After his evening in Bricktown partying with the Outlaws, Alucard stumbles into the streets with some very pressing questions. He'd heard rumblings from the children of mobsters who were recently slain. "Oppression!" They proclaimed. "Oppression? They wouldn't have lasted a day under some of the dictators of the past." He thought to himself. It was time he got a few things off his chest.

"Well it's certainly been awhile, a whole ass year and then some, since I landed on these shores. I've seen the ups and downs, the good and bad, the loyal and disloyal. A time to reflect perhaps. Not only on the last year, but of the state of the nation."

He cracks his knuckles and adjusts his glasses. Thinking to himself about times that have been. Times where your age dictated whether you lived or died. Times where how many occasions you'd visited the gun range dictated whether you lived or died. "Oh these sweet summer children."

"Our country has seen mostly peace over the past year. Is that a fair statement? I think so. How many wars have been waged in the past year compared to previous ones? How many take downs? Purges? There have been periods of peace as long as I've ever seen in the past year. It's silly to think that things as they are, compared to past regimes, are in any way more "oppressive". Not that I am here to justify anything. Nor should I. Nor will I. There will always be those who pull the trigger, and those who get the trigger pulled on them. While I truly believe that we are in a much better place overall, there are always going to be a few that get the shitty end of the stick. For example, your father dies in a war, you pick up his mantle and trek forward bravely, you join a city, they are removed a month later and you die along with them again. Sometimes, unfortunately, that happens. Should no one ever react to reliable information? Should those on top simply wait until it is their time? There is something to be said of being proactive in this thing of ours. Anyone worth their salt will tell you that. Ultimately, who's fault is it that the reaper came for you before someone else? Sure, those who pulled the triggers have some blame, but not all of it. Bad luck? Poor choices? I'll leave that for you to figure out."

"To me, this all seems like basic stuff," he thought. "Stuff that has been passed down from generation to generation. Hmm, perhaps those who are the most upset now, are those who never had someone to explain how our world works." He thought for a moment. "Hogwash. A few maybe, but not all. However, I do empathize with those newer bloodlines who really do need guidance, and are being led down a dark, hateful path."

"I won't ramble on much longer but will finish up by posing some questions to think about. Where have we been? Where are we now? And where are we going? I suppose the most important question is the last one. Do you see us on the right track? Why or why not? I want to hear the good and the bad. What could us as leaders of this thing of ours be doing better?"

"Better yet, prove me wrong if you can." He laughed to himself.

"Regardless of your opinion, it will be respected and I don't want anyone to feel like they can't speak openly. I just ask that you keep things respectful. As respect is the foundation of what our society is built upon."

TheBeast steps up to the soapbox, after applauding Alucard for his speech. Alucard had something to say that all should hear. 

"Thank you Alucard for your words. I remember a time when most gangsters could expect to live 30 to 60 days after making their pledges to crews. Crew Leaders ruled with an iron fist and the uncrewed were killed in under a week. Sometimes the whole country would be decimated, coast to coast. The wars would last for weeks, and rogues would go on rampages with protectors to defend them. Now, the country has been at relative peace, other than a few miscreants who would like to cause trouble. No other crew is disturbed, if they want to build and be peaceful. I can attest that every takedown in recent times, deserved it, 100%. Those at the top had actionable intelligence every time those takedowns were necessary. Of course, there have been mean-spirited family members that were upset about having their parents taken from them, even though they were troublemakers and plotted and schemed against the rule of the benevolent leaders of today. I, for one, totally dismiss their tantrums and whining. We have good leadership in the country now. I salute the crew leaders of our country, for making this a safe and sercure society."

TheBeast steps of the soapbox and returns to his lair.

"Respectfully I think Lord Byron has a quote that is relevant. 'Self praise is no praise at all'

No one with anything to lose is going to sit out here & paint a bit target on their back by telling you their honest feelings on the current regimes shortcomings. (I think the kids say 'That is bait')

As someone with very little to lose I will put my opinion across, I personally think your feelings of being painted as oppressors and being hated by people are overblown. The real 'bad guys' had almost constant vitriol sprayed against them, of which I have seen little recently. From my own personal view the feeling is more apathy and disappointment. As you stated yourself a whole year and then some with absolutely zero legacy to show for it. Mid at best. I am struggling to name any new initiatives or things that you & your group will be remembered for (Except having the wit to stay alive, which as you have hinted at is very easy if you are proactive) The general feelings I pick up with conversations with people is just boredom and a sense that you guys are phoning it in or the vibe from the top is 'Have lived this long, don't really care anymore but don't want to die as have put in over a years work' which the inactive uppers wall of shame poster seems to back up...

Maybe do something more than just expect praise for staying alive? Break the mould, do something new, even a full heel turn would at least be interesting compared to this current mid grey hellscape we are all stuck in...

Perhaps an anonymous poll would give you some actionable feedback (To go with your actionable intelligence) maybe the competition commission can help you to organise an anonymous survey with the results divulged to the public?"

No one with anything to lose is going to sit out here & paint a bit target on their back by telling you their honest feelings on the current regimes shortcomings. (I think the kids say 'That is bait')

Oh TakeThe7 you couldn't be more wrong. What else but constructive criticism would change the course of things to come? While I appreciate your nihilism on the subject of speaking openly in the streets, I feel that your statement is misguided. If this were 5 years ago I might tend to agree with you. However, if knowing the difference between respectful criticism and disrespect is too high of a bar for some than they need not speak. I do stand by my word though. I want this to be a learning experience for myself as well as the community.

I personally think your feelings of being painted as oppressors and being hated by people are overblown. The real 'bad guys' had almost constant vitriol sprayed against them, of which I have seen little recently.

I can only go by what I'm hearing. That is half the reason I'm out here today. If no one will speak on the subject and all that's left are rumours and unsubstantiated claims, how can someone get a truly unbiased account of the feeling if our community? Maybe the vocal minority isn't a consensus after all. Who knew? You also said this was bait while in the same breath alluding to the "real 'bad guys'". Who would be worse than someone who went back on their word to kill someone for expressing an opinion?

Maybe do something more than just expect praise for staying alive?

Of all the people I know who are "Still alive" not one of them even remotely gave off an air of expecting praise for simply growing old. That includes all the cities in the country. I'm unsure what anyone did to invoke such a feeling in you, but I can assure you it's unfounded. I can only speak for myself but I would never expect praise for such an act. Nor should I get it. As you know, there have been some very old gangsters running around with zero to show except age.

I suppose the rest is a matter of opinion. So we can agree to disagree. But as I said, I respect your opinion, and I do take it seriously, just as much as anyone else who takes the time to come out here and speak their mind.