Einzige for Mideast Assembly

[Scam of God]

Greetings, fellow heartlanders. In this thread I'd like to take the time to introduce the specific policy proposals on which I intend to run - and win - election to the Mideast Assembly this election season.

I will not offer generalized platitudes or snappy soundbites. If that's what you want out of a candidate, look elsewhere. But I will pledge to you that I will do everything in my power, if elected, to enact the platform on which I run: a vote for me is not merely a vote for a candidate, but for a very specific series of proposals:


Democratizing and decentralizing ownership: The recent financial crisis has underlined the inherent flaw of attempting to construct an economy in which few physical goods are produced. The 'Information Age' this may be, but man cannot live on knowledge alone.

That said, the old ways - assemblyline capitalism and the urban hell it inevitably entails - will not do. For consider how much money could be saved if men were able to put their own labor to their own use? For a very long time, this idea was the province of dreamers; 'modern' manufacturing technology was far too complex for any one man to have more than a passing knowledge of.

But the times are changing. New disruptive technologies offer the promise of realizing the entrepreneurial dream of self-ownership in our own time. We can, if we work together, build a world in which unionization is unnecessary - indeed, in which all intervention in the old sense is unnecessary, for individual men will once again be able to make a living by the work of their own hands.

I am a capitalist, and a 'pure' one, this is true. But I am not hard-hearted; I know that people today suffer as they have at few other times in our history. I believe that many of our problems are structural, and that these difficulties have been institutionalized in a system founded on the mass mobilization of labor. Such an economic arrangement not only renders individuals more vulnerable to the effects of markets far removed from their own, but alienates themselves from their family, their friends, and their fellows.

Therefore, as Assemblyman, I will fight for investment in the public good - not, as my twentieth-century predecessors might have, through government spending, but rather for research in cooperation with the private and industrial sectors to make it possible that every person can own the tools of production, to liberate himself from the shackles of industrial servitude and realize the individualist dream of our agrarian forefathers. I will encourage at least the partial subsidization of such emergent technologies as the RepRap project, in the hopes of finding a way to make business ownership cheap and affordable for any citizen, regardless of stature.

We can no longer wheedle our way out of this crisis. We will either undergo a radical restructuring of our economy, or we will perish.


Encouraging investment in our cities: For too long our cities and urban areas have been neglected by larger, national forces; this crisis has affected and afflicted them particularly hard, driving as it does those of our citizens already existing on the fringes deeper into debt and misery.

But this situation cannot be blamed solely on industry. Indeed, statist policies which encourage such neglect, and even abuse, can also be blamed. And while I applaud our government's efforts to strike a balance in certain core issues - chiefly their recent liberalization of our national drug laws - these do not, I fear, go far enough. How many earnest, able, hard-bodied workers from the cities today rot in our prisons as the result of victimless crimes?

I propose a thorough overhaul, if not a total abolishment, of any victimless crimes. This alone will go a long way in encouraging the economic revitalization of our urban centers.

This alone cannot completely rescue our cities, however - workers require work. In order to bring industry back into these regions, new policies must be formulated. Therefore, I will champion an Urban Development Tax Credit for any industry that willingly invests in real infrastructure development within our cities, the deducted amount to be determined by a special advisory board. Special consideration will be given to those firms which invest in green and other potentially disruptive technologies, to make the great urban centers of the Atlasian Mideast bastions of progress once again.


Helping the Mideast's small farmers: For too long, business and State have walked hand in hand, with each hand propping up the other at every turn. That ends with my election to the Assembly.

Farming and labor are the backbones of the Atlasian economy. But for too long our government has willfully stifled innovations in these areas, in order to keep their allies in both areas fat and happy. Therefore, I will propose - and if it is rejected, will propose again - a Bill that would explicitly eliminate all agricultural subsidies for agribusinesses turning a profit of over a million dollars a year. And I will oppose any such bill should it come to my attention.


My vision of the Mideast is one of progress - but meaningful progress. My vision of the Mideast is one of individualism - but real individualism. Please, give me your vote.

[Scam of God]

You joined Hamilton's party? Gross.

It's the closest to matching my ideology.

[Scam of God]

You joined Hamilton's party? Gross.

It's the closest to matching my ideology.

My post had little to do with ideology.

Well, I did. And I think that if people look at the platform I'm running on, and measure it up against their own values, they'll find a great deal to like, and vote accordingly, regardless of Party.

[Scam of God]

Einzige -

I suspect I have a good general idea of what you believe in to have your economic PM score so high, but I'd like to hear you state why?  What I "guess" doesn't matter.

Specifically, tax policy, trade, government funded programs, defense spending.

Thanks,

GM

Tax: I believe in minimizing the income tax to the greatest degree possible, as long as it isn't possible to scrap it entirely. I believe that it would be more efficient (i.e., few people would skip out on their taxes) to collect revenue through entirely voluntary sources: user fees for government services (so as to encourage individualism and ween people off of State support) would be a prime example of an alternative revenue generator.

Trade: I favor free trade with no restrictions, and am personally opposed to the habit of punishing foreign citizens for the proclivities of their governments through the use of embargoes (if I were a real Congressman, I'd sponsor a bill in every session to unconditionally end trade restrictions with Cuba).

Government-funded programs: I believe - and this is not orthodox American libertarianism, but authentic, historical libertarianism - that the State ought to be capable of lending out the tools of production - for instance, renting machining tools - for a nominal fee to the destitute, so as to provide them the ability to work for a living without first having to secure overhead costs. The government could furthermore collect a nominal user fee for all such rentals, helping to alleviate the general tax burden. But this is a direct threat to the present industrial class system, so I don't know how successful such a proposal would be.

I am not inherently opposed to social spending. I do believe that a direct goal of all social spending ought to be to give the poor and destitute the ability to work, to a far greater extent than any boondoggle 'workfare' program does.

Defense: I am in favor of a policy of unconditional isolationism, exactly as intended by the framers of our Constitution. Therefore, I favor ending all non-essential defense spending, and, if practicable, returning to a system of Region-based militias to provide for defense. If not, then I favor withdrawal from all treaties with nations undergoing hostilities and refuse to vote for a declaration of war if not directly attacked.

 

[Scam of God]

As much as it pains me I cannot endorse you.  If you were willing to prove yourself to be serious and join a real party I would have no problem doing so, but at the moment Swedish Cheese, True Conservative, and Big Bad Fab are better candidates because they aren't mocking Atlasia

I doubt he wants an endorsement from you.

Endorsement of DWTL or the RPP >>>>> Endorsement of Hamilton

I do not think Einzige wants your theocratic endorsement. He prefers freedom.

Oh, come on. At least be honest in your campaigning. You know as well as anyone else that this party is not a bunch of theocrats. But if you want to continue down the road of dishonesty, then no one will stop you, I guess.

I disagree. I cannot fathom how anyone can regard a Party that intends to impose its religiously-inspired social views, via judicious use of the State's monopoly of force, as anything but theocratic. It most certainly is not libertarian, and no libertarian who means what he says could rightfully support it, unless their sole and overriding concerns regarding the economy made them so lax in their standards that they were willing to partner with anyone professing a belief in 'smaller government' (by which the theocrats mean something fundamentally different from all true and genuine lovers of liberty). And, in that instance, I would consider them to be mere political opportunists without an ounce of spine to stand up for what they truly believe in.

Freedom and oppression are two cars racing headlong towards each other - I do not intend to ride shotgun in oppression's SUV.

[Scam of God]

So the question bugging me as a concerned citizen of the Mideast: What is your opinion of Jews?

As individuals? They are Jews, beyond which I have no opinion. As collectively organized into political action committees with the intent to sway the foreign policy of various nations towards Zionism? I have a low opinion of them, particularly when they ally with theocrats who only want them around to hasten Armageddon.

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Look at the two other symbols connected to it - a cruciform and a dollar sign. That ought to be all you need to know.

[Scam of God]

As an unrelated second question: You've put out a solid platform, but there is only so much the Assembly can work on in one session. What are your top two most important proposals?

I believe that legislation relating to funding potentially disruptive technologies (particularly those relating to the field of desktop manufacturing) is vitally important in the restructuring and re-orientation of our economy, and so it would be the very first piece of legislation I propose. I furthermore intend to introduce legislation providing for an Urban Development Tax Credit within my first week as Assemblyman.

[Scam of God]

That said, this party does favor smaller government as well, with the federal government deferring to the regions in most cases. We always have. Those who call us "big government" guys are just distorting the truth. Our entire purpose is to fight against expanding the government. That's why we were founded. But I do think we could have a working relationship in the future.

Except I don't believe it. I see precious little difference between a centrally-administered state of oppression and one in which power is concentrated directly in the local Regional capitals. Freedom is freedom, and oppression is oppression; and never the twain shall meet.

[Scam of God]

That said, this party does favor smaller government as well, with the federal government deferring to the regions in most cases. We always have. Those who call us "big government" guys are just distorting the truth. Our entire purpose is to fight against expanding the government. That's why we were founded. But I do think we could have a working relationship in the future.

Except I don't believe it. I see precious little difference between a centrally-administered state of oppression and one in which power is concentrated directly in the local Regional capitals. Freedom is freedom, and oppression is oppression; and never the twain shall meet.

What is the end goal of this party then? Disbanding of both the regional and federal government? Or just policies that weaken the state? I haven't had the chance to read your platform, so perhaps I just need to do that first.

The goal is to champion individualism and economic self-sufficiency independent of either the central State or the Regional states. This is a return to libertarianism's historic roots, and a reaction against its co-option by the forces of reaction on the political Right.

[Scam of God]

I'm sure the PCP and the ARC could work together on many issues, but you need to stop downplaying us.

The RPP is not willing to work with a party run by Hamilton.  We are perfectly willing to work with all of you, just not under a crazy leader.  We aren't the DA that will make a ton of excuses for not working with people, we are fine to work with any of you of you form your own party and denounce Hamilton

Why would I denounce Hamilton? Your refusal to denounce the bigots and the collectivists in your Party is the reason that I denounce you.

[Scam of God]

Sadly I Cant endorse you.

Why not?

[Scam of God]

That said, this party does favor smaller government as well, with the federal government deferring to the regions in most cases. We always have. Those who call us "big government" guys are just distorting the truth. Our entire purpose is to fight against expanding the government. That's why we were founded. But I do think we could have a working relationship in the future.

Except I don't believe it. I see precious little difference between a centrally-administered state of oppression and one in which power is concentrated directly in the local Regional capitals. Freedom is freedom, and oppression is oppression; and never the twain shall meet.

     I've been in Atlasia long enough to say that I strongly doubt that the forces of economic oppression can be overcome on the federal level. I'll be very happy if they can, though.

That's why the best strategy is to bypass government entirely, unless it can be used to create conditions favorably to the development of economic individualism. For instance: by making the State develop technologies like desktop manufacturing to their highest possible level, we'll be able to go around the corporate-industrial State and give economic power directly to individuals, thus encouraging individualism and economic self-sufficiency, which is really what I stand for politically.

[Scam of God]

Sadly I Cant endorse you.

Why not?

Your in the Hamilton party.

Vote principles, not Party.

[Scam of God]

Sadly I Cant endorse you.

Why not?

Your in the Hamilton party.

Vote principles, not Party.

But Hamilton is corrupt.

I don't answer to Hamilton. If elected, I'll answer to you.

[Scam of God]

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=103850.0


Read all of it.

I know all of that, and it doesn't matter to me, as I'm not running as Hamilton's representative to the Mideast Assembly. I don't take any orders from him, and I wrote my own platform, with no input from him whatsoever.

[Scam of God]

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=103850.0


Read all of it.

I know all of that, and it doesn't matter to me, as I'm not running as Hamilton's representative to the Mideast Assembly. I don't take any orders from him, and I wrote my own platform, with no input from him whatsoever.

Why do you bold his name?

I always bold usernames on the forums I frequent.

[Scam of God]

That said, this party does favor smaller government as well, with the federal government deferring to the regions in most cases. We always have. Those who call us "big government" guys are just distorting the truth. Our entire purpose is to fight against expanding the government. That's why we were founded. But I do think we could have a working relationship in the future.

Except I don't believe it. I see precious little difference between a centrally-administered state of oppression and one in which power is concentrated directly in the local Regional capitals. Freedom is freedom, and oppression is oppression; and never the twain shall meet.

     I've been in Atlasia long enough to say that I strongly doubt that the forces of economic oppression can be overcome on the federal level. I'll be very happy if they can, though.

That's why the best strategy is to bypass government entirely, unless it can be used to create conditions favorably to the development of economic individualism. For instance: by making the State develop technologies like desktop manufacturing to their highest possible level, we'll be able to go around the corporate-industrial State and give economic power directly to individuals, thus encouraging individualism and economic self-sufficiency, which is really what I stand for politically.

      Which is indeed a good idea, though statist forces always enjoy making the private citizen's business their business. So it happens, why not deny them that & torpedo the government? I figured the way to go about it was a top-down devolution from federal to regional to individual, taking all possible opportunities to immediately devolve powers to the individual as they arise. Perhaps you can call it a difference in methods.

Look at it this way: in real life, what is the bigger threat to centralized statism in America today? Is it the old conservative standby of states' rights? Or is it the Internet, developed under the auspices of statist Cold War paranoia and militarism and which now directly threatens to undo the conditions that led to its creation?

That's another reason I could never join the RPP: I reject one of its very core premises, that Regionalism = anti-statism. Most of those people want a bigger government in a small, Regional package.

[Scam of God]

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And not only that. How many people on the lower end of the economic spectrum are now able to live sufficiently owing to the power of the Internet? I know a very young couple who are expecting a child and are dirt-poor, and live by combing through valuables at yard sales and estate auctions and sell what they find on eBay, and are actually making enough to pay a pittance for rent and afford food. Their pride refuses to allow them to go on welfare, and yet they make do.

And we can do more to empower these citizens, and keep our small-government values not only intact, but actively championed. And we don't need the political Right to do it. But that means making a clean and clear break from both the Christian Democratic charlatans that infest both the real-life Republican Party and our own RPP and the corporatist shills who want to increase the size of the corporate-welfare State.

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To the contrary: more unorthodox strategies yet are needed. What we don't need are the old dogmas of the Right.

[Scam of God]

Einzige, if you don't answer to Hamilton then why are you in his party?  Run as an independent if you are truly indepedent of him

Why should I? I need a Party as a power base, and absolutely refuse to be in yours. Moreover, in comparison, the ARC is far more independent-minded from Hamilton than the RPP is from you.

I think you're terrified that a victory on my part will not only legitimize Hamilton, but validate my entire strategy of pulling libertarianism away from the Right.

[Scam of God]

Einzige, if you don't answer to Hamilton then why are you in his party?  Run as an independent if you are truly indepedent of him

Weren't you just hailing the new partisan order?

Running as an independent would get him the support of the RPP which is much more than his farce party

Don't you get it? I don't want your support, because then I would be beholden to vote with you on social issues, which I absolutely will not do.

[Scam of God]

First of all, we disagree on one social issue

More evidence of your dictatorial aspirations - I wasn't referring to you, but your Party.

[Scam of God]

Anyway, DWTL[/i], get out of my thread, as I have neither the time nor the inclination to listen to your unsolicited opinions.

[Scam of God]

I have returned.

[Scam of God]

Candidate Einzige:

How do you stand on the economic development bill currently before the Assembly?

I have not had the time to go over it in as thorough detail as I should like. Know that if I am elected I will pour over it before considering a vote for it.

[Scam of God]

Bump.

Please vote.