NationStates Jolt Archive


Tariffs and Tarriffs

Iansisle
27-06-2004, 06:30
Linhower Plan Added to Official Questions!
Lord Brookner of Linhower and the Earl of Dirwisham to stand before Parliament

IANAPALIS, Iansisle -- Astounding would be a good word. Perplexing would be another.

After the CCP narrowly passed a bill creating, for the first time, an import duty and radically expanding the size of the Royal Revenue Service, Alfredo D’Carlonia’s Liberal shadow government called into question the central feature of the Conservative’s reelection platform.

At a recent rally in the port of Turnish on Noropia’s western coast, Conservative leader Edward Tarriff referred to the Royal Iansislean Navy as “that great shield with which we ward off the attacks of the world and that terrible sword with which we may smite the opponents of our traditional liberty.” He went on to say that “we must support, fully and without question, any measure to secure those liberties.”

Meanwhile, Mr D’Carlonia, while speaking in Lakeriverwood, accused the government of “gross incompetence. Mr Tarriff sees enemies everywhere. The truth of the matter is that Mr Tarriff has created enemies everywhere. We were friendly, even allied with, the great people of Calarca and their King. Now, the guns of Manly and Trade again sight down one another’s barrels over seventeen miles of water. We were at peace with the American Republic; now lads from every part of the Commonwealth die daily in the Philippines or on some God-forsaken rock to satisfy Mr Tarriff’s lust for territory and colonies.”

D’Carlonia went on to charge that “these naval expansions which the Prime Minister holds so dear are dreadfully unnecessary. He chips away at those very liberties which he, with his infinite reservoir of hot air, would so desperately defend! Now, it may only be - and I hope you pardon the pun - a single tariff, but I see it as the first step. Did you know that, even as I speak now, Mr Tarriff and his cronies have implemented a measure to bring about the first Commonwealth-wide income tax?”

There were gasps from the crowd; income tax, that most dastardly tool of this modern age of exploitation, which would sap the hard-earned cash of all working men, was not covered in the Articles of Commonwealth. Common sense and tradition dictated any sort of tax was the sole realm of the Dominions and not the central government - but not enumerated law.

“All ready he has raised the average tithes paid by the Dominions by seven per cent to cover the costs of his military adventurism!” cried D’Carlonia, his voice rising to a fever pitch. Immediately thereafter, he announced the Tharian Secessionist Party’s intention to put the Linhower Plan, which he declared the major draw on Commonwealth funds, on the list of Official Questions.

Baron Linhower, speaking from his estate in Shadoran, called the charges “ridiculous!”

“There is no emergency,” His Lordship continued. “None at all. Mr D’Carlonia simply sees a nonexistent pattern. As a matter of fact, should the central government have want of money - which it most certainly does not! - it would be because of D’Carlonia and his associates, such as that pinko [Sir Archibald S.] Hughes, and their fanatical devotion to support the lazy and shiftless at the state’s expense. This is nothing more than an ill-conceived attempt to divert the public’s attention at election time.”

Whatever the motivations, Baron Linhower and the Earl of Dirwisham, Tarriff’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, will appear on the CCP’s floor to-morrow to defend their radical budgetary policy and that massive naval build-up known as the Linhower Plan.
Iansisle
27-06-2004, 15:55
((a bump for this somewhat half-hearted and rambling article expanding on rumors of certain financial difficulties within the Commonwealth!))
Imitora
27-06-2004, 18:41
A tag for informational purposes...
Knootoss
27-06-2004, 22:07
((Well... I'll be reading it. If it makes you feel any better I can #tag# it.))
Roania
14-07-2004, 06:08
((Well, I think one will do much better...))

THE ROANIAN INDEPENDENT

Upon the announcement of tariffs on alcohol transported into the Grand Empire, the Imperial Trade Guild has pressed the government for counter-tariffs upon Shieldian goods into the Divine Imperium. Guild President Thomas Ribbentrop has accused this of being yet another IanCorp attempt to freeze the Divine Imperium and its merchants out of markets. "We saw this happen in Gallaga, and then in the United States. They've stolen marches upon us in the Philippines and the west coast of North America, and they've tried it elsewhere! Now, they close their borders to alcohol? It will be metals and manufactured goods next, if we don't make a stand!"

Charles Blackwood, the minister for Foreign and Colonial Affairs and Trade, made this comment on Ribbentrop's statement. "The Popular Front Government, while of course concerned by the actions of the Grand Empire, does not view these tariffs as important enough to risk an incident over, and certainly not to provoke a trade war."

The Central Democratic Party Shadow Minister on Foreign Affairs claimed that this was yet another example of Popular Front disdain for the business community of the Divine Imperium.