Vepres Ends His Senatorial Bid

[Vepres]

(Note: Campaign stops will placed in future posts)
Welcome! This is my campaign for the Midwestern regional senate seat HQ.

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Vepres gives his announcement speech in the beautiful Boulder, Colorado

Hello my fellow Midwesterners. For those of you who are not familiar with me, my name is Vepres, I am an independent from the state of Colorado (also known as the state of denial). Now, I know the question on many of your minds is: Why is this newb running against an established incumbent? Well, though I am a newb, I assure you that I will reach the 100 post requirements needed to become a senator and that I am knowledgeable of modern Atlasian politics and current events.

But that's not answering the main part of the question which is: Why am I running? Well, I'm sure you're all aware of the relative lack of activity here in Atlasia compared to the past. I'm also sure that all of you want this to change, which is part of the reason I believe my campaign is so important. You see, Senator MasterJedi is an established and powerful politician here in Atlasia who could do something about this lack of activity, but nothing has changed. He has failed to increase activity and the number of voters. I believe that newer, more energetic face in the senate who could actively recruit newbies and encourage his fellow senators to do the same is needed, and I believe I am that senator.

This is not the only issue facing us though. You see, I don't believe Senator MasterJedi represents the small government party the RPP. You voted for a small government RPP candidate, but is he really? He voted against the Atlasia Agriculture Reinvestment bill in the senate. My friends, this bill significantly decreases the federal governments' expendetures and cuts off subsidies to the rich and to big agriculture. Why would anybody vote against this bill? I don't think any other Midwesterner would have, and I wouldn't have either.

Finally, as your senator, I promise to work with the other members, be present for every vote, and add substantive debate to the congress. While our current Senator, MasterJedi, is a good person who has worked hard for the people of the Midwest, it's time for a change. It's time for a newer, younger face in the senate, and believe that person is me.

Thank you.

In the coming days I will outline my positions.

I will also begin to take any questions.   

[Vepres]

You should take "Voter; Member of the RPP" out of you sig.

Opps! Forgot about that.

Edit: Got it. I was RPP for about 5 minutes that changed my mind.

[Vepres]

Good luck!

Thank you. I realize I'm running against a popular incumbent, but I will do my best.

Also, if I didn't make it clear above, I am open to questions and comments at this time.

[Vepres]

My platform is comprised of four planks.

Health Care Reform
This is an issue that doesn't seem to have been addressed in the Atlasia senate lately. I support market-based reforms such as health savings accounts and tax credits for families. Ultimately this is an issue that needs to be addressed by every member in the senate. I believe that the next senate must hold a brainstorming session and then write a bill based on the best ideas. I don't have any specific proposals as I believe that the whole senate must address this complex and politically divisive issue.

Newbie Recruitment
As I read through the board when I first joined Atlasia, it became clear that many members were frustrated with the lack of active newbies. Therefore, as the Midwestern Senator, I will actively recruit newbies that seem to be intelligent and have some political knowledge. I will also encourage my fellow senators to do the same.

Respect of Regions' Rights
The title says it all. I don't want to step on the regions' rights, though the federal government certainly has its place.

Opposition to Big Government
I will emphatically oppose any bill that I believe will increase the size and/or power of the government in a bad way.

[Vepres]

Amend Constitution to Allow Congress to Dismiss a GM
While this may be addressed in the constitutional convention, I want to make sure this becomes law because I believe an active GM is very important to the future of Atlasia. Should 2/3 of congress deem a GM inactive, they should have the ability to dismiss him. Hopefully this or something like it will be in the new constitution, but it may not make it in.

The Senate already passed a bill doing that.

For some reason I thought that didn't pass, oh well, my platform has been changed.

[Vepres]

Amend Constitution to Allow Congress to Dismiss a GM
While this may be addressed in the constitutional convention, I want to make sure this becomes law because I believe an active GM is very important to the future of Atlasia. Should 2/3 of congress deem a GM inactive, they should have the ability to dismiss him. Hopefully this or something like it will be in the new constitution, but it may not make it in.

The Senate already passed a bill doing that.

For some reason I thought that didn't pass, oh well, my platform has been changed.

Yes it did but the GM is taking the Senate to court over it.

Oh, that's probably what confused me. I knew there was controversy, but... thanks for informing me.

that is all fine. How will you recruit newbies when they think that this game takes a lot of their time?

Well, when recruiting a newbie, I will explain Atlasia to them and add how it isn't time consuming, and very fun for a political junkie. If they say they won't join due to time constraints I will respond with something like this: "It doesn't take much time at all if you don't want it to. Indeed, you can be a voter or regional office holder, neither of which will require you to invest large amounts of time into Atlasia. Generally, you only need to check in here every few days to keep up with and participate in current debate and governmental matters (for the second one, that's if you hold political office)." From then on, if they continue to be reluctant, I will craft a response unique to that person (or drop it if they don't seem interested).

[Vepres]

Thank you. I realize I'm running against a popular incumbent, but I will do my best.

How do you know he's popular?

Well, I don't know about the Midwestern population as a whole, but the "elites" love him. Just look at his campaign HQ.

[Vepres]

Thank you. I realize I'm running against a popular incumbent, but I will do my best.

How do you know he's popular?

Well, I don't know about the Midwestern as a whole, but the "elites" love him. Just look at his campaign HQ.

Shrug.  Elections are never about endorsements here, or issues, or anything interesting.  Basically, voters ask:

1) Have I heard of you?
2) If not, do I like the person who I have heard of?

I don't exempt myself from this, though I am happy to report I have heard of you now!

(that said, I don't follow Senate elections much at all anymore, as nothing the Senate does ever has any impact on anything)

Well hopefully whatever comes out of the constitutional convention will change that.

[Vepres]

Yes!  Change!  Yes!  Radical change is what is needed.

Meanwhile, I suggest a PM or two around election season.

I don't even know what to think about your post.

[Vepres]

As other senatorial candidates have done, I will post my positions on bills currently being debated or voted on in the senate.

Nuclear Power Advancement Bill: I oppose this bill in its current form. If an amendment removed the subsidies and left only the tax credits I would only then support it.

Free Communications Bill: A good idea, but there should be heavier, more specific restrictions on the proposed CMT so it could only get rid of blatant lies that can be agreed upon by everyone.

Repeal of the Affirmative Action: I would support overriding the veto on this bill. Reverse racism is still racism. It may in fact encourage intra-racial resentment because a black man who was clearly less qualified would receive a job over a white man. The white man would begin to resent blacks.

Amendment to the Marijuana Legalization and Taxation Act: I would vote Aye on the bill. Regional power is good.

Fair Trade Renewal Bill: I would vote Nay on this in its current form. It is too restricting and not specific enough. I could be used to reduce free trade for purely political purposes. II could support it if it is amended however.

Atlasian Tax Resolution: This is a tricky one. I would abstain from this one unless it received major changes.

Modification of the World War II Commemoration Act: Oppose, it is unnecessary.

[Vepres]

Good luck in your campaign.  As a Midwestern resident, I wish to make clear that I am making no endorsements at this time, and I have made no decisions regarding who I will vote for- in either the Senatorial or Presidential races.  I am looking forward to an active debate on both fronts.  We did have a third candidate for the Midwest senate, but that person seems to have disappeared, maybe will come back, who knows.  I have considered running myself, but ultimately the time commitment involved both in running for office and then doing the elected job has dissuaded me.  For the present, I prefer my role as an elder statesman on the sidelines.

As we have no members of either the JCP or the DA running for this seat, what if anything will you do to appeal to leftist voters such as myself?  I will ask the same question of Senator MasterJedi.

In its current form, I may have voted for the fair trade renewal act, as the amendments made it far more reasonable. Ultimately I wish to increase the number of free trade agreements, but we need some form of fair trade laws for countries that we either can't form an agreement with or we have no interest in forming one with. I also probably agree with you leftists on most social issues.

I also want to form a multipartisan compromise bill in the senate for health care reform. Obviously I personally would favor a market based approach, but I believe that this is one issue where every Atlasian citizen, and by extension every senator, should have input in.

Next, while ideally I would favor a flat income tax, if taxes must be raised, than I would favor raising them on the rich first (though not exclusively if they needed to be raised a significant amount).

Finally, I believe in greater restrictions on businesses when it comes to harming the environment. If we don't have a healthy environment, than what's the point of economic activity? After all, we would just be living in a dirty, sickly place, were it not for environmental regulation.

So while yes I tend to be libertarian on most issues, I believe we can find common ground on the issues I listed above and potentially many more.

[Vepres]

Yes!  Change!  Yes!  Radical change is what is needed.

Meanwhile, I suggest a PM or two around election season.

I don't even know what to think about your post.

By "PM" I meant "Personal Message", as in send a couple around when the election is.  You'll be helping turn people out, in any case.

Thanks for clarifying.

[Vepres]

Sorry for double post.

I would like to take brief moment to remember those who, sadly, had fallen for our country. While you could argue the merits or demerits of the current wars, you cannot for many of the wars in the past. Regardless of whether you agree or not with certain past wars, it doesn't change the fact that these men took arms to defend our country and some fell in battle, and I am grateful they were willing to make that sacrifice. While I will probably never serve in our armed forces, as my skill sets and personality would make military service difficult for me, I recognize that our veterans and service members are one of the essential pieces of a successful society. I just want to say, thank you.

[Vepres]

I would like to respond to something MasterJedi said in his campaign headquarters earlier.

As I have promised before I will continue to look at each bill and vote on each bill on its own merit and how I believe it will help and hurt Atlasia. My oponant, Vepres, has made it clear that he favors a small government. I don't favor either a small or large government but what is needed by the country. If that makes it so we need more government in a certain area I'll vote for that but I will also vote to trim it down in another area if that's how it's best needed.

It seems as if the Senator is implying that I would not vote for a good, solid, and helpful bill for ideological reasons. Let me assure the good people of the Midwest that this is not true. I have stated in a previous post areas where I would buck the small government ideology. Health care, the environment, some (though hopefully few) business regulations, fair trade, and vast array of other issues. You see, one advantage I have over MasterJedi is that, as an independent, I am not under the pressure of a party and its members to vote a certain way. That is why I ultimately decided against joining the RPP, because I felt I may be constrained by their ideology.

Also, there are instances where the Senator voted against a common sense bill that happened to shrink the government. Most recently he voted against the Atlasian Agriculture Reinvestment bill. This bill reduced wasteful farm subsidies for the rich, yet Senator MasterJedi voted against it.

I believe my independence is an asset, and that ultimately, should I be elected, it will help the citizens of the Midwest.

*Edit: Another example of what I would do to appeal to all the leftists in the Midwest is vote for the Fuel Efficient Cars bill currently in the senate (in its current form).

[Vepres]

I would like to respond to something MasterJedi said in his campaign headquarters earlier.

As I have promised before I will continue to look at each bill and vote on each bill on its own merit and how I believe it will help and hurt Atlasia. My oponant, Vepres, has made it clear that he favors a small government. I don't favor either a small or large government but what is needed by the country. If that makes it so we need more government in a certain area I'll vote for that but I will also vote to trim it down in another area if that's how it's best needed.

It seems as if the Senator is implying that I would not vote for a good, solid, and helpful bill for ideological reasons. Let me assure the good people of the Midwest that this is not true. I have stated in a previous post areas where I would buck the small government ideology. Health care, the environment, some (though hopefully few) business regulations, fair trade, and vast array of other issues. You see, one advantage I have over MasterJedi is that, as an independent, I am not under the pressure of a party and its members to vote a certain way. That is why I ultimately decided against joining the RPP, because I felt I may be constrained by their ideology.

Also, there are instances where the Senator voted against a common sense bill that happened to shrink the government. Most recently he voted against the Atlasian Agriculture Reinvestment bill. This bill reduced wasteful farm subsidies for the rich, yet Senator MasterJedi voted against it.

I believe my independence is an asset, and that ultimately, should I be elected, it will help the citizens of the Midwest.

*Edit: Another example of what I would do to appeal to all the leftists in the Midwest is vote for the Fuel Efficient Cars bill currently in the senate (in its current form).

I think Jedi is just pointing out that he is more concerned that bill is good, solid, and for the best interest of Atlasians rather then it strengthen or weaken the federal gov't, I don't think he is implying that you would would not support those things.

What made you think you would be constrained by the RPP's ideology? There is no official party platform(or I should say there is a platform but its not for public viewing, I believe DWTL keeps it under his pillow or something. I was his V.P. candidate in the last election and I still haven't seen it yet)  So anyone is welcome who believes in limited gov't, regionalism, or both.

I understand what  you're saying. Still, there may be psychological pressure (if you understand what I mean) to vote the party line (which is, as far as I can tell, libertarianism and federalism combined). Also it allows me room to change my mind should I choose to do so. I realize the parties here aren't very ideologically constraining, still, I believe that once anyone becomes a member of a party, they start to psychologically change there views to fit the party. Apparently, in the real world, when senators switch parties their voting record drifts in the direction of that party, despite claims they would maintain their independence.

[Vepres]

I would like to respond to something MasterJedi said in his campaign headquarters earlier.

As I have promised before I will continue to look at each bill and vote on each bill on its own merit and how I believe it will help and hurt Atlasia. My oponant, Vepres, has made it clear that he favors a small government. I don't favor either a small or large government but what is needed by the country. If that makes it so we need more government in a certain area I'll vote for that but I will also vote to trim it down in another area if that's how it's best needed.

It seems as if the Senator is implying that I would not vote for a good, solid, and helpful bill for ideological reasons. Let me assure the good people of the Midwest that this is not true. I have stated in a previous post areas where I would buck the small government ideology. Health care, the environment, some (though hopefully few) business regulations, fair trade, and vast array of other issues. You see, one advantage I have over MasterJedi is that, as an independent, I am not under the pressure of a party and its members to vote a certain way. That is why I ultimately decided against joining the RPP, because I felt I may be constrained by their ideology.

Also, there are instances where the Senator voted against a common sense bill that happened to shrink the government. Most recently he voted against the Atlasian Agriculture Reinvestment bill. This bill reduced wasteful farm subsidies for the rich, yet Senator MasterJedi voted against it.

I believe my independence is an asset, and that ultimately, should I be elected, it will help the citizens of the Midwest.

*Edit: Another example of what I would do to appeal to all the leftists in the Midwest is vote for the Fuel Efficient Cars bill currently in the senate (in its current form).

I think Jedi is just pointing out that he is more concerned that bill is good, solid, and for the best interest of Atlasians rather then it strengthen or weaken the federal gov't, I don't think he is implying that you would would not support those things.

What made you think you would be constrained by the RPP's ideology? There is no official party platform(or I should say there is a platform but its not for public viewing, I believe DWTL keeps it under his pillow or something. I was his V.P. candidate in the last election and I still haven't seen it yet)  So anyone is welcome who believes in limited gov't, regionalism, or both.

I understand what  you're saying. Still, there may be psychological pressure (if you understand what I mean) to vote the party line (which is, as far as I can tell, libertarianism and federalism combined). Also it allows me room to change my mind should I choose to do so. I realize the parties here aren't very ideologically constraining, still, I believe that once anyone becomes a member of a party, they start to psychologically change there views to fit the party. Apparently, in the real world, when senators switch parties their voting record drifts in the direction of that party, despite claims they would maintain their independence.

We will see. If thats the case the party leaders are going to get heart burn over my likely un-libertarian votes. We shall see how they respond.

I doubt they will come out and criticize you. But I do think one feels a sense of obligation to vote with the party on certain occasions. I am newer around here, so I don't know how the parties behave as the election season is just starting up again.

[Vepres]

Press Release:
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Today, May 25, 2009, Mr. Vepres introduced a legislative proposal for petition in the Midwest entitled, "The Public School Choice Act". If passed, this bill would allow students to choose which public school they wish to attend, instead of being forced into a specific one by the government. Mr. Vepres believes this will increase the quality and competitiveness of Midwestern public schools in the coming years.
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[Vepres]

I would like to make a few additions to my platform.

Amended Platform:

Health Care Reform
This is an issue that doesn't seem to have been addressed in the Atlasia senate lately. I support market-based reforms such as health savings accounts and tax credits for families. Ultimately this is an issue that needs to be addressed by every member in the senate. I believe that the next senate must hold a brainstorming session and then write a bill based on the best ideas. I don't have any specific proposals as I believe that the whole senate must address this complex and politically divisive issue.

Newbie Recruitment
As I read through the board when I first joined Atlasia, it became clear that many members were frustrated with the lack of active newbies. Therefore, as the Midwestern Senator, I will actively recruit newbies that seem to be intelligent and have some political knowledge. I will also encourage my fellow senators to do the same.

Respect of Regions' Rights
The title says it all. I don't want to step on the regions' rights, though the federal government certainly has its place.

Opposition to Big Government
I will emphatically oppose any bill that I believe will increase the size and/or power of the government in a bad way.

Removal of Social Security
This relic of the mid-20th century needs to be totally removed and replaced with 401k's and retirement investment accounts.

[Vepres]

There is a reason why we don't have budget reports.
They tried in the beginning, but they never succeeded.

Oh, ok.

[Vepres]

Vepres holds a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa
Greetings my fellow Midwesterners! As you know, two days ago I declared my candidacy for the Midwestern senate seat. Since then, I have proposed a public school choice bill for the Midwest, and made a number of gaffes revealing my newness to Atlasia. I assure you, though I may not know of certain people or of certain past events, I am in touch with current Atlasian events and politics.

Today I would like to do two things. One, I would like to clarify why I am running for the senate, and go into more detail as to what my reasons are. Two, I would like to explain one of my policy proposals.

First, why am I running for the senate? I am running because I believe that Senator MasterJedi, though he has done a  fine job as president pro tempore, has not represented us Midwesterners, nor has he made any attempt to reach out to us. It took him over half his term to finally get a senatorial office up and running here in the Midwest. Has he ever held a town hall meeting with his constituents? No! Has he stayed involved and in touch with Midwestern government and politics? No! He has stayed in his Nyman bubble, content to turn a blind eye to us and our concerns. Even when constitutional amendments were proposed for the Midwestern constitution, he didn't so much as comment on them.

Midwesterners, as your senator, I promise to hold a town hall meeting every month I am in office. I also promise to frequent my Midwestern senatorial office, to listen and respond to your concerns. Finally, I will remain in touch and active in Midwestern government and politics. I will be a true Midwesterner, truly representing you in the senate, instead of a Nyman politician pretending to represent us.

Now that you know I am running, I would like to detail my proposal for social security reform, something that has been ignored in Atlasian politics. First in the proposal, we must raise the retirement age to 70. With Atlasians living well into their eighties, it is unreasonable and fiscally impossible for the government to keep giving these people welfare. We will then convert all Midwestern citizens under the age of 50 who make more than $50k a year to private investment accounts. We will also give all citizens over the age of 50 the option of switching over to private accounts. I also propose that all citizens who have less than $500,000 in net worth when they reach the retirement age have the option of staying on the current plan. This will significantly cut costs, and we may also be able to cut the payroll tax along with it.

Keep in mind, that all these numbers are subject to change, but I wanted to give you a feel of what my proposal will look like when I become your senator.

Remember Midwesterners, you have a choice in this election. You can reelect a Nyman politician who is out of touch with the Midwest, or you can elect me, and know that I will always remain in touch and listen to the Midwest.

Thank you.

[Vepres]

There is no such thing as "Colorado".

Epic fail, newbie.

Here is a map of Midwestern state names for future reference:



We really need to annex Manitoba and call it the State of the Art.

I realize there is no "Colorado", but I refer to them by there original names so non-Midwesterners know where I'm referring to.

[Vepres]

But shouldn't you campaign for votes from Midwesterners?

Good point. Fine, I announced in Boulder, Denial, and my campaign stop was in Des Moines, Confusion.

[Vepres]

There is no such thing as "Colorado".

Epic fail, newbie.

Here is a map of Midwestern state names for future reference:



We really need to annex Manitoba and call it the State of the Art.

Why such names?

Of course I prefer referring to "Denial" as Colorado, for example.

I looked through the Midwestern statute; they renamed them two years ago. I think it's pointless, which is why I'm urging the Midwestern ilikeverin (really the governor), GMantis, to change them back.

[Vepres]

I have a question for you, Vepres. I know you aren't in my region, but it would still be great to get an answer.
Why should you be elected to the Senate when you have (currently) less than 150 posts and have been on here for only a couple of weeks?

Excellent question!

First and foremost, I will have accumulated many more posts by the time I am sworn in (should I win). Secondly, while my experience may be lacking, and my knowledge of past members or events of Atlasia may also be lacking, I am not lacking ideas. I believe I will be more engaged and in touch with the Midwestern public than Senator MasterJedi has been. For example, I will visit my senatorial office often, ask my constituents of their opinions on certain issues, and perhaps even hold town halls to get their opinion of my performance and the various issues at hand. I believe that somebody should not be elected based on their experience, but based on their ideas and principles.

I will admit that I have made many gaffes since I declared my candidacy because of my lack of experience. But these are becoming far less frequent, and by the time I am elected the Midwestern senator, these gaffes will become a rare occurrence. Besides, we must hold our leaders accountable. MasterJedi had no serious opponent, and as such he ignored the Midwestern public. We need a senator that truly represents the Midwest, and not just another Nyman politician.

[Vepres]

I have a question for you, Vepres. I know you aren't in my region, but it would still be great to get an answer.
Why should you be elected to the Senate when you have (currently) less than 150 posts and have been on here for only a couple of weeks?

Excellent question!

First and foremost, I will have accumulated many more posts by the time I am sworn in (should I win). Secondly, while my experience may be lacking, and my knowledge of past members or events of Atlasia may also be lacking, I am not lacking ideas. I believe I will be more engaged and in touch with the Midwestern public than Senator MasterJedi has been. For example, I will visit my senatorial office often, ask my constituents of their opinions on certain issues, and perhaps even hold town halls to get their opinion of my performance and the various issues at hand. I believe that somebody should not be elected based on their experience, but based on their ideas and principles.

I will admit that I have made many gaffes since I declared my candidacy because of my lack of experience. But these are becoming far less frequent, and by the time I am elected the Midwestern senator, these gaffes will become a rare occurrence. Besides, we must hold our leaders accountable. MasterJedi had no serious opponent, and as such he ignored the Midwestern public. We need a senator that truly represents the Midwest, and not just another Nyman politician.

Very good answer. I like it how you've become so active in such a short period. Somewhat like myself, but I just don't have the ambition to run for such a big office.
Best of luck to you and your campaign. I would seriously consider voting for you if you were in my region. You make some very good points.

Thank you for the compliments. I would like see you run for the senate one day, you would make an excellent candidate.