Office of Senator Ben

[Donerail]

You've done a great job in the Senate and you have my endorsement and full support.

[Donerail]

If you haven't, please go vote to ratify the pending Equal Rights Amendment.  Thanks

Please vote to defeat pass the equal rights amendment.

[Donerail]

If you haven't, please go vote to ratify the pending Equal Rights Amendment.  Thanks

Please vote to pass defeat the equal rights amendment.

If this is enacted, the national government makes further encroachments on our liberties. The regions are best suited to handle social issues not Nyman.

I fail to see how prohibiting discriminatory actions by the government is an encroachment on our liberties; it appears to be a decrease of encroachment.

[Donerail]

I disagree.  The national government has a responsibility to ensure freedom for all citizens; it cannot, and should not, allow a region to pass discriminatory legislation.

But this proposal, as I stated earlier, violates the principals of duel federalism and regional sovreginity. That's why Barry Goldwater opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. To ensure freedom of one group governments often violate the rights of another group. Like allowing abortion violates the rights of that baby in the womb or gay marriage violates the rights of religious institutions to determine who can and who can't marry. Look at what Vanderbelt did kicking the Christian groups out because they only want Christians as leaders in their groups.

Religious institutions do not determine who can and cannot marry, they determine who they shall marry and do not dictate the decrees of other religious or secular groups. Regardless, gay marriage is not recognized by the Atlasian government.

[Donerail]

I disagree.  The national government has a responsibility to ensure freedom for all citizens; it cannot, and should not, allow a region to pass discriminatory legislation.

But this proposal, as I stated earlier, violates the principals of duel federalism and regional sovreginity. That's why Barry Goldwater opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. To ensure freedom of one group governments often violate the rights of another group. Like allowing abortion violates the rights of that baby in the womb or gay marriage violates the rights of religious institutions to determine who can and who can't marry. Look at what Vanderbelt did kicking the Christian groups out because they only want Christians as leaders in their groups.

Religious institutions do not determine who can and cannot marry, they determine who they shall marry and do not dictate the decrees of other religious or secular groups. Regardless, gay marriage is not recognized by the Atlasian government.

I thought it had been legal in Atlasia since '05?

Under the current law only secular civil unions are legally recognized in Atlasia and marriage is solely the dominion of the religious institutions, to do with as they wish, which means, JCL, that the institution of marriage does not necessarily include LGBT couples and the institution itself is not weakened unless a religious organization decides to marry said couple. Churches do not have to marry LGBT couples if they do not want to, and no ideology influences marriage except within the church itself. I believe (though I'm not certain) that Atlasian institutions such as (focusing solely on Christian denominations here, and accuracy may not ) the Episcopal Church, the Religious Society of Friends, the Lutheran Church, the Presbyterian Church, and the Unitarian Universalists ordain LGBT marriages, while the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Disciples of Christ, and the Northern Baptists, as well as the fundies, do not.

[Donerail]

Why are you so afraid of mentioning one of the evangelical sects by specific name. Just using the perjorative "fundie"  They, or I should say we, go by many names. The Church of God (Anderson, IN) The Church of God (Cleveland, TN) COGIC (Church of God in Christ), The Southern Baptist Convention, The Wesleyan Church (my former sect), the Assemblies of God (my church now) and there's many more where that comes from.

They (AFAIK) are not split on whether or not they allow gay marriage, while mainline churches are, which is why they're listed separately.

[Donerail]

I disagree.  The national government has a responsibility to ensure freedom for all citizens; it cannot, and should not, allow a region to pass discriminatory legislation.

But this proposal, as I stated earlier, violates the principals of duel federalism and regional sovreginity. That's why Barry Goldwater opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. To ensure freedom of one group governments often violate the rights of another group. Like allowing abortion violates the rights of that baby in the womb or gay marriage violates the rights of religious institutions to determine who can and who can't marry. Look at what Vanderbelt did kicking the Christian groups out because they only want Christians as leaders in their groups.

Religious institutions do not determine who can and cannot marry, they determine who they shall marry and do not dictate the decrees of other religious or secular groups. Regardless, gay marriage is not recognized by the Atlasian government.

I thought it had been legal in Atlasia since '05?

Under the current law only secular civil unions are legally recognized in Atlasia.

Oh my. That's even worse than I thought.

How disgusting that marriage is not recognised by the government.

Please read Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists.

[Donerail]

Ben: would you be interested in working to develop a comprehensive infrastructure plan focusing on these five points (below) so that we can further interregional cooperation on infrastructure?

1. Energy
2. Rail/High-speed rail/high-speed bus
3. Protected areas and expansion of our national park system
4. Broader transportation development (air and road development, as well as our current infrastructure maintenance and revenue measures such as infrastructure banks)
5. Water supply

[Donerail]

Ben: would you be interested in working to develop a comprehensive infrastructure plan focusing on these five points (below) so that we can further interregional cooperation on infrastructure?

1. Energy
2. Rail/High-speed rail/high-speed bus
3. Protected areas and expansion of our national park system
4. Broader transportation development (air and road development, as well as our current infrastructure maintenance and revenue measures such as infrastructure banks)
5. Water supply

I'd be happy to, but I think this sort of things is best left to the individual Governors, so talk to Tmthforu94 about it.

That's the idea; us regional Senate candidates (and hopefully regional Senators) work on our (federal) end and C.A.R.E. on their (regional) end to create a comprehensive nationwide policy.

[Donerail]

[Donerail]

Endorsed.

[Donerail]

I hope there are people willing to carry on my passionate interest in foreign affairs, and I intend to keep pushing the major foreign policy issues of our time.  We need people involved in foreign policy for this game to thrive.

Gotcha covered

Sad to hear you're resigning though.

[Donerail]

Maybe someday there'll run a write-in/draft Ben for President campaign someday.

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From June.

[Donerail]

Haha, there is clearly a groundswell of support for me 4th, 5th, and 7th place on 3 ballots

It's infinitely better than you did in the last election

[Donerail]

Welcome Senator ! A good answer to all those who are accusing you of "moderate heroism" throughout the forum !

Is Labor going to be the largest party in the Senate soon ? That would be unexpected...

Ben joined the Light Party...