Sonderweg oder Anderweg? -- An interactive AAR in the Hohenzollerns megacampaign

[Andre Massena]

I wish to lend my support to the HEAD OF STATE ACT and the REICHSTAG REPRESENTATIVE RATIONALIZATION ACT - however, I would like to comment on them for a moment:

For the first act, I support it only on the condition that the title "Head of State" be merely symbolic, carrying no other meaning than "leader of the nation" - given that the Chancellor is, already, the "leader of the nation" in almost every imaginable, this seems relatively straightforward if also slightly redundant. However, any act that would seek to give more power to the presidency I strongly object to.

As for the second act, I believe it to be, by and large, a step forward in regards to organization (a key factor to all successful governance). It is only logical that all the provinces within our borders be represented equally, and I consider it a reasonable and just bill.

- Lukas von Freiburg

I hesitate to speak for my uncle, but I am certain he intends for the title to be merely symbolic. Formally naming the chancellor head if state "fills the hole" that certain people may want to replace with a constitutional monarch. Therefore, my uncle and I urge you to support the bill for the protection and strengthening of our Republic.

-Georgio Brunelli

 

[oxfordroyale]

I hesitate to speak for my uncle, but I am certain he intends for the title to be merely symbolic. Formally naming the chancellor head if state "fills the hole" that certain people may want to replace with a constitutional monarch. Therefore, my uncle and I urge you to support the bill for the protection and strengthening of our Republic.

-Georgio Brunelli

Then I shall.

- Lukas von Freiburg

 

[Jack LEagle]

((I'd be happy to issue some orders for the Fleet; be nice to know where our ships are, and what we know of the enemy fleets))

 

[Johnnysaurus]

((Who's in charge of the upcoming socialist party? I would like to get into contact with you. I have been thinking about joining up, and have a character in mind who essentially gets into politics after the current military conflict resolves.))

 

[Avindian]

((I'd be happy to issue some orders for the Fleet; be nice to know where our ships are, and what we know of the enemy fleets))

((Steam Fleet is blockading Danzig, Main Fleet is in the Dover Straits. I don't know much about the enemy fleets. ))

((Who's in charge of the upcoming socialist party? I would like to get into contact with you. I have been thinking about joining up, and have a character in mind who essentially gets into politics after the current military conflict resolves.))

((DutchGuy is taking point on forming the Socialists, you should PM him.))

So, to give everyone an idea of how Andre Massena's proposal would work out, we presently have 245 provinces. That would give us 245 Stadtholders and 245 Assemblymen. There's no quick way to generate a list of provinces; I could use screengrabs from the ledger, I guess, but it would take a while.

While we're sorting this out, of course, all Ministers may submit their own proposals.

 

[Michaelangelo]

I support the Reichstag Representative Rationalization Act. It will help to clear up a bunch of bureaucracy cluttering the democratic process.

As for the Head of State Act, I must protest. If anyone is to serve as the head of state, it should be the head of the Hohenzollern family in recognition of all they have done for this country. Without the Hohenzollerns, there would be no Germany. Seeing as the position is purely symbolic and has absolutely no power over government, it would not be a reinstatement of the monarchy for those who shy away from the word. It is merely a way of recognizing the founding family of Germany and all the great deeds they have done that allowed this great nation to exist.

 

[Avindian]

Regarding the Reichstag Representative Rationalization Act, I see no harm in reducing red tape, as my friend and colleague in the Assembly suggested. I vote in favor. I cannot, however, agree to the Head of State Act. I do not deny that Germany needs one; I just think it would be better if there were an entirely separate office, with an entirely separate person holding it. Therefore, I regrettably vote no.

I request the approval of my fellow Stadtholders to suppress a cell of Flemish nationalists, numbering 133,470 in number. That is the only change to my ministry's policy I envision for 1861.

Michael von Hohenzollern, Minister of the Interior

 

[Brothersid]

I abstain on the Reichstag Representative Rationalization Act as while I approve of giving all states representation in the Conclave I oppose the notion of the vast reduction of Assemblyman and hope to see more representives assigned in the final version of this bill. Further, I support the Head of State Act because while I have plans to fill the posotion in other ways I believe this to be an acceptable placeholder. I also oppose the supression of femish nationalists for reasons previously well expressed by myself.Lastly, I call for the minister of war to remove Konrad zu Hohenlohe from command for his incomptiance shown during the Battle of Paris there he engaged with a force eight times stronger than the defender's still permitted the defenders to inflict a 2:1 caustically ratio showing reckless disregard for German life.
((Avindian can I please see the budget screen))

 

[AzagalTheGreat]

I counterpropose the following:

The Presidency Act

1 :The President will act as the Head of the German State, with responsibilities and powers to be determined at a later date

2 :The President is elected in 3 rounds, by the Assembly and the Conclave together.In the first round everybody can propose themselves for the position.With a maximum of 20 candidates.The remaining candidates(1/4 roughly of the original if less then 20) with the most votes pass to the next round.In round 2 The Conclave and Assembly vote again, and the 2 candidats with the most votes pass to the final round.In the third and final round the candidate with the most votes wins.

3 :The President will swear an oath on the Constitution after being elected, then formally becoming President

Also,I oppose the oppression of the Flemish.For we cant be a truly democratic country if we crack down the minorities,myself coming from one.Finally, I support the Rationalization act.

Heinrich von Gogh





((Tell me any flaws in this system, ill fix it.Also,I urge people to not abuse this system ...Cough Fascists cough))

 

[yui889]

((So I just finish reading the whole megacampaign, and I would love to join, so, here it goes.

Name: Abel von Gawk
Party Affiliation: The HUN
Position: Conclave
Birth: June 6,1830, Bohemia
Bio: The last member of a relatively unknown noble family who was recently pressed into military service. He fought with the Fifth Army in the battle of Dunkirk and was severely wounded in the battle. He was unable to continue his military service and used the last of his family's wealth to fund his election to the conclave.))

 

[Idhrendur]

I support the REICHSTAG REPRESENTATIVE RATIONALIZATION ACT, but must oppose the HEAD OF STATE ACT. Furthermore, I reluctantly agree to the suppression of the cell of Flemish nationalists

FM

 

[PTSnoop]

Some troubling proposals have been brought to my attention today.

First, the electoral reforms proposed in the Reichstag Representative Rationalization Act. This Act would increase the number of Stadtholders in the Conclave, increasing representation for several under-represented cities - which is to be applauded. But this comes at the cost of gutting the Assembly - its numbers are to be almost halved, then its remaining members are to be divided across the country based not on population, but on *geography*. Under this new system, the vote of a single farmer in a sparsely populated agricultural area such as Aquila would outweigh the votes of thousands of workers in the densely populated cities of the Ruhr region.

We live in an increasingly industrialised world. More and more of the German population are moving into the cities, looking for work in the factories. And several of these great industrial cities - such as Disburg, and Essen - do not have Stadtholders of their own, even under the "rationalization" proposal. If electoral reform is to happen, it must give increased representation to these centres of population - and to spread the assembly across the plains and the Alps would be a great step backwards for Democracy. I must therefore oppose the Reichstag Representative Rationalization Act in its current state.

And yet, it appears Democracy has greater troubles. The Head of State Act and the Presidency Act both seek to establish a single man over the whole German state. This is something I must oppose, be it even a figurehead position or merely a semantic title. Chancellor is a good enough title already - if you want a single man over an Empire, you may as well just call him Lord Protector and be done with it. I must oppose both the Head of State Act and the Presidency Act.

 

[Mikkel Glahder]

Suppres these jacobin flemish. I abstain in all other proposals.

~Konrad von Schwaben, Head of the Corps of the Gendarmerie

 

[Andre Massena]

Some troubling proposals have been brought to my attention today.

First, the electoral reforms proposed in the Reichstag Representative Rationalization Act. This Act would increase the number of Stadtholders in the Conclave, increasing representation for several under-represented cities - which is to be applauded. But this comes at the cost of gutting the Assembly - its numbers are to be almost halved, then its remaining members are to be divided across the country based not on population, but on *geography*. Under this new system, the vote of a single farmer in a sparsely populated agricultural area such as Aquila would outweigh the votes of thousands of workers in the densely populated cities of the Ruhr region.

Brunelli reads the logs from the recent Reichstag meetings and responds in writing, which his nephew reads aloud

Dear Herr Adimari,

I understand your concern with our vibrant and industrious cities possibly being underrepresented. However, I suggest you propose your own administrative divisions instead of merely voting against the bill. Merely voting nay will result in half the country being underrepresented in the Conclave and having no say in the daily running of the government.

I oppose the Presidency Act, for I believe it will create redundancy and confusion in the government. Furthermore, I also oppose the oppression of the poor Flemish people. It is time to stop trampling on the rights of our fellow citizens. Perhaps we can rest easier with a victory in war and not pay any heed to the wild and fearful imaginations of imperialists.

Your friend,

Carlo Brunelli, Minister of Education

 

[Avindian]

((Avindian can I please see the budget screen))

Spoiler

I counterpropose the following:

1 :The President will act as the Head of the German State, with responsibilities and powers to be determined at a later date

2 :The President is elected in 3 rounds, by the Assembly and the Conclave together.In the first round everybody can propose themselves for the position.With a maximum of 20 candidates.The remaining candidates(1/4 roughly of the original if less then 20) with the most votes pass to the next round.In round 2 The Conclave and Assembly vote again, and the 2 candidats with the most votes pass to the final round.In the third and final round the candidate with the most votes wins.

3 :The President will swear an oath on the Constitution after being elected, then formally becoming President

Also,I oppose the oppression of the Flemish.For we cant be a truly democratic country if we crack down the minorities,myself coming from one.Finally, I support the Rationalization act.

Heinrich von Gogh

Herr von Gogh,

First, let me remind you that matters of domestic policy are determined by the Conclave, not by the Assembly.

Second, your proposal, as presently drafted, is unacceptable to the Supreme Court. A law establishing a position must include the rights and responsibilities of that position before it is eligible to be made a part of the Constitution.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

((Also, DG, three rounds is excessive. I think a round of nominations and then a round of voting is fine; if no candidate receives a majority, you can then do a runoff, if necessary. There should be no more than five or six candidates, I'm thinking.))

((Welcome aboard, yui889! You're eligible to vote right now [you picked a good time]!))

 

[Idhrendur]

Herr Adimari raises a good point regarding the Rationalization Act's effects upon the Assembly. I must now oppose this measure.

FM

 

[yui889]

((Thanks, happy to join.))

I must oppose the Reichstag Representative Rationalization Act, while it brings equality to the provinces of the German Republic, it would make the Conclave and the Assembly have the same power and become basically the same house of the government. I support the suppression of the Flemish nationalists. I oppose the Head of State Act, due to the fact that the Chancellor is already head of the government, he should hold no other office of such magnitude.

~Abel von Gawk

 

[Michaelangelo]

((Just to clear up some confusion I'm having, will the Reichstag Representative Rationalization Act have any effect on the actual AAR votes or is it merely superficial in its application to us? Obviously it would have a major impact in a real government, but what about in-game?))

 

[Brothersid]

After many difficult decisions I must announce that the Ministry of Finance will recommend that for duration of the war a 13% raise in taxes for the poor a 14% raise for the middle class and a 15% raise for the rich . In addition a 5% tariff will be levied on all imported goods. I will also order the state buying of building supplies to be halved. Lastly, the bureaucracy of Germany is to work reduced hours in order to save 5% of their budget.

 

[GreatUberGeek]

After much consideration, I must oppose the Reichstag Representation Act. A compromise situation can be made, wherein the number of Stadholders increases while the Assemblymen count stays the same. At its present point, the law is much too simplistic, and Herr Brunelli should revise it soon.

I have heard much tell of these Flemings, and these seem to me a much disrespectful and seditious people. We should suppress their rights as soon as possible. Any non-Germans cannot be trusted.
-General JH de Spinoza