The Election of 1875
Just months after military triumph in the Bohemian War the United Socialist People’s Republic entered into its latest election campaign. Several new factions would compete the first election for the Constituent Assembly with the Marxist-Leninists, Moderates and Militarists making their first appearances in an election.
Marxist-Leninists
Prospective Chairman: Vladimir Lenin
The heirs of the Marxist faction entered the 1875 election promising the aggressive propagation of the international revolution through all means open to the Republic, a restarting of the social reform program and a new radical outlook on Marxist philosophy.
Position within Party: Far Left
Economic Policy:
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!
Many workers still earn a wage that is able to sustain them and little more. The minimum wage should be raised immediately.
Our safety standards are far too lax. Appendages are still being lost at a depressingly regular basis in our Republic’s factories whilst long term health effects are starting to become more apparent. It is the duty of the state to protect the workers and protect the workers we shall.
The unemployment subsidy currently provided by the state is pitifully low. As we have seen in our annexations of Bavaria, Prussia, Bohemia and Silesia the capitalists dogs that surround us constantly fail to provide work for their proletarians. Without proper unemployment subsidies when we liberate these proletarians they may not survive long enough to enjoy the fruits of labour in factories that they themselves own.
Africa:
The African Question raises an important point for our brave Republic. Was Karl Marx right that all societies must go through the scientific progression from a primitive communist society to a feudal society to a capitalist society before it can go on from a socialist society to a communist society? Many would argue that it is impossible for the feudal and in some areas primitive communist societies of Africa to skip the capitalist stage and directly enter the socialist stage. But we say nay!
Marxism cannot be set in stone. It must change with the changing situation. We must currently ask ourselves another question: shall we sit back whilst an entire continent is enslaved by the Imperialists or shall we intervene before France and Britain can gobble up millions of lives? Shall we save the Africans from the torments that the peoples of Asia and America have already witnessed or shall we allow them to be slaughtered in the plantations in the name of scientific Marxism? No! The African continent shall be free!
The Marxist-Leninists propose an expedition to West Africa to establish socialistic enclaves on the coast from where we can spread our ideology to the innumerable Africans. Comrades, we have the chance to spare an entire continent from the capatalistic horrors that we faced here in Germany and that our European brethren continue to face.
Foreign Policy:
In the Bohemian War we proved ourselves strong enough to face any power on earth and win. Whilst we spread our message to Africa we must continue to liberate the workers of Europe. Never shy away from war, always seek the liberation of our brothers!
Anarchists
Prospective Chairman: Peter Kropotkin
The Anarchists believed in shrinking government as fast as possible, expanding the revolution without unnecessary bloodshed and interesting since the exit of Bakunin the faction had turned against the large Unions in favour of supporting the idea of more decentralised Communes.
Position within Party: Far Right
Economic Policy:
A low flat tax.
Tariffs may be used up to the level of 5%.
The state should only intervene in industry to prevent unemployment. On the whole the initiatives of independent groups of workers or farmers (Communes) should be the back bone of the economy. The banks have long been under state control – these should be used to provide the funding for the Communes to set up new mines, collective farms or industries.
The people of the Republic do not need the state to hold their hand, they only need themselves.
Reform Policy:
The disenfranchised farmers and artisans continue to act as the oppressed members of our depressingly hierarchical society. Why have we overthrown one aristocratic ruling class in order to promote a new industrial ruling class? Why does the people’s state act as dictator over half of its people? The peasant farmer and the hard working artisan have long been squeezed to pay for our industrial and military expansionism. It is time to give something back to the down trodden of society.
Africa:
There is nothing from with spreading the revolution to pre-industrial society as some have claimed and it should be actively encouraged. The French and British have already started to ready themselves for rapid expansion on the Dark Continent – if we do not then we are to blame for millions more following under their Imperialistic cosh.
Foreign Policy:
Asia, Africa and Latin America are all fertile grounds for revolution that could avoid open confrontation with the Great Powers. The Bohemian War costs 100,000s of lives on both sides. We do not want to repeat such a calamitous event. Instead short bloodless conflicts and merely supporting revolutions abroad should be our focus.
Militarists
Prospective Chairman: Alfred Schlieffen
Unlike so many Prussian military leaders Alfred von Schlieffen did not emigrate or commit suicide as the Red Army conquered Prussia in 1866 – instead he did not fight against but embraced his revolutionary brothers. With a small group of Prussian officers Schlieffen joined the Red Army. He was forced to abandon his title (becoming simply Alfred Schlieffen) and all his estates but he was instantly a major figure in one of the largest armies in the world. In an officer core largely made up of men promoted from the ranks (as was the tradition in the Red Army) the Prussian Generals who had been trained from their teens to leader rather than to fight quickly made their way to the upper echelons of the Red Army where they made up a disproportionately large portion of the Generals. When Weydemeyer was forced to step down from his position as Commissar for Military Affairs in 1870 the Red Army’s leadership was restructured.
The Red Army and Red Navy were finally officially separated with Kadon (the new Commissar) having influence over both. However at the head of the Red Army a new position was created – Chief of the General Staff. Schlieffen took this role.
Now as a popular war hero the 42 year old Schlieffen has entered politics with the aim of bringing the Military’s voice to the People’s Party.
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.’’
Military spending should be pegged at 60% - this should allow for a steady and continuous expansion of the armed forces in order to combat the threats that surround us. Britain shall not be defeated without a mighty fleet. France without a modern and large Army and Russia without a force large enough to conquer and hold all the lands between Poland and the Urals.
Reform Policy:
There should be
one social reform.
Safety standards to protect the workers in our factories. An injured worker is an unproductive worker.
The disenfranchised officers, farmers and artisans should receive the vote. These people have just as much a right to vote as the urban workers.
The press is currently spiralling out of control. It is being used to fan the flames of inter-factional hatred, it is telling slanderous lies about public figures and it is becoming used as a tool to control the proletariat rather than enlighten them. Let us institute press censorship in order to prevent a new bourgeoisie from using the press to dismantle the Republic.
Africa:
A new field on which to combat the Imperialist! Millions more Comrades in arms!
There is not a single good reason to avoid Africa.
It helps us save millions from oppression, it gives us greater geo-political power and on top of this we shall be able to enrich both our own economy and that of Africa by sending our overproduced goods to Africa. Feed the world!
Foreign Policy:
As was proven in the Bohemian War we are able to take on Europe’s finest and win. Let us use this information to spread the revolution from the Urals to the Pillars of Hercules!
Völker, höre die signale!
Auf, zum letzen Gerfect!
Die Internationale,
Erkämpft das Menschenrecht!
United Front
Prospective Chairman:
To the horror of much of the Republic Engels stood for a third consecutive term in office – if successful he could become a virtual dictator who ruled for 15 years. The increasingly wayward United Front (which seemed to have lost direction) simply called for more of the same.
Position within Party: Centre (elements of left and right)
Economic Policy:
Essentially, more of the same.
The United Front has adopted a Marxist system with benefits. All that is good about Marxist economics is mixed with all that is good about Syndicalist economics. The Marxist social welfare scheme improves the lives of the workers directly – the United Front tax cuts double their income (or in the case of middle strata persons more than double it). In the Marxist system the state runs industry. In the United Front system the state and the Unions help each other to run industry together.
‘’Taxes shall be slashed, the poor shall pay 25% tax (half the current rate), the rich 50% (also half the current rate) whilst the middle income population shall also pay 25% tax. Our budget is currently overflowing with surplus funds; why not give the money back to the workers themselves?
The state and the Unions must work as one to ensure our industry continues to expand at an exponential rate.
Social spending is to remain at its maximum level at all times – we must support the welfare state we have created with appropriate funds.
Military spending is to remain stationary at 60% but further expansion of the standing army is to be slowed down tremendously.
No tariffs.’’
A vote for the United Front is a vote for another half decade of economic prosperity.
Reform Policy:
There is currently no need for further reforms. Our Unions are free, our press is un-tampered with and our social reform program is already cumbersomely large.
Africa:
The African people are not yet ready for socialism. Many groups have yet to experience feudalism let alone capitalism on that continent. It would thus be inexpedient to expand our influence there. After all, if we cannot truly bring them socialism, what would separate us from the French and British who go there only out of Imperial ambition?
Foreign Policy:
The Bohemian War showed us that even an alliance of capitalistic powers cannot compete with us. We should continue to act more aggressively in Europe. Austria-Hungary is on the verge of crumbling whilst the French bloc in Western Europe may not be quite as strong as our Parisian foes would have us believe.
Moderates
Prospective Chairman: August Bebel
The Moderates represent the combined force of the German Socialists and the right-wing Marxists. They support Marx’s beliefs on the progression of society but they are weary of his penchant for radical reform.
Position within Party: Centre-Left
Economic Policy:
The Moderates support an economic system very similar to that proposed by the United Front.
Taxes should be set at 25% for the poor with the rich paying 40%.
Not tariffs.
Industrial expansion should be a largely state run business and should continue at pace. However we should encourage Unions to contribute towards the process. In return the Unions should continue to benefit from some level of control over industry.
Social spending must remain at its maximum level at all times.
Military spending should remain at 50% at all times.
Reform Policy:
Two social reforms.
Safety standards to improve the lot of the man in the factory and unemployment subsidies to grant those out of work a living wage.
Africa:
We should absolutely not intervene in Africa!
These people are not ready for socialism as they have yet experience a capitalistic industrial society. What’s more we have no intention of becoming Imperialistic masters like the British and French under the banner of the raised fist! That would sully the name of our socialistic revolution!
Foreign Policy:
No more needless killing! As we have seen in Spain and Denmark it is possible for European state to overthrow their capitalistic masters without tens of thousands of our citizens laying down their lives.
We should also stop supporting revolutions in the pre-industrial world. Any future revolutionary states in pre-industrial societies should not be supported by the Comintern. They should instead collaborate with the bourgeoisie in their countries to create a capitalistic state from which they can later progress onto socialism.
All readers may vote for either:
Marxist-Leninists
Anarchists
Militarists
United Front
Moderates
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!