Politics

February 31st XX50 Presidential Debate Transcript

Presidential Debate University of College in Manse, New Townsend

February 31st XX50

Participants:

Presidential Candidate Rhys Lowell (H)

Presidential Candidate Franklin Vaughn (CH)

Moderator:

Jinx Robles (Center News)

Robles: Good evening from the Biological Health School of the University of College, New Townsend campus. I am Jinx Robles with The Center News and I am pleased to welcome you all to the first of XX50 presidential debates between Presidential Candidate Franklin Vaughn and Presidential Candidate Rhys Lowell. This debate is sponsored by the Presidential Debate Commission. The debate format is as follows: two 10-minute segments with two minute answers from each candidate to the initial question, then open discussion for the rest of each segment. This will be followed by two minute closing statements. Both parties have agreed to these rules. As the moderator I have decided the the topics and the questions in each topic. None of the questions have been shared with the Commission or with the candidates.

The audience attending has promised to remain silent. No cheers, no boos, or other interruptions, so that we all can focus on what the candidates have to say. At this time, we welcome Harmonic nominee Rhys Lowell, and Contraharmonic candidate Franklin Vaughn.

Vaughn: Hello Rhys.

Lowell: Mr. Vaughn.

Robles: Candidates, let’s get started. Our first subject is the introduction of the proposed Visit-1705 bill. For our audience, proposition Visit-1705 proposes an increase in the military spending budget for the creation of a surveillance of Visitors taskforce. Mr. Vaughn, you have been outspoken in your approval of the proposition, while Ms. Rhys you have been outspoken in your disapproval. Would you care to elaborate on why you hold those stances? We’ll start with you, Mr. Vaughn. You have two minutes.

Vaughn: Yes, well I believe it is quite simple why I think what I do: It is the only opinion on the matter that makes sense for our citizens. We support our military, we support all the men in our–and women– we support all the men and women who wear our country’s uniform and we want them to have the most money they can so that they can do their job of protecting our citizens. It makes sense for our military to do surveillance on potential threats. The Visitors are potential threats. We don’t know what they can do or where they could be. They could be planning anything. So we need to be on guard. It is just what is in the best interest for protecting our citizens. We’re putting the citizens first. I think 1705 would be the best step towards putting citizens first.

Robles: Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. Ms. Lowell, the same question to you. You have two minutes.

Lowell: Thank you, Mx. Robles. I am staunchly against proposition Visit-1705 for many reasons. Firstly, as much as I appreciate all people serving in our military, our military budget is already the highest in the entire world. We already have the latest technologies and top of the line equipment and with the current budget our military is sufficiently funded to fight world war three, four, even five times over. Our military budget is at a level that is absolutely unheard of, especially for peacetime. Which brings me to my second point. We are in peacetime. Contrary to what some people will want you to believe, we are not at war with our Visitors. No, they are not citizens, but this does not mean they are our enemy. This country was founded by immigrants, with no citizenship ties to this land, and we were allowed to build foundations here because those immigrants were welcomed and embraced by the native inhabitants of this land, despite the threat these immigrants posed. And then, those foundations were built off the back of people who were not allowed to be citizens, people who were just barely considered people. We look back on that history now and know that it was the goodwill of the native citizens that allowed us to prosper. We also look back and know how wrong it was to deny someone their personhood. So yes, it is true the Visitors are not citizens, but they are no less a part of this country. They contribute to this country just as the citizens do, and their lack of citizenship is something that can be changed with some simple legislation–

Vaughn: I wouldn’t call that simple–

Lowell: Can I finish?

Robles: Mr. Vaughn, please let Ms. Lowell continue her argument uninterrupted. Ms. Lowell, an additional 15 seconds has been added to your time.

Lowell: Thank you. Thirdly, I’d like to argue that the passing of proposition 1705 would not be in the best interest of our citizens, even going so far as to say it would harm a large portion of them.

Robles: And that’s time. We are now in open discussion.

Vaughn: Okay, open discussion. I will start. First I want to say that it would not be easy legislation to make the Visitors citizens. It would be near impossible to legislate. Actually impossible.

Lowell: How?

Vaughn: It would be, it would be impossible.

Lowell: Yes, but why would it be impossible? Are you not going to answer my question?

Vaughn: No, it is not worth elaborating on. It is simply impossible.

Lowell: But isn’t the point of this? To argue our points? You made a point and you’re not going to defend it?

Vaughn: Secondly–

Lowell: Okay.

Vaughn: Secondly, I’d like to know how increasing the budget of the people who protect our country would hurt our citizens? You said it would harm our citizens, how would it do that.

Lowell: It would be readily apparent how it harms citizens, had you actually spent time reading the legislation you back. The issue at hand is not the increasing of the budget–though I feel I have sufficiently explained my opinion on that–the issue lies in the creation of this taskforce. The exact wording of the proposition states that it will “create a taskforce dedicated to the surveillance of creatures of interdimensional origin, known colloquially as “Visitors,” as well as their known or suspected human affiliates.” This last line is the key. Known or suspected human affiliates. This means that this task force will be observing our citizens just living their daily lives, scrutinizing who they spend their time with. And couldn’t anybody be deemed a suspected affiliate? Even beyond my disagreement on how this proposition unfairly affects our Visitors, it opens the door to making this country a constant surveillance state. The people of this country deserve a right to privacy.

Vaughn: A right to privacy? At the expense of their safety?

Lowell: “Safety” from an invented threat. There is no research that shows that people are being intentionally harmed by our Visitors, and there is plenty of research that shows that adapting, and using the proper protection when interacting with Visitors significantly decreases the cases of accidental injury–

Vaughn: The proper protection is the protection that would be afforded by our military.

Lowell: Don’t interrupt me. And furthermore proper education would significantly decrease the intentional antagonizing of Visitors that our citizens perform out of fear.

Vaughn: That fear is justified.

Lowell: It truly is not, and people who are actually educated on our Visitors would know that.

Robles: I’m going to call time. And the topic of education will bring us to our next question. Our next question is about proposition Visit-1799. For our audience, this proposition proposes the introduction of Visitor studies into K-12 schools. Ms. Lowell you have shown your support for the proposition while Mr. Vaughn you have shown your disapproval. Can you please elaborate on your stances. We’ll have you go first Mr. Vaughn, you have two minutes

Vaughn: Yes. I think that 1799 is a terrible proposal. Truly terrible. What Visit-1799 is proposing is a complete reworking of the education system, to include anti-human propaganda and pro-invader propaganda. And let’s call them what they are, they’re invaders. All it is is propaganda, to try and indoctrinate our children into hating the human race. Their race. We have a chance now to come together as humans, a united front–

Lowell: That’s rich.

Robles: Ms. Lowell–

Vaughn: –against a common enemy. In opposing Visit-1799, we can ensure that our children are not being taught to hate themselves, and recognize the human race as the great race that it is.

Robles: Mr. Vaughn, you’ll be allowed an additional 5 seconds for the interruption.

Vaughn: Not necessary, I’ve said what I needed to.

Robles: Okay, Ms. Lowell, the same question is posed to you, can you please explain the reasoning behind your stance in support of Visit-1799? You have two minutes.

Lowell: Yes, thank you. This bill is not a matter of them against us. Educating the next generation on relevant current events is not the same thing as indoctrinating them. Learning to embrace our Visitors is not teaching children to “turn against humans.” As I’ve stated before, we are not at war. This does not have to be a fight and thus there are no enemies. And to say otherwise is nothing short of fear mongering. We should not try and “unite” people under a threat that doesn’t exist. While there are concerns and reservations that are valid to have in regard to our Visitors, the fear that learning about Visitors, their culture, and how to interact with them in a way that minimizes the harm caused to all parties involved, would somehow diminish the pride that human beings have in themselves is completely unfounded. Anyone who is against educating the next generation is someone who wants ignorant people who are easy to manipulate. I believe it is imperative to give our children true and accurate education, so when they grow to be voting age they can make informed decisions on the policies that will affect the society in which they live.

Robles: And that’s time. Thank you both. We will now enter open discussion. Since Ms. Lowell ended us off, we will start with Mr. Vaughn.

Vaughn: Okay, I want to say that Visit-1799 is indoctrination. The textbook definition of indoctrination.

Lowell: Right, and what exactly is that definition?

Vaughn: It is. It’s indoctrination. There is nothing wrong with our education system as it is, our current education system has produced some of the greatest minds in the world, and that is without people trying to push this, this, anti-human agenda.

Lowell: You never answered my question, you said it was the textbook definition of indoctrination, but can’t tell me what indoctrination is. It’s as if you don’t know what the word means.

Vaughn: I do.

Lowell: I don’t think you do. I can tell you though, it means to teach a doctrine to imbue a biased point of view. And I think that by the language you use to describe our Visitors, you show a clear bias against them.

Vaughn: You have bias too, everyone has bias.

Lowell: I never said I didn’t. But I believe that children should have access to all of the facts, so that they can form their own biases.

Vaughn: So you want to teach everything to students? You don’t think there are topics that are inappropriate for students? Next you’ll say you want them to learn how to build pipe bombs and how to cook meth.

Lowell: Wow, that is an absolutely insane non sequitur.

Vaughn: That’s what you’re saying.

Lowell: It absolutely is not–

Robles: (crosstalk) If I could–

Vaughn: It is. It is what you’re saying–

Lowell: –and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t try and put words in my mouth.

Vaughn: I am just stating the obvious about what you and yours are trying to–

Robles: Okay, open discussion is now finished. We’ll go into closing statements now. We can start with you Ms. Lowell.

Lowell: Thank you, Mx. Robles. I want to finish this off by saying that we should not let our decisions be dictated by fear. It should be dictated by the truth, and as president I guarantee that I will provide the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, to the people of this country. As the president I want to foster a society full of acceptance, and one free of unfounded fear. It has been shown, time after time, that it is the unity and diversity that makes this country the great nation that it is, not division.

Vaughn: I am the candidate for tradition. I am the candidate for people. I am the candidate for humans, and as president, I will always put humans first. As the president I will make this country human again. Thank you.

Robles: And we’re going to call time for closing remarks. I want to thank you both for your time here today. We’d like to thank University of College for hosting tonight’s event, and we want to thank our audience for joining us tonight. Thank you all, and good night.