Clatanatia
25-11-2004, 07:43
Clatanatia, located in the temperate region of Malakaria, was, until the past several hundred years, entirely unoccupied. At that point, settlers from a country whose identity is the subject of much debate colonized it. It was a grand effort, with thousands of ships, populated at first by skilled craftsmen and soldiers, and later families, often bringing whole households with them. Unfortunately, they were all wiped out by a massive plague.
Some 20 years after that point, a trading settlement was founded at the northern part of the Clatanatian continent. It grew into a city, one of many along the northern coast. A few groups of people seeking freedom from whatever was oppressing them went south, some living out their lives in relative solitude and quietly dying out, and others, more organized, founding southern cities, which are even today centers of culture and freedom. About a hundred and fifty years ago, a leader from the port city of Clat arose, and, organizing an army, took over every major population center with very little bloodshed. This man was King Francis. He set up a monarchy ruling from Clat, which he renamed Francis City. The monarchy stayed in power for half a century, at which point King Francis' son, Francis II, was killed by an assassin. Several groups saw this as an opportunity to seize control, and Clatanatia dissolved into near-anarchy until about a century ago.
At that time, the large corporations that were essentially the only people in charge of anything, decided that Clatanatia needed to be brought to order before it was irretrievably chaotic. One in particular, the CtA Trade Company, threw its support behind the "Republic of Clatanatia", one of many factions fighting for control of newly-renamed Clat City. The hiring of mercenary soldiers on the part of the CtATC put the Republic in power, but their immediate initiatives to restore order and begin rebuilding kept them there. Those remaining loyalists to the monarchy were appeased by the installment of a grand-nephew of King Frances as King in a symbolic post, but a Great Legislature was formed to actually govern the still largely unoccupied continent.
Today, the northern part of Clatanatia is the industrial and trading center of the country, with the south being composed of great, beautifully designed cities and vast expanses of farmland. The Great Legislature currently has 150 Legislators, each representing a Lesser Legislature, which deals with regional issues and serves as the judicial branch of the government as well.
The government provides free medicine to all Clatanatians, as well as food and housing to those that cannot afford to feed and house themselves. Almost everyone works for major corporations, and it is virtually impossible to start a business. Few corporations are headquarted in Clatanatia, however.
One that is is ClatPower, Inc., which operates several large nuclear power plants and owns the water and power systems. It sells these utilities to the government, which then sells them back to the population at large at greatly reduced prices. This socialization is paid for by very large income and sales taxes.
Clatanatian citizens, despite having most of their needs paid for by either who they work for or the government, are still relatively free. There is basic freedom of speech and religion, but right to assemble is minimal. To organize a protest, one must first get a permit, and those are handed out soley at the discretion of the local Legislature. This leads to very few actual demonstration that aren't in support of the local government. The press is also regulated by both Great and Lesser Legislatures, as is television and radio, though to a very small extent. In the south, however, there are several underground television and radio stations, as well as several less-than legitamate newspapers. The community service hours, assigned by the local Lesser Legislature, that are the penalty for such things act as little deterrant.
However, anything more serious than minor infractions of that sort is met with a bit more serious of a response. There is a highly effective but vastly undermanned federal police force that can write its own warrants and is capable of assigning stiffer punishments with less outside involvement.
While they are capable of taking down all but the most well-armed and hidden criminals, there is a well-organized mafia that sells illicit substances and runs underground casinos. Some say that their survival is ties to paying off those Great Legislators and federal police execs that still have control over the cops, but others suggest that the feds have just learned to leave them alone.
In international issues, Clatanatia usually stays quiet, along with the aboveground press. For serious violations of human rights or unfounded war, a majority in the Great Legislature is enough to issue a condemnation. In order to take any more serious action, such as the sending of troops or administering of aid, a 3/5 majority is required. For a declaration of war or other dramatic action, 4/5 of the Legislature must agree.
Some 20 years after that point, a trading settlement was founded at the northern part of the Clatanatian continent. It grew into a city, one of many along the northern coast. A few groups of people seeking freedom from whatever was oppressing them went south, some living out their lives in relative solitude and quietly dying out, and others, more organized, founding southern cities, which are even today centers of culture and freedom. About a hundred and fifty years ago, a leader from the port city of Clat arose, and, organizing an army, took over every major population center with very little bloodshed. This man was King Francis. He set up a monarchy ruling from Clat, which he renamed Francis City. The monarchy stayed in power for half a century, at which point King Francis' son, Francis II, was killed by an assassin. Several groups saw this as an opportunity to seize control, and Clatanatia dissolved into near-anarchy until about a century ago.
At that time, the large corporations that were essentially the only people in charge of anything, decided that Clatanatia needed to be brought to order before it was irretrievably chaotic. One in particular, the CtA Trade Company, threw its support behind the "Republic of Clatanatia", one of many factions fighting for control of newly-renamed Clat City. The hiring of mercenary soldiers on the part of the CtATC put the Republic in power, but their immediate initiatives to restore order and begin rebuilding kept them there. Those remaining loyalists to the monarchy were appeased by the installment of a grand-nephew of King Frances as King in a symbolic post, but a Great Legislature was formed to actually govern the still largely unoccupied continent.
Today, the northern part of Clatanatia is the industrial and trading center of the country, with the south being composed of great, beautifully designed cities and vast expanses of farmland. The Great Legislature currently has 150 Legislators, each representing a Lesser Legislature, which deals with regional issues and serves as the judicial branch of the government as well.
The government provides free medicine to all Clatanatians, as well as food and housing to those that cannot afford to feed and house themselves. Almost everyone works for major corporations, and it is virtually impossible to start a business. Few corporations are headquarted in Clatanatia, however.
One that is is ClatPower, Inc., which operates several large nuclear power plants and owns the water and power systems. It sells these utilities to the government, which then sells them back to the population at large at greatly reduced prices. This socialization is paid for by very large income and sales taxes.
Clatanatian citizens, despite having most of their needs paid for by either who they work for or the government, are still relatively free. There is basic freedom of speech and religion, but right to assemble is minimal. To organize a protest, one must first get a permit, and those are handed out soley at the discretion of the local Legislature. This leads to very few actual demonstration that aren't in support of the local government. The press is also regulated by both Great and Lesser Legislatures, as is television and radio, though to a very small extent. In the south, however, there are several underground television and radio stations, as well as several less-than legitamate newspapers. The community service hours, assigned by the local Lesser Legislature, that are the penalty for such things act as little deterrant.
However, anything more serious than minor infractions of that sort is met with a bit more serious of a response. There is a highly effective but vastly undermanned federal police force that can write its own warrants and is capable of assigning stiffer punishments with less outside involvement.
While they are capable of taking down all but the most well-armed and hidden criminals, there is a well-organized mafia that sells illicit substances and runs underground casinos. Some say that their survival is ties to paying off those Great Legislators and federal police execs that still have control over the cops, but others suggest that the feds have just learned to leave them alone.
In international issues, Clatanatia usually stays quiet, along with the aboveground press. For serious violations of human rights or unfounded war, a majority in the Great Legislature is enough to issue a condemnation. In order to take any more serious action, such as the sending of troops or administering of aid, a 3/5 majority is required. For a declaration of war or other dramatic action, 4/5 of the Legislature must agree.