Progessive Caucus Convention

[MAS117]

Welcome to Charlotte, NC![/b]

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The Fourth Progessive Caucus Convention Will Be Held at the Bank of America Stadium in uptown Charlotte.[/b]

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Welcome fellow Progessives![/b]

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[MAS117]

Bangs gavel numerous times

My fellow Progessives, welcome to the 4th Progessive Caucus Convention here in beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina!! I hope you all are enjoying your stay here in Charlotte. I'd first like to thank our friends the Carolina Panthers, and our good friends at the Bank of America for lending us this great stadium!

As Chairman of the Progessive Caucus, I hereby declare this convention open for business!

Bangs gavel

I'm going to post the Caucus rules, members of the Caucus, and finally the Caucus platform, if anyone has any revisions they would like to make. After words, we will move on to speechs. The order for speechs will be the following:

1.) Chairman MAS117
2.) Akno21
3.) President Alcon San Croix
4.) Fmr. Chairman Peter Bell

If anyone would like to speak after please send me a pm or an instant message and I'll add you to the list.

After speechs we will vote on the Caucus board and then on Senate endorsements and our Presidential endorsement.

A special thanks goes out to Akno21, and Peter Bell for there hard work and dedication to the most influential Caucus in the history of Atlasia. Now, go out and enjoy the city! Thank you!

Please Check out the following pages for more info:

http://www.progressnj.com/atlaswiki/index.php/Progressive_Caucus

http://newprogressive.proboards25.com/index.cgi

[MAS117]

Caucus Rules

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Leadership

1. There shall be a Caucus Chairman and a Caucus Vice Chairman, elected together for a term of approxiametly two months.
2. The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be elected in a popular vote of the Caucus membership via Preferential Voting.
3. Whoever shall win the vote shall be Chairman, and whoever shall be the runner-up shall be Vice Chairman.
4. If the Chairmanship shall become vacant, the Vice Chairman shall become Chairman until the next Convention.

Membership

1. Any registered voter of the Atlas Fantasy Forum shall be eligible to become a member of the Progressive Caucus by simple declaration.
2. The Caucus may expel a member by a two-thirds majority vote.

Conventions

1. Conventions shall be held within the two weeks before a scheduled election to the Senate of the Atlas Fantasy Forum.
2. All motions before the Convention must pass by a majority vote to be adopted.
3. At Conventions, elections to the Caucus Leadership shall be held.
4. The Chairman shall chair the Convention. If the Chairman shall be absent the Vice Chairman shall chair the Convention.

Endorsements

1. If possible, endorsements shall be made via a motion before a Convention.
2. If this is not possible, the Chairman shall be able to conduct a vote of the Caucus in the General Board for the endorsement.

Amendment

1. These rules may be amended by the Convention by a two-thirds majority vote.

The Board

1. At the beginning of each Convention a census of the Caucus membership by party shall be conducted by the Chairman.
2. Each party shall be allocated a number of seats on the board by taking its number of members in the Caucus and dividing it by 5 and then rounding to the nearest integer.
3. Independents and members of parties lacking any Board representation may affiliate together to elect Board members as though they were a party.
4. Each party may elect or appoint Caucus members from their party to the Board as they shall wish.
5. The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall have seats on the Board ex officio.
6. The Board may endorse ballot measures and legislation by a majority vote.
7. The Board may issue emergency endorsements for elections when it is the opinion of the Chairman that there is insufficient time to hold a full Caucus vote.
8. The Board may pass a vote of No Confidence in the Caucus Chairman by a majority vote.
9. Should both the Chairmancy and Vice Chairmancy be vacant between Conventions the Board shall elect a new Chairman.

[MAS117]

Platform

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Gay Marriage

The Progressive Caucus is happy with the status quo of Atlasia that has granted to gay couples the joys and benefits of marriage. We regard this as a great victory for equality in society and will oppose all attempts to damage the consensus that has been achieved on this issue.

Death Penalty

The Progressive Caucus opposes the practice of the death penalty in all cases.

Prostitution
The Progressive Caucus supports the legalization of prostitution.  This involves mandating that prostitutes should be at least 18 years of age, kept together in bordellos and off the streets, and are frequently checked by local authorities for HIV-AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

We believe it makes better sense to have these business transactions conducted in a far safer and cleaner environment than on the streets where they are liable to be exposed to the elements, as well as raped and/or murdered by street thugs.

School Prayer

The Progressive Caucus supports the right of individual children to choose to pray in school and we support schools being able to provide facilities to allow students their free exercise rights during their free time. We do not think it is correct that classroom or organised time is used for school prayer.

Sex Education and Contraception in Schools

The Progressive Caucus believes that sex education in schools should be taught according to guidelines drawn by local communities, specifically including education on STDs and methods of contraception. We think that local communities should be able to include education on matters of homosexuality and abstinence at their own discretion, but we encourage it in both cases. Contraception should be made available to teenagers over the age of 16 confidentially in schools if the local community approves, but once again we encourage it.

Media Regulation

The Progressive Caucus opposes regulation of the media in all its forms as it is an attack on free speech and the free press. We will work to ensure that all media outlets are able to transmit without regard to state censorship, but with regard to what they feel their viewers and readers want.

Taxation

The Progressive Caucus supports the continuation of a fair, progressive system of taxation at the federal level of government.

Education

The Progressive Caucus supports the doctrine of educational funding and control expounded by Mideast Governor Bell: We support a system that places control over funding at the community level. We support ever increasing funding of education so that we can have truly the best educated citizens in the world for the benefit of the the future economy.

The Pledge of Allegiance

The Progressive Caucus feels that any citizen being required to invoke the existence of a God in order to pledge allegiance to the nation discriminates against those who do not believe in God. We therefore support making the uttering of the words 'Under God' optional in the Pledge.

Environment

The Progressive Caucus supports all measures to reduce the amount that industry pollutes the environment; We embrace the Clean Energy Act pioneered by District 2 Senator Siege40 as a good step forward. We urge all Regions to initiate programmes to protect the environment, develop clean technologies and to place higher environmental standards onto industry.

Pornography

The Progressive Caucus supports the right of persons of 16 years and over to buy, possess and view pornography depicting only consenting persons of at least 18 years of age.

Assisted Suicide

The Progressive Caucus supports the right of the terminally ill to seek a death faster than would have otherwise occured through the assistance of doctors, and for persons to leave instructions to this effect for the event of their permenant incapacity.

Abortion

The Progressive Caucus supports the right of a mother to an abortion throughout the first trimester of the pregnancy and in the cases of a threat to the mother's health and foetal inviability throughout the pregnancy. We leave it to the conscience of individual members to decide their position in other cases.

[MAS117]

List of Progessive Caucus Members

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Peter Bell    
Ilikeverin    
Akno21    
Blerpiez    
Defarge    
Flyers2006
Alcon    
Wildcard    
Al    
True Democrat    
Siege40    
MAS117    
Lewis Trondheim    
Nym90    
Harry    
Immy    
Ian    
Gustaf    
Frodo    
Sam Spade    
Cosmo Kramer    
Josh    
Emsworth    
Texasgurl    
Migrendel    
Opebo    
Ebowed    
LiberalPA    
Smash255

If anyone else from Atlasia would like to join the Progessive Caucus just state your intentions in this thread. Thank you.

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[MAS117]

I have talked to the Mayor of Charlotte and if there is rain in the forecast he has given us permission to move and set up in the Charlotte Convention Center.

***In real news, I will give until Wednesday for anyone to offer a revision to the current platform.***

[MAS117]

The Pledge of Allegiance

The Progressive Caucus feels that any citizen being required to invoke the existence of a God in order to pledge allegiance to the nation is a clear establishment of religion. We support the removal of the words "under God" from the Pledge.

I propose removing this provision from our platform.  I really do not see what harm it would do to anyone to recite by rote the Pledge of Allegiance with 'Under God' in it, if it is required.  I am an agnostic, and it has never bothered me.  I can understand the concerns relating to the establishment of religion, but throughout United States' history (in the real world), God has frequently been invoked by every president that this country has ever known.  Has this ever resulted in the establishment of a state church over the 229-year history of this republic? 

This is frivolous, and needless provocation to those of faith, including progressives.   What next, do you propose removing all religious references from the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence?  Where does it stop?

I agree with Frodo on this, and I am for the removal of this from the Platform.

[MAS117]

I have talked to the Mayor of Charlotte and if there is rain in the forecast he has given us permission to move and set up in the Charlotte Convention Center.

If you don't mind me asking, why did you even pick an outdoor football stadium in the first place as opposed to the Charlotte Convention Center?  Wouldn't that (the Convention Center) have been a more natural choice given the political nature of this gathering? 

To tell you the truth I didn't think you all would give me such sh**t for it. I looked into the Colesium and the Charlotte Arena isn't finished yet, I didn't look at the Convention Center, I'm sorry it was 1am in the morning.

[MAS117]

Pornography

The Progressive Caucus supports the right of teenagers of 16 years and over to buy and view pornography.

While I do not disagree with this provision, it should add 'adults of 18 years and over' to it.  In addition, we should clarify that we support pornography as long as the pornography in question portrays consenting participants of 18-years or older, and that it doesn't involve children or animals, or necrophilia.  Within these boundaries, we will not interfere with anyone's viewing of pornography.

The revised provision will hereby read: 'The Progressive Caucus supports the right of teenagers of 16 years and over, and adults of 18 years and over, to buy and sell, as well as view pornography as long as it portrays consenting participants of 18 years and over, and that the pornography does not involve necrophilia, children or animals in any way, shape, or form.  Within these set boundaries, we do not support the intervention of the government into the buying and selling, as well as the viewing of pornography.'
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To the assembled caucus, I propose these changes. 

This doesn't really add anything that shouldn't be understood anyways, and is incredibly verbose. I oppose this change.

As do I.

[MAS117]

The Progessive Caucus Convention is hereby moved to the Charlotte Convention Center

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[MAS117]

I will begin to start votes in the Voting Booth on the purposed changes in the next couple of days. Stay tuned.

[MAS117]

I would like to remind the Chairman of his duty to hold a Leadership election if necessary and to constitute the Board as outlined under the Rules.

Yes, I know Peter. If you read the first page I was planning on doing it after speechs.

[MAS117]

I have now posted a Voting Booth for some changes to our platform. I urge all members to vote on ASAP. The Booth will be closed on Friday. The link is:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=23482.0

Thank you.

      - MAS117
        Chairman

[MAS117]

You forgot to add this revision of the Pornography plank to the ballot:

I propose:

'The Progressive Caucus supports the right of persons of 16 years and over to buy, possess and view pornography depicting only consenting persons of at least 18 years of age.'

For obvious reasons this leaves us only endorsing one form of pornography, rather than anti-endorsing others, whilst potetntially leaving the door ajar on others.

This is the proposal which I now support, instead of my original proposal which I agreed was too overly verbose. 

I'm sorry I will add this.

[MAS117]

My death penalty revision isn't in the thread either

Done.

[MAS117]

I would like to remind the Chairman of his duty to hold a Leadership election if necessary and to constitute the Board as outlined under the Rules.

Yes, I know Peter. If you read the first page I was planning on doing it after speechs.

And when exactly are these speeches starting considering that you are number one on the list?

After the end of voting on the platform.

[MAS117]

The Voting Booth will be closed tonight at 6pm. If you haven't voted yet I urge you to vote. After that speechs will be given in a timely fashion, followed by votes on the caucus leadership and the board, and then finally the endorsements.

[MAS117]

Note: The platform on in this thread and the one on the AtlasWiki has been updated.

We now move on to speechs.

Thank you.

[MAS117]

The Chairman steps to the podium

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Progessive Caucus, thanks for being here today in great Charlotte, NC. We had some trouble in the beginning of this convention with the venue but I'm glad to see that all sorted out. Before I begin, I'd like to thank the following people for helping out to make this convention great: Akno21 and Peter Bell.

In the past few days there has been great debate over some amendments and additions to the platform. I prefered to step aside on the issue of prostitution because I really am not sure what I believe in, in well, this new area of the platform. I myself do not agree with everything in the platform, like the Death Penatly, but I am sticking with this caucus because I know that it is great. Some members like Texasgurl took a strong stance on the anti-prostitution amendment. Now that it has been added to the platform, her and members like Siege40 wish to leave the caucus. I urge these members to stay in the caucus. Without some of you this organization wouldn't be what it is today, and we need your help to stay and fight for the issues you believe in.

Now as Chairman its my duty to report to you, the members, on who I believe should receive the endorsement of the Progessive Caucus of Atlasia. I hereby urge the members to vote to endorse the following ballot:

Presidential/Vice-Presidential Election
[1] Siege40 (IL-VT)/Emsworth (IL-NV)
[2] King (U-VT)/John Dibble (L-GA)
[3] John F. Kennedy (MRLP-CA)/Ernest (MRLP-HI)

***Siege40 and Emsworth receiving the official endorsement of the Caucus***

Senatorial Elections[/b]

Mideast[/b]
Milk_and_Cereal or Abstain

Midwest[/b]
NOTA

Northeast
Colin Wixted

***I come to you today asking you to support the re-election of Colin Wixted despite his opposite beliefs. The fact is to endorse a member of the Communist Party would not be suitable for a caucus of this stature and distintion. Colin has worked in a very bi-partisan way with not only me but other Democrats such as Sam Spade and Cosmo Kramer, and therefore I urge the caucus to endorse him over Migrendal. If you don't want to endorse Colin, I urge you to Abstain or vote NOTA.***

Pacific
True Democrat

Southeast
Sam Spade

I urge the members of this caucus to take these people seriously and vote to endorse them. Before I hand it off to Akno21, I just want to tell you that I do intend too seek the Chairmanship of this caucus, and I have urged my friend Akno21 to see the Vice Chairmanship. If elected, I will continue the progess of my good friend Peter Bell, and everything that he has done.

I now turn it over to Akno, and I ask after Akno, that President San Croix, followed by Fmr. Chairman Peter Bell to make there speechs in a timely fashion. If anyone else wishs to address the convention, please IM me or PM me.

Thank you, good day, and may Dave Bless Atlasia.

Steps down from podium with the crowd going wild, while listening to Kenny Loggins play his hit song, Celebrate The Progessive Caucus Home, in the back of the Covention Center.

[MAS117]

I hereby urge the members to vote to endorse the following ballot:

Presidential/Vice-Presidential Election
[1] Siege40 (IL-VT)/Emsworth (IL-NV)
[2] King (U-VT)/John Dibble (L-GA)
[3] John F. Kennedy (MRLP-CA)/Ernest (MRLP-HI)

Siege40 recieving the endorsement of the Progressive Caucus makes fine sense, but I don't see how having King or John F. Kennedy on your ballot that you're "urging" members to cast makes any sense, other than rather blind hatred of Harry, and it's funny that you've got so much against Harry considering what an assclown you were in your last weeks in the Senate (to use someone else's wording).  The fact that you're encouraging members of a "progressive" caucus to preference an unserious self-described "loony" campaign over a more liberal ticket doesn't make sense at all.

I'm sorry I should have put Harry on there it is my mistake. I will be putting him on my ballot. For the record, I don't have a blind hatred of Harry at all. And towards another question, I don't think just because he left the caucus means that we shouldn't endorse him. Anyway these are my recommendations to you, no one has to follow it. I did put urge in there because I feel strongly for those characters, but I will be putting Harry 4th on my ballot.

[MAS117]

If President Alcon would like to give his speech, then he is welcome to do it. However, we can not wait this long for it. Therefore we will move onto electing the Progessive Caucus Board. The caucus rules states this about the board:

The Board

1. At the beginning of each Convention a census of the Caucus membership by party shall be conducted by the Chairman.
2. Each party shall be allocated a number of seats on the board by taking its number of members in the Caucus and dividing it by 5 and then rounding to the nearest integer.
3. Independents and members of parties lacking any Board representation may affiliate together to elect Board members as though they were a party.
4. Each party may elect or appoint Caucus members from their party to the Board as they shall wish.
5. The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall have seats on the Board ex officio.
6. The Board may endorse ballot measures and legislation by a majority vote.
7. The Board may issue emergency endorsements for elections when it is the opinion of the Chairman that there is insufficient time to hold a full Caucus vote.
8. The Board may pass a vote of No Confidence in the Caucus Chairman by a majority vote.
9. Should both the Chairmancy and Vice Chairmancy be vacant between Conventions the Board shall elect a new Chairman.

With Siege40 and Texasgurl gone, the number of members in each party in the caucus is as follows:

Independent Liberal Party - 9 members
Farmer-Labor Party - 8 members
Independents - 3 members
Constitutional Union Party - 3 members
Freedom Party - 3 members
Communist Party - 1 member

Due to these numbers the following parties have been allocated a certain number of seats on the board. They are as follows:

Independent Liberal Party - 2 seats
Farmer-Labor Party - 2 seats
Independents - 1 seat
Constitutional Union Party - 1 seat
Freedom Party - 1 seat
Communist Party - 0 seats

It is the duty of the members of each party to come up with who will sit for each party on the board. After you have came up with who these people will be, please post them in this thread, IM me, or PM me and I will put together the final list. Thank you.

[MAS117]

Mr. Chairman,

The Independent Liberal Party has chosen the following members to represent it on the Board of the Progressive Caucus:

Peter Bell
Emsworth

So noted. Thank you Mr. Secretary.

[MAS117]

The election for Chairman of the caucus is now underway, and it will last 48 hours. Please read the speechs of the distinguished persons who are running, and then vote. The link is here:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=23482.15

[MAS117]

The endorsements thread is now open for 48 hours. I urge all members to please vote. Thank you.

[MAS117]

Endorsement Results[/b]

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Presidential/Vice-Presidential Election

Harry (FL-MS)/Ebowed (FL-SC) - 3 votes
King (U-VT)/Write In - 1 vote
Siege40 (IL-VT)/Emsworth (IL-NV) - 8 votes

The Progessive Caucus hereby endorses Siege40/Emsworth for President of the Republic of Atlasia.

Senatorial Elections

Mideast

Masterjedi (ACA-WI) -  3 votes
milk_and_cereal (L-MI) - 3 votes
Abstain - 4 votes
NOTA - 4 votes

The Progessive Caucus hereby urges voters to either Abstain or vote None of the Above in the Mideast Senate Election.

Midwest

DanielX (ACA-WY) - 3 votes
Abstain - 6 votes
NOTA - 3 votes

The Progessive Caucus hereby urges voters to Abstain from voting in the Midwest Senate election.

Northeast

ColinW (U-PA) - 8 votes
Migrendel (C-MA) - 1 vote
Abstain - 3 votes

The Progessive Caucus hereby endorses Senator Colin Wixted for Northeast Senator.

Pacific

FuturePrez (U-AZ) - 1 vote
TrueDemocrat (IL-P) - 11 votes
Abstain - 1 vote

The Progessive Caucus hereby endorses SoFA True Democrat for Senator of the Pacific region.

Southeast

Ben Meyers (ACA-FL) - 2 votes
Sam Spade (U-LA) - 7 votes
Abstain - 2 votes
NOTA - 1 vote

The Progessive Caucus hereby endorses Senator Sam Spade for Senator of the Southeast region.