Vote Purple State/Marokai Blue in June!

[Marokai Backbeat]

Sustaining Employment

Domestic Policy (Economic)

The efforts to fuel, sustain, and defend employment are critical to the success of Atlasia's economy. Fueling employment is necessary, by means of direct involvement and stimulating the private sector, we can bring unemployment down consistently and rise to record high employment, with the hope that we could one day achieve full employment or close to it.

However, after fueling employment, we must sustain that employment through structural changes to our economy that will improve and sustain economic growth in the future, and permanent, not temporary, incentives to lessen the burden on employment.

Such structural changes must encourage changes that would incentivize the growth of manufacturing industries, encourage the growth of mom & pop stores of today that become the powerful chains of tomorrow, and keep Atlasian jobs in Atlasia. These three things are critical to fashioning the economy in a way that makes Atlasia more productive and focused on the growth of industry in Atlasia.

First, we propose the evaluation of the current manufacturing sector in Atlasia, and we seek to expand that industry so it can grow in the future, instead of slowly wither. We will give generous tax credits to new manufacturing industries that are just starting up to encourage the growth of small manufacturing companies, and further tax incentives to new companies manufacturing energy efficient materials and products. The manufacturing sector is large, however, and we recognize that small and specific tax incentives will not help the industry at large.

We would therefore propose for the larger industry as a whole, permanent business and hiring (payroll) tax cuts or exemptions specifically for manufacturing companies that do business in Atlasia. We will make it a goal to increase our exports over the course of our term, a goal we will work hard in whatever way we can to reach.

There is a new segment of our economy however that grows larger each year; Internet sales. Online companies do dramatically more business in our economy, which we have no problem with.

However, the vast majority of internet sales are tax free, while smaller businesses, particularly mom & pop stores are forced to include sales taxes, which creates an incentive for individuals to avoid purchasing from local business. We seek to correct this with a carefully crafted internet transactions tax that would help pay for the tax cuts and credits we seek to implement, be crafted in a way to not discourage internet business, but also to improve the incentive for individuals to buy from local businesses by bringing them to a level playing field. Small businesses are a necessary part of Atlasia that we cannot allow to die and should not create an incentive to avoid.

Thirdly and finally, we want to end all incentives in the system that encourage businesses to outsource their jobs to other countries to keep jobs in Atlasia. Let me clarify; We will not punish companies for outsourcing, but we shouldn't allow any trace of our economy to create an incentive for businesses to do their work and employ workers elsewhere.

Next week, I will introduce the final stage of the plan to improve employment in Atlasia; defending employment in the future. One of the biggest policies to that effect also ties into the effort to sustain employment, but is nonetheless a powerful defense, especially for future recessions. We must protect our economy from damage in the future and end the phenomenon of lingering employment, and we believe we can do so.

We do, of course, welcome all outside suggestions and proposals, as we hardly profess to be the ticket with the perfect plan. We do, however, believe we have the most comprehensive plan possible and the fortitude to implement it. Stay tuned.

[Marokai Backbeat]

It's actually a very very good complaint you have, Fritz. If we're elected, and Purple State and I push for this policy, I will promise you that at the very least we will come up with a basic wiki editing guide very simple to understand so people know the groundwork for decent editing. We shouldn't force people to do something without them understanding how to do it.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I'd like to note my support for AHDuke's proposed Atlasia Clean Energy Act of 2010. Well done in writing it, Duke. I'm happy you remained in the Senate.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Didn't Vane endorse the ticket?

Vane was Hamilton and has since been banned. Considering Hamilton's previous relationship with myself and Marokai, it seems unlikely that the endorsement was serious, nor do we accept his endorsement, and so I have opted not to list it on the front page.

Aye, we certainly don't.

[Marokai Backbeat]

(Dual Policy Announcement)

Defending Employment

Domestic Policy (Economic)

As part of the last main plan for strengthening overall employment in Atlasia, but by no means the final policies ever to be proposed, there remains defending employment. After fueling employment through various means to hopefully rapidly increase employment, and after sustaining that growth in the good times, inevitably come the economic storms that we must weather, and that's why we need a firm plan to defend employment in the future. That plan is a reasonable and staggered plan of limited wage subsidization inspired by the German model for job protection, with some modifications.

This policy will protect job losses in future recessions from becoming extreme by taking the temporary step of partially covering wages of employees who would otherwise be fired, through a variety of ways. All wage subsidies will only be given out to businesses that employ a total of 4000 employees per region (ex. A business that has a total of 4900 employees in the Mideast Region, that business will not be able to apply for wage subsidies for their employees in that region, unless their total employment force drops to or below that number.) This initial estimated number will help prevent large businesses from taking advantage of the system.

The hypothetical wage subsidy would be awarded to businesses in need of serious help. Businesses who will keep individuals on their payroll as part-time employees who would otherwise be fired (as full-time employees or otherwise) will be awarded the subsidy that will cover up to 75% of the wage. The subsidy will have a time limit, expiring in 12 months time.

It's important to note that this policy will undergo a great deal of refinement, and the numbers and scope of the wage is only a draft at the campaign stage, and will undergo significant change and improvement during the legislating phase, but the central element will remain essential and is what we are proposing. Such a policy can and has helped stem job losses to recessions and is our primary tool in defending the jobs that we create.

Making "Question Time" Exciting

Forum Policy (Game Reform)

One thing has become clear by the proposed "Presidential Question Time" by this administration:

It's dull. And we want to spice things up a little bit.

The idea has it's roots in the Prime Minister's Questions from the United Kingdom, but it's become abundantly clear that it's missing quite a few things necessary to replicate that experience. Structure, and excitement.

One thing is very obvious when watching PMQs, and that's alot of verbal fist throwing, tongue-in-cheek insults, and scathing jokes that rally the troops and get the other side riled up. We want to replicate that slugfest style while keeping it productive, and change the style of it to something more resembling a comedy roast.

We will introduce legislation to schedule the event each month at a set time, change the name to a more fitting title ("Executive Slugfest" perhaps? ) and anyone will be allowed to trade barbs and ask serious questions in the process with the President, Vice President, and the Cabinet, and they will respond with their barbs, their serious answers to the questions, and the process will continue. Let's make it productive, but also incredibly fun and interesting to follow and actually participate in.

While trading barbs in the new system though, let's just remember, it's all meant in a friendly spirit!

[Marokai Backbeat]

The Senate didn't act on this, so now I make it a pledge to introduce it if elected.

I have a proposition for the Senate... an annual day of National Celebration on the anniversary of Phil ceasing to be President. It could be called 'Keystone Shill' day.

If the Senate doesn't take up this task I shall make it a campaign pledge.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Come now, it's all in good fun. Besides, it's not like Phil did much or was that much of an accomplished figure. He did absolutely nothing. Plus, I passed a bill to fix something titled the "Xahar Complains Too Much Act" and that was harmless.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I considered suggesting that it be a party-leaders or vice-leaders affair, but I worried that it would restrict the process a bit, and that the party leaders wouldn't be interested as much as others would be.

[Marokai Backbeat]

You better watch yourself Vepres. People have been punished for less insulting posts than that.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Well, I would have opened that voting booth, but people decided not to hop on the opportunity..

[Marokai Backbeat]

We're currently debating a little policy issue we're disagree a tad on. Once, if ever, that issue is dealt with, that policy will be posted. Hence the delay.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Alright, turns out the proposal that we are working on will be (much) bigger than initially expected. Look forward to the biggest announcement yet next Thursday.

As a teaser, the current codename is "The Genesis Project"* or TGP.
*Note: Marokai says I should thank Star Trek for the name.

Stay tuned.

I just realized what truly annoying work this is turning out to be, too.

Persistence!

[Marokai Backbeat]

Statement.

We're confronted in this election with an interesting choice, and it's one that shouldn't be taken lightly. Atlasia faces serious issues, and we should elect a serious ticket to deal with them or at least to attempt to make progress on the systemic issues that plague us. (Even if some out there cringe for whatever reason at the word "serious" I certainly don't.)

I joined Atlasia in December '08. I led the SDP. I became Attorney General. I merged with the JCP growing it to the largest and most powerful left-wing party. I was one of the more active members of the Constitutional Convention. I was elected Senator and served with my greatest amount of activity in dedication as I could muster. I debated in threads that went on to become pages upon pages, some over twenty pages long, and eventually I became PPT. I managed to pass 15 of my bills, proposed many others, and tirelessly worked to improve others. Later, I became a Supreme Court Justice, as I still am, and I work hard to maintain my impartiality and work ethic on the court.

I tell you all this not to bore you, but to give you a sense of what I'm like. I've been in Atlasia for a year and ahalf now, and most of this takes place in the last year alone. Purple State has been similarly accomplished. Working on the regional level to improve the Mideast, presiding over the ConCon becoming a Senator, and his biggest accomplishment, revitalizing the Game Moderator position and becoming involved in many efforts to improve the activity of regions.

We have spent our comparatively short time in Atlasia doing a ton of work, being as productive as we possibly can and participating in all that we can. We give our ideas the most of thought and explain them as comprehensively as possible.

Don't vote for us or against us based on personal reasons. We're not running for Prom King & Queen, and I don't want this campaign to became a race like that. Vote for us if you think our ideas are good. Vote against us if you think we have bad ideas, but tell us how, we love to hear! Vote for us if you think we're active and productive. Vote against us if you think otherwise. But above all, vote for us or against us for a tangible reason.

When you vote after this campaign, all I ask is that you stop for a moment and consider who you're voting for. Is the ticket you're supporting historically active? Is the ticket you're supporting campaigning on a set of several ideas and a vision for the future? Does the ticket you're supporting have a reliable track record of implementing their ideas or at least fighting for them?

If the answer is no to one of those questions, maybe you should reconsider your support. All I ask is that you give serious mature thought to which ticket you're supporting. The choice is quite clear, it is a simple matter of record.

Vote PS/MB.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Will you appoint Vepres to the cabinet?

It's not really my place to answer this, but I can say that loads of people are under consideration. Any individual that displays hard work and dedication to Atlasia with reasonable activity to back it up would be under consideration for a cabinet appointment IMO.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Purple State I told you not to make that public until I found the right dress.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I would love, love, love a debate. Especially with someone as mature and reasonable as Smid.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I'd like to now welcome RosettaStoned and Useful Idiot to the race. I look forward to debating UI should there be a (much needed IMO!) Veep debate.

[Marokai Backbeat]

May I ask a question of the VP candidate?

Ask a question, attack me, whatever you like.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Mr. Bluey. In a debate months ago, you once implied to me that an elected official need not have tact; that he or she may be as rude as they wish to be, and this does not and should not impact their ability to carry out their duties. Now you are on a ticket running for the highest offices in the land. Do you still hold this opinion?

Who are you calling "bluey" you freak!!!

*Ahem*

In all seriousness, while I don't think I said exactly that, I'd pretty much still agree with the spirit of what I said.

Being aggressive around these parts is probably not healthy all the time, but I have no problem with it as long as the person actually contributes to the game and does their job(s) well. I'm not the most polite person in the world and I'll never win any sort of pageant with "I want world peace" questions, but I like to think that over the course of my time in Atlasia I've done alot to get respect.

I was an active and competent Senator, and I like to think I did a pretty good job of running the Senate as PPT. I'm an aggressive and politically active Justice, but I've written detailed opinions and my two colleagues can attest to the fact that I give a great deal of consideration to cases and try to build consensus in private. I remain an active member at large, participated in the ConCon of yore, wrote an Intro thread, etc etc. I've done alot of work and dedicated probably far too much time than I should've to Atlasia, but I did anyhow.

I'm not going to be Prom King of Atlasia anytime soon though, that's for sure. Being partisan, fiery, and intentionally poking the fire from time to time is, in my opinion, a healthy activity personally and for the game. It keeps things a little interesting, and makes people pay attention. I've attacked plenty of people and plenty of people have attacked me over the years. Hell, I started a newsletter directly for the purpose of pissing people off

But in all that time I know that there's a time to fist-fight and scream and a time to build consensus and compromise to get what you can. In the Senate I fought like hell for whatever I liked and probably insulted a few people along the way, but when voting time nears I tried to build consensus and get people on board for whatever I could.

In short, if someone has done alot in Atlasia and they have a good record, fighting and saying a few uncomfortable things from time to time won't get me distracted from their record. Someone who pretty much only stokes the fire however, is a little different. With that in mind though, I'd still agree with what I said. As long as the person has a history of being accomplished, active, and fair, I can easily look past what I consider to be little things, like someone's attitude.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I'd also like to say that over my time in Atlasia I hope to think I've built up a bit of a reputation as an honest individual that straight-up says what I think. I very rarely hold things back entirely. You'd be surprised how many times, if you're bold enough to state what you think openly, how many people will agree that didn't want to openly say so themselves. (My newsletter wasn't popular for awhile for no reason afterall.)

[Marokai Backbeat]

I thought it was mostly popular for tehdrama.

Well that too.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Campaign Update.

I had a decent interview with Teddy, answering a handful of questions and elaborating mostly on my hopes toward improving the position of the Vice President. If any of you are interested, check it out here.

[Marokai Backbeat]

In my dream world, the President would also get a senate seat! I think that'd be going a bit too far though, but if there is a constitutional convention, I'll certainly see if I can do some convincing

I was brainstorming privately with PS a few weeks back talking about possibly making the VP position or both the VP and P positions have the full power of Senate seats, but if the former is proposed, it makes me look power-mad or something, and if the latter is proposed, there's no process for tie-breakers.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Any questions for us out there? Attack us or whatever if you like, instead.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Way to duck the question, Purple State.  

I don't see why this would have to be an amendment.  The Senate could pass this as ordinary legislation.

Edit: well, maybe not.

They probably could, but it would have to endure a court challenge I imagine.