Campaign Office of TJ/Tmthforu for the Mideast

[TJ in Oregon]

Good Afternoon ladies and gentlemen of Atlasia,

I would like to announce my campaign for re-election to the Atlasian senate in the upcoming April Midterm election. I believe we are at an important point in the progress of Atlasia beyond the old two-party system that was in place when I was elected in December to a new era of bipartisanship and cooperation on the important issues that face this great nation and seek to usher in an era of greater prosperity for our nascient future.

However this will require hard work and reform to bring our great vision to fruition. In the near future the Senate will be debating the Corporate Governance Reform Act. I believe passage of this act is key to ensuring a competitive corporate environment that encourages success rather than failure and robbing the public.

As always, I would like to answer any questions you might have regarding my positions on the critical issues we face today in Atlasia.

[TJ in Oregon]

Platform:

Domestic Issues:

-Taxes should be kept as low as reasonably possible to promote economic growth; however, they must be raised now, in addition to spending cuts, to avoid budgetary disaster. While the rich cannot be expected to carry the entire burden of our government alone, I do not support implementing a flat tax, but would rather see something along the lines of an exponential decay function used to eliminate discontinuities in the derivative of the overall tax rate. I believe that the highest Atlasian tax bracket of 60% is certainly higher than I would like but understand we cannot simply reduce it without offsetting the revenue loss elsewhere. I oppose a tax cut without a matching spending cut.
-I support free trade in most circumstances unless there is a very specific reason to oppose it for a particular product.
-I believe that the current system of laws for Atlasian corporate governance has failed. I believe we must place a limit on the percentage of company stock that can be devoted to stock options in order to end the system of perverse incentives for corporate executive we currently have in place. However, this cannot simply be done without allowing a different type of compensation to replace the stock option. I would advocate for the federal government to remove the Million Dollar Base Salary Cap. The current system has clearly failed and the cap has caused nothing but a burst of shady compensation methods designed only to circumvent the law and avoid proper scrutiny.
-I oppose efforts to artificially mandate prices unless there are extenuating circumstances and believe the basic function of a free economy will best dictate the appropriate price for a commodity, good, or service.
-I am pro-life, both regarding abortion and capital punishment. Without the right to life, no other rights can be enjoyed.
-Despite holding generally pro-free market views, I do not believe the market in and of itself is the primary goal of a nation. I believe the market should be utilized to best serve the people of the nation. The market is a means rather than an end.
-I support the right to organize in a union or trade association for the purpose of collective bargaining for wages. I also believe that individuals ought to have the freedom to join or leave such organizations. I believe many labor disputes are best resolved by the use of binding arbitration and will oppose efforts to forbid binding arbitration.
- Education is mainly a regional issue and one that no blanket nation policy can be effective on. I think that classroom size has a greater effect on quality and success than does technology or textbook quality, or the building itself. The necessary components to a good education are: parent who discipline their children, students who want to learn, and a qualified teacher who cares. I do believe standardized testing has a place in education but that place is not the central purpose.
-I support the funding of scientific research as a method of creating new technologies and driving the economy of tomorrow.

[TJ in Oregon]

Game Reform:

-Again, we find ourselves at the crossroads of the game and its format. After a wave of retirements and withdrawals from the game, it is now time to move forward again. The Caucus System, which I once supported as a method of spicing up the game, has fallen into obsolescence upon the wake of the dissolution of the two party system. It is no longer practical to expect the RG to keep track of caucus membership or list it on the ballot.
-I support the creation of binding partisan primaries if the parties so choose to instate them. While this may give the appearance of dissuading more candidates from running for office, it removes the barrier of hurting a partisan ally in a general election by launching a campaign for the same office and should encourage more participation in a primary.
-I would like to see the senate give committees a shot to provide a greater opportunity for an in-depth look at the issues facing the Atlasia of tomorrow. It brings about an exciting possibility for more discussion across the aisle and across the country as to what we can do to make our government better.

[TJ in Oregon]

Foreign Policy:
-I believe that war should be used as a last resort. Going to war is a major decision that affects and costs the lives of thousands and one that cannot be made without an immense amount of consternation. That being said, there are circumstances where our nation must act militarily to defend ourselves. This includes direct attacks and imminent threats to ourselves and our allies. Simply possessing weapons is not enough without a credible threat that a rouge state intends to use them.
-I believe that once we are engaged in a war it is irresponsible to withdraw from the field of battle without first bringing stability to the area. We cannot simply announce we are to leave by a certain date and go through with it regardless of the situation on the ground. I do not prefer public timetables for withdrawals although any nation at war ought to have a timetable for withdrawal in mind.
-I think any amendment to bar conscription must include an exception for a land invasion and must be done at the federal level. The regional government cannot hold a conscription for our federal military.
-I view Israel as an ally to the West and generally support Israel. That does not mean I will support any action undertaken by the Israeli government, nor does it mean I oppose the efforts for freedom and self-determination taken by the Palestinian people. I believe that the eventual solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict is one with two states. Yet, such a possibility cannot be realized when acts of terror are committed and borders are not respected. I am not implying the 1967 borders are to be the final borders between these two states, just that there do need to be defined borders respected by both sides.

[TJ in Oregon]

Time to vote!!

[TJ in Oregon]

Thank you all for your support and re-electing me! (I think...?  )

[TJ in Oregon]

I would like to clean the thick layer of dust off my campaign office to make an announcement of advocacy:

Ladies (well I have to pretend ) and Gentlemen of Atlasia, I would like to announce my support for The Let's Make Things Really Interesting Amendment. I believe that it will generate a new wave of excitement in Atlasia both for expanding the senate and in the prospect of drawing maps, a base of interest for this Atlas forum. Unlike many waves of interest that are rapid and exciting but die a slow death of irrelevancy, I believe this will create a more permanent wave because it is a process repeated every four months.

Atlasia has grown remarkably in recent months and it's time for us to be able to have additional senators. Some opponents of the proposal have argued that a larger senate is problematic because we've had a number of inactive senators with only 10 seats. This view is flawed for two reasons:

• First, a larger body can function better with a couple inactive members than a smaller body can. When you only have a small number of representatives only one inactive one can badly sideline the process, but with a larger number, you have more who are contributing. Even if there are more inactive ones, having a larger number in both categories allows the body to still function.
• Second, it does not follow that the marginal member of the senate who would be elected only due the increased number of seats will be more likely to be inactive than those who would be elected either way. Many of our senators who have resigned have been those elected by large margins or surpluses, not only those who barely eked out a victory. In fact, those who do resign, typically do so for reasons in their personal life that come up subsequent to their election.

There are also those who believe that doing this would just poach valuable players from regional office and destroy the regions. But the regions have more activity than ever before and removing four members won't fundamentally change that. It often grows stale holding the same office for years and years, whether it be on the regional level or national level, and not to say there aren't some people who do a great job of it because there are (look at Yankee or Inks). But most players don't choose that type of role; instead they move around to different positions and try new things. This amendment creates more opportunities to do just that and in a new way that adds a dimension of map-drawing to the game reflective of our Atlas past. That's not to say every expansion of the senate would be a good thing; for instance, I'm opposed to a 100 member body here . But having 14 members is very reasonable and doable with our current population and activity levels.

Another criticism of the amendment is that it does not define what happens should the governors fail to agree to a district map. In real life when various actions of government are tied up in the process being completed, something like this would be a fatal flaw. But in Atlasia, we are able to quickly pass amendments when necessary to sort out systematic failings. And should such an event come to pass, the excitement of it would itself be inherently good for the game in that it would make the process interesting.

I believe this amendment should be passed and would markedly improve the activity and excitement of the game and would like to encourage the citizens of Atlasia to vote Aye.

[TJ in Oregon]

I contend that when inactivity is a concern it's better to have a larger body. If for instance we have only 7/10 senators active and consider adding more, even if only 2/4 are active (and like I've said, there's no reason to believe the four senators who are elected only if this passes are any more likely to be inactive than the current 10), then we'd have 9/14 active, which is still two more active people than before. You can then expel the inactive ones or pressure them to resign like what's happening currently, and replace them with new people, some of whom are bound to be active. There's no surefire way to make every senator be active without instigating strict expulsion rules or some punishment toward the senators for not being active and that's probably not a good way to go about the issue. It's hard to tell during an election whether someone is going to be active or not; no one campaigns on "Vote for me and I'll disappear in a month!". These things aren't always easy to predict. The reality is we'll always have some contingent of the senate that will be battling inactivity and this would help to mitigate the effects of that problem even if the problem itself remains.

But what's even more beyond that is redistricting would add an exciting dimension to the game that doesn't exist now. I don't know how many threads we've had in recent years about combining regions and redrawing lines, so there would logically be interest in the topic (also, look at this forum ). None of those have gone anywhere since redrawing regions is unwieldy and steps on too many toes to actually happen. But this doesn't create mass confusion and throw out the past like that would. It adds a new dimension to the game without taking away from the old ones in any real way.

[TJ in Oregon]

Good evening ladies and gentlemen of the Mideast Region.



I have come here tonight, in Madison, Wisconsin, with an announcement: I am running for the Atlasian Regional Senate seat of the Mideast Region this June. I look forward to an exciting primary race with Former Assembleymen JCL and Talleyrand.

(And I need to clear out of here stat before the crowd mistakes me:

for Scott Walker!) 

A detailed platform will be forthcoming. Thank you and enjoy your Memorial Day weekend. Thank a veteran for your freedoms! Have a good night and Dave bless.

[TJ in Oregon]

For those of you who are fairly new, I'd like to give an overview of my experience in Atlasia prior to this run. I was first elected to the Mideast Assembly in July of 2011 as a member of the now disbanded Regional Protectorate Party. I served two full terms in the Assembly and most of a third until I took office as an At-Large Senator in January of 2012. As an assemblyman, I sponsored the Midest Not For Profit Group Designation Act, the Mideast Corporate Governance Reform Act, the Clean Up the Grand Lake St. Marys Act, and the Shoreline Property Rights Act.

In December of 2011, I ran for the first time to the Atlasian Senate in an At-Large election. I was also re-elected in April of 2012. As a senator, I acted as a pragmatic conservative, reaching across the aisle to co-sponsor the Smart Grid Electrical Distribution Act to ensure Atlasia has a world-class power grid. I was also a strong voice in favor of the caucus system that emerged and served as the Chair of the Right to Life Caucus, authoring both its bylaws and platform. The RPP was then disbanded, along with the major left-wing party the JCP, and the Right to Life Caucus, by the rules of the dissolution became a new party that turned into the Whigs, who in turn eventually merged with the Imperial Bloc to for the Federalist Party.

As a senator, I also sponsored the Atlasian Corporate Governance Reform, modeled after the Mideast Bill. I assumed sponsorship from Maroaki, who resigned, of the Primary System Introduction Act to create a system where parties could have a binding primary election system. I served on the Senate Judiciary Committee, making substantial improvements to The Holding CEOs Accountable Act sponsored by Senator Ben and attempting to establish a very weak system of judicial term length so discussions like the current Supreme Court impeachment hearings would be unnecessary. I also fought to eliminate the brutal 60% tax bracket in our 2012 budget. I have always been of the view that no citizen should have more than half his or her income taken in income taxes. My final action as senator last fall was to propose The Capital Punishment Abolition Amendment, which was subseqently passed under Hagridofthedeep's sponsorship when my term had ended.

Since then, I have served as the Mideast Superior Court Judge, handling the legal disputes arising within the Mideast Region.

I believe my record is that of a pragmatic conservative. I have a principled view of how the government should operate and what activities should be encouraged and discouraged, but am also willing to reach across the aisle to accomplish things for the people of Atlasia.

[TJ in Oregon]

I'm going to begin unveiling my platform in pieces. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Trade
I've always been a general supporter of free trade unless there is some really good reason not to support it in a particular case; it's probably my most consistent economic position. Living in a world that is more open than ever, where you can find people from all over the world in medium sized cities in the Mideast, you can see how counterproductive tariffs would be. In a world that allows people and information to be move freely across the globe, we cannot try to keep out legal goods for sale. Tariffs do not have a place in such an era, except to protect an infant industry or national security risk.

The microeconomics of free trade just work, otherwise we wouldn't trade. Some people here in Atlasia do lose out from it; heck I grew up in an auto manufacturing town. But we all benefit from cheaper products and this helps more people more than the workers it hurts. It helps many other workers live a better life from less. The people in foreign nations benefit from trade and manufacturing there. Yes some may have terrible labor explotation. But how can that ever change if their countries don't industrialize? Countries can't go from rural poverty to a post-industrial first world country in an instant without industrializing first, absent some inherent advantage like natural resources.

[TJ in Oregon]

Energy

As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time doing research on an alternative energy project, I believe that there are "renewable" alternatives to fossil fuels that will one day become viable market options for electrical power generation. I believe the issue of energy can best be addressed not by punishing the use of fossil fuel sources, but by channeling money to research rather than premature implementation of alternative sources so that they will one day be chosen for their fiscal sense instead of environmental concerns. One day we will run out of oil. And as we near that day, a whole world of alternatives that aren't cost effective today will become cost effective in comparison. Until that day, we should channel our resources into finding the solution that is the best science, not the solution with the best lobby in Nyman.

In the meantime, a careful and appropriate use of nuclear power is the best option to both reduce our fossil fuel consumption and provide affordable energy. Nuclear power is both safe and clean when the proper precautions are taken in selecting the site of a future plant and in its operation. Despite the majority of its power plants aging, Atlasia has an exemplary record for plant safety and this will only improve with the use of modern-day technology in our plants.

[TJ in Oregon]

Thank you very much for your endorsement Maxwell!

[TJ in Oregon]

I would like to remind all Federalists to vote in the Mideast Senate primary at the convention!

I wish good luck (but not too much ) to my fellow Federalists seeking the party's endorsement, JCL and Bmotley.

[TJ in Oregon]

As the polls have closed, I would like to thank those who gave me preferences for their support and my opponents for running such an exemplary campaign. The preliminary count shows that we have won the Mideast Regional Senate seat by a single vote. If this holds true when the results are certified, I will serve as an active, pragmatic conservative voice in the senate in representation of the Mideast Region.

[TJ in Oregon]

Thanks everyone!

[TJ in Oregon]

I will be leaving shortly to travel this weekend for personal reasons and will be without internet access until tomorrow evening. This doesn't officially require a leave of absence, but I felt given the number of crises occuring at the moment and the start of a new term, I would give one anyway.

Senator TJ

[TJ in Oregon]

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Mideast and beyond,

Sometimes a man comes to the crossroads of life and must make a decision to take a particular path even if in doing so the other paths' opportunities are closed off from him. It is in this position that I come to inform you that I will not be seeking re-election to the position of Senator of the Mideast Region. While I enjoyed serving in the Senate and may at some point in the future seek to carry out the office again, that future day is not this day. I deem, given my current state in life, that the road I must be on is the road that leads to Madison, Wisconsin rather than the road to Nyman or to Peter's Park. "For where your treasure is, there also your heart will be" (Mt 6:21). In our hectic age of harried priorities, time is a form of treasure, and the time has come for me to pour my heart into life here in Wisconsin at the expense of the Atlasian Senate. I cannot commit myself to seeking a new term under these current priorities. I will continue to serve out the remainder of my term and dutifully participate as an Atlasian citizen. Thank you all and God bless.

[TJ in Oregon]

It's time to clear the thick layer of dust off my old campaign office for my Mideast Gubernatorial campaign! During the campaign, the other office will contain official announcements relating to the Office of Mideast Governor while this office will contain campaign information.

To celebrate the re-opening, I'll be unveiling the campaign's banner!

**tears sheet down from behind podium**

[TJ in Oregon]

I'm sorry Mr Governor, but I have something in my utmost concern. In the Assembly thread I noticed these two quotes:

Seeing no objection, the motion is carried.

The speaker seems to have taken a vacation, so therefore I nominate myself as a temporary speaker until the next elections.

Now I am far from an expert on Constitutions, but I do know that NINE HOURS is no where near enough of time for other Assemblymen for any "objections". Back in the IDS, when I was acting speaker, I recall there was an approval for it. Now I do not know whether this is criminal, or I'm just the raging idiot flailing into your office, but I would consider some insight on this.

We don't actually have a written procedure for removing a speaker or appointing a new one. The only officially prescribed procedure for electing a speaker is written for the start of a term. Given the lack of a textual requirement, the Speakership is left up to the Assembly's discretion. The Constitution specifically grants the Assembly the power to choose its officers. Certainly if I were an Assemblyman I would want to at least see some sort of consensus subsequent to the declaration of a change in Speakership. However, if the other Assemblymen recognize Hifly's proclaimed role of Speaker and pass legislation under his leadership by a majority vote, I will consider it passed and either sign or veto it accordingly.

[TJ in Oregon]

Remember to vote!!

Especially if you're planning to vote for me

[TJ in Oregon]

Governor, this passed earlier. Are you going to be signing it into law?

Amendments don't get signed or vetoed by the governor; we'll have to approve (or disapprove) by referendum. By law the referendums may only begin on Thursdays, so it will have to wait until next week.

I obviously support it if that's what you're asking