The Small Commonwealth

[Ari Rahikkala]

Andreas's plea to not refer to the Grand Commonwealth here gave me a very strange idea...

Let's make it clear that we are doing things the way we are because we've learned from history. Because we're different. And, because we're Shireroth. Let's call this the Small Commonwealth.

The Grand Commonwealth had a separate YAMOish board of its own. It drained activity from its member states, and was itself dependent on people remembering to go to a different board in order to gain activity. Let's make a Small Commonwealth, lean and flexible, one that's run from here in Shireroth, with optional local offices in the member states, so no-one will lose activity.

The Grand Commonwealth had unified foreign affairs. Its member states were forced to lie under someone else's banner. Let's make a Small Commonwealth, one where the member states only gain from the ceremonial connection with the Kaiser of Shireroth, but will run their own diplomacy and foreign policy with no Shirithian interference.

The Grand Commonwealth had a full micronational government, with a head of state, head of government, parliament, ministries, military, economy, and legal system. Let's make a Small Commonwealth, one where the members enter into small, explicit contracts with Shireroth (and through Shireroth, each other) in areas where they want to participate.

The Grand Commonwealth wildly exaggerated its strength and size. Let's make a Small Commonwealth, one that's honest about what it is... and one that will get things done, and not die out due to temporary inactivity.

The Grand Commonwealth was a product of megalomania and the impulse to create huge pointless mergers. Let's make a Small Commonwealth, one that has a purpose - to honour our common history, to encourage the growth of intermicronationalism and common culture, to maintain and expand community, and to explore new ideas that require a community larger than one nation in order to work.

The Grand Commonwealth infringed on the sovereignty of its member states. Let's make a Small Commonwealth... one that doesn't.

And finally, although I know what this sounds like...

The Grand Commonwealth was theoretically democratic, although rather Babkha-centric in practice. Let's make a Small Commonwealth, one springing from the tradition of the Shirithian Kaisership, where the Kaiser is the prime authority in commonwealth matters. Not a committee, not a parliament, but the Kaiser of Shireroth, now the head of both the Duchies united in the Republic of Shireroth, and the nations united in the Small Commonwealth (though with much more power in the former).

[Oroigawa Koreyasu]

The funny thing is, for all of those you could replace "The Grand Commonwealth" with "The Confederacy of Gralus" and they're still true....

But I agree!

[b3n|<3r|\|]

The funny thing is, for all of those you could replace "The Grand Commonwealth" with "The Confederacy of Gralus" and they're still true....

The Confederacy of Gralus was theoretically democratic, although rather Babkha-centric in practice.

lol@u

[Oroigawa Koreyasu]

Ok, replace Babkha with Andreas and that one is true.

[b3n|<3r|\|]

lolwithu

[Kaiser Loki III]

I LIKE IT! The FRC would even have joined if it were alive!

[Jonas]

I LIKE IT! The FRC would even have joined if it were alive!

It will join if Maraguo joins, you don't remember?

This is like chosing between little and much. And I think that the small commonwealth will have more opportunities to grow and become a success.

[Kaiser Loki III]

I Remember!

As a part of Maraguo.

[Erik Mortis]

This lends itself to my desire for a layered organization.

[Andreas the Wise]

Corey, I'm not sure quite all of those fit - we did have a common history, after all ....

But all sound good for me, except the Kaiser is the complete soverign. If we're going to encourage them to use vote based economies, it would make sense if we allowed them to vote with that money ....

[Nathan of Natopia]

I am a bit confused here, are you all suggesting the Kaiser be the sovereign of the commonwealth organization... or the sovereign of the commonwealth members?

[Kaiser Loki III]

Analagous to HRH Elizabeth II in the (British) Commonwealth.

[Nathan of Natopia]

That what I was afraid of. So the Kaiser would be our ceremonial head-of-state. Well, speaking for Natopia, I can say that doesn't sound very appealing ... no offense to your Nifitiness

[Ari Rahikkala]

Actually, that'd only come with the Treaty of Kaiserial Niftification (or whatever)... and... that last bit isn't really all that important, it's just that I would kind of life to find *some* way to glorify the tradition of Shirithian kaisership.

[Erik Mortis]

Nations would only participate so much as they want, in the parts they want. You could be a commonwealth member in name only and nothing more if you wanted. Or you could sign some of the 2nd tier treaties participate at those levels.

2nd tier Treaties include
*Connected economies
*Non-Aggression pact
*Accepting the Kaiser as your monarch (in name only, no power shifts)
*Cultural stuff

3rd tier includes
*Shared currency
*Mutual defense.

It's kinda like a salad bar... pick the treaties you like, don't use the ones you don't.

[Nathan of Natopia]

Ok. cool. I like salad bars.

[b3n|<3r|\|]

It's kinda like a salad bar... pick the treaties you like, don't use the ones you don't.

I prefer the term VIKING DINNER!

[Kaiser Loki III]

Help yourself, there is plenty.

I have no urge to be even a titular Head of State where such is not needed or wanted

(Gondor has no King.
Gondor needs no king!)

[Erik Mortis]

Okey. Viking Dinner.

[Ryan]

Viking? What about us vegetarians? :P

[Harald of Froyalan]

It's kinda like a salad bar... pick the treaties you like, don't use the ones you don't.

I prefer the term VIKING DINNER!

Me too!!

[Oroigawa Koreyasu]

It's kinda like a salad bar... pick the treaties you like, don't use the ones you don't.

I prefer the term VIKING DINNER!

Me too!!

Me three!

[Kaiser Loki III]

The Vegetarians just take the vegetables. There's plenty, you know.

[Andreas the Wise]

On the topic of the purpose of the Small Commonwealth, perhaps a plug like this might work:

The Small Commonwealth is not a YAMO. The Small Commonwealth is not Shireroth's attempt to control Micras (that's the Grand Commonwealth you're looking for). The Small Commonwealth is not a large pointless merger. We've had our share of those, and learnt from our mistakes. The Small Commonwealth is just a collection of friendly nations working together to share ideas about how best to suceed in our individual nations. Forget the bulllying nations, the schemers, those who would impose strict standards - the Small Commonwealth is not for those people. The Small Commonwealth is for the nice nations to help eachother develop to their full potential. Between us, we have a vast collective memory and melting pot of new ideas. We can tell eachother what's failed, what's worked, and what to try in the future. Don't be stuck in the lurch - join the Small Commonwealth, where nation's actually care about eachother ... and you.

[Kaiser Loki III]

Carve that on the wall of the meeting hall!

[Andreas the Wise]

You like it, then?

[Kaiser Loki III]

I'm thrilled!

[Erik Mortis]

Moving....

[Kaiser Loki III]

So I thrill easily, so?

[Jonas]

Very good, Andreas.