Realpolitik of the Smoky Skies - The Reboot

Dear Editor,

As a regular reader of the Haven Herald I enjoy the level of quality in your articles. However this Monday's edition was quite disappointing, more specifically Harland Godwin's article Spirited Sofia Speaks of Spin and Solutions: an interview with Miss Megame.

While your paper has produced many thoughtful interview pieces before I was to be frank a little disgusted when reading said article. On several occasions Megame is asked irrelevant questions that have little to do with her candidacy and borders on questioning her capability to run for Senate. Never have I read an interview with a male politician where the first question being asked is whether the subject is married or not, and then asking whether he really has the qualifications to do his job.

Megame and I may not agree on all topics but she has clear, well-put answers and yet she is written off as irreverent and intimidating because she is a woman who is not afraid to speak up about public matters. This is unacceptable and shows what a long way there is left for us to go. I hope Mr Godwin can learn to understand that discussing politics with a woman is no different than discussing politics with a man. Men need to step down from their notions of what women can and cannot do.

Sincerely yours,
Aurora Gurra
President of the Pulias People's Party

Hello. You have never met me before. That is normal. Do not panic. I am here because I want to be elected. That is abnormal.
I am the best candidate in Coventry. I do not know this as a fact, but can infer it from my personal experience. I have found efficient solutions to problems, and will provide examples. The gold deficit is probably temporary, but should nevertheless be fixed immediately and replaced with as much surplus as can be efficiently done. Money is good. It solves problems. It allows for Pulias to help all of its citizens as much as possible. We also need rare and useful items in large quantities. People need these items, and we can provided them in exchange for goods in services. This will make them reliant on us and thus give us power. Power stops us from being attacked. There is no downside to my plans. If I find one I will change my plans. Other peoples' plans are not as good, as far as I know. I don't know everything. Vote for me.

I have selected to use this time specifically for talking about my ideas on military
Military is useful. It allows us many things for the furtherment of Pulias specifically. Diplomatic agreements and mutual friendship are defenses, but can be easily ignored, unlike armies. Armies should never be the first thing to be relied on in a disagreement- rather they should be the thing we assume the enemy is relying on to be the main reason not to fight us. Our military is not strong enough. Our military can be strengthened. Our military should be strengthened.
Thank you.

Audience member: . . . and you stood there before the last election and begged for our votes. You said socialism would fix the deficit. You've clearly broken your promise because the deficit still exists!

William Melda: How dare you? How dare you accuse me of broking my promises. You have in my view deliberately mischaracterised the events that you're referring to. Shame! For shame! Firstly, I did not beg for your vote, I requested it.

AM: *howls and interjections*

WM: I have too much pride and dignity to beg anyone for votes. Secondly, and I can't believe I need to explain basic mathematics to such an apparently-numerate group such as this, but if you refer to the publicly available Treasury figures, you will see that the adoption of socialist policies did save the government money, and would have solved the deficit. It was the new spending, the investment in the National Railway Network that has led to a new deficit in the national accounts.

AM: *less interruptions, more contemplation of the facts*

WM: The facts are that we saved money by implementing socialism, and we would be worse-off economically had we not done so. But the National Railway Network, which will deliver untold benefits economically, socially and productively has initial up-front costs which won't begin to pay for themselves until they are operational. I would refer you to the former Minister of Economy, the Honourable Ernest Barnard for more details about the validity of this point; if you don't believe a culturist such as me surely you'll listen to an economist such as he!

AM: *the disbelieving noises continue*

WM: You will see for yourself! In the new year the first leg from here to the capital will be open. There will be a return on investment immediately at that point. It might not be enough to cover the shortfall, but it will help. Beyond that, though, we have a plan!

AM: *more disbelieving noises*

WM: Yes, we have a plan for eliminating the deficit! We do! We will undertake trading missions, something I would have thought this audience would have an appreciation for.

AM: *quieter now, more contemplative at the notion of 'trade'*

WM: Yes, we intent to kick-start trade between our nation and the other great nations of Europa. My party president, Miss Gurra, has more specific details that I can provide this esteemed assembly. But effectively we will trade surplus luxury items for money, which we will inject into the Treasury and eliminate the deficit . . .