Kalistan

[Doc]

Kalistanis Give Government Positive Marks
Majority Approves of Empire's Orthodox Shifts
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
December 8, 5634


Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto and Chancellor of the Empire Sir Michael Koenig in Eveari

Majorities in Kalistan have given Her Imperial Majesty's Government positive marks for their handling of International and Domsetic Policy.  This poll comes as the Empress celebrates two years since she was crowned in Kaliburg.  Large Majorities also said that the Empress makes them "proud to be Kalistani", and most qualitative responses encouraged Her Imperial Majesty to direct the Government to work closely with the National Assembly to move popular ideas into law.

The Poll was conducted between October 17 and November 10, of this year, and took responses from more than 8,000 respondents nation wide, at a 99.7% confidence level with a +/-1.65% margin of error.  Surveys went to all Duchies, and all Free Cities, and focused largely on civic organizations, educational institutions, and labor organizations.

"The responses we saw were sort of unexpected, given the populations we ended up surveying," said Dr. Thomas Dore of Kaliburg Imperial University, who led the survey team.  "Especially in the Free Cities, you might expect to see more support for liberalization, as those populations are more inured to the notion of self governance.  Similarly with civic organizations, which are the primary organizations of civil society.  But instead of seeing more support for limited government, there was across the board support for both the Government and especially the Empress."

Her Imperial Majesty's Government received a 73% approval rating (either "Strongly Approve" or "Approve"), while the Empress herself had approval ratings in the mid 80s.  "We expect strong historical support for the Monarchy, due to the nature of Kalistani society and its heavy socialization, but support for the Monarch tends to be less.  It seems, however, that most Kalistanis identify with this Empress in degrees we haven't seen since Nicolette I, and that is surprising:  Most say she makes them Proud to be Kalistani, which certainly supports her implicit role as the avatar of the Nation."

Specific policies that are most supported is the effort to end hostility with the Legion in Mainland Kundrati (65% support, 24% neutral), expansion of consumer electronics and auto manufacturing with strong government support (72% approve, 12% neutral), Improvement of relations with both Hutori and Dolgava (68% and 76% support respectively), Improvement in relations with Valruzia (73% support), The Government's increased support for the Environment (76% support), and increase in House Ananto's support for the Arts (62% support).  Respondents also gave Lady Michelle Ananto-Sandoval's regency high marks as well, with 82% saying they supported her even now that she has been out of office for more than two years.

"Her Imperial Majesty has spent the last two years strengthening and beautifying our Empire," wrote one survey taker.  "She makes us feel like one nation.  She cares about the environment, she cares about peace, she cares about humanity."  Others echoed this sentiment, and said Empress Mary's confidence was an overwhelmingly positive characteristic of the Empress.  "She's just a kid," wrote another survey respondent.  "But she don't play.  She says it like it is, and she doesn't let anyone push her around.  If she is a little arrogant, she has already earned that right.  I say let her be more arrogant if she wants."

The Government's lowest scores came in the public's estimation of their role.  More than 40% said they are not sure what the National Assembly actually does.  About 15% of respondents said that they were concerned that there may be corruption in the National Government, and another 30% said they believed that if the National Assembly was disbanded, it would make "no difference."

"The National Assembly does what the Empress tells them, right?" asked one respondent.  "I wish they would have a more active role in setting policies.  I can write to my Deputy until I am blue in the face about the need to tax businesses, and yet, each time all I ever get is some canned response, and a packet of information about corporate tax being a back door sales tax.  Like what does that even mean?"  Another respondent said "I have a lot more luck in City Government seeing the things my neighbors talk about acted upon:  the National Assembly seems to just be followers of the Chancellor, who just does what the Empress tells him to do."  Yet, only a minority of the population (about 15%) actually called for more democratization and liberalization of the government, a number that is at a 25 year low.

When asked if Her Imperial Majesty was too extravagant with her spending, 67% said "Strong No" or "No" with another 18 percent saying "I don't know".  The question was raised with regard to Her Imperial Majesty's lavish clothing budget, as well as her purchases of a new home, and her maintenance of three other mansions in Ananto.  "I don't get it," said one woman from Luxon.  "Those places are hers.  That's her money.  Just because previous Emperors and Empresses were thrifty doesn't mean she is spending a single Ruble of the General Fund.  Let the girl beautify her Empire."  Another pointed out that as a CPA, he does audits for corporations each year.  "Miramar is the single most transparent corporate entity in Ananto and Kalistan.  They release their audit report into the public record each year.  They pay every ruble of tax that they owe.  They give regular public shareholders reports, and pay quarterly dividends that are publicly announced.  And more importantly, Miramar lists all property of House Ananto, including, surprisingly, the inventoried contents of the House Ananto Jewel Vault.  You don't find other corporations, not in Kalistan and not in the world, who go through such meticulous detail with all their assets and liabilities, and then make all that info public and freely available, every year."

Several respondents said they hoped to see more input from Deputies in the making of National Policy.  "Like, I know the Chancellor is more or less the guy who gets stuff done in the Government," said one Sulari respondent.  "But it would be nice if the National Assembly were a little more independent, and the Deputies had more input into the bills.  That would take care of the politics thing, and make our government more responsive via our chosen reps.  Its a win-win."

The survey is positive news for the new Chancellor's government, which aligns with Her Imperial Majesty's strongly Nationalist perspective, and is composed almost entirely of Orthodox faction members.  "The Institutionalists are going into an election next year, and given these results, it seems that the Chancellor's Orthodox faction will increase their margin," said Dore, who noted that the Internationalist faction is already below 30 members.  "Maintaining the status quo is good for Kalistani business and investors, it is good for the stability of the currency, it is good for continuity of policy, and it is good primarily for Chancellor Koenig, who could easily coast into a full term in office starting next summer."  As Kalistanis are willing to indulge their Empress, so too are they willing to reward her servant, the Chancellor for loyally carrying out Her Fiat.  

"It's good for us all, and probably for the world too," said Dore.

@TheRepublic