PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

[Alcon]

Bump. This thread simply needs more replies - it's a Presidential debate after all!

[Nation]

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

[George W. Bush]

It Really looks as If they dont care.

[Platypus]

the October debate was SO much better.

[KEmperor]

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

I will endevour to keep the government OUT of the faith business.  This is not just because I strongly believe in the seperation of church and state.  I oppose government actions that either aid or attack any religion. 

Whenever government begins to fund somthing, it gives it power over that something.  I fear that by funding faith-based charites, we put those groups in danger of being burdened with the same bureaucracy that government programs are known for.  Furthermore, it will take ultimate control over these charities out of the hands of the charities themselves and into the hands of the government. 

The government can essentially bribe the churches to implement whatever social engineering it deems fit.  The government can set whatever guidelines they wish, even if it goes against the beliefs of that religion, or they can withhold funding.  They have done this with the states with regard to raising the drinking age, and they can just as easily do it here.

Therefore, in order for faith-based charities to do what they do best, most efficiently, I will work to maintain their independence from governmental control.  I believe that these charities play an important role in our society, and I want them to continue to do this free from interference.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

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

Good question, Nation.

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

[Platypus]

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

[Filuwaúrdjan]

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

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

[minionofmidas]

This debate was supposed to end on the 12th, but since we are only on question #3...I'll let it slide

To Lewis, From Akno21: Why aren't you campaigning more?

Er...essentially, this weekend I spent about 6 hours neither working on a theater production nor asleep. That's including travel time.
Kind of limits your campaign abilities.

[minionofmidas]

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

As the gentleman from West Virginia has rightly pointed out, private charities should not be used to substitute social services that the state has a duty to provide...and the current US debate about "faith-based initiatives" always struck me as being mostly about that.
But having said that, of course private charities including faith-based charities have an important role to play in modern society, and they need a favourable tax environment for that.
Certainly though, putting more charity initiatives forward can not, must not, be the task of the president. That's the task of the people.

[minionofmidas]

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

Thank you, Hugh.
China is currently the most powerful fascist dictatorship in the world. The last 20 years of economic reforms have led to exactly no improvement in the civil rights situation in China.
Admitting China, or any other dictatorship for that matter, to the WTO in the first place was a mistake.
So has been the economic and military sabre-rattling of the current administration, however. All of Asia is currently holding its breath, fearing a full-blown war. That's in nobody's interests, certainly not our Asian Allies'.
Linking free trade to human rights is a good idea in principle - although it would require joint action by most of the world, and agreeing on objective standards would be very hard indeed - but singling out China in that respect may not be wise.

[KEmperor]

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

Communist China is one of the most powerful nations in the world today.  They possess an importance that is quickly overtaking that of the old European powerhouses.  Therefore the most important aspect of our stance with China is to tread carefully.

Provoking a military showdown is unwise and ultimately foolish.  Just as in the Cold War, no two nuclear powers must allow themselves to become openly hostile.  It is suicide for everyone involved.  This is why I favor an engagement policy with regard to Communist China.

While the typicial dictatorial committees still rule China and stifle dissent, greater trade with the free world has led to liberalization of many controls that were once in place.  We are dependent on China for many consumer goods, and China needs us just as badly to help fuel their burgeoning industrial economy.  It is in neither of our interests to be in conflict.  Greater trade and contact will lead to more openness, and ultimately a change in regime hopefully.  Free trade is a necessary prerequisite for a free people.

But we must still maintain our security commitments in the region.  We must work with the Chinese government along with the South Koreans and Japanese to deal with North Korea's nuclear arms programs.  We must never abandon our commitment to defending Taiwan from any aggressor.  And we must continue dialogue with the Communist Chinese regarding their human rights violations.

[KEmperor]

Does anyone care?

[King]

Does anyone care?

'Fraid not.  The Vice Presidential Debate is VERY popular, though...

[minionofmidas]

Does anyone care?

Thank you for your question, KEmp. Yes, somebody cares. I do.

[Platypus]

This is directed to Senator Al:

I was checking out your blog and saw this self-description: "I'm a Christian Socialist, a Populist, a Communitarian (quite a militant one actually) and a Tip O'Neill Liberal."

Would you care to explain what this all means, and why someone with my political ideology should vote for you?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Good question Hugh.

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

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

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

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

[KEmperor]

Militant Communitarian isn't an ideological stance?

[Gustaf]

If I may pose a question...(not gonna bother with any shenanigans, since this debate seems to be going slow anyway...)

To Lewis: As a long-time member of the fairly fringy United Left and a long history of far-left-winged-ness, how can we trust you to be a president for all of Atlasia?

[minionofmidas]

If I may pose a question...(not gonna bother with any shenanigans, since this debate seems to be going slow anyway...)

To Lewis: As a long-time member of the fairly fringy United Left and a long history of far-left-winged-ness, how can we trust you to be a president for all of Atlasia?

Thanks Gustaf...always nice to see a new question here.

First off: If you add up our social and economic scores you'll notice that I am neither more nor less fringey than KEmp or Al. In fact, John Engle is probably the most moderate presidential candidate running.

The United Left is now a dead horse, and my continued nominal attachment to it is due mostly to the fact that there's no other party around I feel I want to join, and not being in an organized party doesn't seem to hurt me anyways.

And I don't have a long history of far-left-wingedness...I have a long history of being in opposition for the hell of it. That's one of the chief reasons I helped build the Progressives rather than join the Democrats when I first arrived here. That's the reason I turned down a cabinet post when offered one by President Eric Nyman.
But I don't do "opposition for the hell of it" no more. I'm the Lt.Gov. of the Pacific these days, a region with a lot of centre-right voters, serving under a centre-right Governor.

So much for the peripherals, now on to tackling the main question...
I could reply with a cheap shot and say that you can trust me to be a President for all of Atlasia because, unlike a certain other candidate, I don't want to disenfrachise half of Atlasia.
But I recognize that answer wouldn't be very satisfactory to you.
You can trust me to appoint a multipartisan cabinet that would include two members from the right side of the aisle.
You can trust me to always have an open ear for the concerns of any Atlasian. You can always PM me.
You can trust me to always attempt to govern fairly.
But you cannot trust me to suddenly throw my convictions overboard and become a centrist. I am a Radical, and I'll die a Radical.

If the first three are enough for you, I'm your man, and you should vote for me this weekend.
If you want all four, then sorry, I am not the man you should vote for. But then, so is noone else in this race.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Militant Communitarian isn't an ideological stance?

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

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

[Gustaf]

Fair enough. I think you handled that question pretty well.

If there is still any time I'd like to ask KEmp a similar question...your known as an extreme libertarian, will you really be able to unite Atlasia and won't you try to pursue a radical libertarian agenda?

[KEmperor]

Fair enough. I think you handled that question pretty well.

If there is still any time I'd like to ask KEmp a similar question...your known as an extreme libertarian, will you really be able to unite Atlasia and won't you try to pursue a radical libertarian agenda?

Thank's Gustaf, although usually debate ends once voting begins. 

Anyway, yes, I think I can.  I have support from people of all avatar color.  My Vice President is a member of the Democratic Party.  I have no party affiliation, which means I have no pointless partisan battles to fight.

And I in no way intend to pursue a radical libertarian agenda.  I couldn't even if I wanted to, because the Senate would never allow me to.  I intend to work with the Senate to produce compromise, moderate legislation.  This is something that would not happen under a Lewis or Al Presidency.  They would probably be able to get enough votes to pursue a radical leftist agenda.

[Gustaf]

Yeah, yeah, I know...but I figured that since the debate had been going so slow, what the heck...thanks, my both questions have been sufficiently answered.