Allow me to properly introduce myself, I am Terrence Powderly one of the many representatives of the Populist Reform Party. I always take pleasure in addressing the more skeptical political commentators because I find that I can usually turn any negative response into a positive one. So shall I begin? First things first Mr. Anonymous, Im wondering what type of research youve done into our movement because I certainly havent got access to our full plan? To simply state our primary end goals are Pie eyed dreams without any research or past history to base your views off is something I dont think anyone can prove.
I will concede: we didnt state how we would accomplish this, but as I mentioned this is not our full plan, it is simply a way we, the PRP, can allow you, the public, to see what are main goals are; what we want to accomplish if we are given the chance in office. I must also remind you that this is not a campaign and as such there is no reason for us to inform you of everything. Do we want your support? Yes. Do we want your vote at this moment? Obviously not, since we havent given you enough information to make a valid decision, and to be fair elections havent even started yet.
Now, moving on, yes we want to increase Navy funding by 200%; it is something that will offer more jobs to both those who are building the ships and those within the Navy. Last time I checked you werent part of our Party, correct? So why are you telling us what we are going to do to complete this goal? You speak of freezing government spending, however to do that would achieve nothing. Please tell me how youre going to get more Naval ships to fight crime in California with no spending, and even if you cut spending the tax-cuts you throw around will increase the national debt even more than before.
Dont get me started on the deregulation of corporations; it is because of this that Colorado is in the state its in. Its because of this that rumors of corruption in the Liberty Police are cast aside when brought to public view. While the big companies are vital to the strength of our great House they cannot be given complete reign and must have some restrictions to keep them in line.
Now, onto the Junkers. You speak of having to build a new plant to take care of the extra Junk well thats exactly what we are planning to do. Jobs that are in the hands of the Junkers, who are notorious for not only failing to file taxes but housing criminal elements, can be given to hard-working Libertonians who are in need of jobs.
In conclusion, I dont think your arguments achieved anything and perhaps you should do some more research before making silly accusations and formulating theories without all the facts. I thank you regardless for your response and welcome the chance to make a counter-argument again.
I like how you assume all my points are invalid, and all yours are correct. The standard politician.
You act as if Liberty has the resources to carry out these projects, just because you put more money into the navy doesn't mean an equal return on jobs and money back into the economy. You're vision is not realistic.
Liberty is in dire need of reforms, that is for certain. Although you have a strange opinion on the cause and effect of your proposed solutions.
1. Liberty already spends more on Defense then almost any other nation. The numbers are astronomical already and you want an increase of 200%, creating more jobs in that sector doesn't guarantee a positive return in money back into the economy. In fact in almost all case money spent in the military sector is returned with loss. You can trace through out history that the military budget comes back to the economy with only about 78% of what is spent. That means needless spending will always drain the nations reserve. We are not at risk of being over run anytime soon by another country that is in just as bad financial situation as we are. The future of warfare will be conducted on paper, and in the markets. Our brave men and women of the Liberty Primary fleet have driven off attack after attack from Rhineland intruders, and I see no reason to inflate one of the largest and most victorious naval forces in space.
2. This brings us to the point about needless spending. You are correct I did ask for a freeze on government spending, but you failed to mention I stated a freeze on needless government spending. Such as over inflating the military budget of an effective and working force. Needless spending is any money the government wastes on things we don't need but want so we feel a little better about ourselves at night. Things like terraforming planets, at a time of financial ruin. We need to focus on education, and better train and equipment for police officers. We need to stop just grabbing credits and flailing them at our problems in hopes they will fix themselves.
3. Junkers, your opinion that making jobs is just as easy as saying there is an empty position fill it, send them a government paycheck. Jobs increase equals economic increase, and that is true. But you can't just create jobs out of nothing, or ruin something that is good and replace it with a red tape wrapped, government run program that employs people just so you can say you create new jobs. I'm sorry it doesn't work like that, any jobs directly created by the government and run by the government will suffer when they boomerang back into the economy. A government run salvage operations will be no better then military spending, you can employ every person in liberty and it will float for several years, maybe the entire time your party is in office but it will never fly. As it takes on more and more bureaucratic water it will sink and leave our children's children's with greater mounting debt. The government isn't run like a business, it doesn't drive for a high profit margin, and that is why it fails. Right now we pay nothing for the junkers to do their jobs, but their people spend money in liberty, spend money on goods made in liberty, and that is why it is profitable to the government and liberty in general. Sure they have their problems, but I have seen problems with all the factions in Liberty, and in fact the rest of the galaxy. It's human nature, we need to learn to live and adept it to our goals.
4. You talk about proof, but present none yourself. The big Companies didn't bankrupt Colorado. Government regulations on big government strangled the life from Big business in Colorado, and when it left the entire operations went down hill. You assume that police corruption is directly link to big companies, but I haven't seen any evidence that links them together. Come on, police corruption stems from many places, and your callous assertion that it is caused by big business just proves your disregard for truth.
I don't think you are bad people PRP, I think your hearts are in the right place. But I seriously doubt you ability to lead our nation into the future.
Sincerely
-A concerned Citizen.
You act as if you know everything, when really you are making assumptions about our plans without any actual thought or research to back up your claims. First I would like to say that we do not plan to do everything at once, as obvious as we thought that was we didnt think citizens would jump to conclusions, and where does it say we would be putting more money into the Navy? One of the things to increase the Navy without added cost to the Liberty Government would be offering more military contracts to the Corporations giving them more work and thus more jobs.
Obviously this will still cost us but we have plans to boost the economy that we havent finished working out yet, which is why we have yet to release it to the public. The reason for this is because the Economy is a very complicated thing and seeing as we dont hold any offices yet we do not have access to the budget. Once that happens we will begin by implementing our various reforms in accordance to the available budget, while working on increasing the budget by fixing the Economy.
Now on the Junkers, I fail to see the part where I said we would implement a government controlled salvage operation. In fact I believe my exact words were put the jobs in the hands of Libertonians, so your whole argument is a rant with made up information. Honestly I dont know who you are or even if you are even a Liberty Citizen since you have yet to identify yourself, but I can see your messages are nothing but rants of false information aimed at discrediting our party. As for the proof on our end, we have no reason or need to bring proof at this time. As we have said many times those are our goals things we want to accomplish in office if you dont agree with our goals than perhaps our party is not for you.
Increased funding to the Modernization of Navy Technology.
Need I say more? Increase Naval forces by 200%, those are your words not mine. Increase naval force by 200%, that is part of a military budget and military budget very very rarely ever returns profit to the economy. 200% that is to large a number to even consider.
I am in fact a Liberty Citizen, your response to my concerns go further to prove why you cannot lead sir. You are trying to hold national office, the highest office in the land. If you planned on just running around without having your thoughts opposed you don't deserve that office. I never stated that I knew everything, I'm using history as my guide to point out what that flaws are in your plan.
You just can't tell me you have magic economy boosting plans that you have yet to think of! Thats insane.
That would be like me going to order a ship being advertised, then when I go to purchase it they tell me they only are thinking about making right now. You can't expect to run for office with out all your proverbial "Ducks in a Row". I am one citizen that seems to be able to challenge your entire party, and make you so upset you discredit everything I have said and dismiss them as rants. I have nothing but the best interests of Liberty in mind. These little animadversions of mine are meant to help you and your party. But this is Liberty I might just start my own party and run for office, because I would move to Rhineland if you get elected sir, I would take my family and friends because your party would ruin Liberty.
I have nothing further to say to you expect, you will see us during election time
-A Concerned Citizen
Well Sir or Madam, and this will be our last comments on your messages.
Increasing the Naval Forces could mean a number of things; yes we want to increase the production of naval vessels for use in both the Naval Guard and for use in securing Liberty against acts of Piracy by the Rogues, Hackers and Outcasts. We would also like to see an increase in military recruitment which is indeed an adjustment of naval size.
I have said this again and again this is our overall platform, we have not announced where or when we would be running it could be for Governor of a system or we could make a play for the presidency we are not ready to comment on what our party will be doing. What we will say is that when it comes to the election you will all see a more narrow and detailed plan of action from our party on what we will be doing in office.
Finally sir you are free to move to Rheinland if you wish but I should note that the people of Rheinland are an oppressed people and I doubt very much they would treat you any better than one of their own citizens.
*Incoming transmission*
*Sender ID Verified*
*ID-LPI Deputy Chief Karl Agathon*
Well, this is certainly interesting. Normally I avoid politics like I avoid junkers.. but this is ... well interesting.
Reading up on your movement, I can relate to just about all the issues and goals highlighted.
The LPI in our current state is very much under funded and ill equipped to deal with the dangers our officers face every day.
I'm also very much in support of ridding ourselves of the Junker scourge. It is a known fact that much of the illegal goods entering our space, come from the junkers, who we tolerate at the moment due to a lack of resources to properly deal with them.
For now, you have my personal support.
Iâll carry this flag
To the grave if I must
Because itâs flag that I love
And a flag that I trust
Our list of goals has been expanded to show the true extent of our beliefs. Please review these changes. Keep in mind that the core of our platform has not changed.
Sincerely,
Terrence Powderly
Populist Reform Party
A fuzzy image pops up on the screen, showing Neil Cooperson scratching the thin auburn hair on his head and muttering about his dromedary.
"Uh, so if I'm reading this right, the aims of the populist reform party are, among other things, promoting mercantilism and xenophobia, not to mention intense militarization and nationalization of a neutral system? I'm sure that the denizens of Pennsylvania who don't want you around will enjoy that. You intend to limit opportunities for Liberty businesses to exploit foreign interests? Didn't the ancient United States of America, which your proud House is allegedly based on, learn quite painfully what happens when you resort to a system which shuts out foreign interests?"
He shakes his head woefully. This kind of agenda does not bode well for any forward-thinking nation.
"If I may point out, taking actions to reject foreigners while simultaneously expanding your actual territory seems like a good way to lose the respect of your neighbors. That is, of course, forgetting that in your attempt to become self-sufficient, you'll bankrupt yourselves when you find that your own people have lost the business that immigrants and foreign miners brought. This coupled with a 200 percent increase in naval forces, when I have no doubt that you're treading water to begin with, and the nationalization of LPI, seems like a good way to cause either tax hikes or destitution. You know what will happen then?"
Neil grins at the irony, then clears his throat to continue.
"What happens then, when Liberty is destitute because of some vain attempt to become self-sufficient, when foreign businesses decide that they are not wanted, and Liberty becomes a withered husk, who will you turn to? You will borrow from the foreign devils whom you, in your arrogance, decry. You will become so dependent on foreign aid in your quest to be self-sufficient that you will see fractures, perhaps even becoming a nation akin to the Maltese and Cretans."
Neil shuffles through some papers on his desk, poking around for something off-screen. He finds a credit card, and waves it on screen.
"Your goals are admirable. However, your methods are borne of xenophobia and are doomed to failure. I know that your heart is in the right place, and you want only the best for your house, but it is my firm belief as a human being, of all Houses and of none, that you're going about it wrong. If you can find a way to provide incentive for MORE commerce both foreign and domestic, all of which can be taxed, for MORE free flow of information -which is the only safeguard against tyranny- and for better conditions on all planets in Liberty, then I will donate five million credits to your cause in the hope that my fellow humans may live better."
"Now, I know that five million isn't much to you all, perhaps, but it is a hefty sum for a freighter pilot like me. I do hope that you will make efforts to give people a carrot, to make them want to trade, as opposed to beating them with a stick. Good luck, Neil Cooperson out."
The screen winks out with a little jingle, and Neil leans back in his chair.
"Things will not calm down, Daniel Jackson. They will, in fact, calm up."