Difference between revisions of "Edvardus"

Revision as of 02:08, 4 May 2006

Edvardus

Flag of Edvardus
Motto: Ad maiorem dei gloriam
[ ]
Region	Middle Earthen Tards
Capital
Official Language(s)	English
Leader	Paul VII
Population	8 million
Currency	Dollar
NS Sunset XML

The Holy Empire of Edvardus, or Edvardus, is a small, environmentally stunning nation, notable for its complete lack of prisons.

History

The area presently known as the Middle Earthen Tards has developed several nations in the past six years. One of which is the Holy Empire of Edvardus, which arose 4 years ago. It used to be a democratic socialist state. However, two years ago in response to the threat of war from a neighboring nation, Emperor Paul VII invoked reserve powers and caused the UN to classify Edvardus as a corrupt dictatorship.

Politics

Edvardus is a semi-presidential republic headed by the Emperor. The head of government is the popularly-elected Prime Minister, who is the head of foreign affairs. The appointed President is the head of the legislative branch and domestic affairs. The legislative body is unicameral. The government -- a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked, socially-minded morass -- juggles the competing demands of social welfare, religion & spirituality, and healthcare. The nation provides its citizens with some civil rights, a developing economy, and excellent political freedoms. Recently, the legislature approved a large-scale revitalization of the education system, made it illegal to make racist remarks in public, and frowned upon nudity in public. The Emperor has claimed reserve power, outlawing elections, in this time of growing interaction with the international community.

Political Divisions

At 4144 sq.km, Edvardus is made up of 5 provinces, 10 counties, and 210 towns.

Geography

Desite the oasis-like look, the average temperatures in Edvardus range from higher than 48 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit) in July and August to below freezing in January. The summer months are marked by two kinds of wind phenomena: a dry, dusty wind with occasional gusts to eighty kilometers an hour from the south and southeast, occurs from April to early June and again from late September through November; a steady wind from the north and northwest, prevails from mid-June to mid-September. Very dry air which accompanies the latter permits intensive sun heating of the land surface but also provides some cooling effect. Dust storms accompany these winds and may rise to height of several thousand meters, causing hazardous flying conditions and closing airports for brief periods of time.

Extremes of temperatures and humidity, coupled with the scarcity of water, will effect both humans and equipment. During the dry season, clouds of dust caused by vehicle movement will increase detection capabilities in desert regions. Flash flooding in dry riverbeds that contains water only during times of heavy rain and across roads will hinder trafficability and resupply efforts during the rainy season. Clear, cloudless skies make air superiority a prerequisite to successful offensive operations throughout Edvardus. Air operations may be reduced during windy season.

Edvardus receives most of its precipitation accompanied by thunderstorms in the winter and early spring. The average annual rainfall for this area is only about 10 to 17 cm. Half of the days in winter are cloudy, and in the summer the weather is clear most of the time.

Edvardus's national animal is the chicken, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Economy

As an industrializing nation, Edvardus exports much more than it imports. As a result, it has the largest trade surplus in the Middle Earthen Tards region. Its GDP is roughly $18 billion, making its per capita GDP at about $2260. Despite its growing ecomony, the unemployment rate is a staggering 13.25%.

Edvardus enforces a degree of private economic freedom (including privately owned industry) intermingled with centralized economic planning (which includes intervention for environmentalism and social justice, or state ownership of some of means of production). A substantial private sector is led by the Retail industry, followed by Beef-Based Agriculture and Pizza Delivery.

Citizens are free to: possess means of production, travel, buy, sell, hire, fire, organize, communicate, and protest peacefully. With tax-funded, subsidized, or state-owned services and infrastructures, citizens may access: legal assistance, information services, transportation, education services, health services, personal and property protection at home and abroad, subsidies to agriculture and other businesses, government monopolies and government-granted monopolies, and state-owned industries, such as telephone service and electricity. The state provides some autonomy over personal finances but includes involuntary spending and investments such as transfer payments and other cash benefits such as: welfare for the poor, social security for the aged and infirm, government subsidies to business, and mandatory insurance. The state also imposes: environmental regulations, labor regulations, consumer regulations, antitrust laws, intellectual property laws, incorporation laws, protectionism, and import and export controls. The state may also impose taxes and fees written or enforced with manipulation of the economy in mind.

The average income tax rate is 43%, but much higher for the wealthy. The government spends over half of the income tax revenue on administrative expenses and social welfare programs. It spends a third of the revenue on education and religious programs. The remaining amount on healthcare and commerce. There is speculation that the government may consider budgeting some funds towards defense, law & order, public transport, cleaning up the environment, and social equity programs.

Demographics

As of today, there is an estimated 8 million people in Edvardus. The largest ethnic group is indigenous, accounting for 50.3% of the entire population. Other ethnic groups include white (23.7%), black (13.2%), Asian (12.0%), and Pacific Islander (0.8%).

Culture

Emperor Paul VII has instituted a program that promotes a traditional lifestyle and social ethics while rejecting individualism and capitalistic values. It also aims to build up morale in a nation that was besieged with corruption. Some goals include courtesy to neighbors, following rules set by the government, keeping streets clean, conserving energy, and so forth. The Emperor uses the notion of self-cultivation and correct living for this movement. While some have praised the movement for its role in raising the quality of life somewhat, other have criticized it for its lofty goals that were out of touch with the suffering of the general populace. Due to this program, which involves rehabilitation of criminials rather than incarceration, crime is totally unknown.

Parliament also allocates a significant portion of its annual budget towards fostering a religious lifestyle amongst its citizens. The government declares that all citizens must attend religious services on the sabbath and believe in a monotheistic entity. While not required, citizens are highly encouraged to set aside some time weekly to do charity events or volunteer work. The government has also outlawed: genetically modified goods, public nudity, racist remarks in public, adultery, fornication, pornography, divorce, stem cell research, same-sex marriage, euthanasia, abortion in cases where the mother's life is not in danger, capital punishment, and birth control.

Edvardus is ranked 1st in the region and 68,807th in the world for Safest Nations, 7th in the region and 79,976th in the world for Nudist, and 7th in the region and 68,081st in the world for Largest Gambling Industry.