Reflextions

Did you agree with the outcome of your simulation experience? Why or why not?
I did agree with what clicked on in the simulation experience. I really enjoyed that I got to support a bill that said that people needed to have a background check before purchasing a gun. To me this is a big thing because I do not want to have someone who has a criminal background to own a gun.

What might have changed the outcome?
Something that could have changed the outcome is if I did not do what was best for my state. If all i did was listen to what my citizens told me to do then nothing would get done. I think that I did the best thing by going with what I thought was best for my state. Another thing that could have changed the outcome is if I actually knew the people, if I knew them then I would be more obligated to listen to what they were saying.

How do the scenarios compare to the local politics of your congressional district?
I really do not know how they compare because I am not very much involved in the local politics of my congressional district. I do though now see how they have to act. Like with the scenario where the my senator got caught getting a check from another person. This made me think that my citizens would not like me because they thought that I would misuse the money. So even though I do not know how it compares to my congressional district, I do see how the people in my congressional district must feel.

What do you feel has the greatest impact on the election results- local or national issues? And why?
I think that the national issues had the greatest impact because they seemed to have more positive outcomes. I'm guessing that the reason why national issues had more of an impact is because my citizens were involved and that other citizens were involved.

Do you agree or disagree with this?
I do agree with this. A person does not only need to think about themselves and what their state wants, but what is best for the country. We are one united country and if we only think about what we want, then we will have another Civil War, which is not something that our country wants to experience again.

How do local issues affect the ability of Congress make national decisions?
Local issues affect the congress because all issues start small. If one person wants a new building then they will tell another person that, then that person would tell another person and so on. This is probably what happened with the "Gun Background Check" bill. It had to start with one person in a local place that did not like it that anyone could purchase a gun, so they talked to people about it, then talked to their congress people and then the congress people talked it over with their different sections of congress, and eventually it will get disgust.

Thank You

I would like to thank everyone that voted for me. I hope that I can make a huge impact on our government. I plan on trying to get our state more resources to industrialize our state some more. But, I would also like to keep some of our state the same. I hope that I do not let down my state and hopefully you do not regret voting for me later.

Thank You All,

Senator Smith

Gun Law

Today I was told about a new bill that would make it so that if you want to purchase a gun then you have to go through background checks before you actually get to purchase the gun. I personally think that this is a good idea. I know that many of my citizens are not happy that I supported this bill, but I think that it is the best thing for my state. I am only looking out for the safety of my citizens. Once I told the person that established the bill that I would support it, it seemed like my citizens started to see why this needed to happen.

Its also less then one week until elections so voters dont forget to vote.

Income Tax

I know many people think that having to be taxed is a horrible thing, but it really is not that bad. Even though the citizens of my state are going to have to pay more, they should know that our state is going to be gettin more money in return for paying more taxes.
Earlier this morning I got a call from my fellow congress men, asking me to vote for the bill that would increase income taxes. I thought it over and thought that it would be the best thing for our state.
It turns out that I chose to do the right thing. My citizens are not happy with with having to pay more taxes but they should be happy to know that our state is going to be getting more money in return.

Paparazzi

Sometimes paparazzi need to learn to mind their own business. Its not like I was doing anything illegal in accepting money from a friend. I was very tempted to make a press confrence but I do not thinkg that that have been the best thing. I just want to let all my readers to know that I was not doing anything wrong and that hopefully they can move on from this and not get mad at it.

Trip to Washington, D.C.

What a crazy day today. My old college Senator Jones asked me to come to Washington D.C. and support his bill. I told him that I had already had a commitment with the Farm Bureaus. I told the Farm Bureaus that I would talk at their annual meeting and banquet. I relayed all of this to Senator Jones and he told me that if I were to come he would send some money over to my state to help industrialize it. I thought it over and then went to the Farm Bureaus and told them that I would not be able to make it to the meeting/banquet. I also asked if it would be okay with them if I were to talk at their meeting/banquet next year, and they said yes.
I ended up going to Washington D.C. and everything turned out good. When I got back to my state the local newspaper had written an entire article on how I was doing a good job at getting our state more money.