Office of Senator Antonio V - Statement

[Hash]

Felicitats on your victory, meu amic.

[bgwah]

Congrats. I look forward to working in the Senate with you.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Congratulations my friend. It's about time.

[k-onmmunist]

Gratz

[Thomas D]

Congratulations   *hughughug*

[Antonio the Sixth]

So much kind words... I feel extremely honored.

With the election now over, this thread will serve as my Senatorial office. During the long time that separates us from the beginning of my office, I'll start develop the key points of my legislative program. I will also start drafting my first bills, but I don't think it would be correct to make them public before introducing them. More important, this thread will be an oppurtunity for any Atlasian to directly adress me and ask me any question. So, to everybody, my office is always open.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

You'll be great Senator, my friend, and you deserved that

[Fuzzybigfoot]

Congratulations   *hughughug*

[Antonio the Sixth]

Fellow Atlasians,

As I have just sworn in, I am now officially an Atlasian Senator. It's still difficult for me to realize that I am entering in what I have always considered as the highest and most prestigious of all Atlasian institutions. While I didn't come totally "out of the blue", I don't have the amazing office record that most of my colleagues have, and just went back from a long period of inactivity. I know I already did dozen of times, but I ought to thank again all those who trusted me enough to give me their vote. Also, as the only (real) freshman of the Forty-first Senate, I still have much things to learn about the functioning of the body. I hope to learn soon and not to make to much mistakes.

But now, it's time to look toward the future. In the previous session, the Senate seemed to have run out of new ideas for legislation, and hasn't engaged in any major legislative project. It's understandable, as Atlasian politics are mostly cyclical and sometimes people aren't ready to shake things too much. But my wish as a Senator is precisely to shake things up. During my term in the Senate, I have the purpose to introduce major reform bills on several key subjects. While a tough RL period, with many homework and exams, prevented me from drafting bills during the transition time as I planned to, I will from tomorrow have the occasion to dedicate myself fully to the legislative task. You can expect me to soon start introducing my bills.

The Atlasian left will have an unseen occasion in the Forty-first Senate. For the first time since years, the two progressive parties will hold a 7-seats majority. We can't waste such an occasion. We ought to use this exceptional majority to work for the implementation of a resolutely left-wing agenda. When was the last time an important ideologically connoted left-wing bill passed in the Senate ? I couldn't really tell, but I personally have to look back to the Fiscal Responsibility act, more than one year ago. In my opinion, the main problem of the Atlasian left is that it is mostly a status-quo left. Unable or unwilling to change things in-depth, we like to win elections but once elected we don't really care about enacting policies. Well, the reason why I take part to Atlasia, the reason why I asked you to give me your vote last december is precisely to enact policies. To enact progressive policies. And that's what I will restlessly try to do during my term as a Senator. My policies certainly won't please anyone, and that's fair. But I think a strong ideological controversy is exactly what Atlasia need right now. If we finally start fighting about policies, maybe it will makes us stop fighting about people.

Anyways, fellow Atlasians, my office is open to all of you. I will never forget that I hold my mandate from you and that I am accountable to you for all my legislative business. That's why I have the duty to welcome any comment, any question and any constructive critic about my tenure as Senator. The same way, if you have a legitimate policy proposal you want to submit me, I will gladly examinate it and consider introducing a bill about it. Whoever you are, whatever party you are in, your voice will be heard in my thread. That doesn't mean I will welcome all your requests : the duty of a politician is not to always agree with its constituents. But since I work for you, I can't not care about what you think about me. During my senatorial campaign, I made several pledges, and now I will have the duty to fulfill them. I want you to make sure I do, and if you have the feeling I broke a promise, you must express such feeling in my office. In order to facilitate our communication, I will do regular updates stating my main actions as Senator and the reasons that led me to take them.

Now, something totally new will begin for me. I don't know what kind of Senator I will be, and I hope I will be worthy of the support you gave me. I also hope having fun in this weird game, trying to shake things up while at the same time developping good relationships with my fellow colleagues. I am very proud to be the second UDL Senator, and the first to be elected under the party's banner. With fellow Senator HappyWarrior, I know we will manage to bring the party a good image of policymakers. In this first senatorial session of the New Decade, I hope we will all manage to accomplish great things.

Thank you for listening, and Dave bless Atlasia !

[Antonio the Sixth]

And I keep asking myself : "Why, why for each occasion do you feel the need to make a useless one-page grandiloquent speech nobody will read ?". Don't know. It must be that they make me feel important.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Fellow Atlasians, I am glad to announce that I have introduced my first 4 bills as Senator. These bills, which regard a vast number of topics, are the results of a long work. My greatest hope is to bring some controversy in a body which, recently, has mostly focused on consensual and minor problems. I encourage my fellow Senators to engage in an in-depth discussion and offer Amendments, in order to improve them and help Atlasia to progress. Therefore, I long for the beginning of the debates.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Damn, and I thought bgwah had some horrible bills.


In just 30 seconds of looking at one, I came up with three amendment ideas. So you may get your wish.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Damn, and I thought bgwah had some horrible bills.


In just 30 seconds of looking at one, I came up with three amendment ideas. So you may get your wish.

They are more than welcome. We certainly will have a lot to discuss, and that's a very good thing.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Fellow constituents,

I guess it's time to start my re-election campaign. No long speech this time (since nobody reads them anyways), just an appeal to every Atlasian to vote for me in April. Why ? Because I think I've proven to be a reasonably active Senator, taking part to almost every debate in the past 4 months, introducting 4 bills (even though their fate wasn't very successful). If I run again, it is primarily to ensure the passage of my Comprehensive Social Security Reform Act, probably the most important bill Atlasia has had since years. Once this is done, I will start woking on new bills, which I want to be radical reforms trying to fix what doesn't work in Atlasia.

Progressives, stand up for someone who defends your values ! Atlasians, stand up for an active Senate ! Re-elect Antonio V for Senate !

[homelycooking]

Antonio, I've followed your work in the Senate and I think that you are an indispensible asset to the people of Atlasia. You have my full support for re-election.

hc

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Antonio, I've followed your work in the Senate and I think that you are an indispensible asset to the people of Atlasia. You have my full support for re-election.

hc

Nobody follows my work

[homelycooking]

Antonio, I've followed your work in the Senate and I think that you are an indispensible asset to the people of Atlasia. You have my full support for re-election.

hc

Nobody follows my work

Think again, Kal.

[Franzl]

Endorsed for a relatively high preference as one of the senators that actually has interest in being a senator.

[Marokai Backbeat]

You of course have my unwavering support. I preface this by saying not all the Senators are terrible, but, you are one of the few people who I adore for actually caring about intelligence and hard work. The type of person who makes a lengthy post and dares anyone to answer it. The type of person who would spend hours reading the Atlasia wiki and researching your side of the fight. The type of person who actually cares about making the game work whether you sound "nice" about it or not.

In other words, my favorite type of Atlasian. You're of a dying breed around here. Best of luck.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Endorsed

[Antonio the Sixth]

Thank you everybody for your kind words. And in particular to Marokai, even though I honestly think I don't deserve all these praises. There are a lot of Atlasians who are far more dedicated and committed to the game (you above all) than me.

Now everybody, it's time to vote !!!

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

There are a lot of Atlasians who are far more dedicated and committed to the game (you above all) than me.

Bull, you are at the top when it comes to dedication and activity and I can't imagine Senate without your presence.

[Antonio the Sixth]

So, it looks like I ended up winning. It was insanely close and a couple of votes would have changed everything, but apparently enough people were satisfied of my service. So, now I'm headed to 4 more months in our glorious legislative body. I won't make a long speech, but I can assure you that I will do my best to remain a dedicated legislator. I will ensure Atlasia will soon have a new, centralized, effective and extended social security system. And once this is done, I'll start working on some other big thing. So, thank you all for allowing me to keep working for Atlasia.

Thank you, Homelycooking, Marokai, TexasGurl, Yelnoc, Polnut, Hans, Fuzzybigfoot, Belgiansocialist, Julio, Hawkeye, Hashemite !

And congratulation to my fellow Senators who have just been elected/reelected. Looking forward working with you again.

[homelycooking]

Congratulations, Antonio!

[Oakvale]

Congratulations, Antonio! It was an exciting election.