The Ogis Multi-Purpose Thread

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

The time is here to reconsider the past and lay a firm path for the future. Is there one person that can claim that everything is right in Atlasia today? We have widespread turmoil due to party rancor, worsening socioeconomic conditions, and, most recently, ambivalent policymaking. The Mideast needs to be a beacon of change, a symbol of the revolution that Atlasia must undergo to become truly prosperous again. Interest is down. Comradery is almost nonexistent. We need a candidate who is experienced enough to see the path that Atlasia has come, but grounded enough to know how far we must still travel.

I present to you an example of the little things I plan to implement if elected:
In my previous runs for Mideast Assembly as Persepolis, I advocated making the Mideast Assembly's thread more accessible to the non-officeholding citizens of Atlasia. When I first took office, my ideas were shot down because it is apparenly infeasible and cluttering to open two new threads to better organize and inform the public. Now that the regional governments have their own board, what is the excuse for making our assembly as impossible to navigate as the Strait of Magellan? I understand the hard work that the current and former assemblymembers put in, but that toil is for nought if the citizens the elected officials represent cannot access the laws that are put in place.

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

The time is here to reconsider the past and lay a firm path for the future. Is there one person that can claim that everything is right in Atlasia today? We have widespread turmoil due to party rancor, worsening socioeconomic conditions, and, most recently, ambivalent policymaking. The Mideast needs to be a beacon of change, a symbol of the revolution that Atlasia must undergo to become truly prosperous again. Interest is down. Comradery is almost nonexistent. We need a candidate who is experienced enough to see the path that Atlasia has come, but grounded enough to know how far we must still travel.

I present to you an example of the little things I plan to implement if elected:
In my previous runs for Mideast Assembly as Persepolis, I advocated making the Mideast Assembly's thread more accessible to the non-officeholding citizens of Atlasia. When I first took office, my ideas were shot down because it is apparently infeasible and cluttering to open two new threads to better organize and inform the public. Now that the regional governments have their own board, what is the excuse for making our assembly as impossible to navigate as the Strait of Magellan? I understand the hard work that the current and former assemblymembers put in, but that toil is for nought if the citizens the elected officials represent cannot access the laws that are put in place.

You've come a long way, man. Endorsed!

And if someone wants to see some of my old posts from when I first joined Atlasia and "encountered" Ogis, go ahead for a laugh.

They are certainly a laugh. Once again, I apologise for my previous conduct. Thank you for the endorsement.

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

TPTTAA - didn't you get banned

I'm here now....

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

They are certainly a laugh. Once again, I apologise for my previous conduct. Thank you for the endorsement.

A laugh for you, perhaps.  I am less than forgiving.

And you have every right to feel that way.

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

Note: I am typing up a formal response to other questions raised in this thread, so don't think I forgot.

Platform:
Holistic Atlasian Policy:

Atlasia is drifting away from becoming a government simulation for everyone and is instead trapped in the quagmire of bureaucracy and elitism. The government is basically comprised of the same people shuffling positions, and policymaking has degraded into laws and regulations for the sake of having them, and nothing more. Thus, stricter term limits should be put in place for all positions, including supposedly "low-level" offices such as the Mideast Assembly. Also, the recent attempts to draw more interest to the game should be optimized to focus on accessibility and enjoyment for the newcomers, rather than a large-scale advertising campaign which is the talk of the hour. We cannot handle more citizens if we do not improve the infrastructure for newies first.

Mideast Assembly Reform:
Following my desire to make the game more accessible, the Mideast Assemly should reorganize its threads to make them remotely readable. At this point, the one thread is one-hundred odd pages of jumbled nonsense, and it is certainly not a scene that will attract newcomers or encourage activity from veterans any time soon.

Economic Reform:
The Mideast has made quite a few strides to decrease marginal expenditures and solve the economic crisis, but we have not gone quite far enough. I think the assembly needs to recognize that a lack of government regulation caused this mess, and we need to implement stricter policies on large corporations while cutting more breaks for small-business owners. Also, we should look into cutting down on unnecessary infrastructure expenditure. I understand that a systemwide audit is costly and will likely sendthe wrong message to the citizens, but a specially organized Mideast task force could feasibly conduct such an investigation in a reasonable amount of time for little or no cost.

Social Reform:

Laws should be implemented to protect the general well-being and freedom of the public. However, some freedoms must be limited to protect the general population. After a cursory glance at a few of the bills in discussion currently/recently, I have found that the Assembly is trending in the opposite direction that I envision. I agree wholeheartedly with Junkie's DUI and firearm bills that were recently debated. I find it alarming that the Assembly does not wish to come to terms with the fact that a person cannot be free if he/she is not alive. We must protect life first, then liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness.

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

Two years ago, I joined this forum with the intent of poting regularly. My interest was piqued especially by this political simulation. I was lazy, and I lost any motivation I had during the wait for my confirmation email. Eventually, I decided to post for the first time, and was imediately annoyed by the cliquey structure and unwelcoming atmosphere. As such, I did not make much of an attempt to be productive. That is, and will forever be, my fault. However, it did spur my current interest in making this game, and, by extension, this forum, more amicable to newcomers.

During my days as Ogis, various other deplorable incidents occured, and they turned this forum into a complete wasteland for newbies. Swathes of sockpuppets were uncovered, various accounts were hacked, and the forum went into a general frenzy of distrust. In some sense, it was the "Era of Bad Feelings."

Eventually, one boring school night, I, the immature teenager, decided to spam the forum with idiotic messages about being hacked. I was deservedly banned (It was a long time coming; the spamming was the spark that finally enticed Dave to act.). Meanwhile, the questionable pasts of other posters on this forum were brought into light. Benconstine is a key example of the fallout from this "era," as he was (illegally) prosecuted for having a secondary account, charges which were certainly true, but corroborated using inadmissable information, in my opinion. At this point, that specific court case is a moot point, and Ben likely did the right thing by not contesting too heavily the charges he faced, as that decision allowed him to climb back into the public eye. I cite this story to show that someone who has perhaps engaged in illegal activity can still be a helpful member of Atlasia.

As time passed and the anti-newcomer sentiments festered, I created a second account, mostly as a joke and a backhanded slap to the moderators who I then perceived as fascists and control freaks (those sentiments have since faded). I never made any real attempt to contribute and was duly banned. I came back again, this time under the transparent guise of a Dutch student, and was again shot down. Finally, as I apparently became more mature, I rejoined the forum as Persepolis.

Persepolis began as a political experiment on my part. I modeled him to believe precisely the opposite of what I truly believe. Thus, he was a perfect fit for the RPP, who, at the time, were the most accepting party of newcomers. AS time wore on, Persepolis became a well-liked individual in the Mideast and was eventually elected to the Assembly. Once I reached the Assembly, I shed the party lines slightly and attempted to make prison and gun control reforms. The joke of the matter is that no one realized that I was directly contradicting my platform, due to the inaccessability of the Mideast Assembly for its constituents. Regardless, I decided to run for Senate against an ironically more conservative member of the DA, named Dan.

This Senate election, devoid of fanfare, was likely the most idiotic election in Atlasia of all time. Both Dan and I were not who we said we were. In fact, I was the one who uncovered Dan's true origins and forced him to come clean. Hilariously, the main clue of his deceit was his odd description of his own sexual orientation. It was something of the Jewish Conservative "lean gay" lore. Either way, I'm not one who should be judging anyone, as a surefire victory was taken from my grasp, deservedly. My lies were finally uncovered, and I was banned again.

Now we have come to this day. Although I have a checkered past, to say the least, I have as much experience as anyone running for Assembly, except Inks. I am more mature and I am likely the example this forum needs to right the ship. I have a decidedly unique perspective on the goings-on of this forum, and I faced enough adversity to last a lifetime. I'm not the trendy choice, and I'm likely not the safe one, but I am the one who can bring a dynamic shift to the Mideast.

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

Persepolis ... I remember that.  That was a pretty big blow to me as a governor.... that whole thing was just a mess.

Sorry about that. The region eventually got a great Senator out of the whole debacle in the shape of tmthforu.

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

True... but it pretty much killed my agenda in the Assembly.

Oh well, I'm over it.  Best of luck to you!

Thank you.

I don't recall, what was your specific agenda at the time?

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

There was nothing illegal about Ben's prosecution, and you should know you didn't have access to anything that happened in private arguments regarding evidence.

He was mostly uncovered due to my illegal activity. That's what I was going for. The case itself was handled well. Ben probably got the short end of the stick due to the circumstances, however.

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

Persepolis ... I remember that.  That was a pretty big blow to me as a governor.... that whole thing was just a mess.

Sorry about that. The region eventually got a great Senator out of the whole debacle in the shape of tmthforu.

Thank you, Ogis, for that compliment. I don't think I've ever had as much luck in this game as I did back then when that Senate seat fell right into my laps.

Perhaps it was lucky, but you did a good job using that to your advantage and showing that you're good at your job.

Good luck.

Thank you.

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

Thank you for the post

No problem.

Are there any other questions?

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

Thank you for the post

No problem.

Are there any other questions?

Nope. You've answered them all, unless Ben has some rebuttle to this?

I don't think I said anything that Ben would really want to refute.

Nope. You've answered them all, unless Ben has some rebuttle to this?

No rebuttal - I wasn't aware this was a debate.  What I did was wrong, but I will not be embracing Ogis anytime soon (unless we both win, when I will embrace him as a colleague).

Glad to hear it.

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

I would like to voice my pleasure and commend the current Assembly for implementing their new system. The multiple-thread system is sure to make the MA more accessible.

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

I would like to voice my pleasure and commend the current Assembly for implementing their new system. The multiple-thread system is sure to make the MA more accessible.

I agree

I'm actually a big fan of the work you've done in the Assembly, Junkie, and I really hope it continues.

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

The polls are open and I urge all members of the Mideast to vote.

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

Thank you to every active Mideast citizen for coming out to vote. Although the results of this election weren't perfect from a personal standpoint, I couldn't have expected anything better. I wish all the elected Representatives good luck in their future endeavors in the Mideast Assembly.

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

Regardless of anything in your past, O, you've been an undeniable class act in this campaign.

Yea, you did run a great campaign and this is how you should operate in the future. Once the stigma wears off, you will become more competative. It will take time and patience, however.

Thank you for your run, hope to see you active

I thank all of you for your support. I do intend to run again for public office, but likely not for any large position. I do hope that the stigma eventually runs off in the rain of a few Atlasian generations, but one cannot only hope, one must do. Thus, I am going to attempt to regain the trust of Atlasia through mature debate and activity, transcending any previous infractions or societal transgressions.

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

You did a good job running. Good luck to whatever you intend to do later on in Atlasia.

Thank you. I really appreciate it.

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

Hello everyone. I have made it official that I will be running for a position in the Mideast Assembly. I have previously stated that the Mideast Assembly is an example for which other regions should reach for, in activity, organization, quality of debate, and, most importantly, quality of legislation. In this upcoming election cycle, many candidates of the Mideast Assembly are running for other offices within Atlasia, using the fantastic experience that this regional legislature provides due to its layout and the well-informed debate which can rival, and sometimes surpass, that of the national level. I would like the Mideastern voting public to give me a chance to be bestowed upon the honor of joining such a respectable institution.

My ideals can be found in this thread, but if you would like me to rehash them, or have any other questions, please feel free to ask. 

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

You know, I'm going to endorse you. I believe the Assembly's primary role in the game is to give new members a chance to grow. While you're not a new member, and you don't have a perfect past, I think you've done a lot of things in the past couple of months to prove you are serious about the game, and truly want to get involved. We need motivated people like you in the Assembly.

While it may not be a first preference, you'll have a very high preference from me.

Thank you Governor. I really appreciate it.

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

Endorsed!

Thank you. Your ongoing support has been refreshing.

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

I can only wish you best of luck at the moment I'm going to refrain from early endorsements so I don't end up endorsing too many people at once again

Sounds like a plan I hope I can eventually convince you through my campaign to start doling them out.

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

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

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

Are you in favor or opposed to term limits for the Assembly?

Also, are you in support of A-Bob's energy platform?

I am against term limits in the Assembly because, as a general rule, the Mideast Assembly is used as a gateway to higher positions. Thus, there is no real need to (a) provide incentives for activity, because the MA is often used as a proving ground for those who have higher aspirations, or (b) require incumbents to leave, because there is such a high turnover in the Assembly that the really good officials that are likely to continually be reelected end up ascending to higher positions in Atlasia regardless.

I concur that reducing Atlasian dependence on foreign oil should be a major goal of the country and the regions. However, I disagree with the implication that money sent to the Middle East to satiate our oil needs is directly tied in with terrorism. My reasoning for reduced dependence is rooted in the economy, as I would rather Atlasian industries reap the profits of our insatiable energy thirst than the Middle East. In that vein, I support a system which provides government incentives for private companies which sell services pertaining to renewable energy.

Specifically, I am lukewarm on nuclear power, as I am wary of the inherent risks. However, if we regulate the industry heavily and take preventive measures to avoid catastrophes, I see no reason why the Mideast should not utilize a large-scale local energy source that is available to us. However, I think it is more important that we focus on renewable energy, and our long term goal should be to completely cut dependence, if not use, of nonrenewable energy, including clean coal, nuclear, and fossil fuels. 

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

While hopefully we can maximize our usage of alternative fuels, it only provides for 7% of our current national energy resources and 6% is hydroelectric.

And I'm not just talking about countries giving money to terrorists or harboring them, but countries with civil rights that are not acceptable like Saudi Arabia, but we continue to be parterns with them because we don't dig in our own yards (to clear things up).

The only thing is to make sure to have a balance of nuclear energy regulation, few have been made in the last few decades, Bush reversed that trend luckily and it's now starting to show, but I do agree we must be very careful, however this country and region surely harbors the abilities to do it

And I'm with you on term limits btw

Yes, it is certainly a long road ahead, but it is certainly up to us to get this ball rolling quite a bit faster.

As for Saudi Arabia and other nations which provide us oil, I am certainly aware and worried about the civil liberties which are being infringed upon. Purely talking about energy, however, the most important issue with buying oil from foreign countries is the impact on our trade deficit and the domestic economy. Holistically, there are certainly issues with some of the countries we are dealing with, in regard to social injustice, but I do not think that should color our energy legislation as much as the inherent economic impetus of an import-based energy industry.