Kalistan

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New Democrat Club forms in Sulari
Aim is to promote democracy in Kalistan, says Founder
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
October 24, 5726


Founder of the New Democrat Club, Dr. Kristen Brandt, aims to promote Democracy

"I don't think its too radical to point out a very simple fact," said Dr. Kristen Brandt, at the most recent meeting of the Sulari New Democrat Club, "that the Empress is nothing if she is not an arch reactionary, and also the fact that she is retiring soon, and now may be our only chance to push the government to more openness, more accountability, and more democratic participation by the people of this nation." These words echoed the founding platform of the New Democrat Club in Sulari, which was founded, at least in part by Dr. Brandt herself. The Organization, began in 5724, now counts several hundred members in cities across the nation.

Brandt believes that change is in the air. "Her Imperial Majesty has always walked right up to the line of reform, and when she should jump across it, she has instead stepped back and back and back time and time again. The People of this nation deserve to have a voice in the laws that govern us, a real one, not some carefully curated, manicured, and dissipated peep that makes it through the process and into the National Assembly." Brandt has argued that support for more democracy has always floated between 20 and 30% of the population. "But when you ask the question, do you support more say in Government policy, you see the support go up to over 50%. I think there is a great pool of latent support for democratic government in Kalistan, but we are so far away from the last time we had any sort of democracy that the people themselves are responding to the label, and not the thing. We need to get the word out about what democracy is in Kalistan so the people themselves can know what to even ask for."

Brandt's strategy is simple. Since civil society organizations are the source of nominees for Institutional Party seats, she and her fellow New Democrats have founded a civil society organization aimed at educating people about Democracy and getting them active around the subject. "It's the same playbook as the old Democratic Forum movement, except we do not wish to simply educate: We primarily are focused at getting democrats elected to office and then once we get there, beginning to craft policy that moves the Empire more toward democratic and popular Government and constitutionalism."

Sam Doganuk, an early joiner has said he has since moved out of the Club. "Kristen is a radical. When she was talking about maybe educating people about democracy it seemed like a great idea. But, especially in Sulari, she is talking about way, if we get elected, to sidestep the fiat. And that is a bridge too far for a lot of us. If she doesn't watch it, she's going to get herself into trouble and take a lot of really well meaning people with her." Dr. Brandt, for her part denies that she is a radical. "Is it so crazy to think that the people should have a real say in the composition and the policy making of their government? It's not a radical idea and any conversations we have ever had about the fiat were purely speculative. Like we will think of laws we would pass on our own if the Fiat was not directing National Policy."

Dr. Brandt is, however undaunted. "Our membership has been pretty steady around 350 in recent months. We are getting same new members in Vrassa, Odufaray and Suldanor. But the real gold standard is if we can get the Clubs into Kaliburg. Right now, the Orthodox and Nationalist Clubs dwarf us there, but we're just starting. Our largest club is here in Sulari, which has always been more openminded toward democratic activity. We will need at least 1000 members before we can begin nominating members to fill seats in the Institutional Party and on their Slate, so we have our work cut out for us. It is totally doable."

Brandt says there is no time like the present to organize for Democracy. "Nobody knows what kind of person the Crown Prince is, or what his positions will be, or, importantly for us, what positions his fiancé will take. I grew up near her home and knew of her in school, and she was a real free spirit and a trouble maker--I can't imagine she will tolerate reactionary attitudes in her own home. Surely she will have some influence on His Highness. Perhaps we could convince her to convince him to sit down with us, and let us talk with him about what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how it will benefit the Empire to listen to us. Getting to him while he is still forming his opinions about what kind of reign he wants to have is very important to us." Brandt says she has a few favors to call in to meet with the future princess consort. "I'd ideally like to me with her before she is married and then him before he is crowned, just to plant a little democratic seed and see if we can make it grow."

Opinion on the strategy is mixed within the New Democratic Club, but one thing all members agree upon is the importance of increasing the amount of opportunities for democratic participation in the system. And this is what the New Democratic Club was formed to do.

@TheRepublic