Presidential Election Game

Description
In this game, you are running a campaign to become President of the United States. You must decide your strategy in campaigning, including where you spend your time and money, what positions you take on issues, which issues you emphasize, and how you present yourself. The game takes place essentially in 2016, with some minor changes. These changes are mainly that all of the politicians are made up, and some current events changes.

Resources
The goal of the game is to win the election. To do this, you need to win both the primaries and the general election. There are five "resources" which affect your ability to win. These are: Name recognition is how much people know your name, and know who you are. This gives you a bigger amount of people to convince to vote for you and gives you a better chance of doing well early on in the race. Trustworthiness is very important for many independent voters and is the trust that voters have that you will keep your promises, believe what you say, and are not corrupt. Likeability is the appeal the candidate have as a person, and how much the voters would want to meet the candidate. Fundraising is the ability to raise money, it is key for being able to stay in the race and spend on commercials. Finally, legitimacy is the voters' view of the candidate as viable, experienced, a good speaker, and in the primary the belief that they could win the general election.
 * Name Recognition
 * Trustworthiness
 * Likeability
 * Fundraising
 * Legitimacy

Groups
There are several groups of people (for example religions, factions within a party, races, economic classes, etc.), and each group has a general position on each issue, different priorities on different issues, and they will have different views for each candidate. Each state has a different mix of these groups, and candidates have a different amount of the resources among each group. However, it is important to determine which groups you want to gain support from, and as a result determine where you will campaign. Every category has a group of "other" or "mixed", which will be counted as more of the national average. Below are a list of the groups :

Racial: Religious: Economic Class: Education: Gender/Sexual Orientation
 * White
 * Black
 * Hispanic/Latino
 * Asian/Pacific Islander
 * Mixed Race
 * Unidentified/Atheist/Agnostic
 * Evangelical Protestant
 * Mainline Protestant
 * Catholic
 * Mormon
 * Jewish
 * Muslim
 * Lower Class/Poverty
 * Middle Class
 * Upper Middle Class
 * Very Rich
 * No High School Degree
 * High School Degree
 * College Degree
 * Advanced Degree
 * Current Student
 * Heterosexual Men
 * Heterosexual Women
 * LGBT

Current Political Situation
This is still being constructed, and is not complete yet:

Backstory (Presidential Election Game)

How to Join
Candidates can join until January 15th, when the primary campaigning will begin. Candidates can join after that but will be at a disadvantage. ONLY REALISTIC CANDIDATES ARE ALLOWED, NO TROLLING. Furthermore,  'only candidates who fit the constitutional requirements and have answered a good amount of the policy questions will be accepted. All candidates who do not meet this critea will be ruled out on January 30th.'  To join, you must fill out the following form in the talk page :
 * Candidate Name:
 * Age:
 * Gender:
 * Religion (include denomination):
 * Race:
 * Party Affiliation:
 * Home State:
 * State of Birth:
 * Current Job:
 * Past Government Positions (if applicable):
 * Job before Politics (usually lawyer, soldier, businessman, etc.):
 * Issue most stressed:
 * Secondary Issue:
 * Campaign Slogan:
 * Other Notes:

Candidates

 * Democrat
 * Vice President Charles Morgan (IL)
 * Senator Robert McCarthy (CT)
 * Senator John Callison (VA)
 * Senator Lelia Afewerek (MN)
 * Abdallah Salem (NY)
 * Governor Eric Harjo (NY)
 * Senator Cameron (MN)
 * Republican
 * Senator Morgan Ryder (TX)
 * Senator Ralph Turnip (OR)
 * Representative Richard Thorpe (ID)
 * Senator Richard A. "Rocky" Champion (PA)
 * Libertarian
 * Governor Ron Jones (KY)
 * Senator Luke Recks (NH)
 * Independent
 * Mayor Abram Klements (CA)

Current Polls
Libertarian, Democratic, and Republican national, Iowa, and New Hampshire polls will all come on January 25th.

Endorsements
Libertarian, Democratic, and Republican endorsements will begin to come on January 25th.

Current Issues
Please comment your responses to the following questions. Part of your strategy is when you answer these questions, including whether you spread out the answers, answer them immediately, or answer them later. For these questions, you can answer the obvious answers (such as pro-choice and pro-life) or some sort of middle ground (pro-life except in cases of rape). The real election season will not start until January 25th, and until then, please answer all of the following 39 questions.

Domestic Issues

 * What is your position on gay marriage?
 * Senator Ryder: Civil Union but not Marriage
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Civil Union only.
 * Senator McCarthy: We should certainly encourage the LGBT community to marry each other as they please.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY): As written in Liberterian doctrine, personal rights shall not be determined by government. LGBT's should be allowed to marry and care for children as they so please.
 * Senator Luke Recks (L-NH): I don't think that, as a politician, I should determine who is allowed to get married or not. The consistent libertarian position is to get government out of the marriage business altogether and eliminate the penalties government thrusts upon American citizens based off personal decisions.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): Wholly legal without restriction.
 * Abdallah Salem (D-NY): There should be no difference between a straight marriage and a gay marriage. It should simply be called 'Marriage'. Same-Sex relationships and marriages should not be restricted in any way by the government.
 * Mayor Abram Klements: I think this whole "debate" on gay marriage is the biggest time filler created by the news media in the history of the nation. Many conservatives have recently "came out" in favor of civil unions in an effort to remain relevant, but the fact of the matter is, a "civil union" is legalese for government-licensed marriage itself. I honestly have no problem with gays getting married, but let's please leave this debacle to the vultures and move on with more important things.
 * Senator Champion (R-PA): The federal government should not interfere with marriage until the point of severe legal and moral issues, such as pedophilia, bestiality, or incest. When I am elected president I will remove federal sanctions on marriage and allow the people to decide who they want to marry.
 * Vice President Charles Morgan (D-IL): I believe marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman. Civil unions are for those who prefer the non-traditional relationships, and that should be how it is. As president, I will keep this as the status quo, and go so far as to ensure that the Constitution of the United States is amended to keep it that way. We should not be held whim to the sexual proclivities of a minority seeking to twist what has been the norm for every human civilization for the last six thousand years of recorded history. I believe societies acceptance of such behavior can be linked with the media's aggressive policing of free speech, condemning what people's attitudes had been no more than 10-15 years ago, and promoting sexual behaviors which most regarded as obscene for no other reason than to feel better about their identity. As a moral people, we cannot accept immoral behavior, no matter how far we wish to justify such obscenities.
 * Governor Eric Harjo (D-NY): Civil Union only. Also, I didn't like those LGBT flags flying, as we should weakened LGBT community in United States by banning LGBT flags and images for public use, while private is well okay.
 * Senator Cameron: No restriction on marriage unless moral boundaries are crossed such as pedophilia, bestiality, and incest. If I am elected president I will remove most federal marriage restrictions.
 * What is your position on abortion?
 * Senator Ryder: Ban after 9 weeks
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): I have no issues with abortion. It current statue is enough and good for everyone.
 * Senator McCarthy: I am certainly pro-choice.
 * Senator Luke Recks (L-NH): Abortion has been one of the most divisive issues in American politics since Roe vs. Wade was decided over 40 years ago. While I am personally opposed to abortions, I don't see the government as having a role in forcing its opinion upon all of the American populace.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): The government must end its war on women by providing additional funding and preventing states from placing unconstitutional restrictions on abortion, as seen in Texas and Alabama. That said, the standards set out by Roe vs. Wade seem fair guidelines.
 * Abdallah Salem (D-NY): Similar to Senator Recks, I myself dislike abortion. Yet my opinion should not influence the choice of women nationwide. While I am totally opposed to abortion being used as a sort of birth control, I have yet to see it implemented in such a fashion. Abortion should be legal as long as a certified doctor says it would be safe for the woman undergoing the procedure.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY): Abortion has been a very broad and contreversial topic for many years. Since prople from different parts of the country cannot decide the national position on abortion, I propose individual states choose their position on this.
 * Mayor Abram Klements: As usual, the debate on abortion has degenerated into partisian nose-thumbing. People make a lot of noise about all of the special cases in which the mother's life is threatened, but they really only constitute a small percentage of all abortions. In the majority of cases, it's a conflict of liberties (right to life vs right to control one's body). As far as I'm concerned, the current laws have served us well enough, and have given us safe and humane abortions, so I say we keep Roe vs Wade.
 * Senator Champion (R-PA): Abortion should only be an option if the mother was raped, under-aged, or if the mother suffers from any form of disability or disease that would threaten her life if she was to bear or give birth to a child.
 * Vice President Charles Morgan (D-IL): Abortion is wrong. I say this as a father and a husband. You may wish to dehumanize the life growing within a mother by calling it a "parasite" or a "cluster of cells", but it will always remain a growing human life. Abortion doesn't benefit the mother. Rather it harms her. Studies regarding the aftermath of an abortion have shown that women who abort are more likely to suffer emotional depression as a result of their actions, and this haunts them well into their later years. My mother had an abortion once, and only once. She told me how it hurt her emotionally. How it upset her that she deprive her unborn child the right to life. She cried about it and never forgot that decision. Women who abort, in my honest opinion, anger me. They put themselves in a position of emotion distress over an issue of "women's rights". No person, not even a woman, has the right to deny life to the unborn. And you need only look at the adverse effects of abortion on a woman after the fact to see proof of that.
 * Governor Eric Harjo (D-NY): Abortion is killing new-born babies! How about watching young children dies? No it would't happen same again! We must stop and ban Abortion immediately!
 * Senator Cameron: The government should not interfere with abortion
 * How much funding should Planned Parenthood receive from the federal government?
 * Senator Ryder: Some
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Some
 * Senator McCarthy: Not too much as to completely drain our budget, but enough so that it can continue to successfully encourage birth control and proper reproductive health services to all women in this country.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): As much as necessary to ensure that reproductive health services are widely available.
 * Abdallah Salem (D-NY): Planned Parenthood is essential to the lives of some women, it offers healthcare, not just abortions, to women that are underprivileged and should definitely be funded by the federal government.
 * Senator Champion (R-PA): The federal government should not fund any member or body of the private sector unless it affects the federal government itself. My official stance is to cut funding to Planned Parenthood and any other private agency that does not affect the federal government.
 * Vice President Charles Morgan (D-IL): Planned Parenthood should be allowed to have government funding. Somehow during the years, some of forgotten that the organization does more than provide abortions, but also provided assistance to women needed prenatal treatment, advice on gender-related issues, therapy for new mothers suffering from postpartum depression, and more. We need only deal with the issues related to abortion. The institution that helps women in more than one way need not be torn down for but one glaring issue.
 * Governor Eric Harjo (D-NY): Some.
 * Senator Cameron: Enough to keep it running.
 * Senator Luke Recks (L-NH) : As President, my budget will not fund Planned Parenthood. That is not because I hate the organization or am opposed to abortions. It is because my budget will not fund a variety of nonessential services in exchange for a heft deduction in taxes and simplifying healthcare for all Americans. To me, it isn't a question or not of whether Planned Parenthood should receive federal funds as it is whether any nonprofit should receive federal funds, and that answer is no.
 * What restrictions do you support on the purchase of guns and ammunition?
 * Senator Ryder: If you have been to prison for more than a year or have a mental health issue. Plus no automatic weapons otherwise go nuts.
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): I oppose the restrictions on guns, as every American must be able to access needs to protect himself. We have the right to protect ourselves and our country.
 * Senator McCarthy: We should limit the accessibility of guns to the general public, especially former criminals and the mentally ill. The Constitution says that a "well-organized militia" should have the right to bear arms, not the general public.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): We must end the spate of recent mass shooting by drastically reducing the availability of guns, especially automatic weapons, which should be banned, and implementing full background checks on all gun purchasers, as well as ensuring that all gun sales are regulated. The Second Amendment is, like any other right, qualified.
 * Abdallah Salem (D-NY): There must be a background check implemented on the sale of all guns that would not allow those who have been to prison for a major offense or the mentally unstable to buy a gun. Also, automatic weapons must be made illegal, no one needs such a dangerous weapon, it would most definitely not be very helpful for self defense.
 * Senator Luke Recks (L-NH): Here's the problem: the asker presumes us to support restrictions on gun ownership! We ought to be asked whether or not we support restrictions at all - and the clear answer is that any restriction on gun rights is unconstitutional! As Governor of New Hampshire, I supported open carry without licensure, and as a Senator, I've been a vocal supporter of national concealed-carry reciprocity, a fight we will win if I am elected President.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY): Perhaps we should look at the Second Amendment, "...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." It already has been shown that more guns equal less crime, so why should there be restrictions? Most mass shootings were in areas that were gun free zones (the recent Paris attacks as an example). If I'm elected president, you will be able to protect yourself confidently, knowing that I don't want to change your resriction on what you want to protect yourself with.
 * Mayor Abram Klements: People have been completely misled on gun control. Nobody cares about facts for their own sake anymore, instead both sides distort them to push their own agendas. Violent crime in the US has steadily declined since its heydey in the 1920s, but we still lead developed nations in gun violence. However, the "leading developed nations in gun violence" statistic is frequently pulled out of context, with liberals claiming that the US has the highest rate of violent crime/murder in the developed world. This is false. Many European nations have higher rates of murder than the US, and do you honestly care whether someone uses a gun, knife, their fists, or whatever to kill someone? Death is death. Granted, we need to shore up background checks and the like to discourage mass shootings, but we need to adopt policies that don't restrict the rights of law-abiding Americans to own guns to preserve our right to bear arms while maximizing national security.
 * Senator Champion (R-PA): If we were to increase, or even continue, restrictions on firearms and ammunition, we would be reentering the tyranny we faced over 225 years ago when the Union Jack flew over what is now our great nation. If anything, we should loosen the restriction on firearms and ammunition. Look at Chicago, for example. Chicago has one of the highest violent crime rates in the nation and also possesses the strictest gun control laws in the country.
 * Vice President Charles Morgan (D-IL): We must understand two things. First, the Second Amendment was solely for the militia. Though the Supreme Court "clarified" this matter, no doubt with plenty of NRA lobbying, the spirit of the amendment was that of an issue related to the state of the country in the 1700s. Second, most Americans are not gun owners, and support comprehensive gun laws. Many Americans are appalled by the lack of true regulatory laws on gun ownership, and want the laws to be changed to that effect. Guns have their place in American society, but we lack a culture that gives gun ownership the proper respect with regards to their usage and place in the country. I wish to regulate military-grade weapons, and leave on sporting guns and guns for self-defense below the 9mm range to the public. There is no reason a man or a woman needs a heavy combat rifle. We've romantized weaponry to the point that the ownership of a gun for self-defense has exploded into an orgy of gun glorification.
 * Senator Cameron: Guns have become an evermore divisive issue in American politics due to terrorism and the rise of gun violence. I believe an enhancement of background checks are necessary. Also I believe in the restriction of Assault weapons allowing only those who have undergone training and background checks to own them.
 * Should marijuana be decriminalized?
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY) - Yes, though the public must be informed of it's side effects on the human body and the ingredients in the drug. Liberterian doctrine says that Personal freedoms should not be determined by the government.
 * Senator Ryder: No
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): No
 * Senator McCarthy: Yes. Marijuana has been proven to be less harmful for your long-term health than cigarettes and alcohol, and we could easily put a tax on marijuana in order to increase our income.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): Marijuana should be legalized, and preferably monopolized by the government as seen in Colorado. Not only that, but we should follow Portugal's lead by making possession of ten days' or less supply of any drug an administrative rather than criminal offence (i.e. subject only to fines).
 * Abdallah Salem (D-NY): Yes, as we have seen in Ireland, where all drugs were decriminalized and only the selling of drugs made criminal, crime has decreased. Furthermore, the legalization of Marijuana would have a positive effect on the country's economy as it can be taxed easily. Also, Marijuana is not nearly as harmful as tobacco and alcohol, which are legal, so the death toll would not likely increase due to the legalization of Marijuana.
 * Senator Luke Recks (L-NH): Marijuana should not only be decriminalized, it should be legalized for all citizens to be able to use responsibly. Studies are showing the drug to be safer than alcohol and tobacco, and instead of allowing American adults to make their own decisions we are throwing more non-violent individuals into jail than nations like China, Russia, and Iran. It's time to take the bold step forward by legalizing marijuana nationally.
 * Mayor Abram Klements: As a university student in UCLA and later a resident of the artist's colony of Mendocino, I can say I have a fair share of experience regarding marijuana (it's a wonder some of you trust me when I open my mouth regarding other subjects). Though marijuana can be used recrationally and successfully taxed and regulated, if we fully legalize marijuana, we will not be just letting a couple of hippies pass around a joint in their basement in peace, we will be inevitably creating a "big tobacco"-style machine that runs on addiction and dependence. Now I honestly think that there is no problem with legalizing marijuana if we regulate it heavily, especially preventing a marijuana lobby from emerging (and cutting down on other lobbyists, but that's a whole other story...)
 * Senator Champion (R-PA): Marijuana should certainly be legalized and taxed across the nation. The legalization of marijuana would make the activity of smoking the substance less taboo and "rebellious," as well as generate more revenue for our economy and our nation as a whole.
 * Vice President Charles Morgan (D-IL): Absolutely not. I say this as a Chicago-native. In my youth, I saw the use of marijuana led to the use of stronger drugs, which destroyed communities and people as productive members of society. What few people tend to realize is that weed is a gateway drug, one which sees the brain develop a resistance to the high weed provides, and leads to the individual seeking a stronger high, one which marijuana doesn't provide. Furthermore, the THC levels in marijuana destroys brain cells. You may have television doctors try to sell you the myth that that isn't the case, but it is. Many users of the drug are underaged, and their brains are still developing. Imagine the effect a mind-destroying drug has on a person who's mind is still developing? Is that the type of person, the type of generation we want to replace us in thirty to forty years? I refuse to allow such a narocatic on the streets of America.
 * Governor Eric Harjo (D-NY): No. Marijuana must be banned forever!
 * Senator Cameron: Marijuana offences should be reduced to misdemeanors rather than felonies. This will lower costs and have less non violent people in jail.
 * Should corporations be able to fund campaigns through PACs?
 * Senator Ryder: Yes
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): It is a free country.
 * Senator McCarthy: I believe so. While there is a small risk of corruption, their intentions are almost always for the greater good of us politicians.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): No, corporate money is destroying the political process and making politicians beholden to wealthy interests.
 * Abdallah Salem (D-NY): Super-PACs allow companies to buy candidates and are a form of legal corruption, it allows companies to have more of a hand in the government than citizens, ruining the democracy this country stands for. Anyone who says otherwise has likely taken major contributions from large, private enterprises.
 * Senator Luke Recks (L-NH): While I don't have a problem with super PACs funding campaigns, our current system is stacked unfailry against the everyday American. Middle class Americans are limited in how much they can donate to their favorite candidates while big business has no such limitation. If its your legally-earned money, then you should be able to spend it however you please.
 * Mayor Abram Klements: Of course not. Super PACs are essentially a form of legalized corruption that have, through gentleman's agreements and legal fiction, come to strangle our nation and prevent our nation from working in the way it was intended to. How else can you explain a nation where the vast majority of Americans are distrustworthy of our government, but we have political dynasties dominating politics? We need to outlaw Super PACs and restore the legitimacy of our government.
 * Vice President Charles Morgan (D-IL): If you allow corporations to fund candidates through super PACs, then you are allowing corporate interests to pollute the political process, and buy politicians who will naturally side with them rather than the American people. That is a form of corruption that no true American would ever allow. At least I hope that would be the case. Must we bring up the example of BP and their use of bribes and lobbying to allow them to skirt the regulations place on them, that effectively polluted the Gulf of Mexico?
 * Senator Cameron: I agree with the Vice President and feel Super PACs only exist to support the best interests of a company not the people. Super PACs pollute the political process.
 * Should the NSA be able to collect phone records?
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY) - No. The government has no right to interfere with the right of the people's 4th amendment right to not have their property searched for information. The government has no right to see or hear whatever you say, think, or do.
 * Senator Ryder: If they are of suspect nature or background such as having the name Mohammed, Yes
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Yes, as this is an important part of the job the NSA does to protect our country against terrorism.
 * Senator McCarthy: If they are suspected terrorists or criminals, yes. Everyone else should be allowed to keep their privacy.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): Only under strict judicial oversight, with the same restrictions as are applied to search warrants.
 * Abdallah Salem (D-NY): Terrorism is a serious threat to this country, the NSA helps keep us safe. However, phone records of every average joe, shouldn't be collected. The NSA should only keep it's eyes on suspected criminals in order to prevent crime and terrorism.
 * Senator Luke Recks (L-NH) : The right of the people to be secure in their persons is enshrined in our Bill of Rights. The PATRIOT Act and the NSA's bulk collection of metadata not only directly contradict our Constitution, but they also make it more difficult to spot terrorists because of the piles of non-terrorist data that is being picked up by the millions. Reforming the NSA will not only preserve freedoms, but it will also make our nation safer against terrorism.
 * Senator Champion (R-PA): The NSA should be strictly forbidden from monitoring anyone and everyone at any time. The only time the NSA should be allowed to conduct surveillance is through a warrant. If there is no warrant, then the surveillance is unconstitutional and highly illegal.
 * Vice President Charles Morgan (D-IL): The government has a responsibility to protect its citizens. However, that right does not allow it to spy on its citizens. When you allow the government to spy on the people, the people are left to the whims of an oppressive government that completely defies the rights of privacy every American is entitled to. The NSA should have known better, but being a government agency, any relaxation of regulation of their abilities is one which they accepted with open arms. I will stop this, and find better ways of protecting the people if I must.
 * Senator Cameron: The government has no right to collect the records of every single citizens. The government should be required to have warrants to search records. This will increase the amount of privacy law-abiding citizens have.
 * Should the government raise the retirement age for social security?
 * Senator Ryder: No
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): It is something we should concider.
 * Senator McCarthy: No. The age of 65 is a good enough age for us to begin providing social security, and raising the retirement age isn't going to be that beneficial to us in the long run.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY) - The government should find a way in the long run to make social security age older. When the program was adopted back in 1935, the average life expectancy was shorter than it is today. So yes, the retirement age should be moved backed one month a year until we reach a more appropriate age for our life expectancies.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): The government should be doing more, not less, to help low-income seniors. No.
 * Abdallah Salem (D-NY): No, there are many people age 65 who already find it hard to retire due to taxes taken by the government. We should consider lowering the amount of taxes we take from social security.
 * Senator Luke Recks (L-NH): When Social Security was adopted back in the 1930s, its purpose wasn't to provide an income for retired folks. It was meant to prevent the extremely old from falling into poverty; indeed, the average life expectancy in 1935 was less than 65! Over time, we must restore Social Security to its rightful place as insurance for those who outlast their retirement saving and live beyond their average life expectancy.
 * Mayor Abram Klements: As is, the retirement age is fine, but if the Social Security fund runs into trouble, we'll need to raise the age. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
 * Senator Champion (R-PA): With technology rapidly improving and our lifespans increase with an ever-growing population, we need to realize that people are going to be able to work for more of their life, and that with the elderly living longer, Social Security will eventually become too expensive to maintain. We need to raise the age in accordance with modern day technology, medicine, and lifespans.
 * Vice President Charles Morgan (Presidential Election Game)|Charles Morgan]] (D-IL): My colleague Senator Champion is correct. Social Security will become too expensive to maintain as it will require the government to support individuals who can work and still provide for themselves, but has opted to retire and have the government support them until they die. Given that the average American is living far longer than they had when I was born, I believe that the retirement age should be raised. Naturally, many left-leaning members of the government and those who identify with the left in society, will oppose this, but what they either do not understand or refuse to accept, is that we simply cannot maintain such a system with the age set as low as it is. We should strive to adopt a system similar to Germany's. That nation has a populace with a strong work ethnic, with members of the German nation working well into their 70s and even 80s before retiring. They can work and they do. When they can't work then they appeal to the government for retirement benefits, and that is how it should be. That is my goal for the presidency.
 * Senator Cameron: I agree with my colleague senator Champion and feel the social security age should be increased. However, low income seniors should have the option for early social security.
 * What steps should the government take to make college more affordable?
 * Senator Ryder: All students who wish to apply for college loans must become a reservist to receive a loan for college to be repayed in Federal taxes over their lifetime.
 * Senator McCarthy: We should limit the amount that students have to pay for tuition for college.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): Preferably, by making college free as seen in Denmark or Norway, perhaps funded by a capital gains tax.
 * Abdallah Salem (D-N): Many students land themselves in debt up until retirement age because they wanted a good education and opportunity for themselves. I believe that here in the states we should follow the lead of Scandinavia and make college free for students.
 * Senator Luke Recks (L-NH): If we analyze college affordability from an economic perspective, an interesting conclusion arises: as federal programs such as Pell grants increase, the price of college increases. Why is this? Supply remains constant as demand surges. To solve this problem, we need to use common economic sense and make federal programs contingent upon universities keeping tuition down for all students. We must also make student loans more affordable by getting political interests out of the way and allowing the free market to solve the problem.
 * Mayor Abram Klements: In this case, I think we should take a cue from the Scandinavian countries. To allow poor students the ability to go to college without picking the pockets of the many, we should make state college free or at least heavily reduced if students with parents under a certain income level score high enough on their SATs.
 * Vice President Charles Morgan (D-IL): Colleges are a private institution. The government can help to make college affordable for some people, but it is up to the colleges themselves to make their services avaliable to the masses. The only thing the government can do would be to encourage such institutions to lower their tuition fees. They can but they choose not too, and given that these are private bodies, they have that right. Higher education is not a right, but a privilege, one which the people must work hard to attain if they truly want it. If the people want affordable education, there is no shortage of public colleges they can go to if they want, but that is something that must be on the table, and for the majority of Americans, it is not. Having "Harvard" on your resume sounds a lot better rather than "University of Texas". It is the imagine people want, not the education.
 * Senator Cameron: The government should lower interest on student loans and offer more extensive income assistance.
 * Do you support the Common Core?
 * Senator Ryder: Yes
 * Senator McCarthy: As a moderate liberal, I certainly do. The Common Core provides a greater mental challenge for children to face, and in the long run it'll make our youth even smarter and more aware of the current situation our country is facing.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): Yes.
 * Abdallah Salem (D-NY): I agree with some degree of standardization in education but I believe that the current common core curriculum is not very effective. i support experimenting with charter schools to find better options for school curriculums nationwide.
 * Mayor Abram Klements: Yes, as it gives people all across the nation a fair and equal chance in life via education. However, we need to reform our curriculum to make it more effective. We need to continue ironing out the kinks as Common Core matures.
 * Vice President Charles Morgan (D-IL): Common Core is vital to the American youth as it provides them with a single and comprehensive education throughout the country. The problem is that regionalism has been the bane of the system, with states and counties refusing to budge on what they consider an infringement upon their authority. The high levels of autonomy the federal government has provided them has divided the nation on something as simple as teaching the next generation of Americans. I agree there are many problems with the system, such as the debate over evolution and creationism, and if the government should allow for some room on that subject. Atheists and Christians will fight over that no doubt, but I wish to first get the groundwork laid down before moving on to those topics. For the time being, we must push ahead with this development, and not let it be held captive by the whims of regionalists.
 * Senator Luke Recks (L-NH) : As a student years ago, I was always interested when my class would get a new student, but one thing that seemed odd was that new students could be anywhere from a year ahead to a year behind our curriculum. The right of states to establish their own curriculum ought not be infringed by the federal government, but as a Governor I have endorsed the idea of coordinating all state curricula at the same high, internationally-competitive standards. As President, I will ensure that governors have the resources to tie curricula together without assigning a Washington beauracrat to set a single national standard.
 * Should the government allow the Death Penalty?
 * Senator Ryder: Yes
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Yes
 * Senator McCarthy: I believe not. The death penalty costs us too much yearly, and is an unusually barbaric and cruel thing to do in 2016.
 * Representative Afewerek (D-MN): No. It is cruel and unusual and thus unconstitutional. States with the death penalty have the highest crime rates, showing its total lack of deterrent impact, and death row is significantly more expensive than life imprisonment.
 * Abdallah Salem (D-NY): Hundreds if not thousands of innocent people have been sentenced to death and then exonerated afterward. This is unacceptable and on top of that the death penalty is very expensive, I believe everyone would benefit from it's discontinuation.
 * Mayor Abram Klements: At this point in time, the death penalty is only around because some people want it to be around. It's hardly ever used and it costs more than it should. From a purely economic standpoint, we should discard the death penalty.
 * Senator Champion (R-PA): Yes. The death penalty is best for ensuring that our worst criminals will never come back to harm us again.
 * Vice President Charles Morgan (D-IL): Absolutely. We cannot allow criminals to leech off of the government and the taxpayers simply because we find the death penalty "problematic". Those against such a system ought to remember what the crimes worthy of death are, and reconsider their position. Executions serve as a deterent to those who would even consider such abhorrent acts deserving of death, and to remove this punishment would be to remove a solid deterrent many crimes.
 * Senator Cameron: The death penalty is very inefficient moneywise coupled with the fact that many innocent people have been on death row. The death penalty is not necessary.
 * Senator Luke Recks (L-NH) : Our Declaration of Independence enshrines the Lockean rights to life, liberty, and property. Whenever government infringes upon any of these rights, it has overstepped its boundaries, regardless of the reason. The death penalty is an example of government overstepping its boundaries and playing the role of God - the giver and taker-away of life. As Governor, I did not oversee a single death penalty sentence and as President, I will not oversee any federal application of the death sentence. That being said, I will not infringe upon the sovereign rights of the states to apply the death penalty for capital crimes, despite it being the least effective way to keep the populace safe.
 * To what extent do you support affirmative action?
 * Senator Ryder: None
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): I have some support for it, as long as the competences of someone stay the primary focus.
 * Senator McCarthy: I believe that affirmative action is severely flawed. Instead of supporting and encouraging our minorities to engage in activities that would normally be stereotyped as nothing they could achieve, our major corporations purposely look out to employ people of color just to make them seem more racially diverse instead of hiring the most efficient person onto the job. This is an example of reverse discrimination, and it either needs to be outright abolished or significantly reformed.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): The structural obstacles to the success of minorities mean it is essential for an equitable nation.
 * Abdallah Salem (D-NY): Affirmative action is not perfect, but it allows millions of people of color in the United States to achieve higher education and gain the opportunities that they deserve to become successful.
 * Mayor Abram Klements: Affirmative action is a distortion of the core American tenant of equality before the law. With my plans to discount state college for low-income students, affirmative action becomes a burden on the American government and will be, hopefully, phased out.
 * Senator Champion (R-PA): Affirmative action is a terrible idea that only divides us more. Martin Luther King Jr. wished to live "in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." Affirmative action is doing the exact opposite of what Dr. King wished for.
 * Senator Luke Recks (L-NH) : I believe in a truly free-market economy for labor; that means the government shall not discriminate or engage in affirmative action. It also means that the government should not prohibit private actors from discrimination or the use of affirmative action. This free-market, laissez faire system is the best for employers and employees while ensuring that de jure racism remains stamped out of the American system forever.
 * Do you believe global warming exists? If so, what should the government do to stop it?
 * Senator Ryder: It exists but it is the fault of China and India largely and all we can do is make moderate investments in finding green technology to replace our current tech without creating inefficiencies.
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Global Warming is just something made up to slow down our economy.
 * Senator McCarthy: Global warming is a huge problem in our nation, and we are the ones that primarily cause it. China and India certainly don't help the situation, but we're basically forced to deal with this ourselves as a nation. As such, we must adopt more green and environmentally-friendly energy sources and technology in order to halt global warming.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): Yes, it is real, imminent and potentially devastating, and we need to end coal power production, increase subsidies for solar and wind power, and fund sustainable technologies such as electric cars. Strict emission targets should be enforced through a cap-and-trade system or carbon tax, and the United States should sign onto the Kyoto Protocol and endorse a 1.5 degrees target in global temperature rise.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY): Personally, I not believe that global warming exists. Climate forecasters have been calling for a catestropic increase in global tempratues for decades, but nonetheless their predictions were wrong. Also, if global warming exists, why is there a record amount of artic and antartic ice? This entire global warming idea has also called for regulation if C02 emmissions, which are essential to factories in developing countries and buisnesses. The earth has also naturally warmed and cooled down during it's history, and we are currently in a time period where it is warming up (heck, the last Ice Age was only 20,000 years ago). The public must be informed that countries and busnisesses are being crippled by regulations, and that the earth naturally warms and cools down over periods of time.
 * Abdallah Salem (D-NY): Climate change is one of the most pressing problems of our time. Our actions today dictate how we live mere decades from now. We must carry out legislation to reduce greenhouse emissions of our country. We must also place more government funding toward the research of renewable and clean energy sources. While it is easy to blame the problem of climate change on countries such as China and India we must understand that we are the world's second biggest greenhouse gas emitter and this must be changed.
 * Mayor Abram Klements: I believe global warming is the #1 problem that the world will face in the 21st century. Though it may not be completely apparent by now, the vast majority of scientists believe that it is happening, and the evidence backs them up. Many will argue that even if global warming does exist, we have more pressing problems as is. If so, will we have to wait until global warming has reared its ugly head and become a much larger dragon. What will we think then? No, we need to tackle the problem while it is still managable. I propose a carbon tax and cap and trade laws to begin the transition to renewable energy, and subsidies towards renewable energy development.
 * Vice President Charles Morgan (D-IL): Of course it exists. Those against the idea are either zealots or profiting from the event. I'm a devout Christian and believe quite strongly that global warming is real. Members of the faith may argue that God wouldn't allow global warming to happen, but it would be wise to note that God wouldn't have inspired the Apostle John to write the latter part of Revelations 11:18, which reads God would "...bring to ruin those ruining the earth." The earth is being ruined, and the Bible foretold that. So I have every reason to believe that global warming is very real and very dangerous. The government should punish corporations who knowingly disregard environment regulations, and push for the development of new sources of energy. Many like to point out the failure of Solindra, but fail to realize that the cost for the company and its ensuing bankruptcy came from Solindra needing to replace its solar cells with more efficent types to make solar power both affordable and a realistic alternative to coal and oil. Solar panels are expensive, and designing and replacing them even more so. Now expand that to an entire company and you see the problem and the $500 million dollar hole Solindra created. Research into alternative energies has to be both serious and effective. Alternative energy is nice on paper, but must be affordable and realistic in practice to be effective, and I believe the government can help with that transition.
 * Senator Cameron: Global Warming is a serious threat. It is clearly seen by the unprecedented weather and more extreme seasons. Our future generations will have to deal with cities disappearing. we must begin incentives for alternative energy as well as fines for corporations that pollute the environment. We must also help protect species on the verge of extintion
 * Senator Luke Recks (L-NH) : I am no scientist, and honestly the evidence on climate change can be made to point in either direction. As a policy-maker, however, there are a few key takeaways from talk of global warming. The first is the need for a vibrant energy sector. As a supporter of all-of-the-above energy policy, that means enabling companies to look into green energy as well as opening up our substantial natural resource reserves. I am also opposed to heavy regulation of our economy to save the environment; it is in economically-advanced regions such as the United States and Europe where the environment is cleanest, compared to develloping nations like India and China.

Economic Issues

 * What is your tax plan (one of the most important questions)?
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): I plan to increase taxes on the upper class, and also slightly increase taxes for the upper middle class as well. I will use this extra money in our budget to fund other significant programs, such as education and better health care for our citizens.
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Americans have the right to use their money like they want. The taxes are already to high, and I plan on cutting them as soon as I'll arrive in office.
 * Senator Champion (R-PA): All Americans should be allowed the right to use their own money without the government reaching into their pocket to take it away. Most of us are extremely frustrated by the IRS, which is an arduous program that steals any hardworking American's money. I will work at completely removing the IRS from our tax structure, as well as extending tax cuts to all classes.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): Capitalism does not self-correct towards greater equality - instead, wealth has a snowballing effect, triggering massive economic inequalities. The wealthiest 0.1% are worth more than the bottom 90% today in the United States because of a corrupt political system which advantages the wealthy and allows them to impose self-interested laissez-faire, anti-union policies on the rest of society. To fix this, we need to remove deductions on taxes on capital gains, add additional taxes on high consumption and consumption of luxury goods, and raise taxes on very high earners, which will enable us to fund an improved social safety net, better schools and free college to restore true equality of opportunity.
 * Senator Ryder: Those who work hard should not be punished. I will make taxes more fair on the middle and upper class as well lower them across the board.
 * Senator Cameron: As senator Afewerek had said the top 0.1% had more income than the bottom 90%. This is unacceptable. Under my plan I would raise the tax rate of the top 0.1 percent to 45%. The upper middle class may also see a small increase in taxes.
 * Abdallah Salem: Not only are the top 1% worth more than the bottom 90%, our infrastructure is in total disrepair, we must increase taxes on those who make more than 200,000 $ yearly to 40% in order to fund welfare and healthcare. I shall however not increase taxes on any other socio-economic class.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY): Does it seem lawful for the government to take your worked earnings? Ladies and gentlemen, let's pretend that we're criminals on a highway, robbing thoses for cash. Would it seem ethical to take money against somebody's wishes? Would it make the person any more better if they were an IRS agent? Ladies and Gentlemen, I am here to help stop those robbers from stealing your hard worked cash. What I propose is this; A fifteen percent tax cut all around, so investors can feel more confident in investing in new buisnesses and buildings to create more jobs. It's happened before (See Reganomics), and has had major suscsess. If I'm given the Liberterian nomination, I will fight big government to let you what you want with your tax money, and to strengthen the economy for the United States of America. TL;DR - Less taxes equals more avalible cash, which equals a less poor lower class and middle class. The rich can invest in more buisnesses and create more jobs, strengthening our economy
 * What do you plan to do about the growing debt?
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): All we have to do in order to fix this debt is properly control our budget. If we can raise the income tax and provide greater protection for the fragile real estate business that caused us to plunge into a recession just almost a decade ago, I believe we can certainly keep this economy afloat.
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): The dept is mainly due to the large among of expanses from the Walker Administration. Cuts in governments programs that are useless will be needed to deal withthe debt.
 * Senator Champion (R-PA): The first thing we need to do to lower our debt is to privatize programs that we provide, such as Amtrak or Medicare and Medicaid. The next thing we need to do is stop spending our money on anything that serves no purpose.
 * Senator Ryder: While we need to balance the budget as soon as we can don't worry we are America.What are they going to do repossess.
 * Abdallah Salem (D-NY): 
 * What do you plan to do about social security?
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): Social security is something we shouldn't necessarily touch until we can properly manage our budget. Once that happens, then we can fix social security so more of our lower class elderly citizens can afford to live in peace and prosperity without worrying about their next meal or place to sleep.
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): I believe that we should reduce Social Security. If not, we'll end up just like Canada, where some peoples literally live out of Social Security for years! We need to stimulate the economy, not slow it!
 * Senator Champion (R-PA): When I'm president, I will establish a "cut-off" on Social Security that will make it obsolete in several decades. This cut-off will make Social Security not mandatory for those born on and after a certain year. While this will not completely end Social Security, this will mark the beginning of the end of a program that could suck us down into billions of dollars of spending.
 * Senator Ryder: I will make it so that when you go onto social security you still have to work part time until you are declared medically un fit for work.
 * Senator Cameron: As my colleague senator McCarthy said Social Security should not be drastically changed until we can effectively manage our budget.
 * Do you think that the large banks in the US should be broken up?
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): I certainly believe so. These major banking corporations are choking out smaller banking companies and abusing capitalism, so I think we must establish more anti-trust laws that protect these small businesses from instantly failing.
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Although I believed we had some thrust issues with them in the recent years, I do believe that the Banks o America are one of the pillars of our economy" We just need to made sure to put in place programs to help them in case of needs, so that no major crisis could come out of it.
 * Senator Ryder: I will never break the large banks up. Emplace some reasonable regulations and have money ready to avoid them collapsing yes but I will not break them up.
 * If the government required you to cut funding to some government programs, what would you cut?
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): I would possibly cut the Common Core and a few other education programs. The youth of America is important, but we must establish at least basic healthcare and social security to our older citizens.
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): We must cut in the healthcare and all those programs. Americans should be able to protect themselves without the government telling them to do it.
 * Senator Ryder: I will cut government funded healthcare and welfare as well as a gradual decrease on the social security.
 * Senator Cameron: I would cut military spending
 * What should the federal minimum wage be?
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): We should raise it from $7.25 to a solid $9, which is enough to support at least a low-income family for a fair while.
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): The minimum wage should be able to support the Americans and help them to live their life to their fullest.
 * Senator Ryder: I will keep it the same. The current regulation ensures no slave labour but good margins for companies.
 * Senator Cameron: Minimum wage should be increased to 9 dollars an hour.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): It is impossible to live on $7.35 or even $9 an hour. We need a $15 minimum wage nationally, and that's what I will put in place if elected President, combined with restrictions on businesses to prevent them dodging paying it.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY): The Federal minimum wage should be kept the same. Simply put, if the minimum wage is increased, companies would then have to lay off workers because they would become such a huge expense for them. Plus, this shouldn't be a major worry; my tax plan should allow investors to create jobs in poorer neighborhoods because they would to be able to create jobs to help people live. Plus, with my tax cuts, the people would have less of a burden to worry about when trying to live.
 * How do you plan to lower the unemployment rate, and help those currently unemployed?
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): I plan to lower it by increasing the minimum wage so jobs can be more attractive to unemployed citizens, and I believe we must slightly decrease the amount of welfare our unemployed citizens recieve in order to encourage them to look for jobs in the market.
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): First, we must make sure that our jobs are not steal by illegal immigrants. Then, we need to help the corporations and enterprises in their attempt to stimulate economy and create new jobs all over America.
 * Senator Ryder: It is not the governments job to help you get a job. We must provide a low tax and good trading environment conductive to business growth and an education which teaches you how to work.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY): Decreasing the tax rate on the rich allows them to invest in more factories and buildings that create jobs and busiesnesses. As I said in my tax reform. If we cut taxes enough, taxpayers would be able to more confidently able to invest knowing that they have more money to fall back onto if something goes wrong. It's happened before, and it needs to happen again.
 * Do you believe labor unions help or hurt the economy?
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): Labor unions help maintain our workers great pay, defend their rights in the workplace, and various other righteous things. They certainly are great organizations.
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): When they were created, they did help America to get where it is now. But I think that today's Unions are just slowing economy and making life more difficult for both employers and workers.
 * Senator Ryder: I will remove unions because they damage our economy and are counter- productive.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY): Labor unions create a serious problem to the manufacturer. For example, let's say a recently graduated student (We'll call him Richard) from a state university applies to join a teachers union. Richard was a hard partier, and not much of a serious student actually in school. He applies and gets a job at a high school. Now, the next year, another student graduated (We'll call him Bill) from the same school. Now, Bill, a very hard worker and person, applies to get a job at the same high school as Richard. The staff, knowing that Richard is an incompitent teacher, is unable tombe fired for the better and more prepared student, Bill. So, unions are a big problem for our society, because they allow the incomptetent to stay and the prepared not.
 * Should the government continue to subsidize farmers?
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): Farmers provide a majority of our daily resources, of course I do.
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): We should found our farmers, as it help us protect our market against foreign influence.
 * Senator Ryder: I will ensure that cheap foreign food is not overtaking our own food and I will ensure good conditions but I will not provide funding to farmers.
 * Do you support deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): I totally support the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as it is a great way to get closer with our partners in Asia.
 * Senator Ryder: I do not support it as it loosens our ability to control our own markets but I agree to it in a reduced form.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): The Trans-Pacific Partnership is one of the greatest ways that we can amend our relationships with our partners in Asia, so I certainly support it.
 * How can the US achieve energy independence?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): I believe that we must still continue to help the petrol industries, but that we must also seek for new sources of energy in a close future.
 * Senator Ryder: As the most advanced nation on the earth we should use the most advanced power source which is nuclear. I will ensure money is allocated to the construction of these plants.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): We must cut some of our support of the petrol industries and we must institute greater restrictions on what types of energy can be used on our highways. It's virtually the only way we'll be able to convince these petrol industries that we are certainly serious on our mission to end global warming and achieve complete energy independence.
 * What do you plan to change about the current healthcare system?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): We can all see that the current healthcare system is not working. If I am elected to office, I will change it to make it more profitable for all America.
 * Senator Ryder: I will modify the system so that those who are not paying in will not receive out and loosen the load.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): What President Walker has done with the Affordable Care Act is outstanding in my opinion. While the system isn't necessarily perfect in any sense of the word, it certainly is a lot more stable and effective than any other healthcare system we've adopted in the past. I will try to add on and certainly modify the Act so that even more of our impoverished citizens can be qualified at least under basic healthcare insurace and coverage.
 * Senator Cameron: President Walker's Affordable Care act is a great step for America as a whole. under my healthcare plan we would modify the Affordable Care Act and possibly work our way to a single payer system similar to England. However this is unlikely.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): I would implement single-payer health care, saving middle-class families money by cutting out absurdly high insurance premiums. This is essential and would be one of the main policies of my administration.
 * Would you propose a new fossil fuel tax?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Doing so would only help us kill one of our most important industries in the country, and it would brought the country to recession.
 * Senator Ryder: I will not tax on important industries such as fossil fuels but instead encourage use others.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): We certainly should enact taxes on the petrol industry. This'll not only give us a significant boost in our national income, but it will push the petrol companies to reform their research into greener forms of energy.
 * Senator Cameron: We should not tax fossil fuels but rather provide incentives for alternative energy.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): Gas prices are at their lowest for decades; now is the ideal time to raise the gasoline tax to fund new infrastructure upgrades, such as a high-speed railway linking major cities. We should also implement a carbon tax and heavily subsidize renewable energy sources.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY): No, there is little to no reason on why this is needed. Like I said, why would there be record Artic and Antartic ice cap coverage? Or why would the east coast of the the United States be getting a record amount of snow this weekend? Something is inconsistent here. So no, there should not be a new fossil fuel tax. Plus, it also increases the burden on coorperations, and would increase electrical bills for Americans.

Foreign Affairs Issues
Read Backstory for deatils.
 * What should the US do about its illegal immigrants?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Illegal immigrants are a danger for the rights of every American for a safe job. All they do is stealing local jobs, and we should not allow that.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): We should have tougher legislation that can easily identify any hostile threats to our country, but we should still welcome them in.
 * Senator Afewerek (D-MN): America's strength lies in immigration. With net migration from Mexico now negative, and illegal immigrants an essential part of our economy who do jobs no one else is willing to do, we need to provide a comprehensive path to citizenship for all illegal migrants within our borders, halt the oppressive policies states like Texas apply to illegal immigrants through federal action, and extend federal benefits to illegal immigrants in the immediate term.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY):  Illegal immigrants have and have been a huge problem for our country. 12.6 Million people that aren't supposed to be in this country are taking loads of jobs that could be given to American citizens. What I propose is this; we should give illegal immigrants a specific amount of time to either appy for a visa, or to get out of out country. If they do neither, they should be sentenced to a couple months prison, then deported. That simple.
 * Senator Ryder: We need to toughen up on non- regulated immigration. Any of them caught will be deported and we need to be stern about defending our borders.
 * Senator Cameron: Immigrants strengthen America as a whole. I believe a path to citizenship should be offered to those willing to pay taxes.
 * How much should the US be spending on its military? What cuts should there be, if any?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Cuts? In this period of war and terrorism? We should spend as much as necessary to make sure that the troops can defend America and democracy.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY):  As I said in my tax plan, I said I would cut military spending by a fourth to help pay off our national debt. Moreover, I want to make another point; The United States of America is NOT the world's policeman. We should not interfere with the ideas and intrests of other nations. Quite simple. This country has gotten involved in so many wars, frankly, a return to isolationism would be made in heaven.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): The US has the highest-funded military in the world, of course we should cut the spending at least by a sixth. Our national economy is still floundering because of this, and it'll certainly release some pressure in the economy if we reduce the military spending.
 * Senator Ryder: We cannot cut what makes our country safe and secure. I don't see the US as the world policeman but having served I can tell you the best defence is a good offensive. We need to have a strong and tough military. Do we need to spend our money more carefully yes. The US could still achieve the same level of power or more by turning a number of active soldiers into reservists and putting that money back into the soldiers equipment. The new F-35 is costing the US billions with little actual improvements over current aircraft or other designs which are much cheaper. We need to fight smarter not harder.
 * Senator Cameron: We should cut military spending, particularly when budget cuts are in order. America is not the world's policeman.
 * Should the US intervene in Syria (Syria is different than in OTL, read the backstory)?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Some say that we should stay here and no interfere as democracy is destroyed and populations are murdered. We need to act now, I say, and bring true democracy in the Middle East! Only America can do it, and we will act accordingly.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY):  I think we not should intervine in Syria, because of the fear it may turn into a failed state. I mean, look at what happened. We went into Libya (which I was against) and look at what happened there. It's a mess. I say we let the issue work itself, and then see how it goes afterword. If a democracy arises in Syria, you can expect my full support. However, if a war-bent dictatorship arises, expect American eyes looking overseas if it conflicts with out allies intrests.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): We shouldn't intervene with our troops in the already heated Middle East. Maybe if the Sharia Caliphate was able to completely annex the al-Assad regime then yes, we would, but if not, we'll just continue to send airstrikes to the region instead of our own men and women.
 * Senator Ryder: If the lives of American citizens are not at risk or will not be at risk then I cannot support intervening. Air strikes are to expensive and ineffectual and a ground invasion if expensive and costly. The situation will sort itself out but if a threat to the US arises then as always I will be there to stop it.
 * Should the US accept refugees from civil wars in the middle east?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Would you let a stranger in your home and tell him "Come in! And don't forget to blow my house and kill my daughter!"? Would you?
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY):  Before we even say the word "refugee", a lot of people traveling into Europe aren't even from areas even close to the Sharia Caliphate. Now that that's out of the way, let's look up at Europe. Europe is letting refugees in, and women are now restricted in some places from travelling alone. Or Sweden, where the rape rate alone has increased by 1400%. This is simply because they let "refugees" in. Though I do believe in humanitarian aid for these people, I don't think we should really accept them into our country, as they also may be a Trojan Horse trying to get into our country to cause terror.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): I somewhat agree with Governor Jones on this issue, we must look at the refugee crisis with open eyes and a realist sense of perception. There is a certain chance that these refugees will have the same effect on our country as in Sweden, where rape has dangerously increased. However I also believe that since the US is way bigger in terms of geography than Sweden, it will be less exemplified and more broad. But for now, I say that we accept these refugees with somewhat open arms.
 * Senator Ryder: It is not our problem. It might be nice to take them in but not easy or worth the trouble. They don't speak the language (have no interest in learning) or want to understand our culture. Lets face it they just want to turn up here and turn this place into the hell-hole they came from. Not possible.
 * Senator Cameron: My republican counterparts are fearmongering. Refugees pose little threat to America and strengthen our country as a whole. However refugees should be willing to have jobs and pay taxes.
 * How can the US stop terrorism at home?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Former President Conroy did a lot for our country, but after he left office, it became clear he didn't do enough to protect our country against terrorism. Many is still to do, and I will be the one who will bring down terrorism in America. No more boms, no more deaths. A safe America for the Americans!
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY):  We all know terrorism has been a huge problem in our country, and how our civil liberties have been curbed to combat it. The TSA has been touching people even though it's been proven as an ineffective way to combat terrorism. What I propose we do to protect ourselves from these terrorists is that we arm ourselves to protect from potential terrorists to neutralize them.
 * Senator Ryder: It is not easy but it can be done. The NSA need to be supported and not harassed for trying to defend us. Plus I will make it more difficult for terrorists to enter the country as well as ensure that if the terrorists are operating from somewhere we strike their.
 * What is your opinion about the Iran nuclear deal? What actions will you take regarding this?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): One of our priority is to make sure that our allies in the Middle East must be protect from any possible nuclear threat from Iran. Should Iran show any sign of building a nuclear weaponry, we will act accordingly.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY):  The Iran nuclear deal was one of the worst deals our country made in history. Not only did we allow Iran to have to capability to create a nuclear bomb, but we betrayed our Middle Eastern Allies. Ladies and gentlemen, If I'm elected president, I'm ripping up the current peace deal and returning to the status quo of an embargo. It's an embarasment to us and our country.
 * Senator McCarthy: We should carefully look at Iran and make sure they don't pull off anything too suspiscious, that's about it.
 * Senator Ryder: I would like to think that we won here or we got a good deal but I am suspicious. I am happy to allow the deal to go ahead but if I catch the slightest win that they broke it they will wish they were back to an embargo.
 * How will you protect against cyberattacks and hacking such as the attack that Russia did in 2014?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): We must react accordingly against Russia, and make them understand that we are in charge. Should I be president, I will not tolerate any sort of assault against our national security like President Walker did.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY):  To stop Russian hacks, we'd need to hire a professional company to upgrade our security system. Now granite, I'm not a fan of spending the government's thefted tax money, but this is a serious problem. I propose we hire a professional company to upgrade our national security.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): We need tougher security and better restriction in order to prevent this from happening ever again. Edward Snowden was easily able to hack into our private files years ago without any major issues, which is a clear and obvious sign that our system is failing.
 * Senator Ryder: It is an outrage that one it was possible for Russia to do this and two that they got away with it. If elected I will first of all give more money from our defence budget to improve our cyber security. Then the next country who pulls a stunt like that will know economic ruin.
 * Senator Cameron: We must begin a large-scale encryption of government information to protect from foreign powers.
 * What do you think of President Walker's actions to lift the embargo with Cuba?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Although it is a good thing to see Cuba finally accepting capitalism, I think the President should have asked for more out of this deal. Our position in Cuba is still difficult, and Walker could have done something about it. He didn't. In the end, Cuba came winner out of it instead of us, and it is someothing we canno't tolerate.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY):  We should have not lifted our embargo off of Cuba. I'll tell you why; Cuba did not become a democratic state. We should have kept the pressure up until Cuba was forced to change into a democracy, the form of government that has made our country the freest in all of history. The lifting of this embargo shows that we work with opressors, and that's something we should not be proud of.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): I believe that easing tensions with Cuba is certainly the best option that President Walker could've chosen. We're not in the Cold War anymore, and we must amend diplomatic relations with former Soviet countries to prove to the world that we have truly passed on from such a diplomatic quagmire.
 * Senator Ryder: The deal with Cuba has been needed for a while. Lets face it there aren't any nuclear weapons there and Cuba were never plotting our downfall. Lets move on and who cares if they haven't chosen democracy their loss.
 * Should the US continue to support Israel? Should it recognize Palestine?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Israel as been our friend for more than half a century, and we should continue this great relation with them. We should also help Israel reach peace with Palestine, in order to bring preace in the Middle East.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY):  Israel bas been our ally in the Middle East AND is a democracy there. While I don't support Israel and their treatment of Palestinians, we could play a key part in helping to create a two state solution.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): Israel has been our greatest and most dedicated ally in the Middle East for decades and while I personally oppose their treatment of the Palestinians, we need to make sure that an anti-Jihad and democratic state stays in the Middle East for as long as it can happen.
 * Senator Ryder: We need to support Israel and I will never recognize Palestine. The issue over there is complicated but lets face it Israel is not anywhere near the worst whatever some Muslim jihad may claim. We need to support them to keep a stable middle east.
 * How much foreign aid should the US be giving?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): I think most country are good enough to do it on their own. However, I think America would be willing to help anyone in order to help democracy.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY):  We shouldn't reallt be getting involved in issues with other countries. Look at what happened when we went into Syria; a huge mess. I think the Unkted States should return to a time of isolationism, but we should keep open the few military ties we already have (Israel & South Korea).
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): While I certainly believe we must help those people in need of basic supplies in Third World countries, I also think that we must establish slight isolationism in this front. We have to focus on our domestic problems; the poverty gap is constantly growing and the middle class is shrinking, our debt to China grows larger every day, and we still have not achieved the dream of Martin Luther King in terms of racial equality.
 * Senator Ryder: Every time we give them foreign aid they waste it on a space program. No more money to line wallets of oil barons and tea lords.
 * How do you plan to stop the growth of Al Qaeda and the Sharia Caliphate?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): If we do anything other than direct action against them, it will be inefective.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY):  What I propose we do to cut the head off of the Sharia Caliphate is to bomb their oil industry. It's been shown that their biggest source of income, and we haven't been targeting it enough. Once Russia actually targeted the Sharia Caliphates Oil, their economic base was crippled. We need to bomb their oil, continue airstrikes, and support the Kurds fighting with information and positions about the Sharia Caliphate.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): I agree with Governor Jones on this front.
 * Senator Ryder: The Sharia Caliphate are a major threat us and we have to deal with them. The best way is by backing vaguely sensible groups on the ground with training, weapons and vital supplies this way they can fight for homeland and we can be safe in ours. If that doesn't work we might just have to drop a couple of bombs on them.
 * How should the US act regarding Russia following their cyberattack and actions in Crimea?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): We should coordonate our efforts with the European Union and make Russia understand that they do not have their place in Ukraine.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY):  Military action would not solve any problems regarding our computer security. What I propose that we should do is place economic sanctions on Russia for every Russian or foriegn hack that happens. We should not tolerate these attacks.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): We need to truly humble Putin and his regime, and truly show to him that we are and will always be the greatest nation on Earth.
 * Senator Ryder: I don't want a war but we don't need one. Putin stands all big and cocky but that is because we let him. Whatever he might think no nation can withstand western economic sanctions and if we emplace a total embargo the next time Putin makes a move we can make him back done or if not there is dissent inside of Russia they just need some guns.
 * Senator Cameron: A war with Russia would be very costly and ineffective as well as wasting American blood. I believe we should cooperate with the EU and continue sanctions on Russia.
 * Should people Muslims be allowed to immigrate to the US? What if they are from a suspect country such as Libya?
 * Representative Thorpe (R-ID): Although our country is built on immigration, I believe we should strenghten our immigration policies and only allow those that we are entirely sure that they will be no threat to our country.
 * Governor Ron Jones (L-KY):  The United States has allowed the most immigration from all counties in this world, allowing people to live together in peace and prosiperity. I think we should let Muslims in (Heck, my aunt has married a Turkish immigrant) but we should also give them a test to see how tolerant they are of other opinions. Respecting other opinions has been something we've been doing for years (or maybe not) so really this is just a key to see if they are offended and could get triggered easily.
 * Senator McCarthy (D-CT): Of course! Our country is in a state of Islamophobia, and we must end it.
 * Senator Ryder: Not all Muslims are terrorists but all terrorists are Muslims. We got to face it while the Sharia caliphate exists and Al Qaeda we have to suspect them. I don't want a blanket ban on their immigration but ones coming from Libya and Syria are not ok and the ones from other places need to be monitored by the NSA.
 * Senator Cameron: Restricting an entire race from entering the United States goes against our core values as Americans. A ban like this could be considered nothing else besides racism.

Resources
There are five "resources" which each candidate must use. See above for explanations. Each candidate gets fifteen total "resource" points to allocate between the five resources. Independent and Libertarian candidates may not spend more than five points on Name Recognition. This is just your baseline, but some of your decisions will affect this.

Please post your baseline resource allocations below:

Richard Thorpe:
 * Name Recognition: 2
 * Trustworthiness: 3
 * Likeability: 4
 * Fundraising: 1
 * Legitimacy: 5

Robert McCarthy: 
 * Name Recognition: 4
 * Trustworthiness: 4
 * Likeability: 5
 * Fundraising: 1
 * Legitimacy: 1

Abdallah Salem:
 * Name Recognition:3
 * Trustworthiness:2
 * Likeability:6
 * Fundraising:1
 * Legitimacy:3

Lelia Afewerek:
 * Name Recognition: 3
 * Trustworthiness: 3
 * Likeability: 7
 * Fundraising: 1
 * Legitimacy: 1

Ron Jones (L-KY) Senator Ryder Luke Recks (L-NH) Abram Klements Charles Morgan: Richard A. Champion: Nathan Cameron:
 * Name Recognition - 4
 * Trustworthiness - 2
 * Likeability - 2
 * Fundraising - 3
 * Legitimacy - 4
 * Name recognition- 3
 * Trustworthiness- 2
 * Likeability-2
 * Fundraising- 5
 * Legitimacy- 3
 * Name Recognition: 5
 * Trustworthiness: 2
 * Likeability: 2
 * Fundraising: 1
 * Legitimacy: 4
 * Name Recognition: 5
 * Trustworthiness: 1
 * Likeability: 7
 * Fundraising: 1
 * Legitimacy: 1
 * Name Recognition: 6
 * Trustworthiness: 3
 * Likeability: 1
 * Fundraising: 2
 * Legitimacy: 3
 * Name recognition: 6
 * Trustworthiness: 3
 * Likability: 3
 * Fundraising: 1
 * Legitimacy: 2
 * Name Recognition:2
 * Trustworthiness: 4
 * Likeability: 4
 * Fundraising: 1
 * Legitimacy: 3