Filling In The Cracks: May Campaign for PM



Introduction: 

Hi everyone, I'm Moe/Monkey, and as you can tell from this thread's title, I'm running for Prime Minister! To address the elephant in the room: I am new to Lazarus, just having joined this month, however I have a lot of ideas and I'm really excited to contribute to this region. Previously, I've mainly served in the executive within Europeia, a decently-sized UCR. Part of this term will be me learning more about Lazarus, its history, and its community, and I'm so glad that the people in this community have been willing to talk to me and get me up to speed. I hope you'll join me on my journey!

As the name of this platform suggests, I will primarily focus on small changes in each department to try and boost its effectiveness. Accordingly, my platform doesn't have a ton of big, groundbreaking, revolutionary ideas. Rather, I want to focus on small changes and fixes that I know are doable, and that will hopefully have a positive effect. It is my hope that I will be able to bring a bit of activity back into Lazarus, as well as make it easier for new people to get involved. I plan to group my platform into two areas: foreign affairs and domestic affairs, even though multiple departments will be grouped together in each. I hope that's ok!

Foreign Affairs: 

The Regional Guard: 

Based off of what I've learned about the regional guard, it seems like it's currently operating well and accomplishing the purpose it's designed for, so I won't be proposing too many changes here. My main goal would be to hold one or two training operations if there is interest. Additionally, I want to look into ways to get more people interested in the regional guard. Even if there aren't super frequent opportunities for us to use our regional guard, it's important that our allies can count on a decent amount of us showing up (pilers/reserves) if they ever need support, or in anti-fascist operations, etc. Therefore, I will focus on getting updated rosters of everyone that is able to participate in operations if needed, make sure our guides are up to date, and hopefully try one or two training operations so people are ready in case the Guard is ever needed. 

Ambassadors: 

Ambassadors are a useful tool for us to get information about what our allies are up to, as well as to share news about regional happenings. During my term, one of my first actions will be to check in with our current ambassadors, and see if there are any ways we can help make their jobs/lives easier in terms of representing Lazarus abroad (as well as checking which regions don't currently have an ambassador). During my term, I also hope to release at least one update to our allies about current affairs in Lazarus, so that they know what we've been up to! Ambassadors are also a great way for us to develop our current alliances and think about new ones, which feeds into my next point...

Alliances and Treaties: 

Lazarus currently has allies across NationStates, which is great! During my term, I'll try to deepen those relationships by communicating with them through ambassadors, as well as seeing if there are opportunities for further collaboration. I'd like to look into hosting a cultural/games festival or weekend with at least one of our allies this term, and hopefully that should be a lot of fun and bring some activity to our region! Lastly, some things that I'd like to think about are creating treaties with more regions, as well as thinking about how we represent ourselves to the rest of the gameplay community, possibly utilizing our NSGP forum embassy thread more often to post updates. I don't have a ton of ideas here, but I'm certainly willing to think about those points!

NPO: 

As someone who's new to Lazarus, I intend on following the consensus last adopted by this region regarding the NPO and our relationship with them (waiting for a delegacy change before considering any next steps). I'm also a newer face to NS history and Lazarus history in general, so I don't have much to say here, except that I promise to listen to community input and people who have been here longer than I have before making any changes in this department (and this goes for other foreign affairs projects too). 

Domestic Affairs: 

Shareholdership and Employment: 

I think something crucial to getting newcomers involved is making sure that applications are processed promptly. Of course we all have our own lives and may be busy at times, but I will try my best to make sure that shareholder applications and ministry applications are processed quickly so newcomers aren't discouraged due to a long wait. Additionally, after talking to my potential future director in this area, I hope to standardize the application as well as review our current resources and guides on the forums to make it easier for new members to get involved within Lazarus. 

Gameside: 

Our region has nearly 8,000 nations, but we don't have anywhere close to that many people on our Discord or forums. While Lazarus is unique in that it is a sinker, I believe there are still thing we can do to attract people to our offsite resources. Some things I'd like to try are making more resources to alert our gameside community of the benefits of shareholdership, as well as interacting with them more and making them feel welcome, whether it's things like regional polls, contests, or even just checking in on the RMB more frequently. Hopefully that'll encourage more people to join our discord and our forums. In addition, I'd also like to look into advertising the importance of endorsements, especially on our delegate. If there are improvements that can be made in this area, I'd be supportive of running a campaign to get more nations to sign up for the WA, and emphasizing the importance that endorsements can collectively make. 

Culture: 

I feel that Lazarus already has a very welcoming and friendly culture. I proposed a mutual cultural exchange with an ally earlier on, and if that's successful, I'm definitely thinking of game or movie nights within our own community as well, or even things like hosting a flag contest, chess tournament, etc and inviting the whole NationStates community to take part! We also have a lot of new development happening on our forums in terms of games and activities, and I'm willing to help with that as well to bring more things to do on our forums. 

The Gazette: 

It's important for other regions in NS to know of our going-ons, so I intend on promising at least one edition of the Lazarene Gazette under my term. I feel as though with the platform I've proposed, there are a lot of changes that we would be able to update the NS community on, including this PM election. Although it would take some effort, I'm confident that I would be able to get together a collection of news stories, interviews, articles etc together to release an edition of the Gazette. 


That's all I have proposed for my platform! If you've made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read about my ideas, and I hope you ask questions if you have any! As someone who's still new to Lazarus, if something doesn't look right or seems like a bad idea, I'm happy to revisit that idea and think of a different solution. 

Although my platform may seem long, in reality there are just one or two changes in each department I'd like to make, and some of them can be organized rather quickly. I think my platform is wholly doable, and I'm glad to have the help of some other Lazarus citizens to help me as Directors. I'm very confident that I can deliver most, if not all, of my platform over the next few months. 

//Moe

LazCorp Lottery



Drawn every Friday at 10 PM EST (2:00 AM UTC)
Draw closes Friday at 6 PM EST (10:00 PM UTC)

Next Draw: 05/28/21

Ticket Price: ƒ10

Starting Prize: ƒ10,000

Numbers: 1-49

How to win:

• Five numbers match - Win full prize i.e. ƒ10,000
  
• Four numbers match - Win half prize i.e. ƒ5,000
  
• Three numbers match - Win quarter prize i.e.ƒ2,500
  
• Power Ball (x3 winnings i.e. ƒ30,000)
  

Example Ticket Wrote:Numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Power Ball: 6

Shareholders of Lazarus,

As per Lazarene Elections Act 1.3, a Special Election shall be held as soon as reasonably possible once a vacancy in an elected office appears. With the resignation of the Prime Minister, @Whatermelons, the Special Election (May 2021) has begun as of May 20th to elect a new Prime Minister. The winner will assume the office of Prime Minister on May 28th, 2021.

This thread shall serve as the standing thread as per Lazarene Elections Act 4.1. Eligible Shareholders may perform any of the following in this thread:

• Declare that they intend to stand for the Special Election. Please make this statement clear and obvious. 
  
  
• Rescind a prior declaration in clear and obvious language. 
  
  
• Nominate other individuals to stand for the election. Note that these nominations are purely advisory, and only candidates that have formally declared as described above will be considered.
  

Canary Wharf Revamp Project

The forum is not really active, so this is a project to put an end to that. The new Canary Wharf will include continuous largely dice-based play-by-post games, such as Penultimate Supper, and Pokemon Battles.

There will also be two games that change in format constantly, such as Among Us and variations on Werewolf, which will have a different enemy each game.

• Penultimate Supper, and Pokemon Battles, will technically never stop, as they will be based upon dice rolls, and a new thread will just need to be created every two weeks.
  
• With Pokemon Battles, you of course need a Pokemon, which you can get from Professor Oak, or adopt directly from the shop for payment. For now only starters will be available, though from multiple generations. 
  
• Among Us and Werewolf like games, will run over two weeks, and then regardless of how far the game has gone, it will end, and the winning (or surviving) group members will be awarded a badge.
  
• Badges/Awards will also be created for spam games, though this will be the last thing to do.
  

As per (5) I. of the Twelth Mandate of Lazarus,

Quote:(5) The Assembly may declare war against another region or organization, and repeal a declaration of war, at the request of the Prime Minister, by two-thirds vote.

Quote:Citizens of Lazarus,

most of you have been following and voicing your opinions on the latest revelation in our long line of regional scandals. Once again outside forces meddled in your region's affairs and violated your regional sovereignty to their own end. Lazarus is a home of rebirth and fresh starts, but these latest perpetrators are not unknown to us. They have been found guilty of past offences against Lazarus, only to be given the chance to redeem themselves and start again, as is our forgiving nature.

Some of you have advocated for joining the current war efforts against the New Pacific Order; some of you have advised against it. Even if it may seem that we did not participate in all of those discussions and conversations, we did listen to you and have seen and pondered over all the arguments that you all have brought forth. After some consideration, both Tubbius and I agree that the best course of action is to let you, the citizens of this great region, decide whether we mobilise for war or not. We urge you, however, that you do not make this decision lightly, or in haste. We will share with you our thoughts on this matter. Some of these thoughts you have heard before; some may be entirely new. Please take these thoughts into consideration as you ponder what you think the right choice for Lazarus is.

For many years, the New Pacific Order has been a constant thorn in our side, its officials incessantly seeking to undermine us and our sovereignty. We would not be alone in this war either, but rather standing alongside our sister sinker Osiris and several other regions that have already declared war. It would finally allow us to pay back some of the pain that we have endured at their hands for years and show them that they cannot fool with us any longer or take advantage.

Furthermore, the social and economic benefits of a war abroad cannot be understated. Such a big unified goal will bring our citizenry closer together, acting and fighting side-by-side. Our residents will be engaged and motivated to participate in defence and patriotism for their region, which will surely prompt many of them to participate in ways they had otherwise been wary of. Without a doubt, engaging in this war will be a boon to our unity and our activity.

On the other hand, while we weren't formally at war, this region has been warred over for much of the past three years, if not longer. We are more stable than we have ever been in recent memory. A war threatens that stability. We would have to create a military again, with all the implications attached that have previously led us to eschew such an institution. The war will also make us a target once more. The New Pacific Order has seemingly left us alone after the installation of Mandate 12, finally; the transgressions that had been revealed predate the Anarchy Week back in April. By declaring war on them, we, in turn, become fair game to their machinations once more, and also to any region that might ally itself with the New Pacific Order.

Participating in this war would also bring up ugly memories of the fighting we've had here at home, both against foreigners and against each other; the returning weariness of Lazarenes from years past cannot be papered over by swift and glorious victories, because a war against the New Pacific Order must inherently be a war of attrition, long and arduous, and there is no consensus on whether such a war can be won at all.

Last but not least, it's a question of identity. Who are we? Are we warriors seeking to enact revenge upon those that have slighted us, or do we let bygones be bygones and concentrate on us and what makes us special? Do we reject the New Pacific Order's obviously begrudging attempts to meet our demands, or do we hold our word and accept that they have met our terms? Which kind of Lazarus do we want to be?

Fellow citizens, I do apologise for the heavy burden I am laying on you with this decision, but we feel at the same time that it is too important for us to simply order by fiat. The consequences of this decision will immeasurably shape the future of Lazarus in the years to come, and so we urge you with all of our conviction that you think about this rationally and with care. If you need to refresh yourself on the recent events, please see the following - Miniluv Messenger Articles (Part 1 & Part 2), our Demands to the NPO and the NPO Statement and Apology threads.

Speaker, by the power vested in me by Article I.5 of Mandate 12, I hereby request that the Assembly debate and vote on a declaration of war against the New Pacific Order.

Thank you for your continued time and efforts to make Lazarus a better, safer place.

Signed,
Imkiville
Delegate of Lazarus
Treadwellia
Vice-Delegate of Lazarus
 

Shareholdership Resignation Thread

You can resign your shareholdership here by posting in this thread if you wish.

To get an idea of how many active people are around here, I've decided to create this thread. Please post below what departments you're currently involved in, then post departments you're interested in joining. (If you are interested in joining departments, I'd also suggest making an application in the appropriate threads).

For example:

"Departments I'm in:
Public Relations
Internal Management
Departments I'm interested in joining:
The Regional Guard"

Thank you!

Before I propose an official discussion for withdrawal of the APC, I'd like to know what the current consensus regarding the treaty is, and how we move forward. I encourage people here to post their thoughts regarding:

1. Withdrawing from the APC
2. Allowing current or former members of the NPO to attain citizenship
3. Anything else relevant

Thank you!

Shareholders of Lazarus,

@McChimp has been appointed to serve as Director of Public Relations. The discussion thread can be found here.

As per Assembly Procedure Act 1.5, this vote will last for 5 days, ending on March 13th, 2021 at 6:01 PM EST. Citizens may vote "Aye" or "For," "Nay" or "Against," or "Abstain" or "Present" .

-- Debussy, Speaker

Shareholders of Lazarus,

@"New Rogernomics" has been appointed to serve as Director of Internal Management. The discussion thread can be found here.

As per Assembly Procedure Act 1.5, this vote will last for 5 days, ending on March 10th, 2021 at 7:02 AM EST. Citizens may vote "Aye" or "For," "Nay" or "Against," or "Abstain" or "Present" .

-- Debussy, Speaker