NATOPIAN EXAMINATION INITIATIVE

[Brian Capelle]

OK, it's time to get the ball rolling.

The first part is to reexamine the Constitution. I will be doing this by reading the current and various previous ones and writing an entirely new one but trust me, it won't be an immediate process. And of course it will be long enough to be all good for when Nate comes back to allow him to have his input, and since he voiced approval for me starting the initiative I really can't wait for that.

We will also need to examine the culture and our online presence. I was slightly annoyed by not having access to control Natopia's website over this time because I wanted to make updates to it to match the times and I think we could do it better with HTML than with Freewebs.

We also need to examine all our laws, decrees, resolutions, everything to see what matters and what doesn't. I personally think we need to start over completely and look at everything and pass it all over again if it's appropriate.

Expect me to be working on the new Constitution. I want to have the first draft dome tomorrow.

[darcyj]

brandon said:

... writing an entirely new one ... all our laws, decrees, resolutions, everything to see what matters and what doesn't. I personally think we need to start over completely ...

Comments and participation were invited from foreigners, so I beg a few moments of your time here.

I haven't read the other thread (Constitution) so these comments are merely a reaction to the above and to the general email.

If a nation is to have continuity, identity, culture and relevance, then EVERYTHING MATTERS. Everything that has happened, and every law and statute, is a part of your history. Some parts of history have more relevance to the present and future than other parts, but the old adage is that those who ignore their history are doomed to repeat it.

My recommendation would be to reform the nation using the processes and mechanisms already open to you. Does the constitution now in force allow amendment? - then amend it that way, radically if you want to, but dont simply scrap it and post a new one because that is revolution, not reform.

The same goes for laws and decrees. They are changeable, and changed by, subsequent laws and decrees. The ordinary legislative process, and not a bonfire, can be used to take care of any problems you might identify in the current national fabric.

Real nations - other than those taken over by revolutionaries - do not change by shredding the past. Organic change, under the law and not in some mezzanine level of the nation where there is no law, leaves a legacy of legitimacy rather than the smell of napalm.

John

[Brian Capelle]

We are amending it, by righting a new one and passing it as an amendment.

but don't you get the fact that we already have changed form alot anyway?

The point is we will keep most of the laws but we are gonna go through each one of them to make sure they're necessary and the best way to do that is re-pass them all. Not to say they still won't be in effect.

We can amend the Constitution though, and that is how we will have a new one, by the current amendment clause, it's just we're amending the whole thing.

[Brian Capelle]

Your comments are appreciated btw

[Nathan]

its part of our history to suddenly, radically, and sometimes revolutionarily change governments.

of course, this is also only in response to what ive read here... i have yet to read brians new draft.... *ominous music plays*

[Tasneem]

oh dear... I guess I'll just sit back and enjoy the ride.