Office of Assemblyman Gass3268

[Gass3268]

I just wanted to introduce my self to the people of Atlasia. I am the newest member of the Labor Party and I reside in the great state of Wisconsin. I will use this thread to post my political views and possibly springboard a future run for office.  

[Gass3268]

First, here are my Social Views:

Abortion - I am in favor of removing almost all of the restrictions that have been placed on the choice of the woman. As long as the fetus is womb, it is apart of the woman’s body and she has the right to do what she wants with her body. That being said there should be a greater encouragement for adoption and comprehensive sexual education. I would support a constitutional amendment that would guarantee the right for a women to have an abortion.    

LGBT Rights – Personally I don’t believe that any state, region or country should have any say in the business of marriage. That should be the job of the various religious institutions of our great nation. The state, regions and country should instead issue domestic partnerships that allow couples of any sexual orientation to receive the rights that are currently given with marriage license. Knowing that will never happen, I am in support of gay marriage all across the country. I am very happy that anyone regardless of sexual orientation can openly serve their country. Also I am in favor of strong hate crime protections for homosexuals and transgendered people. I would support a constitutional amendment the defines marriage between one person and another person, regardless of sex.      

Sex & Contraception – I am in favor of total privacy for what happens in a person’s bedroom. All sodomy laws should be gone. All insurance companies should be required to provide all forms of health care including contraceptives. If there is a religious issue with providing contraceptives, another insurance company must be provided to give the contraceptive at the coast of the original insurance provider. Lastly we should have compressive sexual education in our schools that incorporates both abstinence and contraceptive education. This would help lower unwanted pregnancies and abortions.        

Prostitution - I would support the legalization of prostitution if done right. Only allowed in certain parts of the city/country space, customers come to them, no brothels or pimps and the women/men would give part of their earnings to create a union that will in charge of protection and betterment of their community. A model example would Amsterdam, Netherlands.    

Guns – This has been an issue that I’ve changed opinion on recently. I now agree that people have the right a constitutional right to own firearms. Yet there isn’t anything in the Constitution that prevents responsible restrictions. I believe in required training sessions and background/citizenship checks in order the purchase a firearm. Bans on certain types of guns, weapons and ammunition are necessary.    

Drugs – Marijuana and other soft drugs (mushrooms, acid, etc) should be legal throughout the land. These drugs should be taxed and regulated. Treatment and rehabilitation for should be the punishment for users instead of incarceration. Also we need to change the criminal definition of a drug dealer.  

Euthanasia – If someone is suffering and has no chance of survival, then I have no problem with a compassionate ending of life. We tend to treat our pets more humanly then we treat each other.

Stem Cell Research – Total support! All versions and techniques should be explored and fully funded by the federal, regional and state governments.  

Alcohol – Should be 18 across the country. If you are old enough to vote and serve in the military, you should be able to legally have a drink. Also we need the abolishment of all of the Blue Laws. There is absolutely no reason why I shouldn't be able to buy beer or liquor on a Sunday.  

Separation of Church And State – No religious inference with the state and no state interference with religion. This includes a ban of teaching of intelligent design in science classes, a ban on prayer in public schools and a ban of religious symbolism in government. Yet at the same time the state should not ban the construction of any religious buildings, religious practices that doesn't shock the conscience or do anything to interfere with a persons private religious life. This means no bans on mosques or burqas like we are seeing in Europe    

Death Penalty - I would support a constitutional amendment that would outlaw the use or corporal punishment. Life in prison without parole is a worst punishment anyway.  

[Gass3268]

Welcome.

Thanks!

[Gass3268]

My views on domestic policy and foreign policy will hopefully come sometime within the next week.

Also if anyone has any questions, just send them my way! =)

[Gass3268]

If you are wanting to put marriage back in the hands of the church, why are you in support of gay marriage? I agree with you on taking it out of government hands but leaving it in church is essentially banning it except by the most doctrinally liberal Christian sects and maybe some Muslim ones too.

Essentially the state would issue a civil union license to any couple regardless of sexual orientation that would give that couple all the rights that state provides to married people. The churches and religious institutions can still perform their particular rites and ceremonies of marriage and determine the rules regarding sexual orientation, but this would have no effect on the function of the state issuing licenses to couples of any sexual orientation.   

[Gass3268]

Here are my Domestic Views:

Taxes – The tax system of Atlasia is way too regressive. We need to implement a more progressive tax system that will allow for our more better off citizens to have the pleasure of giving back to their country while not placing a burden on our lower and middle classes.   

Free Trade – I will support free trade agreements that do not hurt workers. Yet seeing that is essentially impossible with many counties, I would probably only support free trade agreements with countries such as Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and etc.   

Trade – We need to establish trade polices that help reverse the trade imbalance that we are experiencing. I want Atlasia to produce goods that the rest of the world wants and needs.

Unions – The right to unionize is an essential right for all working people. Being apart of a union is the main protection that a worker has in protecting his or her self. I would support a constitutional amendment that guarantees the right to unionize and collectively bargain for wages and benefits. I also support card check as a means to unionize and the ability of workers from any industry, service or governmental agency to create any form of union they see fit without any interference from management. I also support any and all laws that allow union members to strike without the fear of being fired.

Health Care – I support a single payer health care system for Atlasia. I would be in favor of a Canadian style system were the government purchases healthcare services from outside sources in order to provide to the public. Medicare for all! 

Social Security – Must be protected for all future generations. I would be in favor of raising the tax designed to support the program instead of rising the age or lowering the benefits given to our hard working seniors.

Education –Education is the greatest vehicle for class mobility. When it comes to education, students come first and then come teachers. Both groups should be heavily funded. Our teachers deserve higher salaries. Teachers do need to be held accountable, but this should not be done by just standardize testing. Rather a mix of many different factors should be used. The Federal Government should provide for all of the costs of higher-level education. The days of student debt should be over!

Affirmative Action – In our society it is unfortunately necessity that we take race and gender into account when making selections for jobs and schools. This is necessary in order to help our nation move forward. I am not in favor of a quota system, but I am in favor of using race and gender as apart of a persons overall portfolio of qualities that they can provide.

Immigration – We need to streamline and simplify the process of immigrating to Atlasia. There are way to many burdens on those wanting to come to our great country. We need to create a fair system that would allow for undocumented workers currently here in Atlasia to become legal residents and eventually citizens. Also we need to stop the process of deportations for hardworking people whose only crime is trying to provide for their family. Deportations should be reserved for those commit violent crimes.   

Environment – Humanity is directly responsible for the climate change. This is fact! We need to immediately cut back on our emission of fossil fuels. We should approve any and all international treaties relating to restricting greenhouse gasses. Also we need to pass a cap and trade bill that will allow for Atlasia to cut back.     

Energy – Jumping of my views on the environment, I am in favor of a broad compressive clean energy bill that would involve an expansion in money to solar, wind, water, hydrogen, biofuels and other clean methods of energy. I am opposed to any further ocean drilling or drilling in the Alaska Wildlife Preserve. I am hesitant to support any new nuclear power plants, but I’d be willing to go along if it was apart of a broad comprehensive clean energy expansion bill previously mentioned.  I am not willing to compromise on any more dirty energy.

Transportation – We need to continue to move away from highways and cars. I would be in favor of further expansion of high-speed rails, regional transportation authorities and a greater expansion on public transportation in cities.   

Space – I am in support of a vibrant space program. It would be my dream to see the flag Atlasia on Mars in my lifetime.

[Gass3268]

Also I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome I have received. I greatly appreciate it!

[Gass3268]

As a former two-term president, welcome.

Um, just checking you've made sure how your views fit with existing Atlasian laws.

Thanks! I've looked into a lot of the existing laws, but obviously some of my views may not totally fit into the existing laws. If it really doesn't make sense then it should just be disregarded.

[Gass3268]

I am declaring my candidacy for the Mideast Assembly as a Labor party member from the great state of Wisconsin!

[Gass3268]

Thanks guys!

[Gass3268]

Tomorrow I'll be formally announcing my candidacy to become a Mideast Assemblyman. Also I will be making my endorsement for Governor of the Mideast. I hope you will attend! 

[Gass3268]

I'd like to ask a question:

What do the numbers "3268" stand for?

326 is my home address number and 8 is my favorite number

[Gass3268]

Forward.

As all you good Wisconsinites know, that is the motto of our great state. It also at one time was the unofficial motto of the greatest region in Atlasia, the Mideast!  In a not so distant past, Mideast was considered one of the most forward thinking regions in all of Atlasia. We abolished the death penalty, legalized marijuana, allowed for terminally ill to die with dignity, banned intelligent design in the classroom and lowered the drinking age so all adults can have a beer!

Yet times have changed in the Mideast since then.  We have seen in the past few years many of our rights and privileges taken away. By passing right to work legislation, the Mideast has also turned its back on the workers of this great region and it has crippled the ability of those workers to organize and collectively bargain. Also we have seen an attack on women, as they no longer have full control over their bodies. A third setback for our region has been tying teacher’s pay to test scores. This is a major hindrance to improving our education system in our region and especially hurts low-income and rural areas across the Mideast.  

The Mideast in the past few years has been going backward instead of forward and that is unacceptable! That is why I am announcing my intentions to run for the Assembly of the Mideast Region!

We need a government that will be willing to take the Mideast back to era were progress is made. In order to do this I will spearhead efforts in the Assembly to turn back and reverse the regressive actions that has harmed this region. This will include repealing the crippling Labor Relations Act of 2011. This will be replaced by a law that will protect our workers and allow them a greater ability to organize. I will also fight to give women their full right to choose and make decisions regarding their body. On the issue of education I would advocate reforms that remove teacher’s being paid based on a test, so it will allow for teachers to teach to the needs of their local communities.

Finally, I believe we need some new leadership in the Governor’s Mansion, and that person is one of our finest citizens, Tmthforu94! Now, I understand many believe ZuWo has done a great job at Governor, and I’d partly agree – he has been active and I can tell that he is a great guy. But this election isn’t about what’s been done in the past four months. No, this election is about what will be done in the next four months! I’m not supporting Tmthforu94 because of all he has done in the past; I support Tmthforu94 because of what I know he can do in the future! We don’t agree on many issues…actually, we don’t agree on a lot of issues! But I know him to be a fair, bi-partisan guy, and I have no doubt that with Tmthforu94, every side will get its fair chance. As one of the few Labor Party members in our region, it is my pleasure to endorse our next Governor Tmthforu94. And now, it is my honor to introduce to the stage our next Governor!!!

[Gass3268]

Campaign Rally in Madison, Wisconsin

Thank you, thank you for that kind introduction. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for your hometown guy, our next Assemblyman, Gass3268!

Now, I haven’t known Gass for a long period of time compared to other Mideasterners, but I must say, I’ve been nothing but impressed in what I’ve seen. Gass and I disagree on many issues, but he has the ability to argue his beliefs in an honest, respectful way. In Gass, I see an ally in my administrations bi-partisan efforts! With Gass, I see a guy who’s ready to tackle the real issues affecting our region, not someone who just plays partisan politics.

There are many words I’d like to use to help define our candidacy, but one word I know I want to stress is “unity”. Creating a unified region, one where everyone is working together to achieve great things. Now, don’t get me wrong, debate is good…it’s encouraged! But as your Governor, I won’t attempt to pit ideology against ideology; party against party. Instead, I’ll look to unify this region.

Now friends, one thing I must tell you is that I cannot wait to release my platform to you all in just a few days! In the platform, I’ll be outlining many issues that affect Mideasterners every day and how I aim to solve them. I desperately want this to be a fair, honest campaign that is idea-driven, not more partisan politics we’ve been seeing. That’s why I’m releasing a detailed platform – to shift discussion in this region to the issues that matter the most to us! We’re going to run this campaign on the issues, and that’s exactly how we’re going to win.

This campaign has a long way to go, and I hope you all will join me in this effort for new, bold leadership in the Governor’s Mansion! I ask as well that you join me in helping make sure that Gass3268 is in our region’s next Assembly! Thank you, and good day!

[Gass3268]

Current List of Endorsements

Northeast Governor Averroës Nix (Liberal-NY)
Labor Party of Atlasia
Liberal Party of Atlasia
Mideast Assemblyman 20RP12 (Whig-MD)
IDS Legislator Griffin (Labor-GA)
MilesC56 (Imperial Bloc-WV)
President Napoleon (Liberal-DC)
Snowstalker (Labor-WV)
Tmthforu94 (MCPR-IN)

[Gass3268]

WOOT WOOT!!!

[Gass3268]

Endorsed.

Yippie!

[Gass3268]

September 7th rally at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI:

"Hello Madison! For over a century, this city has been a center of the progressive movement, where people stood and spoke for civil rights, for marriage equality, and for the rights of labor to organize. I'm here to talk about the Mideast. We have two excellent candidates for governor, and even though I disagree with both of them on many issues, they're political stalwarts who would both manage the Mideast well. But I stand here today to help one of those young grassroots politicians in their race, someone who's wet behind the ears, but will stand for the middle class. I hereby declare my first Assembly preference to Mr. Gass 3268!"

[Gass3268]

The Liberal Party unanimously endorses you.

Thank you!

[Gass3268]

Anyone that is on Spotify can check out my Mideast Campaign Playlist. It includes songs from artists from the Mideast from a wide range of genres. This includes Aretha Franklin, Bad Brains, Bill Monroe, Bon Iver, Dave Matthew Band, Devo, Eminem, Jackson 5, John Mellencamp, MC5, Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder and the Violent Femmes among others. Also I included songs about the Mideast from outside artists. This includes "Detroit Rock City" by Kiss, "Cleveland Rocks" by The Presidents of the United States of America and "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver.   

[Gass3268]

You already have the endorsement of my party, but as a regional executive interested in promoting regional politics, I want to extend to you my personal endorsement as well. Active legislators are the lifeblood of regional activity, and your politics are incredibly reasonable.

Thank you for your endorsement Governor!

[Gass3268]

Everyone should go vote in the new Mideast Assembly Poll!

[Gass3268]

I would like to thank the Labor Party for their endorsement!

[Gass3268]

I am running for reelection in the upcoming Mideast election!

[Gass3268]

Thanks to all who have endorsed me!