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Callahan Plan, Delveric Heritage Festival, Dylan Callahan, Election, Jordan Brizendine, Knowledge Warrior, Nikias Wernher
LAVRADA- Last Friday, the two candidates for the Office of First Consul, incumbent Jordan Brizendine and current Vice Consul Nikias Wernher, met on Skype for a debate hosted by Supreme Justice Dylan Callahan. The debate was the first of at least two planned, the second of which is to be held tomorrow, June 25.
The debate was supposed to be recorded, but a software problem prevented this, so the transcript of the debate is provided here:
(Disclaimer: the questions and responses herein reflect the opinions of those asking and giving them, and do not necessarily correspond to official positions of the Delveran government.)
“For Mr. Brizendine:
Q. Since the Callahan Plan has been enacted, there hasn’t been any uptick in economic growth. What would you do in your next term to address this?
A. We will be implementing the voluntary tax plan, and this will have an incentivizing effect on businesses in our economy.
Q. How prepared is our nation for an invasion?
A. Our nation is very prepared. The possible threats we face from other micronations are very small. The military strength and manpower of those micronations which actually do have militaries are in the single digits. We have a far more active and larger military than any other.
Q. Should there be term limits to the nation’s highest office?
A. I see no cause for enacting term limits at this time. We have a pool of voters and active participants in government that there has not yet been a need for such a thing, and we can benefit from having experienced leadership.
Q. Where do you see Delvera now in relation to the rest of the world, and where are we going?
A. We have made some impact on the micronational community, and as we expand, we will have an increasing role to play in micronationalism.
Q. What are you doing this [American] Independence Day?
A. I will be enjoying fireworks and spending time with loved ones enjoying the freedoms that came with a free and independent country.
Q. How do you address concerns from citizen publications such as the Knowledge Warrior that there is an Illuminati interest at play at the highest levels of government? Is there any truth to that?
A. I have no comment.
Q. Would you ever consider going off of the copper standard?
A. There is a theoretic possibility that our economy will grow to such a size and strength that we could afford the switch to a silver-based economy, but that is so far in the future that it is not in our plans at all. No.
Q. Is conscription an option?
A. We have a very strong, active force of volunteers. There shouldn’t ever even be a need.
Q. Is the best defense a good offense?
A. That depends on what you mean. I think the best defense is a good defense. We have the means and strategies for defense in mind for our military, so we aren’t planning on waging offensive wars.
Q. On civil rights, where are we, and where should we be?
A. I largely wrote the Delveran Writ of Rights. We paid particular attention to ensure the highest number of freedoms for all of our citizens, and we have not yet had an issue.
Q. What is and what should be our relation to the United States of America?
A. We are at peace, as we should be. And that alone should always define our relationship.
Q. Do you have any regrets during this last term in your office?
A. Not really. Everyone in my administration, myself included, did their best, and a lot of good is coming about because of it.
Q. What is a legitimate versus an illegitimate micronation, and how do we relate to them?
A. There is no such thing as an illegitimate micronation. Unless a micronation is making wildly unsubstantiated claims or something like that, I will always believe in the declarative theory of statehood. We have a policy of limited and profitable interaction with micronations, so we won’t be entangled in the minutiae of their internal dealings.
For Mr. Wernher:
Q. How will you address the country’s economic stagnation?
A. I propose to promote Delveran businesses and trade by facilitating an environment where businesses can make a profit. Pursuing voluntary taxation and keeping government regulation low will help with that.
Q. Can you give examples of your experience in national defense, and how you will use that experience as First Consul?
A. I have been appointed as head of cyber security, and have helped Delvera through assessing Internet threats. I think we were very successful there defending against a real threat.
Q. Will you now address concerns for your connection with ISIS following the release of a photo of you in ISIS attire?
A. I’m not in any way associated with terrorism or Islam. I am a member of a society that has particular garb like the fez, but that doesn’t mean I’m in any way associated with Islam. That’s an absurd connection to draw.
Q. What is your plan for diplomacy with other nations?
A. I think we need to expand our relations and make ourselves more prominent in the community.
Q. What are you doing this [American] Independence Day?
A. I will be with loved ones enjoying American freedom and eating lots of ice cream!
Q. How do you address concerns from citizen publications such as the Knowledge Warrior that there is an Illuminati interest at play at the highest levels of government? Is there any truth to that?
A. I also have no comment.
Q. Would you ever consider going off of the copper standard?
A. No, I believe our currency should always be backed by metals, and copper is a good base metal to use at this time.
Q. Is conscription an option?
A. Absolutely not. No forced participation should ever be tolerated.
Q. Is the best defense a good offense?
A. Like Mr. Brizendine said, the best defense is a good defense. No unnecessary wars.
Q. Civil rights: where are we, and where should we be?
A. I think we’re in a good place. We have maintained a good number of enumerated laws, and the purpose of government is to secure them.
Q. What is and what should be our relation to the United States of America.
A. We should always have peace with the U.S. while we remain independent.
Q. Do you have any regrets during this last term in your office?
A. Yes, in a way. I regret not having the time to pursue medical career and work fulltime for the people of Delvera. I could not do those two things at once, but now that I no longer am obligated to choose between the two, I am now in a better position to lend my time and talents to improving our nation.
Q. What is a legitimate versus an illegitimate micronation, and how do we relate to them?
A. There is no such thing as an illegitimate micronation. Everyone has the right to call their home a micronation.”
Opening and closing statements were nearly identical, thanking Mr. Callahan for hosting, thanking each other, and emphasizing that nobody has gone it alone and never will. One of the small group of live viewers commented, “It was the nicest debate in the history of ever.”
There are concerns that the similarity between the two candidates will make it difficult for voters to choose between them. The First Consular election will open on July 8 and close on July 15, coinciding with the celebration of the Delveric Heritage Festival.
The debate was sponsored by the Lavrada Bannerman and the Knowledge Warrior.
(This reporter apologizes for the late release of these materials.)
Reporter: Jordan Brizendine
The Bannerman Online 