So why are Laborites voting for the Stars and Bars?

[Adam Griffin]

Truly shameful that the South - after all this time - is still engaging in wanton succession fantasies and racist behaviors. Tack more or less summed up the "best of bad choices" scenarios presented for this "flag"; had the government of the South been truly open to the opinions of all its residents, then it would have had both a retention option and a NOTA option. Nevertheless, The People were forced to pick between four racist and segregationist flag options.

To the OP - who asks "why are Laborites voting for the Stars and Bars?" - I ask: why didn't Federalists and/or whatever that other protectorate party is called offer anything besides racist tropes to vote on in the first place?

[Adam Griffin]

Truly shameful that the South - after all this time - is still engaging in wanton succession fantasies and racist behaviors. Tack more or less summed up the "best of bad choices" scenarios presented for this "flag"; had the government of the South been truly open to the opinions of all its residents, then it would have had both a retention option and a NOTA option. Nevertheless, The People were forced to pick between four racist and segregationist flag options.

To the OP - who asks "why are Laborites voting for the Stars and Bars?" - I ask: why didn't Federalists and/or whatever that other protectorate party is called offer anything besides racist tropes to vote on in the first place?

Accusing the Federalists or ACP, as being supportive of forcing the south to vote for "racist tropes" is offensive. You don't always get the best of options, but these were the options that the flag committee in the Chamber of Delegates, I believe. Decided upon, and if you have a problem with it then, next time they come up for election vote them out. The South elected these people and the south will deal with the consequences.

I don't live in the South, so I don't have an option to "vote them out". However, as the only elected official designated to represent all 250+ Atlasians, I will speak out about the rigged nature of this competition and the inherently dirty nature of the people who presided over it. A Federalist/ACP legislature pushed for a referendum and adopted it, a Federalist Governor presided over the committee that would select options, all 4 options adopted were designed by a Federalist, and a majority-Federalist/ACP electorate (consisting of next to nobody) chose said designs to be on the ballot.

If it's offensive, then it's only because it's the truth. If the ruling class of this region had actually wanted the aggregate of voices to be heard on such a matter, then they could have mobilized the masses to participate (though I admit submitting designs is a bit more complex than saying "Endorsed!" in a thread). Nevertheless, this was designed to be rammed through with as little feedback and participation as possible.

You've also still failed to address my primary point: what exactly justified changing the flag in the first place? If this was such a needed change, then why not make the case? And in the absence of that, why weren't the options for NOTA and/or retention included on the ballot? Any party or movement not dead-set on ingraining racist tropes into the fabric of the region would have made sure to leave these options on the ballot for voters to consider, yet they're conspicuously missing! I wonder why...

[Adam Griffin]

Truly shameful that the South - after all this time - is still engaging in wanton succession fantasies and racist behaviors. Tack more or less summed up the "best of bad choices" scenarios presented for this "flag"; had the government of the South been truly open to the opinions of all its residents, then it would have had both a retention option and a NOTA option. Nevertheless, The People were forced to pick between four racist and segregationist flag options.

To the OP - who asks "why are Laborites voting for the Stars and Bars?" - I ask: why didn't Federalists and/or whatever that other protectorate party is called offer anything besides racist tropes to vote on in the first place?

Mr. President, are you accusing the Southern Region of Vexillological Terrorism?


Mr. President, the person who suggested the Rebel Flag that led to us having a Flag referendum is a member of your party.

Nice try, but as I'm sure you know, even I don't have power over preventing members of entirely different parties from introducing legislation. The sponsor in question was not a member of the Labor Party at the time of this bill's introduction; needless to say, if he had been, this would have been promptly repudiated by both myself and the bulk of our membership (as opposed to being championed and embraced by both your party's leadership and your protectors - not to mention assassination of the President).

[Adam Griffin]

Bipartisan solutions are a beautiful thing.

[Adam Griffin]

I don't live in the South, so...

This is a Southern issue, Mr. President. Maybe you should deal with your "legislative terrorists" first before pontificating about regional issues that are outside of your jurisdiction.

I've been looking after the South - and in particular, its flags - long before you even came into this game: and I'll continue to express interest in these developments in whatever ways I see fit!

However, as the only elected official designated to represent all 250+ Atlasians...

So Mr. President you believe members of congress aren't elected to represent all Atlasians? That seems to be what you are implying.

No, multi-seat elections are not representative of the will of all Atlasians nor do all Atlasians have a say in all 9 members of Congress elected. In the vast majority of cases, an individual Atlasian's vote has influence on 2 outcomes of the 9 at most; I am the only person who faced a single-seat election requiring a majority of all voters to acquiesce to my ascendance, and as such, only I represent the entirety of the nation!

...I don't have power over preventing members of entirely different parties from introducing legislation

Mr. President, is that what make someone a "legislative terrorist"? Different parties introducing legislation?

I never said that: perhaps if the sponsor in question had introduced 1457 flag resolutions, I'd feel differently.

[Adam Griffin]

(...not to mention assassination of the President).

Mr. President, I don't see how you aren't worth the effort. Also You seem to be on the verge of a heart attack at this point.

No, multi-seat elections are not representative of the will of all Atlasians nor do all Atlasians have a say in all 9 members of Congress elected. In the vast majority of cases, an individual Atlasian's vote has influence on 2 outcomes of the 9 at most; I am the only person who faced a single-seat election requiring a majority of all voters to acquiesce to my ascendance, and as such, only I represent the entirety of the nation!

Referenda are the will of all electors too, Mr. President.

You don't see how I'm not worth the effort to, what? Be killed? I'm flattered you put that much stock in me, but it's still a very offensive and damning thing to say nonetheless.

[Adam Griffin]

You'd think someone would be able to come up with a flag with no confederate symbolism at all, but apparently not.

Someone did!