J. Man Spice for President

[The Senator]

In the past seven years, we have faced a lot as Americans. We witnessed the deaths of more than three thousand people as they were brutally and heartlessly murdered by terrorists on September 11, 2001. We witnessed our rise from the ashes of our nation’s darkest day, as we put our differences aside and healed as a nation united. We witnessed our troops head off to battle in Afghanistan, as they sought out the enemies which dared to cross our paths. Seven years ago, we were united as brothers and sisters determined to push forward together. Seven years ago, it was hard to imagine that we would ever be divided.

How times have changed.

In the aftermath of 9/11 and the war in Afghanistan, our country has been placed on the wrong track. For five years, we have been distracted by an unnecessary war which never should have been waged in the first place, as well as divisive and ridiculous domestic policies which have only aimed to dig a deeper divide in America. In Iraq, we have lost sight of our real enemies: the terrorists which crippled our nation on 9/11 and are still out there plotting their next assault. Instead of hunting down Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda and the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, we were sent into Iraq, where we removed Saddam Hussein from power but have been placed in the middle of a three-way civil war. At home, Republicans in Congress used issues such as gay marriage as a way to further divide our country, by going as far to propose an amendment which would write discrimination into our constitution. Meanwhile, us Americans remained distracted, divided, and disenchanted with our government.

Two years ago, the Democrats regained control of Congress as corruption reached a peak and the war in Iraq was at its bloodiest. However, the slim majority in Congress has prevented them from reforming how our country works. We are still knee deep in Iraq. We are on the brink of a recession. And the same old politics which have long stained the streets of Washington, DC are still ripe in the heart of our nation’s capitol.

Our country deserves better.

This is why I have decided to seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States.

If I am elected President, I will work towards real change in Washington. Not the type of change we hear about in fancy speeches. Not the type of change which will move us three steps forward before taking six steps back. The American people demand real change.

My fellow Americans, we must put an end to partisan bickering in Congress. We need to reform a deeply flawed system, and the best way to do this is by establishing term limits. Senators should not be allowed to serve more than three terms in office, while Congressman should be limited to five terms. Moreover, Congress should be in session for five days a week, 40 weeks out of the year. There is no reason why Congressmen and Senators should have to work less than the average American.

We must ease the horrendous burden placed on the middle class. Gas prices have hit an all time high, foreclosures are rising, and unemployment is skyrocketing. As a result, I propose the following:

-Cap gas at $3.50 a gallon. The government should subsidize the difference.
-Temporarily suspend foreclosures in the country. Re-evaluate each individual mortgage and work out a sensible way for every American to afford the homes they were essentially misled into buying.
-Establish a Public Works program under the Department of Labor. Eliminate a substantial percentage of welfare and unemployment costs by forcing the unemployed to work for our taxpayers’ money. Additionally, this will help maintain our parks, highways, and other infrastructure demands.
-Repeal the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans while cutting taxes on the middle class.

We must strengthen our image abroad. If I am elected President of the United States, I will sit down with our military strategists and formulate a responsible exit from Iraq. Our troops have suffered enough in the past five years. Moreover, we have done more than enough to help liberate the Iraqi people. Now it is their turn to make their country shine.

We must meet with foreign leaders, including enemies such as Hugo Chavez, Vladimir Putin and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. However, we must never meet with them without setting preconditions. We must do everything we can to maintain peace and security in countries overseas.

We must actively fight global warming. If I am elected president, I will sign the Kyoto Protocol within the first 24 hours of my presidency. I will fight to tax corporations which pollute our rivers and lakes, causing them to destroy environmental resources once available to us but may not be available for our children and grandchildren. Additionally, I will propose legislation which will raise CAFÉ standards on automobiles, requiring each car company to average 40 miles per gallon with small cars and 30 miles per gallon with trucks and SUVs.

We must become energy independent. Each car company should be required to manufacture vehicles which run on the following: natural gas, hydrogen, and hybrid technology. We need to drill for oil in North Dakota and Montana. And we should heavily invest in clean energies, such as wind and solar power, while reinvesting in nuclear energy.

We must eliminate the social constructs which constrict our society. I propose a fifty year moratorium on any constitutional amendment which would provide a written definition of marriage. If I am elected President, I will work to ensure that the Employee Non Discrimination Act is passed and signed into law. I will work to overturn Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. And I will veto any law which denies an individual the fundamental rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—which our country was once founded upon.

Ladies and gentlemen, these are only a few of the things I hope to accomplish as your president. But these cannot become a reality unless I become the Democratic Party’s nominee. Vote for me. Our country cannot afford another eight years of distractions.

 

[The Senator]

Today, the national average price for a gallon of gas is $4.04. In many parts of the country, gas has exceeded this number, costing consumers as much as $4.40 per gallon in states such as California and Arizona.

This is unacceptable.

If I am elected President, I will work to cap the price of gas at $3.50 a gallon. During the first 24 hours of my administration, I will submit to Congress the "Fair Energy and Gas Act," which will call for a nationwide cap on gas prices while offering incentives to oil companies to develop alternative energies. The Fair Energy and Gas Act, or FEGA, will also set new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, increasing gas mileage on new vehicles.

The Fair Energy and Gas Act (FEGA)

-Cap gas prices at $3.50 per gallon. This is a temporary cap which will provide immediate relief to the middle class. With foreclosures and the price of food skyrocketing, gas prices should be everyone's last concern.
-Offer incentives for oil companies to explore alternative energies
-Require automobile companies to adhere to new, higher CAFE standards
-Require automobile companies to manufacture vehicles which run on hybrid technologies, electricity, natural gas and hydrogen.
-Drill for oil domestically, in known oil fields such as Montana, North Dakota, and off the Gulf Coast
-Offer incentives for farmers who grow switch grass and trees for biomass/ ethanol production

We must work together to ease the burden on the middle class. We must lower gas prices, and work towards energy independence.

 

[The Senator]

Who Is J. Man Spice? The Bio

I grew up in a small town in Western New York, where my parents rented a small three bedroom apartment. My father served in the army during the 1980s, while my mother floated from job to job following the collapse of her first marriage. They met in 1986, and I was born two years later. Following my birth, my parents sought to improve their lives. My father went back to school, where he received his masters in education, while my mother served as a janitor for a nearby school district.

My family life was never picture-perfect. It was far from it. I have two siblings, an older half brother from my mother’s previous marriage and a younger brother from her second marriage. My mother is an alcoholic and was a drug addict. Throughout my childhood, I was beaten and verbally abused on a regular basis. In some ways, I still am.

But I managed to look past that and find the bigger picture. I knew that I wanted to do something with my life, something which would get me far away from home, doing something I loved. I moved to Washington, DC after graduating in the top 10% of my class, where I attend college as a political science major. I have interned for two politicians and I have worked for my college for two years. I am also seeking my masters in public administration.

I have faced adversity in my life. But while I am no stranger to adversity, I know how to conquer it. As a homosexual from a small, socially conservative town, I know how to stand up for the little guy. I know what it’s like to raise your voice when everyone seeks to drown you out. I know what it’s like to be the only person who supports one side of the issue. And I know what it’s like to stand by your convictions, no matter how trying your detractors may be.

I am the first person on my mother’s side of the family to go to a private university. I am one of the few on my father’s side of the family to do the same. Unlike most people in my family, I have decided against a career in the military. Not because I am unwilling to serve, but because I am not permitted to serve due to my lifestyle. If I could serve, I would. But I refuse to serve my country if it will not accept me for who I am.

Being from a small town, I know what it is like to adhere to small town values. I recognize the importance of faith in the lives of everyday Americans. I recognize the economic hardships faced by lower-middle-class workers every day. I recognize how daunting something as big as the federal government and its regulations can seem to your small town business owner. And I recognize the importance of long-standing traditions, such as hunting and owning a firearm. Hell, I must admit, I enjoy firing a gun every now and then.

But even though I am from a small town, I have experience living in a city. I have come to appreciate all that goes on in our major cities, from public transportation to the demography of certain neighborhoods. I understand concerns over drug use, homelessness, and illegal guns. I understand that there is a divide between our cities and our rural towns. And I guess you can say that I have the best of both worlds: I love the city, but my heart soul is with small town America.

I hope to bring a worldly approach to the presidency, spurred by my own personal experiences. I hope my unique experiences will help shape the presidency for the better.

 

[The Senator]

Energy

While we have been discussing high gas prices, gas prices are not the only energy crisis we face as a nation. We also face increasing demand for clean, renewable energies. While FEGA will offer incentives for oil companies to invest in renewable energy, that will only be a small ripple in the bigger picture.

In addition to FEGA, we must work to decrease our usage of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil. Fossil fuels are not only non-renewable, but they are unclean and pose considerable harm to the environment, as well as our health. Here's what I will do as your president to ensure that we move away from fossil fuels:

1. Reinvest in Nuclear Energy

Nuclear power has come a long way in the past twenty years. Countries such as France and Japan have utilized new technologies which have made nuclear power safer and friendlier to the environment. Pebble bed reactors are the next step in nuclear technology, and the United States would benefit if we were to invest in such reactors on a nationwide scale. They are "meltdown proof," as gases constantly work to cool down the cores of these reactors. Moreover, they utilize the most energy of current nuclear power plant designs, meaning they require less plutonium and uranium to operate than traditional nuclear power plan designs. This means that less waste is produced as a result.

2. Invest in Solar, Wind and Geothermal Power

As we try to reduce our dependence on non-renewable resources, we must explore renewable resources which can be used for our energy needs. Solar and wind power can be utilized on a large scale. Wind turbines can be placed practically anywhere in the country, while solar panels can be placed in arid, sunny locales such as Arizona and New Mexico. Additionally, geothermal power plants-- which collect geothermal gases and use them to produce electricity-- would be beneficial as well.

3. Invest in Methane Gas Energy

We should also look into collecting methane gas from landfills and using that gas to power several small power plants in rural areas. If methane is released directly into the atmosphere, it poses a significant threat to the environment. However, if it is utilized as a source of energy, methane gas emissions will be reduced significantly. This is another way to help clean our environment, while using new sources of energy for our energy needs.

4. Set up an "Alternative Energy Commission"

Finally, I hope to establish an Alternative Energy Commission, which will be overseen by the Department of Energy. This commission will investigate other ways for us to become energy independent, while promoting clean energies to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, this commission will help establish energy benchmarks, which the United States would have to comply by in a set period of time.

Economy

Since I've been asked a few times about my economic policies, I thought I'd unveil some aspects of my economic plan.

1. Taxes

-I will repeal the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, and I will cut taxes for middle class Americans.

-I will raise taxes on those who make over $250,000 a year.

-I will eliminate the excessive tax forms/ paperwork, confining the tax system to a single sheet of paper.

-This tax system will last for at least five years. Following this five-year period, I will take the necessary steps to eliminate the IRS completely and install the Fair Tax.

2. Spending

-I will cut government spending in the following areas:

a) By eliminating the Department of Homeland Security and merging it with the Department of Defense, renaming the agency the Department of Defense and National Security. I would also considering cutting the Department of Veteran's Affairs and making it an office overseen by the Department of Defense and National Security.

b) By merging the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency into one cabinet-level agency, known as the Department of Environmental Resources.

c) By reducing the role of the Department of Education, cutting its staff and federal funding in half, saving a total of at least $25 billion. I will also merge the Department of Education with the Department of Heath and Human Services, re-establishing the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

d) By cutting welfare handouts to single Americans who have no physical disabilities. Instead, Americans seeking welfare benefits will have to work for their money, by contributing their resources to a Public Works Program. Under this program, Americans seeking welfare will be able to help repair the infrastructure, clean up our national parks, or complete other services to the community.

e) By eliminating unnecessary offices and programs, such as the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, "corporate welfare" handouts, and tax credits for big businesses. I would also work to cut agricultural subsidies by 25%.

-Additionally, I will cut funding for the war in Iraq by at least 50% within my first six months in office.

3. Entitlements

-I will work towards 75% privatization of social security (my social security plan will be outlined later)

-I will open up Medicaid (Medicaid 2.0), allowing Americans to buy into the program. A percentage of the premiums paid by each Medicaid 2.0 recipient will go to help fund these government health care programs.

Health Care

As we take a look at some of the problems our nation currently faces, perhaps one of the greatest problems plaguing our nation is health care-- or the lack thereof. Too many Americans are without quality, affordable health care. Too many Americans are forced to pay excessive hospital bills. Too many Americans are forced to forgo medical treatment because they are afraid it will cost too much. Too many children are uninsured, left to suffer under circumstances they have no control over.

This is unacceptable.

Our government has a responsibility to help its citizens find the best, affordable health care available. Here is my plan for health care reform:

1. Health Care Markets

-The Department of Health and Human Services will help set up and regulate regional health care markets, which would be local offices set up to help Americans find the best health care coverage available in their regions.

-Working with a case worker, Americans will be given a choice between several private health care providers, as well as a public health care provider, Medicaid 2.0.

2. Medicaid 2.0

-Medicaid 2.0 will be a public health care provider which will feature the same benefits available under the current Medicaid system. However, it will be available to all Americans.

-Those seeking coverage under Medicaid 2.0 will have to pay a premium. These premiums will, in many cases, be less expensive than private health care premiums.

-Because Medicaid 2.0 is an extension of the original Medicaid program, there will be no need to substantially increase government bureaucracy. And since Americans will have to pay a premium, entitlement spending will not increase substantially.

-The low premiums offered by Medicaid 2.0 will be designed to force private health care providers to lower their premiums. If more people flock to Medicaid 2.0, then health care providers will have to lower their premiums in order to remain competitive.

3. SCHIP

-All children in the United States of America will be covered under SCHIP. Under my administration, no child will go uninsured in the United States.

Immigration

I support the creation of a guest worker program which would allow undocumented workers a chance to work in the United States, while also working towards citizenship. This program would help prospective Americans find employment in the United States, under the condition that they apply for U.S. citizenship and learn English. These prospective Americans will have two years to become United States citizens. If they fail to become U.S. citizens, then they will have to return to their home country, where they will have to wait two years to re-enter the guest worker program.

This guest worker program would help prospective Americans pay for their citizenship expenses. It would also enter each applicant's name into a government database, providing an electronic record of their enrollment in the program. It will also provide them with photo identification and, if applicable, a specialized driver's license.

As for undocumented workers currently in the United States, I plan to crack down on businesses which hire undocumented workers. Businesses will operate under a three strikes rule. The first two strikes will consist of fines, whereas the third strike could result in the temporary shutdown of such businesses. Additionally, I will work to round up undocumented workers currently in the United States and offer them a choice: They can either enroll in the guest worker program and seek United States citizenship, or they can return to their home country.

Undocumented workers with children born in the United States will be given amnesty, as the 14th Amendment to the Constitution says that any child born on American soil is an American citizen. I do not believe it is right to separate parents from their children, and I believe it is unconstitutional to deport children who were born in this country. There is no fair way to approach this situation, and while amnesty is not the most desirable solution, it is the only humane solution to this problem.

I am against the creation of a border fence. I believe it is a monumental waste of money, time and resources, considering undocumented workers will find ways to get into this country, regardless of whether a fence is erected. I do, however, support a "virtual fence," which would consist of motion sensors, infrared scanners and cameras to notify border patrol agents of suspicious activity along the border.

Social Security

As President, you are not only responsible for what goes on in the present, but you are responsible for laying the groundwork for a better future. One of the issues currently facing future generations is the status of social security. Many fear that today's youth will be unable to receive social security benefits, even though they are paying into the process. Others believe that social security is outdated, and that such an outdated policy will not be viable in the next forty years. And many more believe that if social security continues down the path its on, the government will sink into deeper debt and the deficit will expand due to exorbitant spending.

If I am elected president, I will make social security reform one of my top priorities. My goal is to privatize social security by 75%, thereby reserving social security to those who cannot afford do not have the resources to set up private retirement accounts. Here is my detailed plan for fixing social security:

1. 25% Privatization by 2020

By the beginning of my second year in office, I hope to have set up a system which will help put 25% of America's workers on a path to a private retirement My goal is to cut younger workers off of social security, while providing them the resources necessary to set up private retirement accounts. Additionally, I will work to get the wealthiest Americans off of social security.

2. 50% Privatization by 2030

By the beginning of my second term, I hope to set up a system which would put another 25% of America's workers on a path to a private retirement. These workers-- mostly middle-class workers-- will be able to set up private retirement accounts through their employers. The money they already put into social security will then be transfered into these retirement accounts.

3. 75% Privatization by 2040

By the end of my second term, I hope to take the final steps in the privatization process by ensuring that the remainder of America's work force-- namely, "white collar" workers, small business owners, and others-- will be on a path to privatization.

Who Will Social Security be Reserved For?

-Those who have spent at least 20 years putting money into social security
-Those who sustain an income below the poverty level
-Those who are enrolled in any welfare program

Why Privatize?

-Entitlement spending contributes to the national debt. If we reduce entitlement spending, we will have a better chance of cutting the deficit

-Private retirement accounts offer interest rates, meaning your retirement will be able to grow faster as an IRA than it would have under social security

-Because future generations depend on it. If we do not privatize social security, future American workers may be unable to sustain themselves during retirement. Worse yet, they could be putting money into social security which they will never see again. Essentially, the government would have no problem taking their money, but paying it back would be difficult.

 

[ForestAflame]

The problem is you're gay.

 

[Excel]

The problem is you're gay.

C'mon now, whats that have to do with anything?

 

[The Senator]

The problem is you're gay.

Uh... why does this matter?

 

[Lobo]

It doesn't

 

[ForestAflame]

Uh... why does this matter?

You're not going to be able to pull the blue collar demographic.

 

[The Senator]

You're not going to be able to pull the blue collar demographic.

Oh, I see. For a second, I thought you might have something substantive to add to this discussion.

Then I remembered that you believe that all blue collar voters are a bunch of ignorant, club-dragging bigots who hate black people and would only vote against someone like Barack Obama because they're racist. So naturally, you would assume that I will have problems with blue collar voters...

 

[Mr Sparkle]

you have no experience, you offer nothing but platitudes and you have done nothing in congress.

get out of here!!!!

 

[ForestAflame]

Oh, I see. For a second, I thought you might have something substantive to add to this discussion.

Then I remembered that you believe that all blue collar voters are a bunch of ignorant, club-dragging bigots who hate black people and would only vote against someone like Barack Obama because they're racist. So naturally, you would assume that I will have problems with blue collar voters...

As liberal as Obama is, you might get his vote.

 

[The Senator]

you have no experience, you offer nothing but platitudes and you have done nothing in congress.

get out of here!!!!

If you compare my political experience with Excel's, I have more.

 

[Excel]

If you compare my political experience with Excel's, I have more.

George W. Bush was a very popular governor. Herbert Hoover was the Secretary of Commerce. Warren Harding a Senator and Lieutenant Governor. Andrew Johnson was a Senator and Vice President.

History proves expirience is not an essential thing to being a good President. Judgment and the vision you have for the country are more imporant than expirience, and mine are superior to yours. A gas cap alone shows poor judgement and that your vision for the country is anti business. We don't want a another huge swing right ala the late 60's, and thats what will happen with things like that.

 

[The Senator]

George W. Bush was a very popular governor. Herbert Hoover was the Secretary of Commerce. Warren Harding a Senator and Lieutenant Governor. Andrew Johnson was a Senator and Vice President.

History proves expirience is not an essential thing to being a good President. Judgment and the vision you have for the country are more imporant than expirience, and mine are superior to yours. A gas cap alone shows poor judgement and that your vision for the country is anti business. We don't want a another huge swing right ala the late 60's, and thats what will happen with things like that.

Yes, but, some of our greatest presidents had great experience. FDR was a two-term governor and a former Secretary of the Navy. Teddy Roosevelt was Vice President, Governor of New York, and assistant Secretary of the Navy. Harry Truman was Vice President and a Senator for ten years.

So it varies, depending on which president you analyze.

But if you want to talk about inexperience, your plans reek of inexperience and incompetence. You don't want oil companies to take responsibility for constantly screwing the middle class, you want us to keep licking the sweaty palms of Mid East oil executives, and you don't want us to set us on a path to energy independence.

Energy independence means that we sustain ourselves. You want to drill for oil domestically, depleting our resources, while continuing to accept foreign imports from volatile nations such as Iran and Venezuela. Meanwhile, you have no plan to set us on a path to energy independence. I don't really know what it is you want-- do you want us to be energy independent? Or do you want us to depend on other nations for our energy needs? Because as far as I'm concerned, you can't have it both ways. You can't primarily rely on foreign imports while saying that you want to rely on domestic drilling.

Not to mention, it will take years for us to utilize our domestic oil sources, according to top experts. And it will cost billions of dollars, while gas prices continue to rise and the middle class suffers more because you're hoping that our energy crisis will be magically solved some day.

Congratulations, Excel. If you want to send us three steps forward and then six steps back, your plans will do the trick by themselves.

 

[Excel]

Yes, but, some of our greatest presidents had great experience. FDR was a two-term governor and a former Secretary of the Navy. Teddy Roosevelt was Vice President, Governor of New York, and assistant Secretary of the Navy. Harry Truman was Vice President and a Senator for ten years.

So it varies, depending on which president you analyze.

But if you want to talk about inexperience, your plans reek of inexperience and incompetence. You don't want oil companies to take responsibility for constantly screwing the middle class, you want us to keep licking the sweaty palms of Mid East oil executives, and you don't want us to set us on a path to energy independence.

Energy independence means that we sustain ourselves. You want to drill for oil domestically, depleting our resources, while continuing to accept foreign imports from volatile nations such as Iran and Venezuela. Meanwhile, you have no plan to set us on a path to energy independence.

Congratulations, Excel. If you want to send us three steps forward and then six steps back, your plans will do the trick by themselves.

No, my plan reeks of logic and balance. Your plan is far too anti-business to ever work. The gas cap you propose is just asking for a collapse of the oil industry within the u.s.

No, it wouldnt. NEA would be would make us the worlds most powerful country energy wise. The world will be coming to US. My plan is-

-Begin buying less and less gasoline from the middle east while we dip into our own stockpiles to not only make up for the difference, but add even more oil to the market, thus bringing current prices down.

-Simultaneously begin to plan and carry out said plans for drilling of the gulf coast, in Alaska, and the north U.S. oil fields. After 2-4 years, we will get the oil and replenish our stockpiles we've been dipping into while cutting off the middle east entirely and making up for it with our own gas from our land.

Not only that, but if we ever did buy from the Middle East, WE would be in charge. They NEED us to buy their oil. When we have our own why would we, unless they offer us extremely low prices in order to get us to buy it all? It puts the power back into the buyer (the United States).

-Meanwhile, NEA-the Nation Energy Association, a new government program ala NASA but for energy, works round the clock with the world best and brightest to find suitable substitues for gasoline in gas-powered machinery using safe and renewable alternate energy forms.

But I guess that just makes a bit too much sense.

 

[Matt]

Outside of Lincoln, I cannot think of one truly great president who was inexperienced. And Lincoln can't really be compared as it was a different time and the presidency was something entirely different than it is today.

 

[Excel]

It does not take expirience to be great, it is not a requirement...and besides, what experience does Jman have to speak of?

 

[LuiECuomo]

It does not take expirience to be great, it is not a requirement...and besides, what expirience does Jman have to speak of?

I can't say I'd vote for jman, but please, Excel, for God's sake, spell expErience correctly.

 

[Excel]

Knowing when you have messed up and learning from it is another key attribute

 

[Matt]

It does not take expirience to be great, it is not a requirement...and besides, what experience does Jman have to speak of?

I disagree. I wouldn't expect McDonalds to name their CEO a high school kid who flipped burgers for a couple years because he wants to "be great." No matter how many advisors and underlings he has, it would still be bad business to name him CEO. Why should running our country be any different?

 

[Excel]

I disagree. I wouldn't expect McDonalds to name their CEO a high school kid who flipped burgers for a couple years because he wants to "be great."

Well thats is a pretty extreme example heh, but it would depend. In this case, it's like I am a burger flipper and he is a fry cooker and we're both up for the job. Wheres the difference?

No matter how many advisors and underlings he has, it would still be bad business to name him CEO. Why should running our country be any different?

Depends. You dont want somebody who is too stubburn to look at anything other than their own persepective and idea's, you dont want someone too stubburn to listen to what the people want and goes ahead and just does his own thing.

I am the peoples candidate. I'll work my hardest to make the wishes of the people I want represent come true (which is why I dont understand how McCain expects to win with so much war hate) while making us an example for the world to follow in diplomacy and such.

That said, niether of us has enough expirienice to make any real argument, so the point is moot.

 

[The Senator]

No, my plan reeks of logic and balance. Your plan is far too anti-business to ever work. The gas cap you propose is just asking for a collapse of the oil industry within the u.s.

My plan is not anti-business. My plan is pro-middle class. My plan caps gas prices temporarily while we ween ourselves off of oil. It also offers financial incentives to oil companies to invest in alternative energies, such as hydrogen fuel cells, natural gas, and biomass. These folks are true business executives; if they want to increase their profits, they will recognize the growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles and new energies and they will be willing to adhere to their demands. BP is already doing it. Why can't American oil companies do the same?

No, it wouldnt. NEA would be would make us the worlds most powerful country energy wise. The world will be coming to US. My plan is-

-Begin buying less and less gasoline from the middle east while we dip into our own stockpiles to not only make up for the difference, but add even more oil to the market, thus bringing current prices down.

That is understandable.

-Simultaneously begin to plan and carry out said plans for drilling of the gulf coast, in Alaska, and the north U.S. oil fields. After 2-4 years, we will get the oil and replenish our stockpiles we've been dipping into while cutting off the middle east entirely and making up for it with our own gas from our land.

And you know what else will happen in these 2-4 years? Gas prices will continue to rise. You aren't putting any protections in place to immediately alleviate the burden on the Middle Class. Instead, you are calling for policies which will ignore the demands and needs of the middle class, while hoping that we will be able to produce enough oil to sustain ourself. That's irresponsible.

Not only that, but if we ever did buy from the Middle East, WE would be in charge. They NEED us to buy their oil. When we have our own why would we, unless they offer us extremely low prices in order to get us to buy it all? It puts the power back into the buyer (the United States).

The problem is-- we reached peak production in the 1970s. We won't have enough oil to sustain ourselves for more than half a century, maybe even less. Read up on the Hubbert Curve.

-Meanwhile, NEA-the Nation Energy Association, a new government program ala NASA but for energy, works round the clock with the world best and brightest to find suitable substitues for gasoline in gas-powered machinery using safe and renewable alternate energy forms.

But I guess that just makes a bit too much sense.

Actually, it doesn't make any sense. We know which energies can be used as a substitute for gasoline. They've been working on these energies for years and years. Now is the time to utilize them. Fuel cells, natural gas, biomass-- they already exist, we just need to get them out there. Instead, you want us to sit around for another decade, postponing our transition from oil to alternatives, while we blindly drill for oil with the hope that we will be able to sustain ourselves.

Your plan is flat-out irresponsible.

Do you think the Mid East oil executives need us? Do you think they'll be begging us to buy their oil? Fat chance. Especially when India and China are using more oil than us on a daily basis. The Mid East doesn't need us, they have two other industrialized nations to sell their oil to. Not to mention the rest of the world.

Excel, your plans are horribly flawed, and you will make our energy crisis far worse than it is now.

 

[Matt]

Well thats is a pretty extreme example heh, but it would depend. In this case, it's like I am a burger flipper and he is a fry cooker and we're both up for the job. Wheres the difference?

I'll let Jman answer that shocking attack on his experience.

Depends. You dont want somebody who is too stubburn to look at anything other than their own persepective and idea's, you dont want someone too stubburn to listen to what the people want and goes ahead and just does his own thing.

But I also do not want someone who has advisors doing anything more than advising. They are there to advise, not make decisions for him. Otherwise you will have another Bush who was grossly unqualified which allowed people like Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, and Ashcroft to high jack his presidency.

I am the peoples candidate. I'll work my hardest to make the wishes of the people I want represent come true (which is why I dont understand how McCain expects to win with so much war hate) while making us an example for the world to follow in diplomacy and such.

That said, niether of us has enough expirienice to make any real argument, so the point is moot.

Again, I'll let Jman answer that.

 

[The Senator]

It does not take expirience to be great, it is not a requirement...and besides, what experience does Jman have to speak of?

Well, I have expErience in Congress, having worked on energy and defense policy for a high-ranking Senator. I also interned for an upstate New York Congresswoman, and I've worked on assorted political campaigns in my spare time.