Topic: Public Opinion Versus Trustee Leadership: Which is Fair?

Darien Fenner

Date: 2010-07-27 17:19 EST
The following article was seen on page one of the RhyDin Post, July the twenty-seventh.

http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx21/dfenner_photo/6264346944a710cfe80dc5.jpg Senior Columnist and Investigative Journalist: Darien Fenner

Public Opinion Versus Trustee Leadership: Which is Fair" July 27, 2010

Rewind the clock to April twenty-eighth, the morning of Governor Driscol's inauguration speech. All around the city, video and printed copies boasted the charismatic and compelling words of Sheridan "Dris" Driscol, who argued that he was no tyrant or "king," but rather a man of the people.

"When you voted for me, Sheridan Driscol, I know that you were putting your trust in a Governor, not a king. RhyDin is not a dictatorship, and I would be a fool to think that I could put forth all that I have planned on my own. So it is with your support by placing me into this position of authority that I will be appointing a cabinet of eight able-bodied and knowledgeable individuals to help me oversee the day-to-day functions of our city, to assist me in making improvements only where necessary. These people will act only through my approval, and yours, as an extension of myself."

And that is the way it should be, is it not' There is no delegation or retrospective voting and governing in RhyDin. When the people elected Governor Driscol, they elected him based on his "Return to Your Roots" campaign - one that glorified the power of the general population over a relatively new institution such as the governorship.

Why, then, have our good friends on the Council of Ministers begun to create designs beyond the scope of public trust and inclination"

Last week, in a manner too quiet and sudden to be publicly recognized (and therefore, criticized), Riley O'Rourke resigned her position as the Minister of Justice. According to O'Rourke, her efforts in the Ministry "have largely been ignored, and not just by the people of this city."

"Why fight a losing battle?" added O'Rourke. "Why keep bashing my head against a brick wall?"

No doubt the cause of that headache has something to do with the Watch's intentional expanding presence in the Red Dragon Inn.

"The vast majority of the crime - the planning, the execution, hell, it's even where the victims of crimes in other parts of the city run to - happens in and around the Red Dragon," explained O'Rourke of her transient shift policy. "It seemed the best place to have the Watch - the new and improved Watch - show its public face."

Unfortunately for O'Rourke, this sentiment was not received well from the beginning.

"The Watch is showing potential by showing up on shifts in the Inn, but they didn't need to," argued Sarah Matthews, local duel caller and businesswoman. "The RhyDin citizens have been perfectly capable of handling their own business. Frankly, it seems the Watch is a little bit late in catching up on justice. The citizens already have a system."

"I think they should stick to street corners and the Watch House," commented Vilrath Arisa, local at the Red Dragon Inn. "Don't need any self-righteous <censored> getting in the way of me and my drinking."

Gemethyst, another frequenter of the establishment, expressed aggravation on the policy: "What, the Governor doesn't trust his people" He feels we need a set of babysitters to keep us in line" We don't need more government, we need less. The people can police themselves!"

With these kinds of opinions, it is no wonder ?"people seem to think that the Watch are corrupt bullies."

After all, we need not revisit some of the discriminatory opinions of some of the Watch's individual members, do we"

"They are quite the opposite," expressed O'Rourke. "And I wanted to prove that' The only thing I regret is not being able to do the job I wish I could have done."

The job she wished she could have done. One has to wonder if public opinion figured into these decisions. Based on the public backlash against increased presence of the Watch, does this seem likely"

The fact of the matter is these positions were not elected; they were appointed. No matter how fervently Driscol might argue that the Ministers are acting in the best interests of the people, unless the operatives actually consult explicitly with the Governor, who consults explicitly with the public or gauges public opinion himself, policies will still be rendered anti-majoritarian. However harmless it may seem, Driscol's governorship has the dangerous potential of transforming a shaky democracy into a prefectural oligarchy. And what happens if the line of communication between the Governor and his Ministers is severed entirely'

Here is to hoping that Driscol is capable of understanding the actual meaning of democracy.

"I believe that the citizens of RhyDin are so individualistic that they'll resist any efforts to implement anything approaching a universal justice system," explained O'Rourke following her resignation. ?" It's been made abundantly clear to me that the people of this city see no need for an organized system of law; therefore, since it is the function of the judicial system to serve the people, my job is unnecessary' If Governor Driscol insists on having a Ministry of Justice, he needs to put some time, effort, and money into the Watch first and foremost."

No word yet on whether the Governor plans to appoint a second Minister of Justice, but O'Rourke seems to be under the impression that the post is a lost cause:

"Honestly, I don't know anyone with the chops to take over the position," said O'Rourke.

According to the former Minister, she plans to take up her original career as an instructor at the Black Cat Yoga and Dance Studios. At least she had the good observation to recognize that what she was attempting to do wasn't an aspiration of the RhyDin populace. But what about the rest of the Ministry'

"It would be great if the Watch weren't such a bunch of slackers," commented Kitty O'Helston, former Governor. "Believe me, that was one of my biggest headaches when I had the job."

What will happen if RhyDin generates a public outcry against the "corrupt bullies" themselves" Will our Minister of Defense, Admiral Wolvinator, step aside" Or will he press on and try his hardest to work toward RhyDin's best interests, even if it means upsetting Driscol's constituents" What about Merriam Harriss-Ksyhsravor, Minister of Agriculture, who argued herself that her position was not entirely necessary"

"I'm not going to spend my time trying to radicalize or overhaul something I know so little about," explained Harriss-Ksyhsravor back in May. " But with the reactions to my office so far, which has been a lot of silence....I figure RhyDin's farmers have been handling things on their own just fine for a while."

It has been three months to the day since Sheridan Driscol was elected Governor. Perhaps it is time to reevaluate his administration, and decide what in this new and interesting form of leadership is actually advantageous or relevant.

All but one thing remains. No matter if the Ministry winds up kicking into overdrive, and no matter if the members themselves gain some infinitesimal amount of recognition from the people in the near future, I'll be the first to say:

One down; seven to go.

"The End of an Error" with special thanks to the players of RileyORourke, BardGallant, Gemethyst, Vilrath Arisa, and Sarah. Thank you!]]

Darien Fenner

Date: 2010-07-29 19:40 EST
On page five of the RhyDin Post, June the twenty-eighth, is a published reference copy of the O'Rourke interview transcript.

Fenner: I'm obligated to tell you that if you agree to being recorded, everything you say will be on record. Do you give me your informed consent"

O'Rourke: Of course, Mr. Fenner. I've nothing to hide. So....what did you want to discuss"

Fenner: Let's start off running, shall we" Why quit the Ministry"

O'Rourke: It's been made abundantly clear to me that the people of this city see no need for an organized system of law, therefore, since it is the function of the judicial system to serve the people, my job is unnecessary.

Fenner: So you're saying that the Governor should abolish the position altogether"

O'Rourke: I believe that the citizens of RhyDin are so....individualistic that they'll resist any efforts to implement anything approaching a universal justice system. If Governor Driscol insists on having a Ministry of Justice, he needs to put some time, effort, and money into the Watch first and foremost. The Watch are really the enforcers of the law. My position was simply to take the evidence and witnesses they uncovered to trial, on behalf of the people of RhyDin.

Fenner: You say that was your position' Then why did you insist on implementing patrols inside the Red Dragon Inn - an establishment well known for its independent and nonconformist atmosphere"

O'Rourke: The vast majority of the crime - the planning, the execution, hell, it's even where the victims of crimes in other parts of the city run to - happens in and around the Red Dragon. It seemed the best place to have the Watch - the new and improved Watch - show its public face. People seem to think that the Watch are corrupt bullies. In fact, they are quite the opposite. And I wanted to prove that.

Fenner: I'll address that bully statement in a moment, but....vast majority of crimes" According to whom"

O'Rourke: Anyone who's ever read Watch House reports.

Fenner: And I'm assuming because of your abdicated position, you aren't capable of turning over such reports to the press.

O'Rourke: Let's face it, Mr. Fenner. The Red Dragon is the hub of this city. Anyone who's anyone shows up there at some point. Talk, gossip, planning of crimes - all you need to do is sit at the bar for a day and listen to conversations. Seems to me you've got an easy way of getting a hold of those reports. After all, you knew of my resignation before it was made public, when only governmental officials and the Watch knew.

Fenner: Let's talk about your "bullies" comment, then. You were in charge of the recruitment of Watch constables and such for the few months you were in office. What kind of standards did you keep"

O'Rourke: The same as other police forces - experience, a willingness to work hard, belief in what they're doing.

Fenner: And what would you call the incident with Neo Eternity"

O'Rourke: Which incident would that be, Mr. Fenner"

Fenner: Merely the fact that for all his boasting about performing public services, he is more than happy to dole out punishment as he sees fit. Pause. Do you feel the same"

O'Rourke: I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about. Neo has never - in the time that I've known and worked with him - done anything to call into question his dedication and passion for keeping the citizens of this city safe.

Fenner: All right then. While we're on the subject anyway, do you mind telling me how the situation with Judah Bishop turned out"

O'Rourke: Mr. Bishop was released into the custody of his attorney. Charges of felony assault against an officer of the law and resisting arrest are being pursued.

Fenner: Tell me how you really feel about it. Former Governor Kitty O'Helston said that it's the Governor's duty to try to institute justice in RhyDin. Do you agree"

O'Rourke: 'Try' being the operative word in that sentence. How can you have any sort of justice system in a city that refuses to acknowledge it"

Fenner: Does that frustrate you?

O'Rourke: Hell yes, it frustrates me. I've spent the better part of my adult life serving and protecting people's legal rights.

Fenner: So why give up" Why not keep serving and fighting for it"

O'Rourke: My efforts have largely been ignored, and not just by the people of this city. Why fight a losing battle" Why keep bashing my head against a brick wall" Pause. You know what the definition of insanity is"

Fenner: Laughter. As a good man once said, "in an insane world, it is the sane man who appears insane."

O'Rourke: Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of doing the same thing, over and over, the same way every time, and expecting a different outcome each time.

Fenner: That too. So what?re you going to do now that your hands are clean of the city's problems"

O'Rourke: I've gone back to my first love. I was happy before the MoJ appointment, teaching the girls to dance, teaching yoga at dawn on the roof. I've honestly missed it.

Fenner: Can I ask why you applied for the position to begin with if you liked doing this instead"

O'Rourke: Because I thought it would be more like working in the DA's office back home, and less like playing Sheriff of Tombstone.

Fenner: Laughter. And that's why RhyDin is, isn't it' A Western with psychotic aliens and big guns. Pause If the Governor decides to keep the office, will you recommend a successor"

O'Rourke: If he asks, sure. But honestly, I don't know anyone with the chops to take over the position.

Fenner: No one" Not even your Constable Lo'

O'Rourke: I've recommended Constable Lo for a different sort of position; a recommendation, I might add, that has been summarily ignored by the Governor's office.

Fenner: Care to expand on that"

O'Rourke: I'm out of the game, Mr. Fenner. I'm just a private citizen now. What Governor Driscol and his office do with my previous recommendations is out of my hands now.

Fenner: You wound me with your ambiguity, Miss O'Rourke. One last question, and I have to ask it. Do you regret any part of this" The applying" The quitting" Any at all"

O'Rourke: No. I don't regret any of it. The only thing I regret is not being able to do the job I wish I could have done.



End transcript. This transcript has been edited to exclude intonations and slang for easier comprehension.