The Atlasian Tribune - Mechaman's column

[Mechaman]

Mechaman article will be out tomorrow. LET ME JUST SAY RIGHT NOW THAT I WILL TRY TO AVOID THE DRAMA AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN MY ARTICLE, RATHER JUST FOCUS ON WHAT EXACTLY I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE ATLASIAN ANTI-SQUARE PARTY, THE FIRST REAL PARTICIPATORY PARTY IN ATLASIAN HISTORY.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Too bad, guys, you don't know that during Autumn Hamilton had diffrent ideas and was talking to me about creating a Social Democratic Party, also wanting Antonio to be in.

Not surprising at all. At the time, Kal and me were Hamilton's Libertas and Segway. His fanclub was composed of leftist, so he had to be one too. I remember him calling himself a "progressive" repeatedly and even a "socialist" once. So he left the PCP (because people here were starting to know him too well) and joined the LNF.

When Kal and me started to understand who he was (quite late unfortunately), he started to gather a bunch of unexperienced newbies like Libertas, Einzige, Winston, Giovanni and (at the time) Mechman. Since they were all libertarians, Hamilton converted himself to "small government" and founded the ARC.

Um, nobody I know of ever held any delusions about Hamilton being a libertarian. The ARC was and is a big-tent party.

[Antonio the Sixth]

The Atlasian Anti-Square Party
by Mechaman

You know when I first formed the Atlasian Marijuana Party I meant it as nothing more than a joke, a comical jab at the establishment. However, in light of recent events, such as the destruction of the organization from outside authorities, I felt motivated to start the party anew under the new name of the Atlasian Anti-Square Party, mostly due to what I viewed at the time was political oppression and the fact that our platform had begun to develop into more than just smoking marijuana but had begun to involve other stances.

One of these principles is the idea of the legalization of regional economic cooperatives to take the place of the regional governments, in a sense the government would literally be given to the masses of society to regulate as they please. The powers and authorities given to the governments now given to the people, the people become their own government. Although this party is purely participatory and the majority of issues are determined by individual party members when they run, this party is formed off of the philosophy of Libertarian Socialism, and you will notice how this is shown by our party rules and setup, the structure of this party is to where every member, whether they hold an office or not, is a party chairman and members are free to run or endorse as they see fit. If the members so desired we could run every member of this organization for president, as an example.

You can see some good examples of our unique platform stances in the platform plank of Winston Disraeli, who is running for Atlasian Senate:

* Common ownership of industries, including healthcare.
* Lower age of consent to 14.
* Education reform, including more discussion based, and smaller class sizes, and an end to excessive school lunch regulation.
* Legalisation of cocaine and heroin
* Oppose free trade agreements and instead support informal trade and an end to government barriers to it.
* A 35 hour workweek
* Support for solar and hydro-electric power; Nuclear only if the alternatives are exhausted.
* An end to the death penalty.
* Get the state out of marriage.
* Pursue the cause of peace in foreign affairs.

As you can see by his platform Winston Disraeli (shameless promotion, I will confess) has a very unique platform, it lacks the authoritative stances of hardline conservatives, it lacks the big government planks of the pro-state leftists, and it lacks the pro-capitalist planks of the average libertarian politician. This I believe is what will put him, and others of this party, into a competitive field, that of a very unique message, that of a party based on the politics of pure paticipatory action. This platform, and other like it you will see in November, aims to reduce both the burden of the state and of the corporations, an aim so missed by the major parties in this current system. It is misguided to believe, however good willed those who hold these beliefs may be, that government and corporate interests can be used as a check on the other. CORPORATE AND GOVERNMENT ARE ETERNAL BEDMATES, ONE CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT THE OTHER AND THEY ARE BEST SUSTAINED BY MAINTAINING A POWERFUL STRONG ELITE WHICH PREACHES THEIR SUPERIORITY THROUGH THEOCRATIC NONSENSE TO SUSTAIN THEIR ETERNAL GRIP ON THE SOUL AND SPIRIT OF THE ATLASIAN CITIZEN. LET IT BE SAID THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND FREE BEFORE PROVIDENCE, IT IS THE EXISTENCE OF OUTSIDE EXTERNAL FORCES AND THE ALLIANCES BETWEEN THAT HATH SO LIMITED HIS RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS. These facts cannot be denied any longer, as we have seen in the past few weeks the actions of a few dictate the actions of the many, well now you have that chance.

If you find yourself disillusioned with the current party system, that the major parties of this nation have turned their back on the concerns of the average citizen, that the power of the few has been growing unrestrained for far too long, my friends.....now is the time to act. Now is the time for you to make a principled stand against this ponzi scheme known as "Atlasian Government" and begin the return of Atlasian principles, Atlasian rights, and even Atlasian power to where it belongs: to the Atlasian people. There is only one organization in this nation that stands for the rights, liberties, and interests of all people of this land, to take a principled stance against authoritarianism, statism, and corporatism, only one place where the voice of the Atlasian people can truly be heard, and that is the Atlasian Anti-Square Party.

Sure, this article may be shameless self promotion, but after most recent drama I believe the words that I have spoken will ring more true than ever. We seek an end to the politics of drama and seek a new beginning of the politics of liberty and true social justice.

[Mechaman]

Okay so I'd like to address a few things:

A) I screwed up the title, it should say "The Atlasian Anti-Square Party", whoops.....
B) I just realized that the LNF has a very similar party setup, ie every member is a chairman, so sorry if I made it sound exclusive to our party. However, we do smoke more weed, so we're still cooler!
C) The internet is serious business.

[Antonio the Sixth]

A) I screwed up the title, it should say "The Atlasian Anti-Square Party", whoops.....

Corrected.

[Хahar 🤔]

I just realized that the LNF has a very similar party setup, ie every member is a chairman, so sorry if I made it sound exclusive to our party. However, we do smoke more weed, so we're still cooler!

Yeah, well, you stole our structure.

Admittedly, it's a good structure.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Perhaps we should've charged Mech or Winston for advertising space in that column.

[k-onmmunist]

Perhaps we should've charged Mech or Winston for advertising space in that column.

You wouldn't be bitching about it if it had been JCP.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Perhaps we should've charged Mech or Winston for advertising space in that column.

You wouldn't be bitching about it if it had been JCP.

It was a joke, dear.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Perhaps we should've charged Mech or Winston for advertising space in that column.

As Chief Redactor, I probably have penal responsibilities too... You wouldn't do that, right ?

[k-onmmunist]

Perhaps we should've charged Mech or Winston for advertising space in that column.

You wouldn't be bitching about it if it had been JCP.

It was a joke, dear.

Okay

[Antonio the Sixth]

A long winded story
by AndrewCT

As the February elections start to come upon us, I begin to look back to when I started here in Atlasia. I am proud of the time I've spent here in Atlasia, but I cant help to look back and wonder what happened to our grand nation. One time period that sticks in mind for me is during the Presidency of Colin Wixted. We had great people in office, both Senate and regional. We had liberals and conservatives bashing each other, new parties quickly emerging, and new people, wondering how they could get themselves a spot in this new world, especially here in the Northeast.

I remember it clearly, I had been posting for a while, but I didn't have a high post count. I had decided I was going to jump into this game, and I was going to run against DWDL for his Senate seat. I have to say that would be one of my favorite races I was ever in. DWDL was down in the polls, and there was a large group of candidates. There was myself, Mr. Moderate, and Ernest. Moderate and myself had never held office before, but nobody came out and said that the two of didn't have the experience like Down did, nobody attacked me for being to new to run. We had great and honest debates, and election day came. Of course, we know that Mr. Moderate went on to kill everyone in the election, and that started his rise to fame.

Quickly after that, Phil resigned his Northeast Senate seat, and before I had started to campaign for that seat, I was given the opportunity of a life time. Fezzy and Rin had resigned as Governor and Lt. Governor, and Chief Judicial Officer MAS had elevated to the position of Governor. Co nor was given the chance to serve as Lt. Governor, and I was offered to be the next Chief Judicial Officer. I couldn't believe it, it was finally my time to join the ranks.

The Mas/Rocky ticket had been reelected not long after, Verily was elected to the Northeast Senate seat, we had really started to move here in the region. We started to boom, activity in the region was up, and our numbers were growing. I like to think those were some great times for our region. A few months later, Mas decided not to run for reelection, Rocky was going to run for Vice President, and the Governors race would be between Atlasia Attorney General Hashemite, and me, lil ol' Northeast CJO who hadn't seen a single case before him.

Most of us know how that ended, and where we have come since that point. We had me as an NLC Governor, Lief as our SDP Lt. Governor, Verily as our NLC Senator, and we all worked together pretty well. The same can be said when the Northeast voted in Smid as our Northeast Senator, even though he was a RPP member. I like to think that this great region has had a good history of bipartisanship, and I would like to think that we still do now.

I look at us now, and start to wonder where things are going, and how they all began. I remember starting off when newbies were just that, newbies. It wasn't wondering who recruited you, are you a puppet, are you a troll, etc. etc. We have new people moving into a region, and get involved right away and we wonder how they already know so much, and many do all that they can to keep the from getting into office.

I look now, and see how many people I once considered greats, and powerful forces in Atlasia are gone. Where is Verily? Where is Colin? Mas? Phil? PBrunsel? The list can go on and on. Although we know that many of the are busy in real life, you start to wonder why they don't stop in real quick. I start to wonder if they just didn't like where things were going here, and decided to write it off.

As I bring this to an end, I know that it was long written out, and may have gone from one place to another, but if you truly read this and understood it, than you can read between the lines. I love Atlasia, this has been a great place to be, and a great place to find new people with common interests. We may not see eye to eye all the time, but that's what makes this place great. I miss when new people would work hard to get themselves into office, and would make a name for themselves, and not just get people who are barely active to come out to change an election.

Maybe I'm just living in the past, and living the dream that may never be. People like to think that what is going on now is going to be a huge part of Atlasian history. For those of us who have been around for years, we know that its just another paragraph, in another page, in another book.

[Purple State]

This should be on your Wiki.

[Vepres]

I wish I was around in that era

[Хahar 🤔]

I wish I was around in that era

No, it sucked.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Where is Atlasia ?
by Xahar

Since the new year, something has been missing. There have been no multi-page debates. There has been no controversy. There has been nothing at all that will be remembered in the future. Look at the front page of Atlas Fantasy Elections:

ICP Poll: Northeast Senate Race
The Populares
Big Bad Fab for Mideast Assemblyman - Campaign HQs
Northeast Assembly Thread
The Atlasian Tribune - AndrewCT's column
Predict Bacon King's Running Mate!!
ICP Poll: Presidential race
Survey Atlasia - Northeast Senate Race
Barnes for Northeast Senate
Office of Governor AndrewCT
Office of Northeast Senator Hashemite
Southeast Regional Initiatives - January 2010
Office of Mideast Assemblyman NiK
Survey Atlasia - Regional Senator Approval Ratings Poll January
Office of Mideast Assemblyman Ben
Atlasia Reform Coalition [discussing February here]
Inks.LWC for Governor Campaign Headquarters

None of these are particularly interesting to someone who is not an Atlasian regular. For another example, look at my confirmation hearing as SoIA. This would once have been important, but now in over 24 hours it has drawn all of two replies. What is the reason?

I feel that Atlasia is downsizing. After the increased activity of 2009, we are returning to 2007-2008 levels. This is not abnormal; I have said before that Atlasia is cyclical. But the same strategies will not work any longer. We need to figure out new ways to deal with this new Atlasia.

[Purple State]

Regarding the lack of Senate activity for your SoIA confirmations, they are on the verge of abolishing the seat. That could explain a lot.

Also, I am perfectly fine with the lack of controversy in an off month. The main excitement should be around campaign time, while the off period is for governing. Perhaps people will start making a bigger deal about the Senate and other officeholders, debating the issues and, ya know, participating in what this game is meant to be about.

As a quick example, issue-based campaigns have become non-existent recently because everyone counted on party turnout and recruitment efforts. The result is that potentially exciting races, like the one for governor of the Mideast, are not really about anything besides personality. An injection of genuine policy-based politics and comprehensive platforms is much needed. I suspect that the first candidates that catch on to this will be very successful.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Also, I am perfectly fine with the lack of controversy in an off month. The main excitement should be around campaign time, while the off period is for governing. Perhaps people will start making a bigger deal about the Senate and other officeholders, debating the issues and, ya know, participating in what this game is meant to be about.

As a quick example, issue-based campaigns have become non-existent recently because everyone counted on party turnout and recruitment efforts. The result is that potentially exciting races, like the one for governor of the Mideast, are not really about anything besides personality. An injection of genuine policy-based politics and comprehensive platforms is much needed. I suspect that the first candidates that catch on to this will be very successful.

I tend to agree with you, as I've stated in my editorial, I hated the two last months for being utterly controversial and full of conflicts.

[Vepres]

Well, it could be people want a little rest after all the controversy around Hamilton (and DWTL to a lesser extent).

[Хahar 🤔]

What Purple State is quite right. Smaller isn't necessarily worse.

[Vepres]

Regarding the lack of Senate activity for your SoIA confirmations, they are on the verge of abolishing the seat. That could explain a lot.

Also, I am perfectly fine with the lack of controversy in an off month. The main excitement should be around campaign time, while the off period is for governing. Perhaps people will start making a bigger deal about the Senate and other officeholders, debating the issues and, ya know, participating in what this game is meant to be about.

As a quick example, issue-based campaigns have become non-existent recently because everyone counted on party turnout and recruitment efforts. The result is that potentially exciting races, like the one for governor of the Mideast, are not really about anything besides personality. An injection of genuine policy-based politics and comprehensive platforms is much needed. I suspect that the first candidates that catch on to this will be very successful.

Hey, I tried that and I only lost votes

[The Artist Formerly Known As and Now Again Known As Ogis]

Regarding the lack of Senate activity for your SoIA confirmations, they are on the verge of abolishing the seat. That could explain a lot.

Also, I am perfectly fine with the lack of controversy in an off month. The main excitement should be around campaign time, while the off period is for governing. Perhaps people will start making a bigger deal about the Senate and other officeholders, debating the issues and, ya know, participating in what this game is meant to be about.

As a quick example, issue-based campaigns have become non-existent recently because everyone counted on party turnout and recruitment efforts. The result is that potentially exciting races, like the one for governor of the Mideast, are not really about anything besides personality. An injection of genuine policy-based politics and comprehensive platforms is much needed. I suspect that the first candidates that catch on to this will be very successful.

Hey, I tried that and I only lost votes

Yep. Atlasians don't vote for issues. They just vote for their friends, hence creating idiotic party structures.

[Purple State]

Regarding the lack of Senate activity for your SoIA confirmations, they are on the verge of abolishing the seat. That could explain a lot.

Also, I am perfectly fine with the lack of controversy in an off month. The main excitement should be around campaign time, while the off period is for governing. Perhaps people will start making a bigger deal about the Senate and other officeholders, debating the issues and, ya know, participating in what this game is meant to be about.

As a quick example, issue-based campaigns have become non-existent recently because everyone counted on party turnout and recruitment efforts. The result is that potentially exciting races, like the one for governor of the Mideast, are not really about anything besides personality. An injection of genuine policy-based politics and comprehensive platforms is much needed. I suspect that the first candidates that catch on to this will be very successful.

Hey, I tried that and I only lost votes

Yep. Atlasians don't vote for issues. They just vote for their friends, hence creating idiotic party structures.

Vepres ran a nutty campaign. Even if you campaign on issues, you're not going to win on what you said.

It is difficult when party politics are involved, but Atlasia has been shifting towards the independent middle recently. This makes substantive debate between candidates potentially more important. I would have liked to see a policy debate between Inks and Swedish Cheese, because I have been undecided this entire race and finding differences on substantive issues would have helped me make a decision.

I suspect that the first even-headed candidate to run on solid issues will win a major upset campaign.

[Хahar 🤔]

I'd love to do that, but there really aren't all that many issues.

[Purple State]

I'd love to do that, but there really aren't all that many issues.

I mean, inject it. What are your views on X, Y, Z policy issues? There are plenty of stances you can take that don't include trolls and game reform. As much as those are key issues for me, I would also like people to debate the merits of certain plans for education, foreign policy, immigration, etc.