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Abolish the state, the answer to anything. Imperialists threatening? Abolish the state. Trouble making ends meet? Abolish the state. Political disagreements? Abolish the state.

Yes, it's really starting to sound like sort of a mantra. Together with "rise up in arms against the tyrants!".
 
But you are making Lenin a king!

Anarchy is progress, anarchy is a search of freedom, together we seek to create an society where everyone shall be free, state nor money cannot oppress mankind.
How could we ever be happy, unless we were free?
How could we strive for a better future, unless we were free to do so?

There cannot be any kind of revolutionary progress, unless we bring Lenin down.

In the end, the state can and shall be abolished, but now our primary issue is Lenin.
 
The Election of 1880

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As of 1880 just over 150 million people lived under Communist rule. 100 million of those people lived within the military, economic and cultural power behind the movement – the VSVR. After its population finally crossed the 100 million mark in late 1879 the Republic was the 4th most populous country on earth, whilst if the additional 50 million people in the rest of the Comintern were taken into account, the Comintern was the 3rd most populous body. It had about half as many people as the British Empire and ¼ as many as China. A very substantial portion of the world flew the Red Flag.

Yet that powerful Republic was once again coming under strain. To the outside world it seemed Lenin had not put a foot wrong – he had instituted successful economic policies, continued the reforms his supporters demanded, won victory over Russia and Britain, constructed many great works and seen the Comintern expand into 3 more countries. Yet within the Republic his reputation had been dashed by his alliance with the Militarists and the state’s struggles with the radical wing of the Anarchists which had already turned violent.

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Marxist-Leninists

Prospective Chairman: Vladimir Lenin

On the face of things the Marxist-Leninists had done everything they set out to do in 1875. The only minor blemish on the face of the faction was the tangle with press rights and the Anarchists – however the right of the party had drawn huge amounts of focus onto this point, thus obscuring Lenin’s many and varied achievements. The Marxist-Leninists stood for a continued rapid expansion of the Revolution, further economic success and even more cultural achievements to rival the Cologne Metro and the Statue of the Revolution.

Position within Party: Far Left

Economic Policy:

Over the course of the past 5 years the industrial sector has expanded by a further 35%. Considering the hulking size of the Republic’s industry this is a great achievement. Even better industrial growth in the likes of the Ruhr has slowed down slightly (although never coming close to halting) whilst growth has gone from strength to strength in Bavaria and Bohemia.

For these reasons the faction supports a continuation of these successful policies:

‘’Progressive taxes rate with the poorest paying 50%, the richest 100% and the middle strata anything 5% above 50% and 5% below 100%.

In some areas our Great Republic’s industry has simply become too concentrated. Overproduction could be a more dangerous foe than underproduction. In areas where overproduction is rife new factories should only be built in order to combat unemployment – in less industrial areas (such as Southern Germany, Bohemia and Silesia) further industrialisation should be vigorously encouraged.

No tariffs.

Social spending may not fall from 100%. Although our pension schemes do make up around 1/3 of total spending (only slightly less than the total spent on industrial subsidies) they are invaluable in protecting our elderly workers who for years served the Republic admirably. It is to them that we owe our continued freedom.’’

Reform Policy:

Three more social reforms!
A higher minimum wage, a shorter working day and better unemployment subsidies.

We have shortened the working day already but it remains too long. 10 hours is a much more humane level than the current 12 hour day. With an additional 2 hours the working men and women of the Republic can have more time for leisure and with their families. What is the use of a worker’s Republic if the workers cannot enjoy the fruits of their labours?

A higher minimum wage brings the workers the obvious benefit of a higher income no matter what job they serve the Republic in.

Finally unemployment subsidies continue to be a vital tool in transitioning territories from their Imperialist masters to the Republic – rarely have we liberated a new territory without a period of around one year in which many of its people had no work.

Foreign Policy:

Firstly the Marxist-Leninists support the continued liberation of the African people – we have already encountered both French and British attempts to enslave the very African people we have brought the works of Marx and Bakunin to. Let us never falter in this great quest to save a continent from the horrors of colonialism.

Whilst the recent Eastern War has brought a significant level of international scrutiny down upon us there are still routes for military expansion of the revolution. One simple phrase shall solve our problems here – War with France! The brave folk of Barcelona have lived under Parisian domination for too long. No more! The proletarians across the Rhine in Elass look longingly across the river but instead of joining their brothers are whipped into the factories by the Frankish bourgeoisie. No more! If the war with the French is successful then the Republic should turn its attention to liberating yet more of the oppressed nations of the Habsburg Empire.

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Anarchists

Prospective Chairman: Peter Kropotkin

With the radical wing becoming increasingly active – and alienating many of the moderate socialists – Kropotkin attempted to both create a platform that did not compromise on Anarchist beliefs but was also accessible to the moderate socialists turning away from Lenin.

Position within Party: Far Right

Economic Policy:

There was a time when the Anarchists were synonymous with Trade Union power in the economy. However it has become increasingly apparent that the Unions, like the state, have become bloated power hungry edifices who no longer care for the common worker. We must therefore skip this middle man, who merely wants to be the first to cream, and go directly to the worker!

The Commune system shall both empower the worker and our economy. The state run banks shall provide Communal groups of workers and farmers with the necessary funds to create new Communes – whether they are collective farms, mines or factories. Industry shall be run by the workers, for the workers. Agriculture shall not be controlled by any Trade Union man eager for a bribe or a corrupt kleptocratic government official but by the very people who toil away at their place of work.

On top of this it is notable that, in spite of state attempts to stimulate demand, much of our industrial produce still goes unsold. Is the reason not obvious? Every man and woman in the Republic pays twice as much in tax under Lenin as they did even under Engels. They can no longer afford to purchase as many goods as they might wish. This is why a low, flat, tax shall help stimulate demand for our industrial output.

Reform Policy:

Freedom of the press and of speech for all!

No more censorship, no more armed responses to peaceful protests. Liberty for all!

Lenin has shown his true colours with his alliance with Schlieffen and his suppression of the freedom loving people of this great Republic. They are the purple of an Emperor! We cannot allow Kaiser Vladimir I of the Neo-Blanquist Empire further subvert our revolution. We call for no legal action against Lenin after his inevitable electoral defeat – only that he never again be allowed to use the state in such a foul manner again.

On top of this the growing power of the Military is a great worry. We do not call for its demise – only that there be no further expansion of the land army. Perhaps it would be more useful to create a new fleet in order to defend the international revolution from Paris and London.

It is also time for all citizens of the Republic to receive the vote in our elections. Enfranchisement for the farmers and artisans!

Foreign Policy:

Lenin, Engels and Marx before them have each in turn used the blood of the workers as a lubricant in the engine of the revolution. Yes it may well have sped up the international revolution but at what cost? The cost, Comrades, is the lives of the very people we are trying to save. This is not acceptable in an enlightened Republic such as our own. We should try to secure some sort of peace with the surrounding powers and should only spread the revolution by encouraging it in our neighbours.

However Africa is a different matter – here we should encourage the expansion of the revolution. We must save this continent from London and Paris.

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Militarists

Prospective Chairman: Alfred Schlieffen

In coalition with the Leninists the Militarists were extraordinarily successful in their first 5 years as a political force. Schlieffen secured support for a large military expansion and modernisation and better still won stunning victories over Britain and Russia in the Eastern War without calling upon the civilians reservists. On top of this they managed to cramp down on the dangerous influence of the Anarchist Press whilst passing more social reforms.

Position within Party: Unreadable

Economic Policy:

The Militarists support a Marxist economic model.

‘’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.

No tariffs.

Social spending must remain at its maximum level at all times.’’

Reform Policy:

Two social reforms.

A shorter working day to give our workers the chance to actually enjoy life rather than endure it and a higher minimum wage to give them the funds to enjoy their new found freedom.

The Military has become increasingly worried by the bloated and corrupt Trade Unions. Colossal bodies that take large membership fees from workers and effectively run large parts of the Republic’s industry like almost criminal gangs. The Marxists have for too long simply attempted to ignore this problem and expand the state in order to lessen the percentage of industry under Union rule – this is delaying the problem and not confronting it. Instead we should clamp down on the power of these Trades Unions – keep them as the representatives of the workers rather than their masters.

Let us not be a Republic for some and a Kingdom for many. Provide the farmers and artisans with the vote. Otherwise we are merely the dictatorship of half the population on the other half.

Foreign Policy:

War with France for Catalonia and Elass. War with the Habsburgs to destroy their snivelling Empire. Continuous expansion into Africa to liberate its people and provide much needed demand for our over supplying industries.

It is time, Comrades, to free the human race!

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Moderates

Prospective Chairman: August Bebel

Hoping to rebound from electoral failure in 1875 the Moderates presented themselves as the only Marxist alternative to Lenin. Freedom and Marxist economies combined.

Position within Party: Centre Left

Economic Policy:

Marxist economics has powered the great achievements of our industry for two and half decades. Why change what is not only unbroken but brilliantly successful?

A progressive tax system of 25% for the poorest and 50% for the richest with the middle strata paying something in between. Halving tax rates should help stimulate demand for our goods, improving the oversupply situation.

Industrial expansion should remain largely a state run affair. We wish to slow the current rate of industrial expansion, however, due to oversupply issues and will therefore only increase potential industrial output if unemployment becomes a danger.

Social Spending shall never be reduced bellow the maximum level.

Some say the use of tariffs can substitute taxation as the primary means of funding public spending. Yet this does little put destroy our trading relations outside of the Comintern and turn us into an autarky. No tariffs!

Reform Policy:

Two social reforms.

We need a shorter working day and a high minimum wage. Some argue that these reforms endanger output; we say that the worker is more important than what he produces. The Militarists and Leninists seek only to use reforms as a tool to control the workers – we are the only faction who reform in order to improve the lot of the common man.

Foreign Policy:

A war with France would likely be the best route for future European expansion. However we should aim only to liberate Catalonia. It is unlikely that the French will fight to destruction to protect their rule over Catalonia but if we aim to claim Elass then we shall have to prize it from the cold dead hands of the world’s greatest land power. We do not need to bring our revolution into a death struggle with the French.

We must also touch upon the abomination that is the Lenin-Schlieffen African policy. These would be Imperialists have done their best to obscure the truth about West Africa. It is not the wonderful socialistic Commune of Lenin’s propaganda but the worst sort of entity on this earth – a colony. You may be unaware of the German, Flemish and Walloon settlers who have set up towns along the West African coast. You may be unaware that these same settlers have simply taken large tracts of land without so much as consulting the local African people. You may be unaware that atheism, socialism and the redistribution of land was not supported by most African tribes. You may be unaware that Marxism was brought to the Africans at the nozzle of a rifle and not in the classroom. Africa is the greatest embarrassment that the revolution has ever faced. We entered the continent to liberate a people; instead we have become no better than the Imperialists.

Create a new African Republic in the lands currently held by the VSVR. Give the power to the native Africans, give them whatever support they need to keep their Republic going and wash our hands of this dark chapter in our history.

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The Independents

Potential Chairman: Wilhelm Liebknecht

The Independents are a mixture of non-Marxist socialists and Syndicalist who feel alienated from the mainstream factions. They support a moderate view on most things but are more pro-Union that pro-state.

Position within Party: Centre Right

Economic Policy:

We do not hold Marx’s statist economics as the be all and end all but neither do we seek to destroy it.

A combination of Union and state power in necessary – the state should be the crux of the Trade Unions, not the Unions the crux of the state. The Unions represent the direct influence of the workers upon industry.

The Unions should therefore largely manage industry with the state providing the necessary funding. This should allow the Unions to gradually phase out their use of fees (currently the only way they can fund themselves) altogether.

There should be a progressive tax system with the poor paying 5% less that the middle strate who pay 5% less than the rich. We can promise a lower tax rate for the poor than any other faction. This directly increases the wealth of our Republic’s 100 million citizens.

Reform Policy:

Not only do we call for a free press, but for a new press!

Communard's Letter explains our proposal for the new press. Essentially this will end the influence of wealth upon the press as the success of the journalism with the people shall be the only means of expanding readership.

On top of this we call for a 10 hour day. This social reform is much needed. Yes it is true that our people enjoy the best healthcare on earth, but for too long our reforms have not focussed on things that affect the people each and every day. We need to end this problem by giving the workers the free time they need to actually live life. Their lives cannot and do not end at the factory gates.

Foreign Policy:

We support the prosecution of a war with France for Catalonia and Elass as well as a war with Austria for the freedom of some of its oppressed peoples. War can only be used as a tool for liberation but without it the revolution is likely to spread only at a snail’s pace.

There are problems in Africa. We do not deny that. But it better to try to reform the VSVR African territories than merely abandon them. We propose reforms in Africa but the continued, rapid, expansion of the Republic’s lands there. We cannot ignore the reason we first came here, to spare the Africans from the British and French, out of fear of ourselves. We have confidence in the Republic’s people that they shall not abuse their power.

All readers may vote for either:

Marxist-Leninists

Anarchists

Militarists

Moderates

Independents

I will not accept your vote if you vote for an individual you want to be chairman eg Engels 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.

Remember that in this election we have a new system. 50 seats in the Constituent Assembly are appointed via Workers’ Vote and 50 via your Party Vote. In order to appoint a Chairman a faction needs 50 seats. As one faction is unlikely to achieve this we shall likely have coalitions. If no coalition can reach 50 seats then the largest coalition appoints a Chairman.

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!

Voting shall close at Midday UK time on Thursday. Get voting! :D
 
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Anarchists!


I will not accept your vote if you vote for an individual you want to be chairman eg Engels and will only accept your vote if you name the faction of your choice.

Does this mean that all the votes that mention 'Lenin' or 'Leninists' are not to be counted? :D
Other parties resemble ideals, Leninists serve Lenin and his ambition to become a king.
 
I still support the notion of introducing the Boer Republics to socialism and guranteeing them safety from the threats of British imperialism. :(

And I support the notion of introducing the African tribes to socialism and guaranteeing them safety from the threats of Boer imperialism. ;)

Abolish the state, the answer to anything. Imperialists threatening? Abolish the state. Trouble making ends meet? Abolish the state. Political disagreements? Abolish the state.
So very true, but aren't you an anarchist Keynes?

There cannot be any kind of revolutionary progress, unless we bring Lenin down.

In the end, the state can and shall be abolished, but now our primary issue is Lenin.
Problem with Lenin, abolish the state?

Also, Independents.
 
Does this mean that all the votes that mention 'Lenin' or 'Leninists' are not to be counted? :D
Other parties resemble ideals, Leninists serve Lenin and his ambition to become a king.

:rolleyes:

I was trying to envoke a little bit of your spirit whilst writing the Anarchist platform. :p

What did you guys think of my metaphor about the Marxists using worker blood as lubricant for the engine of the revolution? :rofl:

Also, Enewald, I put in the but about Kaiser Vladimir I of the Neo-Blanquist Empire just for you. :D
 
Independents

I've been torn here between the Marxists-Leninists and the Independents. I am a marxist at heart, and believe in the theories of Marx and Engels, and I dislike how the independents are shunning them and moving along the path of utopianism and reformism. Still, the policies they've put up here are very good, especially in the establishment of the democratic press and in foreign policy (the absence of solidarity for the peoples of Africa makes it impossible for me to vote for the Moderates). If the Independents win, I hope that they form a coalition with the Marxists-Leninists whom they share a lot of common ground with, and not with the anarchists. The biggest reason for me to not vote Marxist-Leninist is that there have been no promises for the issue of the press, and no outlining of the faction's stance on uprisings within the republic. If the press reform goes well, I'll be voting Marxist-Leninist again in the next election.
 
I was torn between the Moderates and the Independents

But the censorship instituted by Lenin was a terrible one. A restoration of the press is what we need, on the principles that Comrade Communard has put before us. This will create a democratic and proletarian press instead of a private one. Though I would wish that they would increase the minimum wage like the Moderates, but I am pleased that these independents also favor decreasing the maximum time our workers need to spend in the factories.

I favor the expansion of our territories in Africa and reform the lands there to become equal lands to the ones in the German region. Even though this is not an Independent policy, I wish that later, these lands are turned into an our independent state (once developed) and let them rule themselves like a proper socialist state.

I vote Independents!
 
I was torn between the Moderates and the Independents

But the censorship instituted by Lenin was a terrible one. A restoration of the press is what we need, on the principles that Comrade Communard has put before us. This will create a democratic and proletarian press instead of a private one. Though I would wish that they would increase the minimum wage like the Moderates, but I am pleased that these independents also favor decreasing the maximum time our workers need to spend in the factories.

I favor the expansion of our territories in Africa and reform the lands there to become equal lands to the ones in the German region. Even though this is not an Independent policy, I wish that later, these lands are turned into an our independent state (once developed) and let them rule themselves like a proper socialist state.

I vote Independents!

I guess you should change your signature then :)
 
Moderates

However, I will boycott the Moderates in future elections if they choose to join a coalition with the Anarchists or Militarists.
 
I favor the expansion of our territories in Africa and reform the lands there to become equal lands to the ones in the German region. Even though this is not an Independent policy, I wish that later, these lands are turned into an our independent state (once developed) and let them rule themselves like a proper socialist state.

That seems counter-productive to the goal of a worldwide socialist stateless society, no?

Of course we should teach the africans to rule and govern themselves, but under the banner of the VSVR.
 
That seems counter-productive to the goal of a worldwide socialist stateless society, no?

Of course we should teach the africans to rule and govern themselves, but under the banner of the VSVR.

I'm not sure about this. Do you also favour annexation of the other territories within the Comintern?
 
That seems counter-productive to the goal of a worldwide socialist stateless society, no?

Of course we should teach the africans to rule and govern themselves, but under the banner of the VSVR.

I'm referring to the socialist phase in the evolution from capitalism where countries are socialist states. Then after this we can evolve into the worldwide communist stateless society.

EDIT: Done, Raph! :D
 
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I'm not sure about this. Do you also favour annexation of the other territories within the Comintern?

Eventually of course, but there is a difference between Africa or Belgium and say, Bhutan. Bhutan was a state which was able to achieve socialism on it's own, whereas Africa and Belgium required direct instruction (a euphemism for in-game annexation/colonisation) from the VSVR. By creating an independent socialist state in africa we are simply adding an unnessecary step to what could be a more simple process if africa had been kept a part of the VSVR.
 
I've decided that for the first time ever the Workers' Vote is to based on issues rather than ideology. Jingoism is no longer the dominant force it once was and is in fact the number 2 issue for the first time in VSVR history.

So this means that results from the Workers' Vote are going to be much less predictable than in the past ...
 
I've decided that for the first time ever the Workers' Vote is to based on issues rather than ideology. Jingoism is no longer the dominant force it once was and is in fact the number 2 issue for the first time in VSVR history.

So this means that results from the Workers' Vote are going to be much less predictable than in the past ...

I sense lots of Militarist votes :p
 
I've decided that for the first time ever the Workers' Vote is to based on issues rather than ideology. Jingoism is no longer the dominant force it once was and is in fact the number 2 issue for the first time in VSVR history.

So this means that results from the Workers' Vote are going to be much less predictable than in the past ...

How will you split the socialist vote between the Moderates and the Independents?
 
How will you split the socialist vote between the Moderates and the Independents?
There will be no socialist vote or a need to split votes since the workers vote will be based on issues rather than ideology now. I suppose Tommy4ever will just use the results of an ingame lower house election as the workers vote.
 
Indipendents

i would vote for Lenin but then the anarchists would rise and we need peace in the republic

it's just me or are the Indipendents, the Militarists & the Marxist-Leninists's promises for this election fairly similar? I smell a new coalition
 
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