I just grilled him. But, I couldn't get anymore questions in before he went to bed. Here:
[spoiler]<TrakNar> What are you touting as your experience? Why should people choose you? What can you bring that no one else can?
<Goodwood> Gumption.
<Goodwood> Among other things.
<TrakNar> What are those "other things"?
* Disconnected (Connection reset by peer).
<Goodwood> But how would /you/ spin my inexperience and such to my advantage?
<TrakNar> You never answered my question. What are those "other things"?
<Goodwood> A big mouth that's willing to say what everyone's thinking and isn't afraid of reprisal.
<TrakNar> Give me some examples.
<Goodwood> If Israel is acting like a twat, I would say so.
<Goodwood> I'd call out Faux News for their fake reporting and laud the comedians who are providing actual news.
<TrakNar> How will this help, say, the local economy?
<Goodwood> I can bring pressure on certain players to keep them honest.
<TrakNar> How so?
<Goodwood> Make sure they're dealing aboveboard.
<Goodwood> I want to bring back regulations on the real estate market, the stock exchange (no more "derivatives" and other ludicrous schemes) and raise the minimum wage.
<Goodwood> Also I'd raise the cap on payroll taxes.
<TrakNar> All fair and good. So, what experience can you bring to the table that will help you achieve this?
<Goodwood> I can meet people who are like-minded, rally them to the cause, etc.. I know I've never worked in government itself, but I'm a quick study.
<TrakNar> You realize that your lack of political experience will be a detriment. Many want to see someone who has at the very least served a county seat, or has school board experience. What can you bring that will offset your lack of political experience?
<Goodwood> A willingness to listen, to admit when I'm ignorant and ask questions in order to gain knowledge and, thus, experience.
<TrakNar> What will be the first things you will do, should you be elected?
<Goodwood> I'd seek out other Senators who have a proven track record of sharing my values, and pick their brains as much as possible for advice, opinions, opportunities, then formulate partnerships whenever possible.
<Goodwood> Elisabeth Warren of Massachusetts seems like a good one.
<Goodwood> Elizabeth
<TrakNar> What will you do that will help the country, if elected?
<Goodwood> (Also, Bernie Sanders of Vermont seems like another possibility)
<Goodwood> I would muster support for sustainable-energy projects and programs that would encourage and advance the teaching of science and mathmatics.
<TrakNar> How will you handle school budget cuts? Art and music are often left out in the cold.
<Goodwood> I would expand funding for the Gold Leaf building standards for environmental friendliness.
<Goodwood> If you cut school budgets, you're basically cutting your own economic throat.
<TrakNar> Your solution, then?
<Goodwood> As much as people may hem and haw about it, we have to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans and close the corporate taxation loopholes. Bringing in that much more revenue, we can shunt more federal money into state and local school systems.
<TrakNar> And how do you propose to do that?
<Goodwood> By passing legislation that would raise the tax rate on the top 20% and top 1% to levels at or close to that which they paid during the '50s and '60s.
<Goodwood> During the '50s, which are widely considered to be the time of greatest economic growth in the United States, the top marginal tax rate was 88%
<TrakNar> Now, since this will invariably come up, what is your stance on the inclusion/exclusion of "unger God" in the Pledge?
<Goodwood> Get rid of it. And while you're at it, take "In God We Trust" off the money. Also, eliminate the dollar bill and mandate dollar coins.
<Goodwood> Money will be saved in the latter move.
<TrakNar> Why do you feel that such steps should be taken?
<Goodwood> The money or the God one?
<TrakNar> Both.
<Goodwood> For the former, it's unconstitutional. For the latter, it's a long-term money saver. Dollar coins last exponentially longer in circulation than dollar bills, and are thus more cost-effective to produce (see Canada for an example).
<TrakNar> How will you handle ObamaCare forcing Catholic groups to support birth control, contraception, and abortion, which go against the Catholic church's teachings?
<Goodwood> I think that these Catholic organizations should realize that not all of their members are necessarily Catholic, and thus the law should not make an exception for the beliefs of the organization. To grant that exception is to pave the way for other religious groups to claim similar concessions, when government is not meant to favor any religion at all.
<TrakNar> How will you achieve that?
<Goodwood> I'm sorry, but is there a question there?
<TrakNar> How will you achieve enforcing Obamacare policy on those groups? You basically said that they would essentially regulate themselves.
<Goodwood> I said that the law should not make an exception for those areas of coverage.
<Goodwood> Unfortunately such debate is out of my hands. I believe that the issue is currently in federal court.
<Goodwood> And it might be heard by the next session of the Supreme Court.
<Goodwood> Anyway, I have to go to bed. Thanks for the grilling.
<TrakNar> You do realize that the Asperger's diagnosis will eventually find its way into the public light as your rivals dig it up. How do you plan to handle that?
<Goodwood> "So what?"[/spoiler]
Enjoy.