As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Fourth Constitution, to what extent to you feel the new game has lived up to the promise of the Constitutional Convention? Apart from activity, what further actions ought we take to achieve that promise (whether structural or cultural changes)?
In many ways, no. In some ways, yes, but it's coming slowly. The problems with the game come more from mindset than structural changes. I think people get caught up on the wrong things (see: crusades against "nice guys" or whatever), which hurts sometimes. Also lots of people don't post enough, for several reasons. Maybe they have too high a standard/narrow a mindset of what is post-worthy, or maybe they lack creativity (see: Wednesday Night Live, which I will bring back one of these days but I hate the idea of forcing it), or maybe they are too overwhelmed by the "activity drought" that they don't post at all.
As far as solutions, it's up to everyone to do what they can to make the game more fun for them and others.
Yeah, I would largely agree that most of the knots left to work out have more to do with how we play the game than with how the game is set up. Of course, Congress could always run more smoothly, and there are some interesting structural reforms being considered at the regional level (parliamentary democracy in Fremont, and the possibility of new state boundaries in the South); but as a general rule, it goes back to what Yankee said last year: at the end of the day, no matter how many constitutional amendments and cabinet reforms you pass, you have to play the game. As far as "nice guys" are concerned, the people I've heard use that term (who may not be the same people you're talking about) do so in the context of referring to post-ideological campaigns that focus more on building personality cults than talking about the issues. In all honesty, I've been discouraged by the extent to which campaigning seems to have become a lost art, replaced by 24-7 PM operations and IRC haggling. Sadly, this is a disease that has infected both parties – the last presidential campaign was generally devoid of substance – so I'm glad folks like you and Yankee are still around to make sure this remains a political simulation, as opposed to a glorified student council.
Anyways, good luck!
