Confirmation Hearing: Yelnoc for SoIA (Confirmed)

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Executive Action

By the power vested in me, I hereby nominate the following individuals for their respective positions for confirmation by the Senate:

AndrewCT, as Attorney General.

Yelnoc, as Secretary of Internal Affairs.

X President Tmthforu94

[Oakvale]

Yelnoc, how would you make this office relevant after months - if not years - of being a vaguely-defined position with zero impact on the game?

[Yelnoc]

Yelnoc, how would you make this office relevant after months - if not years - of being a vaguely-defined position with zero impact on the game?

The Game Moderator Reform Act has opened up all sorts of new possibilities for the SoIA.  What I want to do is use my regional moderator powers to up the ante in the region.  By that, I mean that everything the regional governments do will matter.  Every piece of legislation will have a reaction.  I have some ideas for stories relating to the Northeast succession crisis that could spice up that debacle a bit. 

One of the major functions of government is to react to important events.  In the past, the regions have had nothing to react to.  If appointed, I will make sure that changes.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Promise, barring some dramatic RL events, to not quit until current term expires?

[Yelnoc]

Promise, barring some dramatic RL events, to not quit until current term expires?

Pinkie-promise.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I have questions! (I don't think the bustling activity of this thread will have a problem with it).

• What are the current Atlasian income tax rates?
• Do Medicare and Medicaid still exist?
• Would you take old GM analysis into account for any research into Atlasia's economic affairs?
• Would you personally support from your position, instituting a national smoking ban in public places?
• Do you think our deficit is huge and constantly rising out of control?
• Do you know anything about the Social & Economic Development Zones?
• What is the current national minimum wage of Atlasia?
• When is Question Time expected to be opened on schedule? And also, will you commit to opening it on schedule?

[Badger]

FWIW, based on his sterling work constructing an IDS regional budget: Strongly endorsed.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I like your pledge to actively use GMRA to create regional twisted stories, Yelnoc

[Yelnoc]

What are the current Atlasian income tax rates?

Well, there are the rates set out in the Fiscal Responsibility Act which was passed in December 2009.  However, Badger's tax rates seem from November 17, 2010 would make these appear outdated.

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Section 3, Subsection b of the Atlasian National Healthcare Act has this to say.

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Yes of course.  Continuity is key.

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Personally, yes I would support such a ban.  Cigarette use costs the state billions of dollars in medical expenses and shortens the lives of our citizens.

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November 17, 2010
"Deficit is $401.04 billion.
National Debt: $9.81 Trillion"

According to Badger's December 9, 2010 report, "addressing continued growth of government spending and deficits has been delayed too long and the government's heavy borrowing now not only diminishes available credit for economic expansion, but fundamentally undermines confidence in the government's credit rating and solvency."

March 21, 2011
"Deficit is $630.64 billion.
National Debt: $9.81 Trillion <=== (unchanged for now, I need to look at other things before touching that)"

That, to me, seems like quite a large deficit.  What astounds me is that, despite a dire warning from the Game Moderator, you guys increased the deficit by over 50% within only five months.  I can't say that it is "constantly rising out of control" because I am not about to spend my whole day looking through every GM thread from the past few years but these numbers do indicate that it is rising out of control.  

*grumble* 50% deficit increase My God *grumble, grumble* you people need to get your act together "grumble*

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They were established by the Establishment of Social and Economic Development Zones Act back in June 2009 before I joined the game.  

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$8.50 (indexed to rate of wage inflation after 2012) according to the Reasonable Minimum Wage Act.

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I had some confusion about this earlier (I jumped onto your bandwagon of complaining).  It opens on the 4th of every month during tmth's term because that is the day he was inaugurated on.


Phew.  I feel like I just went on an easter egg hunt but I didn't get any candy
If you have any other questions like that, feel free to look in the wiki yourself

[Marokai Backbeat]

The only thing you got wrong was one of my trick questions, but I'll forgive you. You have my blessing.

(Although I have a bone to pick with Badger now. Does a GM's word now just completely overwrite statute?)

[Yelnoc]

The only thing you got wrong was one of my trick questions, but I'll forgive you. You have my blessing.

(Although I have a bone to pick with Badger now. Does a GM's word now just completely overwrite statute?)

Which one was that?

[Marokai Backbeat]

The only thing you got wrong was one of my trick questions, but I'll forgive you. You have my blessing.

(Although I have a bone to pick with Badger now. Does a GM's word now just completely overwrite statute?)

Which one was that?

Smoking ban question. One already exists. But no harm no foul on that.

[Antonio the Sixth]

The Comprehensive Social Security Reform Act, currently debated in the Senate, would give the SoIA new important responsibilities regarding the management of numerous welfare services (health care, unemployment benefits, etc...). How do you interpret your job on this domain an how do you intend to perform it ?

[Yelnoc]

The Comprehensive Social Security Reform Act, currently debated in the Senate, would give the SoIA new important responsibilities regarding the management of numerous welfare services (health care, unemployment benefits, etc...). How do you interpret your job on this domain an how do you intend to perform it ?

Honestly, I am a little worried about this bill.  Section 1 of the Act mandates that Social Security will be run by a "Superior Council."  Numbers are not specified but I am under the impression that this will be a large, unwieldy body unnecessarily cluttering the bureaucratic process of Social Security Administration.  The fact that only 1/3 of the delegates are from the Department of Internal Affairs is quite worrying.  It's almost as if the point of this bill is introduce delays and corruption into the Social Security System.  The bill reads like you are creating a legislative body to run a government program which the government only has partial control over.

I do realize that this is a fantasy game so the actual impact is negligible but all seems very unnecessary; unless I am seriously misreading the bill this would be a trainwreck in real life.

Now, for the breakdown of my actual duties as per the bill.

• Section 2, subsection 3: Make sure the that the NSSA is drafting a budget that "ensure(s) the proper functioning of the Agency and the fulfillment of the tasks devolved to it through proper legislation"  i.e. tell non-existant councilman to make sure to remember Section 2, subsection 3.
• Section 2, subsection 7: Determine how much federal funding the NSSA receives.
• Section 9, subsection 3: A year from the passage the bill, pick three people from the forum to tell the Game Moderator how much money we saved/lost because of the bill so that the Game Moderator can tell you.  If I am no longer the SoIA at this point, I would assume the current SoIA is responsible for this.

In conclusion, you guys might want to go back over your wording and check to make sure that if there is something you want me to do, it explicitly says it in the bill.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I honestly don't understand what worries so much about it - and I don't think I'm the only one as no Senator in the debate has expressed concerns like yours.

First of all, I don't see what makes it so burdensome as you seem to assume. Any government agency shall be run in a way or another, whether this is a council, a board or a big boss ruling everything. The council isn't, in itself, more bureaucratic. Right, there are more people to pay, and organizing sessions will take a couple of funds more. But is it really that big deal ? If it's the number that worries you, we can easily amend the bill to set it up at 12, 15 or whatever. But I never intended it to be a 300-members assembly.
Now I come to the reason why I think this is a best way to run the body. I simply think that the government, even though it has a key role to play in this domain, can't effectively manage everything. Associating unions and representatives of businesses will not only provide a management which is more balanced, but also ensure the interests of everyone are taken into account in this management. I honestly don't know if it works well, but the idea is anything but foolish. Many welfare systems in Europe are based on tri-partite management, and that usually works well.
I don't know what leads you to think this system is particularly likely to generate corruption. There is (can be) corruption in any sort of organization, the only way to prevent it is to control things strictly. But why a council should be more corrupt than another body ? Of course, you could argue that business or trade unions are particularly corrupt and thus should be kept out of such bodies. You might be right, I've heard several times that American unions are more corrupt that their European counterparts. It's legitimate to take this concern into account. But shouldn't we first try to fight against corruption before saying that people will be corrupt anyways ?
And finally : a legislative body ? Pure nonsense. The legislative force is in the hands of the Senate and will remain so. The superior council is aimed to inforce the law.

Anyways, I'm glad that you seem to take this issue seriously and I'm ready to discuss with you on any of your concerns. You've certainly proven you are an excellent pick for SoIA.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Yes there are many valid concerns about the bill and I am pleased that the SoIA nominee has evaluated a portion and given recomendations for actions to be taken by the Senate.

[Yelnoc]

I honestly don't understand what worries so much about it - and I don't think I'm the only one as no Senator in the debate has expressed concerns like yours.

I wouldn't rule out me reading the bill wrong

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You might have specified that in the bill.  When I read "Supreme Council" I thought of that historic painting of the French Third Estate gathered in the hand ball court after the Declaration of the National Assembly  If it is going to be a body of 12 or 15 people that is perfectly alright, just mark that down.  And I agree, a tri-partite system does have its benefits in the real world, I just worry that since I (assuming I am confirmed) am the only one in this NSSA system that actually exists, it might harry operations within Atlasia.

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The corruption allegations were not aimed at the composition of the body, merely at the size.  If you have, say a 300-member assembly, it would not be that difficult for a few $100,000 to fall by the wayside  The legislative remark was only used to emphasize my reading (in retrospect, misreading) of the bill.  A large council/assembly would tend to take a more legislative (debate-like, slow, prone to extended vacations) manner than what was actually envisioned.

I am a bit worried that I might have missed something in my reading of the bill.  From my bullets in the above post, it looks like I am not actually given in responsibility concerning Social Security other than de jure.

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Thank you.

Yes there are many valid concerns about the bill and I am pleased that the SoIA nominee has evaluated a portion and given recomendations for actions to be taken by the Senate.

Thank you.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Yelnoc, by your comments you seem very qualified for this position.  How do you intend to work with the regions as they develop budgets and other policies? What do you see as you role toward the Senate?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Glad to see our few misunderstandings are now fixed. I'll immediately introduce an Amendment to clarify the number issue.

As for your duties, well I emphasized a bit on them in my initial question, but indeed they are more symbolic that actual. The Agency is supposed to manage itself, and all you'll really have to do is to keep an eye on it (that is, if the GM finds out there's something wrong with the NSSA, you're the one who will be blamed ).

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Vote time?

[Yelnoc]

Glad to see our few misunderstandings are now fixed. I'll immediately introduce an Amendment to clarify the number issue.

As for your duties, well I emphasized a bit on them in my initial question, but indeed they are more symbolic that actual. The Agency is supposed to manage itself, and all you'll really have to do is to keep an eye on it (that is, if the GM finds out there's something wrong with the NSSA, you're the one who will be blamed ).

Sweet.  I can deal with that.

Yelnoc, by your comments you seem very qualified for this position.  How do you intend to work with the regions as they develop budgets and other policies? What do you see as you role toward the Senate?

Like Badger, I will always be available to help.  My experience with the Southeast budget has given enough experience to help guide similar projects.  I of course want to see the regions helping themselves; I won't be offering myself up as a calculator whenever someone doesn't feel like crunching numbers (unless of course, said people don't know how to do something).  Basically, the SoIA is always here to help.

That goes for the senate too.  I haven't been around here long enough to see what exactly my role towards the senate was supposed to be (the positioned seemed rather ill-defined before the Moderator Reform Act). 

And yes, unless anyone else has other questions I believe it is about time to vote.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

(unless of course, said people don't know how to do something). 

just to forewarn you, that may be the case as often as not - though probably with a little direction elected officials could do more of this than they realize.

in any case, I support the nominee.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

A vote is now open on confirmation, please vote Aye, Nay, or abstain.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Aye.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Aye.