The Office of JCL

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Please folks don't forget to vote. From what I've seen with the first day of voting it could be an historic non presidential race. And please vote for Maxwell. He has spearheaded a comback in the Midwest that makes it look nearly as good as my beloved Mideast. Don't get me wrong I ran for that seat but folks weren't quite ready for my views to be in such august company. I will be running for a senate seat in the future and I hope I can count on your support when that time comes. But for now get out and vote Maxwell.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Bangor, Maine

It's good to see so many liberty lovers today. It seems so crazy so soon after a special election that we're at the beginning of another national race. It's good that Governor Maxwell has decided to announce his run for the upcoming at-large senate race. His capable record as governor has brought the Midwest up out of a level of inactivity that nearly destroyed the Pacific region.  As such he will have my firm support in this upcoming as would any Federalist or any conservative or libertarian minded independent or member of another party. But enough of the preliminaries.

I want to talk to you about why I'm also stepping in this race. It's the state of our economy. We can do better. There is potential for much more and faster growth. Our friends in the Labour party and their allies in the NMAM think their cradle  to grave mentality of government of entitlements will work much better than a system where the market is left largly alone. Of course with the obvious exceptions of ensuring consumer safety along with a fair and safe job market where the individual is allowed to decide to be in a workplace with a union while not being apart of that union. The individual also knows the risks and benefits of that decision in a fair and balanced way.

The other snag I see in our ability to maximise individual economic prosperity is the current tax brackets. They simply don't work. No government, if they were smart, would tax a class of citizen that is more well off by a rate of nearly 70 percent (that is if you combined the various federal, regional local rates). That simply chokes the life out something that needs to grow.

I know some folks wonder why some kid from rural Indiana who only had two terms run for Senate. I run because we can be better than we are. We can be an Atlasia where regardless of political view we can be a beacon of hope to the world. A shining city on a hill which has a rather difficult time being hidden. Where the intellectual, rational, and often passionate debate in the sphere of government and politics can be a peaceful model that should be the envy of the world. Where the democratic process is protected and firmly underpinned with hard work, faith in something bigger than yourself, and a belief that though times could get dark that light can be found if each of us individually and as communities and regions do so on our own and together

Thank you and may God save and keep Atlasia

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

1. What are your thoughts on the basic income bill as it stands? What changes will you propose, if any, and will you support the bill if those changes are made?

2. What are your thoughts on the package of education reforms that is under debate in the Senate? What changes will you propose, if any, and will you support the bill if those changes are made?

3. You have referred to yourself as an "ardent" supporter of regional rights. What additional responsibilities should be devolved to the regions? Why are the regions better suited to these tasks?

4. The Judicial Tenure Amendment is currently at a vote. How would you have voted on this amendment, and what other reforms to the Supreme Court, if any, will you recommend and support if you are elected?

1. I'm rather leery of the bill. While T.J. does bring up good points in particular with means testing and other matters, I think there is another way to go about reducing unemployment and raise incomes and thus raise govenmental revenue. I know around here what I may say next won't be popular but mandating union membership as a term of employment in any service or industry is simply wrong. While unions have done a great service in gaining better conditions and compensation packages there have been abuses. So I'm saying open up the shops to nonunion labor. Also we need to encourage a return to an industral rather than a service based economy. Lower taxes on companies so they can hire more labor. I'm suggusting a three percent corporate tax rate across the board. To help small business to increase I would advocate my Detroit Plan which is a flattened version of the Clinton tax rates.

2. Private schools should not be turned into defacto public schools. Of course we need to have a better quality of education but we should look at what our private schools are doing that promotes more success amongst their students and rather than demonizing them adopt their merhods. This will get a bit into question three but education should be handled more on the local and regional level. Also let in educators who aren't part of the teachers unions. Bring in successful teachers from all over the world to help our teachers improve in their methods of education. So I'd vote nay on the current education bill.

3. Other than education I'd devolve family matters to rhe regions. As it goes now marriage, divorce and adoption are under federal purview as a power given to the senate. Regions are better suited on these matters because they are closer to the situation. Someone in Nyman doesn't know how to handle a family situation in Nebraska or New Hampshire. Adoption should be a partnership as you have not just interstate adoptions you also have international ones.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Thank you for such a robust welcome.

The issue I want to talk about is on the hearts and minds of many Atlasians of all political views. The current regional structure itself. Many in the political class and citizens are supportive of cutting the regions down from five to three. Their main concerns are well intentioned to promote greater activity. Are they not aware of the reforms Spamage and Maxwell are trying to promote within their regions to spur activity along with the IDS and my own Mideast and the ever solid Northeast once led by a friend in former governor Scott? While it will be a great way to shake things up I as a regionalist can't support this until I have more information on the pros and cons of going to three regions. Lets have a.careful and thoughtful debate rather than running towards a fad that could hurt the game we all love irreparably.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

While it will be a great way to shake things up I as a regionalist can't support this until I have more information on the pros and cons of going to three regions. Lets have a.careful and thoughtful debate rather than running towards a fad that could hurt the game we all love irreparably.

No one is trying to ram this through - in speaking with President Nix, Governor Maxwell (who also supports this), and several others, I think we're all hoping for a very thoughtful and detailed debate on the issue.

I'm surprised Max would support this given his region would be blown to kingdom come .

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

JCL, what are you positions on school vouchers, private schools, and homeschooling?

On School Vouchers: I'm for them. When you're running in 25th in academic achievement amongst the first world nations, that is simply below what we should hold ourselves to. The source of that problem is failing schools. We have parents who want the best for their kids yet are often stuck in a bad school system due to bad policy. Look at the Indiana system of doing vouchers. Our scores and standards are steadily improving and parents are being able to choose where their kids go to. Why isn't competition amongst schools for students a good thing. I see it as a very good thing.

On private schools: Again this is a matter that parents rather than government should be the final authority on as much as possible. Often these schools come about because of religious conscience and that should be respected. What is being attempted by elements of the senate to force these schools into being ran like public schools is simply wrong and must be stopped.

Homeschooling: As I said in the private school section parents mostly due to religious consciences make use of this option. Usually the academic standards amongst this goup of Atlasians are the highest along with private schools. Our public schools need to look at the good things they're doing and maybe adopt some of those methods. Why do you think homeschoolers are winning spelling bees like none other?

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

JCL, I have been having a hard time deciding who to give my third preference to, and that answer has convinced me to give it to you.

Thanks Goldwater. Any help I can get is a good thing.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

My foreign policy speech will be coming this weekend.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

TNF,

I don't oppose religious freedom for those who follow the teachings of Mohammed provided that they aren't masking it for an agenda of violence as much as much as I would for anybody else. With regards to gay adoption, do I need to bring up the Rembrandt expression again?

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Thank you for such a robust welcome.

The issue I want to talk about is on the hearts and minds of many Atlasians of all political views. The current regional structure itself. Many in the political class and citizens are supportive of cutting the regions down from five to three. Their main concerns are well intentioned to promote greater activity. Are they not aware of the reforms Spamage and Maxwell are trying to promote within their regions to spur activity along with the IDS and my own Mideast and the ever solid Northeast once led by a friend in former governor Scott? While it will be a great way to shake things up I as a regionalist can't support this until I have more information on the pros and cons of going to three regions. Lets have a.careful and thoughtful debate rather than running towards a fad that could hurt the game we all love irreparably.

I agree with you but would go even further in that I vehemently oppose any attempts to reduce the number of Atlasian regions.

Since this is a crucial issue for me I proudly endorse you!

Just like you vehemently oppose religious freedom for Muslims and gay adoption. Go figure!

One has absolutely nothing to do with the other.

Also, this is for everyone. If you're going to argue, stop it with the fake smileys.

Calling out a politician on his retrograde positions has nothing to do with his retrograde position on game reform? I'm realize you and your party are as reactionary as they come PJ, but c'mon, there's obviously a link here between being a radical social conservative who wants to ban minarets and gay adoption and is opposed to changing the regional structure. Perhaps ZuWo is afraid of losing his power over the Mideast and that region's status as the nation's most reactionary?

TNF, Look at what I said about religious freedom. It applies to Muslims as well as Christians as long as they aren't using it as a cover to commit acts of violence and terror. I deplore the actions of those who bombed abortion clinics as much as the ones who bomb our embacies and burn churches.

You know my reasoning for the opposition to gay adoption.

On the changing of the regional map I oppose it because partially none of these proposed maps benefit my state of Indiana in terms of representation and merging the Mideast with the Northeast is a bad idea because combining the two most active regions into one I believe will set back giving a hand up and moving forward with the reforms of the Midwest and Pacific regions. Plus I believe this a power grab by the left to destroy the one conservative bastion of the game and I can't sit back and let that happen.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

As for my format for the foreign policy section I would like to turn it into a Town Hall style meeting. If possible I would like to start fielding questions around 10:45 AM EDT tomorrow. So you may start to ask your questions now.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

When do you think its appropriate to use force?

Before I give my answer I'm going to give you my story. I'm from a military family. This goes all the way back to the days of Willam Wallace and Robert the Bruce the King of Scotland. It is also traced to the peace churches of the Protestant Reformers like the Pennsylvania Dutch, the Amish and other groups of that nature. So I'm going to try to keep it simple. The use of force will be something I will sparingly use. I'm a firm believer in what Jesus said. "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God" The Christian Just War doctrine is something I will use as a guide wether or not I will support the use of force.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Townhall bump

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Get you vote on folks. Fellow Federalists its important that we give our first three preferences to the party's candidates. To have a chance of all three winning I'm reccomending this order.

JCL
Tmth
Maxwell

We can't afford to split our votes like the left so lets stand together and create the change we want.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Good luck JCL!

Looks like you're already in Max

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

I have a question for fellow Federalists. If Max is well over quota for election why are you still first preferencing him and not helping Tmth and myself with first preferences. Do you want a majority in the senate? Then throw some first preferences our way.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

I have a question for fellow Federalists. If Max is well over quota for election why are you still first preferencing him and not helping Tmth and myself with first preferences. Do you want a majority in the senate? Then throw some first preferences our way.

Maybe there are Federalists who (shock! horror!) don't actually want you in the Senate.
Same principle exists on the other side, see for example

1. Sjoyce
2. Gass
3. Maxwell
4. Tmth
5. Xahar

Nix not voting for Napoleon....... I expect this kind of behavior from the left not the right. To think if they (meaning the federalist) were running and I wasn't I would give them my vote. I only expect the same in return. Isn't that how the party system works. I knew Nix wasn't going to preference me at all but for Federalists to preference Napoleon and SJoyce ahead of me when I would preference them ahead of any non federalist vote I make shows a double standard that will cripple any political movement.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

I have a question for fellow Federalists. If Max is well over quota for election why are you still first preferencing him and not helping Tmth and myself with first preferences. Do you want a majority in the senate? Then throw some first preferences our way.

Maybe there are Federalists who (shock! horror!) don't actually want you in the Senate.
Same principle exists on the other side, see for example

1. Sjoyce
2. Gass
3. Maxwell
4. Tmth
5. Xahar

Nix not voting for Napoleon....... I expect this kind of behavior from the left not the right. To think if they (meaning the federalist) were running and I wasn't I would give them my vote. I only expect the same in return. Isn't that how the party system works. I knew Nix wasn't going to preference me at all but for Federalists to preference Napoleon and SJoyce ahead of me when I would preference them ahead of any non federalist vote I make shows a double standard that will cripple any political movement.

What is that first sentence supposed to mean? Fortunately, a lot of the Federalists are less partisan than you. Let's take the most moderate member of the Federalist Party, which in my opinion is Sbane.  Not sure if they already voted, but based on ideology alone, does it make sense for a federalist with Sbane's matrix score to vote for someone they differ from 2 points economically and 3 points socially (Napoleon), or someone they differ from 6 points economically and 5 points socially? (You)

Him and Scott I expected. I'm talking about Vosem and Torie.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

I have a question for fellow Federalists. If Max is well over quota for election why are you still first preferencing him and not helping Tmth and myself with first preferences. Do you want a majority in the senate? Then throw some first preferences our way.

Maybe there are Federalists who (shock! horror!) don't actually want you in the Senate.
Same principle exists on the other side, see for example

1. Sjoyce
2. Gass
3. Maxwell
4. Tmth
5. Xahar

Nix not voting for Napoleon....... I expect this kind of behavior from the left not the right. To think if they (meaning the federalist) were running and I wasn't I would give them my vote. I only expect the same in return. Isn't that how the party system works. I knew Nix wasn't going to preference me at all but for Federalists to preference Napoleon and SJoyce ahead of me when I would preference them ahead of any non federalist vote I make shows a double standard that will cripple any political movement.

What is that first sentence supposed to mean? Fortunately, a lot of the Federalists are less partisan than you. Let's take the most moderate member of the Federalist Party, which in my opinion is Sbane.  Not sure if they already voted, but based on ideology alone, does it make sense for a federalist with Sbane's matrix score to vote for someone they differ from 2 points economically and 3 points socially (Napoleon), or someone they differ from 6 points economically and 5 points socially? (You)

Him and Scott I expected. I'm talking about Vosem and Torie.

Your position on gay marriage would probably explain Torie's vote.

Yet I would back him if he were running in this race.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

The idea I've try to go with as I've developed in this game is build issues based coalitions. I know many despise my view on gay marriage but they should look at my tax plan which is built on a compromise. Look at my foreign policy which many on the site would sympathize with. Look at my energy policy which takes the best of conservative ideas and considers the enviromental concerns of the left. Look at my view on criminal justice which is rehabilitative in nature but still shows the punitive side that our laws have to have. Look at my advocacy of protecting our kids against predators and traffickers. That's what they need to look at in spite of my view of marriage which regardless of that should not be a senate power but one of the regions.

I'm not blameing you Supersonic. I'm trying to address the federalist and center-right disconnect that I've had to deal with unlike most.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

I'm not blameing you Supersonic. I'm trying to address the federalist and center-right disconnect that I've had to deal with unlike most.

The Federalists have an large big-L Libertarian wing who are very socially liberal, this is probably a thorn in your side. I think it's more a perception, rather than any actual policy difference.

Could be. But I back them as vigorously as I would the socon wing many try to paint me to be part of.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

I'm not blameing you Supersonic. I'm trying to address the federalist and center-right disconnect that I've had to deal with unlike most.

The Federalists have an large big-L Libertarian wing who are very socially liberal, this is probably a thorn in your side. I think it's more a perception, rather than any actual policy difference.

And as chairman, I have encouraged federalists to vote for JCL, so let's not blame the Libertarian wing of the party, shall we?

Most assume because of my view on marriage that I'm not of the Libertarian wing myself. I've tried to be a bridge between the Conservative and Libertarian wings.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

I plan on running again Kenobi. Don't know when or what for yet. Not to say I don't have a prospect or two.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Chicago IL,

It's good to be back in The Windy City. If only our Cubs would leave their losing ways. I can kinda relate to their situation but I'm going for something better that we will all benefit from. A JCL term in our assembly. I'm running this time on a plan to propose specific infrastructure improvements that will benefit all of the region. As part of this Chicago would serve a very important role in this project. A rail system that would put the current proposal to shame all while maintaining a balanced budget.

Thank you and on to break my losing streak.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Are you a Cubs fan?

Fourth Generation one.