Winfield/AndrewTX for Atlasia, the rise of the Grass Roots

[Lincoln Republican]

Former Northeast Governor Winfield addresses Atlasians in his first speech of this Presidential campaign, Chicago, IL.


An exuberant crowd of Atlasians show their enthusiasm for the Winfield speech
Many are making the "W" for "Winfield" hand sign

My fellow Atlasians, my friends, thank you so very, very much for coming here today and for your heart warming welcome.  I am humbled and honored beyond measure.

I am here today to announce my candidacy for President of Atlasia.      

I stand before you this day as one whose entire public career has been dedicated to the betterment of Atlasians  from coast to coast, and to moving this nation forward.

I stand before you battle scarred, tested in the political wars, and ready to take on the elites who are only too happy to bankrupt the honest, tax paying, hard working people of this nation in order to make an exorbitant fortune for themselves, at your expense.  When I am President, this self serving and immoral behavior shall not be tolerated, nor will it be permitted.

Believe me, I will put a stop to this gravy train.  And those who are now on this free ride at your expense are in for a rude awakening.

As President, I will ensure that all Atlasians have the medical, social, and educational programs they and their families need in order to lead a healthy, meaningful, and comfortable life.  

Quality of life for Atlasians shall be at the forefront of my administration.

As President, I will ensure that the tax system is simple, fair, and equitable.

As President, I will work towards the goal of establishing peace and safety in this nation.  There has been far too much violence on our streets, in our places of employment, in our schools.  This blight on our society must be and will be brought under control.

When I talk about working toward public safety, my mind turns as well toward the issue of domestic violence.  Domestic violence is a blight on our society, and my administration will be working toward improving this very tragic situation.

Thank you so much for your outpouring of enthusiasm and support.  Mere words cannot express my gratitude.

And now, my fellow Atlasians, may we go forth from this day, may we embrace decency, honesty, compassion, and enthusiasm.  

On to victory, for Atlasia, and for Atlasians!

[Lincoln Republican]

I do not venture into Atlasia much any more....but ENDORSED!

Thank you Clarence.  I am deeply honored!

[Lincoln Republican]

My fellow Atlasians, thank you for joining me tonight in the first of my Fireside Chats, my frank and down to earth conversations with Atlasians.

As you are likely aware by now, I have decided to throw my hat into the ring for President of Atlasia.

If I may, please permit me to explain some of the reasons I have come to this potentially life changing decision.

I have heard from the single mother in New York City finding it hard to make ends meet, saying to me run Winfield run.

I have heard from the fisherman in Maine who is working fourteen hour days so he can feed his family, saying to me run Winfield run.

I have heard from the farmer in Colorado who has found it difficult getting a fair price for his grain, saying to me run Winfield run.

I have heard from the lumber worker in Oregon whose business has cut his hours to part time, saying to me run Winfield run.

I have heard from the office clerk in Mobile who pays much of her income out for child care, saying to me run Winfield run.  

I have heard from the factory worker in Chicago who fears he may not be able to keep up with technological changes in the industry, saying to me run Winfield run.

My friends, my fellow Atlasians, this is why I entered public life, to try and make life better for the people of this nation, and in particular, those who may need a little help.

Now, I do not claim to be able to solve all the ills facing this nation, however, I hope, in some way, to be able to improve life generally in Atlasia.

Thank you and good night.  

[Lincoln Republican]

I am pleased to announce that AndrewTX from the great state of Texas will be my Vice Presidential running mate in this election.

I am honored to have AndrewTX on the ticket.

AndrewTX is a good man who I am confident will do Atlasia proud.  

His governmental experience and knowledge will prove to be an invaluable asset to the administration and to Atlasia.

Thank you AndrewTX for joining me on the ticket.

[Lincoln Republican]

The Winfield campaign moves into midtown Manhattan


Presidential candidate Winfield in Manhattan greeted with a ticker tape parade and huge, enthusiastic crowds.
Asked by the press why he rode in a truck rather than in a car, Winfield replied
"I am a man of the people.  I would rather ride in the back of a pick up truck than a limo."

My friends, fellow Atlasians, thank you so very much for your overwhelming welcome.  And thank you very,very much for that good old fashioned ticker tape parade.  I know New York is a fun place and you sure proved it today.

IT'S GREAT BE IN NEW YORK CITY!

Here we are today, surrounded by these magnificent buildings, a tribute to Atlasia's prominence on the world stage in business and commerce.

I am here today to address you and the rest of Atlasia about your money.  You will recall a few years back, when the government of Atlasia found it necessary to pump hundreds of billions of dollars into some very large and prominent businesses.  Was this the right thing to do?  Well, many prominent and eminent economists said at the time it was, and others said it was not.

Regardless, the fact is this money was pumped into these businesses.  Now, let me be clear, many of these businesses have stepped up to the plate, done the responsible thing, and have since paid back the money.  They have my respect, and the respect of most Atlasians I believe.

However, billions remain unpaid.

By the way, what is one thing that that really riles Atlasians that was done with millions and millions of dollars of these taxpayer funds?  What's that?  Yes, I can hear you shouting "Bonuses, Bonuses!"  That's right, huge bonuses paid to executives, with your money.

How many of you have ever received multi million dollar bonuses courtesy of the taxpayer?  I thought so, none of you.  I'm in the same boat as you my friends.  And I hear you.

Now, how do we get this money back, the funds that have remained unpaid.  

As President, I will be introducing legislation that will require a special business tax be levied, at an affordable rate for these companies, until these funds are paid back.

Once the funds are paid, the business tax on these corporations and businesses  will revert back to the regular rate, whatever that may be at the time.

My friends, at times, we have to make tough decisions, and hopefully we make the right decisions.  The bailout was a tough decision, getting the money back for the taxpayers is the right decision.

Thank you my friends, thank you for showing up in such large numbers for this event.  I will always remember your friendly faces and your sparkling enthusiasm.

Thank you and good day.

[Lincoln Republican]

What a ticket! Andrew has been a wonderful co-president for 3 terms and will surely do well in a forth term!

Thank you Mr. President for the first part.

However, as for the second part, there never has been a co-presidency in Atlasia in the past, nor will there be a co-presidency in Atlasia at any time in the future. 

[Lincoln Republican]

A message from the Winfield/AndrewTX campaign to Atlasians from all walks of life, from all political persuasions, from all parts of this great nation.

I have asked homelycooking to make our campaign a new campaign banner, and he has done a magnificent job.  Thank you very much homelycooking.

If there is anyone in this nation who would like to include this very attractive campaign banner in their signature, please advise me and I would be delighted to send you the link.

Thank you all.   

[Lincoln Republican]

What a ticket!

Thank you Clarence.  Much appreciated.

[Lincoln Republican]

This is truly a ticket of true leaders of The People.

Thank you Simfan.  Much appreciated.

[Lincoln Republican]

Do you support enacting tort reform to crack down on frivolous lawsuits like this?

Scott, thank you for your question. 

I absolutely do favor tort reform in order to crack down on frivolous lawsuits.  The example you have given is clearly an extreme case, which I expect would be thrown out of court by any sane judge.  Our courts get far too clogged up with frivolous lawsuits, leaving less time for serious cases that should be heard and tried on a timely basis.  For truly frivolous cases that are brought before the courts, I absolutely am in favor of imposing a fine, plus all court costs, on the party bringing the case before the court. 

Case in point, some corporations and firms have made out of court settlements with individuals in some very questionable matters brought by lawsuits.

Yes, I am in favor of tort reform in this matter.

         

[Lincoln Republican]

Do you believe that we should have real game reform rather than fighting the same tired battles that only lead to disillusionment and inactivity?

Cynic, thank you for your very timely question.

Of course I, and I believe many Atlasians, would like to see, ideally, real game reform.  The main purpose of this fantasy board, I believe, is to promote discussion and to enjoy the elections and government activities and simulation, while at the same time retaining membership as much as possible, and encouraging new members to join.

Now, we all know that it is simply a matter of fact, and a matter of real life, that members on this board come and go, and no doubt always will.  There are, I am sure, countless reasons why members fall into inactivity, and in many cases, I believe, it has nothing to do with how the game is being played.  Members are simply moving on to another phase of their lives.  Some return, some do not, and new members come on board.  As well, like you say, some members do become frustrated or disillusioned, no doubt about that.  

Much has been written on this board about game reform, but, as you say, little has been achieved in this matter.  

Like I say, much has been written in this matter, and some very interesting and worthwhile ideas have been presented.  If we could find someone, or a committee of dedicated Atlasians, who are willing, they could go through the ideas presented, take the best ideas, and present them as a game reform proposal to be acted upon.  

So yes, I do favor game reform, but they must be reforms upon which Atlasians are able to come to a consensus on, because without a consensus, I do not see how these reforms could be instituted.    

Something to keep in mind, of course, is that there are many current aspects of the game which are good and which must be maintained.

[Lincoln Republican]

Well, Winfield, the banner is also very legible at smaller sizes...

Thank you homelycooking.

That's right Atlasians, new you can have the Winfield/AndrewTX campaign banner in the new, smaller, convenient size.  

[Lincoln Republican]

The Winfield/AndrewTX campaign wishes to publicly thank former President tmthforu for his endorsement and wholehearted support for our candidacy.

tmthforu had announced his candidacy for President, but decided to withdraw from the race and support us instead.

Thank you tmthforu for this very generous and selfless act on your part.

We are honored to have the support of someone with your experience, abilities, and knowledge.

Thank you very much.  

[Lincoln Republican]

Endorsed.

Thank you so much my friend. 

I can use all the endorsements I can get. 

[Lincoln Republican]

The Winfield campaign swings into Columbia, SC.


View of Columbia, SC skyline, showing the street where the Winfield motorcade made its' way to the Carolina Stadium for his speech  



Columbia, SC crowd cheering on Presidential candidate Winfield


My friends, thank you so much for coming here today.  I am so very pleased to be here in the south.  And thank you from the bottom of my heart for your fantastic welcome.  Folks here in the south sure know how to make you feel at home, even for a Northeasterner like myself.
  

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE IN COLUMBIA!

My friends, my fellow Atlasians, I will be addressing you today on a matter near and dear to my heart.  I came to Columbia today to talk with you and with the nation about the well being of Atlasians, for this generation, and for Atlasians yet unborn.

I envision an Atlasia where our people can live happy, productive, and meaningful lives, freed from the restraints and worry and apprehension, freed from the burden of not knowing where your next dollar is coming from, freed from the heartbreak of not having adequate means to adequately care for your children.

My fellow Atlasians, I have heard your cries, and I have listened.  I am here today to offer Atlasians a choice.  A choice between an uncertain future and a future where you will know where you stand, a future where you will know that you will not have to worry about your day to day existence, a future where you know you and your loved ones are secure and safe.

Most government plans are so complicated and bureaucratic as to be almost incomprehensible.  I offer a simple, practical, and affordable solution.  For lack of a better name, I will refer to it as Wincare.

Wincare will encompass the following aspects of our lives:

Comprehensive health care for all Atlasians. including hospital care, catastrophic care
Day care for those who require it
Comprehensive dental care for all Atlasians
A comprehensive prescription drug plan for all Atlasians
A comprehensive home care program for those who require it
A comprehensive seniors care plan effective either in their homes or in government care facilities
A comprehensive eye care program
Preventive education programs where Atlasians will learn, to the extent possible, how to better protect themselves and their families from common ailments
Community kitchens and homeless shelters where the homeless can eat and stay over a period of time until they are able to cope on their own, assisted by government education and assistance programs
Adequate retirement benefits for those who require it
A financial assistance program for those in need to get them over their hard times
Employment insurance program for those who lose their jobs to carry them over

These are some of the programs I propose.

Good programs require adequate funding, and I am proposing dropping all sales taxes and instituting an across the board goods and services tax of 5%, which will exclude food.

I propose a progressive tax policy, which will provide the required revenue necessary to adequately care for Atlasians and will fund the day to day business of government.

Up to 35,000 10%
Over 35,000-50,000 15%
Over 50,000-100,000 20%
Over 100,000-300,000 25%
Over300,000-500,000 30%
Over 500,000-1,000,000 35%
Over 1,000,000-3,000,000 40%
Over 3,000,000-5,000,000 45%
Over 5,000,000 50%

This taxation policy is simple and straightforward, no deductions, no loopholes.

Because we know there is considerable extra cost in raising children, for families with dependent children up to age 18, or 18 and over enrolled in an accredited education institution, or age 18 and over still dependent due to physical or mental health issues, the following deductions will apply for these families:

Up to 35,000 3,000 per child
Over 35,000-50,000 2,000 per child
Over 50,000-100,000 1,000 per child

Unlike many politicians, I lay out the facts up front, without surprising you afterwards.

My friends, my fellow Atlasians, thank you so much for your time today, now let us put ourselves to work in this great cause, of service to our nation, and to our fellow man.

God bless you, and God bless Atlasia.    

[Lincoln Republican]

Simfan, thank you so very much for your endorsement.

It is a great honor for me to receive the endorsement from such a great Atlasian as yourself.

[Lincoln Republican]

I hope we will see the return of some of your ideas from last year:

WINFIELD-SIMFAN 2013
A NATION TO SAVE!
THE SOCIAL CREDIT PLATFORM FOR PROSPERITY

CARE FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE

Parental Leave Act
The Parental Leave Act would mandate that employers grant mothers 10 weeks of maternity leave at full pay, the first two weeks of which shall be mandatory taken, and an additional ten weeks at half-pay, and two weeks of paternity leave at full pay. The family is then entitled to 30 additional weeks of guaranteed leave without pay.

National Daycare Provider Act
This would empower and fund school districts to set up day-care and pre-school programs for young children, as to enable both parents to enter the workforce. Two meals a day and a snack would be served in these programs. In addition, the NEPA would grant credits for low-income families to send their children to private, competitive day care and pre-school programs.

FELLA (Fostering Early Literacy for Low-Income Atlasians) Act
The FELLA Act would establish funding for early literacy programmes in low-income areas and other areas of below-average literacy. These programs would be held at local libraries and schools, and would include family nights focused on the importance of and strategies for reading with children, reading and writing sessions at the libraries, and the Young Literacy Corps’ volunteers mentor pre-schoolers, kindergarteners and first graders in reading, oral language, and literacy skill development.

GET(Gaining Excellent Teachers) Act
The Gaining Excellent Teachers Act would supplement the recently passed Atlasian Institute of Teachers Act by providing incentives for high performance on the National Teachers Licensing Exam (NTLE) and performance in their academic institution via tax credits and tuition grants.

Universal Secondary Education Act
The federal government would mandate that every Atlasian, who is capable of such, must achieve a secondary-level education, that is, complete high school.

Universal Tertiary Education Act
The federal government would mandate that every Atlasian, who is capable of such, at least complete two years of tertiary education, whether it be at a trades school, an associate degree, vocational education, military education, or general bachelors and graduate degrees. This would help make our workforce more competitive in the 21st century global economy and allow for the strengthening of trades.

Federal Holidays and Vacations Act
All Atlasians would be entitled to fourteen days of paid leave per annum in addition to the observance of all federal holidays, in addition to Easter Monday, Good Friday, Easter, Election Day, and Constitution Day.

Anti-Treason Commemoration Act
The commemoration of any official, organization, or institution associated with the Confederate States of America (CSA) by state or regional holiday or any other law is prohibited.

Federal Provident Fund Act

The Federal Provident Fund would mandate the saving by every Atlasian of a minimum 2.25% of their annual income for old age, to gradually increase over time. Eventually this may displace Social Security. A minimum savings would be set and differences between 2.25% of income and the legal minimum would be funded by the government, thus encouraging saving even for low-income earners.

National Savings Bank Act
A Federally-backed savings bank would be established to encourage general  (non-retirement) saving by individuals, and re-establishing the Postal Savings Bank. Income shown as saved in the Savings Bank would be eligible for a full tax credit of up to $50,000 for couples and $25,000, and a half tax credit in other banks.

Guaranteed Minimum Income Act
Each Atlasian would be entitled to a minimum post-tax income as set forth by the bill, and the actualisation of the minimum income would be through a negative income tax, without any other reduction of benefits.

Federal Final Dignity Act
All Atlasians would be entitled to a burial or cremation in a cemetery, with rites preformed according to their religious beliefs, and a permanent marker of their burial, with government funding in the case of inability to pay.

A RICHER CULTURE AND AFFORDABLE RECREATION  

National Interest Cultural Sites Access Act
Museums and other cultural sites designated to be of “national interest” (ie, Ellis Island, Metropolitan Museum of Art) shall be subsidised by the Federal Government to the point of guaranteed free admission.

Preforming Arts Preservation Act
A “sustaining grant” shall be made to all major symphonic, classical, and preforming arts organisations and programmes; symphonies should not be made to go bankrupt.

Preforming Arts Service Initiative Act
The Preforming Arts Service Initiative (PASI), would brings talented Servicemen and Servicewomen into the concert halls, opera houses, and theatres of Atlasian towns and cities, to help both broaden their experience and help bring high culture into everyday life for millions of Atlasians.

Public Art Project  Act
The Public Art Project (PAP) would bring the works of Atlasia’s most promising young artists into to the public sphere, from our newest rural public buildings to even the Capitol. Additionally, PAP members helped make informational posters, exhibition displays, informational diagrams, and technical schematics.

Young Arts Project Act
This would give significant grants to public school districts for funding art and music programs, and funding visits to museums, theatres, et al.

Recreation and Fitness Act
Subsidies to families who cannot otherwise afford the costs to ensure their children are able to enroll and engage in recreational and sporting activities of various types.    

PAYING FOR THIS ALL
Goods and Services Tax Act
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) would be a tax levied on the value added on each level of production, at a level of 5%. Most developed countries, and indeed most countries in general, have a goods and services tax, and there is no reason Atlasia should not have one as well, especially in order to fund the improvements we intend to make. With exemptions for housing, education, and charitable donations, a GST would raise $277.2 billion in new revenue.
(http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R41708_20110322.pdf)

Financial Transactions Tax
The Financial Transactions Tax would tax the trades of each major category of financial assets traded in Atlasian markets: stocks, bonds, foreign exchange, and derivative assets (i.e. options, forwards, futures, and swaps). Many analysts also believe that an excessive share of the economy’s resources is being consumed by the financial sector. A financial transactions or trading tax is a policy tool that can address both issues: raising a substantial amount of revenue and reducing the size of financial trading in the U.S. economy relative to the economy’s level of productive activity. At a rate of 0.5% on stocks and 0.01% on bonds, a Financial Transactions Tax could raise up to $353.8 billion in new revenue. (http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1180&context=peri_workingpapers)

In total, this is $631 billion of new income per annum.

GAME REFORM

Establish the office of the Presidential Press Secretary
To improve communication from the President to the citizens of Atlasia, we would establish a Presidential Press Office to make announcements on a weekly basis, minimum. The Press Secretary would guarantee at least a basic level of contact and interaction with the Presidency, and would always be open for questions by definition.

Reorganize the Federal Departments:
A Department of Treasury and Budget
A Department of the Interior
A Department of State
A Department of Federal Elections
A Department of the Census
A Department of Culture and Education
  
A people’s constitutional convention

Party primaries
All parties would hold primaries for their presidential nominations

Popular petition through the committees
Constituents would be able to propose bills for Senatorial Committee’s recommendation

[/s]

Winfield/Simfan Energy Policy

If we create the right kind of system, we can not only get off the fossil-fuels roller coaster, but speed the transition to a clean energy economy that puts the interests of people before interests of polluters.  
Our goal is to cut carbon dioxide emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. This will be accomplished through a cap-and-trade system that would auction off 100 percent of emissions permits, making polluters pay for the CO2 they emit.

We intend to channel revenue raised from auctioning emissions permits,  between $30 billion and $50 billion a year, toward developing and deploying clean energy technology, creating "green jobs."  

25 percent of electricity is to come from renewable sources by 2025, and 30 percent of the federal government's electricity is to come from renewables by 2020.

We will propose investing $150 billion over 10 years in R&D for renewables, biofuels, efficiency, clean coal, and other clean tech.

This plan is designed to achieve the following results:

-Improving energy efficiency 50 percent by 2030.

-36 billion gallons of biofuels to be used each year by 2022 and 60 billion gallons of biofuels to be used each year by 2030.

-All new buildings to be carbon neutral by 2030.

-Reduce oil consumption by at least 35 percent, or 10 million barrels a day, by 2030.

-Get 1 Million Plug-In Hybrid Cars on the Road by 2015.
 
-Create a new $7,000 tax credit for purchasing advanced vehicles.

-Weatherize one million homes annually.

-Increase fuel economy standards.

-Crack down on excessive energy speculation.

-Develop and deploy clean coal technology.

We will be working toward less oil dependancy from the middle east and Venezuela, markets which will become more and more volatile in the coming years.  I propose to increase our oil imports from Canada, a more dependable supplier.

Off shore drilling will only be permitted once it has been established that adequate controls are in place to ensure no oil spills will occur.

Over the remainder of the campaign, I will be announcing further policy positions, which will include some from our previous Presidential campaign.  

Good policy then is still good policy now, after all.  

Some of these policies are encompassed by Wincare.  

[Lincoln Republican]

I acknowledge my running mate in the Feb/2013 Presidential campaign Simfan for his tremendous contribution to our platform at that time.  Both Simfan and I contributed substantially to our platform for that election.

Running for President and Vice President is, after all, a joint effort, as far as I am concerned. 

[Lincoln Republican]

That's an impressive platform in terms of detail and ambition, although most of these proposals have already been enacted, including a basic income guarantee, universal child care and parental leave for workers, the financial transaction tax, most of the clean energy initiatives, and a carbon tax. (In terms of economic and environmental effects, a carbon tax is about the same as an auction-based cap & trade system.)

How would Wincare differ from the existing Atlasian National Healthcare System (i.e. "Fritzcare")?

I believe Wincare would be more straight forward, less bureaucratic.

[Lincoln Republican]

Well,
I wish you good luck for this campaign!

Thank you my good man.  To you as well! 

[Lincoln Republican]

You see, by laying out my priorities in this matter, I am telling Atlasians what I believe, while at the same time telling Atlasians that they will still have this coverage under my administration.

[Lincoln Republican]

My fellow Atlasians

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you due to circumstances IRL I have found it necessary to drop out of the Presidential race.

I have informed my running mate AndrewTX .

Best wishes and good luck to all remaining candidates.

I have every confidence that one of you will make a very good President.

To my supporters, thank you so very much for all your help in the campaign, and sorry to have to make this announcement.