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With the recent growth of eBelgium plus the instability caused by the changes in the economic module and a newly elected Congress, there has been a lot of questioning about the operation of our government and Congress, and whether they are truly serving in the best interests of our citizens. Acknowledging that I am one of those officials in line for criticism, I think it is time to examine what citizens do and do not have a reasonable right to expect. First, I would like to talk about some general principles, and then about how they apply to various sectors in our eNation.



What should you be able to expect of all elected and appointed officials?
1. Activity - Simply put, they should show up! It is not enough for a member of any governing body to 2-click most days. They need to be registered and active on the national forum and/or IRC. They should at the very least read all debates, and vote when occasion presents. Better still, they should contribute in a meaningful way to at least some of the debates and should try to get a feeling for what is happening in the eBelgian community and the eWorld by reading media, studying markets, chats, or whatever means they have to keep informed about important issues.

2. Honesty - They should honor the trust that has been placed in them, and should not take advantage of their positions for personal gain. They should not lie to you, nor make promises they can't keep.

3. Accountability - They should be prepared to report to the citizens on their activities on a reasonably regular basis. They should also make themselves familiar with the constitution, laws, and customs pertaining to their respective offices so that they can work legally and effectively within the system. They should be respectful to other officials and citizens in order to work as efficiently as possible for the national interests. They are also expected to keep what is said in private areas of the forum or chats private.

4. Dedication - They should show their loyalty to the nation and the people they were elected or appointed to serve by carrying out all the duties of office conscientiously and consistently. By gentleman's agreement here and in many other eNations, they should donate gold won from election to office to the national bank. If they are elected or appointed for a specific term, they should be prepared to complete that term unless prevented by extraordinary and unanticipated circumstances.

What is not reasonable to expect?
1. Unquestioning agreement on all issues all of the time - We are all individuals, with individual interests and abilities. No two people can be expected to agree about everything, and nobody is always going to agree with the majority. Opposition is actually a healthy thing for a government as long as it is made rationally and respectfully. Honest disagreement can help us achieve a better result in the end.

2. Instant results - Consensus takes time to achieve, but it is worth the effort. When we get input from as many people as possible and are able to achieve a compromise that most are happy with, it is almost always in the best interest of the country.

3. Omniscience - Nobody is an expert in everything. Even our oldest and most experienced players, if they are honest, will admit that they are not experts in every aspect of the game. In addition, none of us is able to predict the future. The changes in the game have been so rapid, and sometimes so seemingly random, that no nation in the eWorld has been prepared for all of them. The result is going to be that sometimes we are caught in a difficult situation and are not able to react instantly. Situations tend to stabilize over time, however, even if things are painful in the interim.



To whom do these principles apply, and how?
Country Presidents - Being CP is a big and often thankless job (just ask people who have been there). It requires involvement in almost every aspect of national life, and every citizen is a constituent who will gauge success of the presidency by its apparent effect on the citizen's eLife. Since, as mentioned, none of us is expert in everything, it involves finding active and knowledgeable advisors who are trustworthy and able to carry out their responsibilities independently.

Cabinet - In eBelgium, the cabinet is appointed at the discretion of the CP. In theory, the Cabinet may be as large or as small as the CP chooses. Most of their work is carried out behind the scenes, and they receive neither credit nor compensation for a lot of what they do, yet they are essential to the smooth running of government programs.



Congress - Congress members are responsible for a lot of the things that concern you in eRepublik. With the advice of the CP and Cabinet, they vote on such things as the alliances and wars that bring you fights, tax levels, minimum wages, and printing currency. These things and others are discussed prior to voting in order to come to the best possible decisions. Congress members may not leave the country for any reason without resigning - no El Dorado for them! When a Cabinet member quits or moves away, the CP can appoint a new one. When a Congress member quits or moves away, you are left without representation until the next election.

Party Presidents - A Party President also has a job that is not given much credit. Ideally, the PP needs to make sure that elected members of Congress keep their commitments and show up to vote. He will usually consult with party members about decisions such as endorsing candidates for CP, and is the spokesperson for the party.

Citizen - Yes, you! It is the responsibility of every citizen to examine issues and claims and to make informed decisions about who gets your vote. If you don't vote, or you vote blindly and are then surprised by the actions of those you elected, you have no cause for complaint. If you don't read and comment on the issues, nobody but you is responsible that your thoughts are not taken into account. If you want government to respond to you, tell us what you want - politely please (at least the first time or two). Who knows? Next month it might be you helping to make those big decisions!

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are my own, and not endorsed by any other person or group. Nevertheless, I think and hope you will find a lot of agreement with most of them. Your comments, whether you agree or not, are welcome.