Join the new world

Two days ago, I posted the Congressional Competency Test, and sent it to everybody who was signed up as a congressman. The next day, I received 28 responses, which was the bulk of it. Today, I got a few more. It's officially the 24th, so I think it's time for me to post what I've gotten. Once again, the questions were:

1. Hot Topic: As you know, we're mirroring irl USA right now. Many citizens, including the USWP are opposed to the war against France. What are you general opinions on the war- for or against? What do you think was our reasoning for getting involved? Do you blame President Dover or General Shafer for poor planning in that war?

2. Economic: There's a lot of talk on the forums about economic issues. How would you gauge our current economic situation, and how would you propose that we improve it?

3. General Policy: Give a brief summery of your beliefs, whether they all coincide with the overall Libertarian ideals or not.

4. General Qualifications: Are you currently signed up on the US forums, and can you devote about an hour a day to policy discussion? Do you use the US IRC channel?


And now, in no particular order, the responses:

Tyrsis - Louisians

1. In general, I am for war, for its various economic benefits (hospitals and experience). I believe America's reasoning to join the war on France was to honour our alliance, ATLANTIS, united under the banner of liberation for Switzerland. I am a supporter of the USA's participation in ATLANTIS and hence, I also supported the war against France.

If I had to choose someone to blame, with all due respect, I would name General Shafer. He is less experienced than President Dover, but the blame does not necessarily rest on either of these two. The entire military structure needs revamping, and we are lucky right now that the necessary changes are being made. That said, some battles are won and lost - in the process, the American economy has become more adaptable and flexible, Switzerland has regained its independence, and the war is yet to be decided. It's far from a failure, and in some time to come, we might be in a position to ask who we should praise.

2. Our current economic situation is "in correction" in my opinion. The market works best when the incentives are crystal clear to business owners, which means allowing prices to move around. This means that we ought to get government out of the way, and to let the market deal with shortages and excesses. Reactionary economic policy will only serve to confuse and distort the economy from its natural optimum potential. We can do better by interfering less.

Additionally, in order to help business adapt to coming changes, changes in economic circumstances must be communicated to the general public. Such changes include: taxes, exchange rates, war, and so on. By official announcement or credible rumour, such anticipation causes expectations, which helps the economy prepare for change. It is the flow of information that gives markets their flexibility. In these cases, we can do better by spreading information and teaching economic principles to the general public.

3. I am a true free-market libertarian. I believe in minimal taxation, because it is the individual who can spend their own money best. The government can only pretend to know what you want, but it is yourself that knows what you want the most. It is the only just, humanitarian and sustainable way to offer everyone the freedom to choose, where they must face the consequences of their actions, positive or negative. Too often, government action punishes everyone for the decisions of few.

I am always for free trade. Any other system is coerced trade. If consumers wish to buy from abroad, then so be it. If it is because our American firms cannot put up, then they should shut down. We cannot let greed kill our country by allowing our own businessmen to charge higher prices to their own fellow citizens. Free trade unlocks a level of competition which will transform greed into a force for good, for suppliers who seek profit from their consumers must work to make them happy, by better quality and lower prices.

I believe in war, because it unlocks an opportunity for citizens who wish to participate in battle. There is no conscription, and battles are a choice. As government is the only entity allowed to provide this service, we should unlock it, wherever the costs do not outweigh the benefits. This is the viewpoint of the economic rationalist, justified by some moral aspects of the libertarian philosophy.

4. I am currently signed up on the US forums, and have participated in Congressional debate as a Congressman in my last term. I try to only post insightful comments, so I may have a lower post count than those who are more inclined to open their mouth. I have spent more than 40 hours on these forums, which represents more than one hour a day over my last term. I spend at least 2 hours a day on eRepublik, as a Captain of the USA Army as well as a Congressman. I am always in the IRC channel, but rarely participate in conversation.


Publius - South Carolina
1. I'm for the war. Militarily, economically, and politically war was needed.

eUSA has an exploding population that lacks age and experience. War allows our new citizens the ability to level up more quickly and strengthens our army by increasing the member's military ranks.

Through fighting and the use of hospitals, citizens can work at almost completely full productivity. This increases our GDP substantially.

This war provided the ability for ATLANTIS to secure it's borders, to free a country that had negotiated in good faith, and to demonstrate that it wasn't PEACE's pushover.

Also, frankly, the game isn't that interesting without the strategy aspect that war provides.

The execution of the war hasn't been perfect. This is understandable as the eUS hasn't seriously gone to war in a long time. While I find the missteps forgivable, I think Benn hasn't done a good job handling criticism. The flap about "fighting bare fisted" and the corresponding changeover in the military pay scale could have been prevented through clearer orders or a pre-emptive newspaper article.


2. My assessment: In flux. We're digesting the productivity formula changes, a huge growth in new, unskilled workers, and changes in supply and demand from wartime pressures.

Much of the economic debate that occurs in congress lacks analytical backing. I'd like to see more formula and figure-based analyses of tax changes in future administrations.


3. The majority of Libertarian beliefs aren't covered by the game mechanics. Where they are relevant, I generally toe the libertarian line.

# I support taxes that are low enough to just cover the expenditures of the government
# Import taxes should be kept low to facilitate competition
# Government ought to keep expenditures limited to regulation of the currency's value and military funding
# I support our military
# War makes the game interesting


4. The IRC channel generally annoys me, but I go on occasionally.
On the forum I have 141 posts and 2 days, 19 hours and 34 minutes logged in time.


Geno Garon - Arkansas
1. For the war. Anyone in the President's position would have made the same mistake, we did not know how the new war module would work. We are also under Atlantis obligation to assist Switzerland and secure Europe.

2. There is no need for alarm. The economy is acting just as it should for high demand times. When the wars subside, the economy will once again balance itself. Government intervention is not necessary. Even if wars continue, the economy will remain balanced; high, but balanced.

3. Decreased government involvement. Tax only enough to take care of the army, and have a little left over to slowly increase the national coffers for emergency. Possibly have government-owned weapons companies to create a stockpile for war.

4. I'm always on IRC. I check the forums regularly.


Caesar II - New York
1.I think war is important for our economy and our army. Normally no one wants to spend money on weapons but now they buy and fight in battles, their rank is getting better and we can finally use hospitals. i think most important reason is other countries' actions. I think planning war is tough business you cant fully be ready for war, i cant blame them.

2.In last 2 days exchange rate decrease from 75(nearly 80) to 65 it is a good thing for me.

3.I usually spend my time in erepublik with my org accounts so economy and prices are important for me most. if i would be a congressman i will spend some of my time in forums and vote what our party desires.

4. i lost my password on usforums, i nearly spend 1 hour in erep but i think only 20 min i can devoe to political decisions. i dont use irc generally.


svartalfr - Colorado
1. i don't care how we got into the war but i do know we need to end it, no i don't blame anyone any part in the war.

2. the economy is not in good shape and no one knows how to fix the problems but as a congressmen i will work to find solution's and will be open to ideas.

3. my stances coincide with the libertarian party.

4. no but will be very soon, most days,no.


Rosebudteg - Washingston
He made a nice little tripod page since his message was over the 2000 character limit. See it here: http://rosebudteg.tripod.com/congressionalcompetencyquiz/
1. I don't believe we should have started this war. On the forums, Benn Dover himself states that this war is to do nothing except strengthen the economy and give people something to do. But, since the trigger was pulled, then we can fight.

In all honesty, there is no loss of life from an eRepublik war, only loss of wellness. I do believe what I've read, that this war was started to try to stimulate the economy and to increase activity and nationalism.

I don't blame Dover or Shafer for poor planning. I believe trying to organize 8000+ people is a monumental task. When someone is paid to take orders, it's much easier. But this is a game. People do what they want to do.

2. The economic situation was caused by the change in productivity calculations. When the calculation was changed, I was still new to the game. I saw the sudden and dramatic drop in my own production. The first thing that I thought of is that one of two things are going to have to happen. Either wages are going to have to drop like a rock, or prices are going to skyrocket. No company owner wants to risk losing their employees by dropping their salary, so prices went up.

This is absolutely choking our new players. I have the unique view of this from the new player side of things. I remember buying as much food as I could keep in my inventory when it was cheap, and when my money and food stores ran out, wondering where my next e-meal was going to come from.

There is no easy way to solve this and I see this is going to take a long time to fix. But I still believe that one of those two things I mentioned above has to happen.

I would propose a nationwide salary drop to bring production costs down. This would make the cost to a company per unit drop and as such, the prices will drop as well. Concurrent to this price drop I would then propose subsidizing export licenses for companies to sell in various countries. By giving these companies, with their new lower prices, the ability to sell their products in other markets, this would force those countries to also drop their prices to compete. This would keep the global currency market from falling because of this radical change in American prices. Another benefit of this plan is a large influx of foreign money to America.

3. Difficult question to answer as it's so broad. So, I'll be sort of broad with my answers.

I believe everyone is good until they prove otherwise.

I believe that being friendly and talking to anyone can always be good.

I believe that people, when given a choice, tend to choose the right thing.

I believe that the people should decide what to do with their money, not the government deciding what to do with your money.

I believe in keeping to ones self when it comes to dealing with other peoples problems.

I believe that blueberry pie can be better than apple pie.

I believe my views are mostly in line with typical Libertarian views.

4. I am a member on the US forums under the same name, I would gladly devote an hour a day to policy discussion.

I have used the US IRC channel.


Vodalian - Illinois
He also hosted his answers off-site: http://freetexthost.com/dpkljwuhmv
1. Hot Topic: As you know, we're mirroring irl USA right now. Many citizens, including the USWP are opposed to the war against France. What are you general opinions on the war- for or against? What do you think was our reasoning for getting involved? Do you blame President Dover or General Shafer for poor planning in that war?

From the beginning I have believed that the temporary increase in GDP is not worth the upfront costs to the treasury and subsequent turbulence in the market which lasts beyond the war. From an economic standpoint, I see very little meaningful gain from waging offensive wars, but from a social perspective, I believe war brings change and adds a little more excitement to the day to day life of Erepublik. So I may not be completely for the war, but I am not completely against it and do not really blame anyone. Sure, I am unhappy the Benn and others were so enthusiastic while totally ignoring warnings by people who understand the costs associated with waging such a war, but he was just one of many chanting the mantra. Additionally, I am also not happy with the amount of money that was apparently squandered. In the end though, this is just a game and like any game, people want excitement and a reason to look forward to logging in the next day.

2. Economic: There's a lot of talk on the forums about economic issues. How would you gauge our current economic situation, and how would you propose that we improve it?

Right now the markets are experiencing turbulence, partially thanks to the war. In my opinion, the government should try to avoid attempting to 'fix it' and should try even harder to not make it worse. I am personally not happy with the uniform RM tax rate increase to 10% across the board that the congress has been pushing through. Though, I was happy to see that the government is starting to cut spending, starting with military pay, this is a big step in the right direction. Once things quiet down militarily, I believe the market will slowly start to normalize, assuming the government lets it. I believe though that many of the problems in the market stem from poor design decisions by the Erepublik programmers and that these problems are magnified and made painfully obvious thanks to how populated and active this country is.

3. General Policy: Give a brief summery of your beliefs, whether they all coincide with the overall Libertarian ideals or not.

I believe in limited government intervention in the markets, and I believe that the tax rates should be consistent, directly based on the market and as low as possible while ensuring that the government can still sufficiently cover expenses. There's no reason for the government to take in more than what it needs to cover expenses and add to savings. I would also like to see more transparency from the federal reserve, as I believe that the ta😜ayers have a right to know what is going on with their money. I am against large government and the creation of redundant agencies, especially ones which are funded using tax dollars.

4. General Qualifications: Are you currently signed up on the US forums, and can you devote about an hour a day to policy discussion? Do you use the US IRC channel?

I read the forums daily and post when I have something meaningful to say, normally in the legislative discussion area to debate proposals. I stoop into IRC every once in a while.


jankems - Georgia
My Update. If anything changes, I'll send an update:
1.) For the moment I'm against the war. My reason for voting yes was to help the economy out. The Swiss independence thing and the ATLANTIS stuff always seemed a weak reason, as really, this is a game where you have full potential to move out of a conquered region back to your original country. We can't very well "oppress" any native peoples. War is generally good for the economy, but there was some mishandling as far as funds go that won the battle at the expense of the country's monetary stability.
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Do I blame President Dover or General Shafer for poor planning? No. For poor execution? Yes. It goes to a deeper issue with the government and transparency, though, which I've been very interested in increasing. I hope to continue on with increasing government transparency. The people need to know how they're being effected.
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2.) Economically we're weaker than we used to be. Food prices have come down about a quarter on the lower priced items, but they're still way too expensive. The new Congress needs to quickly address this issue.
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For a more full plan see:
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http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/georgia-my-congressional-plans-712032/1
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3.) I believe in low taxes, the strong individual market participant, and a lack of government handouts. The government needs enough money to support defense and hospitals, but that will come without high taxes when the economy recovers. For more information please see:
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http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/georgia-my-congressional-plans-712032/1
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4.) I am qualified because I've been here for quite a while, was a mayor in V1, and have been a strong worker. I am one of the few players that will put other players before myself. I am on the forums. I do not frequent the IRC channel, but have dropped by on occasion.


kevmoc - Kansas
1. The war is good for the economy to an extent. However, I think the leadership of the army was misguided. As someone who has recently gone through the National Guard and is now in the Army, I can attest to the confusion that the average grunt faced in the war. Communication in particular should be improved - tell us when to fight and how hard (the only substantive communication I received late in the war was that no more weapons were coming, I was not told whether or not I should fight and how much resources I should devote to fighting). I think if we are to continue in war we need to rethink our communication channels (in particular, there is little to no reason that orders should not come directly from Shafer to everyone in the army, through either shouts, forum posts, or mass emails. Orders should be specific enough to not cause grunts to go "rambo").
2. Our economic situation was turbulent due to several factors: growth and war especially. I think it is clear that the economy is already stabilizing and that the government does not need to introduce excessive taxes to attempt to fix the situation. The primary driver of our economy appears to be foo😛 high food costs necessitates high labor costs and vice versa, leading to overall inflation. I think taxes on food need to stay low to keep food competitive with other products that have demand spikes (such as weapons during a war, or possibly moving tickets after a war).
3. My real life beliefs, in brief, are that the free market is vastly more efficient than the government at allocating resources, with some exceptions in the area of public goods. I have kept that thinking so far in the eUSA, though it seems in the eUSA the government plays a much larger role in day to day life
4. Yes to the forums and policy discussion, and I have not yet used the US IRC channel but can sign up for it if it is required.


Dgauz118 - Minnesota
1. I think we do have to go to war with france cause as far as i know there at war ALOT and they seemed to be attacking weaker countries.
2. I'm not sure what to think about the present economy.
3.well if ur looking for general libertain ideals well then there wouldnt be any laws at all as far were concerned. but if ideals are my own and be leaning toward the democrats little, helping the average guy.
4. yah im apart of the forums and i can commit quiet a bit if i have to, guessing im ganna have to so better get to eh?


Julius Rodvigo - Massachusetts
1. Hot Topic: I'm currently for the war as we are trying to allow the Swiss to gain their Independence. Our most dominant reason for getting involved in the war was to allow the Swiss to revolt against the French, however I do believe that we may be in the war for just a little more then helping the Swiss. I blame neither, running a country with almost 10,000 citizens is a hard job and running an army that requires thousands dollars of funding is hard as well. However, the general planning before the war could have been a little bit better. We should have arranged a way to stockpile weapons and tried to ask all citizens to fight as this would have made the war effort a lot easier.

2. Economic: Our current economic situation could be described as in need of actions instead of words of thought. Currently out low level skill market is bare since the job offers are quickly being taken. I propose that since out country is now in dire need of weapons, iron, diamonds, and food, that we open government created companies who will provide jobs for these lower leveled players so they can get on their feet. The money gathered from the companies can be put into the war effort. With more high level skilled players they can go out into the world to produce products to make our markets boom.

3. General Policy: Since there are many citizens with low wellness and have no idea how to play the game. I propose we send out messages to low leveled players giving them a detailed but quick overview of the game. I know something like this is sent of with the welcoming message, however most players will want to start playing right away. Getting states higher hospital levels is also in need. It should be based around population size as well as their entry into the Union. I also believe that every senator should work hand-in-hand with the other senators as well as Benn Dover, proposing laws and discussing ways to make the country a stronger and better place.

4. General Qualifications: I'm currently signed up to the US forums and I'll try to devote an hour a day to policy discussions on the week. During the weekend I could put in around 2-5 hours for discussing. I use the US IRC channel to keep in touch with everyone and look forward to using it even more.


kingnikolas
1. I feel that we got into the war in the first place to test the activity and strength of eUSA's armed forces in addition to gaining land in Eastern Europe to halt PEACE's expansion. I am generally for the war with preconditions that we strategically organise and communicate how/when/where we will attack and define specific goals so that the people can know what our ultimate goal(s) is/are.
2. Our economy looks generally stable and I feel that the lazziez faire ideals of our party are well in place. The invisible hand is properly regulating prices and supplying adequete jobs to our citizens.
3. I am a Libertarian at heart so I believe that the government should keep a limited role in peoples' lives unless there is a crisis or emergency situation. We should expand as we see fit, keep domestic markets as our first priority by keeping import taxes high (unless we have a supply problem), and make sure we keep an organized, goal oriented government presence.
4. yes, yes, not really but I could if I need to.


donutdude - Florida
1. Hot Topic: As you know, we're mirroring irl USA right now. Many citizens, including the USWP are opposed to the war against France. What are you general opinions on the war- for or against? What do you think was our reasoning for getting involved? Do you blame President Dover or General Shafer for poor planning in that war?

I am slightly for the war because of the economic benefits that It gives to our country. The war Increases demand for Weapons and Gifts, which in turn helps our Small Businesses.(although this is the cause of our current inflation crisis, I believe it will deflate once the war is over.) Another added bonus of the war is you get experience points and up to 50 wellness basically for free, if you fight and then use the Hospitals in your region.

People will say that the reason we got involved was because the French invaded a peaceful country(the Swiss) and with them being our ally we are supposed to defend them against the French. This is not true, the reason we got into this war was because Benn Dover had been promising a war for some time and people were getting anxious for one. He just used the French attack as an excuse. I kind of see this war as a training exercise for eUSA. So far it has showed us that we need to redo most of the Military system.

I’m not going to point fingers for who’s fault it is that this war has gone sour. Honestly you could blame anyone. But I am more of a forward thinker. Hopefully what we will get out of this war is a better understanding of our Military system and gather some ideas on how we can fix it.

2. Economic: There's a lot of talk on the forums about economic issues. How would you gauge our current economic situation, and how would you propose that we improve it?

Like I said before once this war is over I believe our currency will deflate. I am a strong advocate for NO MINIMUM WAGE. Yep that is right I want absolutely no minimum wage. All that the Minimum wage does is inflates our currency and makes it harder for us to compete against other countries. If elected I will give a more detailed explanation of my ideas on this on the forum and I will propose a law to the Congress regarding it.


3. General Policy: Give a brief summery of your beliefs, whether they all coincide with the overall Libertarian ideals or not.

My Ideas generally coincide with the Overal Libertarian mentality/ideals. If elected I will implement most of the Libertarian views on how I vote in Congress.

4. General Qualifications: Are you currently signed up on the US forums, and can you devote about an hour a day to policy discussion? Do you use the US IRC channel?

Yes I am currently Signed up on the Us Forums, and I am able to devote about an hour a day to policy discussion. And yes I do use the US IRC channel very frequently.


HeadmistressTalia - Montana
As seen in her article:
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/my-response-to-the-congressional-questionnaire-711913/1
1. Hot Topic: As you know, we're mirroring irl USA right now. Many citizens, including the USWP are opposed to the war against France. What are you general opinions on the war- for or against? What do you think was our reasoning for getting involved? Do you blame President Dover or General Shafer for poor planning in that war?

Our official reasoning for the war was to help liberate Switzerland, and to help our economy. Whether these are good reasons or not doesn't matter now - we're in the war. And I believe in finishing what you start. Simply because we didn't overwhelmingly win after a couple of days is no reason to declare failure now. Wars take time, and suffer setbacks. We need to develop patience and accept that this will take some time.

I do think the initial battles could have been handled better. There was a definite breakdown in communications and a failure to provide supplies.These problems are being worked out, but I'd like to see a concrete plan for improvement. Right now we're more in the finger-pointing stage. Enough of that, is doesn't matter who's fault it is, let just get things better.


2. Economic: There's a lot of talk on the forums about economic issues. How would you gauge our current economic situation, and how would you propose that we improve it?

No one knows what our economic situation is and as everybody tries to "fix" it things are getting more out of whack. I believe in the free market which means the government should sit back and let the economy sort itself out. Look - we have over 8 thousand ecitizens. Does any one person or even a group of people actually expect to figure out how these people will behave and what's "best" for them? The point of markets is they process the increased information better than we can - and they work themselves out. Usually things just get crazier when we try to correct the market's natural fluctuations.

That being said, the government does have a role - that of taxes. Taxes should be low - enough to pay for our military and their supplies, and for infrastructure costs. That's it. No mucking in monetary valuations. No protectionism. No attempts to force people to "do the right thing" by taxation policies. Just tax enough to support legitimate government roles.


3. General Policy: Give a brief summery of your beliefs, whether they all coincide with the overall Libertarian ideals or not.

I believe people have the right to do what they want with their lives and their property as long as it doesn't infringe on other people's rights to live their lives the way they want with their property. (Man that sentence is a doozy!) That means the government too - get the heck out of my way, I can do better without your help.

I'm neither pro nor anti war. I do believe in winning though - once we're in a war, I want to kick tush.

I'm adamantly opposed to cheating. In this game or in RL, be honest and straightforward. I know that seems hard to accept in politics, but I think the world would be a better place if we stopped being weasels simply because everyone else is.


4. General Qualifications: Are you currently signed up on the US forums, and can you devote about an hour a day to policy discussion? Do you use the US IRC channel?

I am on the forums - I don't post much because I don't feel like repeating what's already been said.
I try to avoid IRC - I find it usually devolves to silliness. Forums give you a chance to think about what you're going to say - IRC tends to encourage a response NOW, rather than a thought-out response later.


Cooper Jackson - South Dakota
War- I am for and against the war. I believe the war has been good for our economy and has bought up a lot of the goods not being used on the market. This was something I had been proposing a long time ago, to help spur our economy when it was down (I would have wished for a controlled war however, but you can't always have your way). I also have pushed for more resources to soldiers throughout the war along with many other members of the eUSA Army. I believe our army is useless and not being used properly if we can not supply them with the basic need of weapons to fight. The main problem with the war at this point is planning. We need to strike at the same time, within a few minutes of each other(UK, Canada, Spain, Sweden) to fully use our force against them. We outnumber them by a huge amount, but when we only attack individually, they are able to mount a large resistance. We also need to keep the pressure on, so when we were getting counter-attacked, we needed to also start attacking in a new region, spreading them out until they collapsed.
Economic- Our economic situation is improving at this point. The dollar continues to become stronger in the last few days, but we still need more companies in the US and that also export worldwide. I believe in mostly a free market with a little bit of help from the government. I would like to see taxes set at a flat rate across the board in all areas and at a reasonable amount. I would also like to see the government help fund(loans) new companies in all areas of business.
I am currently signed up on the US forums and devote more than 1 hour daily reading through all of the policy discussion. I do not always post my opinions, but when I feel it it necessary I do.


Enzo Capizzi - Vermont
1. I was against the war from the get go; my personal philosophy on foreign policy is non-interventionism. War has been disaster for the eUS, it has wrecked our economy it was meant to save and far too much money has been squandered on a war meant only to extend eUS influence, violently. I strongly believe that if we can curtail our hegemonic foreign policy of today, we can expect a safer eAmerica of tomorrow. However, my views of non-interventionism cannot be confused with not supporting our troops. I am fully aware that a excellently equipped, well-payed and battle-ready military is needed in order protect the eUS at home. Simply because we have a powerful army to protect ourselves does not mean we have to march it to every foreign capital we happen to pick on the globe.

2. I will not, and refuse to blame this economic down turn on the war. eAmerica's economy was stagnant before the war and now it is falling at an increasing rate. What we need now is a return to sound money; eAmericans need to be sure that their hard earned salaries and investments are protected, and the only way to produce sound money is through increasing our gold stock and cutting back production of the dollar. Taxes are another key issue in this economic downturn, and the fact of the matter is taxes solve nothing. We need to make sure that the pay people receive for their hard work doesn't get sapped away for government spending. As such, I have made it a campaign promise that I will not vote to raise taxes (unless absolutely necessary for national defense).

3. I suppose that most generally I would be defined, politically, as a libertarian (thus my association with the Libertarian Party). Moreover, I believe in the absolute necessity in freedom for the individual. I don't believe in working for the "common good" and I don't, a will not, do my work for "the people"; I will do it for the individual eAmerican, knowing that each law that I vote for or propose will be in the interest of everyone, not the rich or the poor, but everyone equally.

4. Yes, I am currently signed up on the US Forums and I am frequently on the US IRC channel. Besides that I already spend more than one hour each day looking over articles both on and off eRepublik and its forums.

Meanie Ferret Man - New Mexico
1. I think the war was unjust and should be ended immediately, with an apology to France. The war was imperialistic, and should never have happened. And I do not blame Dover and Shafer for poor planning, however I do blame them from getting us into the war in the first place.

2. I think that there is not much of an issue with the economy, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

3. I think that taxes should be reduced to as little as possible, and that the only kind of war fought should be to defend our own borders; no imperialism, and no butting into other country's business like the real USA.

4. I recently discovered the US forums, and hope to be active. I can devote about an hour a day to policy, but this may be less on weekdays and more on weekends. I would use the IRC channel only if planned in advance, as the forums are fine to me.


Dragonknight - Arizona
1. I believe that the war generally was a good idea. Our economy was mired in a period of low-demand and the war certainly stimulated it in this area (although some would say too far). I think that beyond this, it was most likely an effort to undermine PEACE and in conjunction with our allies, to strengthen ATLANTIS's position in Europe and globally. As for planning, I think more could have been done to educate the fighting population. Shouts and snippets in newspaper articles on the first day of the war could have been done better, but overall they did okay. The worst thing about the current war is the lack of direction as to what military pay is for. I'm sure many solders thought it was for personal use, not for the buildup of funds for weapons and such, and this one can blame on the organisational team.
2. The current economic situation is a reversal of the situation we saw immediately post-V1. High demand, reduced production are all driving up prices, and this is too be expected. Really, there is no reason for the government to intervene to 'fix' things, these high prices encourage company owners to produce and sell more and once the war is over rash war-time measures to 'fix' the economy would likely have damaging long-term implications.
3. I believe in limited government, that means no interventionism whether it be in the currency or in industries. I believe in the lowest levels of taxation possible in a balanced budget, and I believe that government needs proper congressional oversight and debate to prevent a fallback into corruption and nepotism.
4. Yes I am signed up on the forums, and I think my record their stands for itself 🙂. I use IRC, but less so than the forums, conversations there tend to ehm lead to less than serious topics.


Finbar Azulos - North Carolina
1.I voted for the war and still support it. Many see this war as Atlantis or the eUS as picking on France. What it truly is however, is a war against PEACE, an alliance that is contently gobbling up small nations and refusing to set them free. This war was about freeing Switzerland (discussed in Congress long before France). This war had a second goal of destabilizing PEACE. Neither of this goals call for the long-term occupation of French lands.
The reason for our loses has to do with how MPPs work and our lack of tanks. Hopefully this war served to raise our ranks across the board, partially solving the tank problem. While things certainly could have been planned better, I wouldn't recommend going on a witch hunt.
2. Right now our economy is recovering from war. Already our dollar is becoming stronger. Much of this has to do with the fact that gold isn't been spent in mass to fight a war. I think the currently proposed tax codes will help the gov't treasury will still being low compared to other nations. The economy is on the right track, we just need to have patience.
3.Taxes: I believe we should keep them low while still funding the government. I thing our current suggested tax codes achieve this.
War: I believe that nations should be free. I support actions to defend ourselves and allies. We also should be prepared to give freedom to those nations that are being oppressed. The war with France was to serve to free Switzerland and destabilize PEACE which subjugates smaller countries.
Market: I believe the market will eventually fix itself. It won't be a quick process, I believe the government should keep its intervention to a minimum and only in extreme circumstances.
4. I constantly look at the forums. If I have a strong position on a topic I make sure to voice in. I also use the US IRC channel extensively.


Cerebus Wyndsor - Pennsylvania
1: I am for the War against France. As part of an alliance that voted to go to war, we must stay the course. I believe that our involvement in the war stems from France giving two accounts of the Switzerland issue; publicly saying Switzerland would be free, but privately planning to keep them under French control. Honestly, I don't blame anyone for "poor planning." As our first large-scale war, there are bound to be hiccups. As a National Guard member I always find myself well equipped and given precise orders on fighting.

2. The current war-time economy is so much different than a peace-time economy. Efforts right now should be focused on items that will benefit the war, such as weapons, gifts, and food. Supply and demand should win out with any economy, and an abundance of these items, will aid in lowering prices and renewing our economy. We also need to focus on getting people to setup companies that make use of their regional commodities. We don’t need to legislate what companies are made, but ensure that owners who promote their regional resources are compensated.

3. Personally, I think we need to support all policy measures by avoiding complete governmental intervention. Certainly the war effort was started by a Congressional vote, but I firmly believe that a government can get its citizens to be supportive by "guiding" them in a general direction, without "pushing" them. A government that is unified in an effort to make things better, than the people will follow. Simple governmental parameters such as small, incremental changes, allow people to move and interact freely, allowing for greater growth. It only takes a small push one way or another, whether it be a 1% change on a certain tax, or a small incentive for small-business owners, to make a gigantic change!

4. I am currently signed up on the US Forums and am available during the day give my positions on various policies. I also use the US IRC channel under the name Cerebus_Wyndsor.


Angus McScott - North Dakota
1. I feel the President and the General are responsible for our involvement in the war, however, I do not believe the planning was as poor as others. The war and our involvement was unnecessary but once in, we should have been in to win.
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2. First, there are too many States without Hospitals which is making full recovery difficult. I would like to see more encouragement in that direction. I would also like to see more local development of resources.
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3. I am a complete Libertarian. I oppose taxation of income and investment returns. I support complete freedom. I am a strict constitutional constructionist, and I oppose unnecessary involvement in foreign war. I would like to see more investment and resources taken advantage of within these United States. All ventures here should be privately owned.
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4. Yes, yes and yes.


Dubi - Virginia
Overall, I am a strong supporter of the war against France. I have read all of the supposed causes for the war, and whether it is due to freedom for Switzerland, war-mongering, profiteering, or just simply wanting some battle to spice up eRepublik, I'm still for it. War makes the game interesting, allows our soldiers to increase their strength and rank levels, and drives sales of many of the industrial goods that in times of peace suffer. As the Captain of India Company, I feel that our soldiers have done a good job, and have been very dedicated to the task at hand. I do not blame either Benn or Shafer for poor planning, as this is our first true foray into the war scene. Were mistakes made? Absolutely. Our soldiers have suffered due to inadequate resources and communication, and we have lost all of the ground that we have gained. On the other hand, we are now more experienced, and can learn from our mistakes and be stronger in upcoming battles.

2. Our current economic situation is improving quickly during lulls in battle. The dollar has strengthened significantly in the last few days, which attests to the fact that war impacts the economy, but its impacts can be overcome quickly. At one point, the USD has dipped from 40:1 all the way to 80:1 versus Gold, but it has quickly gained its strength back. 2.In order to improve our economic situation in times of war, I believe that we need government owned weapons companies that can stockpile weapons in times of peace, and then release them to our soldiers during war. This will not only aid our soldiers and our chances for victory, but keep the prices of weapons down, as other companies will wish to compete with the low prices of government weapons. In addition, we need to keep up the policy of not paying soldiers during peacetime, for it adds too much USD into the market, and is a drain on the national economy. That money could be better spent supplying our troops in times of war.

3. Overall, I believe in a government that mostly allows the people to run their daily lives in their own fashion. There must be strong government in some circumstances, such as military and economic policy, but government should not control the minutia of every day life. Taxes should be kept at a reasonable level to allow new citizens to flourish, and our companies to be able to make profits. Too much government control will work against the people, and should be closely guarded.

4. I am very active in eRepublik, having started in beta and worked all but one day since my "birth." I am the Captain of India Company, and am constantly on IRC or in-game. This has allowed me to be a recognizable figure within eUSA, and shown my dedication and support. I am a strong candidate, with the best intentions of the community in mind at all times.


hiispie2 - Florida
1. Hot Topic: As you know, we're mirroring irl USA right now. Many citizens, including the USWP are opposed to the war against France. What are you general opinions on the war- for or against? What do you think was our reasoning for getting involved? Do you blame President Dover or General Shafer for poor planning in that war? i believe that we are doing this war to show our power to PEACE and this war with France has got to end. It's going no where and i blame General Shafer and Presiden Dover It's there jobs to plan the attack and they didnt do a good job

2. Economic: There's a lot of talk on the forums about economic issues. How would you gauge our current economic situation, and how would you propose that we improve it? i would if i got elected lower taxes on import license and of course i would try to lower taxes.

3. General Policy: Give a brief summery of your beliefs, whether they all coincide with the overall Libertarian ideals or not. Lower taxes for all,No RWAR, we need more people to work and not just sit there. companies right now need a help. Economy should be run by the people who do the work or own the companies

4. General Qualifications: Are you currently signed up on the US forums, and can you devote about an hour a day to policy discussion? Do you use the US IRC channel? i dont use the IRC channel but im on the forums and my profile almost 3 hours a day doing nothing but looking at the current events and yes i do have a lot of time im on winter break so i have lots of time.


Cerebus Wyndsor - Pennsylvania
1. I am for the War against France. As part of an alliance that voted to go to war, we must stay the course. I believe that our involvement in the war stems from France giving two accounts of the Switzerland issue; publicly saying Switzerland would be free, but privately planning to keep them under French control. Honestly, I don't blame anyone for "poor planning." As our first large-scale war, there are bound to be hiccups. As a National Guard member I always find myself well equipped and given precise orders on fighting.

2. The current war-time economy is so much different than a peace-time economy. Efforts right now should be focused on items that will benefit the war, such as weapons, gifts, and food. Supply and demand should win out with any economy, and an abundance of these items, will aid in lowering prices and renewing our economy. We also need to focus on getting people to setup companies that make use of their regional commodities. We don’t need to legislate what companies are made, but ensure that owners who promote their regional resources are compensated.

3. Personally, I think we need to support all policy measures by avoiding complete governmental intervention. Certainly the war effort was started by a Congressional vote, but I firmly believe that a government can get its citizens to be supportive by "guiding" them in a general direction, without "pushing" them. A government that is unified in an effort to make things better, will get the people to follow. Simple governmental parameters such as small, incremental changes, allow people to move and interact freely, allowing for greater growth. It only takes a small push one way or another, whether it be a 1% change on a certain tax, or a small incentive for small-business owners, to make a gigantic change!

4. I am currently signed up on the US Forums and am available during the day give my positions on various policies. I also use the US IRC channel under the name Cerebus_Wyndsor.


joeyhens1 - Maryland
1. I am sort of for the war. I think it has gone on long enough, but we don't HAVE to stop it. It isn't hurting us, and it isn't helping us.

2. We defiantly have an economic problem right now. Food prices are through the roof, and it's only comming down by a little bit. But as a Libertarian, I think the government should not interviene.

3. Taxes: They should be as low as possible. To have a good economy taxes should be low
Citizen Fee: It should be updated as the cost of food goes up and down. It should be enough to buy a days worth of food.
Mutual Protection Pacts: Should be approved whenever they are voted. It's always good to have peace.
Minimum wage: It should be $1. Most employers pay more then that anyway.

4. I am (obviously) a member of the forums and am on the IRC, normally just watching and not commenting.


denzins - Wisconsin
1. The War
War used to be glorified, soldiers were heroes. Back in WWI and WWII hundreds of boys under 18 enlisted saying they were of age. Things changed when the media started covering wars, look at vietnam. The way we live today people see wars as pure evil especially if they don't hear good news everyday. It seems that's the way this war is going. There were very few people who were speaking out against it when we had conquered our first region and most of them were just comments in the bottom of articles against prolonged occupation. Now things have turned against us (mainly because the admins in their infinite wisdom decided only defenders on their territories can have allies join the battle.) Which is the main reason we have lost every battle lately. Some people have blamed poor planning but that has very little to do with our current situation. We have been on the defensive and its hard to plan for attacks and supply everyone when people don't communicate well with their leaders. I am in the eArmy and I receive orders and follow them, I stay try to stay active in IRC and on the eUSA forums to get information, the majority of citizens do not. This is not our leaderships fault you can't make people do it. I am still for the war. I see it as if you want to its nice to have the option. If not it has very little effect on you. Sure it has caused an increase in the price of gifts and weapons, but the weapons increase doesn't affect pacifists. The gift increase can be a problem but people can ofset this buy fighting once and then using the hospital, which if in a region with Q4 or 5 is much better than buying gifts because its a quick 40-50 wellness. We also lack a strong military with a lot of experienced soldiers like some of the others countries involved in this war. This is the best way of gaining experience. Many of the other countries have lots of highly skilled soldiers who have seen lots of battle. One just has to way the positives and negatives.

2. Economy
The current economic situation is hard to judge since we have never had a stable economy since the release of V1. I like to judge the economy on how hard it is for new players. I know its tough for newer players to raise their wellness and such the first few days but it seems that if they stick with it jobs with skill 2 pay enough for them to buy higher quality food or a gift each day. And when they reach level 6 they get 5 gold which should help most of them buy houses or gifts. One can't expect to run a company after 2 weeks of playing. Each market has to be looked at individually and evaluated, but I'm a strong believer that the market will balance itself. If a good sells for high price more companies will start in that field, then price wars will bring down the price of that good.

3. General policy
I strongly believe that government should be small, fiscally responsible and not infringe on the rights of its people. It should stay out of markets except with regulations to catch corruption. Many of the problems in the RL USA are because of a large government that answers to no one, and ignores its citizens. Its what I truely believe. Now that doesn't have much bearing on eUSA since being in congress doesn't give someone the power a real congressperson has but I still focus on doing what I think is best for the majority of ecitizens with every vote I cast on each proposal.

I currently visit the eUSA IRC channel and eUSA forums at least once a day (won't be around much for the next few days for X-mas) and am willing to answer any questions or provide help if possible to anyone. Thanks for your time.



Last but not least
Emerick - Maine
1. I supported the war in the beginning, and it's not something I regret. We entered the war to support Switzerland, and I think that with our efforts, we secured a free Switzerland. When people ask me to define this war, I say that it's a "karma's a bitch" action. According to our extensive research, France didn't like the idea of a group of other countries ruling it's territories, therefore, they should happily set Switzerland free.

Yes, we lost every battle after a certain point, and yes, we ran into some economic issues. Those are to be expected, mostly the economic hit. Also to be expected, especially in America, is a sudden, and forceful backlash. I don't call these people traitors, but I do call them dicks, pansies, and mostly opportunists. It seems strange to me that there was no anti-war sentiment until we lost two battles. I can believe that these people felt that we were declaring war for the wrong reason from the beginning, but only if they had said something before. There were three votes against the war when it was declared, but only Tiacha noted her dissent in the congress debates. Note that both of the major articles' authors, John Jay and Rocco Baldelli, were congressmen at the time.

All in all, I'd say that the war was satisfying and fun. I'm glad that we got the experience, now if we could only do it right next time.

2. The economy is definitely on the up and up. I never would have imagined how drastically everything would change in two days when I wrote this question.

3. I'll admit that I'm not a straight and arrow, true Libertarian. I can imagine a world with some government intervention, sue me. That said, of course I think that zero taxes are the way to go.

Economics aren't my forte, though. My biggest strength is social issues. Now, this is mainly an economic simulator, if you consider the game mechanics. One thing you can't code is human interaction. We're given newspapers and a forum, and we make our national forum, which I'm an administrator on. I admin our forum with free speech on my mind at all times. I don't lock topics, I don't move topics, and I barely ever delete posts. I believe in free speech in the purest sense. I don't subscribe to negative liberties bullshit. I think that everyone has the right to say whatever cruel or unusual thing they want to, and whoever wants to has the complete right to respond accordingly.

I'm also helping write the constitution, along with Publius, a fellow Libertarian, and several other people. The effort is spearheaded by NoneSuch, from UCP. I'm finding a lot of opposition, but I'm fighting against giving direct control to the government as much as possible. I do believe that the government should interfere in our personal lives as little as possible, especially when it comes to new players. We've all had a tough time getting our feet wet, I know I did. The entire game was perplexing to me. It took me about a month to get the whole thing down....but to me, that's part of the fun of a game. The new smell, the sense of wonder as you look around, trying to figure things out are all part of the gaming experience. I really disagree with a lot of new player programs out there, but I feel that there's so much opposition, that there's not much I can do. I do try to limit them as much as I can, though.

4. I use the forums, as I said above, I administrate them, I use the IRC channel, and I have been using them a lot. I barely ever go to any other websites any more. eRepublik is taking up a lot of my internet time. So yeah. I meet that criteria