PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

[Filuwaúrdjan]

This thread does have 180 views by now...which isn't bad at all for a one-page thread. So I guess some people must have been reading.
Anyways, King, next question?

still typing my answer to the first one...

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Sorry I'm late... I've not had internet connection at home for the past few days (it's back now) and as I'm not very well at the moment, I've not been able to use computers in public libraries...


Interesting question Ian... after giving this a bit of thought, I'd say the following have been the biggest influences on me:

My first answer is the former Premier of Saskatchewan, Tommy Douglas.
Douglas came from a humble background: a poor immigrant who became a Baptist minister in a small town in the middle of the prairies.
When the Depression struck, Douglas went into politics and the rest is history.
Douglas understood, and proved, that you can put people first, keep your principles, run an ethical administration... and still balance the budget.

My next choice is the former U.S House Speaker, Tip O'Neill.
O'Neill was a big man with a big heart who spent his entire political career fighting for the little guy... even when it was politically unfashionable to do so.

Finally, I choose the former Governer of Minnesota, Floyd B Olson.
Olson was probably the best Governer of the twentieth century, rivalled only by Huey Long and Bob LaFollette, and during his time as Governer, he helped both the urban and rural poor (and when he came to power that was most people in Minnesota... and the rest of the U.S come to think of it) cope with the bleak horrors of the early '30's.

All three were willing to compromise and co-operate to get things done... but they also stood up both for their principles and for ordinary folks trying to make ends meet.
And that is what I'll do, if I'm elected President.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

To Senator Al:  You have recently voted Aye on a spending bill after saying "it's just fake money, kids".  Does this mean you do not care about the fiscal future of Atlasia?

Good question.
My remark was supposed to be ironic (I don't think a lot of money was actually being spent by the bill and seeing opposition to it being based on money seemed odd to me at the time)... I actually do care about fiscal responsibility, and have made this clear on several occasions... as an example I tried to clean up the confusion over who's supposed to write the budget, while trying to make sure that said budget was reasonably balanced while being flexible if needed.
The ammendment went down in the public poll, but you can't blame me for trying.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

What will each of the candidates do in regards to putting more faith-based initiatives forward, and giving charities funding that also put an emphasis on faith?

Good question, Nation.

While no charity should be used as a replacement for Government efforts (because not only does the Government have a moral duty to help it's citizens, but a lot of people won't accept help from charities) sometimes we need all the help we can get, and a lot of charities do good work in our most poverty stricken cities... I don't really care whether they're relgious or not... what matters is whether they do a good job at helping those who cannot help themselves or not, and I support increasing funding to effective charities no matter what they're religious views... and as religious charities are often very effective I don't see why we can't help them become even more effective.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

What are your policies regarding the People's Republic of China, especially Trade Policy?

An excellent question from the next Senator for District Five...
I have made it clear on several occasions that I despise dictatorships and opressive, imperalist Governments with dodgy human rights records.
If I'm elected President, I will try to get the Senate to pass large tariffs on certain manufactured goods from China... especially steel... which I would try to keep until the Chinese government cleans up it's act.
I will also put pressure on the Chinese government over the treatment of political prisoners, Tibet and their disgraceful conduct over the Three Gorges Dam.
I will not put military pressure on the Chinese government as that's just asking for trouble and may well be exactly what they want.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Good question Hugh.

Put simply, I believe that by working together we can help build a better Atlasia and a better world. I believe in standing up for the little guy. I believe in defending communities. And I firmly agree with the former British Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone when he said:

"In all things I will back the Masses over the Classes"

My beliefs happen to be strongly influenced by my own relgious beliefs but even people who are not religious share them.

Why should someone with you're political ideology vote for me?
Because I am not bound by dogmatic ideologies. My administration will not be an ideological one... it will be a pragmatic one, always, always looking out for what is best for ordinary hardworking folks and always, always ready to listen to a new idea, be it from the left, the centre or the right.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Militant Communitarian isn't an ideological stance?

I'm not sure if candidates are allowed to but in like that (we weren't last election) but I'll answer the question anyways...

Like I said I believe strong in communities. We are all individuals but we are all also members of different communities and I think that ultimately what's bad for a community is bad for the vast majority of the individual members of that community.
I see Atlasia as one big community with many things harming it, and as a result of that, harming many individuals in the Atlasian community.