Just Do It

Post by **Festavo** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 4:42 pm

The Deshret has been pretty inactive lately. By pretty I mean nobody has been really doing shit. Is our State Code that perfect? There is nothing you guys (or gals) can think of to change or add? This brings a tear to my eye for God's sake.

If there are any proposals, drafts or any debates you want to have, just do it. Don't wait till tomorrow. Today. Let's do this.

Credit to Shia/Nike

Tomb · Post by **Tomb** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 10:22 pm

I'm currently working on two amendment proposals:

1.) Adding term limits and increasing the length of the Pharaoh and Keeper's terms (along with their teams.)

2.) Possibly altering our legislative branch so that it's automatically opened to citizens.

I'm likely to propose the first one by this Sunday. Not because I'm lazy, but I've plenty of end of term preparations and essays to do and complete, and so I should be available to devote time to this task on Sunday.

Thanks,

~ Tomb

Post by **Tim Stark** » Fri Dec 04, 2015 1:51 am

If there is support for the measure, I am open to being instituted as Emperor; that would spur some activity.

Kajan · Post by **Kajan** » Fri Dec 04, 2015 2:51 am

#Tim=FrancosSpain

Post by **Lord Ravenclaw** » Fri Dec 04, 2015 4:13 pm

We don't need term limits. The only Pharaoh of the OFO to serve more than one term was Tim, who served two. Osiris doesn't have the issue of us needing to prevent stuff like that. Please please, please, do not legislative unnecessary stuff just for the sake of legislating. We want quality, and positive legislation that benefits our community not legislation which legislates for a problem that doesn't exist. Only one Pharaoh has ever served more than two terms and she resigned less than a month into her third.

Post by **Lord Ravenclaw** » Fri Dec 04, 2015 5:22 pm

I'm double posting to address another topic.

Realisitically, I want to ask members of our community:

How does our system work? What does it need to do better? What flaws or weaknesses does it have? Where can the Deshret improve? What can our Atef do better? What issues does the Pschent face? How can our Executive improve?

Post by **Tim Stark** » Fri Dec 04, 2015 10:24 pm

So I'll start by addressing the Keeper's two proposals.

1. Raven pointed out pretty aptly why we don't need to institute term limits. In the history of the Osiris Fraternal Order, I'm the only Pharaoh to have gone for a second term, and the toll of the job in general doesn't really make it one that people want to do for more than one term. Furthermore, if there were to be a Pharaoh that would seek a third term and onwards, I would have no issue with that. It is up to the Deshret to deem if they should be Pharaoh, and I have no issue with a qualified candidate serving for as long as the Deshret thinks them to be a good option. If it ever comes down the road that we need to institute term limits, we should do it then, not at a time when we have no need. In regards to extending the the length of the Pharaoh and Keeper's terms, while I can't speak for the Keeper, extending the term of the Pharaoh would be absolutely terrible. Given that burnout tends to happen around 3 months in, from my experience, putting in an extra month (or more) would only serve to extend a period of inactivity in Osiris that would naturally come with a Pharaoh's burnout. Yeah, let's not do that. As for Keeper, I don't see why we should extend the terms honestly; it should be a regular thing for the Deshret to decide who heads them.

2. Absolutely not. Osiris, historically, has had to deal with alleged subversive influence on a regular basis. Whether that be from Imperialists and Invaders, or Defenders, we've had both sides coming in and trying to force their views on us in an attempt to increase the faction's general influence in Nationstates. While not always perfect, the current system for the Deshret, with its option for a Deshret member to call a vote on any applicant, allows for important self-moderation that can prevent influxes of foreign agents. By opening up the legislative body for all citizens, we expose ourselves to a much greater risk of influence from foreign factions who would seek to destabilize the sovereignty of Osiris for their own purposes. Furthermore, with the current system in the Deshret, it is in theory an option for citizens to get more involved in the region; allowing for folks who just want to hang out and spam to do their own thing, or just go inactive instantly, to avoid holding up the Deshret. By opening it up to all citizens, we not only have to re-write our quorum laws to account for inactive citizens, but we mount extra challenges on new citizens who may just want to explore.

Now, onto Raven's points:

1. I think our system works through the activity of the citizens, much like any other system. When it's not too active, things may seem problematic and slow, but when citizens are getting active and engaged then it's going well for everybody involved. Furthermore, I feel that the Osiran system, again like many Nationstates systems, is incredibly dependent on the activity and the drive of the Executive Branch in terms of both the opportunities it provides for citizens to participate in as well as the outreach efforts it makes to attract more citizens to be active within the region. However, in terms of the system it self and how it operates, I'm fairly content with it.

2. Thinking about it, my big issue with our current system is there seems to be a general lack of incentive in doing anything. The Deshret is literally considering legislating for the point of legislating, and the region in general seems to have little drive behind many of the things happening. I could be wrong here, but that's just my feel of it. The other thing I see problematic with our system is it doesn't seem to engage the on-site populace enough. In no way do I mean we allow for legislation to be voted on within the region, or ridiculous notions like that, but there just seems to be a split between the forum and the region; potentially due to a general lack of visible outreach efforts.

3. Flaws? Honestly, I don't see many flaws to our system at the moment that can be legislated away - we designed it with the thought of patching many flaws, afterall, given the exploits the system of the Kemetic Republic saw.

4. Don't legislate for the sake of legislating, maybe look at more fun culture-enhancing resolutions than "fixing" various things in the state code. In general, I'd like a bit more member accountability in terms of how active folks in the Deshret are, but that's something that would be difficult to implement.

5. If they're tarting actively, I have no issues.

6. When was the last time they even had a case? I think their issue is shit to do, and that was patched when we said they could be Deshreti/Scribes.

7. Activity, that's always the thing with the Executive. If problems are faced, they can usually be fixed by an active and engaged Deshret. The big thing I'd like to see, though, is a Foreign Update. I'll note that we haven't actually had one since July, from the looks of it, which is a damn long time for a foreign update not to be released. We've got to stay engaged in our embassies, or we risk isolating ourselves.

Folks, please feel free to argue with me on these points, I want debate!

Post by **Lord Ravenclaw** » Fri Dec 04, 2015 11:03 pm

I'd like some input on amending election law to mandate the publishing of a complete up to date conflict of interest disclosure for all confirmed candidates for Keeper and Pharaoh. I've noticed recently we don't seem to care how many jobs or roles people have elsewhere and it's letting people slip by without being scrutinised heavily enough. It shouldn't be down to one or two members of the Deshret to investigate everything but should be down to the candidates to educate us on who they are, and their commitments - both present and past in NationStates.

Post by **Tim Stark** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 12:12 am

Lord Ravenclaw wrote:Sat Dec 05, 2015 4:03 amI'd like some input on amending election law to mandate the publishing of a complete up to date conflict of interest disclosure for all confirmed candidates for Keeper and Pharaoh. I've noticed recently we don't seem to care how many jobs or roles people have elsewhere and it's letting people slip by without being scrutinised heavily enough. It shouldn't be down to one or two members of the Deshret to investigate everything but should be down to the candidates to educate us on who they are, and their commitments - both present and past in NationStates.

Full support; it's worked well in The East Pacific, and think it could be something really positive we could actually add.

Plagentine · Post by **Plagentine** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 9:43 am

Lord Ravenclaw wrote:Sat Dec 05, 2015 4:03 amI'd like some input on amending election law to mandate the publishing of a complete up to date conflict of interest disclosure for all confirmed candidates for Keeper and Pharaoh. I've noticed recently we don't seem to care how many jobs or roles people have elsewhere and it's letting people slip by without being scrutinised heavily enough. It shouldn't be down to one or two members of the Deshret to investigate everything but should be down to the candidates to educate us on who they are, and their commitments - both present and past in NationStates.

A sound proposal.