You keep going on at me about how passing laws means nothing for real Talossan activity. Well: handing out miéida da toro "licences" means nothing either. Pointless.

I'm old enough to remember precisely this same debate in Penguinea, more than 20 years ago. The argument was that handing out licences would encourage Talossan enterprises to flourish. No, it didn't. "Legal backing" means absolutely nothing. It's just busywork.

I'm going to vote against this again, if I'm an MC again. Pointless busywork and bureaucracy-building.

I'm still going to vote against it, if I'm an MC again. The right to sanctuary is a time-honoured one.

BUMP. I hope the next Cosa will take this issue up again.

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on May 31, 2022, 04:10:24 PMThis is one way to fix the problem, and would do the immediate job. But I prefer a more fundamental reform, which is paradoxically more simple.

Opening paragraph of OrgLaw VII.3:

QuoteSection 3 The Ziu shall, subject to this Organic Law, have power to make laws for the peace, welfare, and good government of the Kingdom, and shall have exclusive power with respect to:

So the long list that follows is issues that only the Ziu, not the provinces, can legislate on; but other than that, the Ziu's legislative power (exercised concurrently with the provinces) is unrestricted. And change OrgLaw IX.6 from:

QuoteSection 6 All powers not vested in the Kingdom by this Organic Law shall be vested exclusively in the Provinces.

to:

QuoteThe Provinces may exercise all powers under this Organic Law which are not vested exclusively in the Kingdom.

This removes the bad writing going back to 1997 which set up a "bogus federal system" in Talossa, which has never existed - provincial governments have always been subordinated to, and much less active than, the Kingdom government. The proper model for Talossa is not bogus federation, but "devolved government" as and where necessary, as in the United Kingdom or in Spain,

AHEM. Miestra Schiva declares candidacy for the Praisidieu.

50 words: Fiova is unique with its direct-democracy system inherited from the old Republic. If Talossan national politics are going to take a conservative, monarchist turn, then that aspect of Fiova must be defended intransigently. I want to see older citizens - including Reviensadeirs - taking an interest in our recent cultural revival.

The SoS may well be taking a well deserved break right now, but as far as I can tell, we'll be voting in referendums on 2 OrgLaw amendments next month, right?

• 57RZ19, The Seneschal Selection and Re-Selection Amendment
• 57RZ27, The Dandelions Start at Fourteen Amendment

He was the best of the best. Showing my daughter videos of this guy and saying, yes, he was better than Maradona.

Felică 44-laiset Ziuă dàl Indepenciă a toct i va cüncitaxhiens; es, ben sigur, feliceu Natal a toct qi o celebratent.

The leadership of the Free Democrats of Talossa are taking a well-deserved break at the moment. So I'm filling the gap, lest the Talossan information space this holiday be filled (like all other spaces seem to be at the moment) by the TNC leadership. I want to run through a brief series of observations and arguments relevant to the central theme around which the Free Democrats will be running in next month's election: that is, The King Must Go.

It is necessary, as always, to preface these arguments with a declaration that this is not intended as a personal attack. I've always admired John Woolley, in particular for his role in finally ending King Robert I's autocratic and cultish rule. I encourage all to read my interview with him in Qator Itrìns of October 2005. Brings back fond memories.

But - whether you are a die-hard Republican or a Monarchist stickler - he should not be King any more. Here are the basic reasons which the Free Democrats want you to consider.

• He is only intermittently active. The King of Talossa should be a continuous presence in the Kingdom, as an inspiration to culture and a figurehead of unity for our national community.
• He only exercises his constitutional functions rarely, and scarcely ever in a prompt fashion, after much prodding.
• He is far too closely identified with one political party. A vicious circle of corruption has emerged between the King and the leadership of the TNC, just as it existed with the old RUMP party. The TNC flatters the King and makes political arguments for his panoply of Royal powers - and in return, the King uses those powers to benefit the TNC's agenda, and even worse, to bestow honours and favours on the TNC leadership.

This last is in particular a reason why the King should not be permitted a free hand in choosing his successor. Because - isn't it obvious? - his successor will be the same person as he appointed Regent when he absented himself from Talossa altogether during the 56th Cosă. And for the same reason as the King explicitly gave at the time - because Sir A. Davinescù (as he was at the time) was a devoted defender of the existing status and power of the Monarchy. And now he's a Baron, for "keeping the seat warm" while he was away.

Perhaps many newer citizens might not remember that - that following the election where the Free Democrats got a memorable 99 seats in the Cosă, and the hereditary monarchy was abolished, the King simply walked away from Talossa until the next election, and gave his powers to the biggest supporter of the Monarchy while he was gone. It was a pretty obvious sulk, or "ragequit" as the kids these days say. And there wasn't much we could do about it.

For all Talossans who think that having a King is an important part of Talossan life, we need a better King than this one. We have learned our lesson from the last time we attempted constitutional reform - it's too easy to get bogged down in the precise details of how things should change. Instead, let's learn from how we abolished the hereditary succession - the Free Democrats will introduce a simple amendment to OrgLaw II.3 proclaiming that "The Throne is currently vacant." At that stage, the Uppermost Cort will become a Council of Regency, and we can all discuss how the Throne might be filled.

We can avoid this unpleasantness if the King agrees to abdicate of his own free will during term of the next Cosă, and to discuss with the incoming Ziu majority to form a consensus on his successor. The Free Democrats are putting our cards on the table now, and centring the demand of The King Must Go in this election campaign. John Woolley must be given a decent and honourable retirement - or a chance to serve Talossa in other ways, in culture or even on the Uppermost Cort.

Questions? Comments?

Yeah, I like John Shirley's work, including his contribution to Three-Fisted Tales of "Bob", his grim addiction-horror novel Wetbones, and his lyrics for Blue Öyster Cült. I knew of this book's existence, which is why I was a bit perturbed to see Stang promoting their latest publication Eyelash as "the first SubGenius scifi novel". But Stang is old, cranky and intolerant of dissent these days (weird combination, guy votes for Bernie Sanders and whines about woke types who don't appreciate good honest SubGenius macho thuggery).

Is "Black Hole..." only available in dead tree or is it online or in epub?

Send me a PM with your email address and I'll sign you up for the quiz

COVID is certainly no joke and nothing to be minimised. My whole family got it in May and we were fortunate that it was only like a bad case of the 'flu. It made the kids throw up. I wish all Talossan citizens current afflicted a speedy recovery.

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on December 14, 2022, 06:03:38 PMNot a huge fan of this, though: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Berg#Caitlyn_Jenner_controversy  Although I guess he isn't involved, as far as we know.

Jesus wept. Passing this on to the Seneschal to make sure that trans folk in Talossa will be safe dealing with these characters.

I'm happy to foreshadow my nomination, give me a little while to write my 50 words.

Yes, the Seneschal has been working with them. They seem legit.

Since we've established by example that it is considered rude to debate a party's statements on their own board, and since the FreeDems actually want feedback on our decisions, I would suggest our party leader republish this on the main Wittenberg.