HOUSE BILL: Reintroduction of Top Secret Classification Act (Passed)

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Atlasian House of Representatives
pending

[/quote]

Sponsor: NC Yankee for the Game Moderator
Status: HB 1154

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The sponsor has 24 hours to advocate for this and the other members have an additional 48 hours to respond.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This was a process that we had prior to the reset when we had Active GMs. I recall getting classified intelligence briefings as Senate President Pro-Tempore from I believe SoEA Sjoyce. I recall that  this was attempted previously unsuccessfully since the reset though in my state of extreme sleep deprivation I might be misremembering about that. . Anyway I think this moves further along the road to a more well developed foreign policy simulator and perhaps even into the realm of covert ops simulation that I proposed a year ago in my Presidential campaign. I think a more well developed Foreign Policy aspect will be more engaging, dramatic and consequential for the game players thus encouraging greater activity and interest.

At the same time I think a greater focus on foreign policy at the Federal level will create the breathing space for the Regions to flex their muscles on education and healthcare and similar issues without the centralized state seeking to usurp their problems, which a was root cause of the decline pre-reset.

Time and time again we opted for a more narrow, less engaging simulation be it in 2009 with th e arguments over number versus story generation and outright broken foreign policy simulation with the integration of the SoEA (SoS) into the Game Moderation team. This meant that a lot of the energy and effort was directed at domestic policy areas, squeezing the regions out of responsibilities and when combined with the large centralist movement decrying every move that left any responsibility with the regions as "irresponsible" in light of activity issues, created a self-fulfilling prophesy of decline. 

I will also note for those who are of a mind to oppose military-defense apparatus and foreign intervention, I would note that the presence of such a system renders a spirited debate over foreign policy actions much more likely, giving new depth and meaning such positions. But to get that point, it is first necessary to setup the required game mechanics to facilitate that.

Rather than repeat the mistakes of 2009 and 2011/2012 we should proceed with alternative choices that lead to a better, more integrated foreign policy. It is for this reason that I support the bill here before us and urge the House and Senate to pass it.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Now that is how you should advocate for a bill and I would note this is not even my bill.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Right, I have some questions for the sponsor and/or author:

(1) Why ought the GM be the officer responsible for designating intelligence as classified, as opposed to the Secretary of State or the President?
(2) Would other officers be barred from designating orders of correspondence as classified under this bill?
(3) Would this bar the officers of the Game Engine from leaking classified intelligence to the press, as has occurred in the past?
(4) Are members of the NSC and other like organs considered part of the Cabinet?

I think the theory here is one of generation as opposed to labeling. IE the GM creates a matter or a cover operation or some sort that is in fact top secret and therefore while this would normally be labeled as so by the Executive Branch, the GM is doing it here in the bill for the purposes of creation ability.

Depending on how you read the statute, they wouldn't be necessarily barred from labeling it, but it may or may not have same legal penalties.

I am not sure

It would not appear to be the case.

I think will probably need amending in some areas, though I would prefer to get AZ to answer as well before we proceed with that process.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Right, I have some questions for the sponsor and/or author:

(1) Why ought the GM be the officer responsible for designating intelligence as classified, as opposed to the Secretary of State or the President?
(2) Would other officers be barred from designating orders of correspondence as classified under this bill?
(3) Would this bar the officers of the Game Engine from leaking classified intelligence to the press, as has occurred in the past?
(4) Are members of the NSC and other like organs considered part of the Cabinet?

I would like to thank you for the question. Just as a disclaimer much of this information in this bill is from a previous statute and has only been lightly modified. I am open to amendments if house reps or Senators feel any would be appropriate. 

1. The GM is the one that ultimately creates intelligence reports and much like in real life other entities like the CIA may choose which information the President should here. I would certainly be open to sharing others certain intelligence on the Presidents request, if it was appropriate they receive that information.   

2. No not at all, this bill just gives the GM that power and wouldn't directly restrict others from doing the same. I would certainly support an amendment clarifying that others may have that power in this bill though.

3. No the GM has the power to declassify information to anyone that he feels is appropriate to receive such information.   

4. No, but information that is relevant to the NSC could be sent to the NSC on request of the President. This is certainly a  request I would be open to fulfilling. 

Could the previous bill be linked by chance?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

My thanks to the Game Moderator for his reply. I am in agreement with the sponsor as to the need for a clarifying amendment including the NSC in those privy to classified information. I also think it wise to set in place a system for archiving classified documents, so that information is not lost when a president or cabinet secretary leaves office. When Ted was confirmed as my successor in the State Department, I made a point of forwarding to him all my correspondence with the GM; it would be great if we could find a way to catalogue these documents for posterity*.

On a similar note, I think there needs to be something in the final bill regarding when documents become declassified, as is the case IRL.

*One possible strategy would be to create a wiki article with a numeric title known only to those with proper security clearance, so that it could not otherwise be found.

When DFW was elected. I added him to the NSC and made a point of handing over owner of the #NSC channel after inauguration to him and compared it to the Nuclear Football.

Continuity in office has always been a struggle though.

We debated this issue in the Government Oversight and Reform Committee in 2012-2013, but nothing ever came of it and any mandate to x regarding forwarding documents, or leave a post "summarizing actions and events" like we discussed could easily just be ignored.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Oh damn, yea I introduced that for GM Purple State.

Wow!

Seven Years and 9 months ago.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I have objections to either Badger or Tmth's amendments.

 Why not? Atleast it will give the Senate something to do.

I apologize. I meant I have no objections. Sorry for the mixup.

Damn.

Anyways, as I said when the bill was last introduced I'm not a huge fan of it. Yes its game play, but I don't like 'secret squirrel' stuff; makes it look as if this game is taken more seriously than it should be I'm not in the mood to object to the bill during the drafting process however.

Warning: GM related Rant coming
I feel sorry for Purple State. You know you guys really make the GM's job a living hell. He can't have any fun. Sometimes you need that to spice the game up. Revolutions in New Mexico, bad.  Top Secret information, bad. Lots of boring statistics and foriegn affairs, sure no problem. Thats why, I never want to be GM and very few others do either.

Haha, you should see some of the proposals I filter out and don't accept.

Anyway, I have no problem with Badger's proposed amendments.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

And back then foreign affairs was boring too.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Speaking of amendments, are we going to get some sometime before another 7 years and 9 months go by?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Once again, if the GM approves I will accept this as friendly.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Sponsor Feedback: Friendly
Status: Representatives have 24 hours to object.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Amendment H8:12 has been adopted.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

So anymore changes or concerns?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I'd still like to see an effort to archive and pass on classified documents after the GM who generated them has left office. I am, however, sensible to the practical concerns expressed by the Speaker; would the GM be willing to give his thoughts on the matter?

Don't get me wrong I am not against the idea. It just comes down to a way of how to make it work.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

What was that idea for using a special code or something that only some would have access to?How would that work and what are the risks of it being prematurely exposed of such were to be utilized?

The other problem would be ensuring future compliance by GMs.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

What was that idea for using a special code or something that only some would have access to?How would that work and what are the risks of it being prematurely exposed of such were to be utilized?

The other problem would be ensuring future compliance by GMs.

My idea – not sure if it's a good one – was for the GM, at the start of their tenure, to create a new article on the wiki to serve as an archive for all classified documents generated during their term. The title of this article would be a random string of numbers known only to the GM. As such, the GM (and authorized persons) could find the article by using the search function — but people who didn't know the code wouldn't be able to.

The flaw to this plan is that the page would show up on the list of recent edits — so if a poster was diligently checking that list, they might be able to find it.

Alternatively, the GM could store all classified information in a Google doc shared with the president & cabinet — but the downside there is that if the link is lost, the documents are gone forever.

We are forever at the mercy of formats and mediums, and the way in which they operate. My best recommendation would be to save back ups of all such documents, though granted that would be problematic if the person ever went rogue or left thus denying access to the information, but at least that way it is a good means of backing up a Google Doc file in case the link was lost.

I have reams of files and documents about Atlasia stuff dating back to 2009. One thing I maintained was a Notepad document containing every Amendment offered in the Senate from March 2011 until late 2014 and every Amendment offered in the House since March of this year. 

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Are there any other amendments forthcoming on the bill for the purposes of effectuating this archiving process at this juncture?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I realize that 180 days originates in the text and doesn't pertain to just this amendment. That being said, 180 days is presented an absolute final deadline, but I worry that might be too inflexible if you have an ongoing story line like say ISIS, which has had to be dealt with by multiple Presidents for instance.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Truman, my concern?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

TRUMAN!!!!!!!!!!!

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Ack, sorry.

I settled on 180 days in my previous amendment because (a) I worry the longer we wait to publish classified documents, the more likely they are to be lost by administrative bungling and/or Sir Nick style malice; and (b) I do not remember a GM-generated story ever continuing for longer than six months. That said, if people are really uncomfortable with the hard deadline, I guess we could extend it (say, to 270 days) or else allow the GM to reclassify sensitive materials for a non-renewable 180 day period.

I would be open to the optional reclassification so the default is for release. 

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Sponsor Feedback: Friendly
Status: Representatives have 24 hours to object.