Last Monday, Brilliam J. Chaotic – currently running for Governor of Sierra – visited farmers near Fresno. The drought-stricken region faces an uphill battle against abnormally hot weather, a lack of rain and recently ignited wildfires. The reservoirs have reached levels not seen since the Nineties, and some local officials have asked for the declaration of a state of emergency.

CHAOTIC: “What the people of Fresno and so many other brave Sierrans are going through right now is one of the most devastating periods of droughts in our history. I support the declaration of a state of emergency so Sacramento can send relief funds to those people, as they now see their crops, their primary income, destroyed in front of their eyes, day by day.”

The Speaker of the Assembly had a long meeting with members of the local farmers association and the Mayor of Fresno, during which the plans for different scenarios were covered. “We need Sacramento now, we need them here, and we need people like Speaker Chaotic in charge to help us deal with this mess!”, said the Mayor, himself a part-time farmer.

Later that day, Chaotic visited a farm whose owner was able to avoid bankruptcy by harnessing a new technology: drip irrigation. “I saw this at a trade show a few years ago and thought to myself, ‘[M]y God, this saves a ton of water’and immediately ordered the necessary equipment. It wasn’t cheap, but I damn sure am grateful to have it during these days”, says Mr. Marty McCara, the owner of the farm.

Chaotic describes the system as “a technology that uses a fraction of the water that normal irrigation systems require, getting the job done while keeping our reservoirs full”. Chaotic has promised to fight for tax breaks and deregulation in the industry which will help local farmers buy more affordable drip irrigation systems so that "our brave, tough Sierran farmers can get through this drought and continue putting precious food on our tables”.

"It all depends on who wins the next elections”, adds a local resident, “the Democrats don’t seem to care much for us, they woo the coastal liberal elites, but the proud hard-working country folk are feeling left behind”. In response, Speaker Chaotic pledged to back country residents and the farming community unconditionally. The only certainty that remains is that no matter who wins the election, the farmers can’t be ignored anymore.

On a hot May afternoon in Sierra, Brilliam J. Chaotic –currently running for Governor of Sierra– spoke to concerned citizens about climate change and renewable energy. Chaotic looked somewhat disheveled in the heat and removed his tie, while many members of the audience complained about the heat and the absence of wind.

CHAOTIC: “This, my friends, is exactly what ever more days will feel like in the future. Make no mistake, the climate is changing, and as you can all feel, it’s too damn hot out here!”.

Chaotic has invited members of the press to a seemingly deserted piece of shoreline to “talk about his energy policies”, according to the invitation. He continued, “Behind me, one of the greatest research projects is being conducted in a public-private-partnership. It deals with wave and tidal power!”. He then outlined how wave and tidal power plants work, citing the constant availability of water movement and eco-friendly designs as main reason for his support of this technology. “It creates jobs, doesn’t bother anyone as it’s underwater, marine wildlife isn’t threatened by it, and it's cheap; overall a fantastic idea!”, he said.

A scientist –a friend of Chaotic who oversees the project– elaborated the details of the technology and why she sees it as a viable option for large-scale power generation, citing a study that projects that up to a quarter of Sierran power could be supplied by hydroelectric power plants by the year 2030 if the state supports the energy policies of Chaotic. Asked for more details on his energy policies, Chaotic expressed his desire for a “green energy in our homes and green dollars in our wallets”. He noted that his favorite energy mix would contain lots of renewable power, but also plenty of “backup energy” in the form of nuclear power plants as “sometimes we could see a week or more without sun or wind”.

CHAOTIC: "I will, as your Governor, not only push for more green energy in Sacramento, but I will –if I have to– go all the way to Washington, show the Secretary of the Interior how damn hot and dry it is around here, and make him change American energy politics!”, he enthusiastically exclaimed. What Sierran voters might now be particularly supportive of, though, is the price tag. Even Chaotic himself grudgingly admitted that –at the current level of technology– power from the oceans costs 70% more than coal. Chaotic may be forced to rely a bit more on nuclear power than he bargained. We will see in May whether voters –as he suggests– are willing to make the switch.

Since the days of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s term as Governor of the Province of California, the State of Sierra has led the nation on renewable energy. It is widely recognized that the changes pushed by Schwarzenegger have not only contributed to a reduction in emitted greenhouse gases, but have also shown that the economy is not destined for disaster due to the gradual switch of energy supply, quite the contrary.

Brilliam J. Chaotic reflected on the legacy of former Governor Schwarzenegger and other pioneers of renewable energy, noting that “[I]t took a bold, determined Republican to show the Province of California how it’s done, and it's going to take a bold, determined Republican to show the State of Sierra how it's done now”. As someone running for Governor, Speaker Chaotic has expressed his intention to continue that legacy, noting that “[G]oing green is profitable for everyone”.

Yesterday, during a visit to Yosemite National Park, Chaotic outlined his idea of what he calls 'ESME' –environmental-small-to-midsize-enterprises - calling it “[O]ne of the next-generation bedrocks of our great economy”. Economists have confirmed his position that gradually, old-school 'SME's like traditional department stores, mass manufacturing, and professional accounting will be replaced by new technologies like online retailers, 3D-printers or AI-powered services.

“We in Sierra have paved the way before, and I want to spearhead the next section of this long journey. That’s why I want 'ESME's to enjoy advantages that reflect their positive externalities –you know, their part in reducing waste, reducing the impact of droughts, the more efficient usage of water, the cheaper electricity, and so on”, Speaker Chaotic explained.

Economists have long argued for an inclusion of the negative externalities, such as environmental damage, into the price of goods and services, for instance through a carbon tax. Speaker Brilliam J. Chaotic is determined to evade this “long, lobbyist-driven discussion” by positive reinforcement of environmentally responsible 'SME's. Some of the measures Chaotic has proposed include tax credits for greenhouse gas-savings, tax credits if certain certifications like the 'ISO-14001' are obtained, or more favorable tax rates during the first three to five years of a new 'ESME'.

Speaker Chaotic also wants to create an informal policy alliance of 'ESME' CEOs that will meet with state legislators and the Governor at few times each term of office, stating that “[T]he direct exchange of ideas and feedback between the private and public sector is of paramount importance”. After the speech, the Republican candidate for Governor drove back home in an electric vehicle, promoting emission-free vehicle ownership as a period to dot the end to his statements.

Speaking at a Second Amendment rally in Anaheim, Programmatically Sun VII had this to say about gun rights.

SUN: "Needless to say, rights are important to me. I believe that strong negative rights protected under an iron-clad constitution are the backbone of a free and prosperous society. Continuing the metaphor, I believe that a thriving free market where the government keeps to itself – but does encourage rivalry – is the skeletal system of that society. Our aim, as Sierrans and, overall, Americans, should be to enshrine our individual rights and to protect them against government trespasses. How many of you know that the government can seize your property for any reason deemed to be in the public interest? Or how about seizing your firearms if someone gives you a bad report, one that could very well be fake?

You see, it’s issues like this that force us to look at the power we’ve entrusted in our government with a skeptical eye. What would happen if someone tried to abuse these laws – which does happen, but not systematically? We’d be facing an unprecedented crisis. That’s a lesson to be learnt in governance: whenever you appropriate power to the government, you must always account for that power being used in manners that you disagree with, or even manners that you couldn’t even fathom. When you give them an inch, they take a mile.

Let’s take a real life example of this phenomenon: gun laws. You may have received a copy of this little pamphlet when you walked into the venue. For those that don’t have one, we’ll put one right on the projector screen for you.

[Editor's note: a copy of the infographic is provided below.]

The misfortune that has befallen our Second Amendment rights in Sierra is nothing short of a tragedy. Sierra restricts a large variety of normal guns, for fear that they may have non-hunting uses. They restrict people from concealed carrying by issuing licenses via police discretion. In some areas, this makes it de-facto impossible to get a concealed carry license unless you are politically connected. There are laws on how you can transport guns, where you can fire them, how many rounds you can fire at a time, if visitors can carry guns, whether you can even own them in the first place, more on when you can use a gun in self defense. The Second Amendment exists for a reason: for self defense. That’s as simple as it gets. Hunting, as is commonly mistaken, is not the reason we have the Second Amendment. There are bows that can shoot good enough to take down most game animals. That’s not it. The Second Amendment is there to equalize us. To enable us to stare down our aggressors –including the government. When we take these rights away, we subjugate ourselves –or perhaps they subjugate us. Either way, we’re putting ourselves in a place of irreconcilable submission to the powers that be. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being a slave to the status quo.

That’s all fine and dandy, but you might be wondering: 'But Sun, when was the last time the government endangered me?'. All you have to do is look back to the outgoing Governor Zero. Remember when he released an Executive Order directing all whites and Republicans to be interned in concentration camps? Or how about when he endangered Sierrans by directing the State of Sierra to violate international arms treaties to purchase nuclear warheads? Thankfully, several local jurisdictions refused to enforce it and it was eventually defeated in the Sierran Supreme Court, but the delay between the issuance of the orders and the day they were struck down serves to remind us why we cannot simply take checks and balances for granted.

What then should be done about gun laws? It’s hard to say. Honestly, we’d be better off scrapping the law entirely and then rewriting it. Nevertheless, here are a few bipartisan proposals that could work: changing Sierra from a may-issue concealed carry state to a shall-issue state, removing restrictions on magazines and assault weapons while expanding background checks, and reciprocating concealed carry licenses from other states. Other reforms might be harder, like removing weapons restrictions implemented by the 'National Firearms' Act, easing licensing requirements, easing transport restrictions, and getting rid of red flag laws. Rest assured, however, that these are all areas that I will pursue if elected Lieutenant Governor alongside a Governor Chaotic.

Finally, if you want to feel the winds of change, a breath of cool fresh air after two years status quo of an oppressive Democratic regime in the Governor’s mansion, then vote for the Brilliam J. Chaotic and Programmatically Sun VII ticket for Governor. Together, we can make real change for the citizens of Sierra and shake up the drudgery in our state Capitol’s politics. God bless you all and God bless Sierra. Vote Republican!"

The issue of gun rights is expected to be an important one this campaign season, with conflicts over gun laws bubbling to the forefront of American politics in recent years.

After a great deal of speculation by conservative media outlets in Sierra, Brilliam J. Chaotic – the Republican Party nominee for Governor – announced his official pick for Lieutenant Governor. While the Governor dominates the headlines during the Gubernatorial campaign, his Lieutenant Governor pick is still importan,t as the Lieutenant Governor nominee can assist in reaching out to on the fence voters or, in the case of a centrist candidate, appeasing the party base. Speaker Chaotic is relatively in touch with both electoral demographics, so the mysterious Lieutenant Governor pick was a subject of intense speculation.

Stepping out onto a podium in front of a small press gaggle, Speaker Chaotic explained that his Lieutenant Governor pick was a simple and easy choice to make, stating that "[T]here's only one Republican in Sierra who is well-known, principled, and a staunch fighter for Sierran values." Without further ado, he revealed his Lieutenant Governor pick to be none other than U.S. Representative Programmatically Sun VII, the current House Minority Leader and a familiar face in Sierra's political scene.

CHAOTIC: "Programmatically Sun VII has the experience, the guts, and the passion to help me take back the Governor's mansion for the first time since Governor Arnold Schwarzennegger. He may have had a few rough spots in the past, but I trust him completely and there's no one I'd rather run alongside."

Political analysts say Representative Sun VII has a unique ability to whip up grassroots support for policies that are considered fringe by some. Coupled with Speaker Brilliam J. Chaotic's pragmatic 'modern' conservatism, the dynamic duo makes for a very formidable ticket. Indeed, with prior Governor Zero having just been convicted for Federal crimes, there is no better time for a Republican to win the Governorship in Sierra.

The House Minority Leader and now candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Sierra, hyped up at the prospect of a rematch with incumbent Senator Hurricane O'Flies, had this to say: "You know what? The buck stops here. I’m in it to win it! You had better believe that we’re making a beeline straight for the Governor’s mansion. A sixteen point deficit may seem like a lot, but I’ve seen even larger leads evaporate in my time as a public servant. I’m thankful to God, Mr. Chaotic, and my loving family for bringing me to this point. Let’s go get 'er!"

Could this be the big break Sierran Republicans need after two terms of partisan deadlock in the Capitol? Only time will tell.