Office of Senator Deus (Crisis and secession)

[Deus Naturae]

Welcome to my office.



I plan to use this thread to explain my votes in the Assembly, make campaign announcements, and occasionally comment on current events relevant to the Northeast. All questions and legislation requests from constituents are of course welcome.

[Deus Naturae]

In accordance with the Northeastern Town Hall Act of 2013, I am now holding a town hall style conversation in my office. This town hall will last until 12:00 am on Monday March 17, 2014. All questions are welcome.

[Deus Naturae]

Town Hall Act of 2013? Did I sign that?

According to the Vital Civic Information Thread, yes. Here is the bill.

[Deus Naturae]

I am announcing my campaign to represent the people of Atlasia as At-Large Senator. This short campaign will not be one of gimmicks or personality, but will focus on one common ideal and pursuit: that of liberty.

I plan to produce a more detailed platform sometime tomorrow, but for now I will give the general principles my campaign is based on, and that I will fight for if elected:

A society based on non-coercion and freedom of association.

A rational foreign policy based on respect for other nations and a desire for peace.

A new system of federal taxation that will spur regional activity, allow for innovative and alternative approaches to taxation, create economic growth, and make the tax code more reflective of the views and interests of those it is being imposed upon.

Exit from international agreements and organizations that seek to extinguish the fire of Atlasian liberty, and negotiation of new treaties and agreements with other nations that ensure the protection of our national sovereignty, protect the rights of Atlasians, and are genuinely in the interests of our population and defense.

Reconsideration and review of previously passed laws and regulations, with the purpose of repealing or amending ill-thought out statutes. Anyone familiar with my work in the Northeast Assembly knows what I'm talking about.

Thank you and Dave bless.

[Deus Naturae]

Since I assume your tax plan would reduce revenue, what would you cut to make up for it?

My plan would not necessarily reduce revenues (I will go more in depth on my tax reform idea when I have access to a computer tomorrow). But, as far as revenues go, I would first move to eliminate all forms of corporate welfare/subsidies. If I were unable to get my tax reform idea passed, I would also work to eliminate special interest tax credits, thus increasing revenues while equalizing the tax burden.

[Deus Naturae]

I am announcing my campaign to represent the people of Atlasia as At-Large Senator. This short campaign will not be one of gimmicks or personality, but will focus on one common ideal and pursuit: that of liberty.

I plan to produce a more detailed platform sometime tomorrow, but for now I will give the general principles my campaign is based on, and that I will fight for if elected:

A society based on non-coercion and freedom of association.

A rational foreign policy based on respect for other nations and a desire for peace.

A new system of federal taxation that will spur regional activity, allow for innovative and alternative approaches to taxation, create economic growth, and make the tax code more reflective of the views and interests of those it is being imposed upon.

Exit from international agreements and organizations that seek to extinguish the fire of Atlasian liberty, and negotiation of new treaties and agreements with other nations that ensure the protection of our national sovereignty, protect the rights of Atlasians, and are genuinely in the interests of our population and defense.

Reconsideration and review of previously passed laws and regulations, with the purpose of repealing or amending ill-thought out statutes. Anyone familiar with my work in the Northeast Assembly knows what I'm talking about.

Thank you and Dave bless.

To expand on this, here are my proposed economic policies (I will do foreign and possibly social later today):

Economic

Taxation: Our current federal tax code is full of anti-growth and anti-freedom taxes that hurt our competitiveness, punish hardworking Atlasians, and unjustly impose a one-size-fits-all tax system on the entirety of an incredibly economically diverse nation. We have taxes on income, property, businesses, financial transactions, energy, fuels, chemicals, drugs, and even broadcasters. As ridiculous as it is to impose such a multitude of burdens upon the Atlasian people, it is even more ridiculous to think that our entire tax code should be federally imposed upon the diverse economies of every single region. This is why I am proposing a new tax system that would allow each region to write its own federal tax code in accordance with its own economy and interests. Here's how this would work: Each fiscal year, the federal government would determine its total expenditures, and then require each region to collect a certain percentage of the revenue for said expenditures. There would be no requirements or mandates about which methods the Regions could use to collect revenue, and each regional legislature would be able to write its own federal tax code. Not only would this allow different regions to implement taxes more appropriate for their economies, but it would allow for competing methods of taxation, so that every individual and business would have far more choice over which sort of taxes are imposed upon them. Anti-growth tax policies would be confined to the regions in which they were implemented, rather than imposed upon the entire republic. There are a variety of methods that could be used to determine each region's share of revenue (we could use population, or some sort of economic statistic).

Bailouts: In the words of Gary Johnson, "I agree with the TEA Party that Americans are Taxed Enough Already, but I also agree with Occupy Wall Street that this country is for sale, and our government has sold it." I wholly agree with his statement, other than Johnson's strange comment about "Americans" (whatever that means). I am completely and totally opposed to any form of corporate bailouts, whether they be for fatcat banksters, automobile manufacturers, or any other group that wants to save their ass by raping the taxpayer. I do not mean to sound callous or uncaring to the people who will inevitably lose their jobs when companies fail. In fact, it is my desire to avoid such that motivates my opposition to bailouts. Only by ending the perpetual cycle of cronyist bailouts (as well as special subsidies and regulations that favor large, incumbent firms) can we hope to end chronic mismanagement of corporations and "too big to fail" nonsense, thus returning to a system of true free-market capitalism.

Corporate subsidies: I advocate a total end to any and all subsides to corporations and industries. The free market vs. subsides debate, or as I like to call it the capitalism vs. corporatism debate, is rather simple. It is a struggle between two economic systems: capitalism (the glorious free enterprise system in which consumers and investors freely allocate resources to competing firms) and corporatism (a system historically promoted by fascists, in which resources are allocated to large, government-selected firms chosen by economic planning agencies). Capitalism allows for free choice by consumers and investors, corporatism treats them like lab rats to be "stimulated" and "incentivized." Capitalism allows firms to succeed based on quality and affordability, corporatism allows massive, mismanaged firms to succeed based on political connection. The voters have clear choices in this matter: capitalism vs. corporatism, free market vs. subsidies, freedom vs. fascism.

Education: As someone who has been personally victimized by Common Core, I know that federal mandates in education do not work. I have attended schools both public and private, religious and secular, strict and liberal. I have also received home education from family members. I know that there is real value to educational diversity and freedom. This is why I favor an end to all federal educational mandates and requirements, and the continued federal funding of education via block grants to the Regions. Regional governments would be able to use these funds on any approach to education, be it traditional public schools, charter schools, private voucher programs, or educational tax credits. Only through a diverse, competitive educational environment can we hope to make real progress educating and preparing our beloved children, at a time when we as a nation seem to be slipping farther and farther behind.

Domestic programs: I am two main things with regard to domestic programs: A regionalist and a reformist. I believe that the feds need not be in control of all our programs, and would attempt to adapt my approach to education to other programs where regional innovation could have a positive impact. I would also go through the federal statute, just as I have done in the Northeast, and attempt to identify programs that could be reformed, improved, or that we might want to consider eliminating. I belive that there is always room for improvement, and this is the approach I would take to reforming and reviewing our domestic programs.

Thank you and Dave bless.

[Deus Naturae]

Foreign

An end to foreign occupations: The great nation of Atlasia is a republic, not an empire. It is time we recognize this fact by ending our imperial occupations of foreign lands in which our presence is unwarranted or unwanted, often both. I advocate the gradual withdrawal of Atlasian military bases from Europe, as well as South and Central America. The presence of these bases represents a time when Atlasia was fighting a global war against titans like Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. It is time to bring our foreign military presence in line with modern realities, which means withdrawal of most (if not all) bases in places like Europe and South America. Fearmongers will claim that this policy will lead to mass subjugation of nations across the globe, but the time has come for these countries to manage and fund their own defense, so that they may take their place in the community of nations as free, independent states.  I also advocate the withdrawal of bases from hostile regions like the Middle East. Our presence in this region (characterized namely by war and destruction) serves only to create hatred and resentment of our people among the inhabitants of the nations we occupy. We may not like the governments of many Middle Eastern countries, but that is no excuse to violate the rights of sovereign states. Moreover, our presence in some Middle Eastern countries represents support for oppressive and murderous regimes, something which is totally unconscionable. Finally, while I would reduce our military presence in all areas, I would maintain light forces in the Southeast Asian Pacific region. Some countries in that region (namely China and North Korea) have shown a tendency towards naval aggression, and I think it wise to maintain some forces there with the purpose of defending Atlasian vessels if such action were to become necessary.

An end to entangling alliances: Like Thomas Jefferson, I advocate a foreign policy of "commerce and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none." It is for this reason that I advocate Atlasian withdrawal from military alliances, as well as global organizations, that are not in the interests of our people or our national defense. The most glaring example of this is NATO, an international organization so powerful that the flow of funds into its coffers constitutes >70% of global military spending. There is no reason why the Atlasian taxpayer should have to subsidize the defense budgets of other countries, as well as the violent wars and interventions NATO loves to engage in. You may view this position as selfish or isolationist, but get this: The US funds more that 75% of NATO's defense budget, while most other participants fund only single-digit portions of NATO's budget. I see no reason to remain in an international military outfit that seeks to fund wars and subsidize weapons contractors by screwing the Atlasian taxpayer.

An end to managed trade: I am a passionate supporter of 100% free trade. This means no cronyist tariffs that increase prices and prevent the free flow of goods, no ineffective embargoes or sanctions that hurt the citizens of other countries while antagonizing their governments, and no international managed-trade treaties that serve as vehicles to expand the regulatory states of the signatories, all the while regulating and controlling international trade under the name of free trade. To accomplish these three goals, I will:

1. Fight for the abolition of all tariffs, especially tariffs on agricultural products that serve as a cronyist subsidy to the agricultural industry while cruelly increasing domestic food prices.

2. Fight for an end to all foreign embargoes and sanctions, especially the Cuban embargo, which has prevented Cuban citizens from accessing basic medical goods, while at the same time empowering the Cuban government to blame all of the country's economic woes on the US embargo.

3. Fight for withdrawal from all international managed-trade treaties, especially NAFTA, which establishes "upward harmonization" designed to prevent genuine competition between the signatories by expanding the regulatory states of the US, Canada, and Mexico, and contains provision designed to prevent the signatories from ever rolling back regulation.

An end to foreign "aid": Foreign aid proponents offer two arguments in defense of wasteful foreign aid programs: The alleged strategic (geopolitical) and developmental (economic) benefits of foreign aid. I reject both of these arguments, and contend that foreign aid does little to alleviate the problems in African and other impoverished economies.

First, I reject the "strategic" argument as imperialist and morally revolting. Atlasian tax dollars should never go towards funding corrupt or despotic regimes, regardless of the effect these programs have on our strategic position on the African continent or elsewhere.

Second, I reject the "developmental" argument as well-meaning but misguided. For one thing, foreign aid does little to help with economic growth, as economist Fredrik Erixon pointed out in 2005. This is in part because, as Erixon explains in the linked article, much of foreign aid is spent on socialization and other anti-growth policies, unlike free trade, which allows for greater competition and inflow of new and better products, as well as the free exchange of ideas. Erixon goes on to point out (as so many have) that a huge amount of foreign aid is lost to corrupt government officials, and effectively incentivizes corruption in nations already struggling with such. Finally, foreign aid is known for destabilizing markets in target countries. For example, many an African farmer goes penniless because foreign food aid has rendered his products and economic function useless. It is high time we end this cycle of socialization, corruption, and destabilization, and seek to help impoverished economies via free exchange of goods and ideas.

Thank you and may Dave's peace be upon you.

[Deus Naturae]

Voting will begin in a few hours, so I am now accepting any and all questions about my policy proposals, positions, or anything else.

[Deus Naturae]

I advise any economic conservative considering first preferencing Simfan to look at this statement, made by Mr. Simfan at a speech in California several months ago:

The property acquisition process is moving slowly with eight properties owned by resisting occupants being successfully seized. In my opinion, land owners who resist selling their land for the project should not be compensated when it is seized through eminent domain- for standing in the way of progress.

Here Mr. Simfan, supposedly opposed to socialism, calls for government confiscation of private property for no compensation. Apparently, he believes that the violent confiscation of private property is justifiable when property owners refuse to capitulate to the demands of a massive government project. And his reasoning? By attempting to maintain their basic right to property ownership, these individuals are, he believes, standing in the way of "progress" and "the Greater Good." In his view, the individual is worthless and all property is the governments for the taking for whatever end it desires, so long as they claim it is in "the public interest" or some such thing. Is this really someone we want to give the power in fiscal and economic affairs? I respect Mr. Simfan, but his deranged, collectivist-majoritarian ideology needs to be known to voters.

I implore anyone who values private property to vote for me, the only true supporter of private property rights in this election. If elected, I will treat your rights as sacred, not some privilege to be arbitrarily denied in the name of "progress."

[Deus Naturae]

I stand by my statement, but I have probably opened up a can of worms here...

At the very least, I've made my first Atlasian campaign gaffe.

[Deus Naturae]

Recently, Riley Keaton, a corporate billionaire who made his fortune by founding a line of "healthy food" stores for rich yuppies, released an ad criticizing me for raising taxes. What he leaves out, however, is that I was going after a cronyist tax break for corporate billionaires like Riley Keaton and his rich yuppie customers. He claims that I oppose The People, when his own profile proudly states that he wants to oppress this "damn base". I will fight to overhaul the tax code, and I put forward a specific plan to do so in this very thread. Keaton and his allies will fight to keep cronyist tax breaks while shifting the burden to the common Atlasian. I will fight to let regional legislatures write their own federal tax codes that serve the interests of their people.

In short, I will fight for your rights, not rich yuppies. Vote Deus.

[Deus Naturae]

The real question here is why a libertarian would oppose rich yuppies aka job creators.

I support a tax code that grants low rates to everyone. I don't support special interest tax breaks for corporate executives with the stated purpose of promoting "healthy food." I don't think the tax code should be used as a weapon to manipulate what foods people eat. Some people might think that manipulating the diets of Atlasians is "common sense," but I don't.

[Deus Naturae]

This campaign has become too aggressive and mean spirited. I will take my share of the blame. I should not have attacked Simfan, I apologize to Mr. Fan for doing so. I should have known that that great political titan and the greatest threat to our democracy, the healthy food industry, would get involved. Now, just as I have called for a policy of peace in foreign affairs, I must call for a policy of peace in political discourse. I will make no more attacks, and ask all other Atlasians to do the same.

Now, let us look forward, onward to the future where we are secure in the blessings of liberty. May the Spirit of Dave guide our thoughts and actions from this point onward.

[Deus Naturae]

With the election at its close, it appears that Simfan is the victor. This campaign was hard fought and will not be my last, but for now I have been defeated. I congratulate Mr. Fan on his well-deserved victory, and wish him luck in his endeavors in the Senate. Good night, Atlasia, and Dave bless.

[Deus Naturae]

Oh, wow. I thought it ended at midnight...

[Deus Naturae]

Well, it looks like I have lost. I congratulate Alfred on a good (and close!) campaign, and hope that his Senate career will be a fruitful one. As I said before, this will probably not be my final Senate attempt, but for now I will return to my work in the Northeast, and constituents are encouraged to post any questions, comments, and/or concerns about that in this thread. Thank you and Dave bless.

[Deus Naturae]

Well, it looks like I have lost. I congratulate Alfred on a good (and close!) campaign, and hope that his Senate career will be a fruitful one. As I said before, this will probably not be my final Senate attempt, but for now I will return to my work in the Northeast, and constituents are encouraged to post any questions, comments, and/or concerns about that in this thread. Thank you and Dave bless.

You won don't concede

I realized Cinci was counted towards Deus, so... Deus didn't did win

That's better

Maxwell's initial count had me winning because he accidentally counted Cincinnatus' vote towards my total, when he should have counted it towards Alfred's. I also wish that I had won, but Alfred received more votes.

[Deus Naturae]

I thank the people of the Northeast for reelecting me to the Assembly. I look forward to the Twenty-Sixth Session and as always questions, comments, etc are welcome.

[Deus Naturae]

No, I am opposed to special subsidies for any industry, and that includes agriculture. In many cases, farm subsidies are administered to farms that grow certain crops with the deliberate intent of acting as "price supports." In other words, the subsidy programs have the deliberate purpose of raising prices for consumers. The idea that the government would deliberately attempt to increase prices for food products, in a nation where countless families struggle with food insecurity, is frankly disgusting.

Furthermore, these subsidies are harmful not only to consumers, but also to young farmers who are struggling to enter the market and provide for their families. By inflating the price of agricultural products via price support subsidies, the government also inflates the value of another commodity important to farmers: Farmland. Now, this may be beneficial to old farmers who were alive shortly after the initial creation of subsidy programs, who benefited from inflated prices which made the profession more lucrative and thus inflated the value of the assets needed to engage in the profession (namely farmland), but for young farmers, this price inflation has been anything but beneficial. Many now find it hard to start their own farms because the cost of purchasing fields is simply too much for lower and middle class farmers. Thanks to subsidies, the only way a farmer can afford to purchase large fields is if they're handed down or them or they're already wealthy.

For these reasons and more, farm subsidies need to be ended. That's why I sponsored a bill (which became law) ending farm subsidies in the Northeast. The transition away from subsidies will be painful for some farmers, which is why the final bill included provisions that encouraged farmers to apply for loans to make the transition easier for them. I also applaud the bill passed by the Senate a while back that eliminated farm subsidies over a gradual period. The farming profession is a noble one and I wish all Northeastern farmers good luck with their crops this year.

[Deus Naturae]

Hello, friends. As some may have noticed, I'm running out of good ideas for bills to introduce in the NE Assembly to implement at the Regional level. So, I thought it would be fun to make another attempt for the Senate if for no other reason than to champion and make known my ideas for Federal policy on various issues.

This campaign will be an issue-oriented one, but at the same time I will always tie it back to one thing: The eternal theme of human liberty. Throughout the course of this campaign I plan to release a detailed manifesto of freedom, starting with an economic platform, which I will release in a number of segments. Here's a rough blueprint of the economic issues I plan to address in each segment:
1. Taxes
2. Regulations
3. Monetary Policy
4. Corporate Subsidies
5. Education
6. Energy
7. Health Care

I may add more planks as the campaign progresses, but for now this is what you can expect. I plan on talking about real, specific solutions for Atlasian prosperity and economic growth. Thank you and Dave bless.

[Deus Naturae]

Thanks, Goldwater and Maxwell! Now, on to the first segment of my platform:

Economic Liberty Agenda: Tax Reform

Greetings, Northeastern taxpayers. I'm here today to talk to you about my tax reform proposal that would abolish the IRS, spur economic growth, minimize distortion, let you keep your income, eliminate all special interest tax breaks, and improve Atlasian international competitiveness.

As I mentioned in my previous Senate campaign, the Atlasian tax code is full of anti-growth and anti-freedom taxes that hurt Atlasian competitiveness, punish hardworking Atlasians, destroy jobs, and screw Atlasian consumers. The Federal tax behemoth imposes taxes on incomes, financial transactions, businesses, payrolls, fuels, substances, chemicals, power transmitters, and even firearms! My revolutionary tax reform plan would abolish the Federal government's authoritarian confiscation and collection agency (the IRS), eliminate most to all Federal taxes, and replace them with a simple consumption tax, with a universal monthly "prebate" equal to the amount of taxes paid on purchases up to the poverty level . By ending taxation of capital, labor, productivity, and production, we can spur economic growth, create jobs, broaden the revenue base, encourage investment and savings, and establish a totally fair tax that will effect every Atlasian in the same way while still remaining progressive due to the prebate.

Here are some of the specific benefits that we can expect from implementing my tax reform plan:

Business growth: Businesses are the engine of our economy. They create jobs and compete to offer consumers the products necessary for everyday life. It seems, however, that the tax lovers who dominate the Federal government don't see things that way. Businesses are taxed for the crime of doing business in Atlasia (via corporate taxes), and for the even worse crime of daring to employ Atlasians (via payroll taxes). The idea of taxing large corporations may sound appealing, but in reality most of the burden is just passed on to consumers through higher prices and workers through lower wages and/or lay-offs. Although some small businesses are exempt from corporate tax, many small business owners are actually required to pay income tax on business income, something which has high compliance costs, and thus similar effects to the corporate tax. If we want to see lower prices for consumers and more hiring of Atlasian workers, we need to eliminate corporate and payroll taxes. My plan does just that, and in doing so will get our economic engine running at full speed. If you want to see more hiring and lower prices in the Northeast, vote Deus.

Global competitiveness: Many Atlasian businesses find it hard to compete in the global economy. Those with the resources to do so are moving elsewhere, and those without are forced to cut back or even shut down. Protectionists cite these unfortunate facts as a rationale for tariff hikes, but I see a simpler solution: Tax reform. By replacing corporate and payroll taxes that drive large businesses overseas and force small business to cut back or shut down with a simple consumption tax that applies equally to foreign and domestic goods, we can ensure that Atlasian businesses are able to compete in the global economy and make our republic a place that  businesses want to move to rather than out of. Given that the Northeast has no Regional corporate tax, our Region will be the prime location for these new businesses, and our citizens the prime beneficiaries of the new jobs that will be created.

Atlasian exports: Many people don't realize it, but corporate taxation is actually an evil form of imperialism. By increasing the costs involved with producing goods to be exported, we're increasing the prices that these goods must be sold at in other countries. The idea of forcing higher prices upon the inhabitants of foreign countries runs entirely contrary to the peaceful and moral character of our republic. My plan would eliminate all tax costs involved with producing exports, thus allowing our exporters to sell low-priced good to foreigners and use the profits to create jobs here in Atlasia (which would be much easier due to the elimination of the payroll tax).

Investment and savings: My tax plan will be a boon for savings and investment. People will be encouraged to save due to the tax on consumption, and will have more money to save due to the elimination of the income tax. Now, you may be thinking, how does the economy benefit from people hoarding money in bank accounts? This is a common economic fallacy. Money that is deposited into a bank account does not just sit in a vault; it is actually loaned out to investors who use it to invest in the economy (which creates jobs and allows businesses to thrive), and then pay back the loan using the returns from the investment (or, if the investment was a failure, using their own money). When more people deposit funds into bank accounts, banks have more capital with which to lend, which allows them to offer loans to investors at lower interest rates, which means that investors are able to borrow more and invest more into the economy, thus creating more jobs and business growth. Instead of artificially suppressing interest rates via Fed manipulation (which leads to inflation and resource misallocation), my plan would lower interest rates naturally by increasing savings. In addition, by eliminating the financial transaction tax, my plan would allow investors to invest even more capital into the economy. In short, my plan would allow Northeastern citizens to save more for their future, and would get more capital flowing through the economy and into the pockets of Northeastern employees, rather than sitting in government coffers.

Personal privacy: The IRS is monitoring your income, your business, your transactions, etc. Tired of being watched by a tax-hungry monster? My plan would abolish the IRS, and would simply require businesses to collect the tax on purchases made by consumers. If you're worried that this would cost business too much, just imagine how more money they'll have as a result of eliminating the corporate and payroll taxes, tax compliance costs, and the surge of new investment due to increased savings.

There are probably a few other benefits, but this post is long enough already. My tax reform plan means fairness, growth, and freedom. I urge all Northeastern citizens, whether they be a business owner, worker, investor, or really anything besides a tax accountant/lawyer or IRS employee, to vote for me so that I can fight for tax reform that will benefit all.

[Deus Naturae]

Thank you, Winfield! I am honored to have received the endorsement of such a great Atlasian!

Economic Liberty Agenda: Regulatory Reform

Hello again, Northeastern voters. The second plank of my economic platform will address the issue of Federal regulation. Regulation is the great thief of Atlasian prosperity and genius. It is a hidden production tax that goes into the cost of every product we buy. Power-hungry bureaucrats and regulators have imposed their tyrannical dictates upon the people of this great republic long enough. I have a three-part plan to get rid of ridiculous Federal impositions on Atlasian enterprises and entrepreneurs so that we can get businesses hiring and spur start-ups, production, growth, and trade. Here is my proposal:


1. Repeal the "Fair" Labor Standards Act of 2013: The fact that this insane piece of legislation passed with seven votes in the affirmative is a testament to far-left dominance in Atlasia. This law is premised on non-sensical Marxian economic ideas and represents a vicious attack not only on business (especially small business) but on workers and consumers as well.

Anyone with a basic understanding of supply and demand can tell you that price controls are a terrible idea. Price ceilings create shortages by restricting supply and inflating demand while price floors hurt demand and distort supply. It seems that whenever it comes to the labor market everyone seems to forget these simple facts. The "F"LSA imposes a radical minimum wage timetable that will outlaw all jobs paying below $18 per hour in four years' time. Two groups will suffer especially as a result of this job criminalization statute: Low-skilled workers and small businessmen. Low-skilled workers who are currently unemployed will have a harder time finding and securing employment because they will have even less job options. This law makes it so they can only apply for certain jobs that pay a certain amount, and thus require a certain amount of skill. This will make it even harder for them to find a job in the first place and harder for them to acquire and secure the jobs they do find due to the fact that these jobs will inevitably have higher skill and experience requirements than the previously legal jobs that were outlawed by this law. This will result in a deadly unemployment spiral because low-skilled workers will not be able to acquire experience to begin with by working entry-level jobs, and thus will be continually unable to enter the labor force and provide for themselves. Small businessmen will also be hurt, because they will now be forced to fire all workers with an hourly marginal product less than $18, which will likely devastate their business and may even force them to shut down. With the destruction of small enterprise, multinational mega-corporations will swoop in like vultures thanks to the death of smaller competitors. Is leaving low-skilled workers and small businessmen in the dust really good for our republic? In what way is this fair?

Another really silly part of this bill is that it ties the minimum wage to increases in worker productivity, which I think Senator Shua pointed out recently. First of all, just because aggregate productivity increases does not mean that the productivity of every worker has increased. For many businesses, this means that they will now be forced to pay their workers more than the production value of their labor, which will force them to lay them off. Furthermore, by requiring employers to direct productivity gains towards immediate wage increases for current workers, we're distorting the natural functioning of the economy. Who's to say that some businesses shouldn't direct profits from increased productivity towards hiring new workers, maintaining facilities, purchasing new equipment, or lowering prices? You may be thinking, "I like lower prices, but aren't higher wages more important?" My response is that it doesn't have to be either or. Lower prices mean that consumers are spending the money elsewhere in the economy or investing it in savings accounts, which means that it is being loaned out to investors who invest it in businesses. More consumption and investment means more economic growth, job creation, and ultimately higher wages for the workingmen and women of this republic.

Finally, the absolutist child labor ban in this bill has to be the wackiest thing of all. Family farms, family-operated small businesses, apprenticeships, lemonade stands, selling homemade cookies...all criminalized! How soon can little Sally expect Federal agents to crack down on her baked sale!? This is madness. First this law robs children of the right to learn valuable lessons about work and entrepreneurship, then it makes it illegal for businesses to offer entry-level jobs to people who never learned any skills! This law sabotages the future of young Atlasians in a two-step statist sideswipe! Vote for me if you want to see an end to this insanity and a return to a sound economy in which any man or woman can advance themselves through hard work, and where a small businessman can hire Atlasian workers without fear of a Federal gun put to his head.

2. Massive Regulatory Overhaul and Review: I have reviewed the Federal Statute in its entirety and have found many laws that I dislike. However, the real threat to Atlasian prosperity comes not from our democratic representatives in the Senate, but from unelected bureaucratic agencies and departments that enact anti-growth and anti-freedom regulations on a daily basis. On May 21, 2013, the Competitive Enterprise Institute reported that the total cost of regulations to Americans reached $1.806 trillion in 2012, more than the most national economies! Not only that, but regulatory costs translated to about $14,678 per family! Granted, these figures aren't exact for Atlasia, but given that most if not all of the same regulatory departments and agencies exist in Atlasia as they do in real life, we can expect that the costs for Atlasians are similarly staggering. Unfortunately, most regulations are way too specific for me to try to find and repeal them all in separate bills. That's why, if I'm elected, I will introduce the Regulatory Overhaul and Review Act. This bill will establish a sunset time of January 1, 2015 for every single Federal regulation enacted undemocratically by a department or agency other than the Senate itself. For the rest of the year, the bill will establish a thread where any Atlasian can find a regulation they think we should keep and the Senate will vote on whether to keep it. If certain regulations are truly necessary for our safety and wellbeing, surely somebody can find those ones and display them to the Senate!

3. Farming Freedom: For years, the Federal government has distorted the agricultural way of life
with farm subsidy programs that have created perverse incentives, allowed large agribusiness cartels to consolidate, and artificially inflated the cost of farmland. These terrible subsidy programs are finally being phased out, but Northeastern small farmers who were dependent on these programs are hurting. Many people don't think of the Northeast as an agricultural Region but there are actually many small farms throughout the Northeast, especially in New England and Upstate New York. So, how do we help our struggling farmers? Get rid of restrictive regulations on what our noble farmers can sell and grow. The Department of Agriculture is a central planning behemoth. Constantly dictating "market orders" regulating agricultural production in an insane attempt to steer markets by coercively creating surpluses, reserve pools, controlling product and commodity flows, etc. Enough. It's time producers and consumers got to decide their own wants and needs.

One major reform I'd make as part of my Farming Freedom Act would be to deregulate the dairy industry. The Northeast has a respectable dairy industry. Vermont is a major producer of milk and cheese while New York is a major producer of yogurt. Yet the Department of Agriculture has established a monopoly on dairy prices. I'm not kidding. The Federal government literally just says, "Sell this at this price." Shouldn't our dairy farmers be able to choose for themselves what price they want to sell their goods at? Are they not able-minded adults? These regulations prevent entrepreneurial farmers from selling their goods at competitive rates and empower huge dairy cartels to take over the market, driving out smaller competitors (sound familiar?). I would also legalize the sale of raw, unpasteurized milk. Some may not like but Atlasians should be able to choose what they put in their bodies, and our farmers should be able to choose what they produce and put out to market.

This post may have been massive but it's nothing compared to the mountains of Federal regulations and red tape that small businesses and small farms have to deal with. I have a plan for growth that will slay the fire-breathing dragon of overregulation once and for all. Vote for me if you want a see a future where the intelligent men and women of the Northeast are free to make their own decisions, start their own businesses, and control and sell their own products at their own prices.
 

[Deus Naturae]

Thank you once again to all who have endorsed me! My third economic plank will be up some time today or tomorrow.

Also, Rpryor, you have my endorsement as well. The Northeast needs active and enthusiastic individuals such as yourself.

[Deus Naturae]

Economic Liberty Agenda: Monetary Policy

"You are a den of vipers and thieves. I intend to rout you out, and by the Eternal God, I will rout you out!" - Andrew Jackson, 1834, referring to the Second Bank of the United States

And now we come to the third and perhaps most important plank of my economic platform. I lied earlier when I said that only IRS employees and tax lawyers have reason to oppose me. Corrupt banksters and their servants in the Federal Reserve System also have good reason to fear my candidacy. If elected, I will aggressively combat the fraud, theft, currency debasement, and monopolistic manipulation undertaken by the mad central planners and private banking cartels that control and direct the actions of the Federal Reserve. I have a plan to end the manipulation and distortion of our currency. I would like to see us restore our economy by returning to an honest money system, something I believe we can easily accomplish by implementing the following simple reforms:

1. Free Exchange: I believe in choice. The more choices we have, the more control we have over the direction of our lives and the more ability we possess to ensure that nothing ever happens to us or our loved ones that we do not will. Mishaps and bad decisions will always occur in a free society, but on the whole our ability to choose and decide things for ourselves makes us much stronger and freer. It is no surprise, then, that it is the insane central planners in Nyman who always want to take away more choices from Atlasians. I've already talked about they have stolen our ability to choose how we spend our own income, what wages we're willing to work for, what crops we grow, or what prices we sell our own products and creations at. However, there is an even bigger restriction that has been imposed by the central government on our freedom to choose, one that never seems to be questioned by the left or right. What if I told you that 50% of every economic transaction you will ever make has already been predetermined by politicians? This may sound like something out of a dystopian novel, but this is actually the reality of our current monetary system. By imposing authoritarian "legal tender" laws, the Federal government has established a monetary monopoly in which the Federal Reserve Note is the mandated medium of exchange for every single transaction in Atlasia! Legal tender laws require that the FRN be accepted as valid for all payments, debts, and dues. They mandate that all Atlasians accept FRN's even if they would prefer to use another medium of exchange or have drafted a contract specifying payment in another currency or commodity. Imagine if the Federal government passed a law decrying that consumers could only use government credit cards, which all businesses would have to accept! Legal tender laws effectively outlaw alternative currencies by making them unfeasible for mainstream use. The Fed should NOT have a monopoly over what we can use as currency. If elected, I would introduce the Free Exchange Act, which would repeal Federal legal tender laws and allow businesses and consumers to decide what currencies and/or commodities they wish to use a means of freely exchanging goods.

I can already hear the statist response to my proposal. Authoritarian monopolists will insist that a free currency system is "too confusing" for consumers and/or businesses. They will deny that individuals have the ability to reason for themselves and choose between a multitude of currencies. They will claim that businesses are too irrational to set prices in an economy where free exchange exists. They will proclaim that lowly people like you and me cannot be trusted with the sacred flame of choice, and will demand our continued sacrifice to the private bankers who run the Fed. These are all lies, and we both know it. If the idea of multiple currencies seems like it would be too complicated for consumers and businesses, consider that we already have experience with this. When you purchase something now, you can choose whether to pay in cash, check, credit, debit, etc. Abolishing the FRN monopoly would just expand your array of choices. Tired of ever-increasing prices that rise faster than your wages? Tired of having to struggle by each month, barely able to afford the basic necessities of life for you and your family? My bill would allow you to escape this endless cycle of struggle and desperation by letting you exchange constantly depreciating FRN's for an alternative currency unit that you will actually be able to use to buy the goods that you and your family need to survive. And unlike under the FRN monopoly, you will able to use money that businesses won't be constantly forced to demand more of for the same products. The key difference between current payment options and the alternative currencies that will be legalized by my bill is that while the current options all cost the same in the end, the legalization of alternative currency units would allow businesses to use honest money that wouldn't constantly force them to raise prices due to inflation. Some may argue that different prices for different currencies would by too perplexing to consumers, but I would counter that the current FRN monopoly essentially amounts to price-fixing. Fed bankers get to determine the prices we pay by tinkering with the money supply, and consumers have no way out. Free exchange means choice for consumers. It means competition between currencies. It means lower prices, honest money, and freedom of contract. Granted, it will take time, education, and experimentation for our economy to transition to a free exchange system. In the long term, however, it will allow consumers and businesses to use honest money which will let them exchange goods and services directly, with no hidden fees paid to the Fed or those who run it.

2. End Debt Monetization, QE, and Special Loans for Big Banks: While I would like to abolish the Federal Reserve System in its entirety, I realize that that will be next to impossible. Instead, I will introduce the Federal Reserve Policy Reform Act, which will end the three most harmful Fed policies, which, when taken together, represent an unholy trinity of inflationism and economic distortion. These policies are:

Debt Monetization: The Fed is constantly expanding the money supply in order to buy up Treasury bonds (which represent money borrowed by the Federal government) from Federal creditors (almost all of whom are wealthy investors), and then creates a "credit" that allows the Treasury to pay almost no interest on the bond. The Federal government gets to keep spending money borrowed from the Fed at low interest rates, and creditors get a payday from the Fed...sounds like a win-win, right? Wrong. By expanding the money supply, the Fed is causing inflation, which hurts working and middle class Atlasians in the form of higher prices. In essence, the Fed is redistributing wealth from the working and middle class Atlasians who make our republic what it is and giving it to wealthy creditors and spendthrift politicians! This needs to end, and it needs to end now.

Quantitative Easing: Quantitative easing, also known as QE, is one of the most destructive and insane forms of monetary policy in modern history. For years, the Fed has debased the currency in an attempt to run the economy by artificially pushing interest rates to the lowest level possible. This is typically done by purchasing government bonds, lowering the Federal Funds Rate, etc. However, ultra-low interest rates are not enough for the monetary madmen who run the Fed. With QE, they have reached a new low - literally...the purpose of QE is to go where no central bank has gone before, and push interest rates to sub-zero levels! No, you didn't hear me wrong. The Fed is actually trying to push interest rates below zero. QE is the policy whereby the Fed purchases assets held by commercial banks, in an attempt to flood banks with capital and push interest rates even lower than zero. It's always puzzled me that leftists often defend this policy, because this is really just supply-side economic policy taken to the extreme. The idea behind QE is that by subsidizing huge financial institutions, the central bank can increase the supply of capital and encourage lending. There are multiple problems with this. For one thing, there is no guarantee that banks will even lend this money to begin with...often times, they just keep it in reserve! Once again, the Fed is stealing from the working and middle classes via a hidden inflation tax and delivering their hard-earned money into the hands of massive banking cartels. In addition, the interest rate manipulation that occurs as a result of QE is itself harmful and distortive. By distorting investment signals, the Fed is throwing the business cycle out of whack and encouraging malinvestment. Banks get quick get cash and we get a quick boom...and then a massive bust. This has to end now.

"Discount Rate" Loans for Big Banks: This is not as significant as the other policies, because these days it isn't utilized by the Fed as much, as central bankers have found new toys that are more fun (for them, at least). However, it still matters. The Federal Discount Rate is the rate at which the Fed will lend cash to banks if they can't get a loan themselves from another bank. Yet again, another example of the vipers and thieves screwing the Atlasian people in order to help out their buddies. When will it end? When will it stop? I'll tell you when: The day I swear into the Senate. I've had enough of this crap, and I'm sure you have too. Vote for me if you to end this inflationary theft once and for all and transition to a future of honest money.

The problems with our monetary system are clear. The monetary base has more than tripled since 2008. Bills for food, housing, energy, and other basic necessities keep rising, while production costs for businesses do the same. It's time someone did something to get us out of this endless cycle. I have a plan forward. I will fight for your right to choose and exchange currencies and commodities freely. I will fight against policies that rob from working Atlasians and redistribute their hard-earned money to rich bankers and wealthy creditors. I will fight for an Atlasia where honest money and sound banking prevail.  Vote for choice. Vote for sanity. Vote for me.

[Deus Naturae]

Endorsed, on the condition that I can get a banner.

Here you are, my good man: