The Election of 1860
Marxist rule had been very good to the VSVR. The Republic had grown significantly in size whilst its population had ballooned from 7.2 million in 1855 to 15 million in 1860. Elsewhere both the economy and the lives of the common man had improved to a noticeably greater degree than they had under the now disgraced Weitling.
Yet whilst the VSVR as a whole saw things improve the People’s Party had to deal with an increasing level of turmoil. The Republic’s 1st Chairman Wilhelm Weitling had been exiled after being found irrefutably guilty of stealing state funds in an open trial by jury. Elsewhere the Young Anarchist problem has divided the party. Comrade Kadon’s radicals had murdered Johann Eccarius and had come within an inch of claiming the lives of both Engels and Liebknecht as well – but rather than execute them right away Marx instead imprisoned them. This angered much of the Party which had clustered around Blanqui – a man of ever increasing power – who had recently created his own personal army in the paramilitary wing of the AKVD. When Blanqui acted without orders to spark off a large scale Communist revolt across much of Germany he broke forever with the Marxists.
The Marxists
Prospective Chairman: Karl Marx
Karl Marx met all expectations of him as Chairman as he led the Republic to success after success. However he struggled to deal with the growing instability of the People’s Party and seems to have alienated both Blanqui’s Centralists and the Anarchists.
Position within Party: Far Left
Economic Policy:
A Tax system in which the rich pay 100%, the poor 50% (the minimum allowed) and the middle strata any figure that is 5% more than the poor and 5% less that the rich.
Continued state expansion for our growing industrial sector. In the past 5 years the Marxist economic method has doubled industrial production – let us not question the success of the Marxist industrial policy.
No tariffs.
Military Spending should remain at 60%.
2.27% of our population is now made up of intellectuals. This is above the desired 2% therefore educational spending shall be cut. Likewise our bureaucracy is slowly growing in size so spending must be cut in this sector forthwith.
Social spending must remain at its maximum level at all times.
Reform Policy:
The Marxists support a further
four social reforms.
Pensions should be improved to the maximum possible level. This will allow our elderly to retire an experience next to no difference in their incomes. These are the men and women who have worked their entire lives and they deserve all the support we can give them.
Healthcare should be improved once more – our dream of providing free healthcare to all can still not be achieved unless we increase funding.
The Marxist faction demand a maximum 14 hour day. Whilst working days in excess of 14 hours are not common in our fine Republic there are some who must suffer through them. This is abhorrent in a workers’ state and must be addressed.
We should set a small unemployment subsidy. In the past we believed that by simply providing jobs for all people we could eliminate unemployment. This view has been proved to be utopian. Whilst we do not condone the voluntary unemployed we must support them. Moreover a very large number of our unemployed are not a part of this less desirable group. A very large portion of the unemployed are simply unable to work due to illness or injury – it is this group that we should think of when granting subsidies to our jobless. Never again shall the ex-soldier injured in service of the Republic starve due to an inability to find work!
Another 5 years of Karl Marx is another 5 years in which the lives of every proletarian shall improve.
Inner Party Turmoil:
Compromise is the root to unity within our Party. Compromise is the principle that the People’s Party was founded on and if we do not continue to up hold this central principle of our Republic then it shall simply fall apart.
Attempting to remove Blanqui from his position of power would be foolhardy and dangerous. Instead we should attempt to reign in some of his powers and warn him against future reckless action. A direct confrontation would almost certainly lead to civil war. Which one of us wants to follow the way of France?
The Young Anarchists had committed an abhorrent act but this does not call for a purge of the Anarchist faction. Instead Comrade Kadon and the others responsible for the murder of the brace Comrade Eccarius should face life imprisonment.
Extremes shall rip us apart Comrades! Do not allow the People’s Party to fail!
Foreign Policy:
Expansion should continue at pace. Whilst Blanqui’s underhand actions must be reduced we cannot afford to halt our territorial growth. With France distracted we shall never get another opportunity to focus all our efforts in a drive into Germany. The confrontation with Prussia is coming Comrades – let us not leave ourselves unprepared.
The Centralists
Prospective Chairman: Blanqui
Blanqui has proven himself to be the most effective revolutionary in the entire Republic. Who was it who transformed the Rhineland Revolution from a series of riots to an organised movement? Blanqui. Who was it who has driven Prussian influence out of central Germany? Blanqui. Who was it who masterminded the current wave of revolution that engulfs Germany? Blanqui.
Comrades Blanqui is the man to lead the entire world to revolution.
Position within Party: Centre-Left (although seen as extreme in other areas)
Economic Policy:
The Marxists have created an undisputedly successful economic. Why try to fix what is not broken?
Our only point of deviation with the Marxists in the economy would be our plan to increase military spending from 60% to 65%.
Reform Policy:
There is no need for further reforms. We can deal with these issues at a later date once our revolution is more secure.
Inner Party Turmoil:
For how long does Karl Marx intend to shield murderers from justice?
The People’s Party is a mess and needs to be reformed. The despicable Kadon and his ‘Young Anarchist’ lackeys must be liquidated immediately. Meanwhile the Anarchist faction is rife with Young Anarchist sympathisers – these blemishes must be removed.
It is a small price to pay for perfection.
Foreign Policy:
No other faction will tell the Party membership exactly what they mean to do. If elected I can promise within one month
War with Hanover! No other faction will tell you what they mean to do within the next 4 years. If elected I can promise
War with Prussia! No other faction can promise German unity and the spread of our glorious revolution to so many millions. For unity! For the people! For the Revolution!
Let the ruling classes tremble in the face of a communistic revolution!
The Collectivist Anarchists
Prospective Chairman: Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
Proudhon’s star has somewhat faded over the past 5 years. His opposition to the Young Anarchists has alienated him from much of his own faction whilst his comparatively supportive stance towards the same group has made him a hate figure for many outside of the Anarchist faction. At this stage it is unclear if he can even hold onto the leadership of the Anarchists, never mind the Republic.
Position within Party: Far Right
Economic Policy:
You are all acquainted with the Anarchist stance on the Republic’s current, shamelessly statist, economic policy.
‘’A much lower flat tax on all citizens. No tariffs. Whilst losses in the budget should be avoided the surplus should be kept as low as possible (the current reserves of the state are obscene).
Military spending should be reduced from 60% to 55% (1850 level) but the army should retain its current size.
The Unions should be, by on large, given control of industrial expansion. The State may subsidise failing industries, but only if their failure would result in a loss of jobs. Whilst the majority of the responsibility for any improvements to the rail system should remain with the Unions the state may contribute funds if the Unions do not.
The farmers should be given the chance to abolish their collective farms and divide the land with each farmer getting an equal share.’’
Reform Policy:
The continued failure of the Marxists to grant freedom to the press is deeply concerning. Until the press are free our Republic remains open and ready for a dictatorial takeover. Our Republic shall never be subverted if our people are allowed to know the truth.
Inner Party Turmoil:
The terrorism of the Young Anarchists can never be supported by any true Anarchist. Kadon and his lackeys should be imprisoned for 5 years and the group should be dispersed.
Much more worrying is Comrade Blanqui’s total disregard for the law of the land and for national borders. This Comrade bears all the hallmarks of one who wishes to become our dictator. Blanqui is not only a danger to the Republic he is its enemy. If the Anarchists win the election Blanqui shall be arrested and face trial immediately.
If this provokes an armed response then so be it – it’s a small price to pay for our Republic.
Foreign Policy:
Our fellow Comrades seem to believe that they can indefinitely expand the Republic without a response from the international community. The Anarchists are the only faction who realise that we are at danger of a war with Prussia, with France, with Britain and with Austria. Unrelenting expansion may expand the revolution in the short term but it will destroy it in the long term.
The Anarchists will support a policy of intervention in only the safest of circumstances (ie only if we are 100% sure of Prussian non-intervention) and only in Germany. We shall not go to war with Hanover – that Kingdom possesses and Army only slightly smaller than our own and a war with it would lead to thousands of unnecessary deaths.
The German Socialists
Prospective Chairman: Ferdinand Lassalle
Lassalle is the youngest of the prospective Chairmans and the most moderate. Whilst others call for grand wars and radical social reform Lassalle calls upon his Comrades for moderation in all things. Social reform, foreign policy and the problems of inter-factional disputes shall all be dealt with by a softly, softly approach under his Chairmanship.
Economic Policy:
A tax system of 25% for the poor, 30-40% for the middle strata and 50% for the rich.
A 2% tariff at all times that can be increased at will but not decreased.
Stationary military spending.
90% of the maximum spending on social spending.
An industrial policy that relies partially on the Unions and partially on the state.
Reform Policy:
Two social reforms.
An increase in pensions is necessary to keep the elderly workers on a decent income after they retire. They are the people who built this Republic and they deserve to reap the benefits of their efforts.
A 14 hour day. Working days beyond 14 hours are not common but the fact that they exist is simply disgusting in a People’s Republic. Anything beyond 14 hours is tantamount to slavery.
Inner Party Turmoil:
There should be a public trial for Kadon and his Young Anarchists in which the death penalty is not taken off the table. After this a public enquiry should be set up to root out any and all Comrades associated with the murder of Eccarius.
Blanqui is becoming a dangerous man, however a head on confrontation can only lead to thousands of deaths and then end of the united People’s Party. Instead we should try to convince Blanqui to never again exceed his authority in such an extreme manner. However the expansion of the Republic into Hessen makes it clear that he is a successful man and he is therefore useful for the Republic’s future.
Foreign Policy:
Everything short of war with a Great Power is kosher. The Republic must be expanded but we cannot involve ourselves in a war that we cannot win.
All readers may vote for either:
Marxists
Centralists
Anarchists/ Collectivist Anarchists
German Socialists/ Socialists
I will not accept your vote if you vote for an individual you want to be chairman eg Proudhon and will only accept your vote if you name the faction of your choice.
Please place your vote in a separate post from your comment OR place it in bold alongside your comment.
I encouraged you to align yourself with a faction and campaign and argue for its success. However spamming will not be tolerate (I will warn you if I think you are spamming).
Good luck Comrades! We stand at a crossroads; this election will gravely influence all future policy, particularly in regards to the treatment of non-German workers.
Voting shall close at Midday UK time on Thursday. Get voting!
REMEMBER THAT TO VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM YOU MUST VOTE IN THIS ELECTION BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION