Hobbes for Senate: Let's Make A Deal

[George W. Hobbes]

(Toting carpetbag in hand, Mr. Hobbes walks up to the podium.)

All right, I'm going to get straight to the point.  No political smoozing or anything else of that nature.  No fewer than four of my fellow Atlasians have implored me to run for the District Three Senate seat.

So, at popular request, I'm carpetbagging.  I'm a Californian, but now I'm living in a two-by-six apartment room near the Canadian border.  That's life.  I'm not going to let this Senate seat be hijacked by socialists or ultra-conservatives, we need moderates in power, members of the old United Atlas Centrists and that good sort.

That said, I'm running as an out-and-out Independent.  Not because I disagree with any single party, but because I don't want to owe anyone any favors if I happen to win this race.

My platform is simple.  I'm going to do whatever it takes to help the people.  If that means voting for a deficit in wartime, then I'll do it.  If that means privatizing a welfare entitlement, then I'll do it.  If that means expanding health care to all Atlasians, then I'll do it.

Let's make a deal.  You don't bother me with political favors and gobbledegook, and I'll stand up for you in the capital.  No lobbyists, no parties, no bull.  Just common sense and the power of the people.

You know who I am, and you know where I stand.  If you forgot, ask me a question, and I'll answer.

God bless you all.

That's it.  Don't you reporters have anything else to do besides hang around?

[jokerman]

Mr. Hobbes, I wish you good luck.  By your no-nonsense talk, I can see that you can be a powerful ally for my cause to push through the good of the people in the Senate.

[Akno21]

How do you respond to questions about your activity level, since you are only recently becoming active, and even during your stretches of activity, you weren't the most active guy around.

[George W. Hobbes]

So I'm not the most active person around, true enough.

That happens, unfortunately, because I can't always spend seven hours a day trolling the message boards.

Look, all I can say is that I'm a very active officeseeker and office holder.  You elect me, I'm not going to let you down. 

Have I not been all that active in the past?  Sure.  But heck, give me a Senate seat, and you'll be amazed by the power that will be returned to the people of the Third District.

[George W. Hobbes]

Thank you for your support Mr. Kramer, and I hope to join you in the Senate.

[Sam Spade]

Mr. Hobbes for Senate!

You have the Union Party's endorsement and support, Mr. Hobbes and I wish you the best in this race. 

[A18]

I'm pretty sure I'm in your district. Will you sponsor legislation for an 8.4% flat tax to replace the current income tax system? Because if so, you have my vote.

[Akno21]

My platform is simple.  I'm going to do whatever it takes to help the people. 

Which people? By raising taxes on the wealthy and increasing government spending, you'd help poorer people. By cutting taxes and decreasing government spending, you'd help richer people. You can't do both.

[KEmperor]

My platform is simple.  I'm going to do whatever it takes to help the people. 

Which people? By raising taxes on the wealthy and increasing government spending, you'd help poorer people. By cutting taxes and decreasing government spending, you'd help richer people. You can't do both.

That is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard.

[Akno21]

My platform is simple.  I'm going to do whatever it takes to help the people. 

Which people? By raising taxes on the wealthy and increasing government spending, you'd help poorer people. By cutting taxes and decreasing government spending, you'd help richer people. You can't do both.

That is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard.

Okay, it was a bad generalization, but read the speech he made. Do you have any clue where he stands on anything, aside from trying to be populist, which I'm pretty sure he's not, since he's a centrist. Anyone could make that speech.

[KEmperor]

My platform is simple.  I'm going to do whatever it takes to help the people. 

Which people? By raising taxes on the wealthy and increasing government spending, you'd help poorer people. By cutting taxes and decreasing government spending, you'd help richer people. You can't do both.

That is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard.

Okay, it was a bad generalization, but read the speech he made. Do you have any clue where he stands on anything, aside from trying to be populist, which I'm pretty sure he's not, since he's a centrist. Anyone could make that speech.

Well, you have a point in the fact that simply saying "I'm going to do whatever it takes to help the people" is a cop out.  I don't think anyone is ever going to say "I'm going to do whatever it takes to hurt the people."

[Joe Republic]

...No fewer than four of my fellow Atlasians have implored me to run for the District Three Senate seat.

So, at popular request, I'm carpetbagging.

Those four Atlasians are not resident in this district, and include one who has just successfully carpetbagged a senate seat himself.

I don't like the way people move around like this just to run for office.  I don't like it in real life, and I don't like it here.  I consider it an exceptional quality in a candidate for representative office that they know a thing or two about local issues for the district they represent.

[Jake]

He's running against BRTD and Dean.  Nuff said

[King]

He's running against BRTD and Dean.  Nuff said

Don't forget MasterJedi!  This will be an interesting race indeed...

[George W. Hobbes]

I'd prefer a 17 percent flat tax, since 8.4 percent would not give the government enough money to finance its current obligations. 

While I do wish to downsize government, we're not likely to downsize it by over 50 percent overnight.

And thanks for your party's endorsement Mr. Spade.

[Sam Spade]

And thanks for your party's endorsement Mr. Spade.

Well, it is our party, since you're a member. 

[George W. Hobbes]

Yeah, but I'm running as an Independent, not seeking any endorsements, just receiving whatever I get.  So...grammatical quibbles aside, thank you.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, but I'm running as an Independent, not seeking any endorsements, just receiving whatever I get.  So...grammatical quibbles aside, thank you.

Fair enough and you're welcome also.

[A18]

I'd prefer a 17 percent flat tax, since 8.4 percent would not give the government enough money to finance its current obligations. 

While I do wish to downsize government, we're not likely to downsize it by over 50 percent overnight.

For 2004:
(total personal income)x = (income tax revenue)
$9,672,205,074,000x = $809,000,000,000
x = 0.0836
x-> 0.084

An 8.4% flat tax on all income from whatever source derived, with no exemptions or deductions, would be revenue-neutral.

For 2004:
(total personal income)x = (income tax revenue + payroll tax revenue)
$9,672,205,074,000x = $1,542,400,000,000
x = 0.1595
x-> 0.16

Better yet, abolish both the income tax and the payroll tax, with a flat rate of 16.0%.

[The Duke]

I'd prefer a 17 percent flat tax, since 8.4 percent would not give the government enough money to finance its current obligations. 

While I do wish to downsize government, we're not likely to downsize it by over 50 percent overnight.

For 2004:
(total personal income)x = (income tax revenue)
$9,672,205,074,000x = $809,000,000,000
x = 0.0836
x-> 0.084

An 8.4% flat tax on all income from whatever source derived, with no exemptions or deductions, would be revenue-neutral.

For 2004:
(total personal income)x = (income tax revenue + payroll tax revenue)
$9,672,205,074,000x = $1,542,400,000,000
x = 0.1595
x-> 0.16

Better yet, abolish both the income tax and the payroll tax, with a flat rate of 16.0%.

This would be a tax on capital gains on top of the existing cap gains tax, a tax on inheriticance on top of the inheritiance tax, and a tax on dividends on top of the existing dividend tax.  Why leave so many things under a double tax?

[A18]

Those are part of the income tax.

[Keystone Phil]

Mr. Hobbes is a good guy but is not as active as the others. I'm sure he'd be a very promising official in the future but not now.

[George W. Hobbes]

But the future is now!

[MasterJedi]

But the future is now!

And I hope I'm the future for this District. And I'll just say I've NEVER carpetbagged. Always stayed in this super liberal district and tried to do the best.

[The Duke]

Those are part of the income tax.

Only true for capital assets held for less than one year.  Most portfolio investment is held longer than one year, so most capital gains are currently exempt from the income tax.

It should be noted that these short term cap gains are not subject to the cap gains tax, only the income tax.  Under Philip's plan, there would be stock covered by both the income and capital gains tax, whereas today there are none.