Kalistan

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Sulari New Democrats prevail in Court
Political Club found to be within compliance of the Law
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
January 12, 5728


Dr. Kristen Brandt discusses ruling with her lawyer following rejection of lawsuit in Sulari

The Sulari New Democrat Club prevailed in the lawsuit that was filed against it by numerous Sulari Residents who alleged that its efforts amounted to the violation of their right to free association. The ruling was delivered by the Jury Foreman and reflected a 12-0 vote on the jury. The Ruling was accompanied by the Jury's reasoning, that the New Democrats were not a political Party, but were attempting to gain recognition within the Institutional Party as required by law, and therefore have complied with all laws including the Single Party law. "The New Democrats are merely seeking to secure the right to ballot access under Institutional Party rules. The Party's rules, which the New Democrat Club are attempting to comply with, permit them to do so, and therefore the collective rights of the Respondents in this case supersede the individual claims of violation of civil liberties."

The ruling was a surprise to most observers of the very closely watched case, who assumed that the court would side with the Petitioners, given their seeming alignment with the Institutional Party. "We note," said the Jury verdict, "that the Institutional Party itself was not a Party to this lawsuit, but the Plaintiffs were claiming to speak for the Institutional Party. When the Party's general secretary was called to the stand, and were asked to describe the Party's rules for recognition of civil society groups, they listed them, and even the petitioners agreed that the New Democrat Club was in compliance with these. We therefore find the disagreement to be one not of law but of ideology: the law itself sides with the Respondent."

Once the jury verdict was rendered, the Judge in this case, the Honorable Marcia Delgado, said she concurred with the decision arrived by the Jury and summarily dismissed the lawsuit. As the Court determined that the Defendants had complied with the law, the Plaintiff's attorneys waived the right to appeal, on grounds that an appeal would be unlikely to succeed at the national level. "The jury wrote the decision in a way which almost precludes any appeals," said attorney for the petitioners Mr. Jack Langston. "Their reasoning says very explicitly that the law trumps individual rights in this nation, and while it sets a dangerous precedent by eroding individual rights in this nation in the favor of collective rights and the letter of the law, it also essentially kills any hope we might have of the decision being reviewed upon appeal."

Dr. Kristen Brandt, leader of the New Democrat Club in Kalistan, said the decision is a verdict for the rule of law. "In liberal nations, you see individual privilege and interest override the law all the time. The law says something, and people claim individual exceptions, and the focus is on essentially protecting individual rights over even social good. But in Kalistan, the court today struck a blow for Law, which we are all equal under. Mr. Johnson and his friends might each individually have the same rights as the 1650 members of the New Democrat Club nationwide individually do, but his rights do not get to cancel a law. Most importantly, Sulari voters will have the opportunity to vote for Democrats, and I suppose then we will let the people decide if they want people fighting for more democracy from within the Institutional Party or not. But a small group of self-interested people will not get to subvert the voice of the voters by denying them an opportunity to vote for people they want."

Participation in the election is not necessarily guaranteed: At any time the Single Party can be amended, either by the Chancellor, who controls the rules and credentials committee in the Institutional Party, and therefore can refuse to seat New Democrats, which will essentially kill their chances of appearing on the ballot, or a simple resolution within the National Assembly could pass to declare the New Democrats a separate party, after which point they would simply be outlawed. If either action occurred and the New Democrats sued, that case would certainly be thrown out on the same grounds that this case was decided.

The Chancellor of the Empire, Sir Johnathan Mickelson has not issued a comment regarding the verdict, which gives the New Democrats some hope. "If they want to, they can act very fast," said Dr. Brandt. "There are two windows that we would expect action on the verdict if it was going to happen: and that was immediately after the verdict was read, or directly before the upcoming elections in 5630. The first threshold has sort of come and gone, and we are over it. Next week, I will write to the Chancellor to determine whether we will be permitted to participate in the Convention next year, and if that is allowed, we will be almost assured a place on the ballot."

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto issued a statement following the verdict: "We honor the Court of the Free City of Sulari and their service to the Law of our Nation. These questions of limits of the law are as old as philosophy itself, and our Court has today determined that the law lies on the side of the collective rights of the Defendants in this case. We believe that reason and justice guided the jury in their decision-making, and then drove the Judge to concur with the decision of the Jury. We are proud that our law works to illuminate justice for our nation and we thank the jury for their service to our law." Dr. Brandt said she chose to read this as an endorsement for the New Democrats, but admitted that it was more likely the Empress endorsing her law as written.

"I'm not crazy," said Brandt. "The Empress is no Democrat--to suggest otherwise would be utterly insane. But in this case, her law did give us the opportunity to at least participate in the elections, and so if that's the intended effect of the law, I am glad for it, and appreciate her law's support for our cause." Brandt says she intends to redouble her recruitment efforts. "Who knows: maybe we can one day hope to realistically open a New Democrat Club in a place like Kaliburg," she said with a laugh. "Its a long shot, I know, but a girl can dream."

@TheRepublic

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The New Problem with Athosia
Evaluating Imperial Response to recent developments in Baltusia
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
February 9, 5728


Nationalist Club Poster produced in Lucid, Suldanor to distribution on both sides of the border

Recent unnecessarily incendiary comments were made by the elected Governor of the Baltusian State of Santiago (Athosia in Kalistan) regarding the opinion of said leader that "...there is no such thing as Athosia." The Governor, apparently speaking to school children, said "There is no such thing as Athosia; it is an imperialist colonialist effort of our northern neighbours to undermine Santiago and Baltusia and to once again bring Santiago under their oppressive boot." The article goes on to claim that "The Anantonese Empire [sic.] maintains its claim over the territory despite no legal basis and despite Santiago belonging to Baltusia for centuries..." It labels Kalistan as "revanchist" and says the local Party which Governor Lee represents, is strongly anti-Kalistani.

We at The National have long understood Athosia to be something of a third rail of Northern Seleyan politics. Kalistan and Baltusia can, and have for a very long time, get along very well if that issue is not strenuously pushed in one direction or another. "It is often better to just let sleeping dogs lie," said Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister Miguel Ontiveros, when speaking to the Kalistani Nationalist Club on the topic of Athosia. "Nobody is served by either nation trying to resolve Athosia in favor of one or the other nation. The Empress is not about to give up what she, and every Monarch since Nicolette The Great has insisted actually does belong to Kalistan, still after all these centuries, and Baltusia is clearly not interested in returning to Kalistan what was stolen from Kalistan, by illegitimate force of arms, and sewn onto Baltusia, like an extra limb, by a foreign imperialist power using the nation to further its own geopolitical ambitions."

There is no easy settlement, and Kalistani monarchs have been relatively peaceful about the Duchy since Mary I Ananto secured a thousand acres of the territory at Playa de Paz--a small concession to be sure, but one which seems to sate the Imperial family's urges to push the issue in Baltusia. "We have also been able to accomplish the Lucid Accords which permit our nation to invest in people Her Imperial Majesty's Government consider to be our kindred, if not our co-nationals," said FM Ontiveros. "This way Athosia stays under Baltusian administration, while we have been able to make sure that the chaos and neglect of the nation in Johnston did not adversely affect the people of Athosia, who the Empress would count as subjects otherwise." In addition, Kalistanis and Athosians frequently pass back and forth over the border, for work and tourism, and San Luis, the capital of Athoisa is a major trading depot for Kalistanis who buy the things that the Athosians bring from the interior and put tens of millions of Imperial Pesos into the economy annually through trade, tourism and investment.

Which makes the hostility by Ms. Lee seem more or less inexplicable to Kalistani nationalists. The Lucid Nationalist Club recently released a poster that asserts that not only Athosia, but all of the Crownlands rightfully belong to the Crown, asking rhetorically why we should have to ask for lands which are ours. "The origin story for Kalistani nationalists is that these lands were taken, illegitimately from Kalistan, and justice dictates that we should fight to get them back," said Political Science Professor Martin Becker, of University of Suldanor. "It is the fundamental point of agreement for most Kalistanis, actually, of all political stripes. It doesn't matter how far in the past it happened, or who has those territories now. For the average Kalistani, it happened yesterday and should have been remedied yesterday. So appeals like the Governor's that it happened so long ago are just considered asinine, if not irritating to the average Kalistani, even more so to the Kalistani nationalist." Most Kalistanis have made quiet peace with the fact that Kalistan will not be recovering most of our Crownlands in the near future--the experiment with the Anantonese Empire, which represented an integration scheme more than an actual political union has put to bed any calls to rebuild the empire without full annexation of the Crownlands.

But Athosia is different, and so it is particularly galling that the newly active Socialists in Santiago Baltusia have decided to poke that particular bear. "There is nobody in this nation who will agree that Athosia is actually part of Baltusia," said Becker. "We understand whose flag flies over the territory, but ask 100 Kalistanis who Athosia belongs to, and 101 of them will say Kalistan. The common epithet for the Baltusian state is 'squatter.' But until today, Kalistanis have been hesitant to utter the term much in public. The Santiago Governor choosing to go for it was probably an unforced error."

Her Imperial Majesty, for her part, has not issued any statements regarding the inflammatory words from Santiago. Kalistani Policy is that the provisions of the Lucid Accords which have provided a framework for Kalistani and Baltusian cooperation in Athosia, and which Kalistan, at least still considers to be a very good, measured and productive agreement, are still fully in effect. "That agreement allows us to set the issue of Athosian possession to one side while we work together on very practical matters," said Becker. "The Santiago Governor's recent, which more or less grabs hold of the Third Rail, introduces a number of problems for the Empire, not the least of which is the suggestion that support for the Accord on the Baltusian side, at least among those tasked to represent the Duchy, and who speak for the Government, might not be as solid as it is in Kalistan. It may trigger a desire on our side of the Lucid River, to renegotiate a deal more favorable to Kalistani interests, or worse, the abandonment of the Accord all together, if Kalistan believes that Baltusia is no longer interested in peace with Kalistan in the region. And that would be very bad for both nations."

Kalistan has thus far been willing to give Baltusia the benefit of the doubt. Most in Kaliburg have not mentioned the comments at all, especially those who we would have, in years past, fully expected an immediate statement. Despite her reputation for supporting some modest reforms, it is believed that Her Imperial Majesty has grown closer to the nationalist position, formerly represented by Her Highness, the Princess Melanie Ananto-McLinn, who was the Countess of the frontier county of Lucid for decades before being stripped of that title. Lady Ananto-McLinn was an outspoken proponent of full annexation when she was chancellor, and regularly spoke on the matter, only to be reigned in by an Empress who herself was unwilling to step onto the Third Rail. But softening support for accommodation and cooperation south of the River may open the door for more nationalists to step out from cover and start making statements.

For now, nationalists across the nation are watching Her Imperial Majesty for a signal to pounce, but it is widely believed that none of them wish to do so before the Empress makes a comment on the statements. And the Empress, who is in the waning years of her reign, and looks to hand off a nation that is at least at peace with its neighbors, shows no immediate inclination to respond. Perhaps this is because her response will itself be proportionately inflammatory, and therefore restraint is the best policy. "We cannot doubt that the Red Empress is listening to two voices in her ear," said Becker, "one of her nationalist angel who wishes Kalistan to seize this opportunity to settle the matter in Athosia once and for all, and the other of her Brethrenist angel who seeks to show how magnanimous Kalistan can be in the face of the pettiness of the Socialist Governor of Santiago. Which one she listen to will be told in good time, but for now, as Baltusia begins heading into a constitutional period, it may just be advisable that she does nothing, and lets Baltusia do what it does best, which is collapse into extremist dystopia yet again under the giddy hand of extremism and ultra populism, while carrying on under the terms of the Lucid Accords in Athosia at least as if nothing has fundamentally changed."

@TheNational

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Club Culture in Kalistan
Social Club membership on sharp increase among all classes
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
March 4, 5728


The Kaliburg Nationalist Club in the Imperial City neighborhood of Kaliburg

Membership in Kalistan's various social, civil society, and political clubs is steadily increasing across the Empire. This trend has given rise to what some are calling Club culture, or a way of living which revolves around membership in and participation in specific clubs. The rise of Clubs in the daily life of all classes in the nation has become a topic of discussion among sociologists and social psychologists, who are studying why this trend of all trends in the nation has caught ahold so fervently.

"Well, in many cases, the various social classes are recreating their own versions of the long standing Formal Society in Kaliburg and Sulari," said Dr. Kate Watson, who teaches Socioeconomic Class Studies at Kaliburg Imperial University in Kaliburg. "Formal Society is more about being seen at the right parties, being invited by the right people, as a system of favors and connections among the elite. But the people themselves, feeling themselves excluded from that type of social interaction, decided to develop their own, in the form of the social club." This interest in public society has captured the nation and new clubs have popped up left and right, catering to all interests, over the past 20 years.

"There are some social drivers for the development of social clubs in our cities," said Watson. "Free Cities themselves, where most of the new growth of Clubs has occurred, are very densely populated. Its rather paradoxical that the closer one lives in proximity to others, the more one values their private space. But from our first social interactions as children, we are taught to think, work and act collectively. Humans are intensely social creatures, and will seek the company of others, against all odds. This trait is deliberately fostered in our schools, in National Service and in our work. It is a constant feature in our lives, as Kalistanis, and we crave association with others. The Social Club is a fantastic conduit for this social tendency of people, because it allows me to associate with people who share my interests, who are of my class, and who can provide me opportunities which I would otherwise not even hear about. It forms a basic and foundational network that we can't even replicate on the job."

Political organization in the Empire almost militates for the development of clubs. "Social service organizations, unions, and explicitly political social clubs allow us the first and most basic form of participation in a political system where most avenues are shut off to direct citizens participation. All candidates for all offices at the national level and most offices at the Duchy and Baronial Level are controlled by the Institutional Party, and can only be nominated by corporate groups, such as unions, Quarterly Meetings, and, as it turns out, civil society and poltiical oriented clubs. Consequently, you see some of your largest clubs being affiliates of one of the Major Clubs, like the Nationalist Club or the Orthodox Club, who have their own National News papers, their own organized and disciplined membership and actual seats in the National Assembly, while newer clubs like the Kaliburg Socialist Club or the New Democrat Club in Kalistan are fighting for recognition and the ability to overcome institutional threshholds so their members can also have a chance of being nominated to office to serve in the Government."

One of the main functions of Social Clubs are the aggregation of interest. "We see Clubs forming around all types of social activities," said Watson. "You have a T-Total Abstinence Club, who want to associate with other sober people without the distraction of drugs or alcohol. You have gambling clubs, who organize around their mutual love of games of chance. Interestingly enough, the archetype of this type of social club comes from Music with the old RF and rock clubs. Due to the more notorious aspects of the RF scene, especially involving open and public sex and excessive drug use, some RF clubs began vetting people who were in their clubs, for safety purposes. You couldn't have a good time if you were concerned that a stranger was among you who you didn't really know. As public sex and unrestricted drug use was de-emphasized in the RF scene, a lot of the Clubs changed their funding models to admission covers, but some of the more underground RF clubs with retained the first wave morality continued to be exclusive members only clubs. That model was later adopted by social clubs who were selective of their membership, as opposed to those like unions, where membership was selected based on whether someone was in a particular trade or shop."

There are today very few exclusive Social Clubs. Most clubs, especially the political and interest based clubs are open to all, and membership in them gives people the opportunity to go to a class blind environment, where a CEO who is interested in automobiles may rub elbows with the local mechanic who spends his live repairing cars. "The Social Clubs, including the civil society clubs, the interest based clubs, and the political clubs, are very class neutral, and allow for citizens to network. Citizens crave this sort of opportunity to associate with members of different groups, and the Club provides a fantastic neutral ground for this sort of interaction." All of the public clubs have bylaws which stress equality of all within the club and a mutual duty to service.

There are, however very exclusive clubs as well. "Perhaps the most exclusive club in the Empire is known as the Garden Club of Kaliburg, which is only open for Ladies," said Watson. "The Garden Club is informally the organization for women of elite Formal Society, and the most important members of that Formal Society are in the Garden Club. Being drummed out of the Garden Club is social death for women of High Society in Kalistan." Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto is a member of the Garden Club, as are the two Princesses and the Princess Consort. "Princess Melanie Ananto-McLinn is famously not a member of the Garden Club," said Watson. "She had her membership revoked when she was stripped of her Chancellorship, and was informed that the Garden Club will not accept her reapplication, even though the other women in the Royal Family are members." Lady Melanie retains her membership in the Nationalist Club.

For all the clubs proliferating across Kalistan and Ananto, none is more exclusive, however than the club known as the Ancient Order of the Gray Smoke. "You might say that this club not only is older than most of the clubs that are active right now," said Watson, "but that it also provided the blueprint for the modern Clubs in Kalistan." The Order Hall, which itself is barred to uninvited guests, is so exclusive that the only thing known about it is the membership. "There are all sorts of rumors about what happens within the Club's meetings. But none of them have been confirmed either true or false. But either way, membership is by invite only, it is for life, and it is extremely exclusive. Your average person will never be eligible for a guest invitation, let alone membership. Other exclusive clubs, like the Garden Club aspire to be this exclusive, but never will, because they need to attract new members to continue to survive, while the Ancient Order of the Gray Smoke will exist as long as its Sovereign does."

"One other thing we see is that increasingly, the non-exclusive Clubs are making formal requests for patronage from the Exclusive clubs. "Patronage is a way for the smaller clubs, with fewer monetary resources, to do things like offer reduced price or free memberships to the lower classes without burdening their often working class membership, or do things like acquire and improve their respective facilities. The Exclusive Clubs welcome the opportunity to patronize the public clubs, because it is viewed as a symbol of wealth and privilege to be able to patronize other clubs. In return, the public clubs will often affiliate with the the Exclusive Club for a limited time, and might sponsor mixers and joint events as an opportunity to socialize between clubs. These relationships are only maintained as long as the patronage continues-- As it happens, the social norm is that the obligation is of the upper classes to the lower classes, not the other way around."

Most of the larger clubs have acquired houses that symbolize their status and prestige in the society. The Garden Club's House is a large chateau along the Zappa River, northeast of Kaliburg, for instance, while the Growers Syndicate has large guild houses in Dahriel, Reynoldia, Springfield and Red Pass. But the most impressive club house is a large mansion just off Embassy Row in the Imperial City neighborhood of Kaliburg belonging to the Nationalist Club. "The Nationalists have chapters across the Empire and they are also the most politically organized and connected political association within the Institutionalist Party," said Watson. "Its fitting that they should maintain the most impressive Club House in probably the entire Empire." Any formal event at the Nationalist Club in Kaliburg is a major social event: Despite it being a public club, the Club is able to attract even the Empress to make speeches there. Everyone who is invited to speak is informally expected to donate to the Nationalist Club, which makes them not only one of the most politically connected clubs, but also one of the wealthiest.

Most modest clubs tend to maintain their own halls where they have social events, lectures, dinners, and celebrations. "We can look to a group like AYIC, who have their own Club, the All Yeudi International Association, which has its hall in Lolla. This hall hosts AYIC's annual fundraisers, offers space for a local Redn Language school, and provides comradeship and association for Yeudis and their families. His Highness, the Prince Consort Ellot Ananto-Rosenfeld is an active member and patron of this club." Watson said that often there will be guest quarters in the Club house or hall. "These are used for travelers, primarily. If you are a member of a chapter in say Sulari, but happen to be in Kaliburg on business, you can often apply to rent a room for a specific time, and if accommodations are available, you can use them while you are in town." Most of the smaller clubs treat their accommodations like hostels, but larger clubs, like the Nationalist Club, has a whole floor of individual rooms in its palatial Club House in Kaliburg designated for visitors. "Most of these clubs also have kitchens and wait staff to serve visitors food during their visit. The cost for members is negligible, and clubs treat it as an amenity for members."

All in all, Watson agrees, the growth and proliferation of the Social Clubs in Kalistan, to include trade, civil society, and political clubs is a very good thing. "It is always a positive thing to get people out of their homes, and into the community. It provides great vibrancy to our cities and towns, a chance for citizens to associate and network, and a gateway to political participation which is not available outside the Clubs. It carefully builds upon the social natures of humanity to channel their social energy into communities who are aimed at shared interests and cooperative effort. In turn, the clubs contribute to social order and continuity for Ananto and Kalistan, and by promoting relatively conservative normative behavior, reduce social deviance, crime and disorder. "Give people something to do in their free time, and they do it, rather than getting into trouble," said Watson. "Add a little peer pressure from your primary social group, and you tend to become far more supportive of social order and value social cohesion. These social clubs provide this invaluable socialization benefit to this Empire, and make everyone's life easier and safer."

@LaModa

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Industrial Minister Announces Broad Public Investment
K$230 Bn focused in Industry and Ag Sectors
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 11, 5728


Trade and Industry Minister Omar Cunningham announces broad investment

The Public Sector in Kalistan's economy is getting a major overhaul , according to Her Imperial Majesty's Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Omar Cunningham. "Her Imperial Majesty has approved major new spending to upgrade our National Industries and agriculture sectors," said Mr. Cunningham. "This spending, totaling 235 Billion Imperial Pesos, will be directed toward updating machinery, bringing our processes up to date, further finetuning the Just-in-time supply chains that guarantee that inputs to our industries are supply when they are need to reduce waste and surpluses, and bringing more than 1 million new acres of unused public lands under cultivation after a period of retraction. This spending is aimed to solidify Kalistan's position as the region's major producer of primary and secondary sector goods and services."

The move to increase spending is a departure from the normally conservative position on new spending that is practiced by the national government. "Each year, our system returns more than 120 billion Imperial Pesos to the General Fund in the form of surplus. While maintaining the twin function of soaking up excess wealth in society to ensure adherence to ZPG policies, the amount is usually written off by the Finance Ministry, and has a nominally deflationary effect on our prices to allow us to stay within the =/- 0.5% band of growth controlling for population increase. This gives us a lot of leverage to spend when we need to without causing massive inflation spikes experienced by liberal nations. This year we were able to get new spending passed with the support of Her Imperial Majesty with the aim of giving a very large productivity overhaul to the major actors in the public sector, spending which will be spread out over 5 years and touching all Nationalized Industries, and spreading into the NSP and the Ag sectors, spending which will pay for themselves in productivity increases over the next decade."

The move was spurred by two recent safety shutdowns at the KalNaFerCo National Foundry in Sulari last year which took the steel plant offline for more than 3 weeks. A malfunctioning arc furnace which was thought to be fixed ended up completely failing and needed to be replaced. The issues caused the Industrial Minister to call for an ad hoc audit of needs in the National Industries, which was "very revealing to us," the Minister said. "It gave us enough evidence to bring to the Empress and make our call for a systemwide update to improve safety, but mostly productivity. Beginning in August, we will do a formal inspection of all facilities at our National Industries, KalNaPeCo, KalNaFerCo, KalNaTexCo, and KalMilInCo, as well as those corporations who supply inputs to these Companies, including AeroKal, SSC, and MoCo, to determine what they need and how we can help. And then, we start upgrading."

Mr. Cunningham said that the speed of action is one of the primary benefits of Kalistan's system. "We have one person who makes the decision. As she decides, we act. There is no need for debate on whether or not spending fits into the priorities of parochial lawmakers who are only beholden to the money which gets them elected, as we see in democratic nations. If Her Imperial Majesty wills it, Kalistan does it. And it moves fast when it happens. We finished our ad hoc survey in April, and we will turn on the spending spicket in August. That's quite quick. No need to reinvent the wheel each time we need to spend a single peso of the General Fund."

The Minister also said more than 60 billion of the total fund will go to assisting farmers through the Kalistan and Ananto Growers' Syndicates to improve processes for vertical and hydroponic farming and bringing more land under industrial cultivation. "One thing that remains a fairly major issue in this nation is that we have so much land in this nation, very good land, which is not being cultivated, because our state law requires private farms that are over 450 acres to be broken up. While this does promote small independent farms, and forces food producers, per se to adopt vertical farming methods that allow some profit using a small geographic footprint, most of the major cooperative agricultural operations held in private hands are still very small operations when compared to industrial farms in less scrupulous nations. Meanwhile, larger strategic farms, owned by the state are designed to supply industrial inputs, rather than want or profit, are few and far between. So most of the arable land not controlled by State farms goes uncultivated."

The Minister said the initiatives in the spending bill are aimed at encouraging more people to get into farming. "Under the Rural Land Act, the incentive was offering a Land Peerage to those who wish to move out of the cities into the country to cultivate more land. But this bill takes a different approach. Many of the issues in rural areas have to do with cost of owning land, specifically the land taxes that cultivators have to pay to maintain public services in rural areas, including very expensive infrastructure.

"We want to use this money partly to improve productivity for our current farmers, increasing yield capacity on current farms, and helping Duchies creating trust funds to help offset maintenance costs for their programs in rural areas to lower taxes for farmers," said Mr. Cunningham, "but also we want to bring more than a million new acres under cultivation through a public-private ownership program that will be overseen by the various Growers' Syndicates, where the State will have a stake in private farms and use that stake to help lower costs to farmers of owning farms. The private owners will be required to maintain up to 51% of the cost, but if the State, either the National Government, or Duchy Governments take the full 49% stake, the owners will see their land taxes in rural areas cut in half, as the public owner will simply be paying taxes by percentage. The State will not realize any of the profits for these new cultivation projects, but will instead act as a single buyer of the products, and will purchase goods at 3% over cost to ensure the private Owner a decent return on investment. In the long run, the differential should provide the private partner a comparable return with the fully private farms, as lower profits will be offset by lower tax bills."

The first allocation will fund a pilot program to determine whether there actually is any interest in increasing cultivation acreage in the Nation. "If its successful in increasing the number of acres under cultivation, the National Government has the option of making the program permanent. Initially we want to focus on increasing coffee in Western Suldanor, cotton and flax production in Suldanor and Odufaray, and hemp production in Nevaras and Ananto. All of these crops are vital and while we do produce both flax and hemp in abundance, our coffee production is still quite expensive, and we do not grow much cotton. Hopefully these initiatives increase production of all of these commodities, not only allowing us to begin competing with neighboring countries, but also allowing us to be more self sufficient, especially in fiber and coffee production. As in all things, we would rather rely upon our own farmers to produce the things we need than fully unreliable foreign nations."

The KalSiE rose more than 4% on the news, and the gains were spread across almost all industrial sectors. Meanwhile, the Sulari Observers market saw a 16% positive move in faith in Kalistan, while noticeable (between 4 and 6%) drops in confidence in Kalistan's neighbors, a sign that bettors believe Kalistan will grow relative to its neighbors in the coming 12 months.

@TheRepublic

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Mercantilism Continues to Reign in Northern Seleya
"Kalistan will never be a liberal nation again," predicts Melanie Ananto
Luxon, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 21, 5728


Director of House Ananto remains face of Kalistani Nationalist Movement despite lack of policy role

As the Her Imperial Majesty's Government announces massive new Industrial and Agricultural spending packages, and moves away from older trade relationships in favor of emerging ones, one thing that can be certain: Economic nationalism continues to be one of the pillars of Kalistani foreign policy. Every economic decision that the Empire has made for centuries has been aimed at increasing self sufficiency while remaining just open enough to be able to provide Kalistanis with just enough foreign goods to supply what we cannot make for ourselves locally. Since formally adopting ZPG, trade has been sidelined further, making it almost incidental in many sectors, relegating imports primarily to luxury items while reducing exportable materials to specific goods negotiated in formal trade agreements.

"In terms of trade, Kalistan will never be a liberal nation again," said Her Highness the Princess Melanie Ananto-McLinn, who currently serves as Head of House Ananto, and does not herself have any role in crafting government Policy. For this short interview, she was speaking as a private citizen and member of the Kalistani Nationalist Club rather than in her official role at House Ananto. It should be noted that many people still see her as the face and avatar of the both the political and economic Nationalist movement, despite her no longer being Chancellor of the Empire. "We have moved too far from that now. We cannot go back without destroying everything about our economy, and the very fabric of our society even. That concept is anathema in this nation, and has been for generations."

She was discussing the matter in the context of rising nationalism across all of Northern Seleya. "We have even seen formerly more liberal nations like Lodamun move to economic nationalism. Gaduridos is highly nationalist: though they are attempting to diversify their own trade relations across the globe, it is done in the service of national development. Kalistan may not agree with Gaduri unwillingness to associate with the Empire in the process and we may argue that this is very shortsighted, but nonetheless, they are doing essentially the same things that our own government does. And really who can blame them? It is intelligent policy, from root to branch. Valruzia is highly nationalist: they are run by very competent and very forward thinking administrators affiliated with Sovereign Valruzia who see Valruzia's future as one that Valruzia should control, not foreign trading partners who seek to manipulate markets for foreign gains. We applaud all of the Northern Seleyan nations who are doing things correctly."

Northern Seleya, according to the Princess, remains the bastion of economic nationalism, despite pressure from competitors in other nations. "The surprising thing to me is, there has not been a more concerted effort, yet, to work together. Look: I am not talking about integration here. Alright? In spite of what some people would prefer, Her Imperial Majesty is not interested in reviving the Anantonese Empire in any respect. Even AESA is a dead letter. But the closest thing we have to integrated, or maybe I should say, cooperative national policies of the Northern Seleyan states, is the Trans-Seleyan Railroad treaty which guarantees opened borders for trade by rail, and probably the Lucid Accords, which talks about economic cooperation in Athosia. Both good treaties, but we could be doing so more, especially if we could somehow reduce suspicion in general in the region. I don't know if we will be able to, but it would certainly be beneficial to everyone if we could."

Lady Melanie said some of the major stumbling blocks toward more cooperation are in the form of suspicion of Kalistan. "We have, I could say, we are, among the world's most outspoken, if not aggressive imperialists. Naturally our neighbors, who fiercely maintain their concept of national sovereignty, might find that position problematic. That's fine, but it precludes more rational cooperation of other nations with Kalistan. I suppose that is the price we pay for our irredentism. It's not going change: Kalistan will continue to maintain our nationalistic outlook because going back from that position is not only too disruptive to the society we have built on that perspective, but it is also wrong policy. So we will have to look to opportunities to work together in spite of the nationalist positions of our various governments."

The Princess says its not impossible to do: "Kalistan and Valruzia have developed a very strong, I think, modus vivendi which both guarantees our respective national interests, while at the same time, serves to increase trust and mutual comity across our national borders. Our nation's relationship with Valruzia is one of Her Imperial Majesty's most cherished relationships. It wasn't always like this, and there have been times when the two nations were at odds. But our consonance on many issues breeds a desire in both nations to find ways to cooperate. And it points to a method for nations that tend to want to have far less to do with Kalistan, like Gaduridos and apparently Baltusia now, where we can both continue to promote our own National Interests, while at the same time cooperating in areas that do not threaten those national interests. Especially on economic issues, where there is so much consonance across the board and economic liberalism has more or less completely disappeared in this part of the world, for all of our benefits."

After all, nationalism does not equal isolationism. "I do not think any of us desires to be isolationist," said Lady Melanie Ananto-McLinn. "Her Imperial Majesty desires that our neighbors be closer to us diplomatically than any other nations on the globe. She holds a very specifically regionalist perspective on foreign relations. This means she wants to work with even those nations in Northern Seleya who always think she and her Empire are up to something. Her Imperial Majesty always states her foreign policy objectives, and does not hide her motivations: If there is one thing our Empire does far better than any other nation it is credibly signaling our policy objectives. She is proud of those objectives, why wouldn't she broadcast them."

If other states are not trying to guess what Kalistan is actually up to, as we are forced to do with most nations' goals and objectives, it is almost sort of liberating in a way. "If I am Baltusia and know that no matter what happens, Kalistan wants Athosia back, that sort of gives me some guide posts regarding what sort of objectives I should be following. I know if I want to keep peace, I shut up about Athosia. If I want to undermine that peace, I let my governors shoot from the hip and speak without thinking of the damage their words do to our foreign policy objectives. I, personally, know who damaging it is for a person to express their personal beliefs when they undermine our Soveriegn's policy objectives. I know that because I famously used to do that. I can't tell you how many times the Empress called me in to chew me out for something she had to walk back. But the point is: If I know what the people sitting across the table are thinking, because they told me and I don't have any reason to believe that they are lying at all, it makes my legitimate options far clearer."

This is the benefit of policy consonance around economic ideology, said the Princess. "Our options become clear: One of those options becomes to not associate but that is an obvious option. You never have to guess though what you are missing, or what you are not aware that you are not aware of. Because the other negotiator also sort of knows what you are thinking. It makes negotiations very easy to get past the values discussion and to start being impersonal, and move into the realm of ration calculus. Which, especially in terms of the economy, is really where you want to be. Cost benefit analysis, pesos and centavos, that's what you want it all to boil down to, and then if you get a deal which is good for both sides, good, while if not, you can shake hands and say maybe next time."

This rationality is why Kalistan adopted Nationalism in the first place long ago, and why it will likely remain for a very long time into the future. "No liberalism is far too chaotic. It also tends toward the median which is by definition, where mediocrity lives. No state can long last being governed by mediocrity as a regular matter. When we acknowledge interests and govern with those in our mind, we can avoid the tendency toward the median and actually have a shot at having not only excellent leadership, but also getting deals with others that are good for all parties, and also those which tend to reinforce, rather than undermine each country's national interests."

@TheNational

[Doc]

Kalistan meets with Mordusia
Empress discusses trade, Investment and Friendship in Seleya
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 12, 5728


Mordusian Governor-General, Prince Henry Orange-Villayn visits Empress and Chancellor at Cliff House

The Governor General of Mordusia, His Highness Prince Henry Orange-Villayn visited Kaliburg this week on the highest level visit between the two Seleyan Nations in generations. The visit centered primarily on Kaliburg, and involved high level talks between the Governor General and Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto, who was very eager to welcome the Southern Seleyan leader to her son's home in Kaliburg. Chancellor of the Empire, Sir Johnathan Mickelson was also present, as was His Highness, the Crown Prince William Ananto-Rosenfeld.

"The talks between the two leaders focused on how to improve our relations," said the Chancellor. "This meeting has been sought by Kalsitan's since the founding of the Anantonese Empire scuttled any possibility of decent relations for a century. Her Imperial Majesty is thrilled to finally realize this imperial goal of welcoming Mordusia to Kaliburg for productive talks about how to best work together on our continent."

During the meeting, Kalistan and Mordusia discussed trade. "There are a number of things that Mordusia makes which Kalistan could conceivably want, but we just don't have any trade agreements in place to facility trade or transfers of money. One of the biggest orders of business during these meetings was to hammer out a basic framework that would allow us to both buy and sell directly in Mordusia and in Sulari, rather than having to put things onto train and running them through an entire continent. The goal here is to cut out any middle men along the Trans-Seleyan rail line who take cuts of the commerce, and to ensure fair and cooperative markets in both of our nations."

Increased investment opportunities were also committed to in the talks. "We have known that Mordusia would like to invest in our consumer markets for a very long time, and while there has been some talks of Mordusia possibily bringing new dining options that cater to Kalistani preferences but add a Mordusian twist, we haven't really followed through to date with these plans. But loosening some of the credit rules in Kalistan for select trading partners might be the way to go to allow Mordusian companies to enter our market here and sell Mordusian products. We are looking for ways to diversify our trade partners, having seen reduced trade from older partners in recent decades, and this might also be an opportunity for Kalistani Capital to invest in the Mordusian market in the export only sector."

The Empress was very interested in discussing joint training opportunities for our navies in the Schismatic Sea east of Aldegar, which Mordusia borders, and Kalistan maintains security over from its port at Bentasur. "As Mordusia has the only sizeable active navy in the Central Anantonese besides Kalistan's 3rd Imperial Fleet, cooperation over security makes sense. It is important that we work out joint operations protocols for dealing with modern threats to Kalsitan's southern approaches through Gaduridos. The Governor General and the Empress talked about value generating cooperation between out two navies, and committed to continuing a conversation on the topic in the near future."

The Chancellor said that the Crown Prince was very active in the discussion and asked many insightful questions. "This will soon be his responsibility," said Chancellor Mickelson. "The Empress retires in two short years, and then it will be the Crown Prince who will need to pick up the ball and continue to carry it forward. Mordusia is an easy challenge for him: Kalistan and Mordusia have many things in common, not least of which is our language and shared continental history. But the Crown Prince was keen to point out that despite our many similarities, Kalistan and Mordusia know almost nothing about one another, and this is something he would like to begin to remedy in his own reign. The Governor-General, as a representative of the King-Emperor of Luthori, agreed that this was something he too would like very much and it was his charge to work with Kalistan to improve our mutual relations."

The group met over Tea in informal audience. Initially a sightseeing tour of Kaliburg was planned for the afternoon, but a heavy fog set in at about noon, and the group decided to just stay at Cliff House for the evening. The Crown Prince and the Princess Consort were host to the Empress and the Governor General over night, and a small party with some VIPs of Kalistani society, as well as members of the Kaliburg business and investment communities were invited to come to Cliff House and meet with the Governor General. The entertainment for the evening was provided by Ms. Brenna Hughes, the lead pianist for the Kaliburg Symphony Orchestra who came to perform a private recital for the party. "She was amazing, of course," said the Chancellor. "I suppose it is a good thing to be the Empress and can make command performances with only a half day's notice. But at any rate, Ms. Hughes said she saw it as a major opportunity that she did not want to pass up. The fog remained until noon the next day, and cleared out by 1pm, when the offshore flow began and pushed the low clouds back out to sea. This left the Governor General with time enough for a drive across the Wilson Bridge and a short tour of the Imperial Mall before he needed to board his flight to return to Mordusia.

"I think the Empress and the Crown Prince greatly enjoyed the visit from the Governor General," said Chancellor Mickelson. "It is well known that the Crown Prince harbors a deep respect and admiration for Luthori, a respect which transfers, for many Kalistanis, to Mordusia as well, and he said he now certainly intends to tour Mordusia after being crowned and returning the visit. When asked if the Empress intended to come along for the visit, she answered that it was nothing personal, but she does not plan to leave Kalistan again ever for any reason, excepting always of course, winters at Playa de Paz. The Empress however did invite the Governor General to return when the fog wouldn't be an issue, in the fall, for example, to actually tour the Island, and Kalistan Proper to get a full sense of the actual natural beauty of the Nation."

The state visit in the books, Her Imperial Majesty is reportedly "completely satisfied with the outcomes with the Mordusians," said the Chancellor. "She found them to be open, forthright and honest, and visionary concerning the possibility of better relations with Kalistan, and she found this refreshing and encouraging. The Governor General made a great impression on the Empress, and she reported that she liked him." The news of the meeting was very welcomed in both Kaliburg at the Stock Exchange, and also in Sulari at the Observers Market.

@TheRepublic

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Princess Consort cuts Industrial Film for ODEN
Short Documentary describes Cartel's importance to Kalistani Economy
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 15, 5728


Princess Consort Casey Leigh-Campbell gives virtual tour of ODEN Warehouse in Port Davon

The Organization of Drug Exporting Nations in Kalistan, or ODEN-K has cut a short industrial film featuring Her Highness, the Princess Consort Casey Leigh-Campbell. The film, "ODEN for Health and Happiness" talks about the role the cartel plays in Kalistani society. ODEN is responsible for not only supplying and distributing high quality recreational chemicals and paraphernalia in ODEN stores across the Nation, but also in researching, manufacturing and distribution of Kalistani pharmaceuticals. The Princess Consort was asked to narrate the film which shows off ODEN's vast manufacture and distribution operations in the Nation, as well as providing a tour of ODEN's Warehouse facilities at Port Davon where it sells drugs to the rest of the world.

"Every year, a bustling trade of more than 2.3 billion Imperial Pesos happens right here on this dock," says the Princess Consort in the film. While this is the official figure, most of those observing the trade said that compared to the street value of the drugs sold by ODEN to foreign dealers, that number is strikingly low--Some estimate that by the time they are finally sold to the customer, the drugs sold out of Kaliburg are worth between 20 and 30 Billion Imperial Pesos. "ODEN sells drugs and pharmaceuticals wholesale so that people world wide can have access to the highest quality recreational and therapeutic chemistry known to man," she added. "And ODEN prides itself in quality. Nothing the organization sells internationally is cut or reprocessed in any way. ODEN leaves this to the wholesale buyer to tailor to their local markets."

The Princess Consort was chosen to be the spokeswoman for ODEN following a shareholders meeting last year, where ODEN-K representatives decided that they needed a very recognizable face to serve as an anchor for their PR campaign. "We asked Her Highness if she would do the job because we knew she had done some modelling in the past, she's very recognizable domestically and has a growing profile internationally, and ODEN is quite close with the royal family," said current Director Natalie Reynolds. "One of our previous Directors was the Lord Andrew Rohrbach, who's wife was the late Princess of the Empire, Lady Nicolette Ananto-Collins, and he led this organization for decades. We called up House Ananto, they set up a meeting, and here we are."

The shoot took place over one week in Port Davon, where the Princess Consort met with workers at the Main ODEN Port Davon facilities. There the Her Highness learned about ODEN operations, from start to finish, was given a tour of some of the processing facilities, and marveled at the sheer amounts of product stored in the Warehouse. "I have to tell you," said her Highness, seen speaking in one of the outtakes, "I've never seen so much Dah in my life, and I really think people should come down here and take one of the tours. I don't think people have any idea how much weed, and opium and coke goes through here in a single day. It boggles the mind. And ODEN says they can barely keep up with demand half the time, so all of these drugs go out to the world on different kinds of ships, planes and containers to supply much of Terra's using populations world wide. Just astonishing."

The Princess Consort also was part of a filmed tour which showed the onsite processing center for the Opium used exclusively by Her Imperial Majesty for informal audiences. "In this part of the processing center, they make Her Imperial Majesty's Opium," said the Princess Consort in narration. "I don't believe even she has been here to see this, so, its possible that very few others have either." She discussed the process to remove many of the Opium alkaloids from the material to greatly dilute its strength. "The process in general, which creates small batches of product exclusively for the Empress, gives her opium a readily dissolvable powder which is about one quarter strength, they tell me. But having had tea with Her Imperial Majesty numerous times, I can tell you it still feels like full strength to me!" These and other little anecdotes bring charm to an otherwise straightforward industrial film about an international Drug Cartel.

The Princess Consort then showed off the very formal, businesslike deals being made, where international purchasers arrive by boat, bid on lots during daily auctions, and then load their purchases on board their ships from the ODEN dock. "It's a process that happens as regularly as a clock," she explains. "Dealers worldwide know to show up in Port Davon at the appointed time and participate in the auctions, and then that the things they bought will not only be at the docks by the time they are able to pull into a berth, but that they will be exactly what they ordered and of excellent quality. They get loaded up and they are on their way back to their home countries. Transfers are electronic, and its all taken care of with minimal friction."

The Industrial Film which is titled "ODEN for Health and Happiness" will be supplied on the Internet and over satellite television as an extended commercial for the Cartel, and will also be shown on public broadcasting as a documentary of the Nation's drug and pharmaceutical industry. It was filmed with full knowledge and approval of House Ananto who maintains the public profile of members of the Royal Family.

@LaModa

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Princess Jennifer Ananto-Rosenfeld enrolls in Luxon Business College
Begins working with Princess Melanie Ananto at House Ananto
Luxon, Grand Duchy of Ananto
September 19, 5728


Princess Jennifer Ananto-Rosenfeld, with National Service completed, moves to Luxon to begin work with House Ananto

Her Highness, Princess Jennifer Ananto-Rosenfeld has begun her education in Luxon. The Princess has taken a house in Luxon and has begun her first semester at Luxon Business College, where she is pursuing her degree in business administration and financial planning. The course of study is three years long and will cover the fundamentals of budgeting, planning, asset management, investment, and using money to make money. She will then conduct an intensive Masters of Business Administration in her fourth year.

While she is studying at Luxon, she also intends to work with Her Highness, Princess Melanie Ananto-McLinn at House Ananto, which is currently based in Luxon. The two princesses have long been very close, and the young Royal has taken the former Chancellor as something of a mentor of hers. "Princess Jennifer has spent quite a lot of time associating with Lady Melanie Ananto-McLinn," said Crown watcher Karl Thompson. "Ananto-McLinn was very influential on the ideological development of the young Princess as a teenager, and encouraged both her nationalist opinions and her very strong commitment to the environment. They developed a bond which later led to Lady Melanie being adopted by the Royal Family as something of a sister to the Empress after her demise as the Chancellor. Lady Ananto-McLinn owes her position to her young protege's favor, and is now returning the favor by training Princess Jennifer to take her place."

"Working at House Ananto is a wonderful opportunity for me," said Her Highness earlier this summer. "I can take a lot of the skills I learned in the NSP and employ them. I am very good at what I did, and administrative work was oddly quite satisfying to me: When I am working, I feel like I can tune out the rest of the world, and just focus on the task at hand. I have already spent some time shadowing Lady Melanie at House Ananto, and I feel very excited to begin to learn what she is doing there."

Her Imperial Majesty has said that Princess Jennifer will be in a good place to help support both the Empire and the Royal Family in this position. "We are very proud of our daughter and supportive in her finding her calling. She is a bright young woman and will be an asset to her brother when he succeeds to the throne in a couple years, as well as to the continuity of our family and its financial affairs. And we should add, we are very grateful to Lady Melanie for her willingness to take our daughter under her care and teach her about the operations of the Ancient House. With those two at the helm, we are confident that the House will be kept in good order for another generation."

The Princess has already shown a keen interest in the financial matters of the Empire, participating in the final stages of the annual audit last fall when she was home from the Service on leave. "Her Highness was engaged and actively learning the entire time," said one of the independent accountants who worked on the audit. "She asked questions and wanted to know everything that went into an audit, as well as how an organization passes or fails the audit. Our team was grateful that she was both interested in learning the trade, and also never felt like she was underfoot or an obstruction in any way. In fact, it was nice to have her around: She is a bit more pleasant than the Princess Melanie, who has almost no sense of humor at all about any of this stuff. We got the distinct sense that Princess Jennifer was taking some joy in this entire process and saw it as a puzzle for her to solve, and to be honest, that is very refreshing to see."

The Princess, for her part has had succeeding Lady Melanie at House Ananto as a goal of hers for at least two years, and has taken steps to begin to make it happen. "I took off duty education in the National Service," said Her Highness. "My whole education was about politics and history and ethics, but this was a new world for me to discover, and I really found almost an order in a world of chaos in program evaluation. And knowing that I am so close to one of the largest financial accounts in Terra is very exciting to me. The amount of just pure wealth held by this house, and the amount of money that moves through Miramar each year, it is just gargantuan. The job is so important, and it deserves to be taken seriously. Lady Melanie is a good steward of the House's wealth, and I hope I can be half as good as her."

The home belonging to Her Highness is near House Ananto and fifteen minutes from the beach. When asked if she intends to surf in Luxon, the Princess remarked that she has no time to surf while she is in school and learning the operations of House Ananto. "We'll leave the surfing to Casey," she answered with a laugh, referring to Her Highness the Princess Consort Casey Leigh-Campbell. "She's the one who knows how to do that well. To be honest, I would rather watch her, or my brother, do crazy things on the Swell than get out there myself. I might drown. I'm much happier on the shore."

The Princess still intends to continue working with the environment as well in Luxon. While joining the Garden Club, she is also signed up to work with a conservationist group that is restoring biking trails along the Imperial River and in the Xanadu Mountains. "I am going to spend my weekends working on making the area much more outdoor friendly to the people of southern Ananto," said the Princess. "I would like my neighbors to enjoy green spaces with clean and refreshing air, while getting some good healthy exercise." The Princess said she would like to learn meditation and yoga while she is in Luxon, and aims to just generally live a clean and active life. "Healthy body, healthy mind. It's what my aunt Nicolette always used to say. And I think that is good advice for me now- To start my adult life on a good healthy foot. I want to be healthy and happy into my 90s. And I'm only 22. So maintaining my physical fitness and wholesome eating habits, and working in mental discipline will keep me on track for a very long life. It's what I want for myself more than anything in this life."

The young princess seems to be on an excellent footing as she enters college and begins learning how to take over the role of Director of House Ananto.

@TheRepublic

[Doc]

From Skatepunk to Dapper Icon
Future Monarch's new public look inspires Men's fashion in Empire
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
December 13, 5728


The Crown Prince often wears the classic Three Piece, and Kalistani men are following suit

Men are frequently ignored in most conversations about fashion. Naturally the eye, and the advertising peso, follows the flowing fabric and sensual silhouettes found on the feminine side of the column. But it is hard to ignore men's fashion when the soon to be Emperor makes a statement every time he leaves his home. His Highness, the Crown Prince William Ananto-Rosenfeld was recently named "Terra's Best Dressed" by the men's fashion magazine High Style, and men across the nation are taking notice.

"We have seen a serious uptick in demand for more stylish, tailored, and conservative men's fashion in the nation," said Debra Levine, of the Sulari textile company Yacht Club. "Men are choosing the very stylish light weight wool suit, and three piece suits are making a huge comeback. They are also selecting breathable, light weight linen shirts and very specifically silk ties. Like the women, they are avoiding synthetic fibers almost entirely, citing durability and comfort as the main reasons." Levine says men tend to be willing to pay more for a suit that is tailored well, but more importantly, is very conservative looking and is heavy duty. "It would appear that men's fashion is shifting upwards in terms of price because men are seeking quality and comfort over convenience and price. It would seem to suggest that household disposable incomes are also improving, and norms of how men are supposed to dress in public are changing."

That change in norms is no more evident than in the Crown Prince himself. To look back at photos of him when he was in his teenage years, one would be astounded. "Well, the Crown Prince, when he was a kid, dressed almost sloppily," said Brad Acton, of High Style. "Like you wouldn't think he was next in line for the throne. He wore oversized clothes, he wore ripped up camouflage trousers, he dressed like a real slob. Perhaps that was the influence of his friends, but it was clearly what he also preferred too: After all, one can't do a 540 McTwist on a halfpipe in a suit." But he was also interested in joining the service, and it is clear that the discipline that was instilled in him changed what he thought was appropriate to wear in public. "Now his attire is far closer to how he looked when he was actually in the service, very button down, very well fit. He wears suits like he wore his Dress Grays in the Regular Service. And he looks amazing doing it, so much so that men across the nation are following suit, if you forgive the pun."

Others think that his wife, Her Highness the Princess Consort has something to do with his fashion choices. "Princess Casey certainly does prefer the more conservative styles that were set in place by Her Imperial Majesty," said Acton. "The very tailored wool coutures, with high conservative necklines, longer length skirt lengths that leave far more to the imagination, and even in casual dress, the complete abandonment of any concept of fast, cheap, and disposable fashion which is popular in the rest of the world, these are all hallmarks of modern women's fashion here in Kalistan, and it is clear that the Princess Consort is walking hand in hand with the Crown Prince to lead men to catch up in the fashion arena."

Three piece suits were fairly widely used in the Nation in previous decades, but were usually reserved for more formal occasions, like weddings, or proms. Many men began dressing down, moving to a more convertible and modern two piece look which is the de rigeur of the business world outside of Kalistan. In casual style, men frequently adopted the loose comfortable look. "Those days are gone now," said Acton. "The three piece is making a huge comeback in Kalistan, as most men report that it signifies seriousness and erudition to them. We grew up seeing well dressed men on our television, but somewhere along the line men got the message that maybe we could dress like that too. And then it was a simple matter of tastes changing. We have had an Empress at the top of the Nation for a very long time and the men in her administration all paled in comparison with the effortlessness with which she combined a love of beautiful things and a natural beauty that made all pay attention."

The only one who came close, said Acton, was the former FM Sir Thomas Harney, who famously was rarely seen out of the house without a tuxedo and an eyepatch. "He is now in his 60s and has reportedly given up both the tux and the eyepatch, but now is never seen publicly without his greatest fashion choice, his beautiful wife Dame Quella Jones-Harney, who is a trendsetter herself. Men are finally starting to get the message: Why should women have all the fun with fashion? Women have been carrying the fashion torch for a very long time, but it is time for men to step up their game."

The Crown Prince's more dapper appearance in public also carries over into casuals. "His Highness is rarely seen in casual attire," said Acton. "But when he is, its usually a soft wool or linen polo shirt or a linen Guayabera shirt, and hemp canvas slacks. He never wears a tshirt in public anymore--he now prefers those as undershirts--and never, in a million years, would he be caught in indigo dyed, twill weave denim, which is itself rapidly becoming a fabric of the female working class because of the preference for its softer texture when broken in and its gentle fading to provide a more variegated color palate. But in this case, even when he is dressing for comfort, his clothing still requires pressing, and are meant to convey a conservative upper-class sensibility, rather than any suggestion that he is doing anything other than preparing to spend an afternoon on a yacht somewhere."

The Crown Prince himself answered a question about his fashion sensibility to La Moda's Brittney Alexander who asked him about the matter in a wider ranging interview. "Well, my wife dresses me: She calls me her 'trophy husband', and wants me to look 'cute' when we go out," he said jokingly. "Of course I am kidding. But I also know that dressing in good clothes, and looking good in them gives me a bit of enjoyment as well. I don't spend a lot of money on my clothes, to be completely honest, but fashion today is that you ought to look like you did, and what says 'I spent a lot of money on these clothes' more than a three piece suit? But this suit here, which is made of good Kalistani wool, and my shirt made of Kalistani linen only cost me, I would say about 100 Pesos, and the silk tie, which is imported, was another 35, and the tailoring was probably more than all that combined. I think men can dress very well, and look very sharp with a little effort. Men, just look like you tried a little. I think that's what the ladies actually want, if that's who you are dressing to impress."

His Highness added, "I think wearing good clothes does not clash with my attitudes about skating, or surfing or any of that. When I skated as a teenager, I wore the uniform of a skater. When I surf, I wear a wetsuit, because surfing off Ananto is cold as hell. That's just what you wear in those situations. And now that I am expected to lead a nation in a little over a year, I will wear what people expect me to wear. Dress the part, is what my mother will say, and nobody could ever fault that woman on her fashion sense. She drilled this message into my mind and my sisters' minds too. Dress how you want people to see you as-- If I want people to see me as a skater, I will dress like a skater, and etc. If I want people to see me as an Ananto, I had better dress to meet those expectations. It's no thing for me to put on clothing. Even if its a suit and tie. But people will not take me seriously if I say I am the Emperor and dress like I am headed to a fraternity party."

While the Crown Prince has taken up the cause of dressing well, he says there are some lines he will not cross. "I am not eyepatch level fashionable," he said with a laugh. "I don't think there is anyone except Sir Harney who could pull that off believably. I don't think I am going in quite that direction. And I don't think Casey would tolerate it as well as Dame Jones did."

@LaModa

[Doc]

New Democrats make move to include Odufaray
Heavy 6 Month Recruitment campaign begins in Eshar
Eshar, Duchy of Odufaray
January 25, 5729


Dr. Kristen Brandt, the voice of the New Democrats in Kalistan speaks in Eshar

"There is room in the Institutional Party for democrats," said Dr. Kristen Brandt, who is the leader of the Kalistani New Democrat Club. The Club is sponsoring a major membership push in Odufaray ahead of the August Institutional Party Convention which will determine who appears on the ballot in next January's elections. The New Democrats have 8 months to gain enough members in Odufaray to get it over the 1000 member threshold set by the Institutional Party in the Duchy so Democrats can appear on the ballot.

"We can do this. If each of us just goes out and recruits two friends, two people who believe in our message and our movement, we can see Democrats appear on the ballot in Odurfaray and Eshar," said Brandt. "We are asking you to go to your work places, to your Brethrenist Meetings, to your own clubs, and talk to people. See what they think about Democracy. See if they don't think it is better to have some more choices, some more options than the standard, Party Insider selected status quo names. I would bet you money that you will find people who think it is time we have a more active society, one that has some buy in into our government. Together we can do this. We have about six months to get 1000 members here in Odufaray, and together I think we can do this."

Brandt spoke to a crowd of about 250 Eshar residents who turned out to hear her speak. She spoke at an open air rally in Portside Park in Eshar. Most of those in attendance were themselves members of the Eshar New Democrat Club, which has been flagging in recruitment while Suldanor, and Sulari specifically has surged. "I know its hard," Dr. Brandt says. "But we have done it in Suldanor. The Combined chapters in Suldanor and Sulari have more than 4500 members. If we can do it, you can too, because it is important and needs to be done."

People in Eshar tend to be slightly more conservative than further south in the Duchy. Gendaris has the most members enrolled within their local club with 135. But the Odufaray Club will need to get far more active if it hopes to meet the 1000 member threshold before the Convention is convened in Kaliburg this summer. "I will say it is very important to have Odufaray with us in this movement, and Eshar especially. But if we do not make it this August, we have another six years to organize. So we will be back, again and again until our movement here is self-sustaining and we can get our people on the ballot."

The rally was in the open air because it was the kick off of a pro-democracy march in downtown Eshar. The weather was cold, but it was generally clear, and the New Democrats, who marched peacefully with a city issued permit and with police assistance, were shown good will by motorists who passed the demonstration. Chants of "This is what Democracy Looks like" and "We want ballot access" were accompanied by a somber but dedicated demeanor from the demonstrators.

"I think people thought there would be more people here," said Brandt after the demonstration ended back at Portside Park. "They hoped that hundreds and hundreds would turn out for this very important cause. But I'm pretty realistic about what we're doing here. There's a real chance that we won't make it in Odufaray. But if you would have asked me a year ago, when we were about to be sued by anti-democratic individuals in Sulari in a lawsuit that could have forced us to disband, I doubt I would have held out much hope for Suldanor. And now that Suldanor is organized and we will be on the ballot in that Duchy, even having a shot with 8 months left to go here in Odufaray really is a critical win for the New Democrat Movement, even if we don't make it onto the ballot this time around."

Dr. Brandt said that she is going to continue the fight to get Odufaray organized before the Convention. "Having two of the five duchies with Democrats on the ballot will be an amazing feat for an organization which is just over three years old by the time we have the election. We don't have any illusions about our chances elsewhere. Ananto and Vrassa are still both very much out of reach. I think there are 10 New Democrats in Ananto as a whole right now. They don't have a clubhouse. But I think if we show them first that we can organize in Suldanor and Odufaray, it might embolden some more people to take a look at what we are doing here. And if we get people elected, and they help push a more democratic Orientation in the National Assembly, success breeds success, as they say. Maybe the Ananto and Vrassa won't be so out of reach."

But that's for the future, said Brandt. "We have an election in a year that we are focused on. And so we have so much to do before then, including organizing this Duchy. I'm ready to go where ever I am wanted, talk to anyone who will listen, and convince anyone I need to, to get this Duchy organized for the New Democrats." She laughed. "It's actually quite funny: they teach us about elections in school, but it has been so long since anyone has actually done any real campaigning in this nation. I think a lot of the resistance is that it is just so foreign a concept to so many people, its almost a little subversive in its way, to get out here and hold open political rallies and demonstrations. But the people will get used to it, and then they will tune into our message, and when that happens, we may see a tipping point in this country, even in places where we can't even imagine today."

@TheRepublic