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Dateline: Sunday, October 4, 2015. (Day 2,875)
Location: James S. Brady Press Room, The White House

Today’s WHPR
1. Madness Week Voting
2. As eRepublik Turns
3. Taxes
4. Aramec

Madness Week Voting
Resoula

Madness week has gone and past, and Mama Lunete has provided us with a very nice recap this past Sunday. Today I will inform you is time to vote for your favorite article from madness week. The winner will receive a 5 gold prize from our grand dictator Aramec. The articles are below.

Franklin Stone

Dio Soryu

Gnilraps

Voting is simple, just state "I vote for" and the name of the author, which can be found as the title of their article. Thank you everyone for your participation! Lets make sure those that took part can get rewarded!

As eRepublik Turns
Alexander_Auctoritas


Let's take a look at what our allies are up to in today's edition of:

As Erepublik Turns

South America is seeing a little action with Bolivia's attack on Peru. Peru secured and then won the next battle. They look to win the next in Chuquisaca and Tarija. With just three regions was Bolivia's attack suicide or training war? Around the corner Brazil has attacked Venezuela. Brazil won the first battle and looks to win again in Llanos. With just two regions, Venezuela will go down quickly.

Elsewhere on the map, the Republic of China has won four out of five in the current war with Japan. Japan has eight regions so I wonder if they will be wiped or if this can drag out. Have fun either way ya'll.



In the lovely British Isles, Portugal has attacked Ireland. Portugal won the first three battles and looks to easily win in Louth. Ireland has four regions. Wonder if they can get a foot-hold somewhere else to avoid being wiped? Hungary is being very bro and helping out with the fun in Western Europe by waging war on the United Kingdom. Hungary has won six battles and is about to attack. This will ultimately help France in the long run, we'll keep an eye on how and when.

When we look at Eastern Europe, we see that Estonia has attacked Finland. Probably a training war, but Finland did secure and is now winning in Pohja-Eesti. Meanwhile Latvia has won somewhere around twenty-five battles in their war with Estonia. It appears to be a training battle again, but I wonder how often these training wars end up in Estonia being wiped. Estonia had Congressional elections which leads me to believe this is all training. I hope everyone involved is having fun. In what I would guess is not a training war, Belarus attacked Russia a couple of days ago. Russia secured and won the ensuing battle. They are about to attack and I assume wipe Belarus, who has but one region. Training war or continual conquest by Russia?

The EMPIRE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is still taking Spain to school. THE USA is seventeen deep in Spain, with no sign of letting the foot off the gas. We will roll in Extremadura. Spain continues to run into France to escape our clutches, but the end is inevitable. Our wonderful French allies are down to four regions, but they continue to fight alongside US to ensure ultimate victory. We salute our ally and thank them for standing strong. France has not only been an escape for Spain, but the target of attacks from the United Kingdom, Croatia, and South Korea. South Korea joined the action four days ago with a successful airstrike, and have won a couple of battles. Croatia has won five battles against France and will win a sixth. The French were able to slow the United Kingdom, but have lost four out of five. Final Analysis: Will the US be forced to clean all of these countries out of France after they are done with Spain? Will Spain be able to hide in France and avoid being wiped? Will this campaign end as a net success for THE EMPIRE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and her allies? I suppose that is for the next PotUS to figure out. Good luck to whomever that will be.

Stay classy, and keep shakin that ASS, eMurica!

Taxes
Mama Lunete

Let’s talk about taxes.

Currently our tax rate sits at 15%. The rate has continually increased for a long time, and it seems that this is the peak rate we’re going to reach for the moment. Now 15% sounds like a lot, but I think it’s at least worth looking at the advantages of lowering taxes to a rate that most people seem to agree is a worthwhile reduction, 12%, and the advantages of of keeping the tax at its current level.

Let’s see, the maximum wage at the time of writing is around $84. 15% of 84 is 12.6, so each citizen who does not work in a party commune earns $71.4 per day. This amounts to roughly $3712.8 per annum. As opposed to this a 12% rate gives an increase of $1.8 per day, and $93.6 per year. It’s not an enormous difference for each individual.

Unfortunately for business, to keep wages the same they must increase their wages for employees, not everyone can run a commune, business is still important. It’s difficult to calculate the net loss a business would have as a result of a tax increase, but needless to say it has causes them to become less profitable, and some to close altogether. Although of course, these businesses were used to operating at a far lower than 15% tax rate at 8% for a long time, then 10%.

Is this made up for by the added security brought to the US defence budget? Well that’s something you’ll have to decide for yourself. Do we need a defence budget that takes away from individual player’s freedoms? I don’t know honestly. Campaigns are expensive, having an inflated budget gives the government to fight without fear of running out of cash, it’s definitely a valuable asset not to have to budget when you’re trying to manage dozens of other things, but then, who’s going to fight if everyone’s sick of taxes?

It’s a tough decision, but if the game is dying, as has been said many times over, it may be a depressing case of slowing the inevitable decline, or sucking the last dregs of tax money from the tired players before they go, benefiting the country instead of a temporary player. In any case keep the conversation going, you’re all smart people, you can find the right solution.

Aramec
Resoula

It being the end of the term I figured I'd ask our glorious overlord Aramec to partake in a mini-interview to ask him how he feels about his term so far, which has admittedly been "different" than the many we've had before. It's been a very fun term and I hope Aramec's successor can keep the fun going! Enjoy the interview, and enjoy the elections tomorrow!

1. You came into this term planning to make it exciting while not relying on war and excessive spending to do so. This was a very bold move. Do you feel like you've accomplished your goal?

Harvest Festival was very able to involve players in a way we haven't often engaged with. I'm proud of the work Blande and that crew did, and I believe we have been able to show that there are other avenues of interest in the community we have available for enjoyment.

2. Your cabinet was filled with many new faces, as well as some old. Did any stand out exceptionally that you'd like to commend?

Carey has been my rock this whole time. He's a very capable person, and he showed the strong leadership I knew he was capable of. Derphoof has also been invaluable in FA and I cannot go without mentioning the incredible debt this country owes to Colin Lantrip. Media has also been on point, so thank you for that. Really, the whole cabinet did their jobs just as I had hoped.

3. With your term being one of the most exciting that we've had in a while, why do you not want to run for CP again?

Because, as my momma taught me, the time you know to leave a party is when you're at the greatest enjoyment of it.

4. Do you have any advice for your successor?

Communicate, ask questions, and find new ways to engage.

Sincerely, Your Media Team:
Resoula
Alexander_Auctoritas
Mama Lunete