The Imperial Dominion of the South's Legislature

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I already wrote a bill that gives tax breaks to companies who invest in green technology at the federal level.

I don't mind the worker provision, but I tend to shy away from regulations that tie a business owners hands like that. I see a scenario where you could be making a slim profit but have too many workers. Maybe if we were to consider that, set it to profit margin. Having an overall margin of 1% is far different than 30%. I still think we need to cut the taxes regardless or companies will simply go to another region and we lose out on those tax dollars regardless.

And even then, they'd chose to go to other regions. No company wants to be told they can or cannot lay off a worker. I do strongly oppose at will employment. Every company needs to give a reason for the layoff, but as long as its justifiable it should be allowed. I think it's way too much for the government to say you can't layoff a worker period if you're making a profit. Things happen. Companies restructure, change management teams, move in new directions. Even in successful periods. Simply saying they can't lay anyone off or they'll get hit with a tax is a bit much and would do may more harm to our regional economy than good. The only way this works is at the federal level. It puts us at a huge disadvantage otherwise.

I would be willing to discuss expansions of services if you pinpointed what you would like to see done. But we can cut corporate taxes along with service expansions given the surplus we have at the moment.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

How can we quantify what "behaving well" means though? That is so broad. Many could argue layoffs are simply in the normal course of business. I get what you are saying though. Perhaps to protect the worker, we can look at reforming labor laws, eliminating the "at will" employment many places employ which allows employers to fire an employee for no reason. I think we need to be mindful otherwise that layoffs are sometimes necessary, and I urge caution when we try to make laws forbidding things like that.

As for my green energy bill, I have no idea. It get a 1-5% credit, I think, to companies who invested in green technology, and since it was at the federal level, it is at work in the whole country. I also wanted a cap and trade system, but that was voted down. I can't win them all.

I do think The People will approve of lowering the corporate tax rate to a reasonable level. Many of our citizens work in these companies and others need jobs. Lowering our corporate rate will encourage companies to do business in this region which will in turn create jobs for The People. Companies will be much more open to hiring new Labor if they are not under a heavy tax burden, and right now, our corporate tax is heavy relative to other regions.

Now, if you want, we can compromise, perhaps cut the rate and then maybe give more incentives to be able to take advantage of even more deductions if a company does something like hiring a disabled worker or setting up childcare, etc.

From a business perspective though, we have to make these incentives worth their time. Building daycares may cost more than the tax deductions, so they won't bother. I would favor disabled workers more than daycare.

And yes, I do think investing some of that money into the region itself is a good idea. I still favor a cut in our corporate rates though that will not put a huge dent in our revenue numbers if we lower it to 3.5%.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Do we know the tax rates for other regions? I am curious. I am looking at this in a macro-oriented manner and considering competition with other regions. I would settle for 4% though if it is in line with other regions. Mind you, I am not advocating getting rid of it in the slightest. It is the duty of The People to pay taxes and the duty of the government to provide certain services only governments can provide. I just want to see the IDS on par with other regions so they cannot have an advantage over us.

We can include a deduction for hiring a disabled worker in this bill since it related to cutting the corporate tax rate.

The labor laws can be in another bill. The "at will" employment is a state law in the US, some states allow it and some do not. Here, it would be region by region. I do think that it is important companies give a reason for laying off an employee, which gives them a little accountability without tying their hands. I do think, as a matter of fairness, companies should not be able to fire someone who is doing their job simply because they may not "like" something that person did or does that is not related to the workplace in the slightest. For example, my aunt was laid off a few months ago from her job of 20 years because the new supervisor did not like that she did not go out and drink with her and her friends on the weekends. She was given no reason when she was fired, no documentation or anything. Ethically, that is horrible, to fire an employee who is well respected in a company for such trivial reasons as that. But in at-will states, it is completely legal right now.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I agree with the way discussion is moving on the corporate tax rate, but I'm not sure about the disabled tax credit.

Maybe we can split them into separate bills? Although I am not sure Zanas would approve.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I will support the corporate tax cut right away, as well as the tax credit for hiring the disabled.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

IDS Budget: Yes

Disability Act: Yes

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Where is it? Since I'll be leaving soon, once again, I want to do as much work as we can. But don't worry, I'll be back in a few months.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I think the feds already maintain many of these parks as it is, am I right? If we want to return control to the region, then we can discuss that, but I am unsure the feds would even want to sell their stake in the parks.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Oh, you guys!

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I love nuclear power. I certainly think 11 is more feasible than 50, but it all depends on the cost and demand for it. I don't know what the original bill is referring to though - the counties at least. It isn't saying we need 4 power plans in Carson county, right?

Also, I will hold my seat until I swear in unless there is someone waiting in the wings that is ready to take it. It's your call, PiT.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

When will this body begin the discussions to to remove all this silly imperial paraphernalia from our lovely region?

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

The major issue is obviously changing the nature of the region, presumably by dropping imperial titles.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Finally we can reopen the Duke Gardens for our children to play in once again!

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

How dare you, sir! Tying these shameless names to "tradition"! There is nothing inherently southern about imperial titles, coat of arms or "houses." Just because you and your regime had the audacity to pursue and pass names based on your raging hardon for such titles was successful years ago doesn't mean the joke should go on.

The Dirty South, which you so conveniently took a dump on, represents the southern renaissance, yes, the renaissance you and your minions capitalized on when you took office. Before folks like PiT, NC Yankee, DWTL, SPC, and yours truly took over, the South had nothing. No one. ONE person voted in the first election I ever participated in. One! Yet, you demonize it like it was some dark period for the South. I'm so sorry being known nationally as one of the most active regions was such a bad thing for our homeland. I really am.

The Dirty South represented tradition. Our capital was ceremoniously moved to Charleston, one of the richest cultural centers of the south. Our mansion was change to Plantation. Every day at 4 was tea time with lady finger sandwiches, and on Fridays, it was bourbon time with the governor. That is the tradition of the south, not this running joke of an imperial guard and living in the god-forsaken city of Memphis.

We are both southerners, and I know your heart is in the right place, but it's time we fixed this mess while we can.

Perhaps it's time you took a lesson on southern history and not your own warped traditions and desires. These names are not a southern tradition. It's a tradition you WANT desperately to be southern, but it never will be. If you want knights on horseback, I hear England is nice this time of year.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I am not discounting what your regime contributed to this region. As I said previously, we are all southerners and have given back to our great and humble land, and I recognize that, and I hold that this region is better off for your service, as a legislature is something we always needed.

But I disagree with the argument that because the IDS has been around longer than the Dirty South, that it should stay. It's easy to keep it around when you and your successor both supported it. It has been nearly impossible to change it given those circumstances, as the South has not been a beacon of diverse ideas until recently, and when you have loyalists in positions of power, you can keep it around for as long as you want. The recent growth from these "carpetbaggers" has made it possible for us to finally start discussing the return of sanity to the south.

As for the name, I am not arguing that we return it to the Dirty South. I don't find that name disparaging at all, not anymore so than your name, which suggests we are some English guild, when the English were our enemies, burning our great cities to the ground and raping our women and children, but I would be open to new names that don't give me the feeling I am at a renaissance fair every time I see them printed.

As for your assertion that Memphis is some cultural center....lol. Charleston, New Orleans, Savannah, Houston, Richmond, Nashville all come to mind when I think of the historically great southern cities. Memphis? Not so much until Elvis was around.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

That's all good and well that you think of those things, but the average person thinks of horrible costumes, bad food, and tacky decorations when they hear those names.

Also, I was unaware that the Dirty South was such a bad name. It is some taboo in your part of the south? I have only heard it in a positive manner around the lowcountry of SC and the research Triangle of NC.

I simply think it's time to bring southern traditions back to the South - southern traditions everyone recognizes as southern, like we had in the old days. When this region was brought back to life, one of the first things we tried to do was make the south southern rather than simply a generic region - and when I say southern, I mean all of the things discussed above.

Jbrase is a fine boy and a fine servant of this great region, but he must recognize we all don't think like he thinks. Many of our new residents, southern and carpetbagger alike, simply have no idea why we name ourselves after King Arthur's' court. And it shouldn't be that way.

At least we can all agree to change the flag

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Do what you feel is necessary, Dereich. Don't let Jbrase and I's pissing match get in the way of your business.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I would favor something that is uniquely southern. The South as a region is such a vast and diverse area of the country as it is in Atlasia. I would oppose a simple return to the Southeast as a name, but the South may work. This is a debate I hope we can all have when the appropriate time comes.

I just wanted the IDS Legislature to know I am watching closely for it to begin, and wherever you turn, wherever you go, I will be watching, as an all knowing, mindful man would do. This is my home region. I started my Atlasian career here. I have a huge interest in where this debate will go, and I hope to take part in it when the time comes.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Did the restoration of the old south movement die when I lost interest in it this summer?

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Did the restoration of the old south movement die when I lost interest in it this summer?

Movement? What movement?

It's coming for you. Look out.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

1. Flo
2. Pingvin

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Praise God!

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Praise God, we have our leader!

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Maybe testing our students could be worked into a program for the poor to have better access to those tests, but otherwise I'm not really happy about subsidizing people who can afford to take the SAT. A lot of colleges are going away from the test anything, and I don't know if the regional government needs to be subsidizing the College Board.  They have enough money.