February 2021 Senate By-Election Debate | Transcript

Opening Statements

Dykataar - Greetings Thaecia! For those who don’t me, I am Dykataar- certified slow brain. I can’t express how excited I am for today's debate! To summarize my campaign down shortly: A vote for Dykataar is a vote for an active Senator, someone who speaks for the people, someone who will :clap: reduce :clap: the :clap: [hecking] :clap: house (and senate if that’s what your into). It’s time to get rid of those old inactive hashbrowns and put in some new mashed potatoes (that’s me in case you couldn’t tell). Thank you Taungu for organizing this wonderful debate and by-election. I can’t wait to get this party started!

Toerana V - Hi, I'm BowShot, a relative newcomer to Thaecia, and to NS in the grand scheme of things. I've been playing this game for just over 2 years, and have spent most of that time in a mixture of places, largely TRR since April of 2019. I've done my fair share of things, broken the odd regional law here, had my actions result in the odd diplomatic incident here.

I'm looking forward to answering some questions!

Rapid Questions

Let's get into this with some lightheartedness, what's 10 + 9?

Toerana V - 21

Obviously

Dykataar - Well this is a complicated query. Let me take you through my calculations.

I add 10 + 9 which converts to 0 + 9 + 0 + 10. I convert this to sqrt(18) + sqrt(100). As this is now a binomial, I can take the synthesized root, pull out the imaginary number and I am left with 21.

My final answer is 21. Thank you for your time

Toerana V - Adding numbers is just cheating smh

Dykataar - At least I am transparent to the citizens of Thaecia, and showed them my calculations. What are you hiding??

Toerana V - My true genius ;)

Nice nice lol, how often do you check Discord and/or Nationstates?

Dykataar - I am active where my priorities lie, and my priorities are YOU, the people. And TikTok compilations, I must say I am a sucker for the relatable ones. In all seriousness, I’m only inactive when I sleep. I always have Discord and NationStates open and if you DM me then there is a 99% chance I will respond within milliseconds. In the case this doesn’t happen, you can request a refund and one will be given to you.

Toerana V - If I'm available, discord is open

I moderate TRR's RMB though, so I do almost always have an NS tab open, but it's rarely on the Thaecian account

Are you a consensus-builder or decision-maker?

Toerana V - Thaecia is a democracy, we can't and shouldn't do anything without public support. However, I can also make decisions, requiring I have enough information to make them. However, I can't comment on future events, or what may happen in the future of both NationStates and Thaecia.

Dykataar - I consider myself a mixture of both. I can make decisions when needed and those decisions typically lead to all parties coming to an agreement or consensus. Of course to be realistic, not everyone will get what they want which is why I am mainly a decision maker.

Are you an isolationist or globalist in Nationstates terms?

Dykataar - This is a difficult question to answer as it is very situational, but I would say I am an isolationist. We need to put Thaecia’s matter first right now, and ensure that our people are represented and our government is active and fully functional before we move onto Foreign Affairs. I am not implying we halt all Foreign Affairs, but I am suggesting that we focus on Thaecia First, and The Rest Second (see what I did there? I am comedian).

Toerana V - It depends on the circumstances, as Dyk said

Overall, isolationist, despite my cosmopolitan nature

Last of quick questions, what's the ideal number of people in the House and Senate in your eyes?

Toerana V - The ideal number? Well 0. Ideally, the legislature would be made up by the Citizenry, so that everyone in the region can have their say on the laws that govern them.

Dykataar - As I've stated in my campaign, I feel the ideal number of people in the House is 11 (from 15) and in the Senate is 7 (from 9)

To Toerana V: You advocate for a direct democracy?

Toerana V - Of course

Dykataar - Hm. I'll pick you up on that later.

Should the coming amendment to the Constitution concerning the Congressional Reduction/Expansion pass, which many expect it to succeed having seen the Congressional Reduction Act 2020 pass with a two-thirds majority of the overall voting populace. That would lead to a Senator initiating a motion to unilaterally reduce the House from 15 seats to 11 seats, how do you see yourself voting in this scenario?

Dykataar - I will be voting in favor of this. The reason being, as many already know, is that our elections are not competitive in any nature which leads to an inactive and unconcerned Congress.

Toerana V - Well, my ideal legislature would be that of a citizenry one, so I don't have a significant stance here. I would take the advice and discuss the opinions of my colleagues prior to making a vote in the best interests of Thaecians.

Very well, let’s toe off a little, seeing that the Associate Justice Marvinville declared a candidacy for the House of Commons, one cannot imagine that the justice intends to sit in that seat for long, indicating another confirmation hearing for a justice soon after Rayekka. What are your views on how a confirmation should be held and how do you intend to vet a new justice?

Toerana V - Lets "toe" off a little

BA DUM TSSS

I see what you did there

anyhow

Dykataar - As stated in my campaign, I advocate for judicial nominations to be transferred from the Prime Minister to the President.

Toerana V - I'm relatively new to Thaecia and I am yet to get enough of a feel for the community and its members to answer that question.

However since we have a legislature

Judicial appointments should be confirmed by the legislature

but seconded what Dyk said

the President should get the nomination, not the PM

Dykataar - If I may expand on my answer,

As Toe said, I am not experienced enough nor am I educated with our justice system enough to provide a proper answer at this time. I am working to change this in coming days however.

I also agree with my colleague in this statement as well.

Toerana V - We're competitors at the moment :P

Antenion - Hey, Hey mind if I join?

Toerana V - Nothing's stopping you :P

Antenion - Sorry I'm a little late, didn't know that it was delayed until now

Yes always, judicial appointments are confimed by the Senate - how do you see yourselves approaching a likely confirmation to happen in the Senate before this general election?

Dykataar - We may be competing, but we are all citizens of Thaecia. That brings us together as one, hence which is why you are my colleague.

Toerana V - I couldn't possibly comment on a future event without all of the facts to answer the question

Dykataar - I abstain from answering this question as I am not knowledgeable in Thaecia's justice system at this time.

Antenion - Mind if I ask the moderator for a summary of the question?

Taungu

The Associate Justice Marvinville, having declared a candidacy to serve in the House of Commons is unlikely to want to stay in the High Court, leading to the possibility of a Justice confirmation right before the upcoming general election.

How do you see yourself vetting the potential candidate for the High Court?

Dykataar - I believe Congress have already confirmed Rayekka as Associate Justice at this time, correct me if I'm wrong.

Antenion - That is correct

This is about marv and if he wins the house

Toerana V - well I'll sit over here with the popcorn

:couch: :popcorn:

Dykataar - slides in on couch hiya mind if i join ya?

Toerana V - go right ahead

get ur own popcorn though

Dykataar - i have some masala popcorn right here

Toerana V - not bad

Antenion - Anywho, While I do see as a justice conformation as inevitable, The main question of the candidate and who if they are trusted enough, If I can trust them, and the general audience can, then I don't mind the confirmation before the GenElect. However if someone not as trustworthy is chosen. Then maybe not.

Dykataar - Actually, do you mind if I answer the previous question really quickly?

[Anty]'s response got me thinking.

Toerana V - yes I do want to go to sleep tonight :P

Quickly, if you have something to say

Dykataar - If the nominee brought up before the GE, as Marc said, compatible for their position then I will consider voting in favor. However at this time I currently abstain from voting for a judicial nominee before the GE.

Alright, onto some foreign affairs, would you, if elected to the Senate, vote in favour of vetoing a military operation under any circumstances? And if so, under which circumstances? Why?

Antenion - Not at all, mainly because I have full support of the military, as long as they don't disturb or coup the region

Toerana V - I'm a defender, and not the world's most moderate defender either. I would vote against any raiding action that does not act in defence of Thaecia or her allies, especially when a significant community is involved.

Dykataar - During any election, I would vote in favor of vetoing a military operation as R/D can greatly disrupt elections and members of TEA could lose citizenship during their operations, which could alter elections.

However, during other times I would gladly support our military as long as the operations do not go against Thaecia and nothing is harming the region and/or its people.

- or coup the region, as [Anty] pointed out

Antenion - *Note: I am mainly saying that as someone who is unalligned, meaning not a raider or defender

Seeing as Thaecia is, at present, a non-aligned region experimenting with various defences and raids, would you look to block such operations regardless of the community size or interest to the region?

Toerana V - Tagging is acceptable in my eyes, occupations or similar are not.

Occupations hurt regional communities

Antenion - Wouldn't it need 2/3rds support to be stopped?

Toerana V - We would not want Thaecia occupied by a hostile force, so why should we occupy other communities?

Dykataar - So you advocate to protect regional communities that harbor fascists?

Toerana V - I have a neutral opinion on fascists

Dykataar - ....?

Toerana V - On one hand, they're communities too, on the other, they are built on an ideology of hate

Hateful ideologies cannot build communities

Dykataar - That contradicts what you just said.

Toerana V - Oh for sure, It represents how conflicted I am on the issue

Dykataar - Would you vote in favor of an operation that occupies a fascist region?

Toerana V - No, I would abstain

Dykataar - So you would rather not give a say in an operation which could lead to a fascist region prospering?

Antenion - I am more simple to my IRL left leaning nature, I see a fascist region, I try and shoot the region. Simple as that

Dykataar - Keeping in mind Thaecia is tagged and has anti-fascist ideologies.

Toerana V - so are all the regions I have participated in

My stance remains the same

I am indeed anti-fascist, but I would not support occupation of fascist regions

however I would not be against it either

Dykataar - I have no more questions, but I would like to point out to the audience that said candidate has stated "I have a neutral opinion on fascists". I'm ready to move on, moderator.

Let's not get too heated on this, and move to another piece of this, returning to the Senate docket in these closing days are a couple of foreign affairs related topics, notably the White Laurel Act for potentially providing aid to allied regions and a Consortium Concention of Lausanne, an inter-regional organization that Thaecia has been a part of almost a year, until a convention appearing now. Do you believe this increasingly non-isolationist trend should be here to stay and what are your views on WA blocs or inter-regional organizations?

Dykataar - In summary (will expand in a bit)

WA bloc: oh hell no

inter-regional orgs: not atm, but def is something we can look into in the future

Toerana V - erm

At the moment, I would not vote in favour of either

we need to solve our own problems before getting involved in organisations that may come with their own

Dykataar - I agree with Toe on this matter.

Antenion - It's unanimous

Dykataar - Thaecia has lots of issues that need to be addressed and fixed before we move onto inter-regional organizations. While I'm not completely against these organizations, as I am with WA voting blocs, I feel that this is something we should merely put to the side for now. We should definitely revisit this after the general elections to see where Thaecia stands.

Antenion - No WA bloc because WA gae, and thaecia joining Interregional Orgs can become a thing after we address our problems to the best of our abilities

Dykataar - yessir

Also, Toe, I didn't mean to get heated there. I let my personal opinions get the best of me, and I apologize

Toerana V - Not to worry, I've been flamed over less~

Let's take a look inwards, another issue that has surfaced recently, what are your views on reforming or changing the Constitution of Thaecia, is a Constitutional Convention something that should be put into play and how should it work, if so? Do you believe that the Constitution should be drastically changed or otherwise?

Antenion - Absolutely

Toerana V - It requires a drastic overhaul

It's a bad english essay at the moment, not a readable, understandable constitution

Dykataar - Here is what needs to happen.

ctrl+a

del

write new constitution

bam thaecia happy

Toerana V - That is bad for democracy

Antenion - Come our our Consti is wordy and might need to correct the grammar

Alot

Ironic coming from me but it's true

cuz my grammar bad

Dykataar - I believe a constitutional convention should be put into play, as long as the citizens of Thaecia are present and whatever is discussed is put up to a referendum that the general public can also vote on. Closed conventions will hurt our democracy and are against what Thaecia stands for.

Our current constitution is an outright mess. I commend Cerdenia for his work to fix our constitution in it's many grammar errors and loopholes, but to no avail the document is a total and utter mess, and its best bet right now is a full re-write through a convention (as said in my post above).

Toerana V - Out of curiosity, how many more Qs do we have to go?

It's nearing 11 and I like sleep :P

Antenion - Probably a few more and then it's the personal ones

Toerana V - yay

Antenion - Also mind if I have a bathroom break?

Dykataar - Can't wait to see what taungu has ready to haunt us now

Like one or two more, no worries

There have been amendments to transfer away the Minister Confirmation Hearings away from the House and into the Senate, allowing the House of Commons to cover more topics of new legislation and not be bogged down in hearings early in a term. What are your thoughts on such a system, would you support such a change in hearings?

Toerana V - Ministers shouldn't need approval hearings. They should either be elected separately or come with the Prime Minister

It lets the new administration very quickly take over and get to their jobs

preventing any lapses in important programs such as reaching out to new members of the community

Dykataar - I would support this. The House of Commons already has such a short term, and in these 2 months they need to focus on legislation rather than hearings. This job can be given to the Senate who has 4 months to do this.

Antenion - And I would agree would you there, but minister hearings has been the precedent for a while now, and to be elected by the ppl would be kinda dumb because lesser turn out

Toerana V - agreed on the elected

Dykataar - I disagree with Toe. I feel that would give the administration that comes in too much power, and then the elections would get extremely hectic if they became a position someone ran for. And like [Anty] said, that is our precedent.

Antenion - The RP sec has an election every time he gets reconfirmed, and only like 9 ppl go

Toerana V - and re: "Powerful administration"

It's the PM

if they are not able to work with a government they are comfortable with

the gov will grind to a halt

into a messy argument between Minister and PM

Antenion - Yeah I know, but something must happen to make sure they are accounted for

Toerana V - Recalls?

We add in the ability to recall any official

Antenion - transfering that power to the senate make sure that it's alot faster

Toerana V - if they are super bad and the PM doesn't fire 'em

recall them

Antenion - Technically we already do that

Toerana V - then what's the problem

Antenion - I just thing that there should be some account ability for the Ministers

just allowing them to join when the PM is elected seems off

Toerana V - confirmation is not the way to go about that imo

Antenion - and mind you this is coming from a Former Culture Minister

Toerana V - I didn't have a confirmation

Antenion - I did

Toerana V - Thalassia worked different before it went all autocratic

Antenion - Yeah, well maybe the lack of confirmation hearings is a reason why

anyway next question pls

Dykataar - I agree with this

Toerana V - It isn't

it's autocratic moves were paired with an elected legislature

but I'm not here to discuss the failings of Thalassia

Interesting discussion, now to touch on a less policy focused question, with the general election creeping up in just about two or so weeks, what do you intend to do if you either win or lose this election, with the term being exceptionally short? Would you look to run in the general election or something else?

Toerana V - I'm assuming I can't deliver all campaign promises in 2 weeks so I will run again

regardless of whether i win or loose

Antenion - Yeah, People have been yelling at me to run for senate for a while now

Dykataar - I will work to deliver all my campaign proposals if I win this election. If not, I have plans to run again for MP or senate (have yet to made up my mind) in the general election.

Toerana V - not senate?

Dykataar - Sorry, I forgot that last part

Antenion - looks at Marv Snowflame and Ashlawn dragging me out of retirement SMH

Antenion - Nearly three months ago now, you emerged out of what has been commonly described as a disastrous term as Speaker of the House, having been plagued by inactivity and stagnation. In your final message on the issue, you professed that legislative work had come to bore you, do you still hold that belief for this remainder of the term, if elected?

Antenion - Yeah I still find it particularly boring, but it's better than doing nothing at all, as I've been in the government for a full year at that point hadn't have a real experience outside of it to realize how boring it was not being in it

ofc i am not looking for a leadership roll at all

Dykataar - You say in your campaign dispatch that "I listen to the people. I will not take my position for power as granted. If I see or hear about something corrupt or something that isn't for the betterment for the people, I will call it out." - nearly every single candidate out of the past two years has proposed such a guarantee, what makes yours effective?

Dykataar - I will be as transparent as I can with my answer.

Absolutely nothing.

There is nothing to back up my word and promises, other than my word.

However, I can ensure each Thaecian watching (and you TEP spies) that what is listed in my campaign will happen. I have said over and over again I am for the people. Everything I do will be for the people. I work for the betterment of the people. I'm sorry I don't have the Thaecian political experience to back myself up, but what is said is what will happen. In recent times we have kept on putting in inactive legislators who haven't been putting the wants of Thaecia first. I ensure each person watching that I will put you first. I will put Thaecia first.

Toerana V - One of the primary tenets in your campaign is to change up the legislature of Thaecia. Thaecia has long been a region with a bicameral election legislative structure, why do you believe that a different system would work better for the region here and how would you work towards such a structure?

Toerana V - I hope to work my changes into thaecia slowly

None of this "turn thaecia on its head and redo everything overnight" people are fear mongering about

I think that a citizenry legislature is better for democracy in general because it enshrines the citizen's right vote on the laws that govern them

Including the laws that may give them that right to begin with

Simple as that

My personal stance is that a democracy with an elected legislature is lying to its about its true nature, no matter its intentions

Solid responses, but now we appear to have reached the time to wrap up this debate, before the closing remarks, if you have any cross-questions you wish to ask any of the other two candidates, feel free to do so now.

If not, please indicate that so I can move on to closing.

Toerana V -Closing statement: Send me any questions you may have further in dms and I will pick em up in the morning

G'night Thaecia

Dykataar - Bow, can you please explain your plans for a direct democracy, and how you hope to achieve and works towards this?

Oop

Well, that's my only question.

Seeing no further discussion, I invite the candidates to make a closing remark on why the voters should vote for you to fill in one of these two seats in this by-election. This is the closing statement to wrap up the debate.

Antenion - Vote for me, I have a headache, see you guys later

Dykataar - I would like to thank Taungu for hosting this wonderous debate. I can't express how much I enjoyed debating and discussing with my fellow colleagues. While I may not agree with their stances, they are very good candidates.

--

For far too long we have voted in inactive and unconcerned legislators. Thaecia, I am calling on you to make a change. Vote Dykataar as your first choice in the February 2021 Senate By-Elections.

VOTE FRESH, VOTE DYKATAAR

#Dyka4Senate

Thank you for a wonderful discussion and debate to learn the views of these three candidates looking to make it into the Senate!

With that we will conclude our last debate for the February Senate and House By-Elections!!!! Voting begins later tonight, get ready for the results in the days to come.