June 2019 presidential debate

[Kingpoleon]

I am glad to be on this debate stage, and I wish to join my fellow candidates in thanking Thumb and TimTurner for hosting this debate. I think we all need to make sure that we appreciate the importance of this job: a fair and open debate, for all the public to see.

My opponents speak of vague and various issues: leadership; partisanship; a new generation of leaders; the candidate who stands for “a new direction... to not repeat the mistakes of the past” boldly stands against the candidate who wants “not a continuous retread of the past... a new vision”. I’m not going to pretend they are two sides of the same coin; they sound like the same side to me.

In contrast, I stand for space exploration more than anything else. My opponents speak of a vague “fight for the future” - I am prepared to lead us to space. I am prepared to move forwards, with a daring manner and mind, towards a new goal. We will win the Space Race once and for all - not as some ultra-nationalist, waving the flags of Atlasia’s glory. Instead, we will win the Space Race for the advancement of all mankind. This country I love, but it is for every person on the planet that I fight.

A new agenda I present to you, the people of my beloved country: one with a vast and unprecedented vision, to develop space exploration as never before. While my opponents intend to focus on the technicalities of tariffs and the exact tax on excess returns, I intend to promise you a guarantee for humanity: we will not go extinct because we live on one planet, and the sooner we start preparations for Mars and beyond, the sooner our unborn children and grandchildren can be protected by our actions.

[Kingpoleon]

Economic Policy:
> What would your administration's trade policy look like?

My trade policy is what it always has been: free and fair trade. I will speak with economists, as well as corporate and labor union leaders. I will review our current trade policies, and renegotiate any and all policies that hurt Atlasian workers while protecting the economic prosperity currently being seen under the practices of free trade. I will also negotiate free trade deals extensively, with advice from the aforementioned groups, to extend our trade with more countries and diversify our reliance on other nations.

Social Policy:
> What would be your administration's policies on immigration?

On immigration, I broadly support sweeping reforms with three goals in mind. Firstly, we will reform border security so that I can safely say: Atlasia’s borders are secure. We will review our audit of homeland security and discuss very small budgetary adjustments there to reform said programs. Secondly, we will review the potential effects of raising legal immigration, particularly from high levels of illegal immigration. Thirdly, we will implement a limited citizenship and amnesty program lasting from two to six years, depending on the individual’s background. Lastly, the river of drugs into this country and the flow of guns out of this country will be halted. No longer will guns made in America arm cartels in Latin America, and I will crack down as hard on this as I will on those smuggling drugs into the country.

Legislature Sizes:
> What are your thoughts on the overall issue of the sizes of regional legislatures?

I believe that, with the current level of activity, small regional legislatures are appropriate. In cases with more candidates, more seats should be open. The range should probably be between three and nine representatives, requiring at least two more candidates running than the number of open seats, with three as an absolute minimum. The current restrictions I support, as well as continued restrictions, provided they leave it open for larger seats when more activity occurs.

[Kingpoleon]

Economic Policy:
> What will be your administration's approach to healthcare policy?
I was actually one of the consultants on the current healthcare policies of Atlasia. We did a lot of work, primarily basing it off of the Healthy Americans Act and the German healthcare system, alongside a series of other healthcare systems. I would actually like to discuss, with regional leaders, the current regional healthcare systems and suggest reforms.

I will request the totals on healthcare and health insurance expenditures and quality numbers in Atlasia, so that we can see what savings, healthcare quality, and other factors have changed, and how we can improve on it. Be it by working with the regions to offer regional insurance programs across regional lines, decreasing costs in prescription drugs, and many other factors, I want us to have a top-notch healthcare and health insurance program.


> From Pericles: What are your plans regarding Social Security? Are you comfortable with the current level of benefits, or do you think they need to be expanded or reduced?

I am comfortable with the current level of benefits, but I will look into adjusting the COLA as necessary, particularly retroactively considering Adam’s findings. Social Security should remain largely untouched, and I intend to make sure it remains untouched in terms of payouts and most other factors. Reform should never mean reducing benefits for those who need them most.

In terms of removing the payroll tax cap, I am largely supportive, but I believe that past a certain point, it should be halved. In most other countries, the amount paid past the cap goes down, and I believe it should apply here as well.

Social Issues:
> How will your administration approach foreign policy?

I intend to have a realistic view of foreign policy, but the foreign policy school of realism has a major flaw: the security and warfare principles of realism, embracing power politics and, in turn, war as the ends (and a positive outcome) of international relations. Diplomacy, sanctions, and pressure have been the greatest source of results for Atlasia in recent years.

I intend to develop new relationships with allies across the world: we will increase aid and trade to India, develop and extend free trade agreements with the United Kingdom, and support our allies throughout the world. My guiding philosophy is that of a man struck down too soon, John F. Kennedy: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” Those are the words we ought to remember, going forward, in foreign policy.

We will not police the world, but we must not ignore it either. I fear my opponents - who both show support for non-interventionism - may actually necessitate more intervention than otherwise. We cannot empower our enemies by our silence, by refusing to use military, economic, and diplomatic options that we employ to protect justice overseas. This minimal interventionism may not be as popular as non-interventionism, but it is right.

Game/Other Policy:
> What is your view on how the relationship between regional and federal government should work?

I believe the regional governments should remain subordinate to the federal government, and the federal government should continue to give the regions large jurisdiction over taxation, healthcare, and many other issues on a regional level. The current relationship is one I staunchly support. We must work together, or find ourselves torn apart.

I am actually currently the commander of Northern Security Forces, which I first proposed as a joint regional force to provide military support, to assist law enforcement, and to work on terrorism cases. My forces were voted down with every vote against me. Within a month, a terrorist strike happened, and my proposal proceeded to pass unanimously. I would like to see similar regional security forces in the South and Fremont, so that the regions have a say and vested involvement in law enforcement and national security.

Similarly, I wish to discuss with the regions further development of railroads to maximize travel efficiency, reduce our energy consumption, and make our country more connected than ever. On both transportation and law enforcement, I feel as though we can do more with cooperation between the regions and the federal government than we ever could, with both separate.

> From Tack50: Many people have in the past campaigned in favour of a parliamentary system at the federal level, like the ones Fremont and Lincoln currently have. Most notably in recient times, the Montfortian Party. What is your opinion on the matter?

I am actually very interested in a parliamentary system, but I don’t intend to just replace it like that. We must have a two step, referendum process. Firstly, do the voters of Atlasia approve of a constitutional convention with the main goal of exploring a more parliamentary system? Secondly, if the first is approved, will the convention’s actions and alterations be supported by the people at large, or do they prefer our current system?

This is a very delicate matter that I would take up as a priority after space, healthcare, transportation, and budget issues are resolved. I don’t support taking any such action without the people approving of it.

> From Tack50 to Kingpoleon: According to all analysis and polling (even if it is unreliable), you are in a very distant third. Do you plan on endorsing either candidate for second preference? And who would you rather have controlling Congress, the Labor/Pax coalition or the Fed/ACP coalition? Or maybe a split Congress?

I will consider making an endorsement for second preference. However, polling may be inaccurate, as I have asked some probable supporters to not take polls, so that I can have a more accurate idea of who supports me that hasn’t contacted me.

> From Lumine: If you could change a single thing about the present Constitution, what would that be?

I would make amendments somewhat easier to make, requiring either the majority support of Congress or the regions, followed by a federal referendum, requiring majority vote and a large voter turnout. I am actually very proud of our judicial system, which I wrote up the basis of confirmation for, and which has functioned very well.

[Kingpoleon]

Economic Policy:
> Technological changes are constantly reshaping the economy. How should policy be adapted to deal with these changes?
I believe technology does best, largely when left alone. No form of governmental intervention and regulation, beyond standard worker, safety, anti-trust, and anti-exploitation regulations, can or will improve this. Now, limited subsidies to renewable energy companies make sense. Limited subsidies to companies like the United Launch Alliance and SpaceX make sense. Similar, other science and technology programs are programs I have always supported and would support slight increases in funding there.

> What approach will your administration take to tax policy?

I intend to instate a broad base value-added tax of 5%, in order to fund space exploration and reduce the deficit. I am also investigating either adjusting income taxes slightly, or raising a very small - less than 3% - wealth tax. The deficit, within a month and a half of me taking office, will be reduced to under 150 billion dollars.

Social Issues:
> From Suburban New Jersey Conservative: How do you plan to address gun violence?
I do support universal background checks, regulation of gun shows, an initial 72 hour waiting period, and, for re-entering eligibility for purchasing guns, certain mandatory tests. Furthermore, as previously stated, I will order a law enforcement crackdown on the gun running into Mexico.

> What policies do you support to address climate change?
I support railroad development, which will reduce our reliance on cars. I will negotiate contracts with companies including CXS Transportation, the Kansas City Southern, the Norfolk Southern Railway, the Canadian Pacific, the Union Pacific Railroad, Canadian National, and the BNSF Railway. Amtrak will be reformed and refitted in order to manage and regulate the national system, and I will support annual funding of fifteen to twenty billion dollars in order to build it.

I intend to introduce other methods of reducing our consumption of energy and subsidizing renewable energy research. This will allow us to follow the Paris Agreement, and we will fight climate change because we must. Just because we are going to another planet doesn’t mean we can trash this one.

I also support increasing the carbon tax slightly, and subsidizing energy efficiency development. We will clean up the oceans and develop new ways of waste management. I am proud to see new advancements in technology in this sector. We will fight climate change together, because we must. This is my home, and the home of 7.7 billion other people. It’s the only one we have, and I will protect it as we all must.

Game/Other Policy:
> From Sestak: We are coming off of two straight inactive presidencies - how can you assure us you will turn things around and keep up your own activity level?
I will because I have no option. I don’t have the party line votes to keep me in office, and I can’t let the game run amok without me. If we go to space, we will see a renewed interest and activity in Atlasia. If we develop a state of the art railroad transportation system, we will see people more interested in Atlasia. If we do all this and more, we will have a hard task ahead of us.

We must act now, if we wish to revive Atlasia, and, with my Presidency, we will do so. Activity will spike, and, if it does not, I will submit to the judgment of the voters in the next election. Every single one of you should know: you can trust me. The Federalist flunkies and Labor’s lackeys have controlled Atlasia for too long. Under them, Atlasia has seen low levels of activity and falling. It is time someone who represented people, not a party, showed them what we want: a renewed, sustainable increase in activity.