Palan
05-04-2004, 16:02
The Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man
"Quocunque Jeceris Stabit" Whichever way you throw me I stand
UN Category: Inoffensive Centrist Democracy
Civil Rights: Above average
Economy: Excellent
Political Freedoms: Some
Location: British Isles (but note, not United Kingdom, confusing I know!)
The Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man is a tiny, culturally powerful nation, remarkable for its third leg. Its friendly, ever-gossiping, laid-back population of 75 thousand have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to wander the hills and take part in regular elections, generally voting for their best mates parents. The population doubles for a two-week period every June when motorbikes from across the globe (mainly Germany) descend on the "Road-Racing Capital of the World" for the annual TT races.
The small government, the oldest in the world holds an outdoor sitting once a year on a bizarre tiered hill and despite being in a position where it can cherry-pick the best bits of UK policy is still determined to blindly follow our good friend Tony. Enterprise is dominated by finance, tourism (though that was hit hard in the sixties by the sudden acessibility of the Costas) and a new booming film industry Thanks to incredibly low corporate tax rates (don't tell everyone!) the IOM is known as one of the major offshore investment centres of the world.
Its national animal is the Loaghtan Sheep (http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/history/agricul/loghtan.htm) and it's currency is the pound (although Elizabeth doesn't wear a crown on the notes)
The Isle of Man is often missed in rankings as people either don't know it exists or forget about it.
You have 5000 telegrams about waste disposal, the new hospital and the new prison (so many NIMBY's, shame birching went out a few years back)
You have far too many outstanding issues
"Quocunque Jeceris Stabit" Whichever way you throw me I stand
UN Category: Inoffensive Centrist Democracy
Civil Rights: Above average
Economy: Excellent
Political Freedoms: Some
Location: British Isles (but note, not United Kingdom, confusing I know!)
The Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man is a tiny, culturally powerful nation, remarkable for its third leg. Its friendly, ever-gossiping, laid-back population of 75 thousand have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to wander the hills and take part in regular elections, generally voting for their best mates parents. The population doubles for a two-week period every June when motorbikes from across the globe (mainly Germany) descend on the "Road-Racing Capital of the World" for the annual TT races.
The small government, the oldest in the world holds an outdoor sitting once a year on a bizarre tiered hill and despite being in a position where it can cherry-pick the best bits of UK policy is still determined to blindly follow our good friend Tony. Enterprise is dominated by finance, tourism (though that was hit hard in the sixties by the sudden acessibility of the Costas) and a new booming film industry Thanks to incredibly low corporate tax rates (don't tell everyone!) the IOM is known as one of the major offshore investment centres of the world.
Its national animal is the Loaghtan Sheep (http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/history/agricul/loghtan.htm) and it's currency is the pound (although Elizabeth doesn't wear a crown on the notes)
The Isle of Man is often missed in rankings as people either don't know it exists or forget about it.
You have 5000 telegrams about waste disposal, the new hospital and the new prison (so many NIMBY's, shame birching went out a few years back)
You have far too many outstanding issues