[Forum Game] The Ruins of Public Liberty

[Arrowfiend]

Lev Strniša, Leader of the SDP​

"What can you do to help promote a healthier economy and strong economic growth?"

"The market has proved time and time again its ability to right itself. The recession we face currently, just like any recession we have had in the past, is merely temporary. While the government has a duty to prevent certain entities from engaging in the exploitation of our citizens during such a crisis, that is the limit of what we should do."

"Military government spending is at about 1.7% of GDP. Is this enough, too little, or too much? If it is too much, where do you propose that spending go? If it is too little, where do you propose the revenue for spending increases come from?"

"Given our current geopolitical situation, I believe the level of military spending is satisfactory. As my party has stated before, a strong military is needed to guard our borders from external threats. Should we decide to align with an alliance bloc, whatever it may be, then I believe we could then decrease military spending."

"What is your plan to pare down the national deficit and restore fiscal solvency to the country in a time of economic recession?"

"While our current national deficit and accrued debt is truly disheartening, once taxes are lowered on native Zubrowkans, our economy will quickly regrow and right itself. As it stands, Zubrowkans and Zubrowkan businesses alike are overburdened by excessive taxes that prevent them from buying even the most basic of consumer goods. Taxes, specifically property and corporate taxes, must be reduced so that native businesses can grow economy and provide to our citizens."

"How can the government assist in the increase in the quality of life of its citizens? Which will prove more effective: government spending on public works or decreased taxes and spending?"

"As I stated before, taxes must be reduced so that all of our citizens can afford to buy basic goods such as food, clothing, and homes. As for public works, I recognize that not all public spending is wasted. Indeed, spending on things such as infrastructure and education are understandably needed in order to foster economic growth and better our future generations. However, frivolous spending on unneeded programs must be eliminated so that we do not continue the harmful debt spiral we are currently in.

"Mr. Strniša, if you are a Slovenian rights party, why do you wish to have Zubrowka form closer ties with NATO, of which the Slovenians in Yugoslavia are not a part? Is this simply because it is the opposite policy of the Slovenian Protection Party?"

"No, Mr. Fuchs, it is not. It is not a matter of petty rivalries but rather ideology. For Slavs of any kind to prosper, whether it be Slovenians or Serbs, Poles or Russians, a free market and, more importantly, a free country is needed. While we certainly share many historical and cultural similarities to those within the Warsaw Pact, if we were to align ourselves with them, we would be shackling our country to Moscow. Look no further than our Magyar neighbors to see what I mean; less than 20 years ago, they were brutally crushed under the Russian tank simply because they wished to exercise their democratic rights. Signing up with the Soviets would be signing a death warrant for free speech in Zubrowka.

Indeed, that is why I believe aligning with NATO is in the best interests of Slovenians. With NATO, we can be guaranteed protection against the Soviets and their puppet regimes while continuing to chart our own, Zubrowkan course. Just because we join NATO would not mean we could not continue amicable relations with our neutral brothers in Yugoslavia. Indeed, regardless of whether we join NATO or not, my party believes it is vital that we foster further ties to our Yugoslavian brothers and sisters."

"It has been the longstanding policy of the Zubrowkan government to maintain neutrality in Europe. To those that argue on closer ties with NATO or the Warsaw Pact: why do you wish to deviate from this policy? Is a system of alliances, like that of World War I and World War II, really what this country needs at this time?"

"A system of alliances guarantees Zubrowka protection from outside forces. In the tense world that we live in, neutrality is asking for trouble. You mention World War II: look at what happened to the neutral countries such as those in Scandinavia or the Baltics. A policy of neutrality certainly didn't save them from the horrors of war."

 

[aedan777]

Jurij Anton Gerbić quickly responded to the remarks of Lev Strniša once he concluded.

"As fitting of the lesser Slovenian party, your answers are entirely without merit. Zubrowka faces an economic recession and you insist that if the government does nothing, it will work itself out. What a message to tell starving women and children, and desperate workers, that jobs will just come to the country if we wait and do nothing. Then your brilliant suggestion to handle the national deficit- lower taxes! As if the government having less money will help our financial situation. No, what Zubrowka needs is greater government intervention in the economy, to ensure equality, to promote growth, and to guide the country to greater harmony and prosperity.

And your suggestions regarding NATO are even more absurd. For thirty years we have maintained our neutrality, and no foreign nation has invaded us, so why must we discard sovereignty now? We don't even border a NATO member state, so in what way would such an alliance even secure our safety? Do you want to bring in thousands of American soldiers to occupy our nation? If anything, ascension to NATO would increase the risks that we would become embroiled in war. There are many nations in Europe who remain neutral in the competition between East and West, and such neutrality is to their benefit as well as our own. And now of all times is truly a senseless time to join the American bloc. Just a handful of years ago they abandoned their puppet state in Vietnam, and a few months ago that regime fell. And the many questionable actions of President Nixon must be considered as well, such were their moral baseness that his own countrymen demanded he step down. Is this such a power we should tie our existence and security to? No I say! Zubrowka should maintain a path of neutrality that avoids costly and pointless foreign conflicts."

 

[Luftwafer]

GENERAL QUESTIONS:

"What can you do to help promote a healthier economy and strong economic growth?"

Well I suppose you already know what our answer is going to be. However I would like to say that the People of this fine nation have been failed by previous leaders, the poor have been abandoned and an elite clique formed that is impossible for the average citizen to break into. We will smash this, and get the people back to work. There's far too many people out of work, you know this nation used to be the wealthiest in the region, and look where we are now, standard of living going down, everything is getting worse, and that is only being slowed by the gargantuan efforts of all citizens, no matter where they work. Whether it is in our fantastic Public Health Service or in the private sector. We at the VAP, aim to level the playing field, by investment in education. The nationalisation of the railway, so that instead of their owners answering to say 15 board members, they must answer to every citizen. We will abolish bus fares, on state run buses, in order to allow everyone to enjoy our public transport. We also aim to set up an investment bank for the just getting by to get money from to invest in opening or enhancing their businesses, allowing more employment. Only the VAP can get economic growth up to where it should be.


"Military government spending is at about 1.7% of GDP. Is this enough, too little, or too much? If it is too much, where do you propose that spending go? If it is too little, where do you propose the revenue for spending increases come from?"

The posistion we take is more nuanced than this, we see the armed forces as a whole. We see the hard work done by all our soldiers and pilots who are protecting us all, with their actions. However we also see that they are being provided sub-standard equipment, something unable to protect the nation if the worst did occur. We would make an investment to modernise the army, and sell of surplus this standardisation would reduce costs in the long run, allowing for smaller budgets on acquiring replacement parts and all the other logistical issues of war. While the soldier's equipment would be enhanced no end.

"What is your plan to pare down the national deficit and restore fiscal solvency to the country in a time of economic recession?"

Well the way I see it, is the Recession is really just another sign that the current system isn't working. We need changes to be made, and I'll be honest, higher taxes will have to be paid, to ensure the quality of life of us all improves. That's from the poorest to the richest in society. However we will ensure that any person found to be corrupt will be removed from their office as soon as they are identified, and we hope to improve transparency and provide a window into the inner workings of government, to show citizens how their increased contributions are being used, and nothing is being wasted. Indeed, the only way to stop a recession is to improve the wealth of the people, by increasing services and providing stability. Only the VAP can increase the quality of services and productivity.

"How can the government assist in the increase in the quality of life of its citizens? Which will prove more effective: government spending on public works or decreased taxes and spending?"

Well I personally believe, and this is a belief held by many members of my party that decreased taxes and spending helps one set of people. The richest. The richest can afford to privately purchase their services, while the rest of us are stuck with services that are rapidly declining in quality. Likewise decreasing taxing won't help ordinary people as much as investment will. While the richest save the largest proportion, the poorer don't. The government has a mandate to improve the quality of life, and this must be the first aim for any incumbent government. We would increase investment in public services, and decrease costs for transport allowing people to live where they want and commute to their place of work.

 

[Luftwafer]

In response to strenisa

I may ask you, whether you have any particular personal interest in this. May you clarify how far taxes would decrease under your government? Or how much your own tax-bracket and by extension you are going to benefit?

Or perhaps how you're going to explain to people why they can't see a doctor for the next month, as due to budget cuts in the name of 'reducing burdens' there's only a single doctor left in their area.

Or perhaps how a belief in the 'market' something you seem to venerate as a god will put food on the table for the poorest in society now?

 

[XVG]

"What can you do to help promote a healthier economy and strong economic growth?"

Our party has very often been falsely blamed for the lack of a coherent economic policy. This is simply not the case. Our position is, frankly quite similarly to other likeminded parties, that the economy should be left to run on its own, with little government interference. Age-old economic treatises brought into practice have showed us that the free market runs the most effectively when it’s entirely free. However, to promote healthier development towards full economic freedom and prosperity, our party proposes further incentives to our already sprawling middle class, to produce more businesses, more fresh business ideas and more economic activity to our country. We remain a primarily agrarian state, a geographic and historical reality to be respected, and thus I believe that the good hard-working and traditional farmer is the basis of our whole economy, and he is to be respected and supported, not only in terms of economic policy, but also in wider social incentives. Furthermore, as the people of Zubrowka improve their living standards, we could start promoting economic migration from brotherly and European countries for low-paying jobs required to keep our economy running – and above all growing.

"Military government spending is at about 1.7% of GDP. Is this enough, too little, or too much? If it is too much, where do you propose that spending go? If it is too little, where do you propose the revenue for spending increases come from?"

The Kurultáj has been advocating for an increase to defense budget, to around 2.0 % of the GDP, in short term, with further increase once our economic situation allows. However, as we also champion for a further involvement and activity of our respectable military in the affairs of our state’s well-being, from education to the social field, I believe that this increase would benefit our country in a multitude of ways, mostly in furthering employment.

"What is your plan to pare down the national deficit and restore fiscal solvency to the country in a time of economic recession?"

First, we need to get our economy back on its feet, then we can turn to look at the deficit. I believe I already addressed this in required detail when asked about our economy in general. But, in short, as prosperity and well-being of the middle-class increases, we can slowly also start to up taxation.

"How can the government assist in the increase in the quality of life of its citizens? Which will prove more effective: government spending on public works or decreased taxes and spending?"

I believe that the Kurultáj’s opinion should be clear by now. Taxes and government spending directed towards certain hand-picked projects and plans will not aid our country. Let the free Zubrowkan decide on his own what to put his money in. However, the Kurultáj embraces and accepts the need for an improved education, and would be ready to direct an increased share of the budget towards this goal.

 

[Terraferma]

​

GENERAL QUESTIONS:

"What can you do to help promote a healthier economy and strong economic growth?"

We would promote a social market economy, or as some call it Rhineland Capitalism. It is a combination of free initiative and social welfare on the basis of a competitive economy. Laissez-faire does not work and we reject socialist economies where planned economics be it in the short term nor long term do not give any sort of lasting prosperity. With this combination of state regulation and private enterprise we can strive to not only achieve high rates of economics growth, low inflation and unemployment but also ensure good working conditions, social welfare and public services. Specifically, we would enter trade agreements not only with our immediate neighbors but with Europe at large.

In doing so, we would expand the horizons of our domestic businesses both large and small as they now have access to other markets in order to sell their goods and services, promoting their economic growth and thereby the purchasing power of our employed citizens. Granted, we would examine these potential ventures to secure the interests of our workers first and while we would lower tariffs as much as possible, we would obtain assurances that local businesses give priority, or sell, to the people here before shipping out to other markets across Europe.

"Military government spending is at about 1.7% of GDP. Is this enough, too little, or too much? If it is too much, where do you propose that spending go? If it is too little, where do you propose the revenue for spending increases come from?"

Currently, the ZZP approves of this level of military spending. If in the future our trade and economy skyrockets and a government surplus is amassed, this party given its status as being Pro-Military would be open to increasing spending to at least 2% of GDP...and as high as 3%. This, however, would largely depend on a surplus in the budget as we would not cut from programs such as education, infrastructure or social welfare. As it stands, we would be staunchly against reducing our spending at this time.

"What is your plan to pare down the national deficit and restore fiscal solvency to the country in a time of economic recession?"

Our poignant neutrality is a contributing factor in this predicament. Only by opening up our markets and accessing others will we steer ourselves away from economic collapse. Should these economic remedies be too little as a matter of national urgency, ZZP would be open to reducing significant government spending across the board with the exception of the military, police and social welfare services. A raise in taxes is absolutely out of the question in times of an economic recession.

"How can the government assist in the increase in the quality of life of its citizens? Which will prove more effective: government spending on public works or decreased taxes and spending?"

The government can assist in several ways: Keeping taxes at their current levels and reducing them in the event of a significant government surplus, entering free and fair trade agreements with other countries, expanding and improving our social programs and of course modernizing our infrastructure to keep up with the rest of the world.

On which proving to be more effective, it would largely depend on our economic standing, if the budget allows...a blend of government spending on public works along with handing out government contracts to domestic companies to aid in the endeavor would pay huge dividends.

This party strives to put the economy and our defense as equal pillars on the bedrock of stability, an element this nation needs.

 

[Terraferma]

The ZZP wishes to unveil more of our economic aspirations, specifically the model which we plan to emulate. Combining the best of capitalism with social policies to ensure good wages, working conditions and a welfare system to propel our working class to a better quality of life. The main components are as follows:

• The social market contains central elements of a free market economy such as private property, free foreign trade, exchange of goods, and free formation of prices.

• In contrast to the situation in a free market economy, the state meanwhile actively implements regulative measures. Elements, such as pension insurance, universal healthcare and unemployment insurance are part of the social security system. These insurances would be funded by a combination of employee contributions, employer contributions and government subsidies. The social policy goals include but not limited to employment, housing and education policies. In addition, there are provisions to restrain the free market (e.g., anti-trust code, laws against the abuse of market power, etc.). These elements would help to diminish many of the occurring problems of a free market economy.

While many of course argue the evils of capitalism, we believe it can be used as a vehicle not only for economic prosperity but to improve the quality of life of our citizens. To do this, we will break from our isolation and integrate ourselves into the European market beginning with talks with our neighbors, specifically Austria and Italy. Once trade is established we will further our advances to joining NATO to improve our security apparatus, we can ill afford neutrality and isolation, it only guarantees no allies and no business partners.

 

[Shynka]

((Due to upcoming commitments and disagreements over how the debates should have ran, I, Tormund Mayer, resign from the Chairmanship of the CUP and wish the other parties luck.

Long live the Republic!))

 

[MastahCheef117]

Aggregated polls for the August 1975 election
compiled by The Alsänder Daily​

sample size 986
margin of error +/- 2%

16% GAP (Grand Old Party)
14% VAP (People's Action Party)
12% AZVB (All Zubrowka Forward Bloc)
10% SSP (Slovenian Protection Party)
10% ZZP (Zubrowka Centrist Party)
9% SDP (Slovenian Democratic Party)
8% ZHB (Home Bloc)
7% MNV (Magyar National Assembly)
6% BfZ (Movement for Zubrowka)
4% ZDSU (Zubrowkan Democratic Social Union)
1% LP (Liberal Party)
1% ZFK (Zubrowka Free Congress)
2% Undecided

Only parties with at least 2% of the vote will be seated in the National Chamber of Deputies. This is the final poll before the election.

Red Socialist/communist
Orange Social democrat/social liberal
Yellow Centrist/classical liberal
Blue Conservative
Grey Right-wing populist/fascist

 

[BlackCrown]

(Since many have dropped out. May I join as one of the now defunct parties, with the original creator's permission, of course.)

 

[BlackCrown]

(Is this game dead? Sorry for bothering)