Congressional Tricks 101
ligtreb
As one of the nation's longest-serving congressmen, I feel a duty to explain new or uncommon congressional strategy and tricks when I see them.
I'm sure you know by now that the USA has been under PTO (Political Take Over) threat recently by the AFA (American Freedom Alliance). There are plenty of examples of their congressmen making proposals with the intent of harming our country and the AFA has had anywhere between 25-40% of Congressional seats in recent months.
They tried a trick last month I hadn't seen before and they tried it again shortly before reset last night.
See this:
At first glance, it looks like a harmless lulz proposal. Since congressmen get only two proposals per term and they don't carryover into a new term if unused, many congressmen like to propose fun proposals on the last day that are not intended to pass. There are plenty of examples of lulz proposals.
However, consider the timing of the proposal. It was made shortly before reset on Election Day, meaning that both the previous term's Congress and the next term's Congress will be able to vote on it, given that proposals last 24 hours. The trick is that the new term's Congressmen may not immediately realize the proposal is active since they don't get an alert to vote for it (when any proposal is made, the current congressmen all get an alert bell). So it's easier to get something that would normally be a horrible idea passed without people noticing.
This was attempted last month as well, and almost worked.
I know many of you would like the idea of lower income taxes, but our entire budget goes either to our armed forces or to fund Mutual Protection Pacts (MPPs). A significant reduction of tax revenue would have negative effects on our country.
I'm assuming the AFA congressmen proposing and voting on this know that.
And tricks like these are why we need good congressmen. Ready and active to figure out tricks like these.
***
As of reset, it looks like I have been re-elected into Congress. Thank you all for your support, I greatly appreciate it. Most importantly, it looks like the AFA had their lowest percentage of votes in several months. Thank you all for voting smart.
Comments
Thank you all for reading. I can't believe this will be my 26th Congressional term.
Informative article; would be fun to see it pass this month as I am a firm believer in 'no Taxation without Representation'
Regarding funding as one of our most respected congressmen its silly for you to justify suffocating income taxes for MPP's when most of the national revenue is garnered from the sales (Vat) taxes due to pauper wages.
You're right about VAT as a source of tax income, I simplified this way too much. Editing now.
It's easier if you stick to the lulz proposal dismissal and delete the rest; I for one consider anything above 10% income taxes to be unreasonable at this juncture for a myriad of reasons and would feel poorly if you wandered into unsavory territory; tensions are already mounting regarding the upcoming election.
I'd be open to a discussion on lowering taxes, but think we can agree that to go from 25% to 1% without a serious discussion first is in poor taste.
Discussion is too nebulous a platitude when it comes to taxes; try an open in-game discussion with the REAL budget and you would probably be one of the few eSenators spared from the mob Ligtreb; keep fighting the good fight my friend.
I prefer that there was no tax. The nation's security, doesn't depend on that tax.
It would be really hard to propose MPPs without tax revenue. And not having MPPs would negatively affect our national security.
There are other taxes. Income tax is aimed at the noobs.
Besides, the treasury has 7233 .72 Gold GOLD 196702 .46 USD.
I still don't think that we risk a lot by loosing that tax
^ plus another 2934.43 gold 3497402.72 USD
http://www.erepublik.com/en/economy/citizen-accounts/1384821
and yes, only new players pay income tax! It wouldn't actually be so bad if this passed (which might be partly why it was a tie?), even though clearly the method it was made as was underhanded and that was the point of the article. Thanks for that article ligreb
THE POINT IS... before we wander off into a pointless debate over taxes...
is that the AFA has pulled another dirty trick, because that's how they work.
there's also an Impeachment Proposal-- same principle.
in fact, just look at the Administrations page, you'll see four current live and four more recent dead rogue Proposals.
this is how they work. this is the facts, not the patriotic talk wrapped in a prayer and a flag.
this is the AFA, out to undermine and damage the US.
You mean this trick was previously attempted and almost succeeded?? I see your screenshot. It DID almost work: it was a tie! Wow! Of course that proposal was by I am the Best23 -- a Fed Party Member. Hmmmm..... ???"They tried a trick last month...." ???
The difference between a lulz proposal and a rogue proposal is largely in who is characterizing it.
It is a bit difficult to complain that the AFA does not have its tax proposals debated in congress when you bar them from congress.
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