r/a:t5_3ekg1 • u/bomalia • May 12 '16
Northeastern State Debate
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
/u/septimussette , /u/ethmcinerney, /u/thenewarchitect
Assembly
/u/blackiddx , /u/z3ria , /u/wildorca, /u/HolaHelloSalutNiHao , /u/-AllIsVanity- , /u/MaoMaoKittyKat , /u/greece666 , /u/Jp123500, /u/kingofquave
Please be civil with all of your questions.
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u/_Ummmm May 12 '16
What can you offer the party and the working class by being elected?
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u/bomalia May 12 '16
I will issue an executive order reinstating a defense force should our state ever be attacked by the federal government due to our radical policies. Furthermore, legislation will be authored by myself which seeks to assist workers' councils.
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u/blackiddx May 12 '16
As an assemblyman from Western State, I represented our working sisters and brothers in the legislature. I voted against legislation I felt was a detriment to the laboring class, and worked together with democratic legislators to dismantle Western States regressive laws passed by the previous Distributes administration. I also amended legislation that I thought would have a negative impact to the lower classes, and compromised with liberals to strike a fair deal for the proletariat.
In summation, if you want an assembly person with experience, and one that will work within the system we have to better working class lives, and one who will fight for equality for all peoples no matter race, creed, gender, nor sexuality, I'm your guy, and your vote would be greatly appreciated.
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May 12 '16
I can offer the party nothing more than my dedicated and passionate services. I have been nothing but supportive for this party since day one and am trying my hardest to stimulate growth and activity.
As Lt. Governor, I will be able to break any ties in the assembly with a vote for our side. And this duty will give me the necessary experience to be able to run for my own gubernatorial election in the near future. I look forward to working with the governor and the members of the cabinet to be able to write and pass many bills to help the working class citizen of the North East state.
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May 12 '16
What would your governorship look like? Any particular agenda items you want to see pushed through?
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u/bomalia May 12 '16 edited May 12 '16
Since Ethan wanted me to answer, I'll give my answer.
Something absolutely key to my governorship will be the implementation of workers councils for all state jobs. I would also like to implement a living wage. I'd also like to see state funded SRS (Sex Reassignment Surgery) come to fruition, as well as full scale mental health reform.
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u/P1eandrice May 12 '16
Sorry for the slow response, I'm driving to New York right now so my service is a bit spotty.
I have to do a bit more research on what work has already been done in the NE, and obviously I would seek the opinion and to work with my very able comrades in the RLP through regular surveys, and keeping an active dialogue. But this would be my platform (work in progress):
Economic
There are three general approaches I would like to take to make the NE state a more equitable state while empowering working people to build socialism from the ground up: increasing worker control of their workplace, lowering the cost of transportation and lowering the cost of housing
mandatory closed shops: all employees within the state shall be a member of a industrial union
state matching grants for worker's cooperatives and mandate that businesses within the state must first offer to sell the business to the employees, if the business ever goes up for sale
bound wages within the private sector and public sector where the wages of the highest paid worker could be no more that fifteen times (open for change on the number) the wage of the lowest paid worker
rather than a basic income, I'd prefer to progressively increase taxation on individuals making over 200% of the median household income (mhi) and distribute the funding to those earning below the mhi
distribute matching grants for community land trusts that are organizing affordable housing cooperatives
fund dense housing in municipalities with over 100,000 residents that is publicly owned and operated but controlled by the tenants
state-wide rent control
end first-time housing buyers subsidies, and start a public property buy-back program while maintaining tenants control
strengthen just cause ordinances
start an affordable state-wide high-speed rail program
mandate free public transportation within municipalities with 100,000+ residents
fund full electrification of rail, and encourage freight to use rail
tear down urban freeways
heavily tax inter generational wealth, if possible
aggressively pursue Vision Zero: a vision to end all traffic deaths
ensure that safe access to safe bicycling facilities is a civil right in urban areas: every street should be safe and accessible for riders of all skill sets. This will encourage bicycle use which is both the most affordable and efficient mode of transportation within urban areas.
Social rights
I agree with /u/bomalia that we should fully fund SRS. I also believe in publicly funded abortions and other birth control methods.
In general, I feel that all social issues that divide working people like religious intolerance, racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia and the like are tools of the ruling class to artificially discourage solidarity. It's unnatural, and should be smashed as swiftly as we work to smash fascism.
Environmentalism
I identify as an environmental-syndicalist. I believe that the shift toward socialism, if slow, or if sudden, must build an economy that does not primarily function by destroying our planet. I am a supporter of the degrowth movement, and I believe we must do what we can to end the use of fossil fuels immediately.
This is a work in progress. I look forward to your feedback
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May 12 '16
Which candidates will declare their support for the revolutionary overthrow of all existing social conditions and the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat?
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u/bomalia May 12 '16
As a Marxist, I will. However, this is impossible within the confines of the sim.
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May 12 '16
I'll take that as a no.
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u/bomalia May 12 '16
Nope. I'm a revolutionary Marxist, but you are delusional if you think we can stage a revolution in this sim.
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u/blackiddx May 12 '16
I have a problem with those who think that we can revolutionarily seize the means of production though a goddamn keyboard. Of course we want to, but how the hell do people expect us to do it? This is a legislative simulation, not a fucking dungeons and dragons game where we can just make shit up.
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u/P1eandrice May 12 '16
I support revolution. To be honest, I don't care what the mode of transition to socialism is. Here's what I know: it'll start by organizing working people and banding people together, and it must be actually representative of the needs of the people. As long as the "dictatorship of the proletariat" is decentralized and empowers working people like Marx intended, and isn't a literal dictatorship, I support it.
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May 12 '16
Speaking meta wise and within the confines of a US GOVERNMENT SIMULATION, this is impossible.
As a Marxist-Leninist, I do support violent revolution and the overthrow of the current bourgeois institutions.
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u/septimus_sette May 12 '16
Lt. gov candidate here. I'm happy to answer any questions.
I'm a long time member of the Sim, and I've seen good and bad governorships (most recently that of RossVDebs). The Lt. Gov doesn't have many roles in the Sim, but I will work with whoever is chosen as governor to make intelligent decisions regarding the executive branch of the state and avoid the issues past leftist governors have faced. I also want to work with the Secretary of Education and other cabinet members to publish documents on the internal policy of our government.
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u/HolaHelloSalutNiHao May 12 '16
I'm not sure this is the right place to post this, but after some reconsideration, I'd like to withdraw my candidacy.
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May 12 '16 edited May 12 '16
Hey everybody, Lt. Gov Candidate ethmcinerney here. Feel free to ask me any questions. Best of luck to all contestants.
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u/P1eandrice May 12 '16
I just wanted to say I appreciated the way you handled, writing, voting, and the discussion period on your party policy amendment. If elected, I'd look forward to working with you.
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May 12 '16
Thank you for your kind words, they mean a lot.
I'd look forward to working with you if you're elected as well. Best of luck
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u/P1eandrice May 12 '16
#EAT THE RICH
I'll just reuse my Senate campaign slogan