Post Archive
Region: Libertatem
This is great. This is a collection of many of the Libertarian Party's ads throughout the ages, plus an overview of it's history.
7:33 is best
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYQRzXd1UvQ
Parvimperia
I like the South Park one best.
Republic Of Minerva
Humph. Why, who, and how are we back using the crappy avatar?
So the government of Libertatem won't allow flag changes, but it'll revert back to other versions of the same flag when it wants? Lmao.
Condealism, Teuberland, Linnuan Ambassador
Why isn't this a popular vote with a majority of at least 70%?
That is the file that I had.
No flag won. There was no new flag chosen and I'm not enthusiastic enough about changing it to going out of my way to find a new one. If the people want a different flag they can present it to me but I was told that no new flag was chosen.
That's not how changing the flag works, that's why.
Perhaps we should change how it works.
Did you completely miss my response the last time you said this exact same thing?
There's a reason we don't have the flag set up to be majority rule. It's nonsense.
If you want it changed, get onto the Board, propose a change, and convince two other Board members to also change it to your proposal.
Nonsense being? We have forums to avoid trolls. All one simply needs to do is sign up and receive confirmation on the forum. This is a private gathering, and if the overwhelming majority want a new flag, then who is to say otherwise?
I heard that as well. I think it's true.
That's the problem.
We're not majority rule. That's not how we're set up.
We've got a Board and a President and the Cabinet and everything else for a reason: so that we don't end up with the flag randomly changing around just because some new fad happens and everyone jumps in on some stupid bandwagon.
Like I said, do you want the flag changed? Go ahead and get on the Board or become President and get it changed.
Thank you.
Teuberland
I understand the idea about bandwagons, but won't bandwagons just as easily fade out and go away?
Why bother with them in the first place?
we should use mhomen's old flag
Lain Iwakura
Roster seems to require a bit of weeding.
It would make residents happier. If the residents are happy, then the region can improve. Eh, why do anything? Besides, are bandwagons really that likely?
You weren't around when Hallo's cult was a thing, were you?
Teuberland
Also, WFE needs updating to reflect that Roads is IA again.
The problem arises when the Board is too inactive (or corrupt) and the President is too traditional to reflect the interests of the people.
These are our elected officials... yet it seems they were voted for out of necessity rather than merit. Do we even have a high enough number of active citizens to inspire genuine competition?
I agree that we shouldn't change aspects of our identity for light and transient causes, but we've already decided there is far more to our identity than anti-communism - anti-state-communism, more accurately - and, as I understand it, the majority of us have been waiting for quality flag proposals for a long time. This, however, is far from the only issue we've had as of late; a recent, popularly-endorsed amendment proposals failed simply because there weren't enough voters (three Board members refrained from voting, most likely out of inactivity). Our previous Manager of Internal Affairs went inactive, taking an unknown number of unanswered citizenship requests with him. As for me, I'm still serving as Manager of State simply because there aren't enough government officials to go around - I'd retire if I were certain our President could find a worthy chief diplomat. And what has our military accomplished recently, hmm?
I know the more militant of you may have wanted us to go out in a blaze of glory, defending the innocent and fighting the totalitarians, but the reality is that we're slowly dying of natural causes. Our current system may still work as it is now - liberally speaking - but it's unsustainable. We can't keep letting ourselves slink deeper into recession with every member of the old guard we lose; we need a plan for recovery, and that entails allowing new people and new ideas to take root here. If we adopt policies dedicated to regional growth, the natural progress of time, and the libertarian ideals we want to embody, the parts of this region destined to wither away will at least be replaced with new life: That's what President Pevvania accomplished when he brought democracy to what was once a business model. That's what I tried to accomplish by reinforcing the aspects of our identity that had been eclipsed by our mutual dedication to roll back the destructive influence of totalitarianism. And that is what our current President, and whomever wins the next Presidential election, must accomplish today.
And, yes, it can start with something as simple as giving one lucky designer the opportunity to change the flag.
Teuberland, Linnuan Ambassador
I made it clear that I would leave a permanent flag change up to the Board because I do not agree with the President having unilateral anything. We have been equipped with great resources, people, and possibilities but how easy it is to just sit back and spout about great ideological precepts over a small picture and not actually contributing to lasting issues.
This is a time to focus on major policy initiatives like the Free Movement Treaty that is favored by an overwhelming majority of the region. If you want to talk about growth, that is where our focus should be.
If anyone disagrees with anything I've said, now is the time to speak.
Miencraft
Is that really still not a thing?
I thought it was a thing.
Let's make it a thing.
The IA office is rough, but open. You may now kiss the bride.
I'm not going to plant the seed to grow the region again, but i can surely give you some good advice.
I could make the necessary changes if nobody else wants to.
But I also have no idea how officers work so I'll leave that to someone who isn't me.
Hey dudes. Tomorrow, it will not only be the anniversary of my glorious master Trive 38, but it will be the 12th anniversary of its leader, which would be...uh...me.
The Board isn't active enough to decide upon a flag one way or the other. Besides which, you've already exercised your ability to permanently change the flag by replacing the usual design with... whatever that is.
As for the Free Movement Treaty, I haven't heard anything about it in a month. I agree that we should put our focus on this; when's the meeting?
Y'all getting salty over nothing, my goodness.
We said we were going to have a vote a few days ago but I guess it didn't happen. Make it a regional pole Humph, take the top couple choices of flag with links to each and have an option be to keep the flag as is right now. That way everyone gets a say, and we can just end this needless saltiness. Let the change be by the will of the region, if it happens. Just do it.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZXsQAXx_ao0/maxresdefault.jpg
Our President has made his decision clear - he intends to follow the law, and the law says that only the Board or the President can change the flag.
No need to get melodramatic.
I did not intentionally revert to any design, that is the file I had. I will not unilaterally change the makeup of the flag. I believe that that is an unroghtful expansion of executive authority.
Pevvania volunteered to head up the FMT, so I am not sure about its status. We will have to consult him.
*dons a Shakespearean cape, begins speaking like an enraged William Shatner* IIIIII'M... NOTBEINGDRAMATIC!
Anyway, yeah, I eagerly await the fruition of this unprecedented endeavor.
Lol Humpy you let them steal my library, now it's filled with fiction.
Was this all just a setup to that joke, or...?
Muh Roads
Nah, TRF really took it.
Lol
Hey everyone, I'm new to the region (but not the game), thought I'd introduce myself here... It's good to be among anti-Communists again....
Gharoukannia
Greetings. I've not heard from Slavija in some time; how are things over there?
Slavija seems to be doing alright. Since my banjection from the CI, I've been a vagabond.
Hi, I'm searching for a region and an official ideology. I have a few questions for some of you.
1. If capitalism is so good, why are there still poor people in capitalist countries?
2. How can capitalism benefit the working class?
3. Money is more important than morals. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
4. Why should I choose this region?
5. In a short summary, why is capitalism the best ideology?
Gharoukannia
1. If our healthcare is so good, why do people still get sick?
2. I assume you mean the free market. By lowering costs for the average worker, putting an end to inflation and tax, eliminating loopholes for the rich to exploit, raising the average wage of the poorest, lifting billions out of poverty as it is currently doing in the Third World with the rise of the Asian middle class, making it easier to compete on the free market, etc.
3. Disagree. If money is the root of all evil, do you know what the root of all money is?
4. Don't ask me. Only you can decide what you want to do, don't ask other people to tell you what to do.
5. Capitalism isn't an ideology.
Miencraft, Pevvania, Rateria, Gharoukannia, Plusiocratic Federation Of Monetia
Well, in that case, why is the the best "political system". If you know what I mean.
My only observation is that the Slavic community on Nationstates is highly unstable. All of their founders either keep getting DEATed, CTE in some other way, betray them, or numerous other maladies. Libertatem attempted to intervene, partially to stop it, but that didn't really go as according to plan - the Slavs betrayed both the libertarians and the socialists and shut the door. So no, we ain't getting involved in sticky Slavic sh!t anymore.
The best system is the system that can safeguard a free market, of course. This exact system is however debated amongst libertarians, i.e. whether we want a state that protects property rights, no state at all, and if the latter, in what ways a stateless society can deal with property rights, if it respects it at all.
Gharoukannia
Thank you.
I'm going to search other regions, feel free to reply to my questions though, I'll still read them.
Slavija's establishment is different from its predecessors in that, well, it's still here, more or less.
In fact, some of its early members helped us with a military operation once upon a time, as I'm sure you'll recall.
Interesting, I have done the same thing with another nation of mine, exploring NS and learning different ideologies.
Here are my answers:
1. There are, and always will be, poor people in every country. There are less poor people in Capitalist countries than Communist or Authoritarian countries.
2. If the workers work hard, they will be rewarded. In Communism everyone is payed the same, regardless of work. There are less taxes, which allows for a larger expendable income.
3. Disagree. Morals are humanity.
4. I really haven't been here long enough to say :P
5. Capitalism is not an ideology (I would argue).
Gharoukannia, Plusiocratic Federation Of Monetia
Somewhat. I don't think they ever got the gist of raiding though.
In other news, it seems that articles on REATO seem to be the new tabloid material for the Red Fleet.
http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?p=26411899#p26411899
On the other hand, it seems that trolls have taken over NAZI EUROPA's RMB.
Lmao
Yeah, I mean political system etc... You know what I mean kinda thing...
Their dependence on us is endearing.
I don't know what's happening in Nazi Europa, but it's madly entertaining.
Apparently the fascists don't know the meaning of secure borders. :)
Ditto. You know, we don't need to fight a war on communism - we just need to let the fascists and communists destroy each other for us. That's what I've always believed, and honestly this new strategy is working.
Gharoukannia
1. That's kind of like saying "if firefighters are so good, why are there still fires?" There's this idea that's only emerged recently that capitalism is bad for the poor. If you actually think this through, the idea is completely laughable. The free market is the greatest anti poverty tool in history. Before capitalism, most of humanity lived in squalid conditions doing agricultural work for puny wages. But as historians and economists have observed, the first time the standard of living began to sustainably rise was during the Industrial Revolution and the rise of capitalism. Freedom breeds opportunity, opportunity breeds markets, and markets breed prosperity. I know it's clichéd but it's absolutely true that the best anti poverty program is a job. This fact is true today - research has shown that the more economically free a country is, the lower its poverty rate is likely to be. 'Poor' people in America are wealthier than 80% of the world's population, and as a rule poor people in rich countries are often richer than rich people in poor countries. Socialism is history's greatest failure, but is very good for making people poor, starving and unhappy.
2. It already does by, y'know, giving them jobs, continually raising their standard of living, giving them the freedom to work how, where and when they want, and giving them freedom in general. Capitalism is the best economic system for the common man.
3. Huh? Capitalism is a means of exchange. Morals are the ethical codes we use to make decisions affecting other people. What have they got to do with each other?
If you mean pursuit of money, if you mean it's more important to be nice to people than to gain money from hurting someone, then yes, I suppose so, but I don't see what this has to do with capitalism. The greediest people in the world are bureaucrats and politicians who steal people's money and waste it on frivolous things just to help their own careers.
4. It has a great, tolerant community that respects all ideas and beliefs. We've got plenty to do here in Libertatem - join the military, play an RP, debate politics, run for office - whatever it is, there's always something to do here.
5. Capitalism is not an ideology, but it's the best economic system because it is best for individual freedom and general prosperity. No other ideology can claim to be either of these things.
Miencraft, Rateria, Gharoukannia, Parvimperia
Everyone who disagrees with me is a fascist.
Rateria, Reaganomic Nws, Teuberland, Middle Slavia, Lain Iwakura
>Pev
>equating the free market with capitalism
>not responding to my telegrams
There is a libertarian renaissance going on in Florida.
Adrian Wyllie also saw the membership in the Florida Libertarian Party grow more than 1000% after being elected.
Wyllie pollled 3.8% and gained 223,356 votes in the Florida gubernatorial election. In comparison, this is one fifth of the votes that Gary Johnson received nationwide in the last presidential election.
If Gary Johnson did as well as Wyllie, the Libertarian Party would only be 1.2% away from gaining both unlimited statewide access and the Federal money necessary to compete. In can then use that money to sue the everliving daylights out of the Democrats and Republicans to gain further access, like into the debates.
Wyllie stepped down as chair in response to Sol Invictus' Senatorial campaign where it is revealed he slaughtered and drank the blood of an animal in a Satanic ritual.
Pevvania, Teuberland
Heil
I like [region=Libertatem], so I hope the local Libertatemites don't take offence to my post or anything like that. Mainly what I'm talking about here is true capitalism - namely a laissez-faire system infused with minarchy.
1. In China almost half a billion people were lifted out of poverty. A truly free market system uncorrupted by corporatism doesn't make the poor poorer and the rich richer. In socialism or communism, everyone is forced to be "equal", so in a stagnant and unproductive economy everyone will have to suffer being equally poor.
2. It causes the middle class to dominate; as they the consumers will decide the fates of businesses and corporations, and they the workers will rise and fall based on their merits (contribution to their employers and ultimately the nation's advancement). With no regulation excluding that of the invisible hand, small businesses with better ideas, quality, services and prices can dominate the market and skilled/hard-working workers will become valuable parts of these businesses - assets and not liabilities. Less taxation and State-enforced debit, more profit and prosperity for all. Employers can and will reward hard work. Capitalism is the most meritocratic and therefore fair system. If an irresponsible or lazy individual is sacked, so be it. They are not contributing to society and the human race. The system is fair and fosters a good work ethic in the populace.
3. See these videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6adVQrSUAc&index=13&list=PLIBtb_NuIJ1w_5qAEs5cSUJ5Bk0R8QLaY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJr2RO7g7jI&index=2&list=PLIBtb_NuIJ1w_5qAEs5cSUJ5Bk0R8QLaY
4. Well, I'm not a part of it - and I certainly can't advertise [region=The Greater Empire].
5. It is meritocratic, efficient, democratic (consumerism), and generally progressive (with its innovation and prosperity).
Rateria, Condealism
I sort of wish I edited this now. Nah! Good enough. As long as the message I was trying to convey is conveyed.
"The Soviet Union wasn't real communism because it failed to bring a stateless, classless, moneyless society"
"Aztec ritual killings weren't real human sacrifice because they failed to bring rain"
Miencraft, Rateria, Condealism, Reaganomic Nws, Lain Iwakura, Parvimperia
Am I properly catering to the free market if I allow no political freedom?
Well the free market is economic...
Alpaki
Free market policies usually bring about political and social liberties. Chile is a textbook example of this relationship between economic freedom and political freedom
Miencraft, Pevvania, Rateria, Alpaki
Well, the above statement is right in some wicked way. You see, commies have this ideology (of a stateless, classless, moneyless society) and that's what they call "communism". Honestly, it's nothing more than a utopia (or dystopia) that will never be realized. I guess in a libertarian region I won't have to explain why this is impossible and in no way benificial to the "working class" or whatever. Now the Soviet Union called itself "socialist" and that's what it was.
It just come nitpicking these internet commies like to do: Communism - unreachable ideal. Socialism - reality of the Soviet Union.
Reaganomic Nws
Under Stalin, the Soviet Union essentially represented a form of red fascism. In fact, even some commies accept this view. Later on, after "de-Stalinization", the USSR became a rotting, corrupt, bureaucratic oligarchy awaiting its inevitable fall. Although far less demonic than in the Stalin days, it remained to be pretty evil and totalitarian throughout the period of decay (1960s-80s). It's also quite funny that communism styles itself as "anti-imperialist" when the Russian communists used the USSR as an apparatus to subjugate, enslave, oppress (and starve) various populations in Eastern Europe.
Pevvania, Rateria, Gharoukannia, Plusiocratic Federation Of Monetia, Middle Slavia, Alpaki
"Imperialist pigs! Stop stealing oil!"
"The world will be taken by complete global revolution!"
Pick one, commies.
Miencraft, Rateria, Reaganomic Nws
That's actually a legit strategy. But it's not unlikely that brown fascism and red fascism will realize their mutual similarities and unite once again. Don't forget the Ribbentrop-Molotov.
Republic Of Minerva
As long as the Fleet's leadership doesn't change, I don't think that'll be a problem.
That was actually pretty good. It read almost like something I would say.
A stateless, moneyless society in which everyone is equal? How would that be enforced?
It wouldnt, capitalism would reign free. People want things.
Rateria
Exactly! If you try to make everyone equally miserable, they will hate you.
It's not unlikely that brown fascism and blue fascism will realize their mutual similarities and unite once again. Don't forget the Munich Agreement.
(Stalin tried desperately to broker a pact between the Soviets and UK/France. When they refused, he did the only thing he could to buy enough time to mobilize the Soviets—who we can thank for defeating the Nazis)
Damn straight.
Sorry for the double-post, but I just want to remind everyone here that [region=the Greater German Reich] is in this region's embassy history as an ally during its Nazi days, and that it has been REATO which has persistently tried to court favor with the Nazis—not anyone on the Left.
Yeah, it wasn't even really Communist.
If the janitor that goes to school early and leaves late, spending his day cleaning and working hard to keep the school clean earns the same amount of money as the janitor who arrives late, leaves early, and does the bare minimum amount of work, and takes a two hour lunch break, what incentive is there to work?
That is why Communism will never work.
Rateria, Gharoukannia
"This made-up anecdote that isn't even remotely about what a communist economy is? That's why communism will never work."
I assume you are referring to the Shaposhnikov-Voroshilov talks. In that case, I believe Western objections to Soviet intervention were justified, given the state of the Red Army following the Stalinist Purges, as well as such an operation would require a crossing of Polish territory. Given the history of Polish and Russian relations, such an action would not have a favorable result.
Wow, we did something dumb a long, long time ago.
That's definitely worse than anything that people continue to do, because obviously this part of our past that we abandoned a long time ago continues to influence our policy.
Rateria, Condealism
Well, I just learned a major lesson in copyright laws for music. I have been trying to use a copyrighted song for a video of a medical program I am. The program is nonprofit, and neither I, nor the program, would earn any money off the song/video. To comply with copyright laws, I contacted Universal Music Group, which is the company that owns the song. I sent a request to use the song, telling them in full how the video would be for non-profit. A representative contacted me, and after acknowledging that this would be for non-profit, told me that Universal would need, at minimum, 1,000 dollars just to talk to me about obtaining a license for the song. I would then have to pay about several thousand more dollars to actually obtain the license. End result: I would have to pay about $5,000 to use this song in a stupid, 2 minute, non-profit video for a non-profit organization. If I were to go through a six month process, I could register the organization as non-profit under Universal's definition, but I would have to pay $500 for the application. These music companies are some of the greediest companies I have ever seen.
Rateria, Condealism, Teuberland
Dude. Gharou. Just plant a puppet here or something.
Teuberland
And people wonder why piracy and copyright infringement are so common.
Miencraft, Rateria, The Dark Lieutenant, Linnuan Ambassador
It is good to know others have come to this realization. The thing with socialist dictatorship and fascism; they are both totalitarian and inherently oligarchic. While fascists enslaved all into a "cooperative national class", Stalin violently liquidated all perceived inequality for one strictly enforced "national class". You can't run your farm - that is the State's job. You can't own and keep your home - the State needs it to for "public works". You can't live - you ran a small business! The madness of socialism. I wonder if anyone can name a socialist dictatorship that didn't kill hundreds of thousands, millions, or tens of millions.
Perhaps I am crazy, but I believe that unless I am making money by using the song, which I am not, I should be free to use it. If anything, I am giving the song even more popularity. I think widespread infringement is caused by people who don't want to pay the insane licensing fees, and those who get unintentionally lost in the murk of copyright laws.
Miencraft, Rateria, Condealism
Thank God for the legal doctrine of fair use.
Miencraft, Rateria, Linnuan Ambassador
As I believe, the case [I]Alderney and Liberty City v. Libertatem[/I] is all set to go.
The Chief Justice The Aradites will preside, Justices Miencraft and TNUS will also sit on the bench.
Manager Condealism will be our interim Peoples' Attorney and will represent Alderney and Liberty City.
Manager Pevvania will act as Attorney General-Designate.
The following Court Officers still remain unfilled:
Parliamentarian
The Chief Justice will announce a Court date.
Miencraft, Pevvania, Condealism, Gharoukannia, Reaganomic Nws
Yea, "anarcho"-communists want to enforce a stateless society through state intervention. You're not the only one thinking "wait what?" right now.
Miencraft, Rateria, Gharoukannia, Parvimperia
I once read a book that included a quote from some fairly famous person. (sorry, I forgot who it was, but I remember the book - it was this: http://www.amazon.com/History-Modern-Russia-Nicholas-Vladimir/dp/067401801X)
The quote was something like: "The Soviet Communists are basically Nazis with red paint".
Whoever said this - he was damn right.
Gharoukannia, The Dark Lieutenant
A recent Slovak study discovered that most things fell in price after the fall of communism, except for skim milk.
Praise skim milk. It's true wholesome goodness for the proletariat.
Miencraft, Rateria, Gharoukannia, Parvimperia
Any of you know anything about Christian summer camps?
Alpaki
Fair use is actually more restrictive than you would think. Basically, you can only use a copyrighted piece to parody it, or critique it.
My step-brother used to go to one.
Link?
Alpaki
Just two million more people until I can write my own nation classification!
Teuberland
Okay I lied, housing prices also increased.
https://reason.com/archives/2015/11/24/living-standards-up-since-the-fall-of-co
And Bread.
Well, I think with the recent event between Turkey and Russia, we can all look forward to Fallout 5 being released soon, with real life access.
Right-Winged Nation, Rateria, Teuberland
I'll start saving bottlecaps.
Miencraft, Rateria, Teuberland, The Dark Lieutenant
Hello, The Greater Empire is looking for to WA nations to aid in a raid. Those interested should contact Gharoukannia.
Scary times...scary times. If Russia declares war on Turkey, all of NATO will be forced to enter a nuclear war.
Yikes...
This is not a recruitment notice.
Assembled with Dot's Region Saver.
Written by Refuge Isle.