Bombay Sapphire eUSA Congressional Gin
Day 3,717, 09:07
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Published in USA 
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by
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by Gnilraps
Date: Day 3717 of the New World
An illustration by Boethius detailing the cyclical and mathematical relationships of musical notes.
The philosopher Boethius spent his life pondering the cyclical nature of all things. (He lived during the earliest years of what we commonly refer to as the “middle ages”, more specifically around the turn of the 5th century AD.)
I’m not sure he’s 100% right in all his conclusions, but his observations are beautiful and the world would be in deeper poverty without Boethius.
In eRepublik (where PHILOSOPHERS RUN WILD!!!), Boethius would have had a field day. Plato might have all the power around here, but with a little help from Boethius and his Rota Fortunae (Wheel of Fortunes), we can become better players. Thanks Boethius!
Yes, all things work in cycles in eRepublik. A Country President is elected on one day only to be replaced (or re-elected) 30 (or 28 or 29 or 31) days later. (Note to Plato: the Lunar Cycle is far more consistent than the Gregorian calendar. Maybe consider that…) Ditto Party President and Congressperson. The Wheel of Fortunae turns and turns and turns and turns...
But I’m wasting pixels.
What I’m really here to discuss today is…
Congressional Elections, specifically in eUSA.
Boethius would point out that they occur on the 25th of each month. (OMG how Boethius would HATE the Gregorian Calendar! ...probably hated the Julian Calendar too…)
What does it mean to be awarded a seat in the eUnited States of America’s Congress?
Read on.
Being a Congressperson in eRepublik means very little, actually. You can propose (and vote on) laws, but because in eUSA there are a lot of Congresspeople who take these laws very seriously, your proposal will get SHOT DOWN unless you’ve done some work to lobby for votes.
But how?
Enter the eUS Forum
This is where all of the action in eUSA Government takes place.
It is admittedly slightly wonky to have to register at another website in order to play well at the eRepublik website, but this slight inconvenience yields a cornucopia of gamish blessing!
On the eUS Forum, Congress has spent more than a decade honing an official eConstitution as well as an Official Code that enables its proper implementation.
It is in the highest spirit of gaming that there be such things. The existance of the eUS Constitution and Code is, as far as I am concerned, among the most charming things about eRepublik itself. Go figure.
The existance of the eUS Constitution and Code represents thousands of hours of debate and effort, tens of thousands of pages of ideas and arguments, and the best efforts of the brightest players to make playing eRepublik as a citizen of eUSA fun, intriguing, and rewarding in ways that cannot be measured in terms of gold, energy bars, prestige points, or Hero medals.
If you re-read that paragraph, then consider your own potential place within the dialogue and debate, you can see the allure of being a Congressperson in eUSA.
But let me tempt you further!
So the Constitution and Code sets forth dicta for protocol and establishes a balance of powers between those who hold various ingame (and meta) positions. Country Presidents (and/or Dictators), and Congresspersons are given parameters for exercising their ingame powers. A Speaker of the House (probably should be renamed Speaker of the Congress, but w/e), Deputies SoH, various “Secretaries” (what are known as “ministers” in other RL countries), and other meta-contrived offices are also given their parameters for exercising their meta(and in)-game powers. It’s all very intriguing.
The fun begins, though, once you are elected to (ingame) Congress.
Prior to becoming a Congressperson, we can all follow along with what Congress is doing and discussing by accessing the “Public Congressional Proceedings forum boards. There are 91 threads (plus 4 stickies) there dating back to just September 25th of 2017. If you think eRepublik is a “dead game”, you haven’t seen the eUS Forum boards. Think about it. eUS Congress averages 22+ new public discussion threads per month. Yes, some of them are silly (translation: FUN!!!), but most are srs bzns.
But wait, there’s more!
Once you are a Congressperson, you also gain access to…
There we find 40 more discussion threads (plus stickies) during the same time frame. That means there is an average of 35+ new threads per month for Congresspeople in eUSA to engage.
WE TOTALLY PLAY EREPUBLIK IN EUSA!!!
But there’s more.
Long-standing and proven Congresspeople are sometimes appointed to the:
Members there, though they are few in number, are expected to respond to questions and requests in a timely manner. We're talking minutes, not hours. The most URGENT and SENSITIVE business gets discussed there. SCI Congresspeople are representing the will of Congress in decisions that Congress itself is too cumbersome to respond to quickly. SCI is “Nimble Congress”.
There is lots of other activity going on just within the “Halls of Congress”. Take a look at this:
Intriguing, isn’t it?
A brief glimpse at that image reveals one of the finest dynamics of the eUS Forum. It is multi-partisan. Look over the list of moderators in just those few child boards (there are many others!).
rainy sunday - Independant
Molly Emma - Federalist
Bob Boudahili - Federalist
dmjohnston - Constitution Party
shadowber - Federalist
GoalieBCSC - Independant
Evry - American Military Party
Deepchill - TOTALLY Independant
Gnilraps - ...ahem… CONSTITUTION PARTY FTW!
You get the idea.
(“Why are there no Black Sheep or SFP?” Those two parties removed themselves from Forum business last year. They remain 100% invited and where they participate they are equally respected. So yes, the eUS Forum is completely multi-partisan. Also, SCI is usually populated in a multi-partisan way, including representatives of all participating parties. We are an ecumenical council!
What I am trying to show you is that being a Congressperson in eUSA is like adding a Nitrous Oxide Boost to your otherwise stock engine eRepublik experience. Don’t like that metaphor? Being a Congressperson in eUSA is like adding a double-shot of espresso to your Tall Latte at Starbucks. Being a Congressperson in eUSA is like drinking your Gin and Tonic with Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin instead of that shitty Aristocrat Gin that you people from elsewhere insist upon imbibing. For shame.
I feel like I’ve made my point.
It’s too late to run for Congress in eRepublik this month. By now every Party has established its caucus.
The Constitution Party has established its list based on several factors.
Who was helpful in the transition from USWP to eCP?
Who hasn’t made an ass of him or herself in past Congressional terms?
Who, from outside of the eCP, has distinguished him (or in the case of Evry, her)self?
It’s not that complicated. If you want to experience a real Gin and Tonic, get yourself ready to run for Congress. And if you want to put yourself in a great position to succeed, pay attention to the Constitution Party Forum Boards which
Above all, find your way into eUSA Congress. It’s the absolute best of what eRepublik has to offer.
If you want to understand what the nature of the Constitution Party is, check out my earlier article.
I will quote this from it:
The Constitution Party will be a political home to anyone who believes that the Constitution is the key to the best possible eUSA experience.
Our Constitution should be kept so that it insures full access to legislative power for all present and future citizens, codifies prudent stewardship of all tax revenue, and safeguards the present and future sovereignty of eUSA among eNations.
Access to legislative power
Stewardship of tax revenue
Sovereignty of eUSA
These three ideals, given the browser-game sandbox created by eRepublik itself, are too precious to entrust to individuals so they must be upheld by constitutional law. If preserved, eUSA will retain whatever “freedom” can be said to exist in a browser game owned and operated by a private company.
You may now return to your regularly scheduled clicking.
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Comments
a cornucopia of gamish blessing
https://www.erepublik.com/en/article/bombay-sapphire-eusa-congressional-gin-2662439/1/20
WE TOTALLY PLAY EREPUBLIK IN EUSA!!!
https://www.erepublik.com/en/article/bombay-sapphire-eusa-congressional-gin-2662439/1/20
We are an ecumenical council!
https://www.erepublik.com/en/article/bombay-sapphire-eusa-congressional-gin-2662439/1/20
even if your name is Franklin Stone
https://www.erepublik.com/en/article/bombay-sapphire-eusa-congressional-gin-2662439/1/20
Fist o/
Bro
no congress list exposed ? : (
😘 GL guyz
You are one of the few writers who I frequently endorse before reading, and I really appreciate your explanation of how the meta game enhances the game experience for those willing to participate in it; however, I still think the choice of how to rebrand is infelicitous, as it increases the perception that this is an elitist party and alienates those who are opposed to many things that have gone on in the meta game. That being said, I do agree that a good constitution and code can help to protect a game community, IF it is understood and accepted by the community at large.
Thank you, MaryamQ.
And I agree. The insertion of a mandatory "yes", that "yes" being the decision to play on the eUS Forum, creates a hurdle that not all will pass over. It is regrettable, and my answer to it is to continue to work towards expanding the diversity of voices in the Forum. But I cannot endorse its dismantling.
If more had your decorum, the Forum would be a better place.
How come you feel you have the license to use the word "elitest" against others when your party has exploited the same mechanics against those that your party was uncomfortable having representing them (your party) in the meta game?
and an added tidbit, I do believe I coined the phrase "stinking elitest", so you now are using my bad English against my party. Which begs the question, why are you so unhappy (infelicitous), with others branding themselves better than your crowd has been able to brand themselves?
Also @MQ, as to the felicitousness of the rebrand, I didn't have it in mind to be attractive to those who have already decided that there's an elitist cabal. They've found their home and I support that. This rebrand is probably better described as a clarification. We are far better described as "Constitutionalist" than "Worker", since that has been the focus of our "Work". Consititutionalist is more specifically who we are, but we are not suddenly "not USWP". I give no thought to fostering nor defending against the notion of elitism. It's a Straw Dog.
Fair enough. There are certainly those who would oppose you no matter what you called yourselves.
@George The only people my party has excluded by means of forum ban were those who were generally agreed to be doing serious damage to the party and the nation. This action was not taken lightly and was considered long overdue by many, including members of your party. The term elitist (note that I have never appended "stinking" to this or any other word in game) has been used widely, mostly by opposition parties, for at least as long as I have been playing the game, and I am now in my 9th year. You can brand your party any way you choose. I am simply pointing out that not everyone will see this as a positive thing.
my point was "elitest" is not an accepted word in the English language, and I am claiming I was the first to abuse the word "elite" with the addition of "est"., You are conversing with one of the longest anti-meta gamest around, your party was never anti-meta game, until it's purchase of a place in the top five. I am only embracing the meta game as a last measure of pumping life into the eUS community.
Actually, "elitest" may not be an accepted word, perhaps because it could be misunderstood to express a comparative degree of "elite", but "elitist", which is the word I used, is. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/elitist. Just saying. 😉
i stand corrected, the most enjoyable (and most endangered) aspect of this game for me is the media. It is a vehicle for me to work on a personnel deficiency, an understandable use of English, via the written word. I make many spelling mistakes, along with my horrific grammar.
concerning "elitist", I am curious when it joined our language (wouldn't it be awesome,that our use of it, was the cause), I have the first edition of the Oxford "English Dictionary on Historical Principles" the volume for "E" 1897 does not include "elitist", "elite" is defined as; "a person chosen", by the way. I am under the impression when "elitist" was first bandied about here, it was not an accepted word (though if wrong it won't be the first time)
I'm a bit of a word fanatic. 😃 Elitist goes back to long before the internet.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/elitist I do love etymological dictionaries!
o7
CK in congress 😜
Mongress is awful
MONGress?
oh my yes, it is awful!
Come spend time in eUK Mongress and you'll fully understand why we call it such.
We should set up a Mongressman Exchange Scheme...
add Scam, so you can have a MESS
The amount of threads just tells you about the shit-posting that occurs in eUSA forums (under congress section). Also the environment is often malicious and hostile. Something that I don't really enjoy.
I can agree, but have hopes that active participation and legislative reform can turn the tide toward less childish (malicious and hostile) trolling. Just walking away will solve the problem on a personal level, though through joint effort the problem may be solved on a community level
Yes, sh*tposting does occur, as it does in every other human endeavor that includes more than two people. In the Congress area of eUS forums where we get a little carried away (I am guilty as charged) we try to keep it separated from our srs bizniz by actually calling these threads SH*TPOSTING. This may seem like an odd distinction but let's face it, some of that stuff is just part of this game, so let's not take it too seriously and keep it from interfering from actually game discussions about things like debating tax strategy.
I concur with George who wants to see less childish trolling. I also concur with him that broad participation is needed to accomplish it.
I feel like we've lived through The Age of Trolling on the Forum, and that today's Forum is a much different environment.
Mostly.
All around good points by all three of you.
Man Gnilraps, It's unfair that I have to v/e your articles when you've been inserting your party lines at the end of very good articles...
You are already a great constitutionalist.
Perhaps you would also make a great Consititutionalist?
Ye no.... I don't do party hopping, and I'm a fed for life...
Great Article!!!
Bombay Sapphire is pretty ordinary gin, to be honest.
Your multi-party moderator highlight is amusing. Goalie doesn’t really play anymore as far as I can tell. All the rest of the mods (bar DC and Rainy, who is a site admin anyway) are from two parties (because AMP runs on the CP ticket). Where is Oblige’s mod-hood? I’m pretty sure he’s the last living person playing in WTP. 🙂
If you want SFP and BSP to play on the forums, perhaps you could try approaching them to find out what the conditions of a return might be. Sounds more grown-up than berating them through the media like God-Emperor Donald the First.
personally I am not much of a "Dutch courage" drinker myself, but Sapphire is consistently rated well ... and how is "God-Emperor Donald the First" grown up?
And why not elaborate on what you and your parties would liked changed versus waiting to be approached or are you taking lessons from the stagnation that is the US (RL) government?
Thank you for the advice.
I may have an opportunity to take it some time soon.
Bombay Sapphire is to gin like Johnny Walker is to whiskey. It’s probably a 4/10 for quality, but survives by virtue of saturating the duty free shelves.
that is just the thing, while I do not like Scotch that much, I know Johnny Walker is very popular. Advertising does a lot for popularity, but also quality can be compromised if the distilling is allowed off site, some of my favorite European beers turned to piss once licensed to be brewed in Canadian ... American drinking patterns have little to do with duty free shopping (with the exception of the military possibly) and if you live near a VA hospital, there is no state or local taxes applied.
@JAG...Johnny Walker is a bourbon, not a scotch.
Ilene weren't you soh once upon a time?
Deputy once. Nominated as speaker a few times but never elected. A few other SFP members have been deputies (Komeko, Wooky Jack).
IMO it’s a closed club. Nobody outside the club will ever be elected as moderator.
Ye that may be true, but that's due to numbers not closed club etc. If you were the biggest party it would be different. The fact is that with all that, somehow you were deputy. Deputy is for all intents and purposes nearly the same thing. That says something about the supposed closed club...
That was maybe a year ago. At least 9 months. Things have changed since.
Then, there was hope for some sort of inclusivity. Now? Nothing of the kind - “my way or the highway” type behaviour.
Well...we are the 2nd largest party in America.
Not sure I want drunks running the American government. Ofc I can't really complain since I am mostly HAF all the time, however Bombay Sapphire taste like kerosene. If we are going to drink at least make it some smooth full flavored Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey like Elijah Craig Small Batch....
Of course things have changes since.... Two parties decided they don't want to be part of the eusa forums. They did exactly what you just accused the rest of us of doing... my way or the highway. Funny enough I find congress to be the most accommodating and inclusive it ever was...
V!
Nice article! 🙂
Thank you
voted 😃
O7
o7 and subscribed
Good article, glad we have a Constitution and a metagame.