Megalopolia
02-10-2007, 15:55
LIBERTYVILLE, FORMERLY NUEVO HABANA (Reuters)
The small tropical island of Santa Maria today dissolved the parliament by a massive popular vote. Preliminary polls show that circa 83% of the voters were in favor of abolishing the one-party government of the Socialistic People's Front after more than 20 years of authoritarian rule.
The SPF, weakened in recent years due to increasing dissent, was last month forced to allow a referendum concerning the future of the country after massive street protests that culminated in what international observers called "a peaceful storming" of the Parliament. Led by the Chairman of the Coalition for Liberty, Charles Adam Stewart-Hansworth III, the protesters demanded a census vote to revert the authoritarian communist state to a laissez-faire capitalist society.
Accepting the cheers from the masses numbering tens of thousands, Hansworth promised heavy social, political and economic reform, vowing to preserve personal liberty to the extreme:
"People of Santa Marta! We today proclaim the free, incorporated state of Megalopolia! Never again shall the yoke of goverment be felt around your necks! From this day on, you, the people, shall be the only ones controlling your lives!"
However, the Chairman also cautioned:
"But with vast freedom comes vast responsibilities. A free society will only function if we respect our neighbor, and help them when in need. Let us show the world that the free people of Megalopolia can rule over themselves, by themselves, for themselves!"
But not everyone hails the chairman as a savior; he has already been dubbed 'C.A.S.H.' by critics and upset social workers - due to his initials, but above all his capitalist policies and vast personal fortune. His opponents fear that the ultra-libertarian, bordering on anarcho-capitalist, policies will lead to a dog-eat-dog society where the rich prospers and the poor is left to their fate.
And they may be right, as the birth of the new state is already surrounded by turmoil, as gangs of looters - apparently not heeding the calming pleas of the chairman - are creating havoc in the business district of the capital Nuevo Habana, now rechristened Libertyville. In the absence of a proper police force, organized biker gangs are reportedly trying to create some kind of calm by force.
Also, there are loud protests from some neighboring socialist countries, that maintain that the peaceful revolution in fact is a coup d'etat staged by major capitalist states. The chairman, in a comment to Reuters, motions for calm:
"We are just witnessing the birth of a revolutionary society - a peaceful one, where the people govern themselves. The precise details of how we shall govern - if all - will have to be worked out as we go along. I assure you that the man on the street will embrace this new form of living, when the possibilities dawns on him.
"Until then, I call on our free neighbors to support the people of Megalopolia, perhaps even with some minor civil security assets until this tumultous time is over. I also extend the invitation of the people for diplomatic contact will all the states of the world."
OOC: Hey people. New player here, never been here before. I hope this is the way to do it - feel free to join in.
The small tropical island of Santa Maria today dissolved the parliament by a massive popular vote. Preliminary polls show that circa 83% of the voters were in favor of abolishing the one-party government of the Socialistic People's Front after more than 20 years of authoritarian rule.
The SPF, weakened in recent years due to increasing dissent, was last month forced to allow a referendum concerning the future of the country after massive street protests that culminated in what international observers called "a peaceful storming" of the Parliament. Led by the Chairman of the Coalition for Liberty, Charles Adam Stewart-Hansworth III, the protesters demanded a census vote to revert the authoritarian communist state to a laissez-faire capitalist society.
Accepting the cheers from the masses numbering tens of thousands, Hansworth promised heavy social, political and economic reform, vowing to preserve personal liberty to the extreme:
"People of Santa Marta! We today proclaim the free, incorporated state of Megalopolia! Never again shall the yoke of goverment be felt around your necks! From this day on, you, the people, shall be the only ones controlling your lives!"
However, the Chairman also cautioned:
"But with vast freedom comes vast responsibilities. A free society will only function if we respect our neighbor, and help them when in need. Let us show the world that the free people of Megalopolia can rule over themselves, by themselves, for themselves!"
But not everyone hails the chairman as a savior; he has already been dubbed 'C.A.S.H.' by critics and upset social workers - due to his initials, but above all his capitalist policies and vast personal fortune. His opponents fear that the ultra-libertarian, bordering on anarcho-capitalist, policies will lead to a dog-eat-dog society where the rich prospers and the poor is left to their fate.
And they may be right, as the birth of the new state is already surrounded by turmoil, as gangs of looters - apparently not heeding the calming pleas of the chairman - are creating havoc in the business district of the capital Nuevo Habana, now rechristened Libertyville. In the absence of a proper police force, organized biker gangs are reportedly trying to create some kind of calm by force.
Also, there are loud protests from some neighboring socialist countries, that maintain that the peaceful revolution in fact is a coup d'etat staged by major capitalist states. The chairman, in a comment to Reuters, motions for calm:
"We are just witnessing the birth of a revolutionary society - a peaceful one, where the people govern themselves. The precise details of how we shall govern - if all - will have to be worked out as we go along. I assure you that the man on the street will embrace this new form of living, when the possibilities dawns on him.
"Until then, I call on our free neighbors to support the people of Megalopolia, perhaps even with some minor civil security assets until this tumultous time is over. I also extend the invitation of the people for diplomatic contact will all the states of the world."
OOC: Hey people. New player here, never been here before. I hope this is the way to do it - feel free to join in.