Merger Discussion Thread

[ilikeverin]

Excuse me, but who actually managed to get a Midwest-Pacific merger proposal mooted?  I wish to *hughughug* them passive-aggressively.

[WrathOfTheGods]

You're aware that *hughughug* and all those things that made the Midwest unique would've been gone with the Merger, right?

Right? ...

[WrathOfTheGods]

BTW, I voted "Abstain" on it, but now I fully oppose. It was the wrong way to go for the Midwest, a unique region in which so much things can be done to please the gods.

[DemPGH]

You know, it's been a while, so I thought it would be interesting to see where it stood, and Cranberry proposed a referendum so that it's more formal than just another opinion poll. It was a great idea!

I'm quite surprised it's as close as it is. Not withstanding the bicameral debate, the philosophy is to put the talent in the Pacific with the talent in the MW, call it "The West," and hopefully have something interesting (like, elections).

I think it may be time for a poll on whether or not the federal government should financially assist regions when merging their governments is, in the words of a few, "off the table." That seems odd.

Anyway, *hughughug*!

[Cranberry]

Well, actually the referendum was Arturo's idea. Just to put that here, as everyone seems to think it was mine. It wasn't, I just found it a good idea too.

I understand if you're somehow angry, DemPGH, especially in reaction to a thread as pointless as this one. But as much as I would have liked the Pacific to merge with the Midwest (I decided not to vote but in the case of a tie, as I had seen that it would have disagreed with my position as "asker of the question"), I don't think an immediate proceeding as it was possible before, can now be proceeded. After all, the Pacific said no to it. At least, most people who voted "nay" show at least a comparably high interest in Pacific Regional Politics (I want to name here Councillors Devin and Never, as well as Lumine and Oakvale). If it had been the other way, I would be angry too, people that never show up but to vote obstructing a great chance for our region. But so - well I can just say it's time we might look to other forms of increasing  activity and cooperation of our regions, forms not as immediate as an absolute merger, and delay the merger for later.

[GAworth]

Well I abstained for two reasons, 1. I wasn't sure if there was a pre-referendum deal struck or not, and therefore didn't want to vote for/against a plan I hadn't seen. 2. Although the Pacific is doing a lot better from my departure several months ago, I didn't want to see the Midwest forced to hold the bag on trying to revitalize the Pacific. I know both regions are have problems, but I have always with whether the merger was the best solution.

[Oakvale]

You're aware that *hughughug* and all those things that made the Midwest unique would've been gone with the Merger, right?

Right? ...

If true, that would be one of the few things that could convince me to vote for a merger.

[ilikeverin]

You're aware that *hughughug* and all those things that made the Midwest unique would've been gone with the Merger, right?

Right? ...

Hence why I'd be *hughughug*ing them passive-aggressively.  Nothing says "you have displeased me" more than outward warmth.

[Rooney]

When I ran for senate last October I was firmly against a merger with the Pacific. After keeping out of forum politics for the last few months and doing a lot of reading and watching I have come to a conclusion that a merger would be a good idea. It would revitalize both regions and would allow for a much more diverse political culture. I like Senator TNF, VP windjammer and Governor Arturo Belano. They are good at their jobs. However, it would not hurt to allow for left-leaning and socialist political philosophies to actually face a challenge in the Midwest. That is good for discussion and the game as a whole. 

[Lumine]

I honestly don't believe a merge is the real solution here, it would a rather rushed way to trying to solve the problem. Sad as it might be, the problem resides with us more than with game reform issues in this case (even if I am usually very supportive to those reforms), since we are not involved in regional politics as we could be (perhaps Tyrion and I have the excuse of being Senators, but we could be doing a lot more for the region). The Mideast has a good amount of great Atlasians with great potential and the highest population, but that doesn't make the region automatically active.

Overall we can see most regional governments facing a crisis that goes beyond the Pacific and the Midwest and a general lack of interest in participation, which is why I disagree with the argument that combining both regions will immediately lead to a single active region (just as I have been opposed since last year to the notion that the Pacific and the Midwest are the only regions who are supposed to suffer such a fate and not the others). In the meantime, I'll state once again that Cranberry is doing a fine job given the rather complicated circumstances and I am also rather pleased with the new Pacific Council we have here. Including people like Never or seeing the potential or effective return to politics of GAworth and Thomas Jefferson is a proof that we can indeed recruit new and active people for this game and that those who left can indeed return and be active again. (Which leads me to hope that both PJ and Siren return someday...)