Giving Voice to Americans

Day 466, 09:28 • Published in USA USA • by scrabman

The eUSA is extraordinarily fortunate to have an “embarrassment of riches” when it comes to great minds that are willing to contribute their time, effort and intelligence to the success of the nation. It would take several walls of text to comprehensively recognize all of the rank and file citizens who, whether it be on the eUSA Forums, IRC or in the Media that have contributed facts, observations and quality ideas on a broad range of topics: from military strategy to economic policy, from business development to international diplomacy, from citizen affairs to game mechanics, and all points in between. While it may lack the prestige of an awards ceremony, let me simply extend to you a very sincere “Thank you!” It is critical that you know that your contributions, big and small, are both highly appreciated and, more importantly, integral to our success as an eNation.

Perhaps the greatest challenge we face as a community in providing authentic recognition to the many that are willing to contribute is the lack of amplification. While as a congressional representative or a high ranking member of a given administration, several dozen citizens are given an opportunity to give voice to their ideas in our in-game version of the “bully pulpit”, the Halls of Congress or the Oval Office, exclusion becomes the rule simply for lack of positions. This challenge is further intensified by the long standing practice of placing active congressional representatives, who, by virtue of their office, are inherently granted a voice in planning, in cabinet or consultative positions.

In the past several months there has been a substantive effort in Congress to discuss and deliver a consensus for the creation of a Committee system which will provide a continuation of thoughtful discourse and debate on specific topics among active congressional representatives. This is an idea which is long overdue, and, by my estimation, required to provide for the opportunity to include the best and the brightest, that are not holding elected office, to apply for roles within the cabinet; therefore expanding the breadth and quality of the information and marketplace of ideas by which the eUSA will thrive in the coming months.

This is not to say that most of the congressional representatives that are currently in Cabinet posts are not accomplishing great things, their willingness and extreme effort on behalf of their constituents AND their nation are to be honored and appreciated, and will continue to be as long as they are willing to contribute to solutions that benefit the eUSA.

However, it is time to open the door for new voices and new ideas in Cabinet level positions, it is time for your voice to be heard America…and a focal part of my administration will be to identify, recruit and include as many fresh and experienced voices as possible. I believe that the eUSA government is never to be operated in a vacuum, isolated from a citizenry with so great a willingness to serve. Interested and invested citizens should be able to play an active role in developing policy and I will try to find a way to do so whether it is by a Congressional sub-committee or an Executive Branch Committee to propose ideas that can be sent to Congress.

Vote scrabman/PrincessMedyPi on March 5th, 2009

The previous article in this series:
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/drums-of-war-victory-alone-743206/1/all