Office of Game Moderator - Part Deux - PLEASE READ THINGS

[Adam Griffin]

Can I ask how much it would cost to build 10 15 Mega watt Nuclear Power Plants across the south.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume you mean (10) 1500 MW power plants, but if this isn't the case, then please let me know.

Construction Costs: $31.185 B
5-Year Operational Costs*: $14.452 B

Estimated 5-Year Cost: $45.637 B

*(Fuel, Maintenance, Staff, Decommissioning; $0.02/kWh)

[Adam Griffin]

I'm not understanding how federal deductions would have an impact on that section of our budget...

Yeah, me neither. :/

I'm inclined to consider scrapping it from the budget, but I'd like to give a bit more time to hear from badger, to see what exactly was the reason behind its inclusion.

[Adam Griffin]

Is there a pacific lottery and if so, how is the income from the lottery used?

There is not one.

Mr. GM, may we have a report on how much of the deficit reenacting this legislation would erase?  Thanks!

I'll be happy to look into it, but can you show me where/when this legislation was repealed? From what I can tell, it appears to be set to go into effect this fiscal year.

[Adam Griffin]

Oh, whoops.  Sorry, can we see the effects that the current policy will have on our deficit?  It wasn't repealed, so we should see its results in the next budget.

You'll be happy to know that this year's federal budget drafting process has already begun. This information will be available in the coming days.

[Adam Griffin]

Mr. Game Moderator,

What is the cost for one fully staffed Mental Health Care treatment facility on average? And how many patients (or perhaps I should say coverage radius) can a facility at that price sustain?

A comprehensive mental health care treatment facility (as defined by institutions that offer counseling, therapy, managed care, medication management, psychiatrist services, licensed clinical social work services, peer supports, and substance abuse treatment) that serves a jurisdiction of 100,000 people would have total operating costs of $21.345 M / year. It is expected that an average of 11,500 residents within that jurisdiction would seek some form of treatment at said facility at least once per year. These estimates assume that any jurisdiction in question a) currently lacks a variety of proper mental health care options and b) would ultimately experience a centralization of services based around said facility.

[Adam Griffin]

Mr. Game Moderator,

What is the cost for one fully staffed Mental Health Care treatment facility on average? And how many patients (or perhaps I should say coverage radius) can a facility at that price sustain?

A comprehensive mental health care treatment facility (as defined by institutions that offer counseling, therapy, managed care, medication management, psychiatrist services, licensed clinical social work services, peer supports, and substance abuse treatment) that serves a jurisdiction of 100,000 people would have total operating costs of $21.345 M / year. It is expected that an average of 11,500 residents within that jurisdiction would seek some form of treatment at said facility at least once per year. These estimates assume that any jurisdiction in question a) currently lacks a variety of proper mental health care options and b) would ultimately experience a centralization of services based around said facility.

What about construction costs?

Such a facility is assumed to have a 100-bed capacity for special/long-term care needs. Construction costs for the aforementioned facility would be $36.300 B.

[Adam Griffin]

OK, so I've been quite busy lately with a variety of budgets, cost estimate requests in public and via PM, the beginnings of a federal budget and of course RL, so the regular updates have been lacking as of late.

BUT

This will just have to hold you over until I can get the regular updates caught up in the next couple of days (consider this your Grab Bag Report; right-click & open in new tab/window to see full images):

Updated versions of these (colors are now consistent).

Atlasian Political Parties, October 2010 - Present



Regional Populations, November 2011 - Present

[Adam Griffin]

Mr. Game Moderator,

What is the cost for one fully staffed Mental Health Care treatment facility on average? And how many patients (or perhaps I should say coverage radius) can a facility at that price sustain?

A comprehensive mental health care treatment facility (as defined by institutions that offer counseling, therapy, managed care, medication management, psychiatrist services, licensed clinical social work services, peer supports, and substance abuse treatment) that serves a jurisdiction of 100,000 people would have total operating costs of $21.345 M / year. It is expected that an average of 11,500 residents within that jurisdiction would seek some form of treatment at said facility at least once per year. These estimates assume that any jurisdiction in question a) currently lacks a variety of proper mental health care options and b) would ultimately experience a centralization of services based around said facility.

What about construction costs?

Such a facility is assumed to have a 100-bed capacity for special/long-term care needs. Construction costs for the aforementioned facility would be $36.300 B.

are you sure it's not $36.3 M?

Whoops! Yes, it should be million, not billion.

[Adam Griffin]

Damn Griffin, I nearly had a Sanford and Son moment as I contemplated spending our entire GDP on eliminating our deficit of mental health beds.

Most things are so damn expensive around here, I forgot where the 'm' key was.

[Adam Griffin]

Current as of 7/24/2013

National GNP & Growth Stats:

GNP: $14.86 trillion
GNP 6-Month Growth: -0.32%

2013 Projected Federal Revenue: $2.81 trillion
2013 Projected Federal Revenue As % of GDP: 18.94%

CPI (1 month) -0.16%
CPI (Last 12 months) +3.46%

Gold: $1626.31/oz
Crude Oil: $89.91/barrel

ANSE: 884.62
NASDAQ: 2198.05



*ME budget not completed for 2013; ME Regional Revenue & Revenue as % of GDP based off of current proposed ME 2013 budget

[Adam Griffin]

The first set of images show plurality/majority party affiliation by region:





The second set of images compare an aggregate of voter registration, executive, legislative and judicial control to effectively determine which parties have the most power:





Finally, an image depicting the swing in each region – based on the Balance of Power maps above:

[Adam Griffin]

Is the slowdown slowing down? Economic indicators look relatively optimistic for July

In a sight for sore eyes, Atlasian unemployment numbers appear relatively stable for the month of July. After the steepest rise in unemployment in years, many economists and business leaders who were on the edge of their seats last month are less pessimistic with the increase in regional and national unemployment figures showing a dramatic slowdown.

A de-facto devolution of regional government in the Pacific throughout the month of May and June led to sharp increases in unemployment in the Pacific. During and following this time, the recall of the Pacific Council and the Governor of the Pacific created a climate that provoked many businesses into laying off workers as an anticipated fall-out from the lack of government unfolded. The situation worsened throughout the month of June, following the anarchy that transpired in the wake of the Pacific Government's dissolution.

In June, the unemployment rate rocketed to 14.8% and increased to 15.7% in July. A variety of actions throughout the month of July - many of which caused further instability and panic in the early half of the month and many that brought about a sense of regional stability in the latter half of the month - have more or less stabilized the hemorrhaging of both public and private sector jobs in the region.

Unemployment rates in both the Midwest and the Mideast held steady, while unemployment increases were seen in the Imperial Dominion of the South for the second straight month in a row. The Northeast saw a modest reduction in unemployment for the month of July.

At the national level, unemployment has been dramatically affected by the current economic climate of the Pacific. In June, the unemployment rate jumped 0.7 points – from 7.9% to 8.6% – but this trend has for the month of July mostly disappeared, as the previous issues of the Pacific have and are being addressed by federal and regional authorities. The national unemployment rate for the month of July edged up 0.1 points, to 8.7%.

[Adam Griffin]

We're discussing the federal stimulus and I had a few questions about IDS spending options.

What would be the cost of expanding and modernizing major IDS ports and inland waterways to post-Panamax standards?

What is the cost of freeway teardown and replacement projects on the Claiborne Expressway (New Orleans), Downtown Loop (Nashville), and the Overtown Expressway/I-395 (Miami)?

Are there any other pressing highway maintenance, school, sewer, electrical grid, or waste disposal projects that the Imperial government should seek to address?

Many thanks.

Hey Adam,

Can I get an estimate on cost/mile of high speed railway? We're estimating a minimum of 2200 miles.

I'll have some numbers for you guys shortly.

[Adam Griffin]

We're discussing the federal stimulus and I had a few questions about IDS spending options.

What would be the cost of expanding and modernizing major IDS ports and inland waterways to post-Panamax standards?

After further inspection, the understanding is that this will vary greatly depending on the port. Savannah, for instance, is already post-Panamax complaint during high tide - it would cost approximately $600 million to bring it up to par. Port Miami, however, would be substantially more expensive ($975 million).

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Hey Adam,

Can I get an estimate on cost/mile of high speed railway? We're estimating a minimum of 2200 miles.

There is already a HSR route in between L.A. and San Francisco; please let me know if you wish to include a second line (this quote excludes it):

1821 miles @ $38.24 million/mile:
120 mph: $69.635 B

1821 miles @ $70.05 million/mile:
220 mph: $127.75 B

Hey GM, could I get an estimate on the cost and income of a government funded pacific lottery?

GROSS REVENUES: $8.067 B

TOTAL PRIZES: $5.198 B
TOTAL ADMIN: $0.328 B

NET REVENUE: $2.541 B

[Adam Griffin]

Sure thing, I'll get back with you shortly.

[Adam Griffin]

Can the Mideast Assembly have this analyzed:

Mideast Environmental Protection Incentives Act

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ESTIMATED COST (2013) $0.058 B

GM, could you give me an estimate as to how my proposed reduction in the working week would impact businesses not already covered under the 32 hour workweek?

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You'll be next.

[Adam Griffin]

How did you get $0.058 B as the total?

($0.055 B + $0.009 B) - ($0.029 B + $0.093 B). Section 3 is counted as neutral since it deals directly with the cost of cleanup efforts, although I suppose it could be considered as revenue if the intent is to utilize it in lieu of part of the $1.11 B allocated to pollution control and abatement or another natural resources expenditure.

[Adam Griffin]

I guess I'm not understanding the $0.036 B being neutral.  Is your analysis that these sites weren't being cleaned up by anybody, but now they have to be cleaned up by private businesses?  If so, why did you include a number?  The bill analysis doesn't deal with costs to private companies... we only need the numbers for government expenses/revenue.

The analysis assumes that Section 3 is in effect redundant, unless companies who created environmental issues via waste disposal were not liable via statute for clean-up costs prior. They would already be making these expenditures, so unless the regional government is now collecting the funds and handling the clean-up efforts itself or through contractors, there'd be no net effect on the budget (neutral).

The number in Section 3 was included because it is how the revenue from Section 4 was determined. Since it had to be calculated anyway, it was included as reference.

Hi GM. What would be the state of progress of the building of five nuclear plants in the South that we allowed earlier this year ? Within six months of the authorization, I guess not much real hard work has been done, rather conception and preparation, am I right ?

Currently, the project is in the process of procuring major long-lead components and commodities that will allow for construction to commence.

On a separate note, I hope to have some time in the next month or two to really begin examining the standards by which legislation is calculated (in terms of effect, cost and time). We are essentially applying RL standards in many cases to a game that is on a 12x timeline and scaled 1:1500000. I believe some universal metrics can be devised that will make these sorts of issues easier to discern, while also making the process of legislative accomplishment more rewarding to those who participate (as in many cases, the effects of legislation cannot currently be felt until long after sponsors and supporters' terms have ended).

We really should expand the GM's authority in terms of the game...create some sort of mini-regional GMs...maybe some Negative and Positive random event creators...

I endorse this idea.

It seems like a great idea until you realize what a struggle it is to recruit even one active, competent GM. I have seen no indication that this game has the capacity to sustain more than that. I think that allowing the Secretary of Internal Affairs to simulate random events for the regions, as we do now, is probably the best that we can manage. We can't even find people to do that consistently - you're only the second decent SoIA that we've had. (LiberalPA, who was doing a fine job until his sudden disappearance, is the the other.)

Correct. Contrary to what some might believe, I had to be begged and begged to take this job. Even after I had agreed, I wanted to walk away again after my first confirmation hearing failed. It is damn hard to find someone to perform all of the related items as described by statute, let alone 8 (GM, SoIA, SoEA + 5 'Regional GMs').

Besides, this in effect already exists (as mentioned by the President). The SoIA is in effect a regional GM, as he or she can create events for the regions subject to my approval. The same goes for the SoEA and foreign events. I, too, can create events of any sort when the time is right. There'll be no watering-down of this team so long as I'm around and have something to say about it, for fear of making the perception of it even less util than it has been in recent years.

[Adam Griffin]

How much will it cost to replace 50% of the Transmission lines in the IDS, upgrade security at all plants, and upgrade all computer systems at plants?

15,600 miles of transmission lines replaced entirely with underground 765-kV: $56.552 B
Upgrades at 36 regional nuclear reactor facilities: $1.733 B + $0.046 B per year

ESTIMATED COST: $58.285 B + $0.046 B per year

GM Griffin, could you give me an estimate on how this bill would effect the budget & employment rate in the Northeast?

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ESTIMATED COST (NEXT TWELVE MONTHS): $0.384 B
ESTIMATED COST (2018): $0.966 B

It is estimated that roughly two dozen municipalities will successfully approve via referendum a FEZ within the first twelve months of its implementation. That number will increase to nearly 70 over the next five years. Increased job creation as a result of free enterprise zones is not a well-documented phenomenon; little evidence exists to suggest that any large variations in unemployment - both in the affected communities and the region at-large - would be experienced. Cost per job created, however, would be far less under these conditions. Cost per job figures for the regional government will be substantially lower than through other public job creation venues ($17,274 per job; $37,580 per zone resident job), but this figure can be lowered substantially if said program were open only to businesses with fewer than 20 employees. It is estimated that without restrictions imposed upon corporations eligible for free enterprise zone benefits, approximately 0.3% of corporations will account for more than 90 percent of tax credits within the zones (this analysis assumes that the zones themselves are ineligible for funds as outlined in Section 3, not the corporations operating within them).

An estimated 22,000 jobs would be created as a result of this legislation within the first twelve months.

I know you're busy comrade, but I'd also like to gauge the financial impact of this piece of legislation whenever you get the chance to crunch the numbers:

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ESTIMATED COST: $22.761 B
Am still working on first request - it's much more complicated.

[Adam Griffin]

Any word on those numbers, GM?

The proposed legislation would directly impact 25.4% of the Atlasian workforce. This - excluding other economic factors and potential future legislation - would result in an estimated 1.4% decrease in median wages over the next twelve months, and a 2.5% decrease in median wages over the next five years.

The rate of unemployment would not be impacted in any significant regard in the short-term as businesses with more than 50 employees adjust to the new regulations, but a general trend in the decline of unemployment is expected over the next five years as smaller companies increasingly move to build their workforces around an increased number of employees working less than 35 hours per week.

The average workweek for private non-farm payrolls is estimated to decline 0.7 hours over the next twelve months, with goods-producing payrolls declining 1.1 hours and private service-providing payrolls declining 0.6 hours. Over a five-year period, those numbers are estimated as declines of 1.4, 1.9 and 1.3, respectively.

Industry sectors estimated to be impacted the most by this legislation include mining and logging, utility companies, durable and non-durable goods manufacturing, and wholesale trade. Industry sectors estimated to be least impacted by this legislation include leisure and hospitality, retail trade and education/health services.

[Adam Griffin]

FOR HE HAS RISEN

[Adam Griffin]

February 2014

IDS - 8.60%
Mideast - 6.20%
Midwest - 6.90%
Northeast - 6.30%
Pacific - 15.40%

National - 9.70%

[Adam Griffin]

Adam, could you give me an estimate on this bill?

Mr. Griffin, I would like to get a report on this bill and its impact on the Mideast:

For now, I'm going to ask that each of you check out this particular section of my confirmation thread. Shortly, I'll issue a post in this thread clarifying all of the details.

[Adam Griffin]

The first image shows plurality/majority party affiliation by region:



The second image compares an aggregate of voter registration, executive, legislative and judicial control to effectively determine which parties have the most power:




Since it has been around six months since the last GriffGraph, the swing map will not be shown until the next set of Griffgraphs debut.

[Adam Griffin]

Awesome graph, but there are a few minor inaccuracies. The Northeast LG position is held by a Democratic-Republican, and the IDS Legislature has three Federalists and no independents.

Supersonic is a IDS Legislator, correct? He's listed as an independent.

I'll correct the other part shortly.