Office of Senator Cynic: Chaos and Sh*t

[Dr. Cynic]

So, the doctor is in again, eh?

Back for another tour of duty in the NE.

[Dr. Cynic]

Hell yes and Hell no!

[Dr. Cynic]

I'd like to hear from my fellow Nor'easterners regarding the current legislation before the Assembly. I'm specifically speaking about the Drones. Dallasfan wanted to get a national discussion going by passing a bill on procedure, as I understand it. I'm still inclined to vote against it as it stands though.

What say you?

[Dr. Cynic]

I will be a candidate in the next At-Large Senate race. I actually have not served in the Senate since all the way back in 2006. In fact, I was a District Senator, something we don't even do anymore and haven't for many years. I miss the national role (nothing against working regionally in the NE, but I've been a Rep half a dozen times and I think next time it should go to someone who hasn't had the chance to serve in Atlasia yet) and I want to get involved again in the national discussion.

While I acknowledge that my chances of victory are slim (as always), I thought that after almost a decade outside of it, I'd like to try for a second go around.

[Dr. Cynic]

Well, to be fair since I came back, I've been arguing for a restart. If I got in, I'd like to at least have the debate.

[Dr. Cynic]

Thanks TNF and DemPGH!

I'm glad to see we're finally going to have a real debate on the restart. As I told the Senate, if this is something that's going to be done, it should be done right and yes, that would mean a new nation. We wouldn't have to fully eradicate the history of Atlasia. It should always be remembered on the wiki and I think it should be remembered as a very successful simulation. We've all worked hard to make it fun at various points of time. Now, I think the time is now to start anew.

If I was elected, I'd like to work with Senator Bore to go all the way with it. His legislative reboot, to me is a good start, but I think just a legislative reboot would end up causing more problems. I'd like to see everything begun again. Yes, if my idea went through and I was a Senator, I'd be back out of office again as would everyone else. We'd have a constitutional convention and we'd have the opportunity to create a nation in our image. Activity has slumped here recently and I wanna see us all involved again. We've worked hard to make things work and to make things fun. We should realize sometimes when we need a kick in the ass. Atlasia is more than a decade old. How many other government simulations can boast such a lifespan? None that I know of. We should be proud and we should be bold and ready for the next step.

[Dr. Cynic]

Why At-Large?

Why am I running for At-Large Senate instead of in the Northeast? Well, for one, Bore is NE Senator and he's one of the best at the job. The other reason is that the main issue I am campaigning on is a national one. It's also one of greatest importance. I feel as though the time has come for a rebirth. It's been more than a decade since Atlasia's founding. Most of the founders with a couple of exceptions are gone. I've come and gone a few times, myself. The pool of those who play the game should be freshened up every now and again. The game should be as well. By no means am I saying we should erase the accomplishments of all of us in making the game work. We have a wiki and we even have Atlasian historians who remember just about everything that happened.

The time has come though for something new. What that new venture is though is still up to us. We can start anew and put an end to the apathy that so often plagues this place. New issues to fight and potentially an entirely new form of simulation. I'm ready to take that plunge. But should we all not be able to, then I still think it important that new issues be raised. The most important way that this place can survive right now is through an active GM. But that's only on national issues. What about regional issues? The regions have mostly been left to simulate themselves for a very long time. Maybe we should re-introduce scandals to the game as well as fresh stories. We need to make every office matter in Atlasia again and in doing so, we need active stories. I will lobby the GM's office to do so and will try to work in the Senate to promote activity however I can.

[Dr. Cynic]

Thanks for the endorsements, folks. I have to say it's very important to me that whatever we do, that first of all it's interesting. When I was campaigning for District 1 Senator back in 2006, there were a few interesting and chaotic things going on. There was a standoff between the President and the GM's office and things were chaotic and yes, quite interesting. After that, things calmed down and I became President for a week, but I'd rather not talk about THAT right now! In any case, the point is, when the game is interesting, people will want to be involved. That's the most important thing.

If you guys have any questions about my stances on other policies outside of game reform, please ask and I'll try to expand on it.

[Dr. Cynic]

I didn't lose interest in any of those jobs. Real life sometimes interferes. Except for my last tenure as SOIA, when there was no communication from the White House at the time. So then, yes, I got fed up and quit.

[Dr. Cynic]

I didn't lose interest in any of those jobs. Real life sometimes interferes. Except for my last tenure as SOIA, when there was no communication from the White House at the time. So then, yes, I got fed up and quit.

Shots fired.

It's true that there wasn't really any communication between us. That's as much my fault as it is yours But yes, I got frustrated and decided that it'd probably be better for someone else to do it since I wasn't doing a great job. It was probably just a bit of burnout as well. It all worked out ok for the both of us though.

[Dr. Cynic]

I didn't lose interest in any of those jobs. Real life sometimes interferes. Except for my last tenure as SOIA, when there was no communication from the White House at the time. So then, yes, I got fed up and quit.

Shots fired.

It's true that there wasn't really any communication between us. That's as much my fault as it is yours But yes, I got frustrated and decided that it'd probably be better for someone else to do it since I wasn't doing a great job. It was probably just a bit of burnout as well. It all worked out ok for the both of us though.

You're referring to a different administration. Superique was Secretary of Internal Affairs for the duration of my presidency.

But I was kidding, in any case. That was a long time ago.

See, it was so long ago, I don't even remember it.

[Dr. Cynic]

An Update

I'm extremely pleased to see that game reform is picking up steam. In the Senate, the reboot act is being debated and in so doing, we'll hopefully see a new constitution with it.

Also, right now in the NE Assembly, we're debating laws on marijuana regulation. I'm not an expert on the Atlasian law with regard to how much is permitted to be sold by a party and how much tax is paid on it and all. Because I don't know what the regulations are in this regard, I'm looking for anyone who does know to fill me in so I can get the full picture of the legislation I'm debating.

[Dr. Cynic]

On Health Care:

This is a debate that has been in the public eye recently and to prove I'm not a one issue candidate, I want to expand my position a little bit on this. Like most Atlasians of the left, I support universal access to quality health care. How we go about achieving that goal is something that needs to be decided upon, so let me put my own position forward.

I support FREE access to care at any time. I support FREE eye, dental and mental care. I also support free prescription costs, particularly for those with chronic illnesses. At this point, there are a lot of useless programs that none of us even know about that could be cut from the federal budget in order to cover the costs of an entirely free system of health care if you didn't want to see a tax increase. I completely disagree with anyone who would characterize health care as a "good or service". I don't view the issue in such sterile, mechanical fashion. Some things, in my view, are more important than a balanced budget and yes, this is one of them. So, if that means I can't be an At-Large Senator because I want people to be able to see a doctor or get a prescription filled free of charge rather than a budget in black ink, then so be it.

On College Tuition:

One of the things I'm most proud of ever getting done in the Northeast Assembly was universal college tuition for Northeast students. In a global economy, Atlasian students have to be able to compete with the rest of the world. In order to do that, the first thing they need is a top notch education and while they may get it, far too many of those students were immediately hit with a mountain of debt that effectively puts them at a disadvantage. I and others felt that this was absolutely intolerable. I support universal college tuition for all Atlasian students.

[Dr. Cynic]

I am hereby withdrawing from the At-Large Senate race as I don't feel I have enough support to win a seat. I will be considering my Atlasian future for awhile before making a decision on what to do next, if anything.

[Dr. Cynic]

Pulling a Ross Perot here.

Hey guys, guess what. My three week working trip/vacation was cancelled just days after it was set. So I'm back in the At-Large Senate race. Will it make a difference? Only if you want to save this nation, it will...

Also, I'm accepting write-in votes for those of you in the NE who simply can't live without me in the Assembly.

On to victory.... Or probable defeat and humiliation!

[Dr. Cynic]

So...you are declaring now to run in August?

Yeah.

[Dr. Cynic]

Having a town hall/Q&A session. Have at it folks. Let's keep things alive.

[Dr. Cynic]

So, I won't be returning to the NE Assembly. I congratulate all of the winners and I wish them all possible success.

I'm hoping that you'll still see me as a viable candidate to be elected your At-Large Senator. As always, the most important thing in the game to me, is the game itself. We shouldn't out and out reject the possibility of a restart the same as we shouldn't discount all change in general. The most important thing is keeping this game going in whatever form that may take.

Hopefully we will see a new era of positive activity with the upcoming administration of my friend, DemPGH. I'm hopeful also that I'll move on to new things going forward.

[Dr. Cynic]

In regards to the NE special election, I'd rather prefer new blood stepped up for it. If not, I'll run, but only in that situation.

Health Care statement to come tomorrow.

[Dr. Cynic]

I want to wait a day and see if any new blood comes up. Someone who hopefully hasn't held office yet. If not, then I'll go for it. Unless you'd like the job, Nick. I wouldn't ever encourage you to drop out if you wanted to do the job.

[Dr. Cynic]

I'm in.

(My internet has been having a problem all day today, hopefully it will be resolved by tomorrow).

On Healthcare:

It is my belief that Fritzcare was a damn good starting point, but by no means should it be regarded as the end of the line. As a member of the Labor Party, I'm committed to 100% Universal Health Care and I believe health care is a right and not something only the privileged should be a part of. I'm not into nationalizing every industry there is, but when it comes to the health and well-being of our citizens, then yes, I believe the private sector can be callous to the needs of those on a lower income. After all, their duty is to deliver a profit, not to make sure you get the best possible care.

Atlasia's National Health Care program should be expanded to meet the demands of our citizens. Also, the tax level of 0.5% that is levied on those who are 250% below the poverty line (an absurd thing to think that there are individuals who are at that level of suffering in a society such as ours) should now be reduced to 0 and in order to pay for it, we could levy 0.5-1% of a raise across the rest of the income brackets.

In order to do this, however, we want to be able to keep taxes as low as humanly possible, so yes, we would look for other places in which to lessen the burdens. We can also look at non-essentials with which to cut in order to reduce spending. Nevertheless, I feel that providing 100% free health care for the entire population is of utmost importance in the coming term.

[Dr. Cynic]

Attention Nor'Easterners! The Special Election for the Assembly seat is on and I encourage you to vote for me!

[Dr. Cynic]

First of all, thanks to all you NE folks who turned out and voted for me.

It was a good campaign and a close campaign but in the end, we pulled out a victory and I'll be again serving as one of your representatives. I want to thank my opponent, JoMCaR (if I got the caps right, I can't remember exactly, hopefully, I did) for running a damn good campaign and for really putting the effort in to make things competitive. I have no doubt he has a good future ahead of him in Atlasia.

Moving forward, I will continue to work in the Assembly and I'll continue to campaign for the At-Large Senate election. I'll take questions, comments, etc.

[Dr. Cynic]

On Homelessness:

What I hope to see in the future is a complete end to homelessness in Atlasia. To that end, I have introduced a bill before the Northeast Assembly to improve upon and work in tandem with the Anti-Homelessness Act, which is already the law of the land in the Northeast.

The gist of the bill is to both improve upon the operation of shelters to include daytime operation (Since the current law only provides for nighttime operation), and to try and move some of the individuals into a longer term situation by providing both long term, affordable housing and employment. I'm sure my bill may go through some revisions on the floor, however, I will work hard to protect the intent and work toward maintaining the integrity of this legislation.

I believe that for a disease like homelessness, we need not only to treat the symptoms, we must also work to prevent it. By providing housing and employment to those who need it, we can ensure better lives for our citizens. I'd also like to see if we can't work to find ways to counsel those individuals on making the right choices that can prevent relapse. You can send an addict to rehab to help cure him of his illness and I believe something like homelessness can be treated in a similar way. By providing treatment and counseling, we can cure this condition. I hope my bill can go a small way towards doing so in my region and I hope we can address this issue in the country as a whole.

[Dr. Cynic]

Corporate Personhood/Welfare for Atlasians:

I believe that when it comes to how we administer laws in this country, we must hold corporations up to a very high standard. These large entities control a great deal of capital and thus we must make sure that they act within the confines of the law and we prevent them from trampling over those workers who are just as responsible for their profits as their board of directors.

That said, the current law being discussed in the Senate, sponsored by Senator TNF, is designed to prevent things like the Hobby Lobby decision, which grant corporations a loophole in the law. It is my view that because individuals cannot shirk a law simply because it inconveniences them, then a corporation shouldn't be able to either. Nor should a corporation be able to pin its moral code onto the individuals who work for them. Giving an individual a paycheck for work done does not, in my view, mean that they also have the right in determining whether an employee gets birth control, for example. First of all, the health care costs always come out of the individual's check, so by that logic then, an employee has already paid for it and should be given whatever services they require.

In terms of welfare, it should be our ideal to create a society where no one lives in poverty, everyone has a home, at the least basic necessities, and a job. We have to continue working to achieve that. In the Northeast, I've proposed a bill that attempts to attack this issue at its roots. The Northeast is currently running a nice sized surplus in the budget. My bill would, in fact, put some of that money to good use in not just expanding the operation of shelters, but also would allow for those individuals to have a home, the basic necessities and a job. With hope, it will achieve here in the NE, what we would like to see on a national level.

With respect to some of the conservatives making a run in this race, just cutting taxes doesn't get to the root of the problem in the same way that just raising taxes on the wealthy doesn't get to the root of the problem. Eliminating all welfare is a callous and short-sighted venture that doesn't invest in the people of this country. In my view, that's why government programs should do. Invest in people and give them the opportunities that they so sorely need.