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 Seddik Bouchareb سدك بوشارب Born in the slums of Maravilla, Seddik made his way as a dockworker in the bustling port. After being elected to the strike committee of the last port shutdown before the thaw, Bouchareb "took a vacation" to Laibach during the military crackdown. Now that charges were dropped against strikers when the new constitution was enacted, Seddik has joined the Free Constitutionalist Party. A bitter opponent of inequality, Seddik leads a section of urban workers dedicated to full legal and political equality in Anthe.
Canasta_Nasty fucked around with this message at 01:46 on Aug 29, 2020 |
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Aug 28, 2020 21:04
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Takanago fucked around with this message at 23:16 on Aug 29, 2020 |
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Aug 28, 2020 21:09
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 https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/549590421190770688 Game Mechanics: Basic Gameplay Rules & FAQ Okay, I'm playing this game. What do I do? Your character is a legislator in the House of Deputies. If your party is in power, you will hold a position in the government assigned to you by your Party Leader. Party leaders are determined in party elections, and decide who gets what Secretarial job, as well as what kind of governing coalitions are formed if no party wins an outright majority in an election. If you are in power and hold an office: You can ISSUE ORDERS TO YOUR DEPARMENTS; RE-STRUCTURE OR MAKE A BUDGET FOR YOUR OFFICE; and REQUEST INFORMATION (ask a question, I will answer it to the best of my ability. I will put up large summaries of each Office after the elections). If you are a PARTY LEADER and in office, you can change the official platform of your party, and appoint or dismiss secretaries or shadow secretaries. If you are out of power and a member of the Opposition (aka anybody NOT in the governing coalition, led by the biggest party not in government): You can attempt to get the government to fall through a vote of no confidence (the government loses a simple majority vote, and new elections are held); the leader of the opposition (the party leader of the leading opposition party) can ask up to three questions per every three-month period, and the current First Secretary must answer to the best of their ability. The First Secretary is constitutionally obligated to do so, and failure to answer questions may result in the Queen dissolving the sitting government. Also, if you make some kind of system where opposition players retain committee seats, you will attend to committee business. Any characer can: Draft legislation; vote on legislation. The game is broken into four-month periods, divided into drafting sessions where players submit legislation and voting sessions where players vote on submitted legislation. You can vote YES, NO, or ABSTAIN on a vote. If you don't post at all, your vote defaults to ABSTAIN. Any player can also make a public (in-thread) statement/speech/article/deranged television appearance/tasteless livestream in an attempt to sway public opinion (important in elections, will elaborate in a future elections post once the public opinion mechanic is finished). There's no limit to how much your character can Post. Also, if you're appointed to a committee you will attend to your committee business (the only currently existing Standing Committee approves High Court candidates, but the legislature is free to make as many committees as they wish). Standing Committee Chairs can: Compel testimony on their subject through subpoena; Forward or not forward committee-authored proposals, reports, legislation, or recommendation to the House floor for a vote. GAME RULES 1. A player can submit ONE piece of legislation (either a bill or constitutional amendment) per drafting session (to keep omnibus bills in check, each bill can deal with one 'organic' subject or interest - no single bills dealing with both the courts and public toilets and military spending and lese-majeste). A player can submit ONE amendment to an already existing law or constitutional amendment per drafting session. 2. No PC may occupy the position of Secretary of War, or hold active military rank (this includes reserves, militias, etc.) If your party/coalition comes to power, you can pick an NPC to fill the position. I don't have the time to provide granular updates on stuff like military procurement/equipment/research/operations. You can still order the Secretary of War to do things under their purview, you just can't micromanage the military on an operational level 3. The Honor Rule - NO STRAIGHT UP LYING IN OOC COMMUNICATIONS. In order for this game to work and be fun at all, you must be honest in out-of-character dealings and expectations, and stick to agreements once they have been entered. I will justify this rule through an in-game Anthen taboo on dishonesty in politics. Breaking this rule will result in severe electoral penalties. 4. If you DONT HAVE THE TIME TO VOTE in a voting session for whatever reason, but would still like to vote instead of counting as abstaining, just LET ME KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO VOTE PARTY LINE THIS VOTING SESSION and you will vote the same as the party leader. So, the basic flow of gameplay looks like this: 1. Hold elections. 2. Form a government. 3. I post a financial summary for the upcoming three-month period so you know how much money you have to spend and so you can see if you've made the numbers go up or down. 4. Draft period. You can introduce legislation & amendments or make directives. 5. Voting period. Three in-game months are abstracted as passing during this time. 6. Return to step 3. If two in-game years pass, or if the government is dissolved before that, we return to step 1. Extraordinary crises like scandals or war will be handled by special processes. FAQ: HOW DO I JOIN A PARTY: Post in the thread with a name and portrait for your character and say which party you're joining. HOW DO I SWITCH MY PARTY: Just post that you're switching parties to [desired party]. You can't do this while there's an election going on. HOW DO I VOTE IN NATIONAL ELECTIONS: If you don't have a character, just post in the thread with your vote. If you do have a character, you don't have to vote in the national elections since your character counts as an automatic vote for your party. HOW DO I VOTE IN PARTY ELECTIONS: If your party is having a leadership election, just post your vote in the thread. You can't vote in other partys' leadership elections. WHAT IF WE GO TO WAR?: War is a special system handled by me, the GM. You can influence the procurement process and try to install military leaders you think are smart but you are not leading any armies or anything like that. WHO CONTROLS THE QUEEN?: I do. Josephine Isabel II is her own character that I roleplay, so I will try to have her form a consistent personality with discernible priorities and tics. HOW DO I SUBMIT LEGISLATION?: Post a bill with a title during a drafting session. YOU CAN SUBMIT ONE BILL PER DRAFTING SESSION. HOW DO I SUBMIT AN AMENDMENT? Post an amendment with a title indicating which law is being amended during a drafting session. YOU CAN SUBMIT ONE AMENDMENT PER DRAFTING SESSION. HOW DO I VOTE ON A BILL/AMENDMENT?: Post a yes or no vote in the current voting session (this comes after the drafting session.) Not voting on a bill is counted as an abstain vote. HOW DO I ISSUE OFFICE-LEVEL DIRECTIVES AND ADJUST MY OFFICE'S BUDGET: You just issue the order publicly in-thread during a drafting session. No secret orders. Re-arrange budgets and offices as you see fit, though frequent reshuffling will have a negative impact on effectiveness. Budgets have to add up to 100%. IF YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING ANYTHING: Ask! I'll try to answer promptly. tatankatonk fucked around with this message at 21:24 on Sep 11, 2020 |
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Aug 28, 2020 21:22
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 Acero Amalden Excerpt from a speech public hall where peasants and workers eat, drink, and listen to music Vote for the Royal Alliance! It's the only party that wants you to not get murdered by cows or rocks! *strums banjo* Seriously though folks, the other parties are completely dominated by nobles and executives, and when have you ever heard of that sort doing good for us?
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Aug 28, 2020 21:42
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Aug 28, 2020 21:54
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 Board of Education Overview The Board of Education consists of three Directors and a small staff of around fifty assistants, secretaries, researchers, and policy specialists. Beyond this, the Board is empowered by law to do several things: 1) establish standards for primary and secondary education across Anthe; 2) Disperse its Block Grant funding as it sees fit to incentivize, disincentivize, or encourage behavior and compliance; 3) Oversee the distribution of Mandated Grants as required by law; 4) Investigate complaints of abuse or maladministration, and recommend criminal charges to the Office of Justice. Because there is no uniform public school system on Anthe at the national level, primary and secondary educational institutions can be divided into four broad categories: - Municipal schools, which are funded by taxes raised by municipalities and run through whatever arrangements the municipality has established. These currently serve about 15% of all students, mostly in urban areas; - Religious & charitable schools, which are privately funded and run, though they are required by law to follow certain pedagogical and disciplinary standards. These currently serve about 52% of all students, spread evenly between cities and towns; -Specialized vocational schools, which are privately funded but specialize in technical training for professions like engineering, machining, nursing, etc. These currently serve about 3% of all students, and are concentrated in the largest cities. - Rural schools, which are publicly funded and serve the enormous population of mostly part-time students who commonly also labor in fields or on private family plots. These currently serve about 30% of all students. The Board's current spending breaks down like this, in order of percentage assigned: 70% to the Union of Rural Schooling, the organization which administers the rural school system as best it can. Rural teachers often come from the same populations they serve, and they and their schoolhouses are often desperately improverished compared to their urban counterparts. In many cases, rural teachers rely on donations or food from the communities they're based in, or even sleep in small rooms in the backs of schools, which are often small, cramped, and made of cheap materials. Rural teachers, as a result, are famously radical in politics, and are the loudest and most organized advocates for a national public school system, or at least a massive expansion of funding. 15% to Mandated Grants to various religious schools and organizations serving underserved populations, often in city slums like Piedra del Sol's Riverine colonia. 15% to discretionary Block Grants, which can be distributed as the Board's Directors see fit. Currently, the funding is spent in two major ways: 1) research grants to the Maravilla International Academy, the Royal Biological College, and the Autonomous University of Anthe, focusing on developing computer science projects; 2) public scholarships to poor students who cannot otherwise school fees at prestigious private schools or universities. The current recommended curriculum looks like this: Lower Level (5-8) – Arithmetic, Anthen, Fitness, Theology, Basics of Science Middle Level (9-13) – Basic Mathematics, Advanced Mathematics OR Creative Writing OR Intermediate Theology, Formal Writing, Introduction to Natural Science OR Physics OR Chemistry OR Biology, Fitness OR Athletics, Abstract Art OR Home Economics OR Music, General History Upper Level (14-18) – Advanced Mathematics OR Creative Writing OR High Theology, Agronomy OR Physics OR Chemistry OR Biology, Fitness OR Athletics, Expressive Art OR Classic Literature OR Modern Literature OR Music, Sector History OR Foreign History, Anthen History  Higher Education on Anthe Unlike primary and secondary education, Anthe's seven universities are not overseen by the Board of Education (though some enjoy the use of research grants). Privately owned and operated, the universities are tightly integrated into the network of old families and old wealth that dominate Anthe's society. Currently, they serve about 500,000 students in total. In descending order of age: Colonial Houses of Theoria -Founded 3255 -Student body: ~20,000 The highest teaching center of the vast religious educational system of the Church of Eternal and Sovereign Mercy, renowned for its long history of distinguished theologians and religious leaders. Nearly every leading Elder has attended or taught at the Houses, and students spend nearly as much time in sacred contemplation or sweeping floors as they do in lecture (the children of powerful families, earmarked for high Church positions, usually find ways out of these duties.) Flor de Nochebuena's strict light pollution laws were demanded and won by the Houses' famous astronomy school, and its medical schools regularly turn out excellent surgeons and doctors. Autonomous University of Anthe -Founded 3389 -Student body: ~50,000 Piedra del Sol's University is the greatest center of legal, administrative, and industrial engineering education on the moon, and it is the desire of every noble family that their children attend Anthe's most prestigious university. The Autonomous University is consistently ranked highest in measures of education and research, and the name of the college itself is practically a key that unlocks access to Anthe's elite. The University recruits whom it likes from the top 1% of the graduating classes of Anthe's secondary education schools, though the student body is unsurprisingly dominated by the names of old families and those who parents also attended. Nearly every institution in Anthe can find graduates of the Autonomous University at its highest levels, and its graduates run Offices and hold the highest ranks in the Army and Security forces. Anthen Academy of Art -Founded 3390 -Student body: ~15,000 A comparatively small school that focuses exclusively on the creative arts. The Academy's museums survived the destruction of Flor del Cielo, and now it showcases the city's own ruins and memorials in its exhibits. Poets, painters, playwrights, and musicians from the school can often be found hanging out in the shadows of this or that colossal wreck, hoping for inspiration to strike. Royal Biological College: -Founded 3441 -Student body:~45,000 The greatest collection of agronomic talent in the sector, the RBC is famous for its groundbreaking research into both the life sciences and geoscience. RBC researchers are common sights in the fields or wild places of Anthe, or operating agricultural research stations, running experiments that often turn out cutting-edge industrial uses for Anthe's vast bounty or strains of crops that double or triple crop yields. Citizens of Pontevedra delight in the College's gardens and greenhouses, which are open to the public and widely regarded as the most distinguished botanical gardens in the sector. Naval Academy of Anthe -Founded 3497 -Student body: ~15,000 Made up of the officer and NCO cadets of the Anthen Navy, and a scattering of non-military charitable scholarships. Cadets can pay their way, and serve a mandatory four years on active duty and ten in the Reserves, or have their education paid for them, and then serve a mandatory eight years on active duty and twenty in the Reserves. Cadets are subject to strict military discipline while attending the Academy, and study a curriculum focusing on military matters like logistics, military engineering, and strategy. Maravilla International Academy -Founded 3531 -Student body: ~35,000 Founded with a charitable grant donated by Banco de Figueroa, the largest bank in the city, Maravilla International Academy has always been a hub of liberal thought and a pioneer in the social sciences. Its faculty are known for their connections to radical resistance politics, its students graduate to fill the ranks of Anthe's financial sector, and its regents often entertain visiting diplomats and executives who groom promising students as links in international trade and political networks. Its Sociology and Economics departments turn out many of the arguments aimed at the old monopolistic capital of Anthe. University of Arts and Manufactures -Founded 3546 -Student body: ~320,000 The UAM is an experiment in public investment in mass education, and the people of the Three Sisters (Heliotropo, Liro, and Quince) can point to their strong and growing industries as proof that it has paid off handsomely. The UAM is funded entirely by municipal taxes, alumni who see the UAM as a social statement as much as it was an excellent education, and the proceeds from UAM-patented advances in computer science and electrical engineering. Spread out over six campuses throughout the high plateau, the University is the pride of the region's professional class, who see it as an example of rationality, merit, and public service in action.
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Aug 28, 2020 22:01
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The structure of government in 3640 As the gathered Secretaries kneel before the Queen and her Personal Secretary in the crowded Cathedral of Heavenly Peace in central Piedra del Sol, each reflects on the brief they've received from the caretaker government explaining their responsibilities... Percentages represent current spending levels, and are subject to change upon the election of the new Government. In traditional order of seniority are: The Office of War: quote:The War Secretary oversees the civilian administration of the Anthen Armed Forces as the representative of the Queen, who holds the position of Supreme Commander. Each Department is run by a civilian appointee who is advised by an officer chosen by the military. All six heads of the departments plus the First Secretary, the War Secretary, and the Queen jointly make up the Unified Strategic Command, under which are the General Staffs of each branch. The Office of State quote:
Office of Finance quote:The Finance Secretary is responsible for tax and tariffs collection, customs enforcement, and monetary policy. Office of Justice quote:The Office of Justice is responsible for managing prosecution on all levels of Anthe’s regular court system. Aside from employing prosecutors, the Office sets all relevant standards and procedures with regards to what cases should be pursued and how they should be prosecuted. In addition, the Office oversees and determines the conditions and procedures of any detention facility managed by the government. Office of Security quote:The Security Secretary is responsible for overseeing Anthe’s national police forces and its largest intelligence organization, and combating any internal threats to peace and order. Office of Interior quote:The Interior Secretary has traditionally handled things everyone else declined to pay attention to. As a result, this Office is an eclectic collection of different remits, varying from document issuance to research into mass-transport hot air balloons. tatankatonk fucked around with this message at 05:59 on Oct 6, 2020 |
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Aug 28, 2020 22:11
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The Anthen Army Troopers of the 2nd Battalion of the 4th (Princess de Miraflora's Own) Assault Infantry Regiment carrying out a training exercise The Anthen Army is one of the most formidable and storied military forces in the Taurus Sector, though its current incarnation is far smaller than its highest wartime peaks of several million soldiers. The Army has always been closely associated with the De Luna regime, which saw the government as a guarantor both of nationalist values and plum positions for its officers. During the course of the De Luna government, it was civilian officials rather than Army officers who tended to be the cooler-headed of the two groups, and various Ministers of War spent much of their time persuading generals not to intervene in civil affairs - though the long history of Army battalions breaking up mass gatherings is grim proof that they were occasionally less than successful. Several years before the restoration of the Monarchy, however, a prominent younger generation of general officers quietly broke tradition with the Army's most politically reactionary positions, and it is this development that many commentators credit with really allowing change to take place. Organization Serving directly underneath the civilian head of the Department of the Army and their military advisor (traditionally a ceremonial role given to elderly general officers no longer on active duty) is the Captain-General of the Army, the highest ranking officer in the Army. Serving as their general staff and general headquarters for the entire army is the General Army Headquarters (GAHQ), and attached to this are the various Directorates which oversee different aspects of running, equipping, and training the army. The current Directorates are: -Directorate of Industrial Arms Manufacturing (runs six factory complexes which produce arms and equipment for the Army) -Directorate of Personnel Affairs (oversees payroll and human resources) -Directorate of Army Intelligence ( responsible for intelligence and counter-intelligence operations for the Army, though it is a frequent collaborator with civilian intelligence organizations, with deep historial ties between the two) -Directorate of Army Research (oversees various specialized research bureaus and laboratories) -Directorate of War Training (oversees various advanced training programs for officers) -Directorate of the Army Criminal Investigative Service (oversees the Army courts, prosecutors, investigators, military police, and prisons) -Directorate of Army Logistics (oversees various ammunition depots, vehicle repair facilities, and hospitals) Underneath the GAHQ are the staffs of the seven numbered Corps, each of which is led by a Lieutenant-General. There are five field Corps (I, III, VI, IX, XII), with the bulk of the Army's 398,000 active-duty personnel spread between them, and two training Corps (II, IV) which are responsible for the training and organization of the Army's 380,000 reservists. Currently, IX Corps is deployed off-world. Corps are made up of Divisions, which are commanded by a General of Division; Divisions are made up of Brigades, which are commanded by a General of Brigade; Brigades are made up of Battalions, which are commanded by Lieutenant-Colonels. Parallel to this field organizational structure is the regimental system, the administrative units which provide parent administrative units to the various battalions. The influence of the nobles is obvious in this arrangement, as regiments are allowed by law to determine the standards demanded of officer candidates; many famous cavalry regiments, for instance, only allow noble officers (famously, engineer regiments have a longstanding tradition of allowing and even encouraging non-noble officer candidates to rise to the top of their commands). Each regiment has a ceremonial Colonel, who serves as a patron and symbol for the unit; Colonelships are often prized possessions of major noble families, passed down as family traditions and heirlooms. While enlisted soldiers join the Army in its general sense, officer candidates must apply to a specific regiment, and membership in the most senior regiments is as much a social prize for ambitious nobles as it is a good career move. Additionally, the highest Army ranks (General of Division and above) are reserved for officers of noble class; occasionally, a non-noble officer will be awarded a rank which allows them to hold the office. Traditionally, the Captain-Generalship of the Army and the Corps commands function simultaneously as certain noble ranks (the current commander of the I Corps, for example, is always the Duke of San Isidro). The curent Captain-General of the Army is Julieta Campos y Cueto, Princess de Miraflora, who is 61 years old (general officers are retired out at 70). The Princess is regarded as an organizer and administrator of supreme talent, though her age is beginning to catch up to her. Politically, she represents the faction of Army officers who broke with the most hardline elements of the old regime in favor of reform, and she is considered a close ally to major NCP party figures. Equipment The Army operates several distinct branches, consisting of: -Infantry (some things never change; Regulars are transported in Infantry Fighting Vehicles, while Reservists make do with trucks and APCs) -Armored Infantry (several Regiments equipped with advanced but expensive ceramic armor that makes them impervious to most small arms fire up to 20mm caliber; they specialize in urban assaults and storm tactics) -Cavalry (Regiments are equipped with a mixture of 20-ton mechs and Armored Fighting Vehicles) -Artillery - Air defense -Signals -Engineering -Transport & Production Anthen arms and equipment are usually considered an excellent blend of reliability, affordability, and lethality, which makes them popular buys for foreign militaries. The R.30 rifle family, AW.75 automatic weapon family, and CAR family of ceramic armor sets are among the most popular arms exports in the sector. Deployments IX Corps is currently deployed on the moon of Corrientes as part of a Concordat police action following that nation's descent into civil war. Major fighting has ended, and now the 34,000 soldiers of the IX Corps are operating as garrisons and police in low-intensity, low-casualty pacification operations. I, III, V, and XII Corps are stationed at their garrisons near Piedra del Sol, Pontevedra, Maravilla, and San Vitoria, respectively. IX Corps is traditionally quartered near Flor del Cielo. II and IV Corps are stationed at their garrisons near Campanilla and Heliotropo, respectively. tatankatonk fucked around with this message at 05:58 on Oct 6, 2020 |
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Aug 28, 2020 22:15
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quote:From the Nochabuena Recorder, 7 White Rain/January 7, 3640
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Aug 28, 2020 22:28
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quote:From The Anthen Childrens' Primer on Civics, a textbook commonly issued to schools from 3610-3638 tatankatonk fucked around with this message at 22:34 on Aug 28, 2020 |
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Aug 28, 2020 22:31
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Seddik Bouchareb سدك بوشارب Free Constitutionalist Party tatankatonk posted:From the Nochabuena Recorder, 7 White Rain/January 7, 3640 The criminals who tortured and killed Anthens under the de Luna regime are tying up their loose ends by destroying their records. Our two brother workmen who died in this fire are only the latest victims. Democracy demands justice! No one can be above the law, least of all the hangmen and torturers left from the dictatorship. Vote FCP for a full investigation into government violence! Vote FCP for Justice! For Equality! For Camaraderie! Canasta_Nasty fucked around with this message at 23:12 on Aug 28, 2020 |
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Aug 28, 2020 23:08
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 Florimel Ortega-Hēi FCP "Myself and my illustrious house are delighted to announce the formation of a grand salon cum gala in celebration and discussion of Anthe's return to elections. Invitations have been sent out to the brightest lights in many fields. Expect to hear great things from great minds as Anthe blossoms anew." Not Alex fucked around with this message at 02:36 on Aug 29, 2020 |
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Aug 29, 2020 00:18
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Alejandro de los Fueros, Count of Borones From a speech to the Farmer's Alliance of Heliotropo Fellow Anthens, I come to you, not as a Count, not even as a farmer, but as a fellow citizen. And I speak to you as citizens, about citizenship. The great de Luna, who had been steward of this nation for so many years, when he knew he was dying, put his trust in us, the people. It would have been easy to turn over the mantle of power to one man or one woman. You all know that there were those who wanted it. There are those who still want it. A lesser man would have done so. One with less faith would have done so. "Can I trust the people?", they would have asked. "Can I be sure that they will not bring down to ruin what I have so carefully built up?" But de Luna was wiser than that. He chose to have faith in the people of Anthe....faith that he would continue what he started. And to help us, to guide us, his children, he gathered the wisest amongst us, not just his friends, his supporters, but also his opponents, and they crafted for us a Constitution. And this Constitution protects us, protects the weakest among us, by making sure that power is divided between all of us. He has given us a Monarch, Her Majesty Josephine, who guards us, both militarily and spiritually, who guides and advises the nation, and issues necessary decrees for the benefit of all the people, because she is of all the people. But the writers of the Constitution knew too well the danger of too much power in the hands of one person. They knew the people also had to have a voice. So they gave us a legislature, a House of Deputies made up of those selected by the people, to pass laws for the good of the nation and to recommend to the Queen an Executive to serve at her pleasure and the confidence of the Deputies. They also ensured the independence of the Judiciary, built up by de Luna, so it would rule fairly, and justly, again, for all the people, and because everyone knew how good our judges are, he gave the courts the right to rule on violations of the Constitution, to protect us all. Look at this Constitution which helps guarantee our freedoms! Without it, what would we be, but another League of Hyades, where power and force takes the place of justice? Or another Pallene, where too often, only the voice of wealth is listened to. Fellow Anthenes, there is only one party that will protect the Constitution which protects you, and that is the National Construction Party! We are the only party that stands for all the people! We stand for the Church! We stand for the farmer! We stand for the industrial worker! We stand for the soldier! We stand for the scientist! We stand for the academic! We stand for all of Anthe! All the people, not just some! We stand for unity, but a unity that encompasses all of us. This is why I beg of you, as a fellow citizen to vote for the National Construction Party list. Let us build up this country together, not tear it apart seperately. Epicurius fucked around with this message at 01:37 on Aug 29, 2020 |
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Aug 29, 2020 01:34
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 Sacerdote Exequiel de Heliotropo On a busy sidewalk a man is tapping his finger hard on an overturned trashcan. He stares with such intensity that passersby pause to regard him in his white robes and wild beard. Tap. Tap. Tap. "What is that?" Tap. Tap. Tap. "It is the clicking of a noblewoman's heels at a gala party." Tap. Tap. Tap. "It is rain on the tin roof of a teacher's shack." Tap. Tap. Tap. "It is an estate's private chef, mincing up finely marbled beef." Tap. Tap. Tap. "It is a miner's pick, which will never be enough to free him from debt." Tap. Tap. Tap. "It is a clock, counting out the last seconds of bloody-handed landlords and swindling mine operators." The priest slams his fist down onto the can, the soft aluminum bends easily. He looks out upon the crowd that has gathered, locking eyes with as many as he can. "The magnates and landlords feast while the worker gnaws on bones. Too long we have been ruled by these devils, while the nation bleeds. The miners and farmers rally behind her majesty, Queen Josephine Isabel! She shall cast down these jackals and bring about a new Anthe, where the school teacher need not live in a shack while the idiot son lives in a mansion, where the miner need not kill himself in labor while the layabout dines on veal. Where there is death there shall be clinics, where there is poverty, schools, where there is injustice, rights for the people! Come forth with the Royal Alliance, a new future awaits!"
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Aug 29, 2020 01:39
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 Jullian Situ I am calling for immediate party elections for the leadership of the National Construction Party. I nominate myself and believe the party platform we as a party need to unite behind is expressed admirably by this pamphlet I have had produced. 
WhiskeyWhiskers fucked around with this message at 01:53 on Aug 29, 2020 |
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Aug 29, 2020 01:40
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 Danno Pheal Royal Alliance Retold scene from a speech made by Danno Pheal, member of the Royal Alliance, while on a trawl. The rugged man wanders in front of the crowd of curious onlookers, a rather large crowd, and takes his seat. He takes one sip from hsi favorite drink before leaning forward and speaking. "Well... I'm sure all you know what might be coming. And in case you don't, the gist is this. Next few days or weeks are elections. Tumultuous stuff, to be sure. Hrmph. There'll be many changes incoming, and those changes, they can go in just 'bout any direction... The direction the elected party wills it. Or attempts to will it, I should say. Most things'll be mere attempts. I don't deal much with "maybes". And as some of you know, some of you should know especially; I side with the Royal Alliance. Why them particularly, huh? Well, I came up with something to attempt a proper conveyance of the reasons. And these're words meant clear as can be." The man clears his throat, then begins. "Now see me now, and hear me clear I have words that need being said And with 'em spoken out loud I'll be hoping they'll spread You have the options five So why side with us, you say? Well, I got some points to make And I'll tell you them today Is better education good? Do you want'a see a change? More money in your pocket? More power to arrange? I seen 'em walkin' about, Noblefolk, an' those up high. With those big ol' ideas They have the money to try You want to do that too? Get what ya want, aye? Well, if you vote well, Your time will be nigh. If you want it done Decisive and quick as can be, Well, you need only Vote for the RA, you see. Those good ol' people I lived among all my life, Will get their proper say And cut with words like a knife. We'll divide up these lands And give ye what they owe. And under one guiding hand. The things you want will flow. Better git 'er done quick And be voting real wise Help us out here good And we'll do as likewise. And, I think that was about All I had to say yet. So until next time, I declare Time to hedge your bet!" The man heavily coughs after finishing, before taking another sip of his drink. "And for those who stopped paying attention... I ain't repeating that twice in a row for ya! Ask the ones who heard it all, and spread it further on."
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Aug 29, 2020 03:31
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 Metropolitan Santo Auspitz The Bishop of Maravilla, Santo Auspitz is a Laibacher-Anthen and politically aligned to the National Construction Party. Having been the city’s metropolitan for only a scant few years before the end of Admiral de Luna’s regime, he has had a reputation in historically dissident Maravilla as being a compassionate and outspoken supporter of the Church for many years. His popularity with the faithful in the city alone propelled him to the clergy’s highest office, a position he utilized to encourage educational missions to the outlying towns and villages in the region as well as promoting religious works throughout the city, particularly charitable enterprises. A proponent of centralized government, yet skeptical of overt Anthen-chauvinism, he appears to be a staunch social-conservative as far as all things church are related, which he seems to view as being traditionally a positive guiding influence on Anthen society. He notably differs from the NCP’s bloc of anti-Autonomous legislators, favoring the idea of granting certain concessions to the Autonomous Movement in the interests of social harmony, but resisting outright autonomy in most cases. He is a moderate, through and through. It remains to be seen how capably he will juggle the positions of public office with his position as the head of Maravilla’s church. His simple platforms include; - Support for social welfare - Ensuring equal education opportunities are afforded to all Anthens who seek it - Continuing the nationalized public works programs that the de Luna regime implemented - Expanding the influence of the Churches of Eternal Sovereign Mercy in day-to-day life, and encouraging an expansion of the church into providing for Anthe’s populace through health care and especially education. - Promoting amnesty in the interests of national unity - To repeal the monarch’s immunity to criminal prosecution
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Aug 29, 2020 05:14
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 Annete Durand, Countess of Ticenza Excerpt from an interview with Durand on Radio Anthe: Interviewer: "What would you say motivated you, as someone who served in roles far removed from public view, to stand as a candidate in this election?" Durand: "I recognized this election as a pivotal point in our nation's history. It is the moment when we, as a people, decide whether the continued stability and security of the last few decades should continue, albeit under a different form of government, or should they be cast aside in favor of endless confrontations and continuous strife over various narrow-minded interests. I could not in good conscience shirk my duty as a public servant and simply watch on as power-hungry demagogues take all of us down that false course." Interviewer: "You say that, and you're far from the first public official we've heard this sort of talk from on our program. But all of them, without exception, joined the NCP. Which only makes sense, after all that's the party that claims the most continuity with de Luna's policies in its platform. With your talk of security, stability and avoiding strife, why did you decide to go for the Royal Alliance, which advocates policies many of our listeners consider to be radical or, at least, controversial?" Durand: "These officials you speak of have either made a grave error in judgement or else acted entirely out of self-interest. The stability and security associated with De Luna's government should not be primarily attributed to any individual policy nor the talent of any individual Minister. Many of those policies were no doubt received poorly among many of the people. In fact, it is no great secret that sizable segments of our nation were harmed or disadvantaged by some of these very policies. If it were not so, their advocates in the NCP would not currently be lagging behind in the polls. No, our stability and security under de Luna were predicated on something else entirely, something the NCP could never possible offer." Interviewer: "And that something is...?" Durand: "That something is the readiness of the entire nation to follow a singular will. Disregarding the many disagreements on public policy, the just grievances of the people or the very real conflicts between different classes, segments and cultures of our society, in the end we all subordinated ourselves to the Head of State's leadership. It is not the case that de Luna was some exceptional paragon of statemanship, though he did eventually establish himself as a skilled ruler. The true success of de Luna's reign is his ability, no...our willingness to set aside our differences to work and live together in peace under his direction. With his departure, our continued survival as a united polity hinges on finding a suitable replacement." Interviewer: "And that replacement is the Queen?" Durand: "Precisely. Among the many candidates standing for election, there is not one single person whom the people could ever unite behind unconditionally. This is the undisputed truth. By contrast, the Monarchy is an old institution that commands respect from many different corners of Anthen society. The proof of its power can be seen in the ratification of the constitution of 3639, under the auspices of which this election is to take place. The very fact that several opposing factions representing the clashing wills of different parts of our nation, were able to agree on not only the restoration of the Monarchy but also on implementing lese-majeste demonstrates the very real unifying power the Crown holds among the people. Therefore, it is imperative that the newly crowned Queen be granted leave to assume her designated role as de Luna's successor, in every sense." Interviewer: "Of course, no one doubts the legitimacy of Her Majesty's rule. But is it right to thrust the full responsibility of managing the day-to-day affairs of state onto her, especially so soon after her coronation? Isn't that the role of the government, according to the constitution which was agreed by all parties, as you mentioned?" Durand: "As you know, the constitution is a temporary compromise. It's no surprise that unprincipled demagogues and self-righteous ideologues would jump at this chance to gain power at the expense of our national unity. I must again stress the need for an unconditional unifier to take charge of the country. The Queen is the best suited person to take on that role. Aside from the symbolic considerations I've already explained, there's also the fact that Josephine Isobel II's pre-reign command experience is not dissimilar to de Luna's, as she too was a distinguished officer of the Navy. Members of his administration, popular activists and community leaders alike could better serve Anthe by acting as Her Majesty's faithful vassals and advisers, thus shaping the direction of her reign. The chambers of a Royal advisory council, rather than the blinding stage of electoral politics, is the appropriate venue for resolving policy debates and other pressing disagreements." AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 08:40 on Aug 29, 2020 |
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Aug 29, 2020 08:36
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Conversations with the Bishop of Maravilla Recorded by the church scribe and apprentice to Bishop Ausptiz, Estefan Ruiz. Santo was tired, but attentive when the young girl approached him after sermon - I could see that he had not slept well the previous night. Few had, our eyes locked onto the screens, ears to the radios, watching and listening as the old order quietly perished. The mood in the city had been one of softly-spoken rapture, a jubilation that had the gendarme stirred into watchfulness and the radicals hosting impromptu parades where their presence was weakest. Mostly everyone was smiling, wondering, a rare jolt of optimism in a place well-used to not indulging in such idle fantasies. Certainly some joined into the encouraged public mourning of the Admiral’s death, but even those who shed tears for de Luna were grinning like shocked madmen not long after. I’d have been stricken dead at the sight of so many publicly worn armbands a month ago, but now they were to be part of this new government as, ostensibly, equals. It hardly seemed real, and that day felt more like a hangover - the smiles given way to the usual hum of normalcy, tinged with anxiety. Would it work? Could it work? Yet the bishop smiled still, in spite of his tired eyes. This was not unusual, but I noted it was sharper than usual, different from the ease he typically wore. This was like afterglow, in a sense, and his conversation with the youth was animated with lingering excitement. The girl, too young by half to truly understand the momentous events unfolding, was a severe one, perhaps seven - her hand was freshly scarred, which I noted with some disquiet. Household tradition differed wherever you went, of course, but she had clearly been too old to be so recently marked. The bishop was unfettered, even with her frowning approach. “Enrica?” The girl’s eyes shone with surprise and embarrassment for a moment, and I envied her masterful return to severity in mere seconds. She bowed her head so as not to meet the bishop’s gaze, knowing his importance, if not fully grasping it. “You know my name?” Santo laughed quietly. “Of course. Your mother is Rosario, isn’t she?” A god-fearing woman towards the front of the church, speaking with other household heads while their children frolicked out front - I could hear their shrieks of joy. Enrica nodded gravely, eyes still downcast. “I try to know the names of all in this flock, Enrica,” Santo went on, referring to the congregation belonging to the church his father had rebuilt. Pride tinged his voice, deservedly so. “Your face is troubled.” Enrica cast a look over her shoulder then, to her mother, who paid her no mind. “I’ve forgotten the face of God,” she confessed in a terribly serious voice. “Ah,” said Santo after a short pause, looking at me briefly with a wan smile. “Who told you this?” “I’ve forgotten His face,” Enrica replied stoically, refusing to name her mother. “His face. Hm.” Santo rubbed his chin thoughtfully for the girl’s benefit. “Can you shut your eyes for me, Enrica?” Obediently, she did so. I found myself doing likewise, hearing only the bishop’s firm voice then. “Imagine for me, the face of God.” He paused at length. I focused as well, and in my mind’s eye I saw Great Anthe possessed of a person’s face, dignified, stoic, all-knowing, watchful and patiently observing Their child. This vision I had shared with the bishop previously, and felt comforted then, many years ago, by the knowing of its validity. God watches every day, and even if They do not resemble Great Anthe in truth, They would not object to this knowing of Them. Enrica’s reply was slow to come, and I had the sense then that she thought very hard about her answer, for it may have been perilous. “I see… a man in a room.” “What is He doing?” “He’s just sitting there,” she told the bishop, and then searched for more. “Reading.” “And do you feel in your heart that this is God?” “I don’t know for sure,” Enrica confessed. “Maybe.” Santo hummed quietly, and I opened my eyes to find him cradling his chin in hand, watching the youth thoughtfully. “Enrica, I would like for you to think about this over the next few nights before you go to bed. Pay no mind to what the face of God is supposed to resemble, but only on what you believe it to be.” Enrica stared at him doubtfully, pouting, and she asked genuinely, “Can you tell me?” But Santo only smiled at Enrica and urged her back to her mother then, saying only, “I cannot tell you, Enrica - for I do not know myself. But what I do know is that in what ever image God takes for you, you will then know the face of God.”
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Aug 29, 2020 13:59
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Duchess Miranda Alvarez-Cuevas A commercial running on several channels An image of a Household all sitting together around a table. As is often a habit, the first part of the song is sung all together, after which each member gets to sing a line. It's all very wholesome. Music plays in the background All together: "The sun has gone down and the sky it looks red Down on my soft pillow where I laid my head, As I open my eyes for to see the stars shine Then the thought of my true love runs into my mind." An old woman: "The sap has gone down and the leaves they do fall," A young boy: To hedging and ditching our farmers they'll call. A pregnant woman: We will trim up their hedges, we will cut down their wood, The camera focuses on an empty chair, and the music stops, leaving a few seconds of absolute silence The music plays in minor on the next stanza, and the people less cheerful A woman with Laibach looking clothes: "Now hedging being over then sawing draws near;" A middle aged man: "We will send for the sawyer those woods for to clear." A young woman dressed in very city slicker clothes: "And after he has sawed them and tumbled them down" Another empty chair, another disturbing few seconds of silence. The music now sounds distorted, slowed and the people look distraught as they sing An old, scarred man tears in his eyes: "Now sawing being over then seed-time comes round," A frightened looking adolescent girl "See our teams they are already preparing the ground," A bitter, angry looking young man: "Then the man with his seed-lip he'll scatter the corn" Again, the camera goes to the empty chair, the music stops, the song does not start again as the household look downcast. The screen fades to black. In white letters, in utter silence, text appears on the screen. "When dissenters are made to disappear, silence is the greatest condemnation." The music starts up, a slow solemn violins. The screen then opens up on the Duchess in mourning clothes, looking thoughtfully off screen. On the background are some clear landmarks that show it as Maravilla. "When I was younger, my mother would show me the family book, with copies of the Registry. And I would ask all kind of questions about them. And what happened to them. But with some of them, the final Registry file would simply be 'missing, presumed dead' and I would ask her what had happened. And she'd shake her head and say 'We shouldn't talk about that' I didn't understand then, she was trying to protect me." She turns to the camera. "Now, I have been the mother and grandmother showing the family book to my children and grandchildren. And they ask me the same questions. And I am tired of the silence. I want to give them an answer. Because there is much to answer for. For the sake of those we lost. For the sake of our children. Because those who avoid exposing and punishing the murderers, are those who wish to use those methods again. We will not let them."
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Aug 29, 2020 14:00
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 Manuel Cobos Free Constitutionalist Party Though I do most of my writing in the non-partisan Anthen Anthem, please allow me to present this document which I think will explain nicely why the FCP is the party to vote for in this upcoming election: Manuel Cobos, FCP Member posted:
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Aug 29, 2020 18:30
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 Lucio FCP (Printed on the opinion column of the Salvatierra Free Press, Salvatierra’s largest opposition-aligned paper) On the occasion of the Nochabuena fire As the campaign season nears its end and the “Salvation Council” goes through the last of its twilight days, the government seems dedicated to creating new crises in a desperate effort to make the previous ones slip to obscurity. Where one would have thought that a retiring regime might take the opportunity to have its high officials retreat in their accumulated wealth to their villas where they might live a personally luxurious life they instead seem keen to prove us wrong. And indeed the reason for that is that they in truth intend not to retire at all. Let us put our attention on the fire that tragically claimed the lives of two workers in Flor de Nochabuena recently. Let us further extend the luxury of assuming it a true tragedy, and not the result of foul play. It is well known that an archive of the Security Office was lost in the flames - the implications of this are immediately apparent to the average head of a household, whose age is long enough to remember most, if not the entire length, of the outgoing regime’s stewardship of Anthe. That these archives should have been public access is a matter of fact; the negligence in making sure they were securely stored and copied a matter of justice. I would like to assume that we will not live through the farce of a repeat of these events prior to election day. Regardless, for any voter that holds justice as a high virtue, the choice in the coming election crystalises through them. The NCP makes no attempt to hide its nature as an extension of the Salvation Council. The royalists, who want to turn Anthe into a hereditary stratocracy, would most assuredly cite national security reasons to deny the release of incriminating documents. And the Steel Pact clearly lacks the wisdom to even bother coming up with an excuse for new and bloody repression. The choice then evidently comes to the FCP, the only Anthene party with wide appeal that considers the release of such records not only a matter of principle but the base requirement for any justice to be brought to those who have historically found themselves on the sights of rogue security officers, and those that even still do so regularly in the south. As a candidate for the FCP in the coming election I pledge to you that no supply shall be given to a government that does not make the release of such documents to the public record an immediate priority. -Lucio
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Aug 29, 2020 18:33
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Alejandro de los Fueros, Count of Borones I'm certain that all Antens join me in grief for the fire that broke out in Nochabuena as well as the tragic loss of life. This tragedy is a better argument than any I could make for the need for business safety standards, and an end to an attitude that profit is more important than the wellbeing of the community, which leads to cost cutting and substandard work conditions. I would also like to praise those brave firefighters, who were able, through swift action, to contain the blaze before it caused more damage.
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Aug 29, 2020 19:20
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 excerpted remarks by Aleixo Espindola at a National Construction Party rally in downtown Piedre del Sol “ Friends, citizens, Anthens: It's morning again on Anthe. Today, more Anthens will go to work than at any time in our nation's history. Thanks to the government's farsighted planning, our nation is as prosperous as it has ever been. We have known peace and prosperity for decades. It hasn't been good luck; as we all know, it has taken a lot of hard work to get here. But we don't shirk from a tough job here on Anthe. I am Aleixo Espindales, and I am here to explain why the National Construction Party deserves your vote. What is it we can do for Anthe, if we are elected? Under the stewardship and leadership of this Party, Anthe is open for business! As you well know, the planetary ecology of Anthe allows unparalleled agricultural bounty. Historically, however, many of the commodities grown on Anthe were exported offworld as raw materials for processing elsewhere into finished goods on other worlds, where less productive biospheres necessitated highly efficient manufacturing. As you know, during the previous regime Anthe began embarking on a period of change, as farsighted people took steps to protect emerging industries to encourage a wealthier economy. It is the economic policy of the National Construction Party to continue those efforts to develop the domestic economy in a carefully considered way. We must take care to protect our economy, or we will find the progress of the last generation undone and the Anthen economy returned to exporting raw materials offworld. At the same time, the government must be careful to keep in mind the perspective of the experts who have made this development their life's work. However, we are confident that continuing on this process, and continuing to invest in our national champion firms, we can continue creating the infrastructure - not just physical, like our space elevator or our high-speed railways, but a new kind of social infrastructure - that will see our families grow strong along with our economy, and see working people become more and more productive. Our opponents in this election consider themselves utopianists - but they are idealists, who would mix everything up and ruin our hard fought progress. We should let the workers work, let the children learn, let the sick rest, and let the government keep it all running smoothly. Our investments in healthcare and education are long-term investments in that social infrastructure. Our honorable rivals obsess over pointless legal minutiae, or want to settle grudges they have with dead men. In the New Anthe, they will get the therapy they need (laughter). But that New Anthe will be built, and we will build it one brick, one diploma, one vaccination, at a time. Finally, with all the grave responsibility bringing about such a future entails, we pledge to continue protecting the nation from those that would do it harm - unwittingly, negligently... or purposefully. Make no mistake, our land is a paradise, coveted by many — but our true treasure is not measured in bounteous farmlands or verdant forests. It is you, the people, and the values we share that constitute our national bounty. And those values must be protected and inculcated in future generations, without corruption by filthy corrupt pornographers or foreign craven propagandists. The National Construction Party, unlike its inexperienced and idealistic counterparts, is the only Party that you can trust to safeguard the future of our moon - indeed the future of our children; from all enemies - foreign and domestic.
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Aug 29, 2020 21:47
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Yazmin Ochoa, NCP Yazmin leans back in her chair, cradling her cup of tea. "There have been many angry words this week, oh my, yes. Quite a lot of unpleasant accusations conveniently pointed at nobody in particular. Many seem quite eager to tear down the new Anthe before the first election results are even in. The Royalists are all too happy to bring you democracy and freedom from authoritarian government... by placing all power in the hands of the Queen and repossessing your land if they deem it 'unproductive.' An interesting tactic; certainly not one I would have thought of. And of course the FCP want the entire constitution -- which they took part in writing, which openly grants them a place in the government, and to which they explicitly agreed, mind you -- removed posthaste. In favor of -- well, you'll have to pardon me, I've yet to hear any sort of actual description of what they'll replace it with. Have you? Mm, I'm sure we'll hear any day now, just as soon as they've got it figured out. But yes, let's dismantle the constitution this Tuesday, shall we?" Yazmin gestures smoothly with her fan. "Now, personally, I have a single, quite straightforward priority. The people need food, clean water, medicine. Safety. Education. Empty politicking and finger-pointing is not going to bring them those things. Nor is spending the next thirty years arguing about precisely what 'freedom' means and how large Her Majesty's crown ought to be." She turns to look into the camera. "While they've been campaigning, I laid down plans for a national school system. A full thirty percent of Anthe's children are taught by small local schools; indeed, I myself was among their number. Their only support is the valiant, but tragically underfunded, URS department of the Board of Education. Many of those honorable teachers must essentially fund their schools out of their own pockets. Now, keep in mind that before de Luna's creation of such, most of those communities had no access to schooling whatsoever... and so, it is our duty to finish the job he began, to build and expand that program. To do otherwise is a disgrace to Anthe. Our children deserve better. Under my plan, the government will immediately begin the construction of new, standardized schools in those rural areas, and grant the Board the power and funding it needs to enforce standards on curricula throughout Anthe." She snaps the fan closed. "This is the path forward for us. This is what we need now. If you want us to spend our time reorganizing the government from the ground up again, then by all means: vote for another party. I will take whatever action Anthe demands. But personally, I would rather get to work on building the aforementioned schools."
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Aug 29, 2020 22:06
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Seddik Bouchareb سدك بوشارب FCP From a poorly mimeographed sheet entitled: Illusion of the Blind Multitude on the Supposed Excellence of the Constitution The public’s infatuation with the constitution is the fashionable folly of the moment. There’s no way to be surprised by this; it’s a thing absolutely new among us, and for this alone it can’t fail to seduce light and frivolous people, equally incapable of seizing its defects and of calculating its ill effects. How could it fail to infatuate the Anthens, of all people in the sector the least reflective? To this fury for novelty should be added the pitfalls of vanity. When it enters the head of a people who have slipped their chains, nothing in the world is more apt to flatter self-love than the idea of an indefinite freedom supported by the supreme power, and one can conceive just how far the enthusiasm of limited but honest citizens for the new order of things can be carried. And it’s not that the scoundrels at the head of affairs haven’t taken pains to inspire this infatuation. What strings haven’t they played on with this end in sight? In the first place, a mass of bought-off pens have represented the constitution as the most sublime work ever given birth to by the human spirit; as an eternal monument to wisdom and virtue, as the infallible guarantor of the nation’s happiness. These pompous elegies have been circulated throughout the moon, while no occasion has been missed to flatter the self-love of the people by presenting to it a false image of its strength and its freedom, at the very moment when new chains are being forged for it! Credulous Anthens! Remember the inscriptions that decorated the altar of the Fatherland the day of the military federation. It said to the people: "You are the sovereign. You are also the legislator." But the law is still against you! And the blind multitude, puffed up with vanity, didn’t see that this whole foolish apparatus had no other goal than that of metamorphosing the workers of the Anthe into satellites of the executive power, and to chain them to the maintaining of the evil decrees that kept power in the hands of the bureaucracy but returned authority to the hands of the Queen. In the midst of the cries of enthusiasm that filled the air, the voice of Seddik Bouchareb vainly spoke out to reveal the trap and recall you to wisdom. What he said to you then – and what he said a hundred times – I repeat to you today: the constitution is a failure, a complete failure and so completely failed that it forms the most dreadful of governments, for in the last analysis it is nothing but an administration of royal commissioners still connected to the noblesse de la robe and followed by armed satellites, i.e., a true military and noble despotism. The only force that can correct this are the people themselves. Let the scales fall from your eyes and observe De Luna's minions circling, and with each pass wrapping the constitution more tightly around you until they have secured their tyranny afresh. It is not too late. Break free of this deal with the devil! Sweep away the enemies of the people! Build a government that truly represents the people! Canasta_Nasty fucked around with this message at 00:48 on Aug 30, 2020 |
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Aug 29, 2020 22:44
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Manuel Cobos Free Constitutionalist Party quote:
Takanago fucked around with this message at 00:38 on Aug 30, 2020 |
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Aug 30, 2020 00:18
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Lucio FCP (Printed on the opinion column of the Salvatierra Free Press, Salvatierra’s largest opposition-aligned paper) On the matter of the monarchy Before I begin on the subject of today’s column, I would like to address the circus that the National Construction Party is rapidly devolving to. In the middle of election season and unable to resist their autocratic temptations the party of de Luna’s children is entering an internal power struggle. The simple observable fact is that, as the designated heirs of the Salvation Council, those aspiring to continue de Luna’s regime are fundamentally lost without their unifying figure. Decades of being able to defer to the man at the top has cost them the organisational acumen required to actually maintain their hold on power (one has to wonder whether de Luna foresaw this and planned for the election to get rid of his own old guard!). This makes one beg the question: who really are de Luna’s supporters? The answer is simple and brutally easy to discern, for the conditions that gave rise to de Luna and that maintained him in place are dependent on little more than simple strength, that force of arms that will quiet any one man, whether it be through threat or bullets. The “Salvation Council”, after all, won a war. You win wars with soldiers and guns. De Luna himself a military man, it is hard to ignore that the Salvation Council’s government has been a stratocratic one. It then also follows naturally that de Luna would pick as his successor - though as monarch rather than head of state - a woman of military background. That is no happy coincidence, and those who find their interests represented by the Salvation Council receive the message loud and clear: go with the queen, de Luna tells them! The true heir to his legacy is not the NCP, but the royalists! By reviving this ancient institution de Luna played a clever trick, casting his heir in a different light. But a soldier is a solder regardless if it’s day or night, if you see them under a lamp or in the candlelight. Put on a crown and win your votes through bribery, and the Salvation Council will live on to see another day. Having cast light on this relationship, of the NCP and its fallback, the royalists, it should be clear that there is only one party that exists in opposition to the Salvation Council, the Free Constitutionalist Party. I call on you: On election day we shall call their bluff and demonstrate that the Salvation Council’s clique cannot depend on artifice to extend its hold on power! -Lucio
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Aug 30, 2020 01:22
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 The Countess San Saturnino gives her campaign remarks on Anthen radio -- Sacrifice and duty are in Anthe's blood. No other civilization, no other people are as honorable and steadfast as ours. Over the past half-century, we have sacrificed much to reclaim and rebuild our home -- defending it from bloodthirsty foreign barbarians, and then spending long years building good lives from the ashes. We will not apologize for what was necessary to save ourselves, to protect our families and way of life. But it is not my plan to spend the time given to me by my countrymen to bicker and squabble over the past, when all our energies must be directed towards securing what we've won for ourselves, and building on that prosperity and stability. Let others mutter over sour grapes: the National Construction Party will continue to lead by example, with decisive strength, vision, and compassion. The National Construction Party recognizes that social conflict stems from inequality and alienation. A government which cannot help to provide a good life for the average person is not worth supporting. A society where talent cannot advance because of a lack of connections or inherited wealth is not worth the love of its people. To that end, the National Construction Party pledges to help you build that good life, to take away the worries, the bullshit, the fears, the humiliations. We will enlist the people of Anthe in a global campaign to construct a just and equal society, where social harmony is achieved through universal programs which grant every Anthen dignity and stability. We will maintain our strength at home and abroad. We will reject any alien civilization which seeks to institute inequality by naming it progress. The National Construction Party has a vision for a better future for all Anthens, if you will lend us your strong arm and help us build it. We pledge: -To build a universal system where unemployment support, disability payments, retirement pensions, and healthcare are enshrined as rights that every Anthen may draw on, regardless of station or circumstances. - To settle any ugliness or unresolved grievances by establishing a universal amnesty for all sides involved in violence since the end of the Intervention. It is undoubtedly difficult for many Anthens to extend forgiveness to terrorists who have murdered innocent citizens in the name of separatism; but we must prove ourselves capable of moving past the battles of our parents and grandparents in order to give our children peace. - To maintain our armed forces at a level which precludes any foreign assault. We honor the brave men and women of our military, and the memory of the martyrs who fell defending our freedom -- we will never, ever allow a foreign army to set foot on our beloved nation. No hostile alien force will ever water themselves in the Great River, or draw provisions from our fields. -To continue to protect and invest in Anthen industry and agriculture, by maintaining the tariffs which shelter our growing industries and jobs from unfair foreign competition. -To maintain the unity of our nation, and never give in to any demands which divide our people into separate units. We pledge to defend our current Constitution, which is a product of years of careful and wise negotiations between all sectors of society. -To place our most important fields of work - the education of our children and the health of our families -- in the hands of men and women who have no other worldly ambition but the holy service of others through charity and labor. Others may use words like 'progress' and 'rationalization' -- they have to justify their subscriptions to foreign magazines, of course -- but I'll ask you, if I am entrusting my children or the care of my family to others, why would I want anyone but those who have dedicated their life to helping their fellow man, and forsworn all financial or political interests to do so? -To expand the settlement of publicly-owned lands by auctioning off land to households who pledge to found new villages throughout the southeast - and, if the people deem it necessary, we will investigate the possibility of auctioning off land held by the largest private concerns, with the state compensating the latter. We trust Anthens to judge our records for themselves, and to place the proper value on stability and continuity. I am proud to have served in a government which provided safety and stability for Anthens, and I would be proud to continue to serve the public in the name of honor, family, and tradition. Let us make those values, our values -- strength, compassion, judgment, and ability -- the watchword for our shared future, and our shared future prosperity. tatankatonk fucked around with this message at 04:30 on Aug 30, 2020 |
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Aug 30, 2020 04:02
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Jullian Situ NCP (To an assembled group of the party with journalists present.) I have called you all hear to announce the formal withdrawal of my candidacy for the leadership of the NCP. Now I know many of you will be disappointed by this, but my candidacy was always an attempt at finding the best platform for the party, one that both the party and the people could unite behind. And in the Countess' platform I believe we have found just that. I call on all my supporters to go forwards to the National Election with the same fervour you have been thus far. Remember that the spiritual life of the nation is at stake. The FCP are attempting to rip the beating heart of science and education out of the Churches through their campaign for 'secularisation'. This can only harm our nation's quest for progressive science, one tempered by the human spirit and not what one finds most profitable. The RA on the other hand would see us on another dark path. One that mirrors that of the Hyadeans. Only the NCP offers a future in which the Nation and the Churches walk hand in hand as partners, not a future where one holds a chain around the other's neck. In the name of stability and continuity I place all my hopes in that of Countess San Saturnino and the NCP, and I hope you all join me in that. Thank you. WhiskeyWhiskers fucked around with this message at 04:57 on Aug 30, 2020 |
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Aug 30, 2020 04:28
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Conversations with the Bishop of Maravilla Recorded by the church scribe and apprentice to Bishop Ausptiz, Estefan Ruiz. “Bishop Santo-” “Pastor Estefan.” Humbling, as usual - I was to take over the ministrations of the flock at his very own church when he went to the capital. It would not be long now, and I felt consumed with a mixture of worry and excitement. But more so than either, at that moment, I was curious. I had never been a creature of politics, and the bombardment of messages and advertisements on the televisions and radios were vexing me. I knew that the bishop had joined the National Construction Party, which many in Maravilla jeered at as being, I surmised, an extension of the old guard into the new system. Needless to say, they would not be popular in our city. But in spite of that, respect for the bishop remained high, and many correctly guessed that he would ride that popularity into office in spite of his party’s image in the south. Worried for his reputation more than anything else, I endeavored to question him on this very thing. He looked surprised towards me. “You, indulging in politics? My boy, this is a dangerous hole to traverse.” He was grinning, though, in good humor. This only lent to me further embarrassment, but I would not be deterred. “Indulge me, bishop,” I insisted, not that it was necessary to. “Of course, of course.” He lifted a mug of coffee - black as night - to his lips and drank. “Your concern touches me, Estefan, but you needn’t worry - I’m comfortable with my choice.” “Even if the Movement attacks you?” “I hope you don’t mean literally - Meier’s always been softer than the thugs.” He meant this as a compliment, evidently. “And if he sees fit to smear me, I say let him try, but I do not think he will - we may not see eye to eye on his entire agenda, but there is something to some of it. Do you not agree that it might be best for our city to pick its own mayor?” I blinked in surprise at the question, but it seemed obvious to me now that such a thing might actually be within our grasp. Still, I was hesitant to agree openly with Autonomous rhetoric, however appealing, and could only nod after a pause. “Of course you would,” the bishop said, nodding along with me. “This was a relic of the old system, when my father was still young and after the war had ended - when the State needed to consolidate and rebuild. The Admiral wanted a loyalist in every position, and he was shrewd, but brutal in wanting this. We traded liberty and representation for security and stability.” “Some traded more,” I blurted out, and he could only smile sadly at this. “Much more,” Santo agreed. “But the time has come for us to pick our own representatives, on that much Meier and I can agree on.” He paused, then, ruminating on what I had said. “You should have heard my father wax on about de Luna. A visionary, he called him. The strength that Anthe needed.” He shrugged. “Perhaps we did need it, but that does not make it good, and we should not pine for its return.” “They say that’s exactly what the NCP wants.” “Some of them,” he replied easily. “Do you not worry about being associated with such people?” I certainly was. The bishop sighed and drained the last of his coffee. “These other parties - the liberals, especially, for they are louder than the Movement writ large - they are too focused on slights. Old grudges and bad blood. This is understandable, for they were marginalized and harmed for decades, but their want for vengeance is not useful to Anthe. They ignore, critically, the reforms that took place under the Admiral’s regime. You are too young to know these things, but the last time we were a republic, Anthe was a very different place. A messier place - the wealthy households, the nobles, the factory owners, they all grew fat and decadent off of the toils of the peasantry. We have grown wiser since then, and wisdom - true wisdom - is rarely won without hardship.” I was silent for a moment, contemplating his words. “But the old regime did not work for everyone.” “An astute point, and I recognize where you’re going with this - no, I would prefer not to be associated with politicians reminiscing about their heydays of unrestricted power so long as they bowed before a strong dictator. But I would be a fool to not recognize that Anthe can benefit from those bad times where liberty was at a premium - we can continue those programs of reform and modernization without giving up our traditions and giving into mass hysterics, to take an eye for an eye. We can continue those good things that came of bad times, and give the all households a voice, too.” “But many of those households lost loved ones,” I could not help but point out. “Surely they cannot stomach rewarding the hand that beat them, even as it offers friendship now.” He nodded gravely, eyes saddened. “To want justice is to be Godly, I think. But what example are we setting for our youth if we continue to perpetuate this cycle, Estefan? It is a difficult thing to ask, forgiveness is, but someone must grant it eventually. I do not know if it will be - if it can be - this generation of Anthens. But we must labor regardless. I cannot in good conscience throw away the good things that have come, and that is why I joined the NCP.” “Perhaps there can still be justice without throwing those things away, Santo.” “We’ll see, won’t we? You have given me something to think about, Pastor.” I hesitated then, humbled by his words, and then added, “At least you seem to be in charmed company, Bishop.” “Indeed - I saw Countess Ochoa’s speech as well. She is shrewd as well, and knows that our future relies less on righting old grudges and more on guaranteeing the stability and prosperity of our households and their young.” “The Queen…” He laughed raucously. “She seems a remarkable woman as well, doesn’t she? The perfect woman, I might argue, to reintroduce a bad thing to Anthe. Let autocracy die with de Luna - he was insightful enough to give power back to the households, but it was with a pill liable to turn poisonous with time. He believed too much in the righteousness of a strong leader, and less in the righteousness of his own individual wisdom. Josephine will be a good queen, I think, but we will not always be blessed with a good ruler if the monarchy remains.” “Hence your not joining the Royals,” I surmised, and he nodded simply. “They have some worthwhile ideas. Education, unions, more power to the individuals - a slightly fearsome notion, I admit, but maybe it has worth. If the typical household cannot agree on something, though, then Anthe is truly in dire circumstances. I do not think we are that far gone yet. They would sell our unity to the separatists, however, in exchange for support and power if they end up paying lip service to the throne.” He shrugged dubiously, shaking his head. “We can grant concessions to the Movement without letting them spin off into the wind as they so desperately desire. Let them be Anthens as well, now, and if they feel they cannot be thanks to de Luna, we will smother them with kindness to teach them otherwise.” “And how will the church factor into this?” I asked, amused at his choice of word. The bishop smiled hopefully, and at once I saw the shrewd political thinker ebb away once more. Here was the bishop of Maravilla again. “Wonderfully, I hope. The NCP will protect our faith, I think - and let us expand it in ways I’d never thought possible. Think about it, Estefan - actual budgets for our schools and clinics, for our churches. No more would we have to beg for the alms of the wealthy nobility and the particularly conscious merchants. And pay no mind to these shrieking suits on the television who say we are indoctrinating the next generation - what insidious thoughts have we to share? The virtues of open arms and acceptance?” On this, I had firmer views. “They would emulate the Union. Religion is the antithesis to progress.” “And look at the wretched worlds they dwell on. For all their power, they’ve lost their souls in pursuit of guilders and unrelenting progress. Anthe is strong because of our faith, not in spite of it. The liberals would be wise to remember this if they hope to make any headway. They envy our historical influence on the households, and they are correct to be greedy for this, but they will not pry it away by promising to cut the ankles of their pastors.” I hummed quietly, a little astonished at his words. “Politics is indeed a hole, bishop.” He clasped me on the shoulder, companionable, and his smile was wry. “Then let me fall into it for us both, my friend. For God and Anthe’s sake.” “Will you say these things before the cameras, bishop?” “Perhaps in prettier words. And less of them.”
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Aug 30, 2020 05:14
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Danno Pheal Royal Alliance A retold speech made by Royal Alliance member Danno Pheal, while being accosted on his mid-morning walk. "Alright, all, settle down! Have a drink, quiet up. You asked me if I have something to say, and I might have a tidbit or two to let you know, something that's been scratching at my mind. As you all know... I'm rather not much of anyone. You folks and womenfolk, some of you have raised me up as a representative, and certainly I represent your coalitioned opinions. Staunch Royal Alliance supporter, you'll know me as! I'm a landowner of rather small import, that much I'm aware. I ain't got any high or mighty ideas myself, but all the peoples behind me, all their ideas can merge together until they become solid, concrete things, high and mighty as the rest. And all of them raised me to champion those. Wanting more money in your pocket, more land to call your own and frolic around in and such for your purposes, that's nice, agreed? And to let those who employ you know that, push comes to shove, you can push back just as much as they can and brush their shoves right off!" The rugged man takes another sip of his drink before continuing, sighing. "As for... Those election rivals we have? The fellows and ladies in the National Construction Party and the Free Constitutional Party, those ones. I think the constitution, as is, could use some adjusting, certainly enough. And they've got grand ideas, grand indeed! Grand as the ones the Royal Alliance has, with the pointed glares and side-mouthed sniping at everyone else! Haven't you noticed something, though? All the others... They've stood on podiums, they've communicated through distances far away, they've distributed their papers, far and wide, and people'll see it! But what I'm saying right now, I ain't prepared or fancied it up. You accosted me in the street for my opinions and words, and I've obliged you. I've given my fair shake at encouraging words, even unprepared. Those others, you know what I think? One bad day, a few missed details, someone stops paying attention... Those cracks in their ideals'll show abundantly. So, all those folks that want change, but stable change? The Royal Alliance may be your thing. Want reforms without bein' under the watchful eye of a group with too-long memories and a willingness to make "sacrifices" aplenty? Royal Alliance, you know it! We'll give it the goodest we got, eh? Under the right guidance of the monarch, we all can become a hydra; Cut off the head, two more grow back, and the whole assemblage will be awful hard to ignore. So spread the word, spread it wide! Let your workmates and friends and families know, make sure it's preserved. For this been all I had to say, and I ain't repeating it twice!"
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Aug 30, 2020 05:19
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tatankatonk posted:From 'Our Nation, Our Debt!', an educational pamphlet published by the transitional government's Office of Finance in early 3640: Any chance we could get how much currencies are values vs each other? Or some kind of an average or rough estimate, cause I don't think we could appraise how big of a debt is each loan if we don't have an estimate. And maybe throw in how much is yearly budget worth in few last years (again, for easier estimation of how much Anthe is debt-burdened)
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Aug 30, 2020 12:51
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If you add them altogether they're at parity 
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Aug 30, 2020 14:14
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WhiskeyWhiskers posted:If you add them altogether they're at parity So simple... But I reckon it would be more likely that the numbers are in dollars, but the debt is in other currencies (as noted) Still GDP figures are missing to see how big of a burden this is. Additionaly IC:  Husein Falgueras Public speech to unionist: Ladies and gentlemen of the union, before I start, have you seen this: WhiskeyWhiskers posted:Jullian Situ There are still people everywhere who would still want for a dictator to come back! Don't the notions of the so called New Model Army and New Model Navy reek of the enemy of the people using any mean to obtan power in the military?! And do you think that ban of importation wouldn't affect each of you? How many of your bussiness import extra raw material or components to boost your production output, because there are too few incorporations producing goods necessary?! How about the so called safety of children? Isn't that something used by would be Dictators to wiggle their own agenda into curriculum to force out anything that would be a detriment to their own agenda?! And the so called Unemployment benefits? A honey trap ruse for voting body so they could pass a more bitter tasting Rational Redistribution of Work, which would only weaken Unions, as they would be forced to cede some of their authority due to worker shifting according to populist perception of what is needed at the moment. This sentiment may not come from the top of the NCP, but the fact that someone was so eager to topple their leader, and that he had some support, only confirm my fear that they SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED! We need stability, we need more worker's right, we need better educated workforce, but WE DO NOT NEED A NEW DICTATOR WHO WOULD RULE WITHOUT WILL OF THE PEOPLE. And we must be ever vigilante not to give opportuinty for a NEW ONE to arise.
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Aug 30, 2020 14:31
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Jullian Situ NCP (To a journalist performing a doorstop interview.) Yes thank you for asking I have had the words of Sr. Falgueras relayed to me. For your readers I would like it known that the policies Sr. Falgueras is responding to are not those necessarily held by the National Construction party, but personal views expressed within material produced as part of my unsuccessful bid for party leadership. But if I could respond to his recent outburst I would say this. Can we really take seriously a man who proudly suggests that the protection of children is dictatorial? Can your readers really countenance voting for a man who would balk at a simple review of teaching materials as governmental over-reach? Are we sure such a man will not next consider that the sentences are too high and conditions too harsh in our prisons for those who seriously mean our children harm? What does it say about his party's policies that the safety of our children is not simply a non-priority, but in fact a repulsive and vile concept that his party must undermine? It would seem between the FCP's rejection of the household as core to Anthen culture, and now the RA's disgust at protecting our children, that the NCP is the only major party that will support the traditional bonds of family now, and into the future. I would also hasten to remind Sr. Falgueras that he is a member of a party that wishes to see further powers granted to our gracious Queen. The NCP has a clear mandate to maintain stability and continuity with the prior administration's package of reform and democritisation. I can assure your readers that the NCP is the only party at this election who can firmly commit to the promise that we will not be attempting to sully the constitution our nation sacrificed so much to achieve. Perhaps Sr. Falguera should try being more vigilant against those within his own party. Thank you. ooc:You might want to change the venue you were speaking at, it's currently illegal for unions to organise for political purposes. WhiskeyWhiskers fucked around with this message at 16:21 on Aug 30, 2020 |
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Aug 30, 2020 16:01
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One fine morning, the residents of Anthe's major cities find their streets covered in pamphlets: PALLENE and ANTHE: EQUAL partners against the Hydean threat, or MASTER and SLAVE? Over six decades ago, Head of State De Luna made the astute decision to ally with Pallene and rescue the nation from Hydean occupation. Since then, our two countries have enjoyed a stable and mutually beneficial partnership through the Themis Concordant and Reserve Fund. However, the FREE CONSTITUTIONALIST PARTY seeks to CHANGE this! Households of Anthe take heed! Here are some plain facts about the FCP's platform: * The FCP seeks to further integrate Anthe into these Pallene led organizations, thus reducing our freedom of action on the interstellar stage and increasing our dependence on decisions made in Pallene. * The FCP seeks to abolish tariffs on all classes of goods, thus weakening our domestic industries in comparison to Pallene's. * The FCP seeks to break up successful national companies and deregulate our financial sector, leaving them all exposed to Pallene led hostile takeovers. * The FCP seeks to disempower our national defense and security forces, rendering Anthe powerless before the Hydean League and reliant on the other states in the Themis Concordant for protection. * The FCP seeks to accede to separatist demands to reduce our national integrity, inviting instability and fueling cultural tensions reminiscent of the pre-Intervention era. * The FCP seeks to remove our universally agreed constitution and diminish Her Majesty's authority, thus hollowing out the strong foundations of our government in the face of powerful Pallene influences. Decide for yourself where the FCP's loyalties lie, and whether they deserve your support! AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 19:35 on Aug 30, 2020 |
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Aug 30, 2020 17:59
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A cartoon printed alongside Jullian Situ's latest interview
WhiskeyWhiskers fucked around with this message at 18:43 on Aug 30, 2020 |
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Aug 30, 2020 18:38
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As the election date nears, the following article is published in the Anthen Daily Standard: Nochabuena Fire 'May Have Been Deliberate Sabotage' Say Experts The Royal News Agency reports that the causes of the fire at a Flor de Nochabuena bakery, in which two people tragically lost their lives, may not be as straightforward as they first appeared. An archive containing sensitive materials belonging to the Office of Security has also been entirely destroyed in the fire, leading many observers to speculate that it may have been targeted deliberately. Sources within the Executive Center for National Oversight and Public Security lend credence to some of those theories - "I very much doubt this was just an accident." opines an official familiar with the investigation, "Forensic examiners could not rule out arson, and the timing of this incident is too convenient to ignore. The destruction of so many materials containing information pertaining to public security at such a key stage in the governmental transition, during an election involving a significant amount of candidates previously investigated for sedition, treason and other similar charges, certainly paints a pretty grim picture. Without access to these crucial records, our future government may be exposed to a credible risk of infiltration by malicious actors." Another concern raised was the coverage of the fire in certain segments of the press. A senior informational warfare analyst made a particularly distressing warning for the public: "There have been many news articles, interviews and opinion columns regarding the fire popping up all over the place lately. These remarkably similar pieces paint the incident as an engineered cover-up by our very own security agencies. As unlikely as this notion may seem to any rational observer, it has been uncritically repeated as fact again and again by different writers and publications, usually accompanied by a nakedly partisan slant toward the Free Constitutionalist Party. Leaving aside the ghoulish character of those publicists willing to utilize the tragic deaths of innocents as a political prop, this pattern of multiple information sources repeating the same messages over a very small period of time suggest a coordinated will working in the background." "In fact, it is not outside the realm of possibility that the fire itself was caused by forces intending to use it as an opening move in an informational warfare campaign against the state. If true, everyone who is at present wilfully aiding and abetting this reprehensible strategy would be actively serving the interests of terrorists. I am not one to point fingers, so I can only ask the public to remain vigilant in their media consumption and remain critical of news reporting. Always ask yourself - who funds this outlet? Who would benefit from this news item being presented in this way? Is there some particular political stance this article is encouraging me to take? And so on. Remember that the public is our first line of defence against the spread of malicious misinformation." AFancyQuestionMark fucked around with this message at 07:06 on Aug 31, 2020 |
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Aug 30, 2020 20:44
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Jesenjin posted:OOC: The Pallene Guilder and Laibach Stater are both worth about twice as much as the Anthen Dollar, which in turn is worth about twice as much as the League Mark. The numbers listed are all calculated in terms of Anthen dollars. Quarterly government revenues are calculated around 1,800,000,000 Anthen Dollars.
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Aug 30, 2020 20:53
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