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While trying to think of my next article for my newspaper, I thought of the idea to interview one of the more influencial members of the Federalist party. My good friend Congressman Wingfield. Wingfield has been one of the lead recruiters for the Federalist party and has done a great job. And now after the recent congressional elections he is now Congressman to the good state of Wyoming. So I decided to talk to him about some of the more important issues that face this country in the upcoming weeks.

Q1. What things would you wish to change, if any, to improve the current eUS economy?
A1. Dammit man, I’m an historian, not an economist! 🙂 However, my main concern is the unprofitability of grain and wood companies, which is bad for the economy. Companies going broke mean more unemployment. Companies that are taxed too heavily will go broke. I voted against the wartime tax increases because of these fears. Surely we already have a big enough economy to defend ourselves. I’ll be happy when the taxes are lowered again.
Once the dust settles after this war, I’d like to see some effort being put into encouraging fewer people to go into raw materials companies where there are already too many. If we have a Secretary of Commerce, that is who should be responsible for educating citizens in this area.

Q2. With the current threat level of PEACE, would you like to continue war games, or wait a while before starting them back up to see if PEACE invades?
A2. We should not be involved in any war games right now. The new Administration is very conscious of this necessity. One of the many serious errors on Day 541 was allowing people to fight in war games for many hours when a secret attack was planned against Russia. The attack was so secret that too many people fought in the war games in good faith and were thus unavailable when they were really needed.
Because we have had a solid program of war games to date, we are much better prepared than we have been at any time in the past. We need to stockpile weapons and bring up our wellness levels so that everyone can fight as many times as possible. On that note, there are very many citizens caught below 40 wellness. They cannot fight or heal to bring them up to fighting strength. The only way to bring them up is by exchanging gifts. However, while iron and weapons companies have been spared the new taxes, the same does not apply to gift companies. Really, we should have left gift companies at the lower tax level.
[Before I go on, I must disclose a private interest here. I own a gift company but the tax increase will not hurt me too much. In any event, I’ve increased the wages of all my employees to cover the tax hike. Any remaining surplus I make will go straight into weapons purchases for the coming fight.]
If it looks like the PEACE threat is a false alarm, let go back to war games then. We must also remember who has made the threat realistic. The eUK has sold out to PEACE and has colluded with Hungary in providing a route for the attack on us via Canada. This will not be forgotten.

Q3. Many people feel that this country is run by the USWP and their "evil dictators". Any thoughts on this?
A3. It is ridiculous to suggest that the USWP represents an “evil dictatorship”. They are a strong and dedicated party, with many wonderful people. While they wield the greatest influence in our country’s politics, they do not exclude people from other parties. Two members of my own party won Congress seats with USWP endorsement last month.

Q4. Do you feel our military is overly funded, underly funded, or has just the right amount of funding? Why do you feel this way?
A4. I think that the reforms to the official eUS army undertaken since Day 541 have been managed very well. This was proved in the important victory in Greece recently. The Mobile Infantry Division of the National Guard is also well organized at present. We are ready for the invasion. In that, they money has been well spent.
Where I think there have been serious problems is in the Home Guard Division of the National Guard. Once the initial training is completed, recruits fall into a black hole. I heard nothing further from the command structure after graduating and being reassigned. In the end I sent a letter to General Dczip, resigning from the HG. The letter was not even acknowledged.
With the Home Guard in a shambles, ordinary citizens will not be able to defend their country effectively. Members should have an easy way to access weapons through the Home Guard. If we suffer the loss of regions in the coming war, the state of the Home Guard will be a major factor.
In summary, fund and reform the Home Guard. Reduce the taxes on gift companies to help bring more citizens up to fighting strength. Then we can all stand together to face this threat.

Q5. Now for a question for your state of Wyoming. Any ideas on how to make Wyoming a better state? In means of population, hospitals, defense systems, economy, etc.
A5. Wyoming has 24 citizens at last check. It is difficult to develop a State with only a Q1 hospital and no defense system. I follow the view that we are all eAmericans, with 51 regions, whose citizens concentrate in areas with strong hospitals and defense systems, for the common good. The way the game is set up at present, I can do nothing more. I am more concerned that our border States are well protected.

Q6. Some people have called your party, the Federalist Party, a "bunch of trolls whose purpose is to hate on the USWP". How would you respond to this?
A6. I would hope that we have put that episode behind us. The person who made that statement backed off and so did we. There are still people who hate the Federalists but they confine themselves to sniping. One of them, who shall remain nameless, started up at me in Congress today. The Capitol is by no means sacred to some.

Q7. Do you feel Harrison Richardson will be a great leader, average leader, or poor leader for eUSA? And why do you feel this way?
A7. I endorsed HR and I have seen nothing so far to question the wisdom of my choice. His preparation for this crisis has been impeccable, both before and since his election. I feel that we should stand behind HR with confidence.

Q8. With the recent near-theft of the eUSA National reserve, how will you attempt to prevent future thefts? Also. Were you fooled by this ruse and was one of the 20 congressmen who voted yes for this transfer of money?
A8. The ruse pulled on Congressmen was very devious and involved an indistinguishable character in two different names. The same character performs two different functions in the font used in the Congress proposal. No one had any reason to question the proposal and it received the necessary approvals on the Congress boards before submission to the official vote. I did not fall for the ruse but that was because I signed in just after the warning shouts started flying. I voted NO as soon as I discerned the gist of the problem. No one should criticize the members of Congress who voted YES in good faith. The only culprit was the evil individual who perpetrated the failed heist.
What shocked me was the level of gloating and hate from known enemies of our country in the comment thread for the article announcing the discovery of the attempt, including one celebrated individual who pulled a similar stunt some time ago.
Rest assured, the finest details will be checked by anyone sponsoring future money transfers and individual Congressmen will also be on alert. The response by the Admins was swift and appropriate and I hope it serves as a deterrent against further individuals with plans of that nature.

Q9. If you could kick one ePerson in the balls. Who owuld it be and why?
A9. I wouldn't do that sort of thing. However, there is a certain Congress member, who shall remain nameless, who I'd like to challenge to a duel.

Q10. Do you have any other ambitions besides being a congressman? Eg. President, VP, Cabinet member, Military soldier, Military Officer, etc.
A10. Not at present. I think I need to concentrate on doing my job as a Congressman properly. Many people out there are encouraging others to evade taxes and so on. I believe in obeying the law and paying the taxes Congress sets. Instead I will argue relentlessly in Congress to get them lowered again before our economy is destroyed.

Q11. Who is your hero/mentor in this game is and why?
A11. My real mentor was fingerguns. She befriended me very early and stood by me right through my early days before I established a name for myself. As for my hero, that has to be the great Federalist, Tiacha. She has made a huge contribution to eRepublik.

Q12. And last question. As a historian, what do you feel is the most important moment in eUSA history. Whether it be a military battle or a political victory or anything else you can think of.
A12. It has to be Day 541. That was the day that earlier mistakes came back to haunt us. Only after the debacle of that day was there a serious effort to reform the military and prepare us for the crisis that is at hand. The job is not finished, as I mentioned earlier in relation to the Home Guard. However, it was a watershed for the eUSA and we have been headed in the right direction ever since.

Thank you for coming Congressman Wingfield. It was great talking with you and keep doing what you are doing in Washington. 🙂

Thank you for inviting me along to talk. Can I ask everyone to stand ready for a struggle. Move to a Q5 hospital State if you can. Buy weapons if you have enough wages left to pay for them. Likewise with gifts if you need to get up to 40 wellness. If you can't, contact people who are offering these to citizens ready to fight. We are all eAmericans and we must stand together.

Inspirational words that should inspire us all. Now lets go kick some PEACE ass!!!