TRUMAN for PRESIDENT • KALWEJT for VICE PRESIDENT

[Angrie]

As Presiding Officer of the Constitutional Convention, I worked very hard to build vital reforms and long-sought fixes into the body of our new government, and thanks to the efforts of men like Adam Griffin, Duke, Blair, Yankee, and a legion of others, we won.

Emphasis added.

Men?

I am inclined to support your candidacy, if for no other reason then on the basis of party loyalty and party affiliation as a low-information cue. However, this is concerning to me, and any assurances you can provide me as to what you will do to advance and protect women's rights would be appreciated.

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Emphasis added.

That's better, although apparently it was not you but instead is "Yankee" that said this?

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Does this refer to "fathers" for the new constitution, or some old constitution? Did women play any role in the formulation and ratification of said constitution?

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That's better, more like this.

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You see the issue here?

Anyway, I will give that a rest now. But I would like to know what your basic policy priorities are. A short bullet point list of the main few things you would like to achieve as President would suffice.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Endorsed!

I can't believe it's time for another election already. It makes me nostalgic to run for an unprecedented third term in a majority-conservative electorate, just to see if I could win again (I'm sure I could, so no need to). I love elections!

Thank-you, Mr. President!

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Thanks for the feedback, Angrie! I'm happy to see people are actually reading this.

As Presiding Officer of the Constitutional Convention, I worked very hard to build vital reforms and long-sought fixes into the body of our new government, and thanks to the efforts of men like Adam Griffin, Duke, Blair, Yankee, and a legion of others, we won.

Emphasis added.

Men?

I am inclined to support your candidacy, if for no other reason then on the basis of party loyalty and party affiliation as a low-information cue. However, this is concerning to me, and any assurances you can provide me as to what you will do to advance and protect women's rights would be appreciated.

Context is everything. In that sentence, I'm referring specifically to the people who participated in the late Constitutional Convention. Regrettably, our one female delegate - Evergreen - resigned early on, leaving us with a chamber composed entirely of men. That's why I used that word, as opposed to "men and women" or "people."

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Emphasis added.

That's better, although apparently it was not you but instead is "Yankee" that said this?
[/quote]
I'm paraphrasing Yankee. He was the person who originally expressed the idea, but the words are my own.

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Does this refer to "fathers" for the new constitution, or some old constitution? Did women play any role in the formulation and ratification of said constitution?
[/quote]
I'm referring to the historical "Founding Fathers" of the United States. I didn't invent the term.

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You see the issue here?
[/quote]
Well, there might be a woman more qualified than me, mightn't there? Really, though, I'm using "man" as a derivative of the word "mankind" or "humankind," not to identify the male sex.


Syntactical analysis is perfectly valid, of course, but in this case I feel you're placing too much emphasis on patterns of speech. If you care examine my record, you'll see that not only have I been unwavering in my support for women's rights, I have time and again placed myself in the line of fire to advance the feminist cause. In my first term as a Mideast Assemblyman, I supported legislation to repeal our Region's regression abortion laws, and I held the line last December when I blocked a draconian (and unconstitutional) attempt to infringe on the right to choose. As president, I will continue to support pro-equality policies, such as equal pay for equal work and paid maternity leave for working mothers - as you will find out when I begin to release my platform this week!

[Türkisblau]

Sexist Truman strikes again!

Angrie brings up a good point: Were any women involved in the drafting of our constitution? What assurances can we get from our current politicians that they will work to tear down the Atlasian Patriarchy?

[Kingpoleon]

Endorsed!

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Endorsed!

Thanks, Kingpoleon!

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Truman Plan | Part I: Jobs & the Economy

I may be a statesman in the eyes of the public, but at heart I'm a historian through and through. At times like these, I can't help but be reminded of the proposition on which this country was built: that all men and women are created equal, and that each has a sacred right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is in defense of that right to pursue happiness (that is, to "do and dare anything," and to live the life of your choosing no matter where you were born or who your parents were) that I submit the first part of my platform.

Minimum Wage
I support raising the federal minimum wage to $12.50 (with annual adjustments for inflation). A higher minimum wage would put more money in the pockets of middle and working class citizens, fueling increased consumer spending and economic expansion.

While right-wingers love to argue that raising the minimum wage is a communist plot to kill jobs, history shows that a strong minimum wage can actually create more economic activity (and thus more opportunities for employment) as long as it is kept at a reasonable rate. $12.50/hour strikes me as a strong compromise - it's less than what Yankee proposed in the original version of the Fix It and Leave It Alone Minimum Wage Act but more than the real-life rate - and I'm confident that this is a proposal that moderates in both parties can support.

Making College Affordable
My grandmother was the first person in her family to earn a college degree, and if she were alive today, she would tell you point-blank that there is nothing more valuable than a college education. For individuals entering the workforce, a college degree is often the credential one cannot do without. Likewise, it is in our national best interest to have a well-educated, thoughtful populace - both our economy and our democracy benefit from the thoughtfulness and technical competence gained through higher education.

While few question its importance, higher education remains frustratingly out-of-reach for many Atlasians, who face a choice between short-shafting their careers or saddling themselves with thousands of dollars in student loan debt. Simply put, tuition is through the roof, and our elected leaders have a responsibility to address this crisis.

As president, I will propose a tuition cap at public colleges and universities. This cap would forbid colleges who receive federal funding from charging more than $8,000 per year in tuition (subject to annual adjustments for inflation). A similar proposal that I made last December met with bipartisan support in the Senate, and I hope to be able to work with the new Congress to pass this common-sense initiative.

Labor Unions
Often, I hear critics of government regulation ask, "why can't we find a market-based solution to unfair managerial practices?" My response is that we already have a market-based solution to these concerns: organized labor!

The labor market, like the rest of the economy, is at its core a transaction between workers (the producers of labor) and employers (the consumers of labor). When this relationship is healthy, everyone benefits: the workers receive pay that they can then use to purchase necessities, while the employers receive valuable labor that they can use to produce profit. Like any relationship, however, everyone stands to suffer when things become unbalanced: that's why I support keeping our labor unions strong, so that they can stand up to management when the scales begin to tip too far in one direction. I oppose policies like "Right to Work for Less" that promote freeloading and undermine the collective bargaining rights that generations of working Atlasians fought so hard to maintain.

In conclusion, I will note that I support balance, not "collective ownership" or whatever it is TNF-style radicals are lobbying for these days. Unions are capable of excesses too, and when they occur we must work with all parties to restore equilibrium to the labor market, so that both workers and employers get what they need.

[Kingpoleon]

Question: Would you consider taxing big labor unions/big labor the same amount as big companies?

[NeverAgain]

Question: Would you consider taxing big labor unions/big labor the same amount as big companies?

Why? Corporations have a profit motive and therefore are taxed, unions are in place for workers' rights. I don't know what the Senator thinks, but I think that's silly.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Question: Would you consider taxing big labor unions/big labor the same amount as big companies?

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. As NeverAgain said, unions aren't corporations, so I don't think they should be taxed as if they were. I might be open to adjusting the tax status of certain big unions, but that would depend on context and the specifics of the proposal.

[Wisconsin+17]

Unionism is a religion? interesting position, Truman.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Unionism is a religion? interesting position, Truman.

What? Of course not. Where did I say that?

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Truman Plan | Part II: Smart Government

I believe in an economy that works for everyone: not just for those who are rich or influential, but for the whole people. Some of my opponents have claimed that because of this, I must be a socialist: that I must naturally hate hard work, and industry, and individual freedom; that I must care nothing for our small business owners and entrepreneurs, must necessarily reject the sweat and muscle that got them where they are today. This is patent nonsense. I am, and have always been, an unswerving supporter of the small businesses and entrepreneurs who form the backbone of our economy. As the son of a small business owner, I know the dedication and strength of character it takes to successfully start a company, and those who do ought to be respected and admired by all.

But it is not enough to admire our small businesses from a distance: we must get down in the ditch and take up the shovel to ensure that they can continue to build a stronger economy. That is why, as your Senator, I fought to cut taxes for small business in the last budget, and why I will defend those cuts as your president. That is why I believe that we must invest in higher education, so that employers can find workers with the skills to do the jobs they need filled. That is why I believe we must level the playing field so that more Atlasians can take their talents where they are most useful and continue to create new jobs and spark new ideas that make our economy and our country stronger.

How do we do this? By lowering the cost of a college degree so that more people can get the education they need to become productive members of society. By raising the minimum wage so that middle class families can spend more, leading to more growth and more jobs for everyone. By fighting for equal pay for equal work so that women are no longer at a disadvantage in the professional world. By protecting basic regulations that ensure fair play and a competitive free market in which the best ideas and the most successful business models can rise to the top. By providing incentives to businesses who take risks and try new ideas, particularly in areas like green energy where Atlasia and the planet will benefit from their innovations.

Some on the other side like to dismiss these ideas by saying that government can't be trusted to help the people. This, again, is nonsense. Who is the government? Who elects it? Who does it answer to? To hear some of these people talk, government might be an alien nation that dropped out of the sky one day and set up shop on the National Mall. But I know, and you know, and the men and women of this country know, that government is nothing more or less than an assembly of the people, and I would trust the people of this country with my life if it came to it.

What we need in this country is not big government, not small government, but smart government. A smart government knows that there are many things that the free market and private enterprise do well and lets them do those things. A smart government also knows that there are many things it can do to make a real, positive difference in the lives of the people and does them without hesitation. Above all, a smart government does not judge a policy based on whether it is right wing or left wing, or whether it is orthodox or unorthodox, but based on whether it helps the people of this country to build lives worth living. That is the kind of administration that I will lead: one that recognizes where the market is doing well, but also where it could do better, and fearlessly acts in defense of the people whenever and wherever their rights are threatened.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Brothers

Montgomery, Alabama

MY FRIENDS AND COUNTRYMEN: LEND ME YOUR EARS!

In weeks past, many of you have asked me who would be my partner in this campaign. Until now, I have not been able to answer you. The choice of a vice president is not something to be taken lightly. I needed someone who is battle tested and reliable: someone who will have the backs of the Atlasian people and who, were something to happen to me, would be able to take charge of the Oval Office with the steady hand of a seasoned pilot.

The wait is over. Without further ado, it is my pleasure to announce my running mate and the next Vice President of the Republic, a man who needs no introduction, the honorable Kalwejt!

It is a difficult thing to describe why Kalwejt is the best possible candidate to become the first Vice President to serve under the Fourth Constitution without being guilty of a thousand understatements. To say that he is an "experienced and dedicated public servant" would be like describing the Earth as "round and somewhat large." This is a man who has fought tenaciously in defense of the Atlasian Dream for the better part of seven years: who has been Lt. Governor, a legislator for three Regions, Senator, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Vice President, Acting President, delegate to the ConCon, and the best Game Moderator we've ever had. In the dark days of Bloody July, we fought side by side on the front lines of the War Against Radicalism; in the Senate, Kalwejt and I collaborated to organize the ConCon and called out do-nothing politicians whose negligence posed a threat to our nation's existence. He takes his job seriously, but he's not afraid to shake things up, and if you're looking for a man who will bring spirit and integrity to the newly revamped office of Vice President, he is everything you could ask for and more.

Onward, then, my friends! The day is our own!

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

A solid pick if I say so myself, Truman.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Lets just hope its more like his first stint as VP then his second. 

[Leinad]

Wow, this will be a great election.

[Blair]

Kal is a great choice as VP

[Lincoln Republican]

Mr. Truman, Mr. Kalwejt

Where do both of you stand on the issue of men, who identify as women, using the women's bathroom?

Where do both of you stand on the issue of women, who identify as men, using the men's bathroom?

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Mr. Truman, Mr. Kalwejt

Where do both of you stand on the issue of men, who identify as women, using the women's bathroom?

Where do both of you stand on the issue of women, who identify as men, using the men's bathroom?

I have absolutely no problem with that.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Thanks for the question, Winfield!

I believe that transgender citizens should use the bathroom of the gender they identify with. I have listened to the arguments against this policy, and I do not find them convincing. Specifically, I find it hard to believe that - as one poster put it - someone "evil enough to commit rape and stupid enough to do it in a public restroom" - will be deterred by the threat of a small fine. There is no evidence that transgender people pose a significant threat to the safety of our citizens; I therefore support leaving the decision of which bathroom to use to the individual.

[NeverAgain]

Senator Truman, and Mr. Kalwejt. Where do you both stand on healthcare reform? And what specifically will you push for instead of the status-quo. Thank you.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Thank you, Truman for the wonderful introduction, which leaves me with only a few more points to add.

I think it's safe to say that most Atlasians are familiar with me and my record. I have been out of Atlasia for some time, since a RL issues forced my resignation and leave from the forum in the recent fall. For this reason, I was unable, to my great regret, to take part in the works of the ConCon. It is indeed the biggest regret in my career.

But now I'm back and ready to work. Some may say that as someone who's been away until recently I shouldn't seek the vice presidency, but I have one reply: I have been away from all recent controversies and feuds, and thus I'm intending to be nothing less than an objective and focused helper to our next President.

[Wisconsin+17]

Endorsed! If I'm going to be voting for Laborite policies, I might as well get an honest Laborite out of it.

[Lincoln Republican]

Endorsed!

I can't believe it's time for another election already. It makes me nostalgic to run for an unprecedented third term in a majority-conservative electorate, just to see if I could win again (I'm sure I could, so no need to). I love elections!

President Griffin, as wonderful and as unquestionably brilliant as you are, even you are not that great.