The Official's Powers Dicussion

[DaveShack]

So, getting back on topic, I posted a very clear (to me at least) interpretation of how officials should use their powers, back in post #9 of this thread. Does that explanation of how it currently works contain the needed balance between official power and people power?

[Strider]

Originally Posted by DaveShack

So, getting back on topic, I posted a very clear (to me at least) interpretation of how officials should use their powers, back in post #9 of this thread. Does that explanation of how it currently works contain the needed balance between official power and people power?

It has a good balance of official power and people power, if you ignore the fact that both only want it because they don't have it.

There are people in this game who only wants the power because they don't currently have it. However, without that lovely attribute of humanity, we'd have some problems filling in our elected poistions.

Regardless, it is impossible for every decision to be made on the forums. The DP makes decisions, without having to consult ANY citizens. There are those who will claim that they are allowed this, because they are elected.

Why then are the other officials not allowed to make decisions without consulting the citizens then?

There will never be a balance as long as we pick and scratch at it.

[GeorgeOP]

Lurker's comment:
Seems to me we have the start of real political parties forming. Disagreements on the size and power of the government vs. the power of the people. Which also means that no side is totally right, no side is totally wrong, and neither side will likely like any compromise reached.

[donsig]

There is so much I want to reply to but I am tired. I'd really like to know where I said citizens have to make all the decisions and elected officials must poll every detail and then post instructions accordingly? Where did I ever say that?!?

Did I ever say we cannot or should not trust our elected officials to make decisions for us?

All I have said is that WHEN citizens do make decisions, either through forum discussion or voting in forum polls, THEN officials MUST follow them whether the officials think the decisions are wise or not. Personally, I do not want to be in on every detail. I am quite willing to delegate much of the details to our beloved officials. I'm sure many other citizens feel the same way. And we don't always get into the details. But when we do get into the details then our officials are supposed to sit up and take notice and act according to our wishes. The key point here is that it is up to us citizens to decide when and where we want to poke our noses. There is no line an official can draw around his department and say, *hey guys, this is my turf, I'm calling the shots inside this line no matter what, until my term is up.* The boundaries of each and every elected official's descretion is drawn and re-drawn constantly by us citizens. If you don't like that deal then don't run for office.

[BCLG100]

Originally Posted by Hardvark

Don't really want to delve into the past, but I'm pretty sure that a) Strider didn't intend to cause the demise of the game, and b) he didn't single handedly neuter the political parties. If he did manage it all on his own then that was some achievement!

The point is that we need to look to the future and how we're going to recreate interest in the game, not keep arguing and finger pointing.

BCLG100's post is pretty much what I thought. So let's all try and be more positive, both about the game and how we speak to each other, before we drive the last few loyal citizens away.

yer i saw your post just emphasising you wernt the only one thinking it