Muranis
24-05-2006, 01:19
As the sun dragged itself over the dark sea and began to illuminate the calm island a soft orange, thousands of refreshed bodies stretched themselves to comfort. Old women began to wake and fix their morning coffee while preparing for the days chores. Old men were already awake before sunrise, gardening and weeding their small yards in the coastal city of Castilona. Children leapt from their beds or screamed their protests as mothers and fathers attempted to force them from their slumber. The shouts of loud Murani women could be heard in nearly every neighborhood, causing dogs to bark and howl. Mornings were not quiet in Castilona, and not at all tranquil. The only thing that provided peace in the hectic dawn was the soft touch of light given by the beautiful sunrise and the break of the waves along white sandy beaches. As the day began to grow a little older, all levels of Murani society began their daily activities.
Castilona easy represents every such level, from the destitute to filthy rich. The poorest of the city see their children off to school on the hydrogen-powered school buses before they either walk, ride bicycles, or drive older gasoline-powered cars to work. Much of the city's poor is employed by the Gambling industry, but the Tourism industry also provides for a lot of low-income jobs. The poor and destitute live in industrial areas, as in most large cities, and few participate in upscale shopping districts and contribute little to the retail-oriented economy of Muranis. However, their contribution to the entertainment industries is significant enough to cause more leftist-minded community leaders to cry out in protest at the inequality of it all. Followed by the poor are blue collar middle class families. The Automotive industry in Castilona sees much of its employment from this sector, though other manufacturing industries also see their labor pool come from this fairly large sector of society. With traditional values yet strong faith in protectionism, they are often leftist economically and conservative in other matters. Blue collar families live in fairly decent neighborhoods, though definately not in suburbia. The middle class finds itself mostly in retail or government in Castilona, though obviously all industries find labor from the largest sector of Murani society. Most people in this class have the ability to afford decent housing and a decent car at the same time. In fact, all but the poor and blue-collar workers have at least hybrid cars. Many have turned to hydrogen-powered vehicles for their commuting purposes. Thus, a large disparity occurs when one is traveling throughout the city. Gas stations are more common in the less prosperous areas of town while hydrogen stations dot the better parts. The middle class is hard to explain or generalize, due to its vastness. However, the upscale elements of Murani society have chosen Castilona as their trademark city. Most live on the side of Mt. Corazion or on the beach. The rich in Muranis are unlike the rich in other countries most often. They are obsessed with being technologically advanced and prefer to be environmentally concious. The only party that appeals to every aspect of the upscale elements' general platform (low taxes, environmental protection, safety, and education) is the Environmental Improvement Party, which has seen a lot of growth. The EIP is at risk of becoming seen as an elitist club, however, so some richer residents of Castilona have been campaigning in poorer sections of the city. The rich dominate the upper levels of the Gambling, Tourism, and Automotive industries. They are also rather influential in city politics, but a staunch middle class refuses to allow corruption to take root. (All politicians' campaigns are funded by the government in full.)
In Muranis, the word "democracy" must be used with extreme care and caution. Although the Queen does allow a significant amount of leverage on the local level, she is extremely wary of any attempts to convert the nation to a democratic state. She has allowed a Congress for purposes of budgeting and voting in favor of reforms that, in the end, are in the control of a strong and centralized administration. Muranis is by no means a constitutional monarchy. It is rather a representative and benevolent dictatorship, in theory. In practice, the Queen (who is actually not royalty, see below) is free to do what she wishes at any time she pleases. There are, however, traditional laws that would cause a massive amount of strife if they were broken. For example, it is illegal for the Queen or Congress to order any branch of the military into private homes or businesses without consent. And, even then, no branch of the military is allowed to participate in law enforcement. Attempts to do so by other rulers in the past resulted in mass rioting and the threat of revolution. Also, although the Queen has the power to dissolve Congress, such an attempt in the past resulted in a bloody riot that nearly led to a revolt. Thus, the Queen and her administration are constrained by society and culture more than law.
According to tradition, the Queen is supposed to act as an enforcer of rules that are voted into law in Congress, as well as the President's liasion to the actual administration. So far, Queen Maria Sandra del Marni has done a good job at sticking with tradition on this matter, though she makes it clear that only pride in her country and a feeling of duty allow her to do so. Otherwise, she says, "I would strip the Congress of all its powers and rule to the best of my ability. And I do say that my abilities far exceed those of the corrupt mass of heckling 'legislators' that populate the tainted halls of the Congress." Obviously outspoken against the foremost democratic institution in Muranis, legislators have found it hard to work with the Queen. However, her position and repeated condemnations have actually contributed to a strong anti-democracy movement growing among the populace. This movement is least popular with young adults, and most popular with older citizens who recall a time when the Congress only existed to propose budgets and hope that they would get a pay raise every once in a while.
---------------
Maria Sandra del Marni awoke from her slumber. Her luxurious bedroom glowed a soft yellow that made the originally white furniture look rather creamy. Her long and flowing brown hair fell from the bun that held it all in during the night as she stretched her lanky arms and yawned. Maria's maid knocked at the door, "Madame del Marni, it is almost nine in the morning. You must wake yourself before I do it for you." Claira was an old woman full of life and joy, not to mention the most incredible amounts of wisdom. If it weren't for her age and loud mouth, Maria would have certainly hired her on as an advisor. Instead, from time to time the two have lunch and discuss stately matters. "I'm getting up, you old hag." A laugh came from the other side of the door and the tell-tale sound of the rather plump woman walking away was heard.
Maria looked to the wall at her side and saw an embroidered quilt her grandmother had made many years ago. It read, "And may you be the greatest Queen that Muranis has had yet..." She rolled her eyes. As much as she hated being called "Queen", Maria kept the title to look more traditional in the eyes of the public. The younger portion of the population would certainly support the idea of a chic, modern dictator more than they would that of a reigning monarch. But her support came from middle-aged and elderly citizens. They would probably be indifferent to such a change, perhaps even negative. So, until her support was astounding amongst the older people in Murani society and barely lagging in the younger portions, Maria decided she would save her political capital. The temptation was biting though. She wanted more than anything to be called "Madame President" over "Your Highness" and the like. She thought and considered it once again. Though a trivial matter, it seriously bothered Maria. The young queen couldn't stand a screw-up in the details, no matter how insignificant or unimportant. Her brother would approve of a title change, she mused. Five years younger than she, he was bright and passionate. His drive for benevolence and understanding made him look like a liberal heir, but she knew that Miguel would never concede such power to untrustworthy prats such as Congress members.
At the age of 28, Maria was indeed a young monarch. She carried little experience with her, and most of her knowledge came from a sophisticated education in which she obtained a degree in History and Art History. She was educated and not afraid to show it. One of her major goals is to ensure that the education of every child in Muranis is guaranteed from their start to the first two years of university. Maria is dedicated to protecting and improving the environment. Her vigorous attempts since the beginning of her rule four years ago to curb pollution have paid off well and even become popular in all political parties except the Capitalist Conservative Party. She also aims to streamline the budget and reduce taxes. Maria has been described as a "fiscal conservative with social liberal tendencies." Defense is likely the most controversial subject at this time, with callings for reductions as well as increases to the Defense budget. Those in favor of reductions say that a larger defense budget only encourages the use of force in foreign affairs. Those in favor of increases argue that Muranis must be able to protect itself without help from outsiders. Maria is often found to agree with both sides, and has maintained an official policy of keeping the Defense budget where it is currently -- at 17% of the total budget. She has, however, consistently condemned the Capitalist Conservatives for an explosive increase in commercial and industrial subsidies, which currently account for nearly 45% of the entire budget. Public outrage has surged over the matter and the threat of civil unrest grows as the Congress does nothing to turn the tide of what appears to be corrupt hand-outs to gigantic corporations.
Maria Sandra del Marni has yet to officially proclaim support for any party during her four years of rule, but many speculate that she secretly holds an enormous amount of support in her heart for the Environmental Improvement Party. She does indeed show her lack of support for the Capitalist Conservative Party, and not only by vocal condemnation but by action as well. According to tradition, the Cabinet she appoints must reflect the make-up of the Congress. Due to the CCP's dominance politically (although it is a minority government), it managed to obtain about 70% of the Cabinet positions. Alberto Dreyfus heads the Cabinet as President and leader of the CCP. As a result of the CCP's dominance in the Cabinet, she refuses to attend any meeting and offers no official opinion on any Cabinet affair. By doing this, she shows her support for the opposition and increases the likelihood of the CCP experiencing diminished power in the event there was a deadlock in government decision-making. There is already growing discontent with the CCP as it attempts to slash tax rates by cutting seemingly important programs. Most unpopular are attempts to relax pollution controls on industries. The CCP has held governmenting power in Muranis for the past twenty years, though it has seen support drop dramatically since the last election three years ago where two new parties were introduced (the Capitalizt Liberal Party, which is a direct answer to the CCP, and the EIP, which joins the G/L Coalition in order to promote a better environment and better education).
Maria put on a fashionable dress that came slightly above the knees before she stepped out of her large bedroom. As she walked down the marble staircase, advisors and ministers greeted her and she did the same. The words "Your Highness" were absolutely banned in her palace. Instead, she was called, "Most Revered" by her staff and employees. A little too pompous for her tastes indeed, but she felt that she was locked in such a state of monarchial bullshit. Maria smiled at those that passed her or walked nearby, thinking in her head what a ridiculous front all of it was. Her brown hair was pulled back into a neat bun, her stylish glasses rest upon the bridge of her nose and nearly hid the sparkling green eyes that lay behind, and her wonderful make-up only made natural beauty shimmer with youth. A small and undersized tiara rest upon the unwilling monarch's head. Though she hated the title, she certainly enjoyed the headwear and had a different tiara for every official outfit she owned. Today, because she was wearing a sky blue dress, her tiara was encrusted with white diamonds and blue topaz.
Her destination was four blocks away. Maria decided that she would visit her Minister of Foreign Affairs, having decided she was tired of the Cabinet failing to advocate an internationalist stance. The monarch was sick of informal trade deals with far-off nations that had little or no political ties to Muranis. She was tired of feeling like she lived on an isolated island in the middle of a big, broad ocean. Therefore, Maria decided that she would take matters into her own hands. She would begin to indirectly influence the Cabinet until the next election, for which she had been secretly preparing to publically fund, support, and push for the victory of the G/L coalition. Her favorite Cabinet member, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorges Nicadro, just happened to be an outspoken member of the Green Party. His passion at the age of 34 was not surprising. He was driven, determined, and fueled by a desire for victory and equality. Nicadro wanted the same thing on the international stage that Maria did: cooperation and dominance. The two agreed on almost every aspect, from trade to diplomacy to war.
Rather than ride a limo, Maria decided to walk the distance. Though the day was hot, the constant wind kept her from breaking a sweat. She smiled at passers-by who were all too accustomed to seeing their leader walking the streets as if she were a commoner. Just because she acted common didn't mean the security around wasn't extraordinary, and everyone knew it. Within the crowd of people walking to and fro would be secret police everywhere, as well as constant and consistent coverage from rooftops and the air. Beside her in loose formation walked a guard of four agents decked out in black suits and the typical small, opaque sunglasses. Her own glasses turned nearly opaque in the sunlight, and the only thing that made her look royal was the dazzling tiara upon her head. When Maria approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, standing proudly in all its post-modern glory, she entered the sliding glass doors and saw Jorges sitting at a table in the lobby reading The Castilona Telegraph, a leftist newspaper focused primarily on economic and political issues. She walked over to him with her typical sassy swing, and bent her hand forward as he stood to greet her. "A pleasure, Madame." She smiled a big grin at this utterance. Jorges understood more than others her hatred of the monarchial titles she was showered with. "It is mine, Jorges. Now it is time to talk."
Castilona easy represents every such level, from the destitute to filthy rich. The poorest of the city see their children off to school on the hydrogen-powered school buses before they either walk, ride bicycles, or drive older gasoline-powered cars to work. Much of the city's poor is employed by the Gambling industry, but the Tourism industry also provides for a lot of low-income jobs. The poor and destitute live in industrial areas, as in most large cities, and few participate in upscale shopping districts and contribute little to the retail-oriented economy of Muranis. However, their contribution to the entertainment industries is significant enough to cause more leftist-minded community leaders to cry out in protest at the inequality of it all. Followed by the poor are blue collar middle class families. The Automotive industry in Castilona sees much of its employment from this sector, though other manufacturing industries also see their labor pool come from this fairly large sector of society. With traditional values yet strong faith in protectionism, they are often leftist economically and conservative in other matters. Blue collar families live in fairly decent neighborhoods, though definately not in suburbia. The middle class finds itself mostly in retail or government in Castilona, though obviously all industries find labor from the largest sector of Murani society. Most people in this class have the ability to afford decent housing and a decent car at the same time. In fact, all but the poor and blue-collar workers have at least hybrid cars. Many have turned to hydrogen-powered vehicles for their commuting purposes. Thus, a large disparity occurs when one is traveling throughout the city. Gas stations are more common in the less prosperous areas of town while hydrogen stations dot the better parts. The middle class is hard to explain or generalize, due to its vastness. However, the upscale elements of Murani society have chosen Castilona as their trademark city. Most live on the side of Mt. Corazion or on the beach. The rich in Muranis are unlike the rich in other countries most often. They are obsessed with being technologically advanced and prefer to be environmentally concious. The only party that appeals to every aspect of the upscale elements' general platform (low taxes, environmental protection, safety, and education) is the Environmental Improvement Party, which has seen a lot of growth. The EIP is at risk of becoming seen as an elitist club, however, so some richer residents of Castilona have been campaigning in poorer sections of the city. The rich dominate the upper levels of the Gambling, Tourism, and Automotive industries. They are also rather influential in city politics, but a staunch middle class refuses to allow corruption to take root. (All politicians' campaigns are funded by the government in full.)
In Muranis, the word "democracy" must be used with extreme care and caution. Although the Queen does allow a significant amount of leverage on the local level, she is extremely wary of any attempts to convert the nation to a democratic state. She has allowed a Congress for purposes of budgeting and voting in favor of reforms that, in the end, are in the control of a strong and centralized administration. Muranis is by no means a constitutional monarchy. It is rather a representative and benevolent dictatorship, in theory. In practice, the Queen (who is actually not royalty, see below) is free to do what she wishes at any time she pleases. There are, however, traditional laws that would cause a massive amount of strife if they were broken. For example, it is illegal for the Queen or Congress to order any branch of the military into private homes or businesses without consent. And, even then, no branch of the military is allowed to participate in law enforcement. Attempts to do so by other rulers in the past resulted in mass rioting and the threat of revolution. Also, although the Queen has the power to dissolve Congress, such an attempt in the past resulted in a bloody riot that nearly led to a revolt. Thus, the Queen and her administration are constrained by society and culture more than law.
According to tradition, the Queen is supposed to act as an enforcer of rules that are voted into law in Congress, as well as the President's liasion to the actual administration. So far, Queen Maria Sandra del Marni has done a good job at sticking with tradition on this matter, though she makes it clear that only pride in her country and a feeling of duty allow her to do so. Otherwise, she says, "I would strip the Congress of all its powers and rule to the best of my ability. And I do say that my abilities far exceed those of the corrupt mass of heckling 'legislators' that populate the tainted halls of the Congress." Obviously outspoken against the foremost democratic institution in Muranis, legislators have found it hard to work with the Queen. However, her position and repeated condemnations have actually contributed to a strong anti-democracy movement growing among the populace. This movement is least popular with young adults, and most popular with older citizens who recall a time when the Congress only existed to propose budgets and hope that they would get a pay raise every once in a while.
---------------
Maria Sandra del Marni awoke from her slumber. Her luxurious bedroom glowed a soft yellow that made the originally white furniture look rather creamy. Her long and flowing brown hair fell from the bun that held it all in during the night as she stretched her lanky arms and yawned. Maria's maid knocked at the door, "Madame del Marni, it is almost nine in the morning. You must wake yourself before I do it for you." Claira was an old woman full of life and joy, not to mention the most incredible amounts of wisdom. If it weren't for her age and loud mouth, Maria would have certainly hired her on as an advisor. Instead, from time to time the two have lunch and discuss stately matters. "I'm getting up, you old hag." A laugh came from the other side of the door and the tell-tale sound of the rather plump woman walking away was heard.
Maria looked to the wall at her side and saw an embroidered quilt her grandmother had made many years ago. It read, "And may you be the greatest Queen that Muranis has had yet..." She rolled her eyes. As much as she hated being called "Queen", Maria kept the title to look more traditional in the eyes of the public. The younger portion of the population would certainly support the idea of a chic, modern dictator more than they would that of a reigning monarch. But her support came from middle-aged and elderly citizens. They would probably be indifferent to such a change, perhaps even negative. So, until her support was astounding amongst the older people in Murani society and barely lagging in the younger portions, Maria decided she would save her political capital. The temptation was biting though. She wanted more than anything to be called "Madame President" over "Your Highness" and the like. She thought and considered it once again. Though a trivial matter, it seriously bothered Maria. The young queen couldn't stand a screw-up in the details, no matter how insignificant or unimportant. Her brother would approve of a title change, she mused. Five years younger than she, he was bright and passionate. His drive for benevolence and understanding made him look like a liberal heir, but she knew that Miguel would never concede such power to untrustworthy prats such as Congress members.
At the age of 28, Maria was indeed a young monarch. She carried little experience with her, and most of her knowledge came from a sophisticated education in which she obtained a degree in History and Art History. She was educated and not afraid to show it. One of her major goals is to ensure that the education of every child in Muranis is guaranteed from their start to the first two years of university. Maria is dedicated to protecting and improving the environment. Her vigorous attempts since the beginning of her rule four years ago to curb pollution have paid off well and even become popular in all political parties except the Capitalist Conservative Party. She also aims to streamline the budget and reduce taxes. Maria has been described as a "fiscal conservative with social liberal tendencies." Defense is likely the most controversial subject at this time, with callings for reductions as well as increases to the Defense budget. Those in favor of reductions say that a larger defense budget only encourages the use of force in foreign affairs. Those in favor of increases argue that Muranis must be able to protect itself without help from outsiders. Maria is often found to agree with both sides, and has maintained an official policy of keeping the Defense budget where it is currently -- at 17% of the total budget. She has, however, consistently condemned the Capitalist Conservatives for an explosive increase in commercial and industrial subsidies, which currently account for nearly 45% of the entire budget. Public outrage has surged over the matter and the threat of civil unrest grows as the Congress does nothing to turn the tide of what appears to be corrupt hand-outs to gigantic corporations.
Maria Sandra del Marni has yet to officially proclaim support for any party during her four years of rule, but many speculate that she secretly holds an enormous amount of support in her heart for the Environmental Improvement Party. She does indeed show her lack of support for the Capitalist Conservative Party, and not only by vocal condemnation but by action as well. According to tradition, the Cabinet she appoints must reflect the make-up of the Congress. Due to the CCP's dominance politically (although it is a minority government), it managed to obtain about 70% of the Cabinet positions. Alberto Dreyfus heads the Cabinet as President and leader of the CCP. As a result of the CCP's dominance in the Cabinet, she refuses to attend any meeting and offers no official opinion on any Cabinet affair. By doing this, she shows her support for the opposition and increases the likelihood of the CCP experiencing diminished power in the event there was a deadlock in government decision-making. There is already growing discontent with the CCP as it attempts to slash tax rates by cutting seemingly important programs. Most unpopular are attempts to relax pollution controls on industries. The CCP has held governmenting power in Muranis for the past twenty years, though it has seen support drop dramatically since the last election three years ago where two new parties were introduced (the Capitalizt Liberal Party, which is a direct answer to the CCP, and the EIP, which joins the G/L Coalition in order to promote a better environment and better education).
Maria put on a fashionable dress that came slightly above the knees before she stepped out of her large bedroom. As she walked down the marble staircase, advisors and ministers greeted her and she did the same. The words "Your Highness" were absolutely banned in her palace. Instead, she was called, "Most Revered" by her staff and employees. A little too pompous for her tastes indeed, but she felt that she was locked in such a state of monarchial bullshit. Maria smiled at those that passed her or walked nearby, thinking in her head what a ridiculous front all of it was. Her brown hair was pulled back into a neat bun, her stylish glasses rest upon the bridge of her nose and nearly hid the sparkling green eyes that lay behind, and her wonderful make-up only made natural beauty shimmer with youth. A small and undersized tiara rest upon the unwilling monarch's head. Though she hated the title, she certainly enjoyed the headwear and had a different tiara for every official outfit she owned. Today, because she was wearing a sky blue dress, her tiara was encrusted with white diamonds and blue topaz.
Her destination was four blocks away. Maria decided that she would visit her Minister of Foreign Affairs, having decided she was tired of the Cabinet failing to advocate an internationalist stance. The monarch was sick of informal trade deals with far-off nations that had little or no political ties to Muranis. She was tired of feeling like she lived on an isolated island in the middle of a big, broad ocean. Therefore, Maria decided that she would take matters into her own hands. She would begin to indirectly influence the Cabinet until the next election, for which she had been secretly preparing to publically fund, support, and push for the victory of the G/L coalition. Her favorite Cabinet member, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorges Nicadro, just happened to be an outspoken member of the Green Party. His passion at the age of 34 was not surprising. He was driven, determined, and fueled by a desire for victory and equality. Nicadro wanted the same thing on the international stage that Maria did: cooperation and dominance. The two agreed on almost every aspect, from trade to diplomacy to war.
Rather than ride a limo, Maria decided to walk the distance. Though the day was hot, the constant wind kept her from breaking a sweat. She smiled at passers-by who were all too accustomed to seeing their leader walking the streets as if she were a commoner. Just because she acted common didn't mean the security around wasn't extraordinary, and everyone knew it. Within the crowd of people walking to and fro would be secret police everywhere, as well as constant and consistent coverage from rooftops and the air. Beside her in loose formation walked a guard of four agents decked out in black suits and the typical small, opaque sunglasses. Her own glasses turned nearly opaque in the sunlight, and the only thing that made her look royal was the dazzling tiara upon her head. When Maria approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, standing proudly in all its post-modern glory, she entered the sliding glass doors and saw Jorges sitting at a table in the lobby reading The Castilona Telegraph, a leftist newspaper focused primarily on economic and political issues. She walked over to him with her typical sassy swing, and bent her hand forward as he stood to greet her. "A pleasure, Madame." She smiled a big grin at this utterance. Jorges understood more than others her hatred of the monarchial titles she was showered with. "It is mine, Jorges. Now it is time to talk."