ATLAS: Atlasians Thinking, Leading, Acting, Solving

[ilikeverin]

Because the people who live in the Mideast are more active on in Atlasia.

But I'm wondering if it's coincidence, or if there is an underlying reason for this.

It wasn't always so.

The Mideast used to be the least active region, in fact.  The Midwest had some of the most interesting elections.  The Northeast was the one-party state, and was horribly overcrowded.  The Pacific had an entrenched incumbent.  And the Southeast... was the Southeast

[ilikeverin]

I was just reading over the constitutions of the states and realized that none, save the Mideast's, had an elected legislative body (somebody else may have pointed this out earlier). If every region had an elected legislator, the elections would be far more meaningful, and there would be more activity in the regions.

Why aren't propositions enough?  If it weren't for propositions, you wouldn't've been able to jump right into Midwestern politics and introduce a bill.

[ilikeverin]

I was just reading over the constitutions of the states and realized that none, save the Mideast's, had an elected legislative body (somebody else may have pointed this out earlier). If every region had an elected legislator, the elections would be far more meaningful, and there would be more activity in the regions.

Why aren't propositions enough?  If it weren't for propositions, you wouldn't've been able to jump right into Midwestern politics and introduce a bill.

I realize that. Here's my reasoning. The Mideast is currently the most active region, they have an elected legislature, therefore, an elected legislature increases activity.

School shootings decrease in the summer.  Ice cream sales increase in the summer.  Therefore school shootings decrease ice cream sales, or perhaps ice cream sales inhibit school shootings.

[ilikeverin]

I was just reading over the constitutions of the states and realized that none, save the Mideast's, had an elected legislative body (somebody else may have pointed this out earlier). If every region had an elected legislator, the elections would be far more meaningful, and there would be more activity in the regions.

Why aren't propositions enough?  If it weren't for propositions, you wouldn't've been able to jump right into Midwestern politics and introduce a bill.

I realize that. Here's my reasoning. The Mideast is currently the most active region, they have an elected legislature, therefore, an elected legislature increases activity.

School shootings decrease in the summer.  Ice cream sales increase in the summer.  Therefore school shootings decrease ice cream sales, or perhaps ice cream sales inhibit school shootings.

The thing is, elected positions make people (hopefully) try to act in ways that ensure reelection. Providing a measure of responsibility or ownership of the region gives people a reason to participate. That's what an elected legislature does.

I'd think it would be just happenstance; right now the most active Atlasians happen to be in the Mideast.  The Midwest had its share of referenda when it was active, and you can see how large the Pacific Legislature has gotten in the Voting Booth subforum.

Alternatively, it could be argued that in the present political system active citizens caused the legislature (or at least perpetuate its existence); citizens from regions that don't have an elected legislature aren't demanding one because they're not active enough to want it.

I'm inclined towards the former explanation, because of the small sample size, but eh.