Dhaana

Dhāna is a peaceful parliamentary democracy located within the region of [sic] 42 Hitch Hikers Guide.

A recent Ministry of Tourism brochure extolling the virtues of Dhāna states:

"The Parliamentary Democracy of Dhāna is a huge, devout nation, renowned for its devotion to social welfare. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 756 million hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt, liberal government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Healthcare, Education, and the Environment. The average income tax rate is 69%, and even higher for the wealthy. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Book Publishing.

Prime real estate is devoted to wind farms and solar energy generators, voting has become a nightmare since everyone keeps selecting "None of the above", cars are banned from built-up areas, and the people elect the Supreme Court justices directly. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is moderate. Dhāna's national animal is the yak, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the khannō."

History

[A history of the various periods of the government of Dhāna is forthcoming.]

Current Affairs

Dhāna's parliament has just proposed a resolution banning commercial advertisements, which is expected to pass as soon as November 1st, 2006.

Dhāna and the United Nations

Dhāna has had some troubles maintaining United Nations ambassadors in recent months, and the last month saw yet another ambassadorial replacement, the third in the past sixth months. Natwarō Kunchenī was forced to resign after a scandal erupted due to his apparent ignorance of the fact that the payment of income tax is required by law. His replacement is Chabhyomī Jhewerthō, a former governmental minister from the coalition led by Prime Minister Ninjaya Saraṡthāna, the first female conservative prime minister of Dhāna. Despite the political alignment of the government he aided, Jhewerthō is a member of the Dhāna Central party and a staunch supporter of Kunchī's coalition government.

Dhāna's Recent United Nations Votes

• Repeal "Sexual Freedom"--For

Dhāna's Current Parliament

Dhāna's parliament has 127 seats. In order to function as a governor, the Prime Minister must possess a majority vote (a three-fifths majority, or 74 seats, averaged over three voting sessions is needed to pass a resolution). Nimsakharō Kunchī's coalition has an average of 80 seats on any given vote. In an effort to rally support for his government, the Prime Minister recently delivered a speech on the subject of political parties, featuring one particular line of note:

""So often we disagree with each other on the principle that we have always disagreed with each other. That logic is flawed, and always has been. We agree that there must be a change--does it matter who instigates the change, so long as a change is instigated?"

The Prime Minister's coalition government is composed of three parties: the Prime Minister's own simple majority party, the Dhāna Labor Party (DLP) with 39 seats, the Dhāna Central Coalition (DCC) with 21 seats, and the Dhāna Workers' Party (DWP) with 15 seats. The four independents in the parliament also vote with the coalition.

Government in Dhāna

Dhāna's government is a parliamentary democracy. Every five years, nationwide elections are held to determine how many seats each party will have in the parliament. There are 127 seats total, one seat for each of Dhāna's electoral districts. Each seat has one vote in the parliament. The highest ranking representative of the majority party becomes the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister appoints eight governmental ministers from within his coalition government. They current eight ministers are:

• Minister of Finance Asthanī Yalmanō (DCC)

Minister Yalmanō's Finance Department is efficient (some would say ruthless). The Minister himself has a gift for organization, and has reduced departmental corruption, rampant under the Saraṡthāna administration. However, Yalmanō is not a favorite of the people, based on his new reevaluations of property values, which in most cases increased property taxes.

• Minister of Security Nuadha Injaye (DLP)

Minister Injaye's Security Department is ever-watchful. Due in part to the unprovoked invasion of 42 Hitch Hikers Guide some months ago, the Security Department has been petitioning repeatedly for more funds for the military. These petitions have been, in most cases, rejected, owing in part to major protests organized by anti-war groups. This has made operation difficult at times for the department, but Minister Injaye has managed better than she was expected to by some political commentators.

• Minister of Domestic Affairs Nimbī Armayanō (DWP)

Minister Armayanō's Domestic Affairs Department is well-regarded by the populace. Of all the departments, Domestic Affairs is the only one not to have made any tax-increasing proposals within the first months of the Kunchī administration, whereas under the Saraṡthāna administration, it was one of the most expensive departments. Minister Armayanō attributes his success largely to the support he has received from Department staff, who in many cases have been working in the same job for two or even three different coalition governments.

• Minister of Health and Education Hadhwatī Morasyō (Independent)

Minister Morasyō's Health and Education Department is in good hands. Minister Morasyō was once a college professor, and his teaching work gives him a uniquely insightful perspective on Dhāna's schools not shared by his last few predecessors. So far Morasyō, while increasing the tax burden slightly due to some important education initiatives, has pleased the populace.

• Minister of Energy and Science Chasthe Nasthana (DLP)

Minister Nasthana's Energy and Science Department is pushing ahead numerous alternative energy initiatives. A recent proposal to dam a few major rivers in Dhāna, however, was turned down due to environmental concerns. Nasthana regards this as only a temporary setback, and she intends to continue to campaign in support of the bill or an updated version thereof.

• Minister of Transportation and Communication Ajhurī Sawasbhatō (DLP)

Minister Sawasbhatō's Transportation and Communication Department is busy. Dhāna's mass transit system was in need of much work at the beginning of the Kunchī administration. Fortunately, Minister Sawasbhatō is a hardworking man, and his department, which closed subways in a number of Dhāna's major cities due to safety concerns, plans to reopen several as soon as December.

• Minister of Foreign Affairs Thamī Dhibhutō (DCC)

Minister Dhibhutō's Foreign Affairs Department is in turmoil. Several scandals involving past Dhāna ambassadors to the United Nations, including the most recent ambassador Natwarō Kunchenī, have thrown Minister Dhibhutō's judgement into question. An emergency parliamentary referendum on several proposed candidates was held after Ambassador Kunchenī's "resignation", and the new ambassador so far seems to have no surprises for Dhibhutō's department.

• Minister of Subsistence Ṡrantha Ghibhane

Minister Ghibhane's Subsistence Department is laid back. Agriculture was never a major part of Dhāna's economy--even as far back as the Yagrī-Thupkra Period, Dhāna relied heavily on trade for wealth and supplies. However, Minister Ghibhane has recently proposed legislation in parliament that would expand her department's jurisdiction to include all raw material production within Dhāna. The first vote has taken place, with no clear majority (64 for, 60 against, 3 abstain) resulting.

International Relations

Due to their nations proximity, Dhāna typically speaks for the Principality of Elba in most international matters. There is a significant Elban minority in Dhaana, almost 3 million (3/5 of the population of Elba, in fact).

As of 5 November, 2006, Dhāna is participating in negotiations with Sol Giuldor on the location of an embassy.