Re: Random Thoughts
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 5:57 am
I will add my 2 Erbs to the discussion if I may.Since I am Minister of Trade my little diatribe shall start with the economy. Several people have mentioned it already. I have been involved in micronations since the fall of 1999 and have quit three times and come back each time. Since I first joined I was interested in having economic simulation as a part of micronationalism. I think now is the time that an economic simulation might be able to take off.Granted there are those who think every effort at economics will fail – just as in the pass. And there are those who think the economy should be run differently than what I am doing. To the first I say it might fail again – but that is not a good enough reason to stop trying. To the second I say – sure, there are several if not many different ways to run an economic simulation. I’ve seen about two dozen or more ways since 1999 and talked over about two dozen or more other ways that haven’t been tried.One good thing we’ve done in Shireroth so far is to not make up a bunch of laws about what the economy should be like. I think that is one thing that has killed the economy of so many micronations. Let the Minister develop the economy to his or her liking – after a little while laws can be made that prohibit a given practice, not proscribe them. Also, if we give a person a fair chance to develop the economy and don’t like it after a while we can give a different person the chance to be the Minister and put his or her plan in place.In the meantime, an economic simulation can become a fun addition. In order for this to happen people must try to be a part of the economy. If you feel you can’t follow the way the Minister is running it – then perhaps hire someone to take care of your micronational finances. Right now I’m trying to make it fairly simply – but not a completely brain dead activity. Those who run companies and Ministries have the most to do and even that isn’t really too much. Nobility has a few more decisions to make than commoners – but that has a chance of making the economy even more interesting.Those who are Ministers should open accounts and then hire people. Those who are Nobles should charge a Nobility Tax to their “underlings” both other Nobles and commoners. Those running a business should hire people. Those who don’t own a business should hire into three or four companies. Those who do own a company should get with the stock market plan. Our Erb might be used to entice people to take our side in any given issue as we go about Shireroth, attempting to become the wealthiest. The University could charge Erbs to take classes and the military could pay our soldiers. Ministers could develop departments and pay the department heads. Right now the Ministry of Trade would consider contracting someone or hiring someone to take care of the needed website.Now let me speak to dividing up the jobs. The main reason I hired SSFSX to run the stock market was to divide up the jobs. The stock market won’t be run the way I would have done it – but we must give everyone a job if possible and let them run things however they want to run it – and we must participate in the way they do things. SSFSX might come up with jobs within the stock market. Perhaps this would be a department and perhaps the department head would have to follow what SSFSX wants or maybe would be given full control over some aspect – I don’t know.As Minister of Trade I could come up with other areas for people to handle – a job. Right now there might be a position open up for someone to work with the Ministry of the Exterior to open trade with foreign nations. Ok, even tho I have more – that is enough on the economy right now.Now, as for my thoughts on government. I personally hope we stay with the feudal system but that we add an aspect. In feudal times Nobles were sometime overthrown and a new Noble took their place. We could say that any … what, maybe 7 people could overthrow the Kaiser and put a new Kaiser in place – um, if they were not opposed by say 7 others whom the Kaiser might rally to his defense.Maybe it would take 4 or 5 to overthrow a Duke and 2 or 3 to overthrow a Baron. Perhaps a Ministry will develop that does real recruitment to people who aren’t currently involved or who once were involved in micronationalism.Maybe the actually topography of the Duchies can be developed – which could lead to another aspect of the economy being developed. Perhaps the sports aspect could be more fully developed. What about an American football league with the various Duchies having teams. Anyone know how to run a football or maybe a baseball or basketball league. Would there be enough competition to engender some territorial pride within Shireroth.There use to be a Ministry of Culture in every micronation. Each Duchie here seems to be developing somewhat of a culture. Instead of Mduo leaving perhaps he should have recruited more people who liked the same things (role playing). A person doesn’t have to do everything there is to do in order to enjoy this pastime of micronationalism, but perhaps if we helped people get a job in the micronation doing something they chose and if each of us participated in at least two or three things where we aren’t the Minister – Noble – leader – teacher (whatever) … each of us would have a great time with the job we do have here.Austi