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Hello, eKentucky (and others who want to learn about congress)!

My name is Patches O’Houlihan, and I am running for the congress in Kentucky under the United States Workers Party.

The past few of my platforms have looked alike, and I will be keeping the same format, as I think it is successful in getting my info across. They were formatted by explaining the powers and tools a congressperson holds in this game, and how I planned to use them. I will be doing the same in the platform, with updates concerning current events, so do not be shocked if there are similarities between my platforms. Some things have not changed, while others have turned around quite a bit. Anyways, here we go!

The biggest update I need everyone to know is that the incumbent from Kentucky, livingabroad, has, unfortunately, quit the game. Before he left, he wrote an article that explains why he left, but also gives me an endorsement. Here it is:
I have won this game

And now for the good stuff:

What I’m all about

Many potential candidates’ platforms sound too much like presidential campaigns. The congress has sufficient power, even over the president (they can impeach the president, checks and balances right there). But, members of congress have been stating their ideas and giving promises that lie in a different realm of power than Congress has (like cleaning the water, lol!).

Here is a list of the “tools” each member of congress is given, and how I intend to use them.

A) Propose a new citizen fee (passed with a majority vote).

A citizen fee is how much money is given to a citizen born in the eUS by the National Treasury. The new citizen fee of the eUS is currently 5 USD, and there is no reason to change it at this time as there hasn’t been in a while (we’ll talk later when baby boom time comes).

😎 Grant citizenship to a foreigner living in the eUS (needs no approval from other congress members).

Because the eUS was invaded down to Florida during WWIII, many citizens of the eUS ended up having their citizenship changed to an enemy nation. This case actually comes up a surprising amount. Most of these players have given up on the game because the system to request citizenship is slow, and somewhat painful. In short, we need our players back. Many congress people save their approvals for US citizens coming back from PTOs. Every congress person, though, gets about 20 approvals (it changes). If there are 50 members of congress, that is already 1000 approvals. Not that many people will be involved in PTOs. I promise to use all of my approvals to get lost US citizens back into the game.

C) Propose a donation from the national account to an organization (needs majority approval).
Recently, we’ve seen some trouble in the monetary markets that required much cooperation between the Executive branch and congress. The dollar peg had to be changed in order to save the stability of our economy. This occurrence only reflects the importance of the following few sections of my platform.
We see this almost every day. It is a regular practice for congress to approve a donation to the CBO (the Congressional Budget Office, one of the congressional committees). These donations are made so frequently because the CBO needs the gold more than the nation account; the nation account only needs it for MPPs (mutual protection pacts) and the citizen fee. The CBO needs the gold to handle the whole military budget (a big endeavor) and to sell currency for gold while trying to maintain the USD to gold exchange rate (this is why when you look in the monetary market, you will often see the CBO selling rather large sums of USD at precisely .03 gold per USD). In short, money is frequently donated to the CBO from the national account because the CBO can more easily use this money, simply because it is an organization. The national account cannot donate money, convert money, and spend money as quickly and easily as the CBO can. If needed, I will use my allotted proposals to keep this regular exchange part of the eUS economic routine.

D) Propose an issuing of money (needs majority approval).

This is also a regular practice of congress . When money is issued, a proposed amount of gold is taken from the national currency and is converted to a proposed amount of the national currency (USD, of course). The newly converted USD then go back to the national account when it will typically be given to the CBO (through proposals) where it will be used as discussed earlier. This is also why when you buy money with gold from the MM, you should buy from the CBO. Let me say that again…BUY YOUR USD FROM THE CBO! This is one of the best and most simple ways to support the government financially (besides donation, of course). The CBO makes money by selling USD at a higher rate than it buys it from the admins. The CBO sells at a rate of 1 USD = .03 gold and in order to buy gold from the admins, it costs the CBO .005 gold per 1 USD. Again, I will use my proposals when needed to uphold this economic system.

E) Propose a new minimum wage (needs majority approval).

The current minimum wage in the eUS is 1.00 USD. Despite the recent increase in wages and prices, the eUS economy still has a long ways to go until it is back to where it used to be. After we started regaining our regions back, a lot of companies came back under eUS control, too many. There aren’t enough active productive workers to keep up with the demand from all of these companies. Too many jobs and not enough workers means that these companies cannot be as productive and thus they cannot afford to pay workers at a higher, more desirable wage. On a side note: if you’re going to start a company, consider purchasing an old one that is already in America. eAmerican companies cannot afford to have the minimum wage raised, and as the price of goods continue to drop, we need to support the economy and help our companies. Raising the minimum wage at the expense of business owners will not solve the eAmerican economy problems. I will not at any point be proposing a new minimum wage; it will need to stay at 1.00 USD.

F) Propose the impeachment of the ePOTUS (ePresident of the United States (needs a 2/3 vote).

I don’t see for any reason why I will need to exercise this congressional power. We have had a string of very successful and powerful presidents for my whole e-life. Although this is one of the ways that congress can check the powers of the eExecutive Branch, trust in the president is also needed in order for our government to function as planned.

The congress also holds checks over the eExecutive Branch in that they must approve many of the president’s proposals before they are actually acted out. Here are the things congress MUST approve:

1) A declaration of war

War in the new world has changed dramatically in the past month yet again. The wars page is often dominated by RWs, which can make things hectic with lots of buffer zones and revenge plots. While this can be done without a declaration of war, I feel as if one will be coming soon. If you log in to the eUSforums, you WILL see bickering in regards to who we should invade next. I do not currently feel that an immediate invasion of one of our enemies is the best idea. An American invasion may be helpful to our citizen retention issues (Americans looooove the fight), but there are much more complex issues to debate. Anyways, this brings me to talk about the congressional power of approving a declaration of war. Our most recent declaration of war (against IRAN,) was unanimously voted yes. War takes teamwork between all levels of government and all nations. First of all, I promise to continue to support America in its battle to free our allies from the likes of PHEONIX, the after-shits of Peace. In general, I will keep an open mind when discussing war and will make sure that which ever side I will take, it will be for the benefit of eUS and its citizens.

2) A declaration of peace

While the war with PHEONIX nations rages on in many different ways, we will still need to think about what remains from earlier in the war, ex-PEACE nations. Since we were formerly at war with these nations, there are still wars open. Many of these “war threads” (as I like to call them) contain a complex web of MPPs (see next section). These webs mean there are plenty of loopholes for enemies to take advantage, many entrances into the eUS. I will approve declarations of peace that will close these extraneous wars and thus securing the defense of our eNation. Besides this point, peace with former enemies is also important. I support the recent alliance with France, and will continue to approve making peace with ex-PEACE nations

3) A mutual protection pact

Mutual Protection Pacts are a very complex and often touchy issue. Despite the (somewhat) recent raising of MPP costs from 30 to 100 gold, MPPs are still seeing popping up all over the place. The cost is the main CON of MPPs. The basic PROs of MPPs include that with MPPs people will be able to fight from the eUS (recently, the majority of battles have either been in Greece because of MPPs or have been RWs) back in the day, MPPs created a larger defense web in America by deterring foreign invaders (hence Hungary’s reluctance to attack Alaska and Washington around a month ago, attacking those regions would have resulted in us with many MPPs, and them with a big ZERO). This same thing happens across the waters, in fact, it is why Poland lost their first invasion battle in the eUK. Considering the cost, I will vote to approve MPPs that will allow the eUS to protect itself and its interest and will provide eAmerican citizens with rank, wellness, and experience.

4) A purchase of construction (hospitals and defense systems, but Q5 hospitals are where the current debate lies)

Here is touchy issue number 2, Q5 hospitals and the fortress system. Many congress hopefuls try to persuade the voters in their states with promises of a Q5 hospital. The eUS at this time (or will any time in the near future that I am anticipating) does not need any more Q5 hospitals. The fortress state system relies on the fact that (ideally) ALL citizens of the eUS live in California, Karnataka, or Florida (though Florida is becoming less and less important). This makes the walls (which is dependent on how many citizens live in that region) of these regions rather large, and costly for the enemy to attack. In short, adding other hospitals would divide citizens to other states and would cut the protection of the walls. All citizens need to move to either California or Karnataka in order to have a successful eLife and in order to be a productive member of the eUS. Having more Q5 hospitals will not magically cause inactive players to become active and fight all of a sudden (despite the recent talks to put Q2s in EVERY state, bye bye moneez). Players need to learn that game mechanics don’t really care where you live in real life. In order for the defense of the eUS and it’s resources to work properly, all citizens need to get to California or Karnataka. PM me if you need help getting there, regardless of whether or not I am elected.

5) A new citizen message

New citizen messages are not totally helpful, but they bring up a good point. Citizen retention is THE premier issue in the eUS. Citizen messages are designed to briefly educate new citizens on how to get past the rough first week and the journey to level 6. I believe that the best way to keep the eUS at its superpower level is by educating the next generation of players and getting them “hooked” on the game. This is why I joined the eUS Mentor Program. Any helpful changes to the citizen message, I will certainly approve. But I will use my political status to improve other programs that help citizen retention. I will continue my work as a mentor and will work with the other congress members and all members of the executive branch in order to find ways, outside of the powers specifically given to congress and the president, to keep our citizens active and fighting for the good of the eUS.

Another point in regards to citizen retention is the baby boom. The need for an American baby boom is becoming exceedingly urgent as we are pushed in to four place in population. We now stand in the immense shadow of Poland, Spain, and Serbia. While educating our masses is important, it is POINTLESS if we cannot find new players to educate. I will work to continue to find ways to get more players in the game, and to prepare America for the baby boom without succumbing to purchasing of more hospitals.

One recent method, started by Emmanuel Cruise, has sparked my attention. Read about it here:
3 clicks to a eUS baby boom

These are the powers of congress, the powers I will work to uphold and exercise. I will be transparent in that I will openly discuss all issues that I am asked about. I will do my best to educate the citizens of the eUS on everything I come to learn and have already learned about this game. In short, I will actively pursue the best interests of the eUS by using the powers given to me as a member of congress. I will check the powers of the eExecutive Branch while working with the president to solve problems and improve the nation. I will never stop working towards a better eUS.

Thank you for reading and for voting,

Patches O’Houlihan
Proud member of the USWP
eKentucky Congressional Candidate

ENDORSEMENTS (in alphabetic order)










Livingabroad
Congressman elect in Kentucky, December 25th 2009

Fionia

Three time former congresslady
Dean of the NAU
Trivia Champ
All-Around BAMF


January, 2009