This here is my crazy plan. Is it not nifty?

[Scott Alexander]

Those of you with whom I was able to talk on AIM already know what this is about. However, it is now time to reveal THE PLAN!!! to the rest of Shireroth and the world, and I do so in the hopes that you will receive it in the same spirit of open-minded patriotism in which it was written.Shireroth and Treesia have been extremely close friends ever since the two countries began to co-exist, and we are the last two remnants of a tradition dating back to ancient Blackrock and beyond. Today, at a time when both countries are prospering yet both seem capable of becoming so much more, it is time to take the final step in that friendship and seek a union of the two lands in a way that protects the cultural and political progress we have made but also puts it on the fast track towards expansion and towards micronational dominance in the year 2004.Now I realize that mergers are scary and somewhat dangerous things. Certainly something like Tymaria, where six or seven totally different countries are jammed together with a vague promise to maybe work out a system that can govern them at some point in the indefinite future, would be a mistake for Shireroth at this point, although it certainly came out of it pretty well last time. This proposed union with Treesia, however, is more of a final recognition of our two countriesÂ’ remarkably parallel structures, and threatens none of what Shireroth has built over the past few years.The resultant nation, which does not yet have a final name, will be ruled by our very own Kaiser, Erik Metzler. It is a sign of the TreesiansÂ’ profound friendship for us and political similarity to ourselves that they have agreed to this. It will consist of a Landsraad-like Council of Duchies and Baronies under Shirerithian feudal law. No current Duke or Baron will lose their Duchy or Barony in this merger! But along with five of our current Shirerithian Duchies, it will add three Duchies from Treesia, increasing our land and citizenry by 150%. Although it is possible that a few names and titles may have to change, every Shirerithian institution, from the Praetor to the Feudal Holdings Act will be adopted by the Treesians, whose government has extremely similar structures in place already.Now, I know many of you are thinking that yes, these sound like exceptionally good terms for a union, but why should we risk it? We are doing so well right now – why should we accept even the best of terms? I propose the following reasons why Shireroth needs change, and why Treesia is the perfect partner for such an endeavor:Quote:1. Stabilization of the feudal system. Right now, only one third of Shirerithian Duchies comply with the Feudal Holdings Act. Under the terms of the Mango-Shamrock Pact, one of the proposed merge plans, three-fifths of them would. 2. Immigration and citizenship. Right now, we are stagnating in an immigration sense. Can you remember the last time we got a new citizen who has been extremely active in national government (no, the Babkhans donÂ’t count, theyÂ’re just here to spy on us anyway ) In the meantime, Treesia has an exceptional immigration program that has gotten them numerous new highly active citizens in the past month. With the experience of some of our people, combined with the enthusiasm of some of the new Treesians, we can keep our joint country growing without this growth being unmanageable.3. Foreign affairs. Right now, I am the only person in Shireroth who is engaging in them, and I canÂ’t handle them all by myself. Thus, we have missed out on a number of opportunities to possibly get some new colonies, and are only managing to keep abreast of crises, of which there are far more than normal at this period, by pure luck. Treesia has a number of people well-informed about the world, including Sir Iain de Vembria, who runs the premier micronations portal site, micronations.net, and Sir Jarrett Deane, their highly competent Chancellor of the Exterior. With their help, we could present a better front to the outside world and get our way more often in conflicts of interest.4. Military and intelligence. Despite the extremely hard work of our Minister of Military Affairs, our military does not have the sort of power that we need. Right now we are in a hostile state with Lac Glacei and that the Babkhans are also trying to drag us into a war with Cranda. We do not have the capacity to fight a war on two fronts, and our military, though large in number, is smaller than that of certain foreign nations such as Babkha and Mediterranea. With the addition of the Treesian Reavers, our military would get a much-needed boost. And although SHINE is currently doing better than one might think, we have unfortunate blind spots in the direction of foreign countries that it would be very nice to know more about. While I obviously donÂ’t have access to information as to whether the TIA can correct those problems, it seems believable that such an old and well-respected agency would be what we need to have Total Information Awareness.5. General international influence. Hanover and Pendronia will soon be merging – they were, in fact, the inspiration for this merge. Cranda and Slobovia are always considering merging, and with the Babkhan threat to Cranda, this may happen sooner rather than later. Babkha is growing at an impressive rate, absorbing Lighthouse and also perhaps soon the Vaan Aujoen Isles. If we are to keep up, we need to expand our population and our power in a drastic way, or else perhaps be caught in the position Cranda is currently at should a larger nation decide we have something they want.6. Ambition. For the past eight months, Shireroth has stayed the same size. Sure, weÂ’ve gained some great people like Eriana, the Babkhans, and GMan, but weÂ’ve also lost some great people like Aure, Eros, and Harvey. Shireroth was founded as a country dedicated to the Gods of Chaos, but we have become known primarily for our stagnation and conservativism. What we have now is impressive, but we must remember we did not get that way by sitting on our laurels and doing nothing. With your help, we can get the same sort of meteoric gain in people, territory, and activity that we had during the Tymarian era, when we went from a quiet rural nation with three or four Duchies to an imperialist power with half the world in our grasp and the other half in the grasp of the Yardistani Annexation Corps. It is a choice between a safe complacency and a scary (but fun) chance at skyrocketing ShirerothÂ’s power beyond the stratosphere.Now, I am pleased to announce that this merger is extremely likely to occur sometime within the next while. Every Shirerithian noble except Nick, whom I was unable to contact, has expressed at least provisional support for some sort of merger plan. The Kaiser himself supports a more phased plan, which I have linked to below, whereas myself and the Treesians support a faster plan, which I also have linked to below. The questions that I am asking are this:1. Which merger plan do you support – gradual or fast?2. Do you have any good suggestions for the name of a unified country?3. Do you have any issues with, objections to, or comments on either of the plans?OPTION ONE: The Mango Shamrock Pact. The “fast-track” route to merger. The name Coillshire is out and we are looking for a better one, and in fact a few bits of this have been modified, but this is still the basic plan. The Treesians and I support this one.OPTION TWO: The Taras Pact. The slow route to merger. Might include the Mango-Shamrock Pact at the latter end depending on what was decided. Erik supports this one.This discussion will determine which of these I submit to the Landsraad and what changes are made between now and the version I give them.Deeds cannot dream what dreams can do - e. e. cummings Edited by: Scott Siskind  at: 1/18/04 12:42 pm

[Zirandorthel]

Hello, Shirerithians. You may know me better as friendly Prætor Eoin, but I appear before you as the dread Ard-Baron of the United Baronies of Treesia, come to support the merger between our two vastly mighty nations. We, the Treesians, support the Shamrock-Mango Pact, alternatively called the Mango-Shamrock Pact, and would rather opt for a quick, speedy merger between two equals. We would fully support Erik as our Ard-Ri, the High King of a kingdom which spans almost the whole western half of Micras!So please, support the MS/SM Pact and see glorious change fill the air! Sun Bless, Earth KeepZirandorthel I of TreesiaThe Golden DarknessNiirus Tinenetuwar, Tivitha e'Taras

[Gman Russell]

1) I too, as Baron of Amity and Mirioth (for what it's worth), and also as MoMA (which is far more impressive) support the SM/MS pact fully; which is definitely a change from how i've felt about mergers in the past (don't believe me? Ask Harvey about what I did when FIoJ changed to Aeroneesia [sp?] ).2) Which forum is to be used for this new nation? I suggest using a new, third forum to avoid any jealousy.3) Thanks for the props on all my hard work in the Ministry of Military Affairs... I was beginning to think no one thought that way...4) I like the name, "Shiresia" personally... but it's probably stupid and to hard to pronounce... but that's my input so no one can say I didnt do anything.

[Zirandorthel]

Shiresia, the way I'd say, is like "Saoirse" which means freedom. But I think all the "let's try to make a combination of the two names" ideas have gone, including Rothia, which apparently sounds like a hair cure for men. Sun Bless, Earth KeepZirandorthel I of TreesiaThe Golden DarknessNiirus Tinenetuwar, Tivitha e'Taras

[Scott Alexander]

Third forum is currently the plan, although a few of us like Gryphon seem not to like the idea very much. And Shiresia is actually pretty cool...and I also like Saoirse because it reminds me of Stod. "I am a verb" - Buckminster Fuller

[Gman Russell]

The name finding is going to be difficult to do...

[Kuralyov]

Quote:Right now we are in a hostile state with Lac Glacei and that the Babkhans are also trying to drag us into a war with Cranda.We've done no such thing, at least that I know of. I ask that you show me where any such request was made.

[Scott Alexander]

To me over AIM. Your Vizier of Foreign Affairs told me that by the Mango-Camel Pact we needed to help you guys out in this war. I told him that only applied to defensive wars, he claimed this was defensive, I said it wasn't, and thus we are in the mess that we currently happen to be in.

[Emir of Raspur]

Mango-Shamrock, Saoirse and less of the anti-Babkhan hysteria lord Duke Edited by: Emir of Raspur at: 1/18/04 2:46 pm

[Kaiseress Alexia Mors III]

I think that if merger is imminent..we should take the slow route and go with the Taras Pact.... This way there is proly less of a chance that the merger will fail....which it has a good chance of doing if we merge too quickly... The Through-Marriage-Noble-Of- Brookshire

[Scott Alexander]

Oh, Ardashir, just because I need some bogeyman to inspire enough fear to make the merger look vital doesn't mean anything personal. Besides, I say if you didn't want to be used as a bogeyman you wouldn't have an avatar like that. Deeds cannot dream what dreams can do. - e. e. cummings

[Emir of Raspur]

There are some crandans out there, all grumpy and trying to look menacing why not use them as your bogeymen And don't diss the Pir Gallini

[Scott Alexander]

He just kinda freaks me out the way he stares like that. And the Crandans are aren't existent enough for the purpose right now. Deeds cannot dream what dreams can do. - e. e. cummings

[Kaiser Mors III]

In all honesty.. I don't really support this AT ALL. And I'll fight it all the way through the Landsraad. I'll say more later... Mortis BrookshireKaiser of Shireroth

[Emir of Raspur]

Quote:the cultural and political progress we have made but also puts it on the fast track towards expansion and towards micronational dominance in the year 2004Have you ever considered casting yourselves in the roll of bogeymen?

[Kaiser Mors III]

Not really. Mortis BrookshireKaiser of Shireroth

[Mattlore Devious]

The Fast PlanShiresia sounds cooloooo, boogey men*these bullet points were bought to you by the Kiwi statement service*

[Gman Russell]

Thanks

[Jadie of Goldshire]

I heard this idea from Scott not too long ago and I will same the same thing now as I did then. I support the merger. However...why change our name? *is confused* Jadie of GoldshireCarry on with your lives people...nothing to see here.

[Kaiser Mors III]

Cause it's not Shireroth anymore..... .... Mortis BrookshireKaiser of Shireroth

[Tahmaseb]

Shreesia?

[Kaiser Mors III]

Shireroth......if not that.. Shireroth-Treesia.. or Treesia-Shireroth... Mortis BrookshireKaiser of Shireroth

[Zirandorthel]

Because Treesia is not being made a state of Shireroth, that's why. Neither is Shireroth being made a Palatinate of Shireroth. We are changing the name because otherwise, one nation will always be thought of as more dominant than the other. The Treesian Council is not going to agree to making a joint union called Shireroth, neither do we agree with dragging the merger out over a long period of time. In two months, says the Shamrock-Mango Pact, we'll consider our position, after two months of integration and co-operation. Tymaria, the UAS and Audentior failed because, as Scott said, all the states were lumped together in the hope that something would happen. Now, we have a definite structure in mind between two nations. The Taras Pact will just hamstring any chance of a merger happening at all, and will probably be an impediment to development even after the consideration time. So support the Mango-Shamrock Pact.

[SaiKar LumEth]

Ahh, see this is the sort of highly amusing thing that is worth coming back for!

[Kaiser Mors III]

I'm glad you are amused... Mortis BrookshireKaiser of Shireroth

[SaiKar LumEth]

Well things have been so painfully dull in the microworld lately... and in Shireroth too. I like this idea. It might just get everyone out of their rut.I wonder if I could convince Aure to come back... hmm...

[Kaiser Mors III]

*Hissses* Cursed be that Kaiserly name as much as Mog... Though she herself is cool... But making her Kaiseress was a huge mistake.. and technically illegal.. but I didn't notice that till later.. Mortis BrookshireKaiser of Shireroth

[Zirandorthel]

Nice. She's really going to want to return now. Sun Bless, Earth KeepZirandorthel I of TreesiaThe Golden DarknessNiirus Tinenetuwar, Tivitha e'Taras

[Kaiser Mors III]

Sorry. I'm still bitter at her as a Kaiseress... I like her personally, and has a friend. But she kinda screwed me over for 5 months or so... Mortis BrookshireKaiser of Shireroth

[Rakesh86]

Aure *smiles*