Mulhollandgradia
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| Flag of Mulhollandgradia | |
| Motto: Judge Not Hungry Thieves, But Capitalism's Gluttony | |
| No Map Available Yet | |
| Region | Democratic Communist States |
|---|---|
| Capital | Mulhollandgrad (Legislative Capital)
Salvador-Horvathia (Lord Protector's Residence) |
| Official Language(s) | Mulhollandgradian (65%), Horvathian (15%), & Roonsburgian (10%) [all dialects of Pan Horvathian] |
| Leader | Lord Protector HORVATH II
Chancellor Paul Christopher Richardson, Jr. |
| Population | 1,672,000,000 |
| Currency | Electronic Grain Unit (EGU) |
| NS Sunset XML | |
Contents
Government
The United Socialist States of Mulhollandgradia (USSM) is a unitary parliamentary system. It is is composed of nine former sovereign countries and territories, which are considered administrative regions under the constitution and have federally appointed governors. The nine administrative regions are: MulhollandgradiaSSR, Pan HorvathiaSSR, RoonsburgSSR, IngenuusSSR, Christian CommunismSSR, PromethiaSSR, the Taylorian IslandsSSR, TinashappyplaceSSR, and HaraiSSR. In addition there are two capital cities (located geographically within MulhollandgradiaSSR): Mulhollandgrad and Salvador-Horvathia. Five territories (MulhollandgradiaSSR, Pan HorvathiaSSR, RoonsburgSSR, IngenuusSSR, and Christian CommunismSSR) were signatores to the SUBOS (Soviet Union of the Brotherhood of Socialists) Pact, which provided for a common currency (EGU), common defence, and unity in the name of the HORVATH. As the role of individual governments became less necessary, the SUBOS structure took more presidence.
Ultimately, HORVATH II, Paul Christopher Richardson, Jr, and Achmed the Snake negotiated the SUBOS-USSM Equivalence Treaty. The Treaty provided for all of the aspects of SUBOS to be administered by the government of the USSM, with a direct election to be held for the position of Lord Protector. The position would be modified to become a lifetime appointment with mainly symbolic/religious roles and few political powers. The Chancellor would continue to be chosen through Parliamentary means. HORVATH II campaigned for the position of Lord Chancellor versus KATHRYN the great grand daughter of the last monarch and HORVATH II's second cousin. HORVATH II won the election resoundingly with 89% of the vote compared to KATHRYN 11%. Further, HORVATH II claimed to be the sucessor to his father in regards to his father's religious significance. This role was formally recognized as the first official act of the first Parliament after the Treaty.
Contemporary Political Parties
1 - Communist Party (CP) - The CP is under the leadership of Paul Christopher Richardson. It pursues traditional Communist policies. Its manifesto calls for a strong military and expansionist foreign policy in order to spread Communism and promote the Brotherhood and Glory of the Working Man!
2 - The Horvathian Socialist Union Party (HSUP) - The HSUP is under the leadership of the 78-year old Achmed the Snake. It is a party that hopes to continue the work started by HORVATH I and Charles Leonardo Vinchensa. It wants to form a new alliance similar to SUBOS, called NUBOS (The New Union of the Brotherhood of Socialists). It would offer the EGU guarantee (guaranteed food to any Socialist country) and all of the defense guarantees historically associated with SUBOS (Mutual Defense Pact, Stationed Nuclear Weapons, and Settlers). It swears loyalty to the memory of HORVATH I and loyalty to HORVATH II. All of its members adhere to the faith of Horvathianism and believe that the religion should be spread to the rest of the world. Finally, they believe that Horvathianism should become the official language of the USSM and supplant both Mulhollandgradian and Roonsburgian.
3 - The Libertarian-Socialist Party (LSP) - The LSP is under the leadership of KATHRYN, the granddaughter of Marc Richard Kingston and second counsin of HORVATH II. It seeks to promote traditionally Libertarian-Socialist ideals. It seeks decentralization for the government and a major reduction in military spending. It wants the USSM to renounce and unilaterally dismantle its nuclear weapon stockpiles.
Parliamentary Acts of the Constitutional Protectorship
1 - 7/27/05: The Opening Session of Parliament - Selection of Paul Christopher Richardson, Jr. as Chancellor and confirmation of HORVATH II as the Lord Protector of the United Socialist States of Mulhollandgradia for life.
2 - 7/28/05: Confirmation that HORVATH II's religious significance is equal to his father HORVATH I
3 - 7/28/05: Agreement to move to the region, "Democratic Communist States". The motion passed 310-290. It was firmly supported by the LSP, supported by the CP, and vehemently opposed by the HSUP. HORVATH II respected the Constitutional ban on the Lord Protector commenting on politics, although he is rumored to have opposed the measure.
4 - 7/29/05: Agreement to join the United Democratic Communist Party. The motion passed 310-290.
The Military of the USSM: The People's Army and the Horvathian Honor Guard
The USSM maintains a large active duty army of 1,672,000, with 836,000 reservists. It maintains a nuclear deterrent of three hundred nuclear warheads and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The military is firmly under the command of the Chancellor subject to the parliamentary procedure for waging war. The army fights in the name of the Lord Protector, although he has no power in regards to the military chain of command. The Lord Protector maintains an honor guard of 1,672 soldiers, who are also ordained Horvathian priests. They are constitutionally prohibited from engaging in missions outside of Salvador-Horvathia, unless defending a Parliament approved missionary operation.
Military service in the USSM is voluntary with many more applicants than spots avalable. Because of budgetary and political constraints, the size of the active-duty, reserve, and Horvathian honor guard are a statutory percentage of the population at any particular time. Active-duty forces are 1%, reserve forces are 0.5% and the Horvathian honor guard is 0.000001% of the population
Religion
Despite historic turmoil, 95% of the USSM identifies Horvathianism as their religious preference. The remainder of the country is split between Bradonianism (the predecessor to Horvathianism), Christian Communism, and HOPE.
Horvathianism is now, but was not always, the least demanding of the religions. It requires a heartfelt faith in the BRADY, the HORVATH, and the SOCIALIST MIRACLE. It teaches that the BRADY cannot be understood in this world and that there must be a respect for the infinite totality of nature. Further, the HORVATH (I) should be respected for his ability to bring peace on earth and unity among the region's historic Socialist countries in the name of SUBOS. Finally, the Socialist Miracle must be respected, which means an understanding that all must be taken care of and have an equal say in the affairs of their own lives and the governance of the communities they live in. Aside from an expectation to travel to hear the HORVATH (I), or now claimed HORVATH II, in person, there are no other religion resembling requirements.
Demographics
The USSM is a very diverse polity, having been constructed from nine historically independent countries/regions. Nevertheless, only three languages are spoken with great prevalence: Mulhollandgradian, Horvathian, Roonsburgian. These languages are all members of the Pan Horvathian family of languages and resemble Slavic languages. It should be noted that the three prevalent languages are those languages historically spoken by the people who voluntarily agreed to associate with the USSM.
The other six countries/regions were brought into the USSM either by force or because the government in the territory collapsed. Therefore, they were all expected to learn Mulhollandgradian and encouraged to convert to Horvathianism. Most did so willingly, impressed by the level of support and development provided by the central government. Except during the Mulhollandgradia - Horvathian - Roonsburgian Civil War, no region within the USSM has actively tried to dissassociate with the USSM.
Consequently, Mulhollandgradian is the most spoken dialect with 65% of the USSM speaking it. Horvathian is second most spoken, being spoken by 15% of the population, namley the inhabitants of the region HorvathiaSSR. Roonsburg is the least spoken by only 10% of the population, namely the inhabitants of the region RoonsburgSSR.
Perhaps paradoxically, the former leader of USSRoonsburg (RoonsburgSSR before it merged with the USSM), Achmed the Snake, is the leader of the political party, the Horvathian Socialist Union Party (HSUP), and advocates that Horvathian be the official language of the USSM.
History
The Founding of the USSM
The Leonian Monarchy of Marc Richard II was overthrown by a Communist revolution involving Charles Leonardo Vinchensa, Paul Christopher Richardson, Sr., John Stalin, Raymond Cardinal Jackson, and Count San Giorgio. The Leonian Empire controlled most of the territory now controlled by the USSM. After the revolution, HORVATH I seized control in Pan Horvathia, an area to the East of the Leonian Capital. In the Southeast, Achmed the Snake quickly organized a Socialist and Pacifist Republic.
The leadership of the Revolution quickly allied with HORVATH I and Achmed the Snake. Count San Giorgio, a member of HORVATH I's court, had aided the revolution with his blessing. Further, HORVATH I prevented supplies from reaching his uncle Marc Richard II allowing the success of the revolution. He claimed that he did this understanding the inevitability of Communism and that he was an enlighted price. Charles Leonardo Vinchensa believed HORVATH I claimed and swore loyalty to him.
Charles Leonardo Vinchensa was elected the first Chancellor of the USSM and he appointed Paul Christopher Richardson, Sr. to the position of Lord Protector. At that point, the position of Lord Protector was solely a military position. Therefore, he was the Commander-in-Chief of the People's Army.
The Signing of the SUBOS Pact
As the country was established, Chancellor Vinchensa met with the leaders of Pan Horvathia and USSRoonsburg and established the SUBOS Treaty. The Treaty provided for an integrated defense structure, a common currency, and a common foreign policy. In light of the Treaty, USSRoonsburg opted to disband their army and be protected by the USSM.
The currency adopted was the Electronic Grain Unit (EGU). It was convertible at a fixed rate into grain. Therefore when an agrigultural crisis occured anywhere within SUBOS (or in a non-SUBOS ally), the USSM would wantonly distribute spare EGUs. However, these humanitarian acts, backed by an official promulgation that the USSM would help feed any Socialist country experience the pain of a "5-Year Plan" or "Great Leap Forward," placed enormous strain on Mulhollandgradian agriculture. The Parliament responded by banning meat eating, to provide additional grain (as animals consume much more grain than they produce in new food).
In response, the capitalists formed the Marshmellow Alliance led my McVania. Members included BlarghCo, Tinashappyplace, the Empire of Timmay, and the Lizonian. Later a free zone of the USSM, the Free State of the Promethians, joined the Marshmellow Alliance. In response to the EGU, the Marshmellow Alliance adopted a common currency, Monopoly Money. It had been argued that the name was an ironic insult against the EGU. Many believed that the EGU would fail and be as worthless as money in the game Monopoly. However, this was not the case. Both EGU and Monopoly Money became very strong currencies, with EGU usally being stronger.
Ironically, the EGU is often valued at such a high rate on international currency markets that more grain can be purchased by purchasing other currencies than by converting to grain at the fixed rate. Such speculation in grain in frowned upon by the government of the USSM. The value of the EGU falls in international markets when their is a famine in the USSM (historically it would drop when there was a famine in a regional Socialist country because of the EGU guarantee).
The Ascendency of Bradonianism
As the Marshmellow Alliance grew in strength, a new power rose in the region, the Holy Empire of Bradonia. Fearful that Bradonia would ally itself with the Marshmellow Alliance, particularly because of the religiousity of the founder, Chancellor Vinchensa immediately declared Bradonianism the official religion of the historically atheist USSM. He announced persecutions of believers of HOPE, angering McVania. The BRADY, the religious leader of the Holy Empire of Bradonia, was pleased with the events and swore an alliance to the USSM. McVania swore revenge.
Hostilities continued to intensify between the two alliances. Both the USSM and McVania denied that the rivalry was motivated by religion, but instead that it was motivated by a difference over political ideology. SUBOS grew with the addition of Islam-Judaism, Alvarezistan, Barvaria-studenland, Anywherebuthere, and the Ingenuus. Chancellor Paul Christopher Richardson fearing war with the Marshmellow Alliance, ordered ten nuclear tests within a period of five days. These acts were not authorized by the Parliament and led to regional outrage, although outrage in SUBOS was effectively muted. McVania denouced the tests, but responded in kind. Pan Horvathia responded to McVanian tests with tests of their own.
Chancellor Vinchensa, in hopes of allaying fears of military agression within SUBOS, promised that the USSM would defend any bona fide Socialist country within the region, whether or not they were in SUBOS. He than agreed to station nuclear weapons in any country requesting them. Beduh, the leader of Anywherebuthere, accepted the offer. The two leaders further agreed that the USSM would send settlers to Anywherebuthere.
Chancellor Vinchensa in hopes of touting the peacefulness of the USSM proposed the "Socialist Railway," which would connect all of SUBOS. Although with the need of considerable diplomacy, construction of the railway began and by the end of the year all SUBOS nations (and Bradonia) were connected via a high-speed railway. He than allowed free and fair elections to the Parliament of the USSM.
He won re-election, but not without instigating political turmoil. Four political parties were represented in the Parliament, Communists (led by John Stalin), Socialists (led by Charles Leonardo Vinchensa), Social Democrats (led by Paul Christopher Richardson, Sr.), and Bradonians (led by Raymond Cardinal Jackson). In the first session of Parliament, John Stalin denounced the teachings of Bradonianism as deviating from Marxist-Leninist-Horvathian teachings in a fiery speach on the floor of the Parliament. In response, Raymond Cardinal Jackson charged onto the floor of Parliament. He proceeded to John Stalin and bludgeoned him to death. A riot ensued in the Parliament and Paul Christopher Richardson, Sr. in his role as Lord Protector disbanded Parliament. He denounced Chancellor Vinchensa's ineptitude in transititioning to democracy.
The Harai Crisis
As the Mulhollandgradian polity appeared to dissolve, a crisis occured involving the uncivilized territory of Harai. Citizens of Mulhollandgradia and McVania had been found canibalized. The leadership of these tribes appeared unwilling or incapable of negotiating. In response, SUBOS and the Marshmellow Alliance set aside their differences and agreed to massive military operations against the Harai.
M, the leader of McVania, led into battle the combined forces of McVania and BlarghCo and occupied the Eastern region of the country. Lord Protector Paul Christopher Richardson similarly led the combined forces of the USSM and Pan Horvathia into battle. To facilitate the war, the USSM ceded New Mulhollandgradia to Islam-Judaism as a staging ground for combat operations. The military operations were a resounding success with most of the Harai being slaughtered by one of the three armies.
The sheer brutality of the combat operations led to dissension within the Marshmellow Alliance, but M made sure that this was quickly muted by signing a treaty with the USSM, providing for assistance of the USSM in eliminating any country that would seek to leave the Marshmellow Alliance. After combat ended, McVania annexed the Eastern half of Harai, the USSM annexed the Western half of Harai, and Islam-Judaism continued to occupy the territory known as New Mulhollandgradia.
In light of this amazing military victory, Paul Christopher Richardson, Sr. allowed the Parliament to reconvene. At the first session, he withdrew his Social Democratic Party's support for the Chancellor precipitating new elections. Despite the merger of the Communist and Socialist parties, Paul Christopher Richardson, Sr. won an outright victory in the election and was declared Chancellor. He subsequently kept the title of Lord Protector and became the undisputed leader of the USSM. Charles Leonardo Vinchensa left the USSM in disgrace and traveled to Bradonia for a religious pilgrimage, having converted to Bradonianism himself.
Lord Protector and Chancellor Paul Christopher Richardson, Sr. retracted long-standing USSM policy and allied the country closer with McVania. He adopted Monopoly Money instead of the EGU and publicly converted to HOPE. He made a religious pilgrimage to McVania. He later attempted to court the Empress of the Smithsonian, D, in hopes of marriage as a means of projecting the power of the USSM. M likewise tried to court D, but both Richardson, M, and later Vinchensa were rejected in their marriage proposals.
This change in foreign policy by the Chancellor led to a small revolt by Raymond Cardinal Jackson. It was quickly and brutally suppressed. Cardinal Jackson was publicly executed for treason.
Charles Leonardo Vinchensa returned to the USSM, having been ordained a Cardinal in Bradonianism himself. He then traveled to a small town in the countryside. He renamed the city, Salvador-Horvathia, and announced that HORVATH I was the savior. He blessed his announcement "in the name of the BRADY, the HORVATH, and the SOCIALIST MIRACLE, AMEN." In light of the popularity of this announcement and because of the urging of HORVATH I, Paul Christopher Richardson had no choice but to reliquish the title of Lord Protector to Charles Leonardo Vinchensa.
At Salvador-Horvathia, Lord Protector Charles Leonardo Vinchensa assembled a religious army designed to promote Horvathianism. In Mulhollandgrad, Chancellor Paul Christopher Richardson maintained control of the People's Army (who had remained loyal to him despite his abdication of the title of Lord Protector). San Giorgio became active in politics again and began a guerilla war to restore the monarchy. Both armies engaged in operations against the guerillas.
Chancellor Richardson and M had made secret agreements to attack Tinahappyplace and Timmay and divide the territory between them. Richardson explained to the people that the two countries were led by capitalist, unelightened monarchs. He revealed that in Tinashappyplace the citizens were given forced heroin injections to keep them happy. The military operations were a resounding success. The USSM annexed Tinashappyplace and McVania annexed Timmay.
The Civil War
Over time the rivarly between those individuals loyal to Charles Leonardo Vinchensa and those loyal to Paul Christopher Richardson divided the country into two sides. In only a few month the USSM would be involved in a full-fledged civil war that caused intermintent warfare throughout the entire region. HORVATH I ordered Pan Horvathian troops to be stationed at all USSM nuclear weapons sites. Because of the immense popularity of HORVATH I and the decision's legality under SUBOS Article VII, Lord Protector Charles Leonardo Vinchensa and Chancellor Paul Christopher Richardson did not oppose the order. This decision prevented nuclear weapons from being used during the the Mulhollandgradian - Horvathian - Roonsburgian War.
In light of the impending civil war, a referendum was defeated for the settlement known as New Mulhollandgradia to rejoin with the USSM. It instead opted to retain its political link with Islam-Judaism. However, the people did insist on New Mulhollandgradia being returned to the USSM 99 years later, when they hoped the country would be at peace and thriving again.
Less than a week after the referendum, the Chancellor dismissed Parliament and launched an assault on the the forces of the Lord Protector stationed at the religious city of Salvador-Horvathia (The Savior Horvath). These actions initiated the Mulhollandgradian portion of the war. It was waged between the forces of Lord Protector Charles Leonardo Vinchensa and Chancellor Paul Christopher Richardson for four years. This shattered the federal government and provided the opportunity for the resurgence of monarchist forces loyal to KATHRYN. In the end, it came to be a three-way struggle between the Lord Protector supporting HORVATH I, the Chancellor supporting traditional communism and the religion HOPE, and KATHRYN supporting national autonomy and a return to the monarchy.
As the three armies waged war, HORVATH I passed away. HORVATH II recalled the Lord Protector to Pan Horvathia for strategic consultation. Paul Christopher Richardson, Jr. disagreed with his father's policies and publicly executed him. Before he could be eliminated for this treason, HORVATH II similarly publicly executed the Lord Protector and then declared that Paul Christopher Richardson, Jr. had acted with respect to Horvathianism in regards to his act of patricide. The armies however did not immediately disband and Paul Christopher Richardson II commanded Horvathian and USSRoonsburg forces. He waged war against the armies of his father, the Chancellor, and the Lord Protector for over two more years.
Unexpectantly, KATHRYN's forces allied with Paul Christopher Richardson II and helped turn the tide of the war. As the war concluded, the leaders of the armies met with HORVATH II and agreed to peace terms. These terms led to the signing of the SUBOS-USSM Equivalence Treaty. The signatores were HORVATH II for Horvathia, Achmed the Snake for USSRoonsburg, and Paul Christopher Richardson for the USSM. KATHYN was promised that she could run in the election for a lifetime appoitment to the position of Lord Protector.
The leaders of the other two armies were granted amnesty and allowed to join parliamentary political parties. The army of the Lord Protector founded the Horvathian Socialist Union Party (HSUP). Whereas, the army of Paul Christopher Richardson, Sr. founded the Communist Party (CP). After KATHRYN's defeat for the position of Lord Protector she founded the Libertarian-Socialist Party (LSP).
The HSUP chose the 73-year old, Achmed the Snake, as their leader. The CP then chose Paul Christopher Richardson, Jr. as their leader, for his unequivocal support for the manifesto. It appears that secretly many of the political leaders in the Chancellor's army distrusted Paul Christopher Richardson, Sr. and were glad that he was killed by his son during the Civil War. However, the army did not immediately surrender because the military forces wanted to continue the war. In the first post-war Parliamentary elections, the CP garnered 50%, the HSUP garnered 36%, and the LSP garnered 14% of the vote.
The Constitutional Protectorship
Before the results of the election were announced, KATHRYN announced that the LSP's preferred coalition partner would be the HSUP, under the leadership of Achmed the Snake. However, after the results were announced that coalition became impossible as it would only garner 50%, not the necessary 50% + 1. Therefore she pursued a coalition agreement with the CP under the leadership of Paul Christopher Richardson, Jr.
The CP and the LSP agreed to form a coalition government. The coalition agreement provided for the strengthening of social welfare and increased liberty, however it did not reach agreement over the issue of military spending. The agreement provided for Paul Christopher Richardson, Jr. to become Chancellor and for KATHRYN to become Foreign Minister.
Chancellor Paul Christopher Richardson, Jr. spent his first days in office performing a major public relations blitz. Foriegn Minister KATHRYN identified a potential Libertarian-Socialist alliance to join and began to propose cuts in military spending. Achmed the Snake, leader of the HSUP, began to question the actions of the Chancellor and the Foreign Minister publicly. He declared, "To have been in office even two days and not discussed the historic greatness of SUBOS and allow consideration of NUBOS in Parliament is irresponsible. NUBOS must be implemented now."
