osouless
Congressperson
What's Next?
Posts: 42
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Post by osouless on May 14, 2018 21:33:29 GMT -5
Question 8: What experience do you have that makes you the best and most qualified choice to be President of Virtual Congress? I would say the only other candidate who has as varied and immense qualifications as i do would be Wvamerican. We both have great resume's, but our political ideologies differ a great deal. It is my opinion that we would make the best two choices to be the President, and that as leaders we actually would mirror each other a great deal, despite the aforementioned political differences.
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osouless
Congressperson
What's Next?
Posts: 42
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Post by osouless on May 14, 2018 21:34:46 GMT -5
Question 9: As far as I know, none of you have chosen a Vice Presidential candidate yet. What are you looking for in a VP (and if you have picked or want to announce here, why did you pick your candidate). I'm looking for a VP that will engage with me on every level of the presidency as a partner rather than a "little sister/brother" role. Preferably my VP would be a political balance to myself and she/he and i could debate one another so as to best lead the VC.
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osouless
Congressperson
What's Next?
Posts: 42
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Post by osouless on May 14, 2018 21:46:41 GMT -5
Question 10: Is there a political stance that you want to make sure you get across to voters before the election? You may now answer questions. I have several hard-line opinions, but i am willing to compromise on nearly every issue. I can't remember who said it, but you campaign in poetry, you govern in prose. For me, that translates to being a legislator versus being an executive. I am a poetic congressman, but i'll be a president that sticks to prose.
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Post by wvamerican on May 14, 2018 22:11:38 GMT -5
Question 6: Healthcare was arguably the biggest issue in both VC and America under the Obama Administration. What health care system do you think would work best for America, and why? Healthcare is a very important and intriguing issue. I have studied health economics and behavioral economics and I can tell you that the main culprit for our problems is not the system itself, though it does need a major overhaul. The primary reason for the high cost of healthcare is the poor American health. We far outpace those countries with lower cost of per capita healthcare in preventable chronic illnesses such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, smoking usage, and binge drinking. I have a comprehensive plan that sticks behind the basic premise of trying the two things that we have yet to try thus far in this country: federalism and the free market. I divide healthcare reform into three major areas: increasing the supply of health providers, reducing the demand for healthcare, and fostering an environment for competition and innovation. First, we need to pressure states to pass occupational licensing reform to make it easier for nurses to enter the market. I would push to allow more doctors to be trained and to increase the transparency of the market. Further, we need to end the practice of monopolizing hospitals in local communities and preventing new suppliers from entering the market. Second, if Americans lived healthier and exercised preventative practices, we wouldn't have as high of costs. However, we cannot force people to live healthier. What we can do is educate the public about preventative measures, healthier diets, and ways to exercise. Thirdly, we need to push for a more competitive environment that also upholds the values of the Tenth Amendment. States are the laboratories of democracy. They have the means of experimenting more than the federal government can. We need to repeal the PPACA and provide grant funding to establish high risk pools, block grant Medicaid to the states, open up the sale of insurance across state lines, and eliminate the essential care services. I disagree with Mr. America's healthcare plan for it allocates Medicaid grant funds arbitrarily rather than based on population. I also believe that Medicare-for-All would bankrupt the country. Finally, Medicare is bankrupting the country. Medicare Plan A, Plan B, and Plan D have unfunded liabilities of close to $45 trillion over the horizon. We cannot afford this program and we need to open discussions on comprehensive reform.
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Post by wvamerican on May 14, 2018 22:21:45 GMT -5
Question 7: Foreign policy is an area where the POTUS exercises a lot of their power. What is your philosophy on international relations, and how would you treat specific issues in the realm of foreign policy, such as the Middle East, China, Russia, etc. This is an area that Skinner and I's education will come in handy. I have an economic background in international economics, while he has studied international relations. Together we will apply the lessons we have learned to the realm of foreign policy. We consider the greatest threat to the near future to be the Russian Federation. We would uphold current sanctions and pursue opportunities for additional sanctions in the future. We both support withdrawing the United States from the Iran agreement, and increasing the pressure on the regime. We both support the state of Israel and the Trump Administration decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem. We support the current cautious approach of the Trump Administration towards North Korea. Regarding China, I believe that the PRC is the greatest long-term threat to the United States. We need to file a complaint with the WTO for the nation's illegal export practices. We need to label China as a currency manipulator. I would move the Navy into the South China Sea to prevent further expansion. Finally, I would confront China over its sponsorship of cyber theft. Finally, I would investigate whether to formally recognize Taiwan. I support maintaining a reasonable non-interventionist approach to foreign policy. I prefer soft-power over hard-power when dealing with diplomacy. I want to pressure NATO members to reach the 2% threshold.
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ranger13
Vice President of the United States
Vice President and current Presidential candidate
Posts: 14
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Post by ranger13 on May 14, 2018 22:24:54 GMT -5
To start, you may post your opening statements Hello VC. I have been apart of vc for about 15 months now and I have served as secretary of the treasury, speaker, and now as Vice President. I have seen the ups and the downs of vc over the last 15 months, but I am very optimistic for the future of vc and the potential that this new platform will give us. I believe this is a great opportunity to rebuild vc from the ground up and I would be honored to help lead vc through this.
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Post by wvamerican on May 14, 2018 22:25:13 GMT -5
Question 8: What experience do you have that makes you the best and most qualified choice to be President of Virtual Congress? I am one of the original founders of the Virtual Congress. I was here during its peak and during both the initial and subsequent declines in support. I have served in all three branches of the Congress and have served in both a legislative and administrative capacity. I agree with osouless that we are best prepared to take the helm during these turbulent times. With Skinner by my side, we have nearly eight years of experience with the VC. I have outside experience as well in non-profit and for-profit management and as an economist.
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Post by wvamerican on May 14, 2018 22:30:32 GMT -5
Question 9: As far as I know, none of you have chosen a Vice Presidential candidate yet. What are you looking for in a VP (and if you have picked or want to announce here, why did you pick your candidate). I am honored to have Skinner by my side once again as we seek to lead the VC out of its current slump. During the last time we led the VC, the Congress had been going through a four month decline in activity. During the eight months of our leadership, we saw a return of membership to over 100 voters and activity return to near beginning levels. Once again we find the VC facing several challenges, and once again Skinner and I ask you for the chance to help make the Virtual Congress great again!
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ranger13
Vice President of the United States
Vice President and current Presidential candidate
Posts: 14
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Post by ranger13 on May 14, 2018 22:33:05 GMT -5
Question 1: VC has gone from nearly 100 active members at it's peak, to 50 recently, now down to 25 on this new website. How will you attract more members to a new vc? Having an active leader is key to maintaining an active and growing vc. If elected president, I would maintain an active administration and would work to remained connected to vc and its members. I would also like to have more relevant and useful cabinet positions that would improve the experience of vc and eventually bring more aspects to vc. The greatest way to increase and retain members is to keep vc active and interesting, and as president I would work to accomplish that.
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Post by wvamerican on May 14, 2018 22:36:51 GMT -5
Question 10: Is there a political stance that you want to make sure you get across to voters before the election? You may now answer questions. I will govern my entire term by the text of the Constitution by the philosophy of the Friedrich A. Hayek. Though I am idealistic, I am not afraid to sit down and negotiate. Those who are still around from my previous presidency, such as osouless and skinner, can attest to my ability to be bipartisan. Now more than ever we need to work together, regardless of ideology, to restore the honor that VC once had and make VC great again!
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ranger13
Vice President of the United States
Vice President and current Presidential candidate
Posts: 14
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Post by ranger13 on May 14, 2018 22:38:19 GMT -5
Question 2: With VC being reset, we know longer have any official cabinet positions. What positions would you support creating if you are elected the first President of this new virtual congress? I would support positions that would contribute to the experience of vc and that help the current administration function better. I really like the treasury position and would like to see a new budget created for the new vc. I also believe some sort of justice department position will be needed such as the attorney general and/or FBI director. If vc were to grow larger in the future, I would even like to see advisory roles created such as economic advisor and national security advisor. With more growth in membership, there are endless possibilities for possible positions that could enhance the experience of vc.
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TheSpookyGhost
Congressperson
Running for President of Virtual Congress; Founder and Current Leader of the Gateway to Sanity Party
Posts: 45
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Post by TheSpookyGhost on May 14, 2018 22:50:24 GMT -5
To start, you may post your opening statements I apologize for not being here at the onset of the debate, but we were never given notice of when exactly the debate would take place, so that cannot be helped. I must also comment that the format is exceedingly chaotic, and it is difficult to follow the positions of any one candidate. I recommend a rule in the future that all candidates must edit their answers into one post so that we don't have all the responses mixed together. As you all must see, I have great ideas, the best. Vote for me to lead VC into the new era. Now, given how many great opening statements I made during my past campaigns, I'll just copy my latest one from SOH here. I consider it my most brilliant speech thus far: America has been at war with itself for close to a century. This is a war fought without guns, but countless tragedies involving guns and other weapons have been a result. On one side are patriotic Americans fighting to hold on to the America they grew up with and love. On the other are cultural Marxists and actual Marxists. For the past century, the Marxists have set the agenda, led by a global deep state cartel funded by the likes of George Soros. They have all the financial and political institutions of the 'Western democracies' at their behest and full control over the world's media. Their destruction of the nuclear family and other traditional institutions has led to a mental health crisis unparalleled in history that has caused a drastic spike in shootings, bombings, and other violent acts in conjunction with their open border immigration policies that have brought in countless terrorists and other unsavory people. I alone will turn the tide of this war around. I will fight for the American people who will never be slaves to the globalist cartel again. I will never surrender to the deep state, no matter what they threaten or blackmail me with. I will not stop until we the people have completely taken back our country. P.S. I will not be consolidating my answers into this post today because that would put me at an unfair disadvantage.
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ranger13
Vice President of the United States
Vice President and current Presidential candidate
Posts: 14
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Post by ranger13 on May 14, 2018 22:50:47 GMT -5
Question 3: Of real-world US politicians past and present, who do you admire most and base your political ideology off of? Which leaders in VC history do you admire the most? I admire Ronald Regan and Abe Lincoln for their leadership styles and their political ideologies. I also really admire current Texas governor Greg Abbott for his leadership style and his policies. I have only been around for a handful of vc presidents, but I believe that vc has had some great people that have been leaders in the past and in the present. CajunTrooper was a great speaker, TomLaney has brought great leadership to the court, and Source and bower have been great leaders in setting up our new platform and helping transfer vc to our new website.
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TheSpookyGhost
Congressperson
Running for President of Virtual Congress; Founder and Current Leader of the Gateway to Sanity Party
Posts: 45
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Post by TheSpookyGhost on May 14, 2018 22:55:56 GMT -5
Question 1: VC has gone from nearly 100 active members at it's peak, to 50 recently, now down to 25 on this new website. How will you attract more members to a new vc? As can be seen from my post above, I have the greatest ideas. The best. My ideas to streamline our processes on this new forum will help with retention of new Congressmen. However, I firmly believe that bringing new members in is the responsibility of the speaker. Of course, I will step in if the speaker drops the ball like she did before *cough*.
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TheSpookyGhost
Congressperson
Running for President of Virtual Congress; Founder and Current Leader of the Gateway to Sanity Party
Posts: 45
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Post by TheSpookyGhost on May 14, 2018 22:58:09 GMT -5
Why aren't there page buttons on the bottom of a page? Only putting them at the top (I recognize that they follow the window down) is deeply disconcerting.
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ranger13
Vice President of the United States
Vice President and current Presidential candidate
Posts: 14
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Post by ranger13 on May 14, 2018 22:58:13 GMT -5
Question 4: Immigration is one of the biggest issues facing America today. Where do you stand on immigration, and how would you change the way immigration is currently run in America? My policy is pretty balanced on immigration. I believe we should increase our border security by adding additional border agents and improving our border infrastructure at crossings. We should also create a visa entry and exit system and add additional immigrations judges to speed up the processing and deportation process. I do support modestly expanding our legal immigration system by increasing the number of visas issued, but also switching over to a merit based system that will grant visas to individuals that will contribute to our country and our economy. I also believe in ending the visa lottery system and increasing the screening on the refugees that we take in.
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ranger13
Vice President of the United States
Vice President and current Presidential candidate
Posts: 14
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Post by ranger13 on May 14, 2018 23:02:28 GMT -5
Question 5: In the modern US, and especially the last few months, gun control has been a hot button topic. What, if any, changes would you like to see made to U.S. gun regulations? I am a strong believer in the second amendment. In the former vc, I created a law that would allow concealed carry licenses to be reciprocal in more states to protect law abiding gun owners. I believe this right should be protected and that our current gun laws provide sufficient gun control when implemented and executed correctly.
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Post by bower8899 on May 14, 2018 23:02:40 GMT -5
Spooky, I messaged you yesterday with the time of the debate
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ranger13
Vice President of the United States
Vice President and current Presidential candidate
Posts: 14
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Post by ranger13 on May 14, 2018 23:06:02 GMT -5
Question 6: Healthcare was arguably the biggest issue in both VC and America under the Obama Administration. What health care system do you think would work best for America, and why? Healthcare is very complicated. Our current system is very expensive and unsustainable on its current path. I don’t know an exact solution and I’m not sure if anyone does, but steps must be taken to increase coverage, lower costs, and also increase competition.
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ranger13
Vice President of the United States
Vice President and current Presidential candidate
Posts: 14
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Post by ranger13 on May 14, 2018 23:15:29 GMT -5
Question 7: Foreign policy is an area where the POTUS exercises a lot of their power. What is your philosophy on international relations, and how would you treat specific issues in the realm of foreign policy, such as the Middle East, China, Russia, etc. I am balanced in my foreign policy beliefs. I am not an isolationist, but I am also not an interventionist either. I believe we should maintain our power and presence on the world stage. I believe we should remain in and support NATO, especially in a time that Russia is becoming more aggressive. I also support remaining in the UN and working to improve the effectiveness of the UN. I believe the current progress being made with North Korea should try to be continued to further deescalate the situation and work to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. In the Middle East we should remain out of internal conflicts and work with our Arab partners where we can.
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