View from Benacia/Issue 48: Kaiser Mors Reveals Strange Plan

This imported article was originally posted at http://viewfrombenacia.blogspot.com/2005/01/issue-48-kaiser-mors-reveals-strange.html at 01/08/05.

Kaiser Mors IV revealed tonight a strange plan to bring some measure of accountability to the Imperial Government: the creation of an advisory position who officer would not be appointed by the Kaiser, but elected by the people.

The very idea of an election, aside from that of Praetor by the nobles, has long been foreign to Shirerithians. And the Kaiser made it perfectly clear that he had no intention of creating a democracy, pointing out that "the officer in question would have no political power by virtue of zir office". He added,

"The creation of this office that I am proposing would not affect the functioning of government in any way, save by providing a safe channel of communication between the government and the people."

The function of this advisor would be to talk to the Shirerithian people and determine their concerns and wants, and present them to the Kaiser as anonymous requests. The elective nature of zir office would function as a safeguard against charges of being an Imperial informant. Kaiser Mors first had his idea when he was considering the mistrust between Kaiser and citizens in the wake of the Alexandrettan rebellion in Brookshire, believing that it might ease the concerns of Shirerithians in the future if they had a chosen representative advising the Kaiser.

FNORD!

Work began yesterday on this year's FNORD Awards, as local media god Mercurivs opened up The People's FNORD Awards 2005 forum and called for a brainstorm on this year's Award Categories. Suggestions included some common favorites ("Best Website", "Best Forum", "Odlum Award for Overall Achievement"), as well as some new ("Most Creative National Symbols", "Most Developed/Enriching Culture") and even strange suggestions ("Most Bent On Micronational Destruction (Most forum arsenal)", the "Tis But A Flesh Wound" Award for Refusing to Give Up in the Face of Obvious Failure).

Go and put in your suggestions today!