Coretta
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This article is incomplete because it is pending further input from participants, or it is a work-in-progress by one author. OverviewThe Commonwealth of Coretta is a huge, economically powerful nation, notable for its complete absence of social welfare. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 503 million are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night. It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, pro-business government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defence, and Commerce. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 40%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Information Technology, Arms Manufacturing, and Uranium Mining industries. HistoryBefore the CommonwealthApproximately 1450 A.C. (Antequam Commonwealth), the area was bespotted with several small city-states that rivalled against each other, build coalitions, and broke them. It was an ever-changing morass of politics. In 1300 A.C., the city-state of Bellaron,under the leadership of Sovereign Igor Yentis, was able to unite the neighboring cities under its rule establishing the First Empire of Bellaron. This empire included the major city-states of Ninn, Thoy, Coretta, and Vanaret. The Yentis Dynasty lasted only three generations before being deposed ushering in the Second Empire of Bellaron, in 1156 A.C., under Imperator Janus Malsant. Under the Malsant Dynasty the empire grew and prospered. It was during this time that the city of Coretta became the commercial center of the empire because of the imperial trade policy. It was during this dynasty that the traditional land owning aristocracy began to give way to the economically powerful merchants and traders. The Malsant Dynasty ended when Imperator Draconis Malsant did not have any male heirs. It was succeeded by the Xin Dynasty. The Tholio Xin, Draconis' successor, was not popular at all with the land owning aristocrats, who traditionally had to approve of an Imperator's successor. Tholio was born from Ninnian aristocrats, widely regarded as little better than barbarians, and only succeeded Draconis through marriage. The Xin Dynasty barely lasted one generation before the other aristocratic families assassinated Tholio and his family. The aristocratic lines decided to do away with strict hereditary lines of rule and substituted it with a republic form of government forming the first Noble Republic of Bellaron in 413 A.C. The Republic was little more a consortium of aristocrats. It was not until the First Civil War, in 401 A.C., will the Republic include the 'common' people. The original city-states were now major population centers in this new republic, but divisions along these lines ran deep. It was still not uncommon an entire ethnic population to leave the republic in protest over the laws being passed by the republic. For example, in 289 A.C., the city of Ninn succeded from the republic over what they deemed unfair laws regulating the pasturing of herd animals. These brief successions are marked by a brief military conflict and re-intergration into the republic. Succession and the Formation of the CommonwealthIt was one of these successions that brought about the formation of the Commonwealth. In 4 A.C., the Grand Republic Senate had passed several laws regulating business practices much to the dismay of many Corettan Senators. In the same year, the rotating office of President of the Grand Republic bypassed Coretta, when traditionally it was their turn. Because of this, the city of Coretta succeded from the Republic. The subsequent military conflict was far more costly for the Republic than expected and saw the city of Vanaret and other smaller cities join the Corettans in succession. This conflict becomes to be known as the Second Civil War. When it became apparent that the Republic could not defeat Zelazney Gheros, the military leader of Coretta, and his allies, the Republic sued for peace and the war was over on January 9, 1 A.C. with the signing of the Treaty of Caledon. The Corettan leaders invited their allies to form a commonwealth based on equitable economic prosperity and security. A constitutional convention was formed to draft a system of government in April 17, 1 C.Y. The First Prime Minister, Cedric Cook, was elected on June 30, 1 C.Y., the same day the Constitution was ratified by all Commonwealth cities. Coretta City was established the official capital of the Commonwealth. The cities of Vanaret and Caledon were already major population centers at the formation of the Commonwealth with well over 500,000 citizens. The city of Caltor was founded by the influential Core Gheros Corporation on January 9, 5 CY--in memorial of the end of the Second Civil War. The Commonwealth was still in its infancy. Internal conflict arose around 11 CY. The major political movements could not agree on an effective political and economic philosophy to guide the Commonwealth's future. Neal Gheros, of the United Commonwealth Party (UCP), promoted a 'hands off' approach and insisted that the role of government was to provide infrastructure and defense. The UCP at the time held the majority of the Parliament. The Progressive Party a modest increase in government spending to provide education and healthcare. The election of November 11, 13 CY, say a Progressive Party victory. They were able to win a majority in Parliament and elected Carl Hasselbach as Prime Minister. Prime Minister Hasselbach did not waste time to implement his party's campaign promises, despite warnings from economic analysts that the economy could face a little down turn. Hasselbach disregarded the warnings in saying, "Even if dark times lay ahead, the merciful hand of the Commonwealth will provide." The economy did take a turn for the worse with the market crash and subsequent depression in 14 CY. Initially, the newly implemented social programs, known as Hasselbach's Hand, alleviated the impact on the depression. The government did not have adequate funds to finance the social programs as the depression spilled into the next two years. The national creditors downgraded the Commonwealth's credit status and nearly defaulted on all government loans. Conditions deteriated to the point that Hasselbach faced a vote of no confidence with nearly his entire party capitulating to the opposition. Elections were scheduled, but could not be completed because of a surprise attack from Bellaron Republic forces capturing the fledgling city of Caltor. The Bellaronian ConflictThe ExodusAberdeenGovernmentThe Executive
The ParliamentPresident Haikon Linden
The JudiciarySeating Head Judge Igor Yentis Corettan Armed ForcesThe EconomyMajor Corporations and IndustriesThe Corporate InfluenceToo Much Capitalism?Major Stock Exchanges
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