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The Q10 (Ten Quick Questions) – “Douchebag” Edition
with USWP legend & self-proclaimed douchebag, Ian John Locke IV



Q1: For the novice player, what exactly is the USWP and what does the party stand for?
A: The USWP is a political party which is much more like a family or a very tightly knit group of friends. Before V2, the USWP controlled the eUS for periods of time and really was the greatest. We have always (or at least since I've been a member) been a party concerned with retention and finding new ways to keep new players around and active. Our party constitution has a short bit about our purpose but little about our actual platform. The reason for this is because no two members of the USWP subscribe to the same philosophy.

Q2: The USWP has undergone a number of pretty dramatic changes since its inception including merging with AAP and reverting back to USWP more recently. You’ve remained with the party, as part of the leadership/old guard, through out the various incarnations and changes, while many have faded away. What has kept you active within the party for all this time?
A: Well to be fair, around the time that it merged with the AAP I was fairly inactive in the game in general. The most I did from day to day was two click and fight with the marines. But other than that, I've stayed with the USWP for the reason stated above: it's a family. (It's true that I'm a member of the old guard but I try to moderate my old man status with a progressive ideology towards the party's direction.) Another reason I love to stick with the USWP is how often and radically the leadership can change. Watching new members rise quickly through the ranks and then assume the mantle of Party President is really quite fascinating since I've never seen one follow the same path as another.

Q3: What would you tell readers who are not in any political party (or those unsatisfied with their current party), why they should join the USWP?
A: Well first you should identify why you are not currently in a political party or why you are dissatisfied with your current party. If one of the reasons is that you find it hard to succeed in the party then the USWP may be the place for you. The problem is that you have to realize that the USWP is not here to serve your political ambitions and it will not tolerate that kind of behavior. There have been a couple recent examples of people who have wanted to lead for their own glory alone and not for any genuine desire to help others succeed along with them. We just realize that the only way each person can succeed as part of the USWP is if the party succeeds, therefore if the party succeeds we succeed.

Q4: USWP has had a number of party members become POTUS, such as Scrabman, Harrison Richardson, Colin Lantrip, Roby Petric, Bradley Reala and Josh Frost. Have you ever considered a run at POTUS? If so, why? If not, why not?
A: When I first began to play eRepublik I was naive and thought that I would be the best POTUS ever but later realized I wouldn't. I was in Congress for a while and have been a Marine for over a year while contributing to the USWP. I quite frankly don't have the economic or military expertise I feel the POTUS should have and I certainly don't have the patience. For those who don't know, I'm quite the douchebag. Also, the game isn't fun anymore so why would I want the notoriously least entertaining position in the game?

Q5: With a plethora of POTUS candidates seemingly running this month, who do you think would make the best POTUS and why?
A: I have no clue who would make the best POTUS. The only candidate I actually know is Gladbag. He's actually intelligent and he knows the military damn well. Yes Gladdy was PEACE but he was the commander of the military in PEACE iirc and to those who won't admit it, here's the truth: PEACE was damn successful until we found our own tactics. If we're going to succeed as this jingoistic imperialist ecountry then I think Gladbag is the better choice.

Q6: There is a raging debate going on regarding the current level of taxes (most notably the income tax rate). Where do you stand on this issue? Is the rent in fact (as Joe DaSmoe and that crazy NY gubernatorial dude claim), too damn high?
A: Well it's probably a good idea to recognize the fact that I was one of those Congress persons who voted in much higher tax rates early in 2009. One reason for this was to build a "war chest" to prepare for the consequences of poor military plans executed under Benn Dover and Uncle Sam. The next thing we did was prepare for the future programs like Meals on Wheels. To be honest, while I'm not opposed to continuing to contribute to the "war chest" (if it even still exists) I don't know the current financial situation of the eUS and I understand Joe's bafflement regarding the same thing. I'm unsure of the transparency that exists now but I remember the good days of One Eye who used to keep everyone on the same page. Maybe what is needed before a discussion about taxes is a review of transparency.

Q7: Who is your personal eHero and why?
A: It's hard to say. One of my favorite eRepublik players was Ananias. Another was scrabman. Maybe it would be easier to talk about those I dislike most: Benn Dover and Uncle Sam. I spent my first term in Congress working with Benn but he stole all of a great Marine's money while sitting in a private channel with him and a handful of others. Uncle Sam was one of those players who only was in a political party because it suited him and he's the reason I took over the AAP by force as Party President.

Q8: Quick word association… Pizza, snork, IJLIV.
A: Tudino’s, Pfeiffer, Douchebag

Q9: When and if you ever decide to up and leave eRep, what would you like your eEpitaph to read?
A: Douchebag extraordinaire and thorn in the admin's crotch.

Q10: And finally, if you could punch any eCitizen square in the face, who would it be and why?
A: Benn Dover would have been one, but he's gone now. Ajay’s too amusing to hurt, besides his butch mother might shoot me with her automatic rifle that she purchased in Mexico which was provided by the US Government... so I don't know. Most of the people I have argued with in the past have become friends of mine so no one really. Maybe Dishmcds, maybe not.

Bonus Question: Favorite wall? Hadrian’s Wall, the Wailing Wall, the Great Wall or the Berlin Wall?
A: Well I'm not Jewish despite my appearance so not the Wailing Wall. The Chinese probably used lead paint so not the Great Wall. That actor... what was his name? Oh right "President" Reagan had a hard-on for the Berlin Wall so not that one either. So the only one left is Hadrian's Wall. Of course I'm illiterate so it's hard to appreciate.

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Athanaric <– UIP Hobbit Warrior

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