DDNN 1st Presidential Debate

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Hello and welcome to the first DDNN Presidential Debate! This is open to all declared candidates, currently MB, WB, S019, Ishan, HCP, Cao, and Spark. Please do not post on this thread if you are not a candidate, there is a commentary thread on this board for you to use. Also use that thread to submit a question for this or the next debate.

Candidates are encouraged to respond within 24 hours for each round, but the schedule is built so we have the flexibility to allow up to 48 if needed.

First, we will allow time for candidates to make opening statements. Then there will be several rounds of questioning on domestic policy issues. Candidates may go back and forth and rebut each others points as they wish.

Candidates, please proceed with your opening statement.

[Joseph Cao]

Right then, hi Wulfric, hi everyone, apologies for being late – had a bit of a dustup at work last night. Thanks for hosting this.

I want to make it very clear from the outset that this campaign of mine is focused on the game's situation and gameplay issues/strategies above all else. From my current vantage point a lot of the other stuff on the regions' domestic issues or climate change or the budget or whatever which I could be talking about is window dressing around that overarching issue, and while I'm fair game to address them as I've done before, that's not really why I'm running to begin with.

Think of the game as a car – good build, has a cool eighteen years' worth of mileage on it, but in the past year or so it's been billowing smoke out of the hood and emitting sparks and unusual things like that. Obviously we all want to get the car somewhere: maybe we can make a hard left turn or trundle down to the town center or have a revolution around the traffic circle like other candidates have indicated. Maybe the old driver wants to come back and try to drive us off a cliff again. But what I really want to do, before we consider any of that, is fix the problems with the car. Everything else is secondary. That's why I ran in the first place and that's why I'm here with you all.

[Senator-elect Spark]

My fellow Atlasians, it is a pleasure to be with you today. I'd like to thank Magmafeather for his willingness to host this debate. Atlasia is currently facing a litany of challenges from an activity crisis to a constitutional one. I am running to restore Atlasias promise for all citizens. For far too long, we've become content with the status quo and it is my job to tell you that we should not be satisfied. We need to continue striving forward and that means to not let bitter partisan divides separate us from a better future. I have three simple priorities for my administration.

If elected President, you know what to expect from me on day 1. To fix our economy and help it rebound, I will institute up to a 75% national grocery tax rebate, passing the Childcare Opportunity Act, cut taxes by 15% through the Atlasian Tax Cut and Economic Incentivization Act, and raise the number of earned income tax credits for our families. It is important for us to counteract inflation by taking the burden off our citizens. To account for this cost, I will contract out infrastructure services for the Republic. I plan to establish an additional cabinet position and councils to spur activity within Atlasia. Secondly, I will do all I can within my power to ensure that our activity levels increase exponentially. I ensure you that will happen under a Spark administration. We need to establish a bipartisan commission on fixing the activity crisis and solutions must come from all parties. Thirdly, we will appoint requisite personnel to all cabinet posts to ensure we have all hands on deck for running our federal government. There are many more ideas that I have to help reinvigorate our nation, as those are just a few.

My running mate for Vice President, IBNU, is a staunch fighter and advocate for Atlasia. He has served in a number of capacities and most recently as Secretary of State. He brings a litany of foreign policy experience. This couple with my domestic accomplishments make for a successful team. I look forward to debating all the issues here. My primary opponent, Joseph Cao, I believe is better suited in Congress. We cannot afford to have an inactive Congress especially during this inactivity crisis. Mr. Cao has had an impeccable legislative career and will continue to do well in that role if I am elected President. I have worked with Mr Cao and those on the opposite side of the aisle on countless occasions. I understand what it means to work with the other side for Atlasia's benefit and I plan to do that when I am President.

[S019]

Good evening,

We stand here tonight at a crossroads, but at this pivotal moment we seem to have forgotten our values. I stand here tonight as the candidate of the silent majority preaching our values of social progressivism, solidarity with the trade union movement, and closer ties with our allies. However, I also stand here as the only candidate to promise real reform to this game.

On the topic of game reform, we are suffering a serious talent bleed and that makes this current style of politics unsustainable. I have long supported a move to simulated elections and reiterate that here tonight. Those who are interested should form their own parties that will then campaign on the forum and the results shall be decided by the GM. We have a choice and that is to either scrap legislating (and thus endless campaigns) or to scrap elections, which will allow those who do still care to participate without the burden of constant get out the vote operations.

However, we are not just here for game reform, we are here to uphold the tradition of social democracy in our great nation. I remain firmly committed to protecting our trade unions from attacks from the right, such as right to work laws and union busting. I have always believed in giving everyone a fair shot and I remain committed to that. However, we need to recognize that there is a balance between this and the current regional tax rates, thus I am announcing tonight that we will look into reforming the regions, which also currently occupy a large portion of our talent pool.

However, we also must not forget the recent tragedy in Texas and remember that over half of the candidates on this stage opposed the landmark legislation that stopped the sale of these weapons of war. We thought that the gun wars were finally over, but then the impetuous actions of the right wing let this happen, we must never forget who they choose when forced with the choice between your lives and NRA money.

We also stand for closer ties with our allies to stand in solidarity with the people in Ukraine in their fight against an expansionist Russia. We will call for authorizing more aid to Ukraine and we will also call for increased sanctions on Russia, the current administration's response has been inadequate.

We are the party to bring change and bring us into the future, we hope to earn your vote in roughly a fortnight's time.

[Continential]

These times are no ordinary times given the events which happened in the months proceeding this election, and I am glad to be in this debate.

Before this debate starts I'd like to introduce myself - my name is Ishan, and I am a member of Fremont's Parliament and former Senator and it is a honor to be on this stage today along with the other candidates for President.

Throughout this campaign, I plan on detailing my thoughts and ideas and overall vision which I believe will enhance our republic. I believe in order for this game to prosper, this game needs to change, and based on the responses, there is a consensus for change and I hope to be the candidate for change and I hope to earn your vote on polling weekend in a fortnight.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

All right, thank you. As a note, any other candidates observing are more than welcome to chime in at any time and rebuttals are welcome throughout:

Questions for All Candidates:

1. Lots of candidates talk about activity, but fail to deliver. Perhaps because of a general lack of care for the game, or perhaps because it is more pleasant to deal with an inactive legislature of supporters than an active legislature of opponents, many have ended up only managing the decline rather than actually making a difference. What assurances and evidence can you give the public that you actually still care about the game and will work to make it more reliably active?

2. COVID-19, while in a weakened state, remains a potential threat to Atlasia in the coming months. Do you believe our nation is currently mounting an effective response to the virus, and are there any additional measures, such as a vaccine mandate, that you believe should be enacted?

3. Should the next administration seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban or enact other gun legislation? If not, how should we respond to mass shootings beyond offering our condolences?

4. In the event of a vacancy on the Supreme Court, what standards would you use in evaluating who to nominate? What weight would ideological consistency hold as compared to fitness for the role? Would you condition your decision on an agreement to vote against any current precedent of the court?

Question for Cao: You have served in a variety of offices and have had lots of time to try to enact your ideas. Given the current fairly depressed state of the game, why should voters go for more of you rather than voting for someone who has not had as much influence?

Question for S019: When in the Lincoln Legislature, you often proposed regional tax increases on everything from corporations to toll roads. You once supported forcing government employees to take dubious online tests measuring "implicit bias". Further, your gun reform bill had to be stripped of extreme elements before it could pass, such as a "adequate reason" requirement to own even the simplest firearms. Now, we have your stated desire to "reform the regions". Why should voters believe that "regional reform" would mean anything except forcing your ideological agenda onto the regions regardless of the views of their elected legislatures?

Question for Spark: In the October Election, you were emphatically rejected, receiving only the votes of yourself and your running mate. Why should voters go against that consensus now?

Question for Ishan: During your time in the game, you have leaped around the parties, at times being in Labor, but at other times creating or joining various smaller third parties. Do you have an actual consistent ideology, and if so, what is it?

Question for MB: Your Party platform states: "10. The Revolutionary Communist Party stands with the working class in this struggle for socialism and freedom, and we must win!". What does the word "Socialism" mean to you?

Question for WB: Your previous presidency was an unmitigated disaster. Why on earth should voters even consider you?

[Dr. MB]

I would apologize for the delay in posting my opening statement, but to quote a true visionary, you should be honored by my lateness, that I would even show up to..well you get the gist. Sometimes people are put to the task of rising above the competition, set to solve problems that don't really exist. But an election shouldn't be about that. It shouldn't be about vague platitudes, appeals for unity that never come about, pandering to people who love to be pandered to. I know my decision in April changed the course of this game, and it lost me some friends and support along the way. But life is like roses and butterflies. Roses are pretty and charming, but try to pick one up and you'll get cut by the razor-sharp thorns which sit along its stem, just waiting for a poor soul to be tricked by its outward beauty into learning a hard lesson. Butterflies are beautiful, an exception to the disgust usually driven in the direction of insects. But how does a butterfly get to be that beautiful? The creepy-crawly little caterpillar dissolves in a mess of its own internal organs which gather together to shape into its new form. Lesson being, not everything is as pretty as it seems. Ugly things need to happen sometimes.

Anyway, I'm distracting myself. Let's get to the meat of the argument.

1. Lots of candidates talk about activity, but fail to deliver. Perhaps because of a general lack of care for the game, or perhaps because it is more pleasant to deal with an inactive legislature of supporters than an active legislature of opponents, many have ended up only managing the decline rather than actually making a difference. What assurances and evidence can you give the public that you actually still care about the game and will work to make it more reliably active?

Look at my record last time I was President. I was quite an active president with frequent executive orders. I'm not gonna elaborate, you just have to trust me, but you won't be disappointed.

2. COVID-19, while in a weakened state, remains a potential threat to Atlasia in the coming months. Do you believe our nation is currently mounting an effective response to the virus, and are there any additional measures, such as a vaccine mandate, that you believe should be enacted?

I'm all for vaccines but well, we already have them out there. They're an effective prevention tool and many, many people have chosen to take them which I applaud but right now our focus should be on two things: first of all, developing new, more effective vaccines which are designed to combat emerging variants (which will actually prevent you from getting the virus rather than just mitigating symptoms), and second, and most importantly, developing highly effective treatments and medicines which will turn even a severe case of Covid into a tiny speedbump. I don't support any mask or vaccine mandates.

3. Should the next administration seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban or enact other gun legislation? If not, how should we respond to mass shootings beyond offering our condolences?

Putting the constitutional infringements aside, I'm severely skeptical that an assault weapons ban would do much of anything to stop the onslaught of mass shootings, however well intentioned proponents of such a ban are (or at least claim to be). Atlasia has a serious problem, and you can theorize all you want but there is one prime cause: young, lonely men are targeted. By who? Well, they're targeted by the very people who we think should be protecting our nation from these horrid events: agents of the state. I'm fed up. The evidence is there, and I don't blame people for not wanting to believe it. It seems too evil to be true. But this is the same intelligence which killed (or at least really wanted to kill) JFK, tried to blackmail Martin Luther King into committing suicide (and probably ended up killing him anyway), engineered countless coups and assassination attempts abroad, experimented with mind control, killed 76 civilians including 25 children in Waco, the list goes on and on. Their aim is to terrorize us, to make us afraid, by using their own citizens as pawns in their deadly war games until we accept more and more infringements on personal liberty (and I'm talking a lot bigger than gun control). People think that's the past, that it's not happening today, but they're fools. Look around us. The whole world is a game.

If I'm elected President I will take matters into my own hands and abolish the FBI, CIA, and all other parts of the intelligence apparatus by any means necessary.

4. In the event of a vacancy on the Supreme Court, what standards would you use in evaluating who to nominate? What weight would ideological consistency hold as compared to fitness for the role? Would you condition your decision on an agreement to vote against any current precedent of the court?

I'm going to appoint Sestak assuming he wants it.

Question for MB: Your Party platform states: "10. The Revolutionary Communist Party stands with the working class in this struggle for socialism and freedom, and we must win!". What does the word "Socialism" mean to you?

People getting control over their own lives, where they have the self-determination, free of the watchful eye of state and corporate power, where they can live in a world free of economic strife, where they can work at a place that cares about their well-being, where the availability of basic necessities are not subject to the whims of the ruling class.

To quote another visionary and an Atlasian Senator, "I don't wanna be no movie star, and I don't wanna drive no fancy car. I just wanna be free to live my life." That's what it means to me.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

OPENING STATEMENT

Folks, this is a time of turbulence. We've had a President and AG bring us to the brink of civil war and a tough global situation. It's clear that what's worked before isn't working now, and we need a radical change. A change, nay, a charge, towards the future. A charge towards technology, a charge towards space, and a charge towards Furrocracy.

That's what I'm running for. Some say that we need to think more with our logical brains than our primal, animalistic feelings. Why not go for the best of both worlds?

My administration would fight for the values of the AFP, and those values are the same ones I ran on in October of 2019. Many of my platform planks are the same:

-Funding searches of every single forest in the nation to finally find 14 werewolves
-Federal funding to end several old-age diseases, including the possibility of using gene therapy to reduce telomere decay, and potentially extending lifespans.
-Using federal troops to storm area 51 and synthesizing the transformation serum that's there to be mass-produced nationwide
-Freedom of Form
-Granting independence to the town of Arnold, Nebraska and then invading it so we can have another military victory on the books
-Euthanization for all anti-vaxxers
-Exploration of a cave near Joppa, Indiana
-Finally contacting the alien race on the distant moon of Adastra

I think this is a platform we can all get behind. I know this is the best way to move towards an ATLASIAN FUTURE.


QUESTIONS:
1. Lots of candidates talk about activity, but fail to deliver. Perhaps because of a general lack of care for the game, or perhaps because it is more pleasant to deal with an inactive legislature of supporters than an active legislature of opponents, many have ended up only managing the decline rather than actually making a difference. What assurances and evidence can you give the public that you actually still care about the game and will work to make it more reliably active?

I've remained active recently and should I be elected it will be on a platform I wholeheartedly support and will work tirelessly to implement. I have active friends on both sides of the aisle who I am sure would be very willing to work with me, so I do not believe that an inactive legislature would be likely. If it became an issue I would certainly assert myself unlike how I did when I was President before.

2. COVID-19, while in a weakened state, remains a potential threat to Atlasia in the coming months. Do you believe our nation is currently mounting an effective response to the virus, and are there any additional measures, such as a vaccine mandate, that you believe should be enacted?

I think we have done a lot to combat this virus, and I think we are well on our way to recovering from it. The main thing we need to be doing instead is fight disinformation and increase trust from the people. I think at least part of this is the perceived aloofness of those who created the vaccine and government agencies. I think we need to take cues from @Sailorrooscout, a creator of the Moderna vaccine who has been very active in fighting disinformation and interacting with the public.

3. Should the next administration seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban or enact other gun legislation? If not, how should we respond to mass shootings beyond offering our condolences?

At this point I would not do so. We have rehashed this conversation every few months and the continued back and forth as to the nation's policy has probably not done much good. If there's anything relatively small that I would do that would make a big impact, I think it would be trying to de-stigmatize seeking mental help. At the very least doing so could help save lives lost to suicide each year.

I also think on that front that mentally a lot of people would be better off if they could choose exactly who they could be, which is why I introduced the Freedom of Form act this session.

4. In the event of a vacancy on the Supreme Court, what standards would you use in evaluating who to nominate? What weight would ideological consistency hold as compared to fitness for the role? Would you condition your decision on an agreement to vote against any current precedent of the court?

As a committed technocrat I'd appoint whoever is most qualified, with the stipulation that I wouldn't replace a solid left-leaner with a solid right-leaner. If ILikeVerin left the court for example I could see myself replacing him with TimTurner but not Reagente. Both would be qualified candidates but I do not want to rock the makeup of the court too much.

Question for WB: Your previous presidency was an unmitigated disaster. Why on earth should voters even consider you?

Well, that was nearly 4 years ago now. When I was President I was far too new to the game to realize what my inactivity was doing until it was too late. Now, I am seasoned. And I don't mean like spices, though I do have some in my jacket pocket like any good italian.

I am the only candidate who can bring about Atlasia's FURRY FUTURE and that is why voters should consider me.

[Joseph Cao]

Question for Cao: You have served in a variety of offices and have had lots of time to try to enact your ideas. Given the current fairly depressed state of the game, why should voters go for more of you rather than voting for someone who has not had as much influence?

Look, before we continue I’m going to have to correct one thing – I’ve only ever held one office before and that has been congressman. If by change you’re referring to trying to keep the game from going belly up, one, that’s not something you can control from a seat in Congress even when you end up running the chamber, and two, to the extent that a single representative or senator can help with that by being active on AFE and a mediating presence and whatnot, I’ve been doing exactly that my entire time in Congress. I just posted in my campaign thread covering that precise topic. Everyone in this game has exactly the same amount of influence over this as I do. It’s not a panacea for the rest of the Senate or the rest of the game being less active, but my record shows quite well that it sure isn’t for a lack of trying on my part.

The broader point I’m trying to get at in my thread is that while the game doesn’t revolve around the president per se, it won’t go anywhere if the president is absentee or actively malignant or even just sits there content with making speeches about green tax credits into the void. If I didn’t think we were otherwise in danger of getting yet another president of that kind, I would be doing exactly what Spark suggested and continue to run the Senate daycare indefinitely.

1. Lots of candidates talk about activity, but fail to deliver. Perhaps because of a general lack of care for the game, or perhaps because it is more pleasant to deal with an inactive legislature of supporters than an active legislature of opponents, many have ended up only managing the decline rather than actually making a difference. What assurances and evidence can you give the public that you actually still care about the game and will work to make it more reliably active?

As for this, what I can do to make the game more reliably active, beyond me ragging on people to post more, beyond the juice box and naptime routine we have going on in the Senate right now? That’s not the make-or-break question for the game. Every president can focus on some halfway decent issue if they put their minds and energies to it. That’s one thing, right off the bat, they can do that nobody else except the GM can do. But the real $64,000 question is what each person reading this, and everyone not reading this, can do about their own activity levels. What good is a storyline or issue if nobody else cares enough to engage with it?

2. COVID-19, while in a weakened state, remains a potential threat to Atlasia in the coming months. Do you believe our nation is currently mounting an effective response to the virus, and are there any additional measures, such as a vaccine mandate, that you believe should be enacted?

We have a nice long period as the vaccine mandate winds down for anyone who has not gotten vaccinated to do so, everyone has been and will be protected to the fullest extent practicable. I don’t doubt that scientists worldwide are working to develop whatever it takes to eliminate COVID as an epidemiological threat. When that time comes, it’s going to be just the same type of medical defence we have against the average respiratory disease. If people want to wear masks they’re free to do so of their own accord but the time for mandates is clearly over.

3. Should the next administration seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban or enact other gun legislation? If not, how should we respond to mass shootings beyond offering our condolences?

I don't buy that 1) mass shootings are the big problem du jour in light of all the other types of gun violence that claim more lives, or that 2) the AWB did anything to solve either problem. Plenty of regulations are on the books here in Atlasia that already keep weapons out of the hands of those most likely to do damage to themselves or others with them. If we are to tackle gun violence without infringing on basic constitutional rights then the obvious answer is to eliminate the factors that tip people toward violence – mental health, living standards, the legal and prison system that has historically kept people trapped in that cycle. I've been honored to work on legislation tackling many of these factors and it's a good fight that must continue to be fought no matter how far down the line we are.

4. In the event of a vacancy on the Supreme Court, what standards would you use in evaluating who to nominate? What weight would ideological consistency hold as compared to fitness for the role? Would you condition your decision on an agreement to vote against any current precedent of the court?

If the issue comes up obviously I’m going to consider first and foremost a nominee with a good grasp of Atlasian legal precedent and argument who can be active as often as the Court demands it. I’m sure there are plenty of people both on the left and the right who fit that bill.

[S019]

Questions for All Candidates:

1. Lots of candidates talk about activity, but fail to deliver. Perhaps because of a general lack of care for the game, or perhaps because it is more pleasant to deal with an inactive legislature of supporters than an active legislature of opponents, many have ended up only managing the decline rather than actually making a difference. What assurances and evidence can you give the public that you actually still care about the game and will work to make it more reliably active?

I addressed in my opening statement but the talent pool does not exist currently to have regional governments, elections, and the legislative process all coexist. The first step that we need to take is to reduce the burden of what it takes to be an active player in this game, as it has devolved into something which becomes all-consuming. I propose the abolition of elections in their current form and their replacement with a simulated elections system where players would create their own parties and then campaign on the AFE board.

2. COVID-19, while in a weakened state, remains a potential threat to Atlasia in the coming months. Do you believe our nation is currently mounting an effective response to the virus, and are there any additional measures, such as a vaccine mandate, that you believe should be enacted?

I will take whichever steps the experts suggest. I would support a vaccine mandate as it is effective against the new variants that are spreading. I do believe the response so far has been effective, though I will continue to consult with our health experts.

3. Should the next administration seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban or enact other gun legislation? If not, how should we respond to mass shootings beyond offering our condolences?

I cannot believe we are asking this question in the wake of a mass shooting at an elementary school and several mass shootings over the weekend. Not only must we reinstate the assault weapons ban, we must go further. You wonder why we're the only country in the world to deal with this. You know, Australia used to have a pretty strong gun culture, but one mass shooting was all it took to get real action there. So not only will I bring back the assault weapons ban, we will ban handguns as well, which is proven to reduce violence. We will also institute a national licensing scheme and we will require valid reasons for firearms ownership. These measures are proven to work around the world, and we can do it here too.

4. In the event of a vacancy on the Supreme Court, what standards would you use in evaluating who to nominate? What weight would ideological consistency hold as compared to fitness for the role? Would you condition your decision on an agreement to vote against any current precedent of the court?

I would appoint a qualified nominee who would have the confidence of the Senate. It would be someone with a long history in public service. Ideology would play a role obviously, but I'm not going to make specific litmus tests on specific court cases, even ones that I disagree with.


Question for S019: When in the Lincoln Legislature, you often proposed regional tax increases on everything from corporations to toll roads. You once supported forcing government employees to take dubious online tests measuring "implicit bias". Further, your gun reform bill had to be stripped of extreme elements before it could pass, such as a "adequate reason" requirement to own even the simplest firearms. Now, we have your stated desire to "reform the regions". Why should voters believe that "regional reform" would mean anything except forcing your ideological agenda onto the regions regardless of the views of their elected legislatures?

So to begin with on the topic of "regional reform," none of this will take place without consent of the elections. If elected I will convene my Domestic Policy Council to come up with the broad text of a plan to overhaul the regions, I am unsure what said plan will entail at this time, but we will put it forward in a non-binding plebiscite to the people. If the people approve of the plan, then we will move forward with the steps of introducing it to Congress. We will also take into account the level of approval, I'm not sure of a hard number specifically, but it'd be hard to push through a major constitutional reform that receives say 40% opposition. I do believe in majority rule, absolutely, but large, transformational changes like these absolutely need public support. Now on the topic of each of these policies, I've already addressed the firearms stuff above, so let's move on to the rest. On the topic of taxation, let's just make clear that I strongly support user fees and tolls are a key part of reducing the amount that people drive and thus reducing emissions. Also on the note of corporate taxes, I would not vote for those particular hikes if they were put before me today. I would bring about the introduction of a value added tax instead, given our nation is one of few in the world to not have one and it provide large amounts of funding for public services. On the note of racial bias tests, we do face problems with systemic racism in this country and it is important to be able to root out those problems.

[Senator-elect Spark]

"All right, thank you. As a note, any other candidates observing are more than welcome to chime in at any time and rebuttals are welcome throughout":

Questions for All Candidates:

1. Lots of candidates talk about activity, but fail to deliver. Perhaps because of a general lack of care for the game, or perhaps because it is more pleasant to deal with an inactive legislature of supporters than an active legislature of opponents, many have ended up only managing the decline rather than actually making a difference. What assurances and evidence can you give the public that you actually still care about the game and will work to make it more reliably active?

I care about the game because I know about inactivity through experience. When a legislature is inactive, people are less inspired to make a change because it is akin to a stonewalled legislature. Nothing advances. We cannot afford that in Atlasia.

Mr. Cao alluded to the fact that him running Congress is like "day-care", I say that Congress is the most important vessel in our country and I won't hesitate to work with leaders in Congress to help advance the country forward. Mr. Cao seems non-chalant about his current office and I think a President Cao will contribute to an already declining game. Him gaining the nomination and becoming President will not solve the activity crisis, it will only make things worse because of a void left in Congress.

What we need to solve the activity crisis is encouragement of old players to rejoin the game and guide it while new users join. The new users need to work in tandem to make the game work for everybody. I have relationships with both new and old users alike and won't hesitate to bring this to fruition through issuing an executive order to reinvigorate this game. The executive order will involve creating a bi-partisan commission on activity of the Republic, and members will be from the public who are experienced as well as new users.

Regarding the question of avoidance of working with opponents, during my time in Congress, I did not hesitate to work across the aisle regarding many public policy issues. We cannot fix Atlasia alone, and it is foolish to believe that. As President, I plan to hear all sides of an issue and come to an effective and swift resolution. That's what a President does. I fear that partisanship in Atlasia will increase under presidencies of any of my opponents here today. In fact, two candidates are former presidents. We need to offer new, and bold solutions to make Atlasia work again. Let's move into the future and not back into the past.

2. COVID-19, while in a weakened state, remains a potential threat to Atlasia in the coming months. Do you believe our nation is currently mounting an effective response to the virus, and are there any additional measures, such as a vaccine mandate, that you believe should be enacted?

COVID-19 is still a real and existential threat, as it continues to claim the lives of many Atlasians. I trust science on the matter, and believe that we can eradicate this disease by encouraging masking and social distancing, as well as other proven scientific issues. Politicizing this issue will only stall our progress toward eliminating it. That being said, I do not support imposing mandates upon our citizens. That is up to them to decide. However, I do believe that the federal government should issue guidance based on public health recommendations to the regions and localities. Many are still hesitant to receive the vaccine, and establishing additional vaccine clinics in rural and remote areas is necessary to ensure all citizen can receive a vaccine if they intend to get one. A Spark administration will work together with regions to ensure every Atlasian has access to a COVID-19 vaccine.


3. Should the next administration seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban or enact other gun legislation? If not, how should we respond to mass shootings beyond offering our condolences?

Gun control, as we know, is a very sensitive topic. We continue to see tragedies mount day in and day out. More lives lost and nothing being done about it. The fact of the matter is our country has the most firearms accessible and the most deaths due to gun violence. I think we need to balance the constitutional rights and freedoms of our law-abiding citizens with gun control measures. Solving this crisis cannot just be done with more laws around guns.

The federal government needs to increase funding for mental health to community centers and social service agencies through substantial grants. Establishing a federal gun violence prevention program is wise. This program would bring together researchers and professionals from all over Atlasia together to devise solutions and use existing ones to combat this gun violence epidemic. The federal government can then use those solutions to resolve the crisis. I do support an AWB but only to ban high capacity magazines, and AR-style weapons. We need to be careful with blanket banning firearms due to the protections of the 2nd amendment, lest the right is not absolute.

4. In the event of a vacancy on the Supreme Court, what standards would you use in evaluating who to nominate? What weight would ideological consistency hold as compared to fitness for the role? Would you condition your decision on an agreement to vote against any current precedent of the court?

As I've said on my campaign thread, I will not use a litmus test for our next Supreme Court Justice. The justice must be qualified beyond measure regarding their record and familiarity with case law and precedent. Ideological consistency is important, but not the end all be all. Overall, a justice must be committed to the rule of law, fervent supporter of rights of the unborn, and someone who values and will protect religious freedom. I would not base my decision on overturning precedent in nominating a justice.

Question for Spark: In the October Election, you were emphatically rejected, receiving only the votes of yourself and your running mate. Why should voters go against that consensus now?

I believe that voters know they have a choice here. They have not elected a Federalist President since 2019. Voters desire change. We saw that in the midterm elections. Voters know I've learned from my past behaviors and have worked to improve relations with everyone in game. I can commit to them today that I will be a President for all Atlasians and work hard every day to ensure their lives will be better.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Next round will be up later tonight.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Questions, Round 2

1. The Neolib Administration has presided over an expansion to the presidential cabinet, namely the reinstation of the Secretary of Internal Affairs and separating the offices of SOFE and RG. Do you agree with these changes? If so, would you seek to further expand the cabinet by say adding back the national archivist or adding a deputy GM?

2. Was Politics Fan vs The South, which says there is a right to abortion in the Atlasian Constitution, correctly decided?

3. Do you believe Atlasia is currently doing enough to fight climate change and develop renewable energy? If not, what additional measures would you enact?

4. What reforms, if any, should Atlasia enact for its police force to help prevent events of "police brutality"? Is it appropriate to "defund" the police (figuratively or literally)?

[Dr. MB]

Questions, Round 2

1. The Neolib Administration has presided over an expansion to the presidential cabinet, namely the reinstation of the Secretary of Internal Affairs and separating the offices of SOFE and RG. Do you agree with these changes? If so, would you seek to further expand the cabinet by say adding back the national archivist or adding a deputy GM?

I'm very open to the possibility of re-appointing a national archivist. The wiki is in desperate need of updating on most fronts and if someone (or a team of people) is dedicated enough to take up that task I'll encourage it. Otherwise, I don't have a problem with the cabinet as it stands.

2. Was Politics Fan vs The South, which says there is a right to abortion in the Atlasian Constitution, correctly decided?

I'd like to put that one up to the voters rather than a vague interpretation of a court case. I'm a little skeptical of inferring things based on loose precedent. I think there is a nice middle ground to be achieved though.

3. Do you believe Atlasia is currently doing enough to fight climate change and develop renewable energy? If not, what additional measures would you enact?

I'm convinced the way forward is nuclear power. We need more of it. It's reliable, it's efficient, you get a lot of bang for your buck.

But putting aside the issue of energy and resource acquisition, we need to take a look at a much deeper issue which has affected us for too long: a disconnect from the natural world. Up until two hundred years ago people mostly lived alongside nature and had the chance to develop a relationship with it; exploitation existed but on a much smaller scale. Most of our lives today are spent in synthetic boxes, using byproducts of resource exploitation to mold toxic goo into everyday objects. Consumption has been put into overdrive, with reckless spending on all aspects of life, products made to break so you spend more rather than last. Everyone wants the latest technology. I hate to break it to you but we really don't need that much more technology. Our advancements have been amazing as is and disconnecting ourselves from the earth and from nature has been a huge detriment to us, physically, mentally, and spiritually. We should be getting back out there, respecting the plants and animals we share this planet with.

4. What reforms, if any, should Atlasia enact for its police force to help prevent events of "police brutality"? Is it appropriate to "defund" the police (figuratively or literally)?

I already indicated what I'm gonna do to the feds. But the problem doesn't entirely lie there. I know plenty of people who decry gun control but are quick to back the blue. Well, if gun control is put in place, who will be enforcing it? The police need to be transformed from an agent of state tyranny into a force for good for the people, so the people themselves can protect and serve their communities rather than relying on a culture of fear and hardline tactics to stop crime. Trust can only come from within.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Questions, Round 2

1. The Neolib Administration has presided over an expansion to the presidential cabinet, namely the reinstation of the Secretary of Internal Affairs and separating the offices of SOFE and RG. Do you agree with these changes? If so, would you seek to further expand the cabinet by say adding back the national archivist or adding a deputy GM?

Yes, I am in support of these measures by the current administration. We need all hands on deck to run the federal government. I believe that the SOIA is a vital position that handles matters related to domestic policy. The President cannot do it all alone and it helps to have a cabinet that is active. I would look to expand the cabinet position even further adding the two positions mentioned, a national archivist and deputy GM to support existing offices. At times, the position of GM can be demanding, and having a deputy can offset that hefty workload.

I'd bring back the Secretary of Defense position via executive order to better inform me of foreign policy and military situations that require immediate action. The SoD will be influential in advising me regarding the status of potential military actions that Atlasian military would take. The SoD would consult with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and through deliberation, I could make better informed decisions. Under a Spark administration, the national security council will take a decisive role in my decision-making process regarding foreign affairs as well. Diplomacy will be my priority but I will not hesitate to use coercion to deter an adversary. As we've witnessed, things abroad have gotten out of hand and deteriorated quickly and we cannot afford indecision at this crucial point.
2. Was Politics Fan vs The South, which says there is a right to abortion in the Atlasian Constitution, correctly decided?

This is settled law. If elected President, we need to think realistically that amending the Constitution is very impractical, if not nearly impossible. That is not to say we should not try to amend the Constitution if the people demand it, but merely to change the language in the Constitution regarding this issue will not solve the problem in my view. We need to lessen the need to get an abortion procedure and discourage the practice by minimizing funding to abortion clinics. Planned Parenthood is an exemplification of this fact.

While PP does have family planning and other important services, abortion should not be funded by taxpayers. I am very firmly pro-life and an opponent of abortion, but we must be realistic. Putting women through dangerous procedures is as unjust as murdering a potential human being. I'm all for exceptions and in those cases, I am comfortable leaving it up to women and their doctors as well as the regions. I would not take measures to actively overturn existing precedent in the law, but I can say that I will fight against abortion through advocacy and restrict its funding.


3. Do you believe Atlasia is currently doing enough to fight climate change and develop renewable energy? If not, what additional measures would you enact?

Atlasia needs to be more vigilant against climate change as it affects all of us. Our planet is in a dire condition and this will only get worse if the government does not take action. Consider that the warming of Earth is found conclusively to worsen by anthropogenic means and fossil fuels will be exhausted by 2050.

We need to pivot toward renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar, hydro-power, and electric to supplement our existing ones such as natural gas and coal. It needs to be a gradual phase out and not an abrupt one that will totally disrupt those industries through structural unemployment. We need to understand that workers have livelihoods that should not be eradicated overnight. As a result, I have a plan that will put Atlasia on a path to energy independence by 2030. It involves reducing the cost of electricity by 1/3rd per household and installing countless electric charging stations at nearly every roadside. These are just the first steps of what we need to do to prepare for the future.

4. What reforms, if any, should Atlasia enact for its police force to help prevent events of "police brutality"? Is it appropriate to "defund" the police (figuratively or literally)?

Atlasia's police are definitely in need of reform. We must retrain police to shift away from weapons training and the propensity to use deadly force and more toward de-escalation training and mental fitness. Police are under a tremendous amount of stress while doing their jobs, and the government needs to do everything possible that police are acting with integrity to the fullest extent.

Police are in positions of authority and it is important for them to operate within the confines of the law. Often times, police will abuse their position using color of law to justify their actions. As a result, some police officers are punished less strictly than an ordinary citizen. We must hold police accountable for wrongdoing and establish a national police registry for misconduct to issue early terminations for officers who abuse their power.

Overall though we should not be "defunding" the police, as that will only exacerbate the problem and increase crime rates. Police departments need more funding, not less. Police must have the basic equipment, resources, and personnel necessary to deal with situations in a non-violent way unless the situation rises to deadly force. For example, unlawfully killing a mentally ill citizen with a knife is not an excuse for use of deadly force. Police departments need to have social service workers who are trained in a crisis to be deployed so that police do not experience a role overload.

I appreciate these questions.

- Spark

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I am going to go ahead and post the final round for this debate now. You will have through the Afternoon of June 13 to answer (and catch up on previous rounds). The second debate will start at that time.

---

Questions, Final Round:

1. Do you see our society as systemically racist? To what extent, if any, is it appropriate to teach "critical race theory" in schools? If so, define the term and how you would want it to be taught.

2. In light of the challenges faced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic, do you support any measures to forgive student loan debt? If so, how much would you forgive?

3. What focus, if any, would you put on expanding space exploration? Is it appropriate for us to be funding this while we are still running a deficit?

4. Generally speaking, to work towards a balanced budget, should we be looking at tax increases, changes to entitlements, cuts to defense spending, or cuts to discretionary spending? Why?


You can also provide a closing statement for this debate. Thanks for your participation!

[Joseph Cao]

Thanks for the updates, Wulfric, I'll have answers to the rest of the questions up soon.

1. The Neolib Administration has presided over an expansion to the presidential cabinet, namely the reinstation of the Secretary of Internal Affairs and separating the offices of SOFE and RG. Do you agree with these changes? If so, would you seek to further expand the cabinet by say adding back the national archivist or adding a deputy GM?

I wouldn’t call SoFE and RG being separate people an expansion necessarily, but certainly we’ve been long overdue in bringing back the SoIA. But before we go adding any more I want to make sure we’ve got a full Cabinet – we still haven’t got a replacement for Transit and it’s clear Lumine won’t be serving longer than absolutely necessary to get a new GM on the team. That needs to be addressed on day one. Assembling a good and reasonably active team with good and reasonably engaging storylines to tackle needs to be the first priority. As I’ve said: fix the engine first, then decide where to drive.

We definitely should have a national archivist though, that's one area where it would be prudent to appoint one immediately given their relative independence of function from the rest of the cabinet team.

2. Was Politics Fan vs The South, which says there is a right to abortion in the Atlasian Constitution, correctly decided?

Yes. I’ve mentioned before that I am unquestionably pro-life but from a gameplay and federalist perspective it is far better to have these matters decided on a regional level with an eye toward proper implementation. We’ve gone over this many times in Atlasian history – a federal government empowered to decide these issues can just as easily allow partial-birth abortions as cut off all practicable avenues for the practice. Keep it with the regions.

3. Do you believe Atlasia is currently doing enough to fight climate change and develop renewable energy? If not, what additional measures would you enact?

We’ve still got plenty of opportunity for more wind and more hydroelectric facilities as alternative means of energy generation in addition to the work we should be doing with establishing energy security through our existing reserves – and yes that includes nuclear, which as MB mentioned is one of the bigger and more reliable sources we have. What I want to ensure though is that the regions and states take an active participation in this area as they are the primary parties concerned with the facilities in question as well as the beneficiaries of the energy and jobs. Obviously from a gameplay perspective that means I want actual regional players involved and being kept in the loop on ongoing climate and energy developments, a sort of unofficial climate council being part of the communications between Nyman and the regions I’ve talked about at length, as well as whatever federal legislation the Senate proposes on the matter.

4. What reforms, if any, should Atlasia enact for its police force to help prevent events of "police brutality"? Is it appropriate to "defund" the police (figuratively or literally)?

I’m not familiar with whatever “defund” is supposed to mean in this context, but I view the police as an institution that was conceived in order to serve individual communities and needs to do everything it can to maintain that connection between the force and those it serves. We did just that in Chicago with a number of policies that lessen the gap, and we did that at the federal level with legislation signed by Federalist presidents. Both of these approaches come down to giving the people in the force whatever room they need to tailor their strategies for stabilizing communities and keeping the peace. You want to maximize trust in the police and the jobs they do, you have to start from the bottom up and give people the space to work things out.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Questions, Round 2

1. The Neolib Administration has presided over an expansion to the presidential cabinet, namely the reinstation of the Secretary of Internal Affairs and separating the offices of SOFE and RG. Do you agree with these changes? If so, would you seek to further expand the cabinet by say adding back the national archivist or adding a deputy GM?

Although my opinion long-term for reinstating a SoIA is mixed, Sirius has proven to be exceptional at the job and I see no reason to reverse this decision as long as they remain secretary. The other changes are also good. Bringing back the national archivist could be useful as the wiki is quite outdated at the moment. I had to make a thread for the senate elections this month just a few days ago, for crying out loud.

I'd also look further into creating a GM team rather than a singular GM. I think this would allow greater flexibility in terms of members of the team becoming inactive not crippling the game as much as a GM becoming inactive would.

2. Was Politics Fan vs The South, which says there is a right to abortion in the Atlasian Constitution, correctly decided?
I believe so, and I don't see any reason to revisit this debate at this time.

3. Do you believe Atlasia is currently doing enough to fight climate change and develop renewable energy? If not, what additional measures would you enact?

I think what we are doing is certainly sufficient, though we can always push further in terms of developing energy, especially making more of a push for fusion.

4. What reforms, if any, should Atlasia enact for its police force to help prevent events of "police brutality"? Is it appropriate to "defund" the police (figuratively or literally)?

I think we've already done a lot to prevent incidents. In game George Floyd is still alive and so are numerous other IRL victims of police brutality. There certainly are still some issues, but the current trajectory shows that we're well on our way to minimizing these to the lowest possible level. I'm not exactly for defunding considering the cost of many reforms we've made to the police which may be the first things cut, but these are decisions that should be made on a local and case-by-case basis. I would personally only support reducing funding in narrow circumstances like the issues that plague the LAPD irl, or in cases of severe negligence despite a large portion of the city budget.

[Continential]

1. Lots of candidates talk about activity, but fail to deliver. Perhaps because of a general lack of care for the game, or perhaps because it is more pleasant to deal with an inactive legislature of supporters than an active legislature of opponents, many have ended up only managing the decline rather than actually making a difference. What assurances and evidence can you give the public that you actually still care about the game and will work to make it more reliably active?

I have been active on the Atlas Fantasy board - the board most people see and in order for this game to be active, the game needs to have a mix of competitive elections and drama and I certainly produce drama and I have gotten people to run in elections before and in my opinion I have made the game more fun.

2. COVID-19, while in a weakened state, remains a potential threat to Atlasia in the coming months. Do you believe our nation is currently mounting an effective response to the virus, and are there any additional measures, such as a vaccine mandate, that you believe should be enacted?

I would recommend people who haven't been vaccinated to be vaccinated or to get their booster and I oppose mask and vaccine mandates - the pandemic is over in my opinion and we should invest into research to find a vaccine which prevents you from getting COVID instead of mitigating the symptoms of COVID like MB said.

3. Should the next administration seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban or enact other gun legislation? If not, how should we respond to mass shootings beyond offering our condolences?

The next President shouldn't reinstate the assault weapons ban and I would only support an assault weapons ban if the military and police can't use assault weapons, and I am satisfied with the current status of gun control and I am fine with regions legislating on gun control and I hope the next President is as well.

4. In the event of a vacancy on the Supreme Court, what standards would you use in evaluating who to nominate? What weight would ideological consistency hold as compared to fitness for the role? Would you condition your decision on an agreement to vote against any current precedent of the court?

I hope the next President appoints someone who cares about the game and I would want the prospective nominee be confirmed with a strong mandate regardless of party because fundamentally, the supreme court is a institution which bypasses partisanship.

Question for Ishan: During your time in the game, you have leaped around the parties, at times being in Labor, but at other times creating or joining various smaller third parties. Do you have an actual consistent ideology, and if so, what is it?

While my choice of partisanship has been volatile, I have always been a liberal.

1. The Neolib Administration has presided over an expansion to the presidential cabinet, namely the reinstation of the Secretary of Internal Affairs and separating the offices of SOFE and RG. Do you agree with these changes? If so, would you seek to further expand the cabinet by say adding back the national archivist or adding a deputy GM?

I agree with these changes and I support my bill which I proposed to reform the Game Moderation team, and I oppose a national archivist unless there is someone who works on the wiki without the title, and I hope the next President rewards them with that title for their efforts to work on the wiki.

2. Was Politics Fan vs The South, which says there is a right to abortion in the Atlasian Constitution, correctly decided?

I support the current status quo of abortion being decided by the regions, and I sponsored or cosponsored an amendment a while back with PPT Cao to give full control of abortion to the regions and I hope the amendment or a version of it gets ratified one day so yes, it was correctly ratified.

3. Do you believe Atlasia is currently doing enough to fight climate change and develop renewable energy? If not, what additional measures would you enact?

Atlasia has done a lot to fight climate change, and as a global leader in fighting climate change I think we should pressure and encourage other countries to contribute their fair share and doing more towards fighting against climate change.

4. What reforms, if any, should Atlasia enact for its police force to help prevent events of "police brutality"? Is it appropriate to "defund" the police (figuratively or literally)?

We have passed many reforms to help prevent police brutality and I personally think police should represent the communities they are policing more and the police should have a more "open" environment towards minorities and I support auditing the police and reinvesting the waste into ensuring that police can be held accountable and into other programs which will help sustain law and order and trust.

[S019]

Questions, Round 2

1. The Neolib Administration has presided over an expansion to the presidential cabinet, namely the reinstation of the Secretary of Internal Affairs and separating the offices of SOFE and RG. Do you agree with these changes? If so, would you seek to further expand the cabinet by say adding back the national archivist or adding a deputy GM?

I do not support these changes and believe this contributes to the issue of office fluff that is harming this game. I would support downsizing the Cabinet, if elected. 

2. Was Politics Fan vs The South, which says there is a right to abortion in the Atlasian Constitution, correctly decided?

I absolutely believe so. I do believe that there are certain rights that people have that are not expressly stated in the constitution and this includes the right to elective abortion. I will defend this right if elected, and will seek to pass a constitutional amendment protecting the right to elective abortion.

3. Do you believe Atlasia is currently doing enough to fight climate change and develop renewable energy? If not, what additional measures would you enact?

I do not believe we have made enough progress. I will initiate a phase out of fossil fuels and expand electric vehicle infrastructure, including the expansion of electric vehicle charging stations. I will also reduce our reliance on personal transportation, in general, by embarking on an ambitious plan to expand mass transit.

4. What reforms, if any, should Atlasia enact for its police force to help prevent events of "police brutality"? Is it appropriate to "defund" the police (figuratively or literally)?

Well I do believe we need to support the police, when necessary. However, in many cases, we have officers being sent to situations that there are not trained to be in and that they will admit, they do not handle well. I would like to reorient the police towards a focus of taking on crime, particularly violent crime, and leave other situations to people such as social workers or counselors.

[S019]

Questions, Final Round:

1. Do you see our society as systemically racist? To what extent, if any, is it appropriate to teach "critical race theory" in schools? If so, define the term and how you would want it to be taught.

I do, and I do believe that is appropriate to teach "critical race theory." The time has come to reckon with our past and to recognize our troubled history. As a minority myself, this is a particularly important issue to me, because our nation despite claiming to be a melting pot, has many elements which have not truly accepted those different from them. We need to increase awareness of racism in other to take on these issues.

2. In light of the challenges faced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic, do you support any measures to forgive student loan debt? If so, how much would you forgive?

I do not believe this is the right approach to this issue, however I could be open to a broader program to make college more affordable, but a blanket write-off of debt is just not sound economics.

3. What focus, if any, would you put on expanding space exploration? Is it appropriate for us to be funding this while we are still running a deficit?

I would continue support for the space program. I do believe it is important for us to explore other worlds, perhaps with the goal of eventually establishing settlements there. It is also important that the government maintains its role in space exploration, so that we can continue to pursue this for scientific purposes and not exploit space.

4. Generally speaking, to work towards a balanced budget, should we be looking at tax increases, changes to entitlements, cuts to defense spending, or cuts to discretionary spending? Why?

I support implementing a value added tax of around 20%, which is consistent with a rate in most European-Union countries. The problem is that regional tax rates are too high which is stifling innovation and disincentivizing participation in the economy, I think we need to cut our tax rates federally and make up the lost revenue with a value added tax. If the regions choose to change their absurd budgets, that's one thing, but they seem unwilling to do that.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Questions, Final Round:

1. Do you see our society as systemically racist? To what extent, if any, is it appropriate to teach "critical race theory" in schools? If so, define the term and how you would want it to be taught.

I believe that society is in vast need of reform. When people still unable to acquire mortgages due to their zip codes, and unarmed African Americans are gunned down on our streets, we know we have more work to do.

Critical theory race is based upon the fact that all American institutions are inherently racist. I don't think that critical race theory should be taught in our schools until at least high school when students are more able to effectively understand the legacy of racism throughout American history. There is a fine line between explanation and indoctrination and we want our students to come to determinations on their own. That requires a developed and independent mind. Younger children simply are not capable of that yet during that point in their development.
2. In light of the challenges faced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic, do you support any measures to forgive student loan debt? If so, how much would you forgive?

Yes, absolutely. Students faced wide ranging challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic from the social-emotional impact due to lack of effective social interactions to academic impacts of missing time in the school building. Students became overwhelmed with demands and the line between school and home responsibilities became blurred.

We need to aid our students during this time of transition and lift the burden for our older students. Cancelling student debt should be a national priority. The President is perfectly capable of cancelling  debt through executive order. Cancelling student debt will add at least $3 billion back into the economy, because consumers are forced to make decisions about their discretionary spending.

It is a matter of buying a new television or investing more in your retirement account rather than paying your student loan bill. I am in favor of immediately cancelling at least $10,000 per borrower upon taking office as the President of Atlasia, effectively $45 billion. I am open to cancelling more than this amount. As many of the benefits to the economy will be realized in years to come, it is important that we take this step to level the playing field for all citizens.
3. What focus, if any, would you put on expanding space exploration? Is it appropriate for us to be funding this while we are still running a deficit?

As previously stated, I will establish a space policy council upon taking office. The space policy council's purpose will be to investigate the feasibility of terra-forming technology for this century and the next. We need to be on the cutting edge of scientific research, technology, and innovation. I believe this is done best through the free market in Atlasia. I also expect the council to work on a manned mission to the Moon and Mars by the end of my second term.

Leading in space is essential if we want to continue our status as leaders of the world. Demilitarizing space is important and I see my administration working with our allies and adversaries alike to continue establishing space as an area that prohibits combat. Space is to be used for scientific research only. If warfare proliferates into space, it will be the greatest tragedy for humanity because space exploration benefits all of us. My administration will devise a treaty that reaffirms the commitment to nonviolence during space exploration, and mutual cooperation regarding scientific research.
4. Generally speaking, to work towards a balanced budget, should we be looking at tax increases, changes to entitlements, cuts to defense spending, or cuts to discretionary spending? Why?

A balanced budget is a noble goal in Atlasia and I will work to make that happen. The fact is, despite having a surplus now, difficult times call for difficult measures. We are still mired in a pandemic, and protecting a surplus is important. We need to look to cuts to discretionary spending areas such as foreign and defense aid. I will cut this up to 15%, as well as arms spending up to 20%. Then we must look to contracting out infrastructure services to reputable non-profit agencies. This will also save us billions in revenue. The federal government needs to encourage revenue-sharing between localities. Smaller localities can work together with larger ones and merge services to cut costs for their bottom line if acquiesced. This will reduce the burden upon the federal government and free up additional funding if necessary in an emergency.

I have plans for one of the largest middle class tax cuts in history through the Atlasian Tax Reduction and Economic Incentivization Act. This bill would cut taxes for the middle and lower tax brackets by between 15 and 25%. During these hard times, we need to put more money in the pockets of our citizens that are struggling due to inflationary pressures. I also have plans for a grocery tax rebate of up to 25% and tax credit incentives for companies to relocate to Atlasia. This will spur business confidence, and I plan to be the most pro-business President that Atlasia has ever seen.

Closing Statement

Atlasia, we have a choice for the future like no other. Will we continue to go backwards? Will we elect candidates who offer more of the same? The status quo cannot be maintained, and that is a clear fact. We need new, bold, decisive leadership that will bring Atlasia out of this crisis.

I am prepared to take actions that will bring the promise back to our nation. Respectfully, all of my opponents offer the same recycled solutions that have propelled the past. We need to forge the future. I will be the people's champion by advocating for solutions that work for all Atlasians. Today, I am asking you to consider our candidacy and hope to earn your vote for President.

Thank you.

- Spark

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Questions, Final Round:

1. Do you see our society as systemically racist? To what extent, if any, is it appropriate to teach "critical race theory" in schools? If so, define the term and how you would want it to be taught.

That's a hard question to answer, as far as society goes. At the moment, there are still stains of it, but I believe they are fading away.

CRT has so many definitions depending on who you ask, and even I don't quite know what the best definition is. Instead I will say that I think we should try as hard as possible to teach our children that race is only skin deep and that we should judge people on actions, not how they look. This seems common-sense but the issue is that in some cases parents who have racial biases will try to undo this learning to varying levels of success.

In history classes we should still celebrate the ideals of the Founding Fathers, but we should also point out that for some their actions did not always meet those ideals. This is no reason to hate them, they're human after all, but we can't pretend like they're saints either.

2. In light of the challenges faced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic, do you support any measures to forgive student loan debt? If so, how much would you forgive?

I don't think forgiving debt is a good precedent even with COVID, but I believe we are already making good strides towards reducing this as an issue, especially for poorer individuals, thanks to the Pell Grant expansion in the NGS act. And forgive me for being ignorant here, but if it isn't already the case, I'd like to see student debt dischargeable in bankruptcy. At least then in the worst scenario someone still doesn't need to worry about it.

I'd also try to make 2-year community college absolutely free for all. Community college is far too looked down upon as an option and this has forced many to go to expensive college. By incentivizing people to go to community college in this manner, we can see many more get a good education without breaking the bank.

3. What focus, if any, would you put on expanding space exploration? Is it appropriate for us to be funding this while we are still running a deficit?
The AFP, which I am running under, has the strongest stance on expanding space exploration out there. We will fund it far, far more than it is now. Concerns about the cost are misguided. Every dollar we invest comes back to us several times over in new knowledge, research, and in the future, materials such as those gained from asteroid mining. This isn't even considering the possibility of sifting lunar dust for Helium-3, which could be the pathway to fusion energy, something which would greatly benefit everyone, especially in the fight against climate change. The possibilities are endless, and our future is among the stars.

And as much as I hate to say it, we will have to lay groundwork for any potential militarization of space, though we will not be the instigators of this. I would reach out the the international community to try and come to agreements on further limiting military operations in space as long as the world remains split between nations.

4. Generally speaking, to work towards a balanced budget, should we be looking at tax increases, changes to entitlements, cuts to defense spending, or cuts to discretionary spending? Why?

Anything that doesn't seriously hurt people is fine by me. Cuts in megacorp subsidies, streamlining bureaucracy, etc are all ideas the AFP has to try and cut down on the deficit.

I may be for a balanced budget, but that doesn't mean I will make a threadbare safety net for it. Helping the people is a bigger priority.


CLOSING STATEMENT

Atlasia, this month you have a choice between the ways of the new and the ways of the old. The AFP is the only party looking to bring these new ways to Atlasia. The AFP is the only party offering you a chance to become who you want to be. The AFP is the only party charging towards the future.

The AFP is the choice of the future, and so am I. Thank you.

[Joseph Cao]

A closing statement will be up when I'm not rushing out the door on six hours of sleep.

1. Do you see our society as systemically racist? To what extent, if any, is it appropriate to teach "critical race theory" in schools? If so, define the term and how you would want it to be taught.

This is the second time there’s been a question about “critical race theory” and I’m still fuzzy on what exactly it’s supposed to refer to.

Like I’ve said before, you don’t have to explicitly make an educational curriculum to teach children about the importance of treating other people right. That’s a very basic life lesson which kids will naturally pick up from their role models. To the extent that it’s our job to impart values like these then certainly public school teachers have a role to play, but that needs to be done through their actions as well as their hypothetical words.

2. In light of the challenges faced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic, do you support any measures to forgive student loan debt? If so, how much would you forgive?

Over the past few years through legislation like the HELIOS Act we’ve provided a broad swathe of students with the financial support they need for not just regular college, but for those attending trade and community colleges as well. We recently added an extra layer of help specifically for those affected by COVID. I’m not sure what else is possible at this point, frankly.

3. What focus, if any, would you put on expanding space exploration? Is it appropriate for us to be funding this while we are still running a deficit?

It costs a drop in the bucket to continue funding NASA at its current levels. I’d have to see how much interest there is gameplay-wise in making an expanded space program an administration priority before proceeding with that, but since we’re more or less past COVID we’ve got plenty of opportunity to start focusing on an area of policy with immense scientific and national security returns. I don’t think an expansion will contribute much to the deficit in comparison to other points of focus I could name.

4. Generally speaking, to work towards a balanced budget, should we be looking at tax increases, changes to entitlements, cuts to defense spending, or cuts to discretionary spending? Why?

A serious look at tackling the deficit would focus on all of these options to varying extents. Personally I’m going to do my best to avoid cutting anything that endangers Atlasian lives or livelihoods. But I very much need to see the budget before I say anything definite about it.

[Dr. MB]

1. Do you see our society as systemically racist? To what extent, if any, is it appropriate to teach "critical race theory" in schools? If so, define the term and how you would want it to be taught.

Teachers should have more control over what they teach in their classrooms without too much oversight from the federal or from regional governments. I don't condone or condemn them running their class the way they see fit because an interesting education is the best education, not government bureaucrats slamming their fist down and making teachers afraid for their jobs simply by speaking wrongly.

Racial issues in society are everyone's issue: they go hand-in-hand with all other forms of discrimination. The best way to defeat it is to organize against it through collective action, removing the crown from on top of the fat cat's head, and melting it down rather than awarding it to anyone else. Racism isn't just a person, or an individual action. It comes from the top and rears its ugly head only when the people in power let it perpetuate. Call it out when you see it. At a more individual level, people need to get more exposure to everyone. Free your mind and the rest will follow. Perception is key and once people broaden their experience, and meet new people of different backgrounds, that's when the change really happens. It's all in your head.

2. In light of the challenges faced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic, do you support any measures to forgive student loan debt? If so, how much would you forgive?

Rather than implementing a temporary solution like debt forgiveness we need to get at the root of the issue. Forgiving student debt is a stopgap measure which does nothing to attack the true cause: why is college so expensive and why do students feel the need to take out tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans to finance their degree? College needs to be more affordable, not as many people need to be in college, and fewer jobs need to require degrees. It's as simple as that.

3. What focus, if any, would you put on expanding space exploration? Is it appropriate for us to be funding this while we are still running a deficit?

During my first term as President I ordered the immediate declassification of all UFO files. Unfortunately I don't believe the public has been given the contents of those files. Once we do, I suspect that a lot of big advancements will be made in a very short amount of time. Forget Mars and the Moon, we're gonna be traveling to other solar systems and even other galaxies once we figure out the right technology and get a little help from our friends up above.

4. Generally speaking, to work towards a balanced budget, should we be looking at tax increases, changes to entitlements, cuts to defense spending, or cuts to discretionary spending? Why?

We don't need such a vast military budget which exists only to further the imperialist state. I think we should massively cut defense spending and stop using taxpayer's money to fund death and destruction. Stop funding the Department of Defense at ridiculous levels. Stop funding the CIA, the FBI, the DHS, ICE, the NSA, and the DEA. Redirect that money back into the pockets of working people.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to serving as your president if elected.