Office of ZuWo

[ZuWo]

TPP -  A while ago you sponsored an anti-marijuana bill in the Mideast Assembly.  Why do you oppose The People's freedom to smoke if they so choose?

Thank you for the question. I laid out my point of view in a detailed way during the debate of that bill, so I will just mention the main points again.

I oppose the right to smoke marijuana because of the risks it entails. Considering the mental and physical damages that the consumption of marijuana may cause, I believe it is a more dangerous drug than the legal substances tobacco or alcohol, which opponents of marijuana regulation often cite as drugs that are "equally harmful" as marijuana. Thus, I find it irresponsible to grant such a drug legal status. Then there is the aspect of the protection of minors. I am of the conviction that a ban would discourage adults (and minors) from smoking marijuana, at least to a certain extent.

Now the bill has failed, and I don't intend to bring it up again in the future. If such a bill couldn't be passed by the current (rather conservative) Assembly, I don't think it could ever be passed in the future.

[ZuWo]

The Atlasian Sentinel asks...

Why do you have an orange avater? Typically (and by typically, I mean most people, not everyone) people with orange avater's are more liberal, and considering you're both economically and socially conservative, we'd expect you to be sporting a blue avater.

Ha, what a question. I prepared for all sorts of questions, but not for a question about the colour of my avatar. But this only shows how close the Atlasian Sentinel is to the real needs and interests of the Atlasian people

Well, the answer is quite straightforward, though. The "other" avatar (that's what the orange colour stands for) refers to my political affiliation in my home country, Switzerland. Since there is neither a Swiss Republican, nor a Swiss Democrat nor any other Swiss party that resembles a particular American party, I had to go for "other".

So no, I'm not a closet liberal who is accidentally outed by his suspicious avatar.

[ZuWo]

TPTTAA - are you saying you oppose the US Republican Party?

It's astonishing that an ordinary Assemblyman gets the opportunity to answer so many questions that greatly vary in their content by very different media outlets, but I'm glad to do that.

Well, due to my conservative stances on the issues I have closer ideological ties to the Republicans than to the Democrats, so I don't oppose the US Republican Party or whatsoever. However, my point is that since I'm not American I cannot completely identify with any US party because many of the issues a US party (or any non-Swiss party, for that matter) deals with are very different from the issues that are relevant to my home country.

(Sorry for not being able to provide a more entertaining answer. )

[ZuWo]

Honestly, I don't care too much what colour my avatar has. People who want to get a quick overview of where I stand politically can look at my political matrix scores and see that I'm really not a leftist. As I said, I chose the orange avatar because I haven't got any ties to a particular American party and a separate avatar for the Swiss party I support is - understandably - not available. But that's no big deal. I mean, I could do it like Kalwejt and change my avatar every second day, or stick to an avatar with any other random colour. In my opinion, these avatars shouldn't be treated as something extremely significant.

Are there any other questions regarding political issues or are my 15 minutes of fame over now?

[ZuWo]

Press Release 1: Meeting with representatives of the Mideast Pro-Life PAC

After a two-hour meeting with representatives of the Mideast Pro-Life PAC (MPL PAC) in Louisville, Kentucky, Assemblyman ZuWo made clear that he considered the fight against abortion a key political issue. “We’re about to pass a landmark bill which will drastically reduce the number of abortions in the Mideast”, Assemblyman ZuWo said to a handful of journalists after the meeting, referring to the “Amendment to the Mideast Abortion Statute II”, which is currently being debated by the Mideast Assembly and appears to have the support of 4 out of 5 Assemblymembers.

Asked whether he thought it wise that the Assembly is spending time debating social rather than economical issues in times of a recession, the politician stated: “There is never a wrong time to pass legislation which saves thousands of lives. There is never a wrong time to protect the unborn, the weakest members of our society.”
 
When a journalist of the Atlasian Sentinel confronted him with the possibility that the abortion amendment could be voted down in a popular referendum, the Assemblyman shrugged. “We live in a democracy, and the people of the Mideast will have the last word on the issue. But I’m confident that if we go out there and talk to the people in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and the many other wonderful states in the Mideast and make sure that our arguments are heard, we can overcome all difficulties.”

The meeting with the pro-life PAC in Kentucky is one of numerous events during the Assemblyman’s re-election campaign. He is expected to make his next appearance in the city of Cleveland, Ohio.

[ZuWo]

Thank you for the offer, Assemblyman TJ. I will be meeting with members of a teachers union in the morning and have lunch with some of them. But after that I shall have time for a tour through the city. Perhaps it would be advisable to give a joint press conference after the tour? Publicity is never a bad idea.  

[ZuWo]

Press Release 2: Meeting with members of the Mideast Teachers Union

This morning, Assemblyman ZuWo met with members of the Mideast Teachers Union in Cleveland, Ohio. He expressed his view that the work of teachers was very important and that it was every politician’s and each citizen’s responsibility to show teachers that their efforts are valued.

 “Teachers work hard every day. They invest time and power to educate our kids and have a huge impact on them. The work of a teacher influences a child’s future to a great extent, so we must do all we can to provide teachers favorable labor conditions.” The Assemblyman, who once worked in a private language school himself before he was elected to the Mideast Assembly, referred to the various education bills that were passed in the Mideast and laid out his arguments for the “Guidelines for Private Language School Act”, which he has recently introduced and is up for debate in the Assembly.

“We need to make sure private language schools adhere to most basic quality standards. A person who wishes to get private tuition in a language school must have the right to know whether the school he or she wants to go to is a respectable educational institution.”

After the meeting, ZuWo was asked a couple of questions by the press. To the Assemblyman’s slight disappointment, the three journalists who bothered to appear did not seem too eager to pose questions about educational issues but were more interested in the upcoming presidential elections. The journalists claimed that many Atlasians were asking themselves why the Regional Protection Party still has not decided whether there would be a RPP presidential ticket. The Assemblyman did not want to waste too many words about the presidential elections and said: “There’s still time for a decision. Discussions are going on within the party, and I am absolutely confident that the RPP’s strategy will be well-based and very successful.”  

[ZuWo]

Press Release 3: Statement regarding the "Amendment to the Mideast Abortion Statute II"

Assemblyman ZuWo has issued the folliwng statement:

Dear friends and fellow pro-lifers,

The "Amendment to the Mideast Abortion Statute II" has been passed by the Assembly and will be signed into law by the Governor soon. This is a tremendous success for the sanctity of life movement and an example of real and effective progress in our fight to protect the lives of thousands of unborn children.
 
However, you may have heard that a legal challenge to the bill is likely going to be brought forward after the Governor will have signed the bill because it is said to violate Roe v. Wade. I urge all of you not to be discouraged and continue to fight for our honorable cause. Fellow pro-lifers, in case this amendment is going to be overturned let me tell you that we shall not waver in our determination and try to reach our goals by other democratic means. I assure you that I will introduce one or numerous bills that will place heavy restrictions on abortion clinics if necessary. Even if we possibly cannot succeed in changing the law as to banning abortion explicitly, we can make sure abortion clinics in the Mideast will face restrictions that make it impossible for them to operate. In this way, we reach our target in a more indirect but in a no more ineffective way.

I thank you for your support and assure you that our mission has not ended here.

Regards,

Assemblyman ZuWo

[ZuWo]

On the campaign trail in Jefferson City, Missouri

Last night Assemblyman ZuWo held a fundraising event in Jefferson City, Missouri, and spoke to a group of uncommitted Mideast voters. He expressed his content with the broad field of candidates for the Mideast Assembly, which he said offered the voters a real choice.

“You can vote for continuity and re-elect those Assemblymembers who you think have done a good job for the region. But you can also choose to elect fresher faces with a different vision for the Mideast”, ZuWo stated. “I assure you all that a vote for me and my fellow Assemblymen is a vote that you won’t regret. We will continue to work hard and humbly and tackle both social and economic issues. Our sole intent is to advance our region.”

The Assemblyman also addressed the economic woes of numerous Mideasterners. “We’re going through a difficult time and must pay attention that no one in our region is left behind. The Assembly has the duty to create a positive economic setting by keeping the tax burden as low as possible. Big government and aimless spending is not the answer to a recession, but we must make sure that we invest in our infrastructure in a reasonable way. Our bridges must be safe, new roads must be built and existing ones must be properly maintained. We also need to invest in new electrical lines and, very importantly, our transportation system. In this way we will remain competitive as a region.”

Due to the crowded field of candidates for the five Assembly seats, the Assemblyman has decided to rev up his re-election efforts. “No one can take a seat for granted. This election will be a nail biter for all of us.”

[ZuWo]

Statement regarding the Mideast Assembly Elections

It is encouraging to see that so many Mideasterners have already cast their vote in the Assembly and gubernatorial elections. While there were only 10 valid votes in the last elections in July, the number of voters is 15 at the moment. Great news!

I'm especially happy about the fact that it seems that all current RPP Assemblymembers who are running again will be re-elected. Franzl, another RPP member, is likely to be elected as well. This success, underlined by the comparatively high turnout, is a mandate for a continuation of conservative policies. I thank the people of the Mideast for their support!

Assemblyman ZuWo

[ZuWo]

Congratulations on the re-election!

Thank you. I'm glad you were re-elected as well.

[ZuWo]

New Assembly Session

With the upcoming election of Inks as Speaker, the new session of the Mideast Assembly is about to begin. Let me briefly outline what my priorities are:

1. Education: Guidelines for Private Language Schools Act

I am going to reintroduce a bill from the last session that focuses on private language schools. Our region should establish concrete guidelines for private educational institutions to guarantee that students who take courses at a particular school can study in an encouraging environment. I'm looking forward to debating this issue with my fellow Assemblymembers.

2. Economy: Keeping taxes low

I am convinced that our region's path to economic success is a low tax burden. Necessary investments in our infrastructure must be made. I welcome the ideas that some of my fellow colleagues and the Governor have put forward and will be discussed in the Assembly. I am confident that the Assembly in its new composition will take common-sense decisions which strenghten our economy.

3. Social issues: Keep a close eye on critical issues

The Assembly has spent a lot of time focusing on social issues during the last session. With the new Governor who is rather liberal socially it is probably not possible to push through socially conservative bills this session. However, I will keep a close eye on essential topics such as abortion and drugs and am prepared to propose new ideas whenever I deem it necessary.

Let's get working again!

[ZuWo]

Statement on the special election to the Atlasian Senate

To the people of Atlasia,

This has been a fascinating election. Congrats to the winner, Kalwejt. I hope you will remain an independent and active voice in your new office!
In my view, turnout efforts both by the RPP and the JCP have been tremendous. We in the RPP have done a great job trying to contact as many potential voters as possible but due to the structural disadvantage our party has in Atlasia victory was out of reach for us today. I thank Junkie for having made this a great race. Junkie has been one of the best candidates the RPP could field so I am proud this turned out to be a really close race. I would love to see Junkie run for Atlasian-wide office again at some stage. We really need dedicated and qualified people like him!

There is no need for bitter feelings, nor should people start or continue personal feuds or to bicker about the election. Clearly, this result is a mandate for the JCP. To the guys in the JCP: You now have a supermajority in the Senate. You have had the presidency, and the new President is likely going to be one of your guys as well. Enjoy this victory, but be aware that the full responsibility regarding Atlasia is yours. You will be judged by the state of Atlasia when the next election will be held. You have the majority to change things for the better or the worse. Keep that in mind when making decisions in the Senate.

On the federal level, the RPP is undoubtedly the main opposition party. It is therefore our job to present alternative ideas and concepts of how we want to change Atlasia. Let's not give up just because we lost another election. Let's work hard and focus on the issues. We are a big tent party which for the most part doesn't consist of "far right extremists", as some would put it. We are a party of both conservatives and moderates. There are many great and dedicated people in the RPP. The future of our party is not bleak, it is indeed very bright. Yes, we're struggling in a way like the GOP struggles in US states such as Massachusetts or Connecticut. Yes, we are going to lose most federal races in Atlasia. But as long as all of us remain sincere, honest and fair and as long as we manage to keep elections close and interesting by putting forward great candidates and clear plans, we can be proud.

Thank you!

ZuWo

[ZuWo]

Press Release: No compromise on regional rights!

Dear Mideast citizens,

regional rights are in danger. The Atlasian Senate is currently debating a bill which curbs the constitutionally guaranteed autonomy of the Atlasian regions, a bill called the "Environmental Conservation and Protection Act". It appears that this constitutionally questionable bill, which will place a ban on land transfers by the regions of Atlasia, has the support of a majority of the Atlasian Senators.

Note that this is a bill which Vice President Bacon King voted against only two months ago due to constitutional concerns.

Fortunately, there is a way you can voice your concern and take a stance in favor of regional rights. Vote RPP - the sole party that stands up for our regions. Vote Duke/Cincinnatus.

[ZuWo]

Press Release: No compromise on regional rights!

Dear Mideast citizens,

regional rights are in danger. The Atlasian Senate is currently debating a bill which curbs the constitutionally guaranteed autonomy of the Atlasian regions, a bill called the "Environmental Conservation and Protection Act". It appears that this constitutionally questionable bill, which will place a ban on land transfers by the regions of Atlasia, has the support of a majority of the Atlasian Senators.

Note that this is a bill which Vice President Bacon King voted against only two months ago due to constitutional concerns.

Fortunately, there is a way you can voice your concern and take a stance in favor of regional rights. Vote RPP - the sole party that stands up for our regions. Vote Duke/Cincinnatus.

Does this voting for the RPP include Mideast Regional Senate elections?

This is a tricky question. Both shua and MOPolitico are excellent candidates, and both of them have reasonable views on regional rights. So the Mideast Senate election is an exception in that respect. If you are a supporter of strong regional rights, both candidates are fine. There are other reasons why or why not to support one of the two people running for the ME Senate seat.

[ZuWo]

Press Release: Running for re-election to the Mideast Assembly

Today I announce that I will run for re-election to the Mideast Assembly. The election is only a bit more than two weeks away so it is about time to get my campaign started. It may be an advantage to be a sitting RPP Assemblyman when running for re-election in a conservative region like the Mideast, but I do not want to assume that this election is going to be a cakewalk.

I believe our Assembly has passed a number of really important bills so far in this term. We have dealt with and are still debating bills that tackle educational as well as environmental issues and have, despite a slow start, made decisions which will have a positive impact on our region. While there's always room for improvement, I think the current Assembly is composed of members who are both willing and able to work together and find sensible solutions to the problems the Mideast is facing.

I shall continue to be an active Assemblyman who will uphold conservative values. Citizens of the Mideast, I therefore ask for your confidence and your vote in the next election. Thank you very much!

Assemblyman ZuWo

[ZuWo]

Endorsed, former colleague! Also, you can expect a shipment of monopoly money to fund your campaign coming from one of my various PACs.

Thank you very much for your endorsement and the promised bucks. But if you haven't ruled out running for a seat yourself, you should maybe keep the money from your PACs.

[ZuWo]

Press Release: TV Ad

Assemblyman ZuWo, who is running for reelection to the Mideast Assembly, has released a new TV ad. The ad will be shown by numerous TV channels across the Mideast. Below is a transcript of the ad.

In Good Hands

"During the past months, I've been working tirelessly for our region. I and my colleagues in the Assembly, we've managed to pass important pieces of legislation that benefit the entire region. Not only have we tried to make sure that our economy is running smoothly, but we have also tackled critical educational and environmental issues.

As your Assemblyman, I will continue to take your concerns seriously. I support a free-market system which does not place any unnecessary burden on our businesses and I fight for conservative moral values. Most importantly, I will not relent in defending the sanctity of life.

I humbly ask you for your vote. Our region is in good hands, let's continue to move our region forward."
 

[ZuWo]

Endorsed. With you in the Assembly, we are in good hands

Thank you. That's exactly the type of effect this ad should have.

No, seriously, one thing I still have to work on is to be more successful with my bills. In an RPP-dominated Assembly it should be possible to get more than just 1 bills passed during one term.

[ZuWo]

Yes, it looks indeed like a Europe vs. US split. Thanks for the advice anyway,  I'll see whether I can come up with something new regarding the language issue. But I'm not overly stubborn and don't want to bring the same topic up again and again just to push my personal ideas if there's no chance in passing anything.

About the dog issue, could you possibly support a bill which would require owners of pit bulls and similarly "dangerous" dogs to keep their dogs on leashes?

[ZuWo]

Press Release: Mideast Assembly and Special Senate Election

Dear people of the Mideast

In two days you are going to cast your vote in two elections. On the one hand, you have the opportunity to elect a new Mideast Assembly, and on the other hand there is a special Senate election to fill the seat vacated by President Snowguy.

Regarding the Assembly elections, I ask you to consider casting your vote for the following candidates who have announced their intention to run for a seat:

Assemblyman ZuWo, Assemblyman TJ in Cleve, Assemblyman and Speaker of the Assembly Inks, Former Governor A-Bob and Former President Tmthforu.

I believe that with these candidates our Assembly will remain active and effective and, most importantly, reliably conservative.

Regarding the special election to the Atlasian Senate, I'd like to encourage all of you to vote for NE Assemblyman and former vice-presidential candidate Cincinnatus. While there certainly is an ideological gap between myself and Cincinnatus on certain social issues, I believe he is an extremely well qualified candidate for the Senate. Not only does he know the issues that are important to Atlasia in the current environment, but he is also capable of working with people all across the political spectrum.

People of the Mideast, these two elections are of great importance to you. Have your say in regional and national affairs! Thank you for your confidence.

Sincerely,

Assemblyman ZuWo

[ZuWo]

Statement on the Assembly elections

I thank everyone who has voted for me! I'll continue to do my best to represent the citizens of the Mideast.

Unfortunately, turnout has been much worse than last time. Even though this has not come as a surprise since we only had 5 candidates for 5 seats and a relatively uncontroversial last Assembly session, I hope we'll be able to reverse this trend next time.

[ZuWo]

Press Release: Senate Endorsements

I endorse the following candidates for the upcoming Senate at-large elections (in that order):

1. TJ in Cleve (RPP)
2. Junkie (RPP)
3. 20RP12 (SPA)
4. Kalwejt (JCP)

While TJ in Cleve is perfectly in line with my opinions from an ideological point of view and has demonstrated in the Assembly how well thought-out his style of legislating is, I endorse Junkie because he is a true expert on legal matters and has vowed to be an active Senator.
I also support the non-RPP candidates 20RP12 and Kalwejt. 20RP12 has campaigned very hard and laid out a pretty detailed platform. Kalwejt has been a creative and somewhat independent Senator on many issues.

I urge all Atlasians - whether they are members of the RPP, JCP, SPA, Blue Party or independent - to look at the records of all candidates. Do not vote for people who have shown no or little interest in being Senators, do not help to get inactive people elected. Cast your vote, have your say, and help to make Atlasia a more vivid place.

Depending on how the campaign evolves, more endorsements may come.

[ZuWo]

I am going to make an announcement at around 4 PM Eastern time today.

[ZuWo]

A New Prospect for Atlasia - ZuWo for President

Citizens of Atlasia,

Today is the first day of the year 2012 and I announce the formation of an exploratory committee for President. In the following days and weeks, I am going to test the waters regarding a potential run for President. The challenges our nation faces are legion, and I believe what our country needs in the current environment is a fresh start with a new administration that is willing to tackle the problems that are ahead of us.

I have been appointed to the Mideast Assembly in July and have served my region up to the present day. In my time as Assemblyman, I have introduced several bills, ranging from educational and regional game reform topics to issues concerning public health and law and order. I stand by my record and am grateful for the work I have had the privilege to do so far.

As President, I would work to repeal the “Productivity Equalization and Worker Employment Act”, because I believe this is a bill which has a devastating effect on the productivity of Atlasian businesses. Indeed, a core priority of a ZuWo administration would be to reduce unnecessary regulation for businesses and to lower federal taxes. In fact, we cannot afford to jeopardize the economic competitiveness of Atlasia by continuing to pursue left-wing policies.

Game reform would be another important pillar of my administration. The Senate has debated numerous reform bills in the current term, passed some of them and rejected others. Indeed, my goal as President would be to push reform ideas even more. Therefore, I would support the reinstatement of the "Game Reform Proposal Committee" that was installed under the Polnut administration in order to make Atlasia an even more interesting and fascinating place. Game reform is a constant process with the aim to improve flaws in the game; in a ZuWo administration there will be no taboos but an open-minded approach to reform ideas from people all across the political spectrum.

I am going to release a more detailed platform once my plans regarding my presidential run become more precise. I am open to questions, criticism and ideas!

Thank you all for your attention!

Assemblyman ZuWo