily calculated, and specific projections were done on how many would have to sell to support a coin project in turn), giving a timeline on how long it would take as soon as I was authorized . . .

The absenteeism of the Seneschal has complicated matters, but, well, who else is to blame for that but the RUMP, which not only installed her, but had the ability (under Article XI, Section 6) to replace her without even requiring an election, and did not?

There's a reason I didn't join the RUMP, and it isn't ideological.

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

Wait, what's this? Deet was tapped for RUMP campaign manager? He doesn't dislike Defencism that much.

But if the RUMP are planning on trashing geographical provincial assignment, maybe it does may sense, as he pushed that barrow in the Republic since day one. I'm still opposed to it, since it makes provinces nothing more than "clubs", and would serve to undermine voluntary associations of Talossans such as political parties.

[Hooligan]

Ooh! I like this election already!!

May 14, 2012 16:33:08 GMT -6 Istefan Perþonest said:

Interesting, because I thought I had done, you know, all that. Detailed how much would have to be paid to a specific printer to print and ship a specific quantity of a specific design, proposed method of raising the money without even having to touch the treasury if funds were an issue, amount returned to the treasury a simple matter of multiplying face value times number of sales (which can't be known in advance, but maximum return easily calculated, and specific projections were done on how many would have to sell to support a coin project in turn), giving a timeline on how long it would take as soon as I was authorized . . .

Do not worry, if I am recommended as PM, I have taken note of all this. I hope all other candidates for PM have as well, as getting the RB&P up and running is a national, not a party, goal!

The absenteeism of the Seneschal has complicated matters, but, well, who else is to blame for that but the RUMP, which not only installed her, but had the ability (under Article XI, Section 6) to replace her without even requiring an election, and did not?

The RUMP will take any blame for Litz's absence in the last couple months, as long as it can get credit for her presence during her previous fourteen in office. I still stand behind my PM, and I still communicate with her off-Witt as often as she can get away from her non-Talossan duties.

There's a reason I didn't join the RUMP, and it isn't ideological.

Personal, right? (Dang, I knew I shouldn't have stopped using deodorant!)

(( Hool ))

[Hooligan]

May 14, 2012 16:34:04 GMT -6 Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN said:

But if the RUMP are planning on trashing geographical provincial assignment, maybe it does may sense, as [Deet] pushed that barrow in the Republic since day one. I'm still opposed to it, since it makes provinces nothing more than "clubs", and would serve to undermine voluntary associations of Talossans such as political parties.

I look forward to the debates on this one. We thought it might make some waves. :-) There are great points to be made on both sides.

Obviously, the RUMP doesn't consider the catchment areas to be sacrosanct, nor one of those "oldfangled" things that isn't broken. Especially given the creation of Fiova, with citizens around the world, many if not most of whom live somewhere outside that province's proposed catchment area (a situation that is not unique to Fiova), wouldn't Deet, or Gjermund, or Ián, or GV, or Grubi, or Carlüs (etc., etc.) love it if someone who lives down the street became a Fiovan? At is stands, this is darn near impossible unless there is a marriage involved.

I also don't see how this modification would undermine anything in the political party system (though maybe I'm just being daft). I mean, if more and diverse people could choose to be Florencians or Benitians or Maricopans, etc., would that not add more diversity to the political system in every province? (ZRTers in Florencia? Woah, maybe we should rethink this! LOL.)

(( Hool ))

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

As I've seen it, the geographical provincial assignments were supposed to enhance cultural community. Fiôvâ is a special case because that cultural community, at least for its founders, is "reviênsadéir". But in general, I consider it a good thing that Cézembre is the province for Euro-Talossa, etc. It means provincial-meetups become geographic meetups. I've got nothing against changing the geographic assignments, but would oppose abolishing them.

Free choice of provincial assignment renders the provinces, IMHO, otiose. The point about "ZRTers in Florenciâ" also seems otiose, because we have been recruiting outside Fiôvâ already, so watch your back, Hool. But seriously, you're asking for "personal fantasy fiefdoms" - all those of a single political viewpoint take over Province X, rendering provincial politics a matter of boring one-party states.

[Vitxalmour Conductour]

I was assigned to Benito, but have drooled and stared at the borders of Maritiimi-Maxhestic. This is not political. I am a member of RUMP, but teeter tantalizingly toward the APT. I honestly can't say I find much to argue with the ZRT and the MRPT. This is not provincial. The thing is you refer to the provinces as a "cultural community" and as "geographic". These are not necessarily congruent, as you point out with Fiova, which is not as unique as you might think.

[Benedict Stamford]

Vote RUMP! It's not like anyone else has any ideas.

[Bleic'h Ianescu]

Saying that Provinces would become homogenous with this rule is to suggest that all immigrants have finished evolving as Talossans by the time their petition has been Mick'd.

There will be much to decide on with the implementation, but this change falls well within the scope of "refangling" our rules that are arbitrary.

Cézembre may well stay the Euro Province as new immigrants will likely seek out some common ground. This makes sure that if their affinity is driven for some other personal reason that we can accommodate a well meaning request.

I'm glad to see newfound interest in creating stamps. The only reason for the hesitation and non-committal language is that, well, we've seen it before. There was a thread with extremely well developed pitches for coins, including designs and vendor selection. The closest that we've really gotten were the ID cards(I wish I could find mine).

I sincerely hope that there can be progress made on that front this term. When I joined the RUMP as a new citizen it was partially due to their support of the NNNA, which I was proud to vote on in my first term in the Cosa. This is a purely cultural endeavor and I'm happy to see any willing Talossan take credit for the achievement.

All that said - The truly important issues are contained in planks 6 and 7. What are the other parties proposing in this vein?

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

A quick summary of what the ZRT will be running on:

- A secret ballot.
- Party lists for elections.
- Simplifying and codifying the non-Organic laws of the Kingdom.
- An end to the Semi-Permeable Wall, and a friendly attitude to be taken to other Talossa-like entities.
- A non-RUMP Seneschál.

[D. N. Vercáriâ]

May 14, 2012 15:22:25 GMT -6 Vitxalmour Conductour said:

It seems that after M:sr Vercáriâ's disappointing declination, I have been assigned as the RUMP's campaign manager.

Ah, and there was nothing that you could do against it?