The Presidents: 1836-1936 - An Interactive US AAR

When you take your stand for honest laws and just laws in the State of New York and in these United States together, when you call upon these gathered lawmakers to stand with you and put an end to unfair economies, your motives must be just, as any just person would say the same. It is astonishing then how one just and honest man may misjudge another.

The monopolies in this nation, their heart lying on Wall Street in New York, have grown great because of mistaken leaders and men who fear or fail to defy them.

My creed does not lead me to dislike the men who run a bank, a railroad or a factory. I do not hate a man for owning a bond and having a bank account. Upon the other hand, I believe each should make all the profits in business he fairly can, but I do believe banks and railroads have no right to exercise control over the government of the people. I also believe that all special privileges granted work infinite harm.

I believe that the greatest wealth of this republic is practically free from responsibility and taxation, and that the burdens of government have long fallen on the shoulders of men least able to bear them.

Naturally, it is important to remember in the discussion of the intersection of business private and public that, of the man who does run the bank, or the factory or the railroad, his welfare rests upon the welfare of the men working for him. So too does the welfare of the state and of society as a whole, rest on the welfare of the common man, each individual.

If circumstances are such that thrift, industry, and forethought enable the farmer, the tiller of the soil, on the one hand, and the wage-worker on the other, to keep themselves, their wives, and their children, in comfort, then society is prospering and each individual with it. We can then be assured to all prosper. Unfortunately, in this world the innocent find themselves obliged to pay the penalty of the misdeeds of the guilty. When hard times come, whether they be to our fault or to our misfortune, or be they to some speculative frenzy by bankers and bondsmen and traders of wealth, in any case, the trouble, once started is felt by every man of every walk of life.

We must recognize then this community of interest among our people. The welfare of each of us individually is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of us all. We must work to represent all true and honest men of all sections and all classes and to work for their interests by working for our common country.

The failure of government to treat each man's work as his merit and instead to protect and serve the interests of the every-growing wealthiest of the wealthy, is an ultimate failure to defend natural society. This administration has set clear and just promises. Monopolization of the sectors of our national economy into the hands of the few who only through destroying the welfare of the laborer earn their wealth is an injustice.

In New York, the fight now is against the enmassed wealth of individuals unworthy of the privileges given to them by the state and for the welfare of the public, each man and family, and it is this fight which must be won if we wish to represent honesty and justice.

The Conservatives would have you think that there has been no recovery, but any man can see that there has clearly been a recovery! We must continue our efforts to build up our economy in a fair and balanced way so that the working-man receives his fair share. This will never happen under the Conservatives. They would rob you when they pay you and then leave the monopolists around to rob you via your necessities. What Governor Harrison has been able to do in New York must be done nationally. I have long warned of the threat of unrestrained capitalism and it has wrought both economic crisis and mass monopolization. We must act now to destroy these threats to American democracy and freedom. This election year, choose Joe Hayden for proven leadership and a working-mans government!

((Finally....HAHA! MY SOCIALISM HAS SUCCEEDED! HURRAH FOR PERU!))

This man has it right! This man knows what he's talking about! With men like this in the Democratic party, perhaps we can - while a coalition or electoral alliance is out of the question - make sure that our two parties do not work at split ends over the goal of the limitation of monopolies. This fine fellow is almost halfway between Harrison and our dear Hayden, and could serve as a valuable herald of friendly competition for the white house between our two parties that makes sure not to allow the limitation of the monopoly to be strangled in the cradle.

Rogov said:

This man has it right! This man knows what he's talking about! With men like this in the Democratic party, perhaps we can - while a coalition or electoral alliance is out of the question - make sure that our two parties do not work at split ends over the goal of the limitation of monopolies. This fine fellow is almost halfway between Harrison and our dear Hayden, and could serve as a valuable herald of friendly competition for the white house between our two parties that makes sure not to allow the limitation of the monopoly to be strangled in the cradle.

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((You talking about Lyly? He's a Dem.))

(( I know, I said as much. I said "with men like him in the Democratic Party". I was pointing out he's able to articulate our goals in a way approachable to the Federalists. ))

My policies have not changed, my fellow Americans. I have not changed. Monopolies nearly destroyed our country; while I cannot agree with Mr. Harrison's tactics, I do agree with his ultimate aim. We need a level playing field, to ensure that competition is fair, as that it is how the American system works. Any economist can tell you that monopolies are bad, but how do we correct the problem?

I would favor a tax cut on all small business owners ((I suppose that would be the middle class?)) and even consider pledging some government grants for those starting new businesses.

I would be lying if I said the events in Peru did not trouble me. I would cautiously extend a hand of friendship, but I do not truck with this Marxist nonsense and would not see it spread to our borders. I do not approve of the violent overthrow of any government. If socialists gain power by electoral process, I will be unhappy but I will understand it.

Thank you all, and good night.

Rogov said:

(( I know, I said as much. I said "with men like him in the Democratic Party". I was pointing out he's able to articulate our goals in a way approachable to the Federalists. ))

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((d'oh))

To break the monopolies is indeed perhaps the most important issue for the next administration. Under a Nightmore presidency I can promise you that legislation will be passed to bust the trusts. This will make it possible for small businesses to compete again. Also, while we need regulations, we should never regulate to such a level that it hinders new enterprises from being born. That runs in my opinion against the ideals of Socialism. New enterprises create jobs, and in these times creating jobs must be the main issue for both the public and the private sector. Only if both sectors of our society are strong, can we truly prosper.

However the State is not the main hindrance for this. If we can't break the monopolies, more jobs will be lost.

((Spitfire don't let them fool you, all we need to do is hold the nation at hostage and they will be at our feet. What will you guys do when you break up our monopolies, and all we do is shut down every factory we own? Think of the economic situation that your guys' administration will be in. Also, Spitfire we should combine all our monopolies together and name it "The American Economy," that way if they break it up, Newspaper headlines will read "US Government to Break up American Economy." ))

I hold no great love for the many monopolies within our nation, but what gives us, the US Government, the right to shut them down and force competition? Where in the constitution does it say that we may take away these mens' rights to forge their own destiny and practice their own profession? I see not moral or lawful highground giving any of you men the right to bust these monopolies, and if you do, what then? You can not force these men to break up their monopolies, just as we cannot force each member of Congress to give up his office. I can only see the resumption of this economic crisis if these monopolies are broken up, as the massive unemployment will be too much for your precious small businesses to handle, and that will be on your hands.

-Roderick Khur, Secretary of State

King50000 said:

((Spitfire don't let them fool you, all we need to do is hold the nation at hostage and they will be at our feet. What will you guys do when you break up our monopolies, and all we do is shut down every factory we own? Think of the economic situation that your guys' administration will be in. Also, Spitfire we should combine all our monopolies together and name it "The American Economy," that way if they break it up, Newspaper headlines will read "US Government to Break up American Economy." ))

I hold no great love for the many monopolies within our nation, but what gives us, the US Government, the right to shut them down and force competition? Where in the constitution does it say that we may take away these mens' rights to forge their own destiny and practice their own profession? I see not moral or lawful highground giving any of you men the right to bust these monopolies, and if you do, what then? You can not force these men to break up their monopolies, just as we cannot force each member of Congress to give up his office. I can only see the resumption of this economic crisis if these monopolies are broken up, as the massive unemployment will be too much for your precious small businesses to handle, and that will be on your hands.

-Roderick Khur, Secretary of State

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((Thats a good idea you have there. I would rather shut down my factories than see some other man run them.))

How have we almost destroyed the American economy? We have saved the economy! We have followed the law, given jobs to millions and filled the government coffers for years.

Half-assed government measures did not save our economy from collapse. It was the Businesses of America!

If you are against monopolies, then you would have to break up the health service, water service and the power stations. Are they not monopolies too? You must not discriminate.

((I assume the utility's in America are owned by the Goverment?))

Mr Harrison you claim that one can't have a 'select group of men holding the peoples prosperity hostage’, and yet you see no problem in the government doing exactly as you describe! The hypocrisy. You seek not to dismantle monopolies, but to dismantle business that is efficient, that is effective, and that has grown due to the skill and hard work of its owners and employees. When the market crashed what did we see? The smaller companies collapse and the larger companies survive, and then grow to take the brunt of unemployment not ridiculous ‘volunteer associations’. In Harrisons’ world the next time the stock market collapses every company will collapse, and new business won’t be able to secure the loans they need to build and provide for the economy because he and his socialist allies will have taxed and regulated the banking system out of existence. What we need for economic recovery is cuts, cuts, and more cuts. Across the board tax cuts, to leave more money in the working class’ pockets so they may still buy food and other essentials as Hayden’s inflation has caused prices to skyrocket. To leave more money in the middles class’ pockets so they may encourage growth in emerging markets like the automobile. To leave more money in the businessman’s pocket so they may invest, create jobs and spread prosperity across America. However we can’t allow ourselves to rack up a deficit, we must also cut spending, and foremost is the inefficient and treasury draining health care program.

Staff numbers in my company have grown Mr Harrison! Most of all in the South and Mid-West were without me and other defenders of business people would have been left out on the streets of New Orleans or Salt Lake City. The increase in food prices aren't caused by profit lust, they're caused by recent governments complete failure in regards to Latin America. With the rise of the UPCA protectionism has become rampant in the biggest fruit producing region in this hemisphere. This has only been made worse with the rise of Marxism in Peru and the UPCA's attacks on our economic influence in the continent, particularly Mexico. Without colonies of our own the supply of cheap foreign food is simply running out. I assure you as President of the United Fruit Company I know this situation better than most.

The Monopolies have come about due to government intervention not inspite of it, for the last twenty years the White House has been controlled by an interventionist yet monopolies have only grown! With deregulation and cuts in taxes, as well as a healthy and free banking sector the monopolies will naturally end. Your parties and the Democrats policies of government interference will only see monopolies grow larger as you strangle aspiring entrepreneurs.

While I'm a southern man and a conservative, I think the Democrats are right this time. We need to save our economy.

King50000 said:

((Spitfire don't let them fool you, all we need to do is hold the nation at hostage and they will be at our feet. What will you guys do when you break up our monopolies, and all we do is shut down every factory we own? Think of the economic situation that your guys' administration will be in. Also, Spitfire we should combine all our monopolies together and name it "The American Economy," that way if they break it up, Newspaper headlines will read "US Government to Break up American Economy." ))

*snip*

-Roderick Khur, Secretary of State

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(( Why was this guy made secretary of state? ))

"So, fellow Democrats, who do you think we should replace Mr. Khur with in the State Secretariat when fight tooth and nail back through this jungle of reactionaries to our rightful and dutifully elected place in the White House? In order to prevent bad blood in the party, I think - should no new candidates appear - whoever wins the nomination should put the other as secretary of state, so that the current vice-president can remain. That would mean if Nightmore wins, Joe Hayden as State Secretary; if President Hayden wins, which I think he will, Mr.Nightmore as State Secretary."

(( also, let it be pointed out that any sort of roleplaying outside of the election system of the game should not have any effect on the game directly other than the way it affects the way the players play their characters. If the Conservatives lose the election, no matter what they say about shutting down all the businesses or forming a super-trust or whatever, it should have no effect. Because they only have those businesses because they said they did when they invented the character.

If they are allowed to make the economy for the next president bad based on that, then I should be allowed to make a trade union leader with a huuuuge following of my own invention and bring conservative governments crumbling down with my strikes. RedCesar should be able to tarnish conservative presidencies with armed revolutions staged by his movement. Federalists should be able to use their party's predilection for popular democracy to do all sorts of state referendums that go against the direction of the country the ACP or Jarvis or whoever is trying to do from the presidency.

You guys didn't have to do any work or slay any goblins or get any xp to get these massive monopolies; so don't presume to be able to violate the actual voting system in the game and ruin other people's presidencies or steer BBB's story just by actions you are claiming to do with companies you made up.

You have found a cheat, a loophole. Because you can completely overthrow other people's votes and wishes and roleplaying with your "companies", but if say Joe Hayden or Eamon Callaghan had smashed up your companies with strikes; you would have called that godmoding as it would have been another player missing with your character's made up stuff directly. But isn't that what you are doing when you say that you employ most of the workers in the country, collectively together all you monopolies, and that they are all happy and all your factories are non-union shops? You don't get to decide that, at least I don't think you should. You should no more get to decide the disposition of workers in your factories than the trade union leader characters should get to decide the disposition of your boardrooms and stock portfolio.

Simply put, what you guys are trying to do with these companies in terms of overturning the actual gameplay of this game is no different than if Red or someone else just declared a revolution and said that he had already captured the government and all your factories had been taken over by the workers. To reemphasize: your companies are made up, they should give you no level of power over the game that any other player does not have. ))

(( No better than a 8 year old claiming to be an astronaut))

((Rogov I think King was joking with that one. Actually I'd ecourage a strong union leader and conflict between the business and working class as I think it would provide great material for the story until a World War comes about. I think there should be an element of self-restraint when it comes to characters, but it is true that in this game there will have to be an element of claiming things which aren't stated by BBB, hell BBB has done it himself with Harrison, otherwise characters will have no backstory and no influence outside of voting and that's what differentiates this AAR from any prevous ones.))

((If that was directed towards me, all I can say is, I'm a capitalist with afew factorie. I never made myself a monopoly, said all my employees were happy and I never tried to "overthrow people's votes."

And while I know I said we employed millions, I was simply exaggerating to prove a point.

And I only want the large businesses to come together and work together so that we are able to fight in court))