The State of Atlasian Parties

[Marokai Backbeat]

I was going to comment but then I realized I don't have a damn clue what the point of this post was. So then I decided to say that instead.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I'd never call you guys irrelevant, I don't know anyone that does for you or the LNF, you guys just thrive on the fact that you're constantly the "lesser of two evils" choice. Afleitch admitting that he sways with the wind isn't exactly a kind reflection on your party, for that matter.

The LNF is... different. But both groups have many people I like and respect.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I've certainly not changed my usually stubborn positions. I don't necessarily criticize Rowan for voting nay on everything, I criticize him for being closed-minded. I listen to everyone and I always ask questions and try to understand, but I vote the way I want to, I don't vote for any other reason.

The problem with the Senate is that it's pretty much right down the middle for Atlasian standards. Bills depend on the DA for passage, and you're not always predictable. If a bill is going to fail, usually everyone votes against it, if it will pass, usually everyone votes for it. This is a good and bad thing, mostly a bad thing in my humble opinion.

I ran, and continue to run, on trying to bring more honesty and fire to the Senate, I think I've done that. I think we've all stepped up on the debate. I would hardly call us a body of people who moderate when they take office.

If there are people who sway on the mood in the Senate in their votes, then I condemn them. We should always stand by our beliefs and debate on those, not spend our time trying to gauge the public mood and triangulate for the upcoming elections.

I have never cast a vote that I didn't believe in. I'm very proud of that fact.

[Marokai Backbeat]

There's only so much I myself can do, afterall.

There aren't two big parties in the Senate, though. So you're misrepresenting things. If it was just the JCP and RPP in the Senate, then perhaps your highlighting of things passing nearly unanimously almost every time (which isn't really true by the way) would carry more weight.

The DA comprises roughly a third of the Senate. If these swing votes go whichever the way the wind blows, it makes it seem like we're a mostly agreeable body. We're certainly not. Further, a few of our Senators are from Europe (or Canada), and European "centrists" or "conservatives" are not necessarily so by our standards. Combining two groups of people with major cultural differences can lead to such odd results.

He has definitely held the line well so far, but you will see Marokai did so at first too.

"At first"? When did I stop? I voted for left-wing legislation or issues of game reform. It's not my fault others did at well. My positions have been trending even more left-wing as of late, and my attitude certainly never shifted.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I'd never call you guys irrelevant, I don't know anyone that does for you or the LNF, you guys just thrive on the fact that you're constantly the "lesser of two evils" choice. Afleitch admitting that he sways with the wind isn't exactly a kind reflection on your party, for that matter.

The LNF is... different. But both groups have many people I like and respect.

I wholeheartedly disagree I don't 'sway with the wind'; I compromise.

I support the minimum wage, but I would never have voted for the Minimum Wage bill as it stood. However it was amended in such a way that I was happy to vote for it. Likewise in the last session I came out in favour of the healthcare bill as soon as it was announced because that's what I believed in. I am centre-right, but very open to the welfare system and I vote for things in Atlasia that I would support in real life.

You may disagree, but this is exactly what you said:

I've voted in favour of bills that I wouldn't have necessarily backed, but the 'wind' is behind them.

If you're not voting in favor of bills you believe in, but merely doing so because the momentum is behind them, you're not only part of the problem, but you're not being genuine.

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We can talk about tax cuts on such a large scale when you talk about tax hikes for the wealthy. Unless the right can come to some sort of basic realization that we need revenue, cutting it is an insanely stupid thing to do.

Everyone wants to either increase spending or slash revenues, sometimes both, and we cannot do both. You remain, as others in the Senate, in knee-jerk opposition to tax hikes on the wealthier Atlasians, but ardent in your support of slashing taxes for those at the bottom.

Simple government-running refresher:

Money comes in.
Money coming in goes out to pay for things.
When money going out exceeds money coming in, we need more money.

If you can't realize this, then yes, I will oppose any and all tax cuts.

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You introduced an unnecessary radical overhaul of our banking system for no reason. Of course there's going to be opposition to it. It would be as if I suddenly and out of the blue introduced legislation to re-work the entire national highway system, or dismantle our currency. There's no need for it at all. You've yet to explain what problems we have that need to be fixed, and how your system fixes them. How restructuring could be done, etc. In short, why we need to pay attention to the idea in the first place.

As for the welfare bill, it just seemed like similarly unnecessary restrictions on the safety net at a time when the safety net is more needed than ever. You seem to have a knack for incredibly shortsighted and random legislation that is either ignorant of the consequences or wholly unnecessary.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I'd also like to point out to Marokai that afleitch's approval is far higher than his, so I don't see why he is referring to his contributions as "useless."

I don't pander to both sides of the aisle. I stand for my convictions and don't "sway in the wind." The DA has higher approvals and is over-represented because they're the lesser of two evils. The JCP will almost always preference a DAer above an RPP/PCP candidate, and the RPP/PCP will almost always preference a DAer above a JCP candidate. It's quite simple.

As childish as it may seem to some, I genuinely believe in the idea that if I'm not offending someone, I'm doing something wrong. Moderation, to me, is a grave insult.

I'd also like to point out to Marokai that afleitch's approval is far higher than his, so I don't see why he is referring to his contributions as "useless."

It's okay, Marokai is just the JCP/left version of DWTL. He's the attack dog and that's what he does.

Not only am I much easier to work with, I'm also a nicer guy (if anyone here takes the time to get to know me), much less ego-maniacal (in fact I've consistently taken the "I'm just another JCP member" approach, despite people telling me that I'm more important than I consider myself) and I don't try to cut backroom deals or maneuver around for my own power and/or attention.

Jolly good if I offend people, but that alone does not make me like DWTL.

[Marokai Backbeat]

"The next Ebowed"?

How is that?

And I thought I was DWTL? Is there some problem with me just being Marokai?

[Marokai Backbeat]

I am a Democratic Socialist, and I see no reason to be ashamed of it. I think the difference between myself and Ebowed is that I actually take my jobs here quite seriously. The issues I bring up in legislation are issues I know a great deal about and stand ready to defend at any instance, and any time I've been given work I've proven myself to be an exceptional administrator.

In short, what I like to think distinguishes me from other fiery and divisive figures is that can really do my job well.

People may not enjoy my attitude from time to time, but I want people to see that they don't have to like me, to like me. If that makes sense.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Oh you already asked me that question in private, Hamilton.

I also mentioned to you in private I wanted to stop this squabbling, which unfortunately didn't happen. An untrustworthy but effective recruiter is the simplest way of describing how I feel about you, but one I wish I didn't have to bicker with on a daily basis.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Yes I feel unusually calm tonight, hopefully it passes.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Yes I feel unusually calm tonight, hopefully it passes.

When do you sleep?

Almost never.