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When Imkiville took the reigns, it was back to me writing the Lazarene Gazette. This gave me the opportunity to rile a few feathers in the New Pacific Order, on one issue at least, and try and put some pieces back together of the Lazarene community - which was a really hard task no doubt, and still remains unfinished. While I might still contribute to the Gazette, running the show now falls to someone else - as I have been nominated to become the Vice Delegate of Lazarus.

It now falls to the region to nominate someone else to lead the cultural or internal affairs of Lazarus, in the Department of Internal Management.

I wish them all the best, in both running the Gazette, and in what direction they take the role and the newspaper.

Signed,
New Rogernomics
Outgoing Gazette Editor of Lazarus
 

Recently this month, Treadwellia, the Delegate of Lazarus, nominated New Rogernomics to become the new Vice Delegate of Lazarus, and take up the role of leading the Council of Lazarene Security. This could be informally described as the Guardians or Security Council of Lazarus, which are tasked with maintaining the security of the region.

Treadwellia on the 8th of June stated, "I hereby nominate NewRogernomics for Vice Delegate of Lazarus. NR has worked tirelessly on the back end of Lazarus for some time, now, showing to me his dedication to the region and his ability to think clearly and cleanly about major issues. I believe he would be a great fit for Vice Delegate.

He has requested a little time to finish up some Media and Events concerns early next week, but, otherwise, I am opening this up to discussing and eventual voting as before."

As of press time, there is clear support for the nomination eventually proceeding to vote.
 

As discussed in the last issue of the Gazette, the Treaty of Fùhuó between The West Pacific and Lazarus has been proposed. Though the region seems more divided on the Treaty of Fùhuó than the treaty with Osiris, as it goes to vote, with several Lazarenes voting against the proposed treaty. In other diplomatic news, the Anti-Pacific Coalition Treaty was recently proposed in Lazarus, despite the withdrawal of Pacifica from the war with New Pacific Order. It will be up to the region to decide whether it seeks to continue participation in the reformed Anti-Pacific Coalition, with concerns being over whether it continues to be an active force.
 
There are varying opinions on democracy in the game with many regions resisting full democracy and engaging with hybrid systems. Though there are plenty of regions that take the challenge and establish direct or representative democracy, as Lazarus did in the past. With my experience in the Delegate seat though, I've found there is no 'perfect system', as all models have their dangers, and present an opportunity for community growth or decline and stagnation.

When the Celestial Union was created, it wasn't meant to be a mess, and if anything it was an expression of popular will, and took a lot of political capital to pass, but it did so with a super-majority. Before then, the Magical Realms, a RP reform effort, passed with a super-majority, and it too looked like an effort to improve upon the region at the time. Democracy for Lazarus was our way of life as a region, and regardless of what happened, and mistakes we made, they weren't mistakes made in a vacuum or by an authoritarian regime, but by democratic methods.

Ignorance, you might say is bliss. When the region realized Lazarene democracy was on the verge of collapse, it was too late to save it. The courts were broken, the legislature was shattered, and so much of the civil society of the region was muddied or exiled that it seemed like we could never get democracy back - and many still think that to do so today is a fool's errand.

When the region was reformed into the present constitution with a much more authoritarian structure, the honest thought in my mind, was that it wasn't the right thing based upon my own political rise in Lazarus. Though, first and foremost, I am Lazarene, which means I don't coup my own region, and I don't stand against it - even if I have something to politically gain from doing so.

Lazarus at first in my case, was a non-political place, where I would hang out with people from Gatesville, and have casual chats with the long-term natives of Lazarus, while I explored various UCRs. This changed with the rise of PRL, and the eviction of various long-term natives, and the march to what would become virtually a 'defender exclusive' region, with minimal democracy - even in comparison to the past challenge system.

During the People's Republic of Lazarus, the region may have been active, but it was also hollow, in the sense that there was no real political freedom, and it was only really a placeholder for a planned puppet state of another region. So when the Humane Republic of Lazarus was created, I decided to rejoin Lazarus as a player active politically, this time in a gameplay sense - as I had since given up on UCR gameplay and wanted to try something different.

So my first step was to rise to a Culture Minister role, then eventually to the Delegacy, and during that time I experienced telegrams from angry players, as well as players thankful for my efforts. It wasn't easy, but I learned a lot from being Delegate, and when I retired from that role I became a legislator in the assembly and a forum administrator.

The advice I would offer for what constitutional or legislative changes come forth, is expect that some day it will be challenged, and beware the deceptive lure of 'popular will'. Just because a bill is politically popular, or even passed with overwhelming support, doesn't mean it is a good bill - it just means people were persuaded by those who proposed it.

As far as politics are concerned, I am still a democrat at heart, but any democracy has dangers, and not just opportunities for regional participation. So whatever decision Lazarus makes, it should learn from history and not repeat it. In every democratic structure, no matter how sincere or well-rounded, there are assassins and political opportunists waiting to strike the region down from the shadows. Or, as one Starfleet Captain said, "villains who twirl their moustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well-camouflaged".

Disclaimer: This article was opinion, and as such is the view of a private citizen, and not the official position of Lazarus nor the Lazarene government.