Citizens Provisional Convention - December 2017

[Lumine]

Citizens Provisional Convention
December 2017

Opening Address:

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!

Thank you for being here. It has been almost two months since Citizens was founded by a group of independent-minded Atlasians anxious about the need for drastic changes in our political system, and in the course of those months we have achieved a lot. Particularly thanks to our newer, younger members we stand today as members of the third largest party in Atlasia, with able and dedicated representation both in Congress and in the Regional governments. New points of view and new ideas are being promoted and put forward, and the dream of a new political force capable of breaking the rather boring party system inherited by the permanent change in dominance between Labor and the currently dominant Federalist Party remains alive.

I, for one, am proud in having played a part in that process, even if my dreams of returning to political office haven't been accomplished yet I do not regret for a moment having run for office as an independent and as the official candidate of Citizens. Winning elections is key, my friends, but so it is to defend and promote your points of view and seeing them become law or a permanent part of the political system. If all we did was to become a personality cult based on winning office rather than on accomplishing something, fellow party members, it would not be worth the effort. That is not why we're here, that is not what brings us today to this pleace.

We're here because we believe Atlasian politics should be more than that, because we believe the people deserve much better. We believe in ideas-based politics, in standing for necessary change and for a dosis of independent-minded spirit that does not fail into the obvious, evident trap of the "moderate heroes" so often maligned for the inability to stand for ideas and not for mere personality. And so it has been my privilege to lead you for the past couple of months. It is also my privilege to stand down as Party Chairman so a different, newer generation can take my place and lead the way in our gallant struggle.

I remain at your side as a committed member of this party, but also as a member who, having been an enthusiastic newbie years ago still remembers the value and the importance of bringing new perspectives and new people, of not remaining in the same office for years and months, of leaving space for different leaderships to grow. It would be pointless, I've said it already, if Citizens became little more than a personal vehicle for me or for any other member of this party, or just a party machine to be hijacked by anyone determined to remain at the top of our political system regardless of the consecuences.

This convention is not about the past, it is about the future of this party. It will be the place were we choose new leadership, and that leadership guides us in the need for a detailed, clear platform for Atlasia, in improving our by-laws, planning our next moves, welcome new people into the party, and do what we need to do to ensure we continue to rise while staying true to the ideals we passionately believe in.

So let us enjoy this provisional convention, my friends, and take Citizens to the next level!

[Lumine]

Schedule:

We will now begin with 48 hours for party members to sign-up and become delegates with the right to vote, period which will also be used to confirm candidates for party leadership (Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary). After the 48 hours have passed voting will commence, and after 72 hours I will have the pleasure to hand over the Convention to our next Party Chairman and his team.

That's all for now, gentlemen, so sign in please!

[Lumine]

x LumineVonReuental

A majority of members present, let us begin. A 72 hour vote now follows with the declared candidates:

Party Chairman:
[ ] wxtransit

Vice Chairman:
[ ] DFL

Secretary:
[ ] Write-in:

[Lumine]

Party Chairman:
[X] wxtransit

Vice Chairman:
[X] DFL

Secretary:
[X] Write-in: rpryor03

[Lumine]

Leadership:

After the leadership election has finished, wxtransit is our new Party Chairman, DFL is our new Vice Chairman, and by write-in preferences Rpryor remains our Secretary. Congratulations, gentlemen! On my last act as Party Chairman, I humbly hand over the convention to you, and wish you the best of luck.

[Lumine]

No offense, but the whole section on Presidential tickets seems a bit unrealistic, and it does tie the hands of the party a bit much when it comes to the future. Desirable as it is not to fall into the trap of having an Alliance VP to one of the major parties, I fear binding the party to such categories for presidential tickets is unwise (not to mention a bit antidemocratic as well).

[Lumine]

No offense, but the whole section on Presidential tickets seems a bit unrealistic, and it does tie the hands of the party a bit much when it comes to the future. Desirable as it is not to fall into the trap of having an Alliance VP to one of the major parties, I fear binding the party to such categories for presidential tickets is unwise (not to mention a bit antidemocratic as well).

Hmmm, that's a good point. What would be your suggestion for a replacement?

Leave it open. Perhaps a general statement of how the party will seek to avoid having its members as VP's for the main parties or the general belief of the party in more diverse tickets, but a rule to be enforced would be a bad idea in this case.