The Presidents: 1836-1936 - An Interactive US AAR

[Mikeboy]

((I actually dislike term limits, as I think they're undemocratic (we don't have them over here), I think a better way to get rid of *cough* Greg Knight *cough* would be STV.))

[blindgoose]

I, Joe Hayden, announce my intention to run for the nomination of the Democratic Party for four more years of progress and recovery!

[Gloa]

((I need to find a way to get rid of Roderick and start playing as Andrew. I can't let BBB destroy my beautiful Southern Monopoly!!
What year is this, 1896?
And I'm so mad that I couldn't be the first female character in this game. That upset me more than anything else in this update. And I got to know, but how could a woman become a senator this early, when they still don't have full voting rights yet? Don't they still need the permission of their spouse/father in order to vote?))

((Voting rights and other women's rights kind of movements were a little more powerful in this timeline early on (at least nominally), so people are more willing to accept it. Also, the Vallejo's are a powerful force in California politics and with Federal party support decreasing and bickering between various factions in all the parties, the competition was not up to much when a senator died and had to be replaced. It was male support going "meh, at least it's not as bad as [insert competitor name]" rather than any deliberate suffragette movement.))

[Spitfire5793]

The legislation being brought forward, against the industries of America is outrageous and disastrous.

We have provided jobs for millions. We have helped pull America away from the economic abyss. We are at the heart of the American economy.

Yet look at how we are treated! Look at how our work has been repaid!

We must not sit idly by as our progress is destroyed.

Today I propose that Standard Oil, United Fruit, General Motors, Howard Industries, American Rail, Jamous-Khur Works and many hundreds more businesses, stand together, work together and fight together, against this monstrous legislation which threatens jobs, industry and the economy of America.

Alfred Howard
CEO of Howard Industries & Repersentive of Boston

((The boxing gloves are out now))

[Riccardo93]

((Yeah, as Gloa said, the timeframe has been moved up (and completely disregarded in terms of a socialist president; we didn't have one of those until Wilson/ FDR ! :P)

Yeah, but California has been solidly liberal; two Jarvis' and Glynne, plus near constant Federal/Republican representation in the state; by the 1890's it's not that big of a shock (plus it's a Vallejo... the only other family that could do it this early in California is possibly my own, because we're so established there...)))

I must also agree with Mr. Howard's concerns; some move against them is needed, but I fear Governor Harrison's actions are far too much. What we need to do is deregulate the economy and allow more competition, especially from small businesses; under the current policies of Mr. Hayden, we have seen them fail and stifled!

The reason we have these monopolies is the federal government doling out cash to them! This must end! Once we have true capitalism in this nation, we will recover from this travesty of government control and over regulation!

[Seek75]

I concur with Mr. Jarvis' thoughts. Hayden claims he is for the working man, and yet he sells himself out to the monopolists, passing acts that essentially destroy small businesses. Mr. Harrison's program, which is taking place here in my home state of New York, is doomed to fail. For what do we classify as a monopoly? When do we say a man is making "too much"? Who's job is it to determine these things? Can he be trusted to work honestly, as opposed to taking bribes from the monopolists?

This must end now. This economy will never recover if the chains of regulation and government bureaucracy hold it tight.

[Riccardo93]

We are 'fortunate,' I suppose, that this crisis has prevented Hayden from further weakening us on the international stage; as my grandfather predicted, in the 1870's, Germany and Britain would become rivals for power, and we should not have involved ourselves, for now we are drawn between two sides, the British whom we are allied with by way of this Commonwealth (a foolish idea, which I will not dwell upon here), and Germany, with whom we supplied in great amount (of course, we were also supplying their enemy, Austria, so perhaps Germany isn't as fond of us) at the cost of the American people!

We now plainly see that these monopolies rose under Jamous, the Great Interventionist, and have grown almost nonstop, with the possible exception of President Mandrake, whose free market policies allowed competition to form against them, if only before they were strangled to death by regulations under Callahan! This economic policy is weakening us, and Hayden still wishes to weaken us, by adopting silver; why not simply abandon gold and silver, in favour of a fiat currency, if you so badly wish to debase our money, sir?

The current actions of Governor Harrison is most worrisome, as he is taking far too much power in his state; does he wish to act this way as President? Would he break companies down, and nothing there to replace them? Unemployment will skyrocket! If his answer is government interventionism, then you make the people poorer, by stealing their money to pay for these bloated programmes!

This is a most dangerous situation, and it will get worse in the future... this mad foreign policy, or lack thereof, has made South America hate us, cool our relations with France, Germany, Austria, and Spain, and have taken our powers away via the Commonwealth... now is the time to focus on true diplomacy, not favouritism! Now is the time to promote capitalism, not cronyism or statism!

[King50000]

((We never gave aid or supplied Austria, so Germany should be pretty happy with us, especially after Jamous supplied her armies with bolt-action rifles a decade or so before the OTL Germany developed them.))

[Riccardo93]

((I think when I ran against Howard, he said we also supplied Austria... but I may be mistaken (or he was)...))

But now that we are aligned with their rivals, Britain, we can't possibly be on great terms; they've simply manipulated us, becoming stronger and further dividing Europe. I am of the opinion that our actions in Europe have pushed them closer to a Great War between the two sides, a war we may be drawn into, a war we could very well lose...

[Rogov]

The entire basis of the great monopolies, and the smaller monopolies beneath them, is on a civil power established through government support of bourgeoisie class rule. Even within the bounds of bourgeoisie democracy and not proletarian dictatorship, this power is civil, not unalienable, and can be abolished by the state much in the same way it was invented by the state. No man has an unalienable right to expropriate the means of production from those who labor upon it, it is a civil power established through the intervention of the state. The policies of limiting such interventionism, as pursued by President Hayden, are a removal of some of the burden of state; while the policies of Mr. Jarvis and others like him merely increase that load of state robbery upon the American worker.

[Lyly]

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.

[blindgoose]

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!

[Red Cesar]

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

[Rogov]

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.

[blindgoose]

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.

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

[Rogov]

(( 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. ))

[Avindian]

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.

[blindgoose]

(( 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. ))

((d'oh))

[yourworstnightm]

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.

[King50000]

((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