Kalistani Major History

[Doc]

President Delgado addresses Crowd at Kaliburg Republican University
Regals in story of success, admonition to work for Republic
Kaliburg, Ananto
November 1, 5058


President Delgado takes questions from sold out audience at Carleton Hall, on Campus of Republican University

The President of the Republic spoke last night before an assembled crowd of 3500 in a standing-room only auditorium on the campus of Kaliburg Republican University, in Capital Hill last night. The show, which featured many anecdotes of the President's long and impressive life, also featured an impassioned admonition for students to enter national service. Tickets were available in blocks: The vast majority of the tickets went to students, and were funded through the Student Activity Fee, while about 25% of the tickets were reserved for the community at large on a first come first serve, one ticket per attendee basis. The program was a benefit for the renovation of the National Speedway in Lolla, to rebuild the dirt track around the outside of the Demolition Derby Arena following a dramatic six car crash that destroyed a 1400 foot section of the track three months ago.

"It has been said that in a past life, I was myself," said President Delgado, to much laughter and applause. "But I have long held that National Service requires many life times: the work is never done. It always requires a new generation to keep up the work of the previous generations to ensure that the institutions of our Republic do not rust and decay. Our history is littered with epochs where that was the case and each and every time it takes a monumental society wide dedication to restore the Republic to its baseline form."

The President encouraged students to get involved. "Do not wait until your Republic decays before you. If you do not have plans following graduation, feel free to re-enlist in the NSP. Or take your skills and your smarts to one of the National Industries. Or, if you are so inclined, start your own business. Anyway you do it, always keep your eye on not only what you will gain for yourself, but the good you will do our Republic."

Between exhortations toward national service, the President shared stories about mountain climbing, sailing, and travelling the world. "While I have certainly lived a truly remarkable life," said Delgado, "I could not have done it without the benefits I have enjoyed as a citizen of this Republic. Like you, I did my time in the NSP: I worked in various agricultural operations here in Ananto and in Odufaray during my time in. And then when my service was complete, I left the NSP and proceeded to claim my birthright as a citizen of this Republic. This nation made sure that if I failed, I would not starve, the way they do in capitalist nations. Because of the solid floor of the Basic income and the various social rights we all possess, I was not afraid to innovate and risk: I knew no matter what new innovations I tried, I would not ever live a hard life. There is a certain freedom in certainty, I can say."

The President spent nearly half the evening taking questions from the audience. The questions ranged from "Did you really parallel park a train in Vrassa?" ("no: that is not actually possible.") to "What classes would you recommend a student who wants to understand the world best take?" (philosophy and physics) to "Is there a First Lady?" ("Why should I limit myself to just one?") to "Why would the Government vote to ban smoking for minors?" ("They did not ban smoking for minors; the effects of that law was to ban sales of cigarettes and tobacco to minors, not the use of tobacco among minors, and while that law passed over strong objection by the Socialist Party on civil liberties grounds, it is based in concern for the health of the youth, who are particularly susceptible to addiction of nicotine, and whose lungs are particularly susceptible to lifelong damage due to cigarette smoke.")

Overall the President's speech and answers to questions were very entertaining and quite informative and the crowd left both entertained and enlightened. Most reported that they felt that the President was a very likable man, and only one person The Republic spoke with said that he did not enjoy the evening. "That Metzist bastard needs to retire," said Orlando Flowers, the solitary negative critic, who described himself as "apolitical" but also added that he objects to the entire National Service Program. "It was like a commercial for Communism," said Flowers. "I do not believe that the government should exist. Only Corporations. Capitalism forever."