Office of Chairman TNF: Red Army takes NM, UT, ID, AZ

[TNF]

First of all TNF, you did, even I did. And to Riley; he's desperate, when you back an animal into a corner, it attacks... His approvals- or should I say diss approvals, are crushing him. TNF is the classic definition of the Pol Pot Pork Pot. He is sitting in his wealth. He is the true 1%, why? Because that's exactly who approves of him. He might envelop himself with him and his communist friends and their ego, but their whole world will be crashing down on them.

And senator, in case if you go "tl;dr" on me, read this:


Your day in the sun might feel great, but next month, your world will be crashing down and don't you dear ask for a runnoff, because The People will rise up against you.

Senator TNF, your days are numbered.

Thank you.

I ran this through Google Translate a good five times and still couldn't decipher it. Might I recommend posting in English next time?

[TNF]

In addition to cozying up to the far-right, my opponent has been a steadfast ally of Atlasia's very own Richard Nixon, Senator Tmthforu94, who has and continues to engage in blackmail and all sorts of disgusting, deceitful campaign tactics. I have called upon Senator Tmthforu94 to RESIGN his seat in lieu of these developments, and I encourage my opponent to do the same for Tmthforu94's damaging and destructive acts of bullying and blackmailing another member of the Senate. Will you do that, Governor? Or is taking a stand just Too Much To Handle for You?

[TNF]

After many weeks of bated breath, we all finally got to see my opponent's platform last night, which, unsurprisingly, leaves a lot to be desired. Let's dig in.

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[TNF]

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[TNF]

Your solution for Social Security is bankrupting it and confiscating private plans. That's not a solution!

[citation needed]

[TNF]

Your solution for Social Security is bankrupting it and confiscating private plans. That's not a solution!

[citation needed]

It's pretty simple, reduce the retirement age for 55 and cut payroll taxes, it will be very likely that it will reduce receipts for the system and it will increase spendings since people will retire sooner. There's no sustaintability on this model or do you think differently?

Except I have already noted that I would divert general revenues into the program and fund the program that way. That's a much better solution that what my opponent is offering, which is, upon further investigation, apparently the privatization of Social Security, which I cannot support under any circumstances.

[TNF]

So you're not just bankrupting Social Security, you're bankrupting the entire federal budget?

Not sure how that would bankrupt the entire federal budget when there are plenty of cuts that could be made elsewhere (especially in the realm of military spending and the national security state) and plenty of tax increases we could enact upon the wealthy to make up the difference.

[TNF]

Not sure how that would bankrupt the entire federal budget when there are plenty of cuts that could be made elsewhere (especially in the realm of military spending and the national security state) and plenty of tax increases we could enact upon the wealthy to make up the difference.

National security is and should always be the first priority of the federal government. There aren't enough rich people to fund everything. It just makes no economic sense.

This country has he largest GDP on the planet. Surely we can direct some of that away from the people who are literally stealing it from the people who produce that wealth and to the producers, that is, the working class.

[TNF]

My opponent has announced his "team" today, which unsurprisingly consists of a bunch of right-wingers. Weird how the "Progressive Union" has a member which openly calls for the privatization of Social Security and supports compulsory pregnancy, isn't it? Doesn't sound like much of a "progressive" party to me.

[TNF]

What is your position on the Midwest and Pacific regional governments combining as proposed?

Tentatively supportive, though I'd like to see how the details work out.

[TNF]

Senator, I think it's time for us to finally have a debate on the issues. I sincerely apologize for the long wait, but I still can't find a moderator who both of us could consider impartial. Do you have any proposals for a moderator?

Perhaps a panel of moderators would be best? One Federalist, one Progressive, one Laborite, and one Democratic-Republican?

[TNF]

I think that tomorrow would work best for me. I don't have a preference on questions for moderator, although with four moderators, perhaps five questions each would be best, as that would give us a round number of 20 total questions for the both of us to answer. Thank you for doing the PMing work, I am quite satisfied with your selections for the moderators of our debate, Governor.

[TNF]

VICTORY!

I address you tonight as both a winner and a loser, comrades. First, on the losing end. Tonight, I regretfully announce my concession in the Presidential race to my good friend and colleague, the President of the Republic of Atlasia, Duke and of course, Vice President Matt, a very dear friend of mine. It was a hard fought race. It was a race of ideas, and of contrast, between myself, Governor Spiral, and the President. I want to offer congratulations to the President and Vice President on their respective re-election. Four more months indeed.

But now, the moment that I have been waiting to announce and the moment that I'm sure we've all been waiting for: the conclusion, the final chapter, in the race between myself and Governor Lumine. This has been one hell of a fight. It has been a knock-down, drag-out, drama-filled race where I'd wager to say that at times, we both let the campaign get the best of us. Hyperbole was had, but we still made this a campaign about the issues that affected the daily lives of Midwesterners. We had an excellent debate and kept this cycle exciting. I am glad to have had that opportunity, to have been able to engage with such a well spoken and well versed opponent. It truly was a pleasure, Governor. I wish you luck in all your future endeavors in Atlasia and sincerely thank you for all the work you have done in making our Region a better place.

To my friends: I want to thank you for all the support you have given me. I want to chiefly thank the Labor Party, whose members have been the best friends a guy could ever ask for, in politics as well as elsewhere. We might bitch at one another from time to time or disagree on strategy or the way forward, but at the end of the day, you guys are family and I wouldn't be where I am standing today without you. Thank you for all your support. It is never underappreciated.

To my detractors:

[TNF]

Congratulations TNF!

Congrats

Thank you both for all the help and support you've given me in this race. I won't forget it.

[TNF]

You've done very well in this election, much more than what many people assumed. Be proud of that fact! You made for a great opponent.

Thank you for your kind words, Governor. All the same to you!

[TNF]

CO-DETERMINATION AND CO-OPS

A new way forward for Atlasian industry

Cheyenne, Amity - Today I have introduced a substantive amendment to the Co-determination Act, which will pave the way forward for co-determination in private industry while also making worker owned and managed co-operatives a more viable option and a more substantive force in our economic life. I want to take this as an opportunity to likewise praise the work being done in our very Region, by folks like Brewer, Arturo, windjammer, and Adam toward the creation of a more fair and democratic Midwestern commonwealth. You are all doing the work of the working class! I hope that my new version of the Co-determination Act provokes needed debate about the role of co-ops in our economy and provides the Atlasian worker with yet another outlet for real representation on the job by establishing a system of real co-determination. The bill is, I'd like to say, much more well thought out and workable than the previous version, and I'd like to thank President Duke for giving me the opportunity to bring forward what I think will ultimately be a more workable system for employer and employee alike.

As always, if you have any questions for me, my inbox is always open and my thread is as well open for comment and questioning. Feel free to ask me anything.

In solidarity,

Senator TNF

[TNF]

In keeping with the Midwest's tradition as the land of the loony left, today I asked Archduke Arturo Belano to introduce legislation that would rename Canadian provinces under our jurisdiction. Here's hoping to it's swift passage!

[TNF]

Just stopping in to share with the good people of Atlasia a translation of Simfan's recent speech from plutocrat into English. Here it is for all to behold!

(Warning: Apologism for social parasitism and RICH PEOPLE TEARS ahead)

Platform for The Rich People

When I first ran for Senate, I chose to run an “ideas-based campaign” that would lay out several ideas I planned to pursue if I was elected for the rich. I consider that The Rich People received this well, that they had a desire to see new ideas put forth and pursued for the rich. Now, two weeks ago, I gave a speech outlining what I considered to be a “Rich People-oriented policy”, the kind of policies a leader should pursue if he or she sought, as they should, to advance the cause of The Rich People. So, my (brief) campaign shall be based on, first and foremost, the Rich People-oriented policy and ideas to advance this policy- what I consider the Platform for The Rich People.

So what are the Principles for the Rich People? 

As Senator, I will support and propose pro-employment policies that respect the ideas of free enterprise the destruction of working class living standards and the funnelling of their hard earned wealth to non-working social parasites and the basic realities of  rich people oriented economics. There have been many around here as of late claiming to advance the interests of “the working People”, (What nerve!) as if some of The People worked and others of those who claimed to do so did not (they're on to us!). This is fallacious (but not really). The sacrifices of employers, entrepreneurs, and innovators (HAHAHAHAHA) to create goods and services that consumers desire (not really), and to provide low-wage, zero-benefit, non-union employment for The People, cannot be overlooked, which I fear has happened in some quarters (Will anyone think of the poor capitalist billionaires?).

I will propose policies with regard to the energy sector that will expand sh**tty job-creation opportunities for The People and remove regulatory red tape safeguards on human beings based on unscientific and un-factual grounds dignity and common sense.

I will propose policies that give business owners and entrepreneurs the ability to work with their employees to help keep The People employed, and not strangle business to the detriment for the sake of increasing the power of certain individuals (I have no problem with rich people having ever expanding power at the expense of the rest of society however, lest you are concerned about my actual position in the class war). I will cite an example of this; the recent Job Destruction Penalty Act proposed by Senator TNF would unfairly constrain the ability of businesses to keep workforces proportionate to the demands of their markets. We have seen this elsewhere, with disastrous results. In Spain, where they had similar laws  (there, they got 45 days of pay per year only in the case of “unfair dismissal”, under TNF’s proposal, they would get 2 months no matter what), businesses have floundered due to their inability to pay severance to laid off workers, and hiring was anaemic, resulting in youth unemployment of over 50% and total employment over 25%. This is the sort of law that would purport to help The People but instead would greatly harm them. This is the sort of thing I would oppose. [insert lies and falsehoods perpetrated upon the working people on the Earth by the capitalist slavers here]

There are more ideas to come on behalf of the rich

[TNF]

I will admit amusement at that, TNF.

I aim to please.

[TNF]

I've decided to seek a fifth fourth term in the Senate. In that term, I promise to continue to make the Atlasian right-wing cry for their mommies, wring their hands, and plot the transformation of Atlasia into a banana republic to stop my radical left-wing legislation.

[TNF]

Fifth term? Not Fourth term?

Obviously endorsed.

It is fourth. I miscounted.

Thank you all for your support!

[TNF]

Statement on the vile attack upon workers by administration

As you may (or may not know), the administration recently signed off on a bill eliminating the timetable of minimum wage increases that it signed off on a few months back with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 2014. Workers were poised to get a raise to $14 an hour on July 1 this year, but no more. This administration has stabbed working people in the back. In spite of it's purported support of the worker, it has stabbed the worst-off and most vulnerable in the back to please deluded right-wing ideologues like Senator shua and GM Simfan, who have no interest in mind but that of the greedy parasitical exploiters of mankind.

I will, mark my words, see to it that the so-called "Long term unemployment relief Act" (aka the Increase Welfare for Deadbeat Corporations Act) is repealed in my next term. And I will see to it that those workers who would have been affected by a wage increase get back pay amounting to what they are owed. I will not rest until this stunning betrayal and attack upon workers by this so-called "People's" administration is undone, and it's sycophants are defeated utterly in the June Presidential Election.
 

[TNF]

In light of this actually becoming a race, I've decided to release a "Four Point Program for a Fourth Term," which will essentially be a statement of principles on my part as to what I hope to achieve in a fourth term.

1. The restoration of the minimum wage to levels outlined in the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The attack upon the worst off members of our society by the Federalists and their allies in the so-called People's Party must be reversed with all deliberate speed. If elected to a fourth term, I will make the restoration of the $18 an hour minimum wage promised in the FLSA my number one priority.

2. Co-determiniation, worker cooperatives, and workers' self-management of industry.
If elected, I will continue to push for economic democracy and the decentralization of the economy. Workers should ultimately own and manage all of the economy, and capitalism should be eliminated in favor of socialism. I have no illusions that that can be handed down from government, but I do believe that government can speed up the process by giving workers more control over where they work.

3. Expansion of the right to organize.
Social unionism is an idea whose time has come. What do I mean by "social unionism"? Essentially, I think that it is time that we allowed non-workers to organize and collectively bargain in situations where this makes sense. Students on college campuses should be allowed to unionize and negotiate with campus administration over financial and other issues, for example. Consumers should be allowed to unionize and directly negotiate with industry on issues of pricing an supply. Prisoners should be allowed to unionize and be able to negotiate for better conditions and facilities. All these and more should be embraced as positive developments and should be made legal entities in our society.

4. An omnibus civil liberties bill.
I think that it is high time the Senate moved to enact a new bill guaranteeing protections for civil liberties within and outside of the workplace. Why should your employer be able to tell you that you can't have a beard, or wear your hair a certain length? Why should the state monitor your communications and be able to kill you at will if it suspects you of terrorism? An omnibus civil liberties bill is needed to fully outline the protections of all of us under the law.

[TNF]

PEACE, PROSPERITY, AND PROGRESS



THE JUNE 2014 LABOR PARTY PLATFORM

Preliminary draft coming soon

[TNF]

Comrades:

I would like to make known my endorsements for the Midwest Althing elections, which are fast approaching. I encourage all Midwesterners to re-elect both Sol and AdamCFitzGerald. I have had disagreements with both in the past, especially with regard to the recently overturned law, which I felt (and still hold) was poorly written and largely unenforceable. I think that the Supreme Court did the right thing in throwing that law out and giving both these representatives a chance at writing a law that will not only uphold the aims of the original document (which, with a few exceptions (that I have outlined in the thread pertaining to the law itself), I find satisfactory. Above all, I think that it is important that we hold to account our legislators for writing legislation that is effective, enforceable, and equitable. I know that both these representatives have the ability to do that and I think that the citizens of the Midwest should give both of them another shot at writing an improved, effective, and constitutional bill that protects those subject to homopobic or transphobic violence.

I would ALSO like to endorse a personal comrade of mine and the man who I replaced in the Senate, former Senator Snowstalker for Althing. Snowstalker has proven himself capable of writing excellent legislation and is of course an undying supporter of workers' rights an the right of labor to organize. Snowstalker may no longer be a member of the Labor Party but he is a Laborite in spirit and in deed, and I shall endorse his bid in hopes of establishing a fully progressive, worker-friendly Midwest Althing.

On the subject of all other endorsements, I endorse those who have been endorsed at the Labor Party National Convention. I may have voted to the contrary at that Convention, but I trust the judgment of my comrades and will not deviate from their wisdom in the selection of those candidates for endorsement. I wish all candidates good luck on their races, and especially would like to give personal thanks to all those who have endorsed me in my bid for a fourth term.

Onward to victory, comrades!