The Gubernatorial Debate - Part 1!
Last night RhyDin?s four candidates for governor ? Sinjin Fai, Corlanthis Wystansayr, Darkmere Alcar, and Matthew Simon ? showed up in the Great Hall to field questions from the public on their stances. The crowd was varied and excited by the opportunity to throw questions at the candidates!
The debate was held in a townhall style format with questions being presented by members of the community. Each candidate had a chance to respond to the question and each candidate was also allowed to ask one follow-up question to another candidate if they chose to do so at the end of the round.
The first question was one submitted by Briarius Ravensheart prior to the event. It read: ?As Headmaster of RhyDin?s only chartered public learning institution, I feel it behooves me to ask how the candidates feel about education in RhyDin and if compulsory education should be pursued.?
Mr. Alcar: ?I feel education is something that should be at the top of the list. A fine education would better prepare the children of Rhy?Din for their lives after they graduate. As for it being compulsory, will we could force that. It wouldn?t be the best route to go. Allow the parents to decide if they want their kids to go to a school. Or if the parents want to hire a private teacher.?
Mr. Fai: ?It would be pretty foolish to try and standardize education in that sense ? make it necessary for every child, I mean. Since the people here come from all sorts of backgrounds ? both modern and more medieval ? there?s plenty of methods for people to educate themselves in whatever means they see fit. The guy who does trade work is just as important as the guy sitting in front of a stack of books. As far as support of education ? well, everyone should get the opportunity to something they want. Since I?m campaigning on eliminating the position, there?s no sense in saying that some of the money that would go into paying the Governor can?t get into offering education for those who want it.?
Gov. Simon: ?When I intially heard the question, I imagined that Mr. Ravensheart was asking in the interests of the city?s youth. However, there are many adults who have immigrated for a short while or have chosen to make Rhydin their home. They too, I think, need to be considered when responding to this question. In short, education, at least in regard to the city implementing a program and enforcing it, should not be compulsory. It should, however, be highly encouraged by city governments, by parents, by neighbors. We haven?t the funds nor the manpower to keep track of who has or hasn?t completed a certain portion of their education. And where do you draw the line? Partial education in youth, would it end in high school? University? It?s not my place, or the government?s place, to decide what level of education is suitable for a given individual, be it a child or an adult.?
Mr. Wystansayr: ?Knowledge is important. It is through knowledge that we better ourselves and make things better for those around us. To that end, it is of the utmost importance that our citizens have the most effective means at their disposal to increase that knowledge. But it is unfair to take away the people?s rights to seek out that knowledge at their own discretion. We can only hope that by showing the effects of better education, that they will be willing to seek it.?
Mr. Wystansayr then posed the following follow-up question: ?Mr. Fai, this question is directed at you. You propose to eliminate the position of Governor, correct? In that case, how can you ensure any governmental services, such as funds for education, will be maintained??
Mr. Fai?s response: ?Because those systems have already been in place. Educational boards, court regulated systems ? government?s ultimately about delegation, and it?s already there. Not to mention this is a city that mostly thrives off business. Hell, almost every person who walks through these doors owns or is an integral part of some business or company that plays a vital part in this city. I don?t see why we shouldn?t be helping them help us and vice versa. Don?t get me wrong: governors and presidents and kings and whatever else have their place, but it?s just never been in this city.?
The next question came from the current Archmage Bran Bale: ? Sssince I can?t asssk Corlanthisss ssspecifically, ?What?sss the deal with Harrisss??, thisss will be my question . . . ?Do the candidatesssintend to sssupport the Duel of Ssswords, the Duel of Fissstsss, and the Duel of Magic, during their reign asss Governor??
Mr. Fai: As far as I?m aware, the rings support themselves pretty well. And since I?m not really having any sort of reign at all, it?ll be the same support that everyone else has: as an average citizen.?
Gov Simon: ?While I don?t believe it?s the government?s place to specifically fund the three main dueling sports, certainly, I?ll continue my participation in them as much as I possibly can. I?ve kept ownership of The Outback during my first term and I?d intend to do so during the second. Many of you know that the sports are experiencing a vast downturn in participation; the duels are beneficial in many ways for this city - too many to get into in this forum. Yet, it?s not the government?s or the governor?s role or place to keep them afloat, just as it wouldn?t be for any of the city?s professional sports.?
Mr. Wystansayr: ? In regards to your first question, Bran, I think Harris has taken a few too many blows to the head in the Outback. And maybe he had some bad shellfish this morning. In regards to the second, the Dueling venues are a proud tradition within this city, providing a wealth of history and enjoyment matched by few other organizations. Because of that they should be treated with the respect and honor they deserve. As Governor, I would be willing to provide whatever support to them that my position allows.?
Mr. Alcar: ?As far as Harris.. Just pop him on the next time he smarts off towards you. As for the duels. As govenor I would help those in charge in any way I can. It is a sporting event that many take part in, as well as many of them don?t know exists. I would help promote the sport if it is within my power to do so.?
The next question came from Sami: ?In light of the past zombie invasion, how would you suggest we prepare ourselves for future disasters that are liable to take place in this crackpot town??
Gov Simon: ?We?ve already begun the process. As soon as I became Governor, I began a systematic improvement of the city?s security. The RASG was one step in that process, as was all the improvements to the City Guard - their uniform upgrades, their training standards and initiatives - but those are only first steps. We can?t ever know what?s going to face us come tomorrow; nobody predicted the invasion, nobody predicted the horrific Marketplace bombing. If I?m re-elected Governor, I can only promise to continue down the path I?m currently on. The security of this city and each and every one of its citizens and visitors is of primary importance for me each and every day that I wake up and hold this office.?
Mr. Wystansayr: ?Given the..ah..volatile nature of life in Rhy?din, preperation for such occasions is very important and two fold. First, there is the matter of the guard and the city itself. Governor Simon has begun exemplary work in that regard, such that it deserves to be continued whether or not he is re-elected to office. Secondly, there is the matter of the greater population itself. The city guard, no matter how well funded or trained, will never be able to protect every single person within the city, so there must be other means of protection. If I am elected, I will begin a series of measures designed to provide each home with the tools neccessary to protect those within. Protective suits, common survival items, and other things that can be determined at a later date with research.?
Mr. Alcar: ?If I am elected govenor. I would continue to support our current govenor?s plans of making the gurads better. I would also support any means that make the city safer over all. From making the citezens homes safer. As well as creating a method for the citizens here that don?t know how to protect themselves. To be taught how to. This would help the people here stand a better chance of protecting themselves, as well as help out in protecting the city.?
Mr. Fai: ?I?m not going to lie. Any time I?ve seen something horrible in this city, I haven?t seen any sort of Guard or Watch there, but I don?t doubt they?ve done some good for the average citizen. Like I?ve said since the beginning, I?ve got no issues funneling money to make sure those jobs stay alive. But honestly, the best answer for those sort of attacks is the average citizen. Most people here have some sort of combat capabilities and there are plenty of organizations within the city willing to help out ? as they have in the past. The zombie incident actually stands as a pretty good example of everyone pitching together and working to vanquish a mutual issue. But as an average citizen myself ? the rule of thumb for any incident like that? Don?t be stupid. There are plenty of ways and plenty of people within this city who are damn near made for these kinds of things and almost always willing to help. It?s what people do here.?
Gov Simon had the following follow-up question for Mr. Wystansayr: ?Mr. Wystansayr, you spoke of plans for protecting the city?s citizens, somewhat different than Mr. Alcar?s who seems to advocate complusory self-defense training for all citizens. You mentioned protective suits, survival items, and research. Do you plan to purchase and research these things with public funds? If so, what areas will you cut from or how will you grow the treasury so it can accomodate the cost of your ideas? If you?re using the private sector, will you hire local businesses to help stimulate the city?s economy, and regardless of where the private business is located, have you a plan for the vetting process for those companies who?ll bid for the job??
Mr. Wystansayr?s response: The costs for such an attempt will be defrayed as much as possible through the inclusion of local businesses into the process. Of course, one can hope that self-interest will provide ample persuasion to participate, that may not always be the case. If it proves neccessary to dip into public funds to complete the project, then it will only be done with the utmost care to make certain no essential services are adversely affected, and that the quality of service this government has maintined will continue.?
The following question came from Harris: ?What?s your stance on the current trade situation in Rhydin, specifically on the taxes relating to the trading of lizard scalps and skins??
Mr. Wystansayr: Trade, in general, is to be promoted, certainly. The city does not survive simply because it survives. Countless raw material is needed to keep it going and by virtue of that, fair prices are to be paid for all goods to ensure that survival. Taxes should be levied accordingly, fairly set to favor no particular good or service, or company that provides them. All that said, should I become Governor, I will make certain that only goods recieved from non-sentient sources will be allowed for trade purposes.?
Mr. Alcar: ?As anyone knows with any city. Trading with others it was keeps it a float. And it should be promoted to it?s fullest. If elected govenor, I would promote trading to any of those that would wish to trade with Rhy?Din. As far as taxes around concened. I wouldn?t push for any new taxes, inless the fine citizens of Rhy?Din made it know they wanted it. ?
Mr. Fai: ?I have no idea if there?s a tax on, um. Lizard skins. Sure, you can trade them, I don?t care, and I don?t really care on taxing any sort of trade in Rhy?din either. It?s the businesses Rhy?din thrives on, not the government. Oh, but you can?t trade and scalp . That?s just not nice.?
Gov Simon: Since you asked for answers regarding the one specific instance, Mr. D?Artainian, I can only say that I believe things are working swimmingly as they stand, and that there?s no current pressing need to dedicate city or governmental resources and cost in an overhaul of those specific commodities. As far as Mr. Franco?s more general redirect regarding trade and trade-tax, yes, of course both can always improve. I?ve made strides in that area this last year, re-securing longstanding contracts and opening up new interstellar routes, with low cityside tax and tarriff in those cases. Can we do better? Yes. And I?ll make sure that we continue to improve our standing in the trade community, especially since this city?s a vital hub for a rather amazing number of current and potential partners.?
Gov. Simon had the following follow-up question for Mr. Wystansayr: ?Mr. Wystansayr, leaving aside for the moment that sentience means different things to different people, I?d like clarification on your ?non-sentient? statement. Does that mean if someone knits a rug, or a team of factory workers creates widgets, that those items will not be allowed to be traded, since sentient beings created them and provided them to the trade market? I?m not quite sure what your statement intended to convey.?
Mr. Wystansayr: ?A valid question. And one I?m glad to clarify. Now, as you said, leaving aside the question of ?What is sentience??, if elected I do not intend to allow Rhy?din to prosper at the cost of species that can more valuably contribute by joining Rhy?dinian society. For a more pointed example, Harris can?t try and sell Bran?s hide to the tanners?
