AmericanGovSim - ns-4-house-debate

DisguisedJet719 06-Mar-20 07:21 PM

The candidates are: @NYCDOT @Judge Red @Doggo Please ask any questions now.

Anarchist 06-Mar-20 07:22 PM

@NYCDOT after taking a leave of public life, what makes you a good candidate for the house now? Can the public count on your loyalty?

NYCDOT 06-Mar-20 10:28 PM

@Anarchist Hello, I think I’m a good candidate because not only was I a previous representative for NS-5 for a term and a half, but I was also sponsor of the Codegreen Personal Hygiene Products Act, and co-sponsors of many other bills that passed with flying colors. I’ll be sure to be held accountable by my constituents.

Ben 06-Mar-20 10:31 PM

@Judge Red What is your stance on abortion and the beginning of life?

Putbye1 07-Mar-20 03:40 AM

The notion that we should invade Mexico in self-defense was once brought up in Congress by a Progressive formerly prominent statesman, IndyPrez. A similar sentiment was shared in a debate by current Liberal VP candidate Blaze. Would you support an invasion of Mexico? @NYCDOT @Judge Red @Doggo

NYCDOT 07-Mar-20 08:34 AM

@Putbye1 Hello. No, I wouldn’t support an invasion of Mexico. There is simply no true reason to invade them, nor have they done anything to warrant an invasion.

mk33F16 07-Mar-20 08:47 AM

What do you think warrants an invasion?

Judge Red 07-Mar-20 09:40 AM

@Ben I support the right to life from where it begins: conception. I also understand, however, that the laws of this nation should reflect the will of the people. If the majority is not convinced that life begins at conception, that’s a moral debate we have to have. Only then can decisive action be taken to protect the unborn; speaking pragmatically, doing so before the people support it would simply render our government illegitimate.

Ben 07-Mar-20 09:40 AM

Thank you.

Judge Red 07-Mar-20 09:44 AM

As for @Putbye1, we need to maintain our presence abroad. Allowing foreign powers to take our place and creep towards our shores in the name of isolationism is not a winning foreign policy strategy. However, Mexico has been a longtime trade and military partner of the United States in the past, and we should try to restore that former relationship rather than invading them, driving them to support some foreign power against us.

Doggo 07-Mar-20 12:43 PM

@Putbye1 I would forcefully oppose invading Mexico. I generally oppose using our military abroad in general as it often leads to an unnecessary expense of human life and of the American taxpayer's money. If I'm going to be frank, invading Mexico is an absolutely ridiculous idea. Mexico has been a vital strategic ally of ours for many years and trade with them is essential to the wellbeing of our economy.

Invading a sovereign country and eliminating their citizens' right of self determination for what result? To lose American lives? To be trapped in decades of guerrilla warfare as we have been in the Middle East? To oppress the rights of innocent Mexican citizens?

I repeat- I would oppose any legislation brought onto the floor proposing an invasion of Mexico unless they do something that warrants it.

Judge Red 07-Mar-20 01:01 PM

I’m glad to see we’re in agreement on this. (edited)

Doggo 07-Mar-20 02:22 PM

As am I. Sanity is vital yet far too often nonexistent in politics.

Trash 07-Mar-20 02:36 PM

When is it OK for the US to invade a country?

NYCDOT 07-Mar-20 02:49 PM

When they are a credible threat to the well-being of our citizens,

And even then, there needs to be proof for it to happen.

Doggo 07-Mar-20 02:59 PM

1. As former Representative AGS said, when the well-being of our citizens is at stake. 2. When the well-being of our nation is at stake. 3. When an ally we have made a treaty with is unjustly invaded themselves. 4. Although I generally oppose inteventionalism, certain actions taken by other countries warrant their invasion even if those actions do not directly hurt us. Take Nazi Germany- even if they had stayed within their own borders and respected the treaty of Versailles, the Holocaust would have warranted an invasion and removal of their government.

NYCDOT 07-Mar-20 03:00 PM

Sir, my name is Jonathan Darby, my name is not whatever AGS is.

Doggo 07-Mar-20 03:00 PM

My apologies, Mr. Darby.

NYCDOT 07-Mar-20 03:00 PM

It's ok

Doggo 07-Mar-20 03:03 PM

But getting to the crux of the matter, invading others must be based upon either protecting our people and our nation and/or putting a right to a severe, appalling wrong.

One must determine whether or not war is justified on individual bases. To do otherwise is silly and foolish.

Cabin 07-Mar-20 04:13 PM

( @NYCDOT be nice, the new ones don't know anything except your nickname lol)

3

rat randy 07-Mar-20 04:59 PM

What is your opinion on the distribution of narcotics across the southern border, and what do you plan to do about it?

NYCDOT 07-Mar-20 05:15 PM

The dangerous drugs and drug mules coming in and out of Mexico is dangerous and deadly to not only our citizens and border patrol, but to Mexico's citizens and border patrol. While I obviously do not want to detain innocent refugees in cages coming in from the southern border, I don't just want to let people in freely either. I want secure background checks on anyone entering this country from another one, and if they are found to be dangerous, they will either be sent to a United States detainment center or be sent back to wherever they originated from.

Trash 07-Mar-20 05:35 PM

Would you be open to resorting to force to stop Chinese mistreatment of Uighur Muslims?

NYCDOT 07-Mar-20 05:47 PM

What the Chinese government has been doing to the Uighur Muslims, and to its citizens in general is disgusting and horrifying. I would first want the United States to formally ask the PRC to end their mistreatment against the Muslims, and if they fail to stop, I would very much consider resorting to deploying troops to get them out of the Chinese internment camps. It’s a Holocaust, and it goes against the United States stands for.

Trash 07-Mar-20 05:54 PM

How does mistreatment of Uighur Muslims cross the threshold of “being a credible threat for the well-being of our citizens” as you yourself classified the only legitimate reason to invade a country?

Judge Red 07-Mar-20 05:56 PM

I can agree, on my own terms, that the Uighur crisis goes against everything our country stands for. However, an invasion of China would cause more of a humanitarian disaster than the current crisis. We need to address the crisis, but do so through diplomatic means.

2

Doggo 07-Mar-20 06:01 PM

I concur wholeheartedly.

Using military force against China would be a humanitarian, logistical and economical nightmare. We have little to gain and much to lose, thanks largely in part due to our economic dependence on them.

What we can use, however, are diplomatic and economic restrictions. Diplomatic connections with a nation as powerful as our own is vital for a nation and they are as dependent on us- the consumers of their goods- as we are on them.

And while the United Nations has arguably been rather spineless as of late, empowering them could help save the lives of the oppressed Uighur Muslims.

Judge Red 07-Mar-20 06:08 PM

@Doggo , how can we be sure that China cannot use international influence to sway the UN or immobilize it? Shouldn’t America take the lead on this?

Doggo 07-Mar-20 06:21 PM

America can not take the lead on helping the Uighers alone. It would be an act of diplomatic and economic suicide likely with few results. We need to work with other nations- not only our allies, but all nations that oppose China's barbaric treatment of minorities. As much as I dislike the United Nations in its current form, that would be the best way we could take action.

Perhaps NATO would be a worthwhile venue. Perhaps it wouldn't.

But no organization will equip us to better deal with this problem than action taken by a united UN.

Judge Red 07-Mar-20 06:25 PM

@Doggo, I agree with your goals, but not your methods. I for one do not trust the UN, which holds China a permanent seat on the security council (and therefore a veto of action), to take decisive action. Quite the contrary, it would be immobilized by the Chinese. NATO might be a better venue, but either way, we cannot pass the buck to an organization which, by structure, cannot decisively act.

I am against military action, but favor diplomatic or economic measures, so long as they are led confidently by the United States.

Doggo 07-Mar-20 06:28 PM

Granted, China's permanent seat on the security council would be problematic.

I see no reason why it would have to be lead by the United States. Provided that progress is being made and appropriate actions are being taken, I see no reason why. It frankly sounds like another endeavor that will cost the taxpayers billions of dollars of which could go to schools or roads instead.

Judge Red 07-Mar-20 06:33 PM

Provided that progress is being made. But progress is not being made. Nor need it cost billions in taxpayer dollars. One solution could be a tariff or some other restriction on goods made using labor from China’s camps, which would not only spur progress, but foster our own economic independence and raise even more money for our schools and roads.

Doggo 07-Mar-20 06:33 PM

If I'm honest, the UN made a horrendous decision in 1971. In that year, they removed the Republic of China (commonly known as Taiwan) from the UNSC and put the People's Republic of China (what the public knows as China) in its place. It decided that the ROC was no more and was succeeded by the PRC the way Russia succeeded the USSR.

@Judge Red Progress isn't being made because no nation is putting in much of an attempt to end this. Our own nation's attempt has been weak.

Judge Red 07-Mar-20 06:39 PM

@Doggo I am in full agreement with you on that last statement. I understand that you’re committed to the Federalist position of isolation, but as a Conservative I feel that we have an obligation as the foremost economic power to take that lead where the UN cannot.

Doggo 07-Mar-20 06:40 PM

We should take the lead if the UN proves to be as spineless as I fear it is. As of now and the foreseeable future, that is not necessary.

@Judge Red Would you mind if I ask you a question in regards to climate change and the coastal areas in the district?

Judge Red 07-Mar-20 06:44 PM

@Doggo I’d be happy to take one. It’s a serious issue that we can’t ignore.

Doggo 07-Mar-20 06:48 PM

Thank you. Flooding in our district, especially in the Chesapeake Bay, is an extremely important issue. Being a boater and fisher, I've grown up around the bay and have personally seen the affects of flooding on these communities. Many people in the area are not economically well-off and a massive flood could ruin their lives. The scientists agree- they forecast that the water level in the Chesapeake could rise by 2 feet in the next 30 years. That would sink a significant number of islands and communities. (edited)

What plans would you propose to specifically tackle dealing with flooding?

Judge Red 07-Mar-20 07:01 PM

Thank you for bringing this issue forward, @Doggo. The obvious answer is decisive action against climate change, but once again, that will require a global effort, as recent spikes in emissions have come mostly from Asia. Specifically for the flooding, any effort to fight it will be massive, so fortunately we’ve got some time to prepare for this sea level rise. The most effective measure we can take immediately might be to undertake anti-erosion efforts to preserve our coastline. Much of our damage comes from erosion, which results from destabilized soil. This could involve the construction of levees, mobilization of the army corps of engineers to influence the flow of currents, and many other responses that I can’t sum up in a short debate answer. The bottom line is that we have options, and our communities are not helpless in the face of sea level rise.

Doggo 07-Mar-20 07:03 PM

Thank you for the response. I'm happy to see that, provided Mr. Darby holds similar sentiments, we all realize the urgency of this situation and understand how crucial it is to commit to effective, decisive action.

NYCDOT 07-Mar-20 07:05 PM

@Doggo I’m sorry for not answering any sooner. The flooding in our state, our country, and around the world is due to global warming. If we don’t tackle it right now, entire neighborhoods are going to be gone very soon. We need to go carbon neutral, get mass transit across all major cities, use alternative energy, and offer tax cuts to businesses that go green.

Doggo 07-Mar-20 07:06 PM

But what would you propose being done to specifically target flooding instead of climate change in general?

NYCDOT 07-Mar-20 07:09 PM

Install flood walls at critical flood zones, and encourage local governments to get their citizens informed of ways to stop it (edited)

Doggo 07-Mar-20 07:11 PM

Thank you Mr. Darby.

Ethora 07-Mar-20 11:23 PM

What do you have to disagree on with your party?

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 12:56 AM

I'll take this one first. As you might have picked up already, I believe America should take a proactive role in world affairs. Some Conservatives (though less so than the Federalists) are inclined to take a non-interventionist view in world affairs. This view ignores our de facto place on the world stage. Our allies, especially those in Europe and the Pacific, rely on American military and economic presence to maintain the global sphere. Why not maintain our forces just at home, you ask? Because the American sphere has its frontiers not in New York, California and the Dakotas, but in Ukraine, Japan and Australia. To abandon our allies is to leave our economic borders undefended.

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 01:03 AM

To address the earlier question on what justifies invasion, I would say an invasion could be justified in the protection of ourselves or our allies. Furthermore, if the people of a hostile nation rise up against an anti-American leadership, and call on our aid, we should consider helping their cause.

rat randy 08-Mar-20 09:29 AM

Do you plan on doing anything about Daylight savings, or is it alright to you as it stands?

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 10:28 AM

@rat randy if the public asks for it, I’d be in favor of changing the system in order to respect their wishes as my constituency, but as of yet I think our nation has more significant issues to face.

LOTR_1 08-Mar-20 02:30 PM

@Judge Red what is you opinion on immigration?

Cabin 08-Mar-20 02:31 PM

@Doggo same questions, thoughts on daylight savings and immigration?

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 03:37 PM

@LOTR_1 Like most Americans, my family descends from immigrants. Immigrants are the life-blood of our country. That said, immigration needs to be handled in a positive way. Too much can depreciate wages in the short term. We also need to ensure that immigrants have the resources to integrate into American society, to learn basic English. We need legal immigration, to protect both the wages of our workers and the basic rights of immigrant laborers who are exploited because of their undocumented status.

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 04:19 PM

@Doggo, perhaps I could pose the question to you. We both fall to the ideological right. How would you balance the concerns of your party's more corporatized interests to reduce wages with the concerns of the American people to maintain job opportunities and good wages?

LOTR_1 08-Mar-20 04:34 PM

@Judge Red can you outline your foreign policy for us?

Doggo 08-Mar-20 04:40 PM

@Cabin I am in favor of maintaining daylights savings time. Having longed daylight has been shown to decrease the risk of accidents and is beneficial to the economy.

Cabin 08-Mar-20 04:41 PM

To be clear, you support keeping the time constant?

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 04:42 PM

@LOTR_1 Thanks for the question, I'm glad to. My foreign policy is based on a simple premise: we have been, and still are, the leaders of the current global order. We have the strongest economy, the strongest military. Because of American dominance after the Cold War, millions, nay billions, have been raised out of poverty. To take an isolationist view, such as abandoning our cause to the UN, is to abandon this role. To take an imperialist view, such as invading Mexico, is to abuse this role, and drive our allies into the waiting arms of foreign threats. We need to approach foreign policy with recognition of our place in the world as it currently exists, and not irresponsibly disregard the very obvious consequences of our withdrawal. To the isolationists in the crowd, do you want a world where China owns Africa and Russia owns Europe?

Doggo 08-Mar-20 04:42 PM

I do, although it is not a topic that I prioritize. I would sooner work on legislation regarding climate change or trade than spend time defending DLS.

As for immigration, that is an extremely broad topic and a very deep rabbit hole to go down. Is there anything you would want to ask me in specific or more generally?

Cabin 08-Mar-20 04:42 PM

What do you have planned for climate change and trade?

Doggo 08-Mar-20 04:45 PM

As I've made clear in my campaigning, flooding and nuclear energy are two very important issues to me. Almost the entity of district 4 is a stone's throw away from a body of water and flooding has been a serious issue that is only expected to get worse. I would definitely prioritize working with the other representatives to fund researching better flood control technologies, from dredging with minimal wildlife harm to implementing levies.

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 04:46 PM

@Doggo, I already asked on immigration about balancing the interests of your supporters with the interests of your constituents, most directly on the issue of wages.

Perhaps you could start there.

Doggo 08-Mar-20 04:50 PM

I'm sorry, could you elaborate slightly? I feel you're asking two somewhat slightly different questions.

If you're asking whether or not I would sacrifice the wellbeing if the American people for that of multi-billion dollar corporations, it would be a resounding no.

rat randy 08-Mar-20 04:55 PM

What is your opinion on the words and phrases Cabin has been using, and do you endorse this way of trying to win? @Doggo

April 08-Mar-20 05:01 PM

Question for all Candidates: Do you support implementing a Universal Basic Income nationwide?

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 05:02 PM

@Doggo, I'll try to be straightforward. Increased immigration reduces wages, especially undocumented migration. Businesses and mega-rich corporate donors, the same which support your party and its policies, obviously support this; the Koch brothers have for decades. When asked before how you would ever break from your party, you (and Mr. Darby) remained silent. I'm asking, in light of this, how you can prove that you can break from your party when the going gets tough?

@April , I would only support a pilot UBI if it came as a replacement to our more inefficient social programs, achieving the same result with less bureaucratic waste. Otherwise, I would not support hiking taxes and seizing control of people's hard-earned money just to shuffle it into a UBI.

Also, to chime in on @rat randy's point, Twitter isn't the best for public discourse, which is why I support amending the Communications Decency Act to acknowledge the rising issue of inadequate online defamation laws.

Doggo 08-Mar-20 05:13 PM

@rat randy I'm not worried about what other candidates are doing on Twitter, I'm worried about this campaign and this debate. Better to ask him about his words than to ask me.

NYCDOT 08-Mar-20 05:15 PM

@April I would support a small UBI of about $1,000 a month, or $12,000 a year. With President Valerie’s LVT, we would be able to pay for this I believe, along with consolidating social welfare programs. If people receive this UBI, they would be able to pay their bail, pay a doctor’s visit, a supermarket run, or a fancy dinner, and would take stress off social security, our jails, and SNAP.

Doggo 08-Mar-20 05:17 PM

@Judge Red I have no issues breaking with the party line whatsoever. A politician that follows lockstep with their party is not thinking for themselves.

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 05:18 PM

Mr. Darby, just to clarify, would you support the idea I proposed? Cutting back some inefficient programs and replacing them with a UBI? Or would that option remain off the table? (edited)

@Doggo, I want to believe you, but you have had several opportunities to show that you would break with your party (the twitter question, for example) and you've avoided them. Is there a situation in the past where you have broken with the Federalist line?

Doggo 08-Mar-20 05:21 PM

With all due respect, I have not had a chance to follow party line. We're both running to be freshmanrepresentatives.

The only office I have held is my current position of Secretary of the Interior under Governor Garland.

A position of which I have only held for 4 days.

I suppose it could be argued I did so yesterday actually. I did not vote along party lines.

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 05:25 PM

Well I'm glad you've been able to finally find something, then. (edited)

Mr. Darby, sorry to fire you two questions in a row, but I've been thinking about the words you used in your answer on UBI. If the family you're proposing gets a UBI and uses it on a fancy dinner, do you think that is the best use of taxpayer funds taken from someone else?

Doggo 08-Mar-20 05:42 PM

@Judge Red Just to expand on the question of partisanship and everyone answering for the actions of one member, I don't expect you to disavow this kind of language. Those words are his, he can decide whether they're appropriate. You're focused on your campaign and it's totally fine if other party members are having petty fights online.

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 05:47 PM

@Doggo, as I've said and will say again, that isn't the way I would approach it. I've actually praised your party leader for speaking kindly with me across the aisle. In government, you need to work with people to get things done. Tribalism has no place there.

NYCDOT 08-Mar-20 05:48 PM

@Judge Red Oh no, it’s ok. I didn’t necessarily mean a fancy dinner, I just mean a dinner in general. Obviously, fancy dinners will cost more than a dollar meal from McDonald’s, so I figured that would show better what UBI can pay for. My mistake.

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 05:49 PM

Glad to hear, Mr. Darby. And for my own proposal?

NYCDOT 08-Mar-20 05:50 PM

What?

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 05:50 PM

About cutting back inefficient programs, waste, to fund a UBI, if one were issued?

Doggo 08-Mar-20 05:55 PM

Regarding that @Judge Red, you mentioned using UBI in place of "inefficient social programs". Do you have an idea of which you are referring to? (edited)

NYCDOT 08-Mar-20 05:56 PM

I have no questions.

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 05:59 PM

@Doggo consider, for example, a program that provides $200 in value to the average recipient. However, for every person who benefits from the program, you've got about $500-1000 in overhead costs; personnel, delivery, facilities, etc. If the same result could be achieved by sending $200 in UBI directly to the recipient, without the overhead, then we'd save the taxpayer on the overhead.

Doggo 08-Mar-20 06:00 PM

But do you know which programs specifically you would take a knife to? Without knowing, it may be difficult or even impossible to know whether or not the cut programs will sufficiently pay for UBI.

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 06:04 PM

@Doggo, these programs are often mandatory expenses within the federal budget. We haven't really sat down and looked at this proposal, because it hasn't been raised before. It also depends on what programs constituents would want to keep, because, well, this is a democracy. I'm merely raising it as an idea I'm open to if it comes up, not as a full plan.

Doggo 08-Mar-20 06:06 PM

Thank you for the response, Mr. Red.

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 06:37 PM

Well with all this it seems we're almost out of time. Unless anyone has any more questions, it's been an honor getting to know you two as well as the people of NS-4. As of now, it's your choice. Get out and vote, be safe, and given the toxic climate brewing on some of our phones, let's all have ourselves a good night regardless of who wins. To all of our socialists out there, feel free to join us as well. Even if you don't have a party candidate, you deserve a voice that represents your district.

XRT-17 08-Mar-20 06:38 PM

What phones are you talking about?

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 06:40 PM

The twitter spats from earlier today. I think this district can prove that party lines don't divide everyone.

Judge Red 08-Mar-20 06:59 PM

All said. Good luck everyone!

NYCDOT 08-Mar-20 07:01 PM

Thank you for debating with me, @Judge Red and @Doggo. Good luck!

Doggo 08-Mar-20 07:25 PM

Good luck!