Commission: The state of Forumshire constitutional democracy

A commission is hereby established to look into the health of Forumshire's constitutional approach to democracy.

Since the involvement of prominent Forumshire institutions are in question, I assume the role of independent ombudsman, and will head the commission.

The following statement outlines the facts upon which this Commission was established:

Spoiler:

This Commission will look into the the current state of Forumshire democracy in light of recent relevations as to the intimate relationship between the Forumshire press and executive. The committe will specifically look into the impact of this relationship on the right to freedom of access to information of the population of the aforementioned shire, as to the Forumshire unwritten Constitution art. 2 (17).

The Commission does not assume sanctioning ability, but will ask testimonies to be truthful, for the benefit of all concerned, and ask the admin to asume this spirit. The commission will end its investigation with a report on the stae of Forumshire society.

Prominent bodies that will be investigated: The Adminship, the Mayorship, the press conglomerate Pure Publications Incorporated, (suspected seat: Bahamas) the press conglomerate The Archet Bugle, the press conglomerate Admin News.

The following people are hereby named to the committe to fulfill the membership requirements (4, four) as of the Forumshire Committe Statute, hereafter known as the committe: Ringdrotten, Ally, Bangail (absent members have been chosen to ensure neutrality of the commissions operation.)

Hereby a period of public consultation is instigated, that will last thirty (30) days. Any additional opinions, feelings on the state of Forumshire democracy or the aforementioned investigated bodies and the relationship betwen the press and Forumshire institutions are warmly welcome.

{{{{{ }}}}}

The Commission welcomes the following statement by an associate of Pure Publications:

Pettytyrant101 wrote:{{{Pure Publication follows a policy of 'Fair use' if they use something that's fair enough according to them!    }}}

The Commission notes said statements confidential manner, (note squiggles) and ask other press conglomeratees not to futher communicate it to the public at this time.

I hope this doesn't distract you from the important task of determining whether Eru and Manwë really posted on Forumshire earlier this month.

The committe will specifically look into the impact of this relationship on the right to freedom of access to information of the population of the aforementioned shire, as to the Forumshire unwritten Constitution art. 2 (17).

I refer you to esteemed legal scholar Petty McTyrant's summary of Forumshire's unwritten constitution (2014):

http://www.hobbitmovieforum.com/t1016-norc-for-presidency#144690

Cant we just do what we normally do when faced with a tricky situation- hold a fair and free democratic vote, have a mod meeting, count the votes, throw that in the bin and wait for Eldo to tell us the result before announcing the winner to the plebs, I mean public? Its worked every other time   

Swap out the name for our beloved current Admin and I think the constitutional principle still holds true, but I claim sovereign immunity for any actions that I may or may not have taken between February 2011 and January 2016.

Eldorion wrote:I hope this doesn't distract you from the important task of determining whether Eru and Manwë really posted on Forumshire earlier this month.

Like Project Blue Book, we have shelved the investigation in lieu of further evidence.    You should know, you are after all part of it  

Eldorion wrote:

The committe will specifically look into the impact of this relationship on the right to freedom of access to information of the population of the aforementioned shire, as to the Forumshire unwritten Constitution art. 2 (17).

I refer you to esteemed legal scholar Petty McTyrant's summary of Forumshire's unwritten constitution (2014):

http://www.hobbitmovieforum.com/t1016-norc-for-presidency#144690

Cant we just do what we normally do when faced with a tricky situation- hold a fair and free democratic vote, have a mod meeting, count the votes, throw that in the bin and wait for Eldo to tell us the result before announcing the winner to the plebs, I mean public? Its worked every other time   

The Commission is a little unsure that we see this approach to democratic guarantees as, potentially, mitigating.    We will however express our thanks and note the information of internal admin tower practices.

Eldorion wrote:Swap out the name for our beloved current Admin and I think the constitutional principle still holds true, but I claim sovereign immunity for any actions that I may or may not have taken between February 2011 and January 2016.

Noted, the Commission are prepared to extend qualified immunity as the unwritten constitution allows with consent. (note by analogue Harlow v. Fitzgerald)

How come the syllable count is so unaccountably high on this thread? Does it come from having a theoretically unwritten constitution that requires obfuscating terminology?

It is a parody of pompus legaleeze, m'lad

I will put a description of the reason for this commission in the original post, to clarify the question somewhat.

A little birdie (well, okay, a Great Eagle) has informed me that this isn't the first time the former Admin has spoken about the 2011 election.

http://www.hobbitmovieforum.com/t847p15-forumshire-the-first-five-years#116738

Increased activity in November and December also meant that we were finally able to hold the first Forumshire Mayoral elections, which had been in discussion since that summer. The election became a project in community-building and activity-encouraging, as well as just being a lot of fun, as numerous candidates were introduced for the newly created position of Mayor of Forumshire, an office that had conspicuously few (no) rights or responsibilities attached to it. The main candidates were Pretty, Orwell, and Kafria. Pretty cut a deal with me and undertook a smear campaign to knock Odo out of the race. This was accomplished by me registering an alternate account called “Diamond Banks”, the first and I think only time someone other than Odo created a Banks account, to post unsavory but plausible rumors about Odo's forum past. Odo withdrew from the race in a pique of respectability, but Pretty ultimately fell in the final ballot to Kafria, whose first act in office was to threaten to ban the Page 3 Hobbit Lass of the Day.

Also:

Bluebottle wrote:Like Project Blue Book, we have shelved the investigation in lieu of further evidence.    You should know, you are after all part of it  

Insufficient evidence my Ainu ass. I will not stand for this disrespect from people who continue to insinuate that I am not truly Manwë Súlimo, King of Arda. Have I not said as much to this forum in years past?

{{{{ I would just like to state for the record that I only deliver the NotP- I therefore excuse myself from all questioning, suspicion, rumour or anything which in any way, fashion, or means might interrupt my planned evening buckie drinking. Or tomorrow mornings drinking, or tomorrow afternoon's drinking or tomorrow evenings drinking or in fact every day's drinking. }}}

Manwe Sulimo wrote:Insufficient evidence my Ainu ass. I will not stand for this disrespect from people who continue to insinuate that I am not truly Manwë Súlimo, King of Arda. Have I not said as much to this forum in years past?

My son, do not take it to heart.  The thing that separates the true believers from the chaff is Faith without Seeing, and as such, I, Eru Ilúvatar, shall continue to provide no evidence for my Holy Existence whatsoever.

Dear God

Manwe Sulimo wrote:A little birdie (well, okay, a Great Eagle) has informed me that this isn't the first time the former Admin has spoken about the 2011 election.

http://www.hobbitmovieforum.com/t847p15-forumshire-the-first-five-years#116738

Increased activity in November and December also meant that we were finally able to hold the first Forumshire Mayoral elections, which had been in discussion since that summer.  The election became a project in community-building and activity-encouraging, as well as just being a lot of fun, as numerous candidates were introduced for the newly created position of Mayor of Forumshire, an office that had conspicuously few (no) rights or responsibilities attached to it.  The main candidates were Pretty, Orwell, and Kafria.  Pretty cut a deal with me and undertook a smear campaign to knock Odo out of the race.  This was accomplished by me registering an alternate account called “Diamond Banks”, the first and I think only time someone other than Odo created a Banks account, to post unsavory but plausible rumors about Odo's forum past.  Odo withdrew from the race in a pique of respectability, but Pretty ultimately fell in the final ballot to Kafria, whose first act in office was to threaten to ban the Page 3 Hobbit Lass of the Day.

This is highly relevant, the commission of course offers its must humble prevarications.

Pettytyrant101 wrote:{{{{ I would just like to state for the record that I only deliver the NotP- I therefore excuse myself from all questioning, suspicion, rumour or anything which in any way, fashion, or means might interrupt my planned evening buckie drinking. Or tomorrow mornings drinking, or tomorrow afternoon's drinking or tomorrow evenings drinking  or in fact every day's drinking. }}}

Some would say that is rather.. suspicious

Bluebottle wrote:Dear God

Yes, my wayward child?

I shall have to look into this page 3 hobbit lass of the day. I assume the Archet Bugle to be far to respectable for this type of thing, so it must have been in News of the Pure.

Manwe Sulimo wrote:A little birdie (well, okay, a Great Eagle) has informed me that this isn't the first time the former Admin has spoken about the 2011 election.

Are you still that mad at me over the Kenelm incident that you'd turn tattletale?

halfwise wrote:I shall have to look into this page 3 hobbit lass of the day.  I assume the Archet Bugle to be far to respectable for this type of thing, so it must have been in News of the Pure.

If you look through the new Pure Publications archive thread the Page 3 Hobbit Lass of the Day is on, well, page 3 of most NotP issues (which usually appears in the second image since the wider ones show two pages of the paper).

We're part of a Constitutional Democracy? I thought we were currently under a Mod-led dictatorship instigated in the "dead of night" without any kind of public foreknowledge whatsoever. A regime, as I recall, that is equal-parts benevolent and duplicitious with the oft-alluded-to-but-never-clearly-explained-to-plebs-like-me "Dark Planet". Perhaps some of you will recall the recent Day of Darkness, when Forumshire's greenery was replaced by a deathly shade of very dark gray.

Anyway, I really don't see the point of opening a committee to investigate whether past "elections" violated an unwritten constitution that the committee seems to be actively making-up. Surely this is a case of creating the law to suit one's needs in the moment. Despite the impressive legalese I call the legitimacy of this entire investigation into question!

Forest Shepherd wrote:We're part of a Constitutional Democracy? I thought we were currently under a Mod-led dictatorship instigated in the "dead of night" without any kind of public foreknowledge whatsoever. A regime, as I recall, that is equal-parts benevolent and duplicitious with the oft-alluded-to-but-never-clearly-explained-to-plebs-like-me "Dark Planet". Perhaps some of you will recall the recent Day of Darkness, when Forumshire's greenery was replaced by a deathly shade of very dark gray.

Anyway, I really don't see the point of opening a committee to investigate whether past "elections" violated an unwritten constitution that the committee seems to be actively making-up. Surely this is a case of creating the law to suit one's needs in the moment. Despite the impressive legalese I call the legitimacy of this entire investigation into question!

Dear Mr Shepherd (Provost, Dairy Herd Management) we thank you for your response and the deifciencies you have observed wth the Forumshire political system. They will be noted and may form part of our final report.

We are deeply berieved to hear of your lack of faith in the legitimacy of our Commission, in particular as you seem to have several legitimate concerns about our political system. As ombudsman I would like to personally thank you for your concern and time, and note that our office is completely independent of the Forumshire political institutions.

With hope for a better future,

Eat a peach,

Yours.. etc.

Eru wrote:

Bluebottle wrote:Dear God

Yes, my wayward child?

Eru wrote:My son, do not take it to heart.  The thing that separates the true believers from the chaff is Faith without Seeing, and as such, I, Eru Ilúvatar, shall continue to provide no evidence for my Holy Existence whatsoever.

I know, dad, I know. Sometimes I miss the old days when I could send out the Host of the Valar or sink part of a continent just to make a point though, you feel me?

Eldorion wrote:Are you still that mad at me over the Kenelm incident that you'd turn tattletale?

I'll have you know that Mandos isn't any happier about your disrespect of my servant Kenelm and the faith of the Valar than I am, so even if I were to forget, your day of reckoning is coming one way or another.

Manwe Sulimo wrote:

Eru wrote:My son, do not take it to heart.  The thing that separates the true believers from the chaff is Faith without Seeing, and as such, I, Eru Ilúvatar, shall continue to provide no evidence for my Holy Existence whatsoever.

I know, dad, I know. Sometimes I miss the old days when I could send out the Host of the Valar or sink part of a continent just to make a point though, you feel me?

Yes, yes, I certainly remember the days when you ruined all my hard work on those continents with impunity every time some idiot mildly offended you. Do you know how many of my naps you ruined with the screaming armies and noisy earthquakes?

{{{Besides, it'll be far more glorious to sink it all at once, anyway. Patience is a virtue, my boy.}}}

It might be time to reopen a certain..  

But why would I distract from my coming report on the state of Forumshire democracy I suspect that would be just what the powers that be would like I won't get distracted by issues of agnosticism

Bluebottle wrote:It might be time to reopen a certain..  

But why would I distract from my coming report on the state of Forumshire democracy I suspect that would be just what the powers that be would like I won't get distracted by issues of agnosticism

Much as I love democracy and, of course, freedom, I can't help but feel that you are approaching this in the wrong way. Who's to say that these two issues are separate? I can't help but notice that this alleged "Eru" has been given a custom title.