[Forum Game] - Crisis in the Reichstag

[Muskeato]

I wish to echo the sentiment of my fellow party member. The zeal for which Germany now pushes for colonies and naval expansion serves the nation nothing while draining our resources and wealth, and bringing us closer to conflict with our neighbours. I call upon the government to focus inward, and improve the life of the common German, rather than enslave the natives of another continent.

[Frymonmon]

As Interior Minister I can assure that the Internal Affairs of this country will be well managed and in good hands. However, I must take a step back and warn against colonial expansionism. Germany has arrived in Afrika too late to stake a claim to highly profitable lands. What we have now, I feel, shall forever be a burden upon our countries treasury and will serve but as nothing to destroy our overseas capability. This said, I also reference our Pacific holdings, which, over the past few years, have done nothing but drain the budget of valuable resources needed for Germany itself.

That said, I do however highly support the Kaiser's move for a build up of our Naval forces. While this might antagonise some of our Western neighbours, we are a free and sovereign nation. There is no reason for the German people to go to war. We are a peaceful nation, and shall only resort to war as a last result, no matter what the peoples of Europe think of us.

It shall be my honour to serve in this minority government.

[Suirantes]

I agree with my fellow party members, a build up in the colonies only diverts valuable resources and wealth, and is only an attempt to increase prestige and nothing else. Naval expansion is an example of pointless militarism, while being a further drain on our money and resources, serves further to antagonise our relationship the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. I wish for the government to focus on improving the life of the ordinary German, increasing their rights and not enslaving Natives on another continent.

- Gebhard Lothar Freiherr von Richthofen, leader of the Social Democratic Party

[Spitfire5793]

Gustav Goldschmidt
Age: 52
Party: Centre party
Bio: Born in Munich, Gutav was the 2nd child 5. Gustav became a politician at the age of 44, representing the people of Munich. He taught physics at the University of Munich before entering politics.

[Frymonmon]

17 May 1912

Do you approve of the new Chancellor and his Government?
56% NO
34% YES
10% Undecided/Not Answered

What Political Party will you vote for if the election was held today?
23% Centre Party
18% Social Democratic Party
17% Others
14% German Reich Party
10% German Conservative Party
08% National Liberal Party
07% Undecided/Not Answered
03% Progressive People's Party

How favourable do you view the Chancellor?
68% Favourable
27% Unvaourable
05% Undecided/Not Answered

What issue matters the most to you?
46% Economy
36% Foreign Threats
13% Army
04% Naval Buildup
01% Colonial Expansion

[Stuckenschmidt]

OOC: The SPD drops from 34% (RL) to 18% despite the people don`t like the Government and we adress the core issues? I smell a demoscopic fraud.

[Frymonmon]

OOC: Voters are more inclined to support the Centre Party fully, without giving the fringe parties many votes. The SPD is also split, causing some to be disinterested. Besides, this is only the first of many many polls.

[Seek75]

The most obvious evidence for this is the adress of our new Colonial Minister, Mr. Thauman, who already seems to have declared war on the german language.

OOC: Well excuse me, not everyone's a native speaker.

[tyriet]

I am saddened that the Chancellor made a coalition with the Anti-Colonialists from the Deutschkonservative. I can not see why the Chancellor chose to not base his Coalition more centric, but instead used the more radical elements. This was even done making the current government even more stable, while including us, the Freikonservative would have made the government more stable and less radical.
We are happy though that the Coalition at least chose not to give the Deutschkonservatives the option to ruin our colonial ambitions as well, giving the office to a National Liberal.

[Shynka]

I am greatly saddened by the anti-colonial policies expressed by the members Sozialistische Partei. I, as a patriot, have not felt the urge of stripping Germany of its hard-gained colonial possessions, and fail to see why others might. Without colonies and overseas possessions, our foes could underrate Germany and doubt its Imperial status. We do not enslave the natives of those lands, but we bring civilization to their otherwise chaotic and wild lands. We let them belong to the greatest Empire that has ever existed, and also give them access to eternal salvation through the Christian faith. I strongly disapprove of the coalition; the chancellor has clearly tried to avoid including the loyal Reich Party as much as possible, and instead has opted for a cluster of smaller parties, each with a different set of stands and views. The future will show whether such an unstable government can truly rule Germany.

[Muskeato]

The German Reich leads the world in various sciences, and is gaining in other industrial fields. We do not need colonies to show off our supremacy. I remind my colleague of the massacre of the Hottentots in German South West Africa. Was this civilisation?

I do not adovocate abandoning what colonies we have, but I do not seek their expansion.

~H.C.A

[DoomBunny]

As a retired soldier who has served many times against our enemies, both European and colonial, I must express my support for the expansion of the German Reich through means of military force. Colonialism is a beneficial relationship for both the Reich, and for many of the natives, who profit vastly from our colonial policies.

Whilst it is true that many of the local savages resist strongly, and indeed, I have several scars as proof of this, many of the natives are peace loving people, willing to help us bring them civilisation and the glories of Germanisation. Furthermore, by challenging those who would resist with our own military force, we make these peaceful natives lives better, as tribes who would previously have bullied and coerced them into being subjects have now been defeated by our glorious armed forces.

The benefits to us of our colonial policies are numerous. Firstly, it must be said that the resources they provide stand to fuel increased industrialisation, thereby strengthening the Reich against threats and bettering the lives of the German people. Secondly, they improve Germany's standing on the international stage, and along with our mighty navy, secure us our position as one of the world's foremost powers. Third, the colonial warfare is invaluable, not just for the testing of new weaponry and tactics, but also for gaining our soldiers valuable experience to aid in Germany's defence. Finally, the colonies allow us to fulfil our moral obligations to the savages of the world. Without our kindness, they would suffer under the cruelty of tribal living, unable to find water, farm crops or protect themselves from stronger tribes. With our help, those natives who are peaceful can be civilised and have their lives vastly improved though means of Germanisation. We are in fact, carrying out a moral duty to these people.

I defy any member of the Reichstag to look me in the eye, the one I did not lose at the Sedan and tell me that we should not expand these colonies. To do so would be not only a betrayal of the German people, the German soldier and the German businessman, but also a betrayal of the native people who implore us to civilise them.

[Stuckenschmidt]

OOC: Well excuse me, not everyone's a native speaker.

OOC: Another reason to spend moneyz into education instead of colonial affairs, you dirty imperialist.

[Thandros]

I am of the Opinion that the Expansion of Colonies is not in itself a bad thing. However poorly managed Colonies where the Natives are not respected can lead to major problems. The recent mass killing of the Herero and Namaqua peoples in south west Africa is a deplorable event which should never be repeated. But when colonies are well managed then the benefits to the natives can be considerable and should colony contain valuable resources not usually found in Germans lands then everyone prospers. However the Expansion of Colonies is now rather difficult as much of Africa is already colonised by other great powers resulting in sizeable difficulties in further colonial expansion.

[MastahCheef117]

"I would like to thank both the Kaiser and Chancellor for the grand appointment of Vice Chancellor and Minister of Justice in the Reich. I am honored to be a part of the coalition government, as well as being a Colonel in the Army and leader of the Conservative Party. I hope I have acted in not only the interests of the party, but of each individual member, and (last but not least) in the interest of the Empire and her people.

Colonialization is a key aspect for the expansion of German influence and prestige throughout the world, and though I do support passive-aggressive colonial policies, I do not believe that it should be at the expense of the German economy and military in a war for these colonies. As the continent of Africa is more or less completely colonized by one of the three major European powers (United Kingdom, France, and us), there is little room to expand here: however, there are always other routes that are open for expansion."

~ V. Chancellor Friedrich von Weiss

[Muskeato]

As a retired soldier who has served many times against our enemies, both European and colonial, I must express my support for the expansion of the German Reich through means of military force. Colonialism is a beneficial relationship for both the Reich, and for many of the natives, who profit vastly from our colonial policies.

Whilst it is true that many of the local savages resist strongly, and indeed, I have several scars as proof of this, many of the natives are peace loving people, willing to help us bring them civilisation and the glories of Germanisation. Furthermore, by challenging those who would resist with our own military force, we make these peaceful natives lives better, as tribes who would previously have bullied and coerced them into being subjects have now been defeated by our glorious armed forces.

The benefits to us of our colonial policies are numerous. Firstly, it must be said that the resources they provide stand to fuel increased industrialisation, thereby strengthening the Reich against threats and bettering the lives of the German people. Secondly, they improve Germany's standing on the international stage, and along with our mighty navy, secure us our position as one of the world's foremost powers. Third, the colonial warfare is invaluable, not just for the testing of new weaponry and tactics, but also for gaining our soldiers valuable experience to aid in Germany's defence. Finally, the colonies allow us to fulfil our moral obligations to the savages of the world. Without our kindness, they would suffer under the cruelty of tribal living, unable to find water, farm crops or protect themselves from stronger tribes. With our help, those natives who are peaceful can be civilised and have their lives vastly improved though means of Germanisation. We are in fact, carrying out a moral duty to these people.

I defy any member of the Reichstag to look me in the eye, the one I did not lose at the Sedan and tell me that we should not expand these colonies. To do so would be not only a betrayal of the German people, the German soldier and the German businessman, but also a betrayal of the native people who implore us to civilise them.

*While looking the eye* We should not expand our colonies.

~H.C.A

[DoomBunny]

Such juvenile and undeveloped responses are the kind I would expect from the Socialist menace, a menace which would stab our brave soldiers in the back whilst they stand proud, a menace which would see our industry crumble and our people in chains of taxation.

I have fought and bled for my country, for my people, for my Kaiser! I will not stand to have the heroic German soldier betrayed, nor the industry which keeps him fed and armed destroyed, directly or indirectly, by the Socialist menace.

[Shynka]

My fellow party member must remember that ever since the ideas of "Socialism" and "Equality" have emerged from the devil-poisoned mind of Marx and others alike him, the Socialist movement aims only to destroy the German society and culture, to divide the peoples and to put a knife between the shoulder blades of the German soldier and patriot alike. These politicians, who in my opinion have nothing to do in our glorious Reichstag, do not understand how important loyalty to the Kaiser and German unity are in our everyday lives and in our history.

[Muskeato]

Such juvenile and undeveloped responses are the kind I would expect from the Socialist menace, a menace which would stab our brave soldiers in the back whilst they stand proud, a menace which would see our industry crumble and our people in chains of taxation.

I have fought and bled for my country, for my people, for my Kaiser! I will not stand to have the heroic German soldier betrayed, nor the industry which keeps him fed and armed destroyed, directly or indirectly, by the Socialist menace.

It is not the fault of myself that you used such poor hyperbole.

[tyriet]

Kaiserliche Neuigkeiten
The Newspaper of the German Reich Party

Preamble:
The Party of the German Reich is a party with a long history and we support the ideals that have served us so well in the past and manged to forge our great nation
However as we approach a new era things change, new Ideas appear, and thus we have decided a new program is necessary. A Program of unity and progress,a program of those who support the Kaiser,
including our main ideas and goals:
1. Colonial Expansion and an increase in investment for the Colonies will be favoured
2. We want a reform transferring the power to raise a military to the Federal Government and the Kaiser, from the current state where the States maintain their own military
3. The achievements of our heroes, falling and fighting for the Fatherland will not be forgotten and honored accordingly
4. In an effort to protect the overseas possessions our beloved German Empire has civilized and included into itself, an increase in naval strength would be considered favorable.
5. The Party of the German Reich will move away from its protectionism towards a more Laissez-Fair stance, hoping to improve the situation of the major companies fueling our economy if this is seen as a good choice.
6. Social Reforms will be only implemented if highly necessary. The situation of the worker is improving by itself once the economic situation gets better.