Primary Topic: Small Business Support Secondary Topics: Fair Labor Agreement, Economic Policies Transcript of the 2011 Rhy"Din Gubernatorial Debates provided through funding from the Alberion Institute of Sociology.

Moderator Thank you all, darlings! Now we'll be moving to the question and answer portion of the evening, and tonight's first question comes from....Harris! For this round of questions we'll proceed through the answers in the same order as the opening statements.

Harris's question to the candidates is in two parts. He asks what they will do to support small business owners if they are elected, and why they smell so good.

Corlanthis, you have the first response.

Corlanthis Wystansayr A very relevant question, despite the transparency of it. As a successful small-business owner myself, the success of Rhy'dins business both large and small is, of course, very important to me. And, quite frankly, I will be just as interested to hear the answers of my colleagues when I am finished.

Now, as for support. The small-business owner lacks many of the tools available to those with larger budgets or wider-ranging contacts in and out-of realm. To that end, I intend to introduce a body of administration whose aim it will be to help promote our local businesses into areas they may otherwise be unable to access. The businesses will, of course, have to succeed on the merits of their own products or services, but it shall not be because people were unaware of them, or they were not given a fair chance to succeed.

And as for why I smell so good" Alpha, of course. Fragrance for men. By men. Well, by Harris. And he's kind of a man.

Moderator Thank you very much, Corlanthis. Now, Dyarhk, you have the same question. What will you do as Governor to assist or support small businesses, and why do you smell so good"

Dyarhk Well first, I would expect smaller businesses like Alpha Cologne to abide by the Fair Labor Agreement recently made and receive certification for it, which is an agreement I am going to support if I am elected.

But small businesses are very important if not as important to our larger conglomerates. We all need each other to function, and I think a closer examination law will be a great step towards both getting these smaller and larger businesses alike the notice they will require to do business here in Rhy"Din, as well as inspect and flesh out our untrustworthy businesses that are trying to build legitimate income on illegitimate fronts. My small office, which come to be known as the Sudden Action Directive if I am elected, will help us see beyond the shadow of a doubt, just who and what we are doing business with here in Rhy"Din.

As to why I smell so good" Well, let's say once Alpha is approved by the Fair Labor Agreement....I might be smelling a little more....samurai monster truck, ninja-y. Moderator Very well. Thank you, Dyarhk. Fionna, what will you do as Governor to assist or support small businesses, and why do you smell so good"

Fionna Helston al Amat I, too, am a small business owner. While I do not believe that it is the government's role to provide financial assistance to small businesses, I do believe that it is its responsibility to ensure a fair and free environment in which to operate.

For example, Harris, your business is taking off because no one has required special licenses or oversight to conduct trade in the manner or venues you choose. As such, you've been able to make some wise decisions in your product placement. Your appearances at both the Beltane celebration and tonight's event have given you a platform from which to effectively market your cologne.

That freedom has allowed you to pour your passion and your energies into your business. This is the freedom that all small business owners should have. But success depends upon their passion, excellence and their own hard work. Ours is a free economy. We do not need to build a bureaucracy to make it function. It already does so.

I do want to point out that one should not have to wait to be elected to support an agreement between business owners, if one really believes in it. And I smell good, I suppose, because I am sweet.

Moderator All right, before we get to Matthew's answer, we have a few follow-up remarks. Corlanthis, let's start with you. Matthew darling, I promise we'll get to your response to the original question right after this.

Corlanthis Wystansayr Thank you. You spoke of the need for examination laws. I'm curious as to what you feel needs to be examined. As a business owner, I certainly do not require the City to inspect each and every aspect of how I choose to run my business if I'm already doing so within the boundries of the law. Dyarhk Many businesses are already well established and reputable in Rhy"Din, such as Oh Oh. I have no desire to invade privacy on the establishments already set in place. But new businesses are another story entirely. The intent is to create a more knowledgeable database, more easily accessible to see just what buildings these are we're walking by rather than drawing blanks and walking on, when perhaps valuable business trades are being lost.

But perhaps the most important of this is to verify what these businesses are in the business of. I think if I were a small business owner, I would want to know who I'm neighboring.

Moderator And what was the reason you pressed the follow-up light, Dyarhk"

Dyarhk I merely wanted to clarify for Missus Helston that, of course, the office of governor is not a requirement to enforce the Fair Labor Agreement. But certainly, it can help notify the community better about its existence, and of course, importance. That is all.

Moderator Thank you. That brings us to Matthew for his answer to Harris's question. What will you do as Governor to assist or support small businesses, and why do you smell so good"

Matthew Simon Thank you for the questions, Harris. To address the first part - as I mentioned in my initial campaign speech, I'm seeking expand Rhy"Din's trade and exports - our influence outside these city walls - which would, should you choose to export Alpha, present growth opportunities for both you and the line. Owning and operating a small business, as you and I both know, is difficult. I'm not saying that the government will economically subsidise small businesses or that it has the monetary resources to do so...it's not something that's been practiced with consistency in the past nor something that the government can sustain for a lengthy period of time.

However, the government can render small-business aid in other ways that are not monetary - education and development being two of those methods. Business can still help business, even with the spirit of competition; the two are not mutually exclusive and the more businesses, small, medium or large that succeed in our city, the better for us all.

Corlanthis wants to create a bureaucracy, a "body of administration" as he calls it. That's not necessary, because it already exists - Sheridan Driscol established the Ministry of Trade and Commerce a year ago. Corlanthis should know that. Dyarhk wants to propose a close-examination law...that sounds impressive on the surface. And the Sudden Action Directive. It sounds, again on the surface, forceful and driven.

But its purpose is to expose and drive out criminal businesses and in conjunction with the new law, seemingly, to investigate new businesses before they take root to see if they are entirely legal. It's a good sentiment, but we cannot put too many obstacles in the way that prevent new business from establishing themselves in Rhy"Din Perhaps most disturbingly, his proposal promotes suspicion rather than support of one's neighbor.

Dyarhk, along with his running-mate, should be aware of this since he is running for the office of Governor - we already have the capability he's proposing within the Rhy"Din City Guard. He's proposing what we already have.

We cannot afford to spend our time or our money in duplicating and replicating what already exists. We cannot expend our energies in unfounded suspicion and doubt of one another. Do we need to improve what exists already in capability and function' Depending on who you ask, some may say yes and others no. But we absolutely cannot take backward-steps where none are needed and expect to grow and prosper as we should.

Ms. Al-Amat's basically saying to leave well enough alone and that a lack of regulation or special licensing will allow businesses to thrive. While I agree to a point, success isn't automatic because the government isn't regulating or interfering.

Now, in my opinion, simply giving money to a small business in the hopes it will use that money to prosper is, to me, a short-term solution and one that will fail more often than it succeeds. Educating the owner so he or she is better poised to run a smarter more efficient business will definitely benefit that specific owner and Rhy"Din as a whole in both the short and long terms. We have to look at the whole picture, not just the quickest or easiest solution that will make a given business get off the ground.

As to the second part...I took a shower before I arrived. And I believe I walked by that Alpha booth on the way in, which may be swaying your opinion. While I don't recall you smelling me today, I do appreciate the compliment if you did.

Moderator And it looks like Fionna has a follow-up for Mr. Simon. Please go ahead.

Fionna Helston al Amat I have a follow-up for both candidate Dyarhk and Candidate Simon, if I may' I will try to keep it brief.

Moderator Of course.

Fionna Helston al Amat You (Dyarhk)have proposed 'Examination Laws' to scrutinize new businesses so that others in the community will feel more comfortable about - I want to phrase this as you did - 'who their neighbors are'. You send chills up my spine and everyone here should be worried about the intent there. Such things always start small but reach beyond the original intent.

I say firmly, Rhy"Din does not need even well-meaning oversight such as that. Where will it stop" No. No.

But I want to speak to Matt Simon's intended economic policy as well, because so far tonight he has been somewhat misleading.

Moderator After Mrs. al-Amat give the rest of her follow-up, we have to move to the next question. Please save further concerns or comments regarding this question for your closing remarks.

Fionna Helston al Amat And frankly, his economic policy may be just as dangerous.

Mr. Simon's proposal involves reviewing "every establish trade route in and out of Rhy"Din to see which, if any, should be expanded, and which, if any, benefit us no longer." I quote this directly from Mr. Simon's campaign speech because I want each and every one of you here to hear that and understand exactly what is implicit in such a plan. What he is proposing is governmental control of what has been, until now - if he has his way - free trade channels. He talks about reviewing existing partnerships and agreements and determining which the government will permit to continue unmolested, which the government will decide needs to be changed, and which the government deems no longer necessary....He is not simply talking about expansion, as he would have you believe tonight.

In essence, he is proposing the elimination of free trade in Rhy"Din. And frankly, I say we cannot allow it. Rhy"Din is unique in all of the multiverse, both in its diversity and prosperity. I would argue that this is primarily because we have not tried to limit and control the organic and natural economic growth that occurs when individuals and corporations are allowed to offer their goods for sale and individuals and corporations are free to purchase those goods. Without governmental oversight.

Again, I say clearly, Rhy"Din does not want this, and I believe the polls will prove it out. No. ———- Transcript of the 2011 Rhy?Din Gubernatorial Debates provided through funding from the Alberion Institute of Sociology.  

Primary Topic: Contingency Plan in Event of Prolonged/Unexpected Vacancy of Post Transcript of the 2011 Rhy"Din Gubernatorial Debates provided through funding from the Alberion Institute of Sociology.

Moderator If there are no further responses to this question, let's move onto our final audience question of the evening. As a reminder, you will all have a chance to give your closing remarks before we're done for the night.

Tonight's final question is from Lucius DeAuster, and will be answered by Fionna, Matthew, Corlanthis and then Dyarhk. Mr. DeAuster, please stand and ask your question at this time. (What provisions do you plan to take in case of a prolonged or unexpected absence during your term, if elected")

Fionna Helston al Amat Thank you for the very relevant question, Lord DeAuster. While I am a resident of this city and have absolutely no plans to absent myself from it or the office if elected, what happened this year is an occurrence no one anticipated. Should I find that I will be unable for an extended period of time to fulfill my duties as governor, I will turn to the citizens of Rhy"Din and request that a replacement be selected through special election. But I give you my word now, that I do not anticipate such a need will arise if I am elected.

Moderator Thank you, Mrs. al-Amat. Mr. Simon, your response. What provisions do you plan to take in case of a prolonged or unexpected absence during your term, if elected"

Matthew Simon I believe part of Sheridon Driscol's intent in forming the Ministries was to ensure the government would run in the case of the Governor's extended absence. Some of the candidates have chosen to run with someone at their side, however silent they may be.

As far as my own plan - you can see I'm not running with a partner. The Ministries have, if nothing else, proven capable of keeping the city running for an extended period of time, but I do not believe they should necessarily do so.

I am in agreement with Ms. Al-Amat. Should the Governorship be abandoned or vacant for an extended period, and I realize the length of that period would need to be solidified first, I too believe a special election should take place. The people should have a voice and direct influence, through the vote, in determining who sits in the Governor's seat. Like Ms. Al-Amat, I don't plan to vacate the seat, but I'm relatively sure that Sheridan Driscol didn't plan to either, so the contingency that Mr. DeAuster has asked about is an important one. Thank you for the question.

Moderator Thank you, Matthew. Corlanthis, the question moves to you.

Corlanthis Wystansayr A fair question, Lord DeAuster, and a very good one. No one of us intends to simply vanish, upon which I am sure we are all agreed. But accidents do happen, here more often than other places. To that end I am running with a partner. Should I be unable to carry out the full length of my term in office, then Taneth Mercer shall serve as Governor in my he- pardon. Ahem. In my stead. And quite frankly, I think the city could do a little much worse than Taneth going around giving hugs out, every day.

Moderator Dyarhk, the question moves to you. What provisions do you plan to take in case of a prolonged or unexpected absence during your term, if elected"

Dyarhk A very good question, Mr. DeAuster. I will admit, Governor Driscol's time away has been unacceptable and is my strongest dislike of his term. As for my preventative measures to ensure the seat is never left unattended, my structure is not very different from Cor's, at all.

This is my running mate for lieutenant governor, Gregory Finder. He is an experienced off-world member of a police body not unlike Rhy"Din's Watch, and a once politician. The chair of office, if and when I cannot fully devote myself to it, will be under his wise years of experience.

I assure the Rhy"Din people, neither of us will be far from it, and I can add with further assurance the likelihood that neither of us will disappear on you. Moderator It looks like we have a follow-up or two. Please keep it brief, lovelies, we're coming to the end of our time. Mr. Simon and then Mr. Wystansayr, please. Matthew Simon Just something for Mr. Wystansayr and Dyarhk to consider in regards to the running-mate position. If something happens to both themselves and their running mates, leaving the Governor's seat vacant, what then" Is a running mate the final solution to the problem posed by Mr. DeAuster" I would argue that no, it's not.

Moderator And your follow-up comment, darling"

Corlanthis Wystansayr This follow-up is for (disruptive audience member), lest the esteemed Gentleman think he is being ignored. Let it not be said I ignore the will of the. ...heh"people. Now. Mr. (disruptive audience member). You asked who supported the Fair Labor Agreement' You can bet your overpriced waistcoat that I do.

———- Transcript of the 2011 Rhy"Din Gubernatorial Debates provided through funding from the Alberion Institute of Sociology.