A National Address

The balance between liberty and order has been an issue since this country’s beginning, and there are times when one becomes more important than the other. Recently we have favored order, focused our priorities on foreign policy and temporarily sacrificed our individual liberties. But now is the time to make the brave choice to live free or die hard. I hope my Presidency will be remembered as one of expanded liberty and social progress.

I look to Congress to contribute to this new age of liberty by passing legislation addressing our key domestic problems, and working for an America for Americans. Our citizens have waited patiently while the government has addressed foreign issues for nearly a decade, and while we will not forget our international duties we must now repay our citizens for their support by putting their needs first. Our health care system does not work, we pollute too much, and our wildlife is not effectively protected. Our education system is flawed and recent programs like No Child Left Behind have failed. It must be repealed. And we can no longer teach abstinence-only sex education to slow the spread of STDs. To preserve our future we must improve the world around us and protect vigorously the freedoms we enjoy.

I hope to remain in close contact with Senate and House leaders as an agenda is set and then executed. I will begin each week with a quick run-down of my goals and expectations, much shorter than this speech has been. My goals are as follows.

1.) Major health care reform – preferably a public option with tort reform.
2.) Repealing No Child Left Behind and abstinence-only sex ed programs.
3.) Expansion of civil liberties including legalizing marijuana, and stronger expression rights for young people in school.
4.) Increased environmental protections through tax incentives for polluting industries.
5.) Civil Unions provided for same sex couples giving them equal legal rights as married couples.

I welcome discussion and am willing to compromise. I believe we can cooperate much better than recent leaders have.

Out of sim: Are you really this liberal?

Yes, I would like to see all of those happen out of sim too. But I don't think they're all that liberal - to go far left would mean single-payer health care without tort reform, gay marriage in place of a civil union law, and increased gov control of public education as opposed to my suggestion of eliminating some government set standards.

The rhetoric is over the top, of course, but my goals are pretty much in line with my actual philosophy.

I think I have a new favourite president. Hope this all gets accomplished.

Now Speaker Dohn why don't you stop commenting on every thread on the government simulation and write a bill

Because the other two house members don't get on much and I don't have any pressing things I really, really want at the moment.

President Wachob has just given you an agenda. Rubin and Clifton are active now as they are both back home.

Psst. You're relying on Rubin?

And I thought Lustig was in the House.

Lustig is a Senator

Lustig is bye bye for a bit isn't he? And I can get Rubin on here. Maybe not super active but I can get him to post once in a while lol.

EDIT: I would totally write a single payer bill but two out of three of the Senators are currently inactive... and I would also like to point out that the process for getting a bill presented and passed and all that is a bitch. It's the actual way bills get passed essentially and this is on a forum with less than 10 people that doesn't get paid to do all of the busywork.

/rant end

Well let's at least get started before we are forced to pass a budget with no changes or have a congress with no bills. I'm sure that we can get stuff done if someone just starts posting

Edit after Drew posted, so you may want to read that buddy.

Write whatever bill you want, we need to spark this thing into action.

Yeah but Max is gone and "Jane" has some.. what was it Drew, a computer problem? So it's impossible to pass something through the Senate at the moment.

I'll be somewhat unavailable Weds-the weekend, I START COLLEGE!!!

Okay, there goes the House if Lustig comes back in that time.

I start college now too, and will miss tomorrow and Wednesday, during which time Drew will act as interim Pres (although he probably won't get to do anything) but I'll make sure I get on at least once a day during those busy beginning of college days.

Ok, I'm taking slight emergency action that will remain in effect until September when everyone is into their daily routines.

1. The Budget will remain as is
2. Bills will not be required to go through committees unless requested to
3. I will be acting Senator of Texas

House:
Dohn (Active)
Clifton (Active until Wednesday)
Rubin (can be made active)

Senate:
Epp (Active)
Lustig (?)
Hanna (Acting)

There we have enough people if worst comes to worst we can have Casey act as Senator of Mandaloria. I don't think the House will be a huge problem

I have no idea when Lustig comes back. Anyone?

Well if we need him to break a tie, we'll either strive to find him or we'll just have Casey vote

I hate to suggest it but we could consider another delay. It doesn't seem much like it has truly started yet.

You currently have a bill waiting for your signature. Sign away

I'm leaving for the "ranch" now. Drew take over as interim President. I hope to check back in 36 hours so I shouldn't miss much.

Have fun moving into your new ranch!