NationStates

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:22 am**

Arkolon wrote:
United Provinces of Atlantica wrote:I would currently support an expansionary monetary policy, because I feel that we need to tackle unemployment first and foremost. However, if inflation becomes a serious problem, then I would support a contractionary monetary policy. Currently however, unemployment is a far more serious issue.

Follow-up question: considering your given positions, would you agree with a deregulated labour market? That is to say that employers can, and should be able to, hire and fire with minimal paperwork and minimal restrictions. Would this not instead solve the unemployment issue, or do you think of an alternative method?

I would very strongly oppose a deregulated labour market. Instead I would support a "Green New Deal" in order to tackle both unemployment and climate change.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:28 am**

Arkolon wrote:
West Aurelia wrote:
Heavily deregulate, i.e. no minimum wage laws, allow employers to set work hours, allow employers to select employees however they see fit, etc.

Follow-up question, then: what does Senator Jones think should be done about, say, a large trade union were they to go on strike due to the absence of regulation you espouse?

As will surely occur. One must not discount the participation of the Chamber of Commerce in this strike, or at least their support, for that matter.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:34 am**

Nova Anglicana wrote:
Zunkwentania wrote:Miguel Aracruz is still open, as always!

Sen. Aracruz, what did you learn during your ten years away from the capital and what did you do as far as work? Also, what have you been up to since you were released from prison in 1998?

During my ten years away from the capital, I mostly did farm work, and some charity work. I learned, mostly, of the feelings that the junta was repressing their economic growth, and their freedom of expression. Especially with fickle crops, their livelihood depends on the harvest, and without available capital, they simply cannot help stimulate the economy, and oftentimes, they can end up evicted from their farms if they are tenant farmers, which is why I support making loans more available and instituting lower interest rates. After my release, I mostly kept on giving speeches and organizing protests, but I tried to hide from the junta. As soon as the junta was overthrown, I came out of the shadows and started publishing pamphlets and forming ideas for our new government. Now, I mostly try to organize the Democratic Left, and to try to meet with members of my consistency as often as possible.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:36 am**

MIGUEL VELASQUEZ (Resigned) - FREE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Account Name: Utopian Islands
Occupation: Senator, former baseball player (barred from competing), CEO and majority owner of Full Throttle Fitness.
Party Position(s):

N/A

Positions in Government:

N/A

Constituency: N/A
Political Ideology: Classical liberalism
Family: Ariana Velasquez (wife, 39), Jose Velasquez (son, 13), Natasha Velasquez (daughter, 11), Prince Velasquez (son, 7)
Background: Miguel Velasquez was born in 1975 to Horatio and Maria Velasquez in Calaverde. When he was four, Velasquez and his parents moved to Miami, Florida. When Miguel was in high school, he was a star shortstop on the baseball team, leading his team to a state championship his junior year. Velasquez went pro after high school, signing with the Miami Marlins, but was barred from the MLB shortly after for testing positive for anabolic steroids. Disgraced, he returned to Calaverde and played baseball there, becoming a national celebrity. After leaving baseball, Velasquez became the majority owner of Full Throttle Fitness, the largest chain of gyms in Calaverde. He used his fame to influence politics, promoting a strong pro-freedom message. Velasquez harbors a strong hatred towards America and its people, as he feels they turned their backs on him for doing what he had to do to win. There are rumors that he is involved with a drug cartel, distributing steroids across Calaverde. He dismisses these as "fan fiction". In 2014, Velasquez ran to become a Senator in his home district. He won the election by a large margin, and is now working on transforming this country into his paradise. In 2015, amid allegations of corruption and an affair with his campaign staffer, he resigned from the Senate, insisting "I might be dumb, but I'm not corrupt!".
Faith: Catholic
Likes: Freedom, baseball, eating clen, trenning hard.
Dislikes: Authoritarianism, corruption, America.
Any Questions from the Public to be answered?

Whatever you want to ask.

OOC: my Senator may be a bit evil, just to make things more exciting.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:41 am**

The Union of the West wrote:Aaldrik van Reijnders is open for questions!

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:42 am**

The Union of the West wrote:
The Union of the West wrote:Aaldrik van Reijnders is open for questions!

What is the senator's energy policy?

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:46 am**

Seeing as how I now have free time, both Luiz Costa and Journalist Pytor Aminev are open for questions.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:47 am**

United Provinces of Atlantica wrote:
Arkolon wrote:Follow-up question: considering your given positions, would you agree with a deregulated labour market? That is to say that employers can, and should be able to, hire and fire with minimal paperwork and minimal restrictions. Would this not instead solve the unemployment issue, or do you think of an alternative method?

I would very strongly oppose a deregulated labour market. Instead I would support a "Green New Deal" in order to tackle both unemployment and climate change.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but does that imply having the government spend money sponsoring the construction of environmentally-friendly public works programs? If so, to what end, for what reasons, and how is such a program not an artificial stimulus of the economy, as it does not create value and it entails spending money no one has for programs that are not of primordial importance?

This is just becoming my opinion, so I'll give you a different question to answer on the topic: if full employment is your goal, wouldn't simply banning technological progress result in more jobs being created? After all, the growth of the economy is a growth in production, and growths in production are the result of technological advancements. Alternatively, how would a "Green New Deal" create additional production or value?

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:47 am**

Murkwood wrote:Seeing as how I now have free time, both Luiz Costa and Journalist Pytor Aminev are open for questions.

As a monarchist, 'ow can you in anyway represent the views of the average 'ard workin' man on the street, and promise 'im an' 'onest livin'. Especially as you backed the junta?

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:50 am**

Anyways Senator Vasco Saá is open for questions

The Union of the West wrote:
The Union of the West wrote:Aaldrik van Reijnders is open for questions!

So if the goals of the AIP end in failure what would your second course of action? For instence if hypotheticly speaking the Dutch minority got their independence and your economy were to go into free fall what would your course of action be? Aside from domestic fixes to the economic and monetary systems would you consiter reestablished yourself with Calaverde or propose a union of some sort with the Netherlands?

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:50 am**

Utopian Islands wrote:OOC: my Senator may be a bit evil, just to make things more exciting.

Unless he's a pirate, he's as evil as a cupcake.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:51 am**

It's rude to ask and not give, so I have four questions lined up for every senator who wishes to answer.

1. What was your relationship, if any, with the Calaverdean Junta?

2. How many languages do you speak?

3. What are your thoughts on Israel?

4. What are your thoughts on abortion?

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:55 am**

Mollary wrote:
Murkwood wrote:Seeing as how I now have free time, both Luiz Costa and Journalist Pytor Aminev are open for questions.

As a monarchist, 'ow can you in anyway represent the views of the average 'ard workin' man on the street, and promise 'im an' 'onest livin'. Especially as you backed the junta?

It's true. I did, at first, back the Junta. There is no denying that. I was blinded by idealism.

As for representation, I know the struggles of the average man. I started my own business and had to claw my way up to get where I am now. Your struggles are my struggles.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:56 am**

Murkwood wrote:It's rude to ask and not give, so I have four questions lined up for every senator who wishes to answer.

1. What was your relationship, if any, with the Calaverdean Junta?

2. How many languages do you speak?

3. What are your thoughts on Israel?

4. What are your thoughts on abortion?

1. I was arrested and tortured by them.
2. I speak Spanish and English, and a bit of French.
3. While I have nothing against Israelis or the Jewish people, I believe that the Israeli government is unjustly taking Palestinian land, refusing to compromise, and is slowly adopting the dangerous ideals of nationalism and racism.
4. I believe that abortion should be fully legal.

-Senator Miguel Aracruz

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:58 am**

Insaeldor wrote:Anyways Senator Vasco Saá is open for questions

The Union of the West wrote:

So if the goals of the AIP end in failure what would your second course of action? For instence if hypotheticly speaking the Dutch minority got their independence and your economy were to go into free fall what would your course of action be? Aside from domestic fixes to the economic and monetary systems would you consiter reestablished yourself with Calaverde or propose a union of some sort with the Netherlands?

Senator Saa, do you share your father's revolutionary ideals?

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:58 am**

Murkwood wrote:
Mollary wrote:As a monarchist, 'ow can you in anyway represent the views of the average 'ard workin' man on the street, and promise 'im an' 'onest livin'. Especially as you backed the junta?

It's true. I did, at first, back the Junta. There is no denying that. I was blinded by idealism.

As for representation, I know the struggles of the average man. I started my own business and had to claw my way up to get where I am now. Your struggles are my struggles.

Tha' is nonsense; you will know nowt about the plight o' tha' workin' man until you experience it, a cosy business prepares you squat for tha' struggle o' tha' workin' man compared to the pit, and the factory. Tha' 'onest workin' man doesn't run a business, 'e is employed and oppressed by these 'ere people tha' call themselves 'business owners'.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:01 am**

Mollary wrote:
Murkwood wrote:It's true. I did, at first, back the Junta. There is no denying that. I was blinded by idealism.

As for representation, I know the struggles of the average man. I started my own business and had to claw my way up to get where I am now. Your struggles are my struggles.

Tha' is nonsense; you will know nowt about the plight o' tha' workin' man until you experience it, a cosy business prepares you squat for tha' struggle o' tha' workin' man compared to the pit, and the factory. Tha' 'onest workin' man doesn't run a business, 'e is employed and oppressed by these 'ere people tha' call themselves 'business owners'.

You see, here we see the radical Socialist mind at work. Small and large business owners like myself and countless others are the backbone of society. If you don't like working in a factory, Capitalism gives you the opportunity to start your own path.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:03 am**

Murkwood wrote:It's rude to ask and not give, so I have four questions lined up for every senator who wishes to answer.

1. What was your relationship, if any, with the Calaverdean Junta?

2. How many languages do you speak?

3. What are your thoughts on Israel?

4. What are your thoughts on abortion?

1. My relationship with the Junta that ran this country should be quite clear. They murdered my father to seize power. I fought against them with everything I had.

2. I speak fluent Spanish, Hebrew, Judaeo-Spanish (also called Ladino) and English. I am conversant in French, Dutch, Garifuna as well as our native Creole.

3. Israel will always hold a special place in my heart. The years I lived there were magical, even if it was as exiles. With regards to the ongoing conflict, I have previously stated my opinion here

4. It is a woman's right to seek an abortion at anytime and be free from harassment for her medical decision.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:03 am**

1. What was your relationship, if any, with the Calaverdean Junta? I can say with a clean conscience that I had no involvement with the Calaverdean Junta. I support the ideals of our founding fathers: liberty, freedom, and democracy. The Calaverdean Junta absolutely disregarded all three, and turned our great homeland into an authoritarian nightmare. Our country had hit a low point, and it was only thanks to all of you, the Calaverdean citizens, that we were able to power through adversity and come back stronger than ever.

2. How many languages do you speak? I speak three languages: English, Spanish, and French.

3. What are your thoughts on Israel? That we shouldn't get involved.

4. What are your thoughts on abortion? It's not my choice to make.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:03 am**

Murkwood wrote:It's rude to ask and not give, so I have four questions lined up for every senator who wishes to answer.

1. What was your relationship, if any, with the Calaverdean Junta?

2. How many languages do you speak?

3. What are your thoughts on Israel?

4. What are your thoughts on abortion?

1. Very little directly. I best knew them through helping to overthrow them, actually.
2. Two fluently, Spanish and English. I am just below fluency in French, and I also have some Dutch and Portuguese.
3. The best solution is a two state solution. First we must achieve peace between the two parties, however, and we all know that's not an easy task.
4. I believe abortion should be legal, safe, and rare. If possible, it should be avoided, but it should be an option.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:03 am**

Murkwood wrote:It's rude to ask and not give, so I have four questions lined up for every senator who wishes to answer.

1. What was your relationship, if any, with the Calaverdean Junta?

2. How many languages do you speak?

3. What are your thoughts on Israel?

4. What are your thoughts on abortion?

1: I was a public servant for a few years during the first few years of the Junta and spent my early political career. However with the execution of my father and subsequent self-imposed exile to Mexico in the early 90's I've spent the majority of my political career speaking out strongly against the Junta.

2: My main language is Spanish and I'm fluent in French. I know a enough Dutch to get around and I have an understanding of Arbic as a spoken language but can not write/read it ether in its native script or in its romanized forums.

3: as the son of a Palestinian christian who was dislocated from his home after the Israeli invasion of Gaza as part of the 1958 Sini War I can say that I do not dislike Israel. I Brelieve a two state solution is posible and that israeli autonomy obtainable through such a deal. I disagree with with israeli on a number of issues as I do with Palestine but at the end of the day I recognize both states legal right to exist.

4: I personally am not a fan however if a female were to have the legal right to abortion I would not contest it. Abortion really is a personal matter in my opinion and I don't think it should be as politicized as it is nor do I believe at the end of the day it has any political importance outside of campaigning and the like.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:03 am**

Murkwood wrote:
Mollary wrote:Tha' is nonsense; you will know nowt about the plight o' tha' workin' man until you experience it, a cosy business prepares you squat for tha' struggle o' tha' workin' man compared to the pit, and the factory. Tha' 'onest workin' man doesn't run a business, 'e is employed and oppressed by these 'ere people tha' call themselves 'business owners'.

You see, here we see the radical Socialist mind at work. Small and large business owners like myself and countless others are the backbone of society. If you don't like working in a factory, Capitalism gives you the opportunity to start your own path.

Capitalism has done nowt to 'elp people in my community, it 'as put 'em out of work, stripped 'em of their dignity, and stuck 'em on the dole without an 'ope of a job or 'onest work ever again. People in my community want to work in factories and mines, but they want the pay they deserve and the conditions that they deserve that Fat Cats deny 'em.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:06 am**

Mollary wrote:
Murkwood wrote:You see, here we see the radical Socialist mind at work. Small and large business owners like myself and countless others are the backbone of society. If you don't like working in a factory, Capitalism gives you the opportunity to start your own path.

Capitalism has done nowt to 'elp people in my community, it 'as put 'em out of work, stripped 'em of their dignity, and stuck 'em on the dole without an 'ope of a job or 'onest work ever again. People in my community want to work in factories and mines, but they want the pay they deserve and the conditions that they deserve that Fat Cats deny 'em.

Who is to say what you "deserve"? If you aren't making enough, start your own business or get a new job. It's not that hard.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:11 am**

Murkwood wrote:
Mollary wrote:Capitalism has done nowt to 'elp people in my community, it 'as put 'em out of work, stripped 'em of their dignity, and stuck 'em on the dole without an 'ope of a job or 'onest work ever again. People in my community want to work in factories and mines, but they want the pay they deserve and the conditions that they deserve that Fat Cats deny 'em.

Who is to say what you "deserve"? If you aren't making enough, start your own business or get a new job. It's not that hard.

We deserve fair treatment, and you cannot deny us 'em, fat cats like you aren't 'ere to provide a fair deal to people like me, you view us seemingly as some 'necessary' scum to do your dirty work while you profit. What d'you mean it's not tha' 'ard? It's not that 'ard to give up the profession you know an' are qualified for to do something else because you're not receiving fair treatment, fair treatment o' workers is key to a civilised society, you are advocating us to race to the bottom, to devalue and dehumanise the workin' classes such as meself, in order for the few at the top, such as yourself, to profit an' create a society jus' as bad as the junta times.

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 11:14 am**

Murkwood wrote:It's rude to ask and not give, so I have four questions lined up for every senator who wishes to answer.

1. What was your relationship, if any, with the Calaverdean Junta?

2. How many languages do you speak?

3. What are your thoughts on Israel?

4. What are your thoughts on abortion?

1. During the 30-year junta rule, I was living in the countryside. Although I did not violently or directly oppose the junta, I did my best to protect my friends and neighbours from the junta death squads. I was opposed philosophically, but decided that it would be better to protect others and keep my life than throw it away in violent revolution.

2. My first language is Spanish, and I have a elementary proficiency in English and [insert-native-Calaverdean-language-here]. I know a few words of French and Dutch.

3. Israel as a place is a most holy land; as a country, they have much to work on. I support a solution that guarantees the right of both Israelis and Palestinians to live and work in a place where they are free from discrimination and the threat of violence.

4. Abortion is a great evil, but it is a necessity in our broken society. I support safe and legal abortion with common-sense regulations until we can reform our social services so as to render abortion unnecessary.

NationStates

[NSG Senate] Senatorial Database