Realpolitik of the Smoky Skies

[cpm4001]

OOC: In order to further our interests, talonschild and I have agreed to merge our two parties (the Centrist Independents and the Eurch Democratic-Socialists) into the new Popular Socialist Party (PSP).

IC: Speech:
My friends and fellow citizens, today is a great day for Eurch! For today, with the formation of the Popular Socialist Party, the lower class has finally obtained a voice in politics.
Our aim is simple: We stand for the betterment of the industrial worker, the miner, and the farmer. To accomplish this goal, we desire the following:

• Nothing less than total state ownership of the means of production, for only through state control can factories, mines, and quarries be made to run at peak efficiency while protecting their workers. Smaller businesses should be allowed to remain independent to encourage economic growth, but even then they must be subject to strict regulations to prevent the formation of monopolies and preserve worker safety.
• Improvement in farm productivity. We have no desire to subscribe to the ideal of collective farms, but the development of new technology to increase food production must be a priority. For more and better food means the lives of the lower class will be improved.
• A strong anti-war policy, to preserve the lives and livelihoods of the common man, but an equally strong military to keep our interests protected. For our diplomatic overtures cannot possibly succeed if our nation is perceived as weak.
• Peaceful expansion to tap the rich bounties of these new lands, for the wealth of the natural resources obtained will power the factories and grow the crops necessary to feed our citizens.
• A strong welfare system, for we must always remember and aid the old, injured, and infirm.
• Public works projects, from simple drainage systems to the most glorious monuments and wonders, for they will further improve the lives of the common man.

The National Institutional Party is far from reactionary, and I feel that in many aspects the PSP and NIP will be able to put aside our differences and work together for the greater good. Indeed, I have no doubt their avowed desire to improve the lives of the citizens of the great nation of Eurch is genuine, but their efforts are most assuredly focused on the middle and upper classes, while overlooking the workers, the farmers, and the poor. Though the arts are vital for the populace, if they cannot be enjoyed by the common man they must be relegated to secondary importance. I must also ask how the NIP intends to accomplish their promised increase in production while ensuring the safety of the worker. They seem to plan to keep the means of production privatized, but it is an undeniable fact that the sole goal of the owners of these industries is to increase profits, at the cost of workplace safety and similar good working conditions. This translates into an increase in production at a horrible cost. Finally, how do they plan to expand our borders, peacefully or through war? In our view, offensive war is something that must be avoided at all costs.
I thank you for listening to my speech, and hereby ask that you register in the PSP and vote for us in the upcoming elections. We will announce our candidates for the governor of Eurch and the President of our great nation very shortly.
End Speech

OOC: Well, we got a left-wing and a centrist party; just need a right-wing one now!

 

[talonschild]

Announcing my status as a Popular Socialist, disbanding my old one.

 

[Civleader]

My friends and fellow citizens, today is a great day for Eurch! For today, with the formation of the Popular Socialist Party, the lower class has finally obtained a voice in politics.
Our aim is simple: We stand for the betterment of the industrial worker, the miner, and the farmer. To accomplish this goal, we desire the following:

• Nothing less than total state ownership of the means of production, for only through state control can factories, mines, and quarries be made to run at peak efficiency while protecting their workers. Smaller businesses should be allowed to remain independent to encourage economic growth, but even then they must be subject to strict regulations to prevent the formation of monopolies and preserve worker safety.
• Improvement in farm productivity. We have no desire to subscribe to the ideal of collective farms, but the development of new technology to increase food production must be a priority. For more and better food means the lives of the lower class will be improved.
• A strong anti-war policy, to preserve the lives and livelihoods of the common man, but an equally strong military to keep our interests protected. For our diplomatic overtures cannot possibly succeed if our nation is perceived as weak.
• Peaceful expansion to tap the rich bounties of these new lands, for the wealth of the natural resources obtained will power the factories and grow the crops necessary to feed our citizens.
• A strong welfare system, for we must always remember and aid the old, injured, and infirm.
• Public works projects, from simple drainage systems to the most glorious monuments and wonders, for they will further improve the lives of the common man.

The National Institutional Party is far from reactionary, and I feel that in many aspects the PSP and NIP will be able to put aside our differences and work together for the greater good. Indeed, I have no doubt their avowed desire to improve the lives of the citizens of the great nation of Eurch is genuine, but their efforts are most assuredly focused on the middle and upper classes, while overlooking the workers, the farmers, and the poor. Though the arts are vital for the populace, if they cannot be enjoyed by the common man they must be relegated to secondary importance. I must also ask how the NIP intends to accomplish their promised increase in production while ensuring the safety of the worker. They seem to plan to keep the means of production privatized, but it is an undeniable fact that the sole goal of the owners of these industries is to increase profits, at the cost of workplace safety and similar good working conditions. This translates into an increase in production at a horrible cost. Finally, how do they plan to expand our borders, peacefully or through war? In our view, offensive war is something that must be avoided at all costs.
I thank you for listening to my speech, and hereby ask that you register in the PSP and vote for us in the upcoming elections. We will announce our candidates for the governor of Eurch and the President of our great nation very shortly.

It seems I must answer several points made in the speech of our fellow citizen cpm4001. We applaud your care for those who unfortunately do not enjoy an average quality of life and are thus considered to be poor. However, we are displeased by your false assumptions on the beliefs of the NIP. You say that our efforts "are most assuredly focused on the middle and upper classes, while overlooking the workers, the farmers, and the poor." We focus on all social classes, all of society. The NIP knows like any rational organization that art and strong culture is not achieved when there are domestic problems. This can be seen when I say "We are also a party worried on domestic matters. We want to improve the lives of our people, and make sure that they not only live well, but enjoy the life they have and be able to create and innovate for the improvement of the entire society." We also express basically the same ideas when I explained the benefits of high production with respect to workers, and when I said this: "Finally, the production capacity will give our people better standards of living, and a safer and more productive workplace." Your comment of "Though the arts are vital for the populace, if they cannot be enjoyed by the common man they must be relegated to secondary importance" expresses the same idea as my previous comment: "We want to improve the lives of our people, and make sure that they not only live well, but enjoy the life they have and be able to create and innovate for the improvement of the entire society."

A second assumption that is made is this: "They seem to plan to keep the means of production privatized." I really do not understand where this idea came from, since in my speech I never spoke of private vs public production. But since you bring this up, I will say that the NIP believes in a shared optimum equilibrium of private and public economy. The government shall do what it can to maximize production in the most effective way. This means permitting the private initiative create production while regulating it to protect workers, consumers, and society in general. At the same time, the government will obviously provide services that cannot be fairly provided by the private sector.

Finally, you ask a reasonable question. You ask how we plan to expand. I believe I said "Settlement of nearby lands" which implies using settlers and peacefully expanding. The army, as I also said, is to "make sure we can withstand any threats to our sovereignty or destiny."

Let us not be fooled by this weak intent of opposition. It seems differences are being created where there is none. Our parties share almost every point, with the exception of the complete control of factories and that this new PSP calls itself socialist and with a single aim of protecting "the industrial worker, the miner, and the farmer", people this party implies to be poor. The National Institutional Party believes the protection of those in the lower classes, of those who cannot protect themselves, of those who have suffered misfortunes from externalities out of their control, to be basic functions of the state. If this is your single aim, then I am sorry to say this is a sign of lack in vision, and ambition.

I am sure we can cooperate and set our differences aside to work for the greater good. However, I ask you, the citizens of this nation, to truly consider which party is best. Which one seems more likely to bring the glory and achievements to which this nation is destined? I am sure you know what the answer is.

Now, the National Institutional Party would like to nominate Cyrus Rotheram as its candidate for President of Eurch, and Silverman as governor of our beautiful capital. These men are perfectly capable of leading Eurch in these critical times, and ensure a bright and safe future for our nation.

 

[Silverman6083]

Speech
Salutations good friends! I would like to thank all of you for taking a break from your busy new lives & listening to me. First off I would like to regard Mr. cpm4001's wild assumptions, the NIP does not wish to privatize industry, & most certainly does not wish to ignore our farmers, workers, or miners, which the PSP regards as "poor". We wish to protect all the peoples within our vast realm of democracy.
Secondly, I urge all to vote for Cyrus Rotheram for our President, & myself for Governor. If elected I plan to send a pair of ironclads & settlers southward & one northbound. I would intend to keep one worker within Eurch borders & building a quarry on the stone & nearby marble, a plantation on the cotton, and generally build mines on hills, & farms on plains & grasslands.
Build order wise, I would like to build another worker to support a third city, a water mill, another worker to build rail/roads to our other cities, & then stone works or an ironclad depending on how our frontier looks, and whether or not we meet natives or even colonies from the old world.
I would also like to make it clear that these are all loose guidelines, & may very well change, for only time can tell. I thank you all for listening, and urge all to join the NIP & vote Rotheram, Silverman!

 

[Tycho]

Additionally joining the Popular Socialist Party.

 

[dot80]

Updated list of NPCs. Updated the Ruleset to include a little about Immortal NPCs. Updated font page with NPC List, Party List, Updates Archive, and Current Government List. After we get candidates from the PSP we will be moving into season 2.

 

[Silverman6083]

OOC: dot80 you didn't include Js_9001 in the NIP

 

[cpm4001]

Updated list of NPCs. Updated the Ruleset to include a little about Immortal NPCs. Updated font page with NPC List, Party List, Updates Archive, and Current Government List. After we get candidates from the PSP we will be moving into season 2.

OOC: We're getting our ballot prepared now, and should have it finalized soon.

 

[Tycho]

On behalf of my party, the ballot proposed by the Popular Socialist Party is as follows:

President: Tycho
Governor of Eurch: cpm4001
Settlement Director: talonschild

 

[dot80]

Update won't be for a few days. Finishing up finals and driving home and then I'll be able to work on the update.

 

[cpm4001]

OOC: Back from a hectic week and will probably make a speech in regards my nomination for the governorship of Eurch later today or tomorrow. Also, dot80 - JS 9000 is listed as being in both the NIP and the PSP. Just wanted to mention that...