Twilight's Last Gleaming: An American Political RP Special

[Dentali]

Baylor: Follow up for the candidates… if you had a majority that could get you any minimum wage hike through the senate, how high would you set the minimum wage?

Ooc: this is also free discussion

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
QUESTION 1

Citizen 1: My name is Michael Giglio, I own a small hardware store about 30 mins outside Columbus... I hire a lot of teenagers and part time workers and I would love to pay them more but the truth is I can't afford any more. My question is... as President how high would you want to raise the minimum wage and how are you going to make sure businesses like mine don't go under.

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
GOVERNOR FLEMING

Thank you Michael, that's a very important one. Even policies that seem to be unquestionably good can have negative consequences. I'm reminded of a lady that was visiting friends in New Hampshire and decided to show up at one of my town halls. I asked her why and she said that she wanted a chance to see me just in case I dropped out of the race before visiting Vermont. She said she loved her job, she worked for a gardening supplier in Burlington that chose in 1987 to give their employees a share in the ownership of the store to give them a direct stake in its success.

She heard that as Governor of Pennsylvania, I had instituted the Pennsylvania Solidarity project to help more businesses take the step that her employer made 20 years ago. She said she wanted to vote for someone committed to advancing this model nationwide. I told her I'd do my best to ensure she'd be able to vote for me in both March and November next year. I support a $7.25 minimum wage indexed to inflation, but I'd also like facilitate an option for small businesses pay an increase in compensation through proceeds from employee stock ownership plans. As for energy costs, we should do more than cover high costs, we should bring costs down by advancing our energy Independence, through improving energy efficiency, supporting biofuels and fighting price gouging by big oil.

[Madrinpoor]

Baylor: Follow up for the candidates… if you had a majority that could get you any minimum wage hike through the senate, how high would you set the minimum wage?

Ooc: this is also free discussion

"I support raising the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour. I believe that this wage will ensure that anyone who is working a full time job can afford to support their family, as was the case in the 1950s. There are those who call this radical. I believe that they are wrong."

"Is it radical for nobody to go hungry? For no kids to sleep in the streets? For no old men to die on a park bench in the cold? I understand people have concerns, and I'm willing to listen to them, but I think a higher minimum wage would help even business owners as well; because as consumers have more money in their pockets, they can afford to spend more at businesses, especially local and small ones, strengthening the economy and contributing to a shared prosperity."

[Jovuistan]

Baylor: Follow up for the candidates… if you had a majority that could get you any minimum wage hike through the senate, how high would you set the minimum wage?

Ooc: this is also free discussion

"Like I said, I am in favor of raising the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour and indexing it to inflation, as supported by workers and unions across this country. Just this week there was a bill that passed the house that will raise the minimum wage, a bill I co-sponsored, that the Republicans voted against. We're trying to take action on this now, but it's clear that Cush and his heirs aren't game to giving a fair pay raise to American families. So Democrats have to step up next year and not only expand our Congressional majorities, but take back the Oval Office as well."

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

Baylor: Follow up for the candidates… if you had a majority that could get you any minimum wage hike through the senate, how high would you set the minimum wage?

Ooc: this is also free discussion

Look, you will probably, understandably, hear from well meaning corners of the Democratic party, that if you simply adjusted the minimum wage of 30 years ago for inflation you'd have something like $8 today, and then if you adjust for productivity as well you'd be talking north of $12. Unfortunately, the power of big business and countries like china, makes either infeasible for businesses like Michael's, especially in rural communities. To tackle hunger and homelessness, we need to strengthen public services and the aim the costs of doing so directly at big business and China. That's why I support repealing the cush tax cuts and why I support a pollutant tariff that accounts for the environmental costs of outsourcing to countries like China, with the proceeds turned to Americans through a universal sustainability credit. That's what I'd use a strong democratic majority to do.

I'd also like to ask two questions on behalf of Michael to Senator Martel and Mayor Cierge. Senator Martel, you mentioned exempting small businesses from paying any capital gains taxes, as an answer to Michael being unable to afford paying higher wages. Capital gains taxes are only paid upon selling capital assets, so are you suggesting, Senator, that Michael should sell his business if he can't afford to pay higher wages? Mayor Cierge, you vaguely mentioned providing subsidies to businesses to help pay higher wages, would you mind describing what form that'd take?

[Jovuistan]

Baylor: Follow up for the candidates… if you had a majority that could get you any minimum wage hike through the senate, how high would you set the minimum wage?

Ooc: this is also free discussion

Look, you will probably, understandably, hear from well meaning corners of the Democratic party, that if you simply adjusted the minimum wage of 30 years ago for inflation you'd have something like $8 today, and then if you adjust for productivity as well you'd be talking north of $12. Unfortunately, the power of big business and countries like china, makes either infeasible for businesses like Michael's, especially in rural communities. To tackle hunger and homelessness, we need to strengthen public services and the aim the costs of doing so directly at big business and China. That's why I support repealing the cush tax cuts and why I support a pollutant tariff that accounts for the environmental costs of outsourcing to countries like China, with the proceeds turned to Americans through a universal sustainability credit. That's what I'd use a strong democratic majority to do.

I'd also like to ask two questions on behalf of Michael to Senator Martel and Mayor Cierge. Senator Martel, you mentioned exempting small businesses from paying any capital gains taxes, as an answer to Michael being unable to afford paying higher wages. Capital gains taxes are only paid upon selling capital assets, so are you suggesting, Senator, that Michael should sell his business if he can't afford to pay higher wages? Mayor Cierge, you vaguely mentioned providing subsidies to businesses to help pay higher wages, would you mind describing what form that'd take?

"And here we go yet again, Governor. No, that's not what I'm suggesting. The Capital Gains exemption is part of my plan to support start-ups, in addition to tax credits for healthcare and energy, investment in Main Street, and the removal of bureaucratic barriers. We're also going to achieve energy independence and move towards affordable renewable energy, as I've said many times on the trail."

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

Look, you will probably, understandably, hear from well meaning corners of the Democratic party, that if you simply adjusted the minimum wage of 30 years ago for inflation you'd have something like $8 today, and then if you adjust for productivity as well you'd be talking north of $12. Unfortunately, the power of big business and countries like china, makes either infeasible for businesses like Michael's, especially in rural communities. To tackle hunger and homelessness, we need to strengthen public services and the aim the costs of doing so directly at big business and China. That's why I support repealing the cush tax cuts and why I support a pollutant tariff that accounts for the environmental costs of outsourcing to countries like China, with the proceeds turned to Americans through a universal sustainability credit. That's what I'd use a strong democratic majority to do.

I'd also like to ask two questions on behalf of Michael to Senator Martel and Mayor Cierge. Senator Martel, you mentioned exempting small businesses from paying any capital gains taxes, as an answer to Michael being unable to afford paying higher wages. Capital gains taxes are only paid upon selling capital assets, so are you suggesting, Senator, that Michael should sell his business if he can't afford to pay higher wages? Mayor Cierge, you vaguely mentioned providing subsidies to businesses to help pay higher wages, would you mind describing what form that'd take?

"And here we go yet again, Governor. No, that's not what I'm suggesting. The Capital Gains exemption is part of my plan to support start-ups, in addition to tax credits for healthcare and energy, investment in Main Street, and the removal of bureaucratic barriers. We're also going to achieve energy independence and move towards affordable renewable energy, as I've said many times on the trail."

"The question was about how do we ensure Michael's business can pay for a higher minimum wage, his hardware store isn't a start-up in search of venture capital, he just wants to make sure ends meet."

[Jovuistan]

"And here we go yet again, Governor. No, that's not what I'm suggesting. The Capital Gains exemption is part of my plan to support start-ups, in addition to tax credits for healthcare and energy, investment in Main Street, and the removal of bureaucratic barriers. We're also going to achieve energy independence and move towards affordable renewable energy, as I've said many times on the trail."

"The question was about how do we ensure Michael's business can pay for a higher minimum wage, his hardware store isn't a start-up in search of venture capital, he just wants to make sure ends meet."

"I answered that question. He'll get tax credits for providing healthcare to his employees and to cover energy costs. We'll invest in small businesses like Michael's hardware store and cut down on the bureaucracy that makes it harder for small businesses to operate. Governor, this is how you started every single debate. It's getting old."

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

"The question was about how do we ensure Michael's business can pay for a higher minimum wage, his hardware store isn't a start-up in search of venture capital, he just wants to make sure ends meet."

"I answered that question. He'll get tax credits for providing healthcare to his employees and to cover energy costs. We'll invest in small businesses like Michael's hardware store and cut down on the bureaucracy that makes it harder for small businesses to operate. Governor, this is how you started every single debate. It's getting old."

"I don't know Michael's case specifically, but plenty of small businesses his size can't afford to pay for employee healthcare in the first place, so those tax credits wouldn't help him if that's the case. Tax credits for high energy costs would help, in the short run, but our focus has to be lowering energy prices and increasing energy efficiency, instead of rewarding the price gouging of big oil with money from American tax payers."

[Jovuistan]

"I answered that question. He'll get tax credits for providing healthcare to his employees and to cover energy costs. We'll invest in small businesses like Michael's hardware store and cut down on the bureaucracy that makes it harder for small businesses to operate. Governor, this is how you started every single debate. It's getting old."

"I don't know Michael's case specifically, but plenty of small businesses his size can't afford to pay for employee healthcare in the first place, so those tax credits wouldn't help him if that's the case. Tax credits for high energy costs would help, in the short run, but our focus has to be lowering energy prices and increasing energy efficiency, instead of rewarding the price gouging of big oil with money from American tax payers."

"Which is also part of my plan, in addition to investing in clean energy. We're going to lower the cost of healthcare for both employees and employers, and help small businesses be able to give their employees quality healthcare without struggling to afford it."

[Dentali]

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
QUESTION 2

Citizen 2: My name is Liam Fox... I'm from Youngstown Ohio, my family can trace its roots in the town back to the 1860s, where my ancestor got a job in a factory that made the cannon balls used by the union army... and ever since my family has worked in the steel industry. My members of my family fought in WW2, Korea, Vietnam, and others worked in the factories stateside that made the weapons that won those wars... Despite this, I have seen factory after factory close down and move to Mexico because of NAFTA and every day the people working beside me at General Motors are just waiting for it to be our turn.

What will you do to protect the lifeblood of my home and the livelihood of my family?

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
QUESTION 2

Citizen 2: My name is Liam Fox... I'm from Youngstown Ohio, my family can trace its roots in the town back to the 1860s, where my ancestor got a job in a factory that made the cannon balls used by the union army... and ever since my family has worked in the steel industry. My members of my family fought in WW2, Korea, Vietnam, and others worked in the factories stateside that made the weapons that won those wars... Despite this, I have seen factory after factory close down and move to Mexico because of NAFTA and every day the people working beside me at General Motors are just waiting for it to be our turn.

What will you do to protect the lifeblood of my home and the livelihood of my family?

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
GOVERNOR FLEMING

Thank you for your question Liam. As much as there is to be proud of with what the [not-clinton] administration did, there are places it fell short and this is one of them. Put it simply, the reason that corporations ship jobs to Mexico or China, is to take advantage of weaker regulations and lower wages.

Among those weaker regulations are environmental regulations, which is why a Fleming Administration will impose a pollutant tariff on imports that is equivalent to the pollution costs associated with the additional transportation and weaker regulations, with the proceeds funding a universal sustainability credit.

Second and perhaps more importantly, I will fight to renegotiate NAFTA. I don't just say this as a vague promise, my aim is specific, raise wage, unionization, benefits and other labor requirements in Mexico towards our level, so that corporations don't have lower costs to exploit. This will also be a requirement for future trade deals. Under a Fleming Administration, american products in american markets remain and grow increasing tied to american jobs. A secondary effect of this will be to decrease immigration from Mexico by raising compensation in Mexico's own industries.

[Madrinpoor]

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
QUESTION 2

Citizen 2: My name is Liam Fox... I'm from Youngstown Ohio, my family can trace its roots in the town back to the 1860s, where my ancestor got a job in a factory that made the cannon balls used by the union army... and ever since my family has worked in the steel industry. My members of my family fought in WW2, Korea, Vietnam, and others worked in the factories stateside that made the weapons that won those wars... Despite this, I have seen factory after factory close down and move to Mexico because of NAFTA and every day the people working beside me at General Motors are just waiting for it to be our turn.

What will you do to protect the lifeblood of my home and the livelihood of my family?

"Yes, thank you for that answer, and unlike Mr. Fleming here I won't renegotiate NAFTA — I'll pull the U.S. out of it entirely! No more shipping jobs to Mexico! No more buying plastic Chinese junk! From now on, American workers will reap the rewards of the American economy."

"Not only will I end parasitic trade deals, but I will impose stiff tariffs on foreign goods, especially on food and natural resources... American wheat won't rot in the fields, because it'll be bought before Russian wheat! Chinese cloth won't be made into American flags, our cloth will! Japanese steel won't come before American steel..."

[Dentali]

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
QUESTION 2

Baylor: As a follow up to spark the free discussion period… was NAFTA a mistake?

[Jovuistan]

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
SENATOR CAROLE MARTEL

"I think if President (not-Clinton) made one mistake, it unfortunately has to be NAFTA. I think everybody on this stage agrees with me that our next President has to renegotiate NAFTA and get a better deal for American workers. Since Cush took office, our trade deficit has doubled, thousands of Americans have lost their jobs to our competitors like China as companies exploit poor standards to ship jobs overseas. The first thing I think we need to do is raise those standards. My number one priority in renegotiating NAFTA and future trade deals will be ensuring that we have decent labor and environmental standards, and that America can enforce those standards fairly and effectively."

"And we need to show real leadership on this, both in dealing with our partners and supporting our fellow citizens. We'll cut the tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas and give good incentives to produce good-paying jobs here at home. We'll take a stand at the World Trade Organization and safeguard our workers against currency manipulation, lax consumer standards, and illegal subsidies. We'll support American enterprise and technology so America can compete on high-value products, not sweatshop wages and conditions. We'll modernize and expand the Trade Adjustment Assistance program to provide more job training and support to workers who lost their jobs to bad trade deals. We'll double the U.S. Trade Representative's enforcement unit. That is how we protect our workers and show the world that America is back."

[Dentali]

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
QUESTION 3

Citizen 3: My name is Lucille Masters... I have had two children serving tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and I worry about much of the rhetoric surrounding Iran. I believe the prospect of a nuclear Iran is terrifying and should be avoided, at the same time I don't want to see my children deployed to another conflict, another war... What would you to ensure Iran did not get access to nuclear weapons? Would you deploy my kids to Iran to avoid it?

[Jovuistan]

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
QUESTION 3

Citizen 3: My name is Lucille Masters... I have had two children serving tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and I worry about much of the rhetoric surrounding Iran. I believe the prospect of a nuclear Iran is terrifying and should be avoided, at the same time I don't want to see my children deployed to another conflict, another war... What would you to ensure Iran did not get access to nuclear weapons? Would you deploy my kids to Iran to avoid it?

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
SENATOR CAROLE MARTEL

"No. Lucille, I will not as President allow your children to go into another war in Iran. Yes, a nuclear Iran has always been a concern since they started flirting with nuclear weapons, but starting yet another regime change war, against a country three times the population of Iraq, would be an unmitigated disaster for not just the United States but the entire region. What we need to aim for is not regime change, but conduct change. That starts even before talking to them directly. It starts with going into this with our allies and partners in the region, not on our own. We need to lay out clearly to Iran what it stands to lose from isolating itself if it fails to stop uranium enrichment, and what it stands to gain by doing the right thing. Applying the right amount of pressure and incentive along with allowing international inspections is the key start to deterring Iran from going nuclear.

"That includes trying to work with Russia and China to get on the same page, because they ultimately have more leverage on Iran than we do. That'll take Presidential-level work that the Cush administration doesn't seem willing to do. The heart of our problem with Iran though is oil. We need to cut off our dependency on foreign oil and use our power as the most innovator people on earth to build energy saving technology that can loosen Iran's grip on oil and reshape the world. There are better ways to deal with Iran than the AWOL flame fanning that Cush and his heirs have been going with."

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
QUESTION 3

Citizen 3: My name is Lucille Masters... I have had two children serving tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and I worry about much of the rhetoric surrounding Iran. I believe the prospect of a nuclear Iran is terrifying and should be avoided, at the same time I don't want to see my children deployed to another conflict, another war... What would you to ensure Iran did not get access to nuclear weapons? Would you deploy my kids to Iran to avoid it?

Lucille. I've felt some of what you've felt and are feeling right now. My wife spent 20 years as an army nurse. Anytime a loved one serves overseas its hard to think of anything but their safety until they return.

Let me be clear, Lucille, as president, I'd do everything in my power to stop a nuclear Iran and avoid war. We have many non-military tools, both covert and overt at our disposal to detect and prevent the progression of an Iranian nuclear weapons program. From sabotage to sanctions. It also means being willing to have direct talks with Iran while still being sure that the concerns of regional allies like Israel are kept in consideration. We need to build a coalition of non-military pressure that includes not only our allies in Europe, but China and Russia. I worked under [not-clintons] UN Ambassador during the Kosovo intervention, I learned from and worked with the best to build coalitions for action.

Lastly Lucille, I'd say this. Iran's nuclear ambitions are far more real than any Iraqi WMD program in the run up to it's invasion Regardless of what they may say now, you can judge an politician's future actions by what they did in the past. If they supported an invasion of Iraq, they can be expected to feel justified in an invasion of Iran, even if they don't have it within to admit it publicly We can't leave the lives of loved ones to the whims of those who got it wrong in Iraq.

[Dentali]

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
QUESTION 4

Citizen 4: My name is Amy Olson... I support civil unions for gay couples but I don't believe gay marriage reflects the values of the country or my faith... Recently I read a story about a 2nd grade teacher in Massachusetts who read the children a story about a prince marrying another prince.... As a parent myself I would be uncomfortable with this story being read to my children in school. As a parent would you be okay with this being read to your children?

[Jovuistan]

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
QUESTION 4

Citizen 4: My name is Amy Olson... I support civil unions for gay couples but I don't believe gay marriage reflects the values of the country or my faith... Recently I read a story about a 2nd grade teacher in Massachusetts who read the children a story about a prince marrying another prince.... As a parent myself I would be uncomfortable with this story being read to my children in school. As a parent would you be okay with this being read to your children?

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
SENATOR CAROLE MARTEL

"I am a Christian. I believe in the values of loving our neighbors and doing right for others, as Jesus taught us all. I also believe, as a public servant, that America is a country made up of many faiths, and public policy shouldn't be dictated by theocracy. Every parent would have a different reaction and feeling towards that story. Me, personally? I don't think it's a terrible thing. Even if I don't believe gay marriage needs to be legalized, and I agree with your position with civil unions, gay couples are a reality and they're just as human as the rest of us. And I think that's the broader question here: how do we treat them as people? As sons and daughters? It ties back to Christ's teachings of loving our neighbors, whether we agree with their values or not.

"And I'm not ashamed to admit that treating the gay community with compassion instead of hatred has been a long part of my career, going back to when I was the Mayor of San Francisco combatting the AIDs crisis, and providing the same health benefits to gay couples that straight couples received. Every gay person is a human being, with family, with emotions, dreams, and patriotism. I think it's just the right thing to start treating them better and showing compassion."

[Cybernetic Socialist Republics]

THIRD DEMOCRATIC DEBATE
QUESTION 4

Citizen 4: My name is Amy Olson... I support civil unions for gay couples but I don't believe gay marriage reflects the values of the country or my faith... Recently I read a story about a 2nd grade teacher in Massachusetts who read the children a story about a prince marrying another prince.... As a parent myself I would be uncomfortable with this story being read to my children in school. As a parent would you be okay with this being read to your children?

Amy, I see where you're coming from. My faith is in opposition to gay marriage. However the bible that informs my morality. is the bible that I swore to uphold our constitution on, a constitution who's first amendment contains the separation of church and state. The Massachusetts supreme court required their state to recognize same sex marriage 3 years ago, so its unsurprising that the state's public schooling would reflect the reality of Massachusetts law. However, you don't have to accept the legitimacy of two princes marrying anymore than you have to accept the legitimacy of royalty.

I will say this though, we are better served, as nation when we don't fear learning about and interacting with those who live and think different than we do. That's something worth teaching at any age, even when it may seem to be tough. The truth is, when we spend even a little time around those that seem clearly different from us, we usually learn that we have plenty in common. From that commonality springs respect and from there, the ability to change minds and hearts.

You see Amy, that's what reflects of values of this country. We don't establish change and progress through force and imposition, but through consent and compromise, requiring understanding. There are some basic non-negotiable rights, but they serve to create space for civil and fair discourse. If you truly believe in the correctness of your position, you will not fear opposition, you will welcome dialogue and part of that dialogue is knowing involves know about the other side.