The Leaders' Debate4 November, 2015
With the election approaching, the two likely candidates to be the next Prime Minister debated, live, the issues facing South America, the record of the government, and their vision for the future.
Participating
POTUS, MP,
Prime Minister & Leader of the Conservative Party.
CRANBERRY, MP,
Leader of the Opposition & Leader of the Socialist Party.
Moderated by:
HASHEMITE,
State Justice of South America.
HASHEMITE: Opening statements from the both of you, please. The Prime Minister may go first.
POTUS: Thank you, sir. It has been my sincerest honor to serve as the first Prime Minister in our wonderful government. My government has built a solid foundation on which we can build the future. Progress has been made as promises have been kept. As I consider the achievements of this government, a Constitution for starters, I am encouraged about the future.There is great cause for optimism in South America. I believe a re-elected Conservative Government is the best vehicle for South American aspirations. We are challenged with continuing the building of a nation. That challenge must be met with strong leadership, not with petty politics of labels and infighting. Our Party has proposed a vision for South America's future that I look forward to discussing during this debate.
CRANBERRY: Thank you, and thank you for the Prime Minister for agreeing to this debate.If I may start this with a probably quite unusual, point: the Prime Minister is right with one thing. There is reason to be encouraged about the future, there is great cause for optimism in our nation.And that is, and here already we start disagreeing to one another, that is because there is an election soon, an election, in which South Americans have a chance to let their voices be heard.South Americans have a choice to choose, to continue the path of the Conservative government, or to choose the new path of the Socialist Party.And this evening, I look forward to discussing those two paths, and to convince as many people as possible, that the second one is the one they should choose. Thank you.
HASHEMITE: Thank you both. A general question now, again addressed to both leaders. If elected or reelected, what would be your government's main priority? Mr. Cranberry may go first.
CRANBERRY: A Socialist government, if chosen by the people, would always have the main goal of serving the people. This is done through a multitude of ways, but keeping this short and just at that one, main priority: We would look first and foremost to strengthen our social state. We would see that every citizen has access to the best healthcare available, that every senior citizen receives the pension they deserve, that every one that is struggling to find work or to make ends meet is supported and can see a helping hand. This is the basis for a fruitful, functioning society, and a Socialist government would work tirelessly to make this a reality.
HASHEMITE: The Prime Minister, please.
POTUS: This Government has been committed to the prosperity, success, and stability of South America. This will continue to be the top priority of my government. But I must draw a distinction between the Socialist vision of society and the South American vision of society. The Socialist promise is simple: support the dispensation of larger checks through the government. The Socialist premise of social protection is one of an all-encompassing state with an ever-growing tax burden rooted in distaste of civil society. The Conservative manifesto, as laid out at our convention, offers a comprehensive vision of effective social protection. Civil society, the life that occurs between the individual and the state, is what truly satisfies the needs of the people. Fundamental needs such as food, shelter, and companionship as well the deeper fundamental need of meaning.Government, which my friend here believes is capable of fixing every problem with humanity, cannot dispense via social services the kind of happiness and satisfaction that comes with work, family, and community. My Government, upon its re-election, will be committed to preserving and strengthening those fundamental values
CRANBERRY: If I might shortly respond to the Prime Minister?
HASHEMITE: Yes, briefly.
CRANBERRY: I merely want to clarify my previous statement that the Prime Minister seems to have understood wrongly.
POTUS: Government, which my friend here believes is capable of fixing every problem with humanity, cannot dispense via social services the kind of happiness and satisfaction that comes with work, family, and community. My Government, upon its re-election, will be committed to preserving and strengthening those fundamental values.
CRANBERRY: If I might shortly respond to the Prime Minister?
HASHEMITE: Yes, briefly.
CRANBERRY: I merely want to clarify my previous statement that the Prime Minister seems to have understood wrongly. I do not, and neither does the Socialist Party, believe that government is capable of fixing every problem with humanity; it is merely of our opinion that we can do everything that is in our might to play a role to provide a basis of equal chances and an equal starting position where matters beyond our control have created inequality and problems.
And this, my friend, can very well be done through an extensive social state, and this is one thing the Socialist Party is very committed to. Thank you.
POTUS: Hashemite, that warrants a response. May I?
HASHEMITE: Very briefly, please.
POTUS: Mr. Leader, South America is on uneven starting ground because of the backwater economic policies of ever-increasing taxes, ever-rising spending, and ever-growing promises made to people. It is the tradition of South American socialists to promise everything to people in hopes of political success.
While conservatives respect tradition, this is one that has to go.16:27PotusThe Socialist Party neglects to mention that our nation is not home to the world's economic superpower for a very large reason: public policy that repels investment.
The Conservatives have, and will continue to, support legislation that promotes shared prosperity and grows the South American economy.
HASHEMITE: Mr. Prime Minister, how do you respond to some criticisms that your government has been fairly inactive and has not addressed a number of important issues?
POTUS: The concern has been drastically overblown by the opposition in an effort to score political points. After crashing out of the gate with the election of an inactive leader, the Socialists were forced to try to find something wrong with this Government. I find it rich, Hash, that the Opposition uncomfortably ignored the conflict with FARC, in large part because of their closeness in ideology.
Our government has approved a Constitution, created economic harmony, saved dozens of our citizens in a bold operation against a militant group, codified relationships between business and labor, and have remained steadfast in our commitment to strong, steady governance of South America. In every election, the Opposition will rise and say, "We will be more active!" But, as I mentioned earlier, the Opposition is not accountable for their promises. Truth and reality are bent to the purposes of political gain.
And that is why this question is getting asked, because the Opposition would like to make cheap hay out of "Activity ”. The concerns are, as I said, largely overblown.
HASHEMITE: I open the floor to general ordered debate on this specific question. Mr. Cranberry, please.
CRANBERRY: First of all, to briefly come back to Mr. Potus first point, regarding that the opposition had to search for something wrong with the government. Ican give you for response we did not have a hard time finding something. This government, that should have been a government to lay a foundation to our juvenile nation, has absolutely failed doing this job.Where are we today? We are a nation with a dozen different systems of currency, of governance, of administration, of economy.
POTUS: The accusation is patently false. Hashemite, if I may?
HASHEMITE: Go ahead.
CRANBERRY: Does the Prime Minister deny that his government was unable to achieve harmonisation in those fields?If so, he is kindly invited to name the laws passed by this parliament that supposedly should have achieved this feat. They are not that hard to look through, after all, how many are there? Six?
POTUS: The Conservative Party has made tremendous strides toward building the national identity. The economic union and meaningful cooperation on issues of terrorism are both examples of wonderful starts in the direction of harmonization.
CRANBERRY: a period of ten weeks? I once again ask the Prime Minister to answer my question.
POTUS: While it is easy for a Socialist to loosely throw around the concept of "nationalization," this sort of harmonization is of a different breed.
CRANBERRY: Do you deny that there are different currencies, different ways of governance and administration still present today, after his government's term expired?
POTUS: The Conservative manifesto clearly lays out our agenda for strengthening the national community on issues both foreign and domestic. We are achieving harmonization, Mr. Leader. That is the plain and simple fact. Plain and simple.
CRANBERRY: When his own ministers repeatedly stated a currency union for instance as an important part of the government's agenda.
POTUS: Do you deny that our continent has never been so united?
CRANBERRY: You deny it then, Mr. Prime Minister?
POTUS: We are achieving harmonization. Is it the position of the Socialist Party that the national government should, in one fell swoop, nationalize all powers of government without transitory policies and government?