Seneschal's Address to the Nation 7/2/10

Citizens:

Our history has much to teach us about our present.

In 1990/X, Wes Erni was selected as the Progressive Conservative Prime Minister, backed by King Robert I. It was Erni's selection that established as unofficial law the pattern of Talossan politics before the Great Abdication: Robert I's party always wins, eventually.

Prior to Erni, of course, there had been many PC victories. Right back to the first Seneschal, the PC had always been the single most potent force in Talossan politics. But it was with Erni that we see this grey law come into its own. The King was omnipresent, remorseless, and in his view embodied the whole of Talossan culture and history - how could anyone really oppose him? Moreover, he had longevity and consistency - Robert I presented a figure that voters associated with stability. And most effectively, the King used his clout with the heaviest hand he could manage.

After Erni, the record becomes dire. Read the successive parties voted into office: PC, PC, Un-named, PC, PC, PC, PC, PC, PC, PC, PaF, PC, PC, and PC. When at this point in history, Robert I began backing Manus Nigrum instead, the record shifted slightly: MN, PC, MN, I, MN, and (in the last election under Robert I) CLP. Opposition and rival parties were temporary and soon collapsed, [i]never once[/i] succeeding to a second term in office. The Royal party - be it PC or MN - was the only continuity known to the Talossan citizens.

In our current era, this grey law is a thing of the past. The King endorses no political party and has a light hand, taking care to be apart from the squabbles of politics. And while the RUMP has won the past few elections, the Progressive Party of Talossa has emerged as a rival, combining several opposition parties into one main thrust whose continuity is a valuable thing. Margins have been narrow, and while I'm not urging a toppling of the RUMP just yet, I think all know it won't be too far away (perhaps in as soon as twenty years, when I leave power and retire to my mountain stronghold).

In preparation for this day and out of recognition of a new world of Talossan politics, my Government has been taking steps to institutionalize our institutions. Rather than vesting the keys to our Kingdom with individuals, we intend to craft viable ways to hand over power in the future. Let's review some of them.

• Disclosures - The Government has created a blog, Notiçieir del Regipäts Talossan, whose administration can be easily handed over to an incoming government. This will maintain continuity of governance, so citizens can still look at past efforts and our record, while also eliminating a lot of the busy-work of setting such things up. Further, the Government has established a calendar of events and projects in a simple format that is easily copied. A new administration (be it RUMP or PPT) won't have to worry about how things are done, because they'll have examples laid out. And citizens won't have to worry about keeping track of a bunch of new things, because the institutions will carry over to a new government.
• Policy - By creating a central (although still on the simple side) policy bank, this Government is allowing people to find a quick place to reference some of the trickier or more disputed elements of our public policies. What is the nature of our country? What is our policy towards the Republic? These questions (and more future ones) can be found on this page. And a future administration can change them or add new ones - or maintain them, without having to work through and write them again.
• Symbols - Our Minister of Stuff, Dréu Gavártgic'h, has been working with the inestimable College of Arms to create numerous new coats of arms for each Ministry. By the end of the term, this endeavour will be complete (it's already ahead of schedule!) When combined with letterheads and templates, these symbols will give Talossans a feeling of security and remind them that they're not just dealing with Jahn Q. Talossan: they're dealing with a Talossan official.

This Government is forward-thinking, and working to make sure that our democracy remains strong. Support us and your country by getting involved in language, culture, or government.

Long live the King, and long live Talossa!

Alexander Davis
Seneschal del Regipäts Talossan

Secretary of State Iustì Canun calls for bills for the 2nd Clark, 41st Cosa

Secretary of State Iustì Canun has called for legislators to submit bills for the 2nd Clark of this Cosa, now that the no-business month has ended.

You want it in, post it here.

Name of Act AND final draft, please.

MiniStuff Announcement

Announcement from the Ministry of Stuff

The Ministry of Stuff hereby (and happily) delegates the role of TalossaWest Coordinator to Senator Brad Holmes.

Thank you, Brad, for giving me one less thing to do!

Dréu Gavártgic'h
Minister of Stuff

Appointment of the Secretary of State

Article IX: The Secretary of State, the Hopper, and the Clark

Section 1. The Seneschál shall appoint a Secretary of State to an indefinite term.

Today, I am given both a burden and a pleasure.

My burden is that I must fill the post of Secretary of State.  There is scarcely a weightier responsibility in the Kingdom.  The Secretary of State must be swift in action, cautious in judgment, keen of eye, learned in law.  He runs our elections and is pivotal in the creation of our governing apparatus.  And the people who have risen to that challenge - well, they are inevitably among the best our nation has to offer.  The Secretary of State has been the founder of Talossa, Robert I, as well as the architect of principled opposition to his tyranny, Sir Fritz.  And need the name of Woolley even be mentioned?

But despite this burden, I also have a pleasure in it.  It is indeed good to be able to say that we have another person equal to the challenge, and I know him.

It is my distinct joy to appoint the Right Honourable Iustì Carlüs Canun, speaker of the tongue and my invaluable Distain, to the position of Secretary of State.  You all know S:reu Canun, who serves as Senator for Maricopa and laboured as Seneschal last term to good effect.  I have no doubt he will prove measured to this challenge as well, and I ask him to serve his country in this new capacity.

Alexander Davis
Seneschal del Regipäts Talossan

Seneschal's Remarks on the Resignation of Secretary of State Mick Preston

Mick Preston is an amazing man, and has been a great Secretary of State. I am proud to call him an exemplary statesperson, a fine Talossan, and my good friend.

Being Secretary of State is one of the most demanding jobs in our great nation. Rather than the periodic bursts of activity that so frequently flash in Talossa, burning fiercely before guttering out like a snuffed star, the job of Secretary of State requires continuous diligence and long devotion. While each house of the Ziu has its own ceremonial leader, it is the Secretary of State in many cases who runs both chambers, working to make the efforts of our legislators into a workable reality. He is given discretion to decide what is unworkable and inorganic, and carries through the voting on each bill, each month. He sorts through confusing or confused votes. And our national elections are one of the biggest burdens a statesperson can shoulder.

On behalf of a grateful nation, I would like to thank Mick Preston for his years of service to the crown and his country. S:reu Preston has been scrupulously just and cautious in fulfilling his duty. Always careful to examine a piece of legislation, ferreting out those items that he could not accept or that came to him unready to be considered, he nonetheless stinted no bill in his treatment, regardless of his personal opinion. And in collecting votes and tabulating them, he was swift and capable. S:reu Preston says truly that he has stood on the shoulders of giants, but I think it is no exaggeration to say that future Secretary of States will sigh to themselves and say, "That Preston leaves some big shoes to fill."


Alexander Davis
Seneschal del Regipäts Talossan

Culture Moment: Our Berber Heritage

“[T]he Talossan people are inexplicably and inextricably connected somehow to Berbers,” reads Talossan law (RC37, “The You Are What You Talk About, and You Talk About Berbers Act”).  And inexplicably and inextricably, it’s true. While it was once simply a blatant attempt at mythmaking by Robert I, in an attempt to distinguish Talossan history from that of the United States of America, it can’t be denied that most Talossans think the Berber people – a light-skinned North African group – are interesting and cool. And in Talossa, that’s how traditions become fact.

As the old Talossan proverb says, "It is highly possible, and therefore true."

Thus, in some mysterious sense, the ancient Berber tribes are the ancestors of the modern Talossan people, and every Talossan should study them in at least some small way to understand an ancient heritage.

The ancient Berber people occupied much of North Africa, and their direct descendents populate much of the countries of Morocco and Algeria. They spoke the Berber language, written with a variety of alphabets over the years. As a predominantly coastal people they absorbed much of the influences of seafarers such as the Phoenicians and Greeks. They were especially prominent in history at such times as the Second Punic War of the third century B.C., when their powerful cavalry performed outstandingly well when allied with Carthage against Rome, and during the Islamization and empire building in Africa the seventh to tenth centuries A.D. that set up powerful Berber caliphates.

Importantly for Talossa, the Berbers were also great travelers. It is widely believed by historians that they had cultural and genetic influence upon most of the peoples of Europe until well into the Renaissance. And because Talossa is located in an area settled predominantly by European peoples, this means that there is at least one verifiable link between Berbers and Talossa.

While this might be a solid connection, rather bolder and more tenuous was Robert I’s further claim in his 1996 The Berber Project (which you can read in its entirety here) that the Berber people later became the Beaker people of ancient Europe, and then navigated the Atlantic Ocean five thousand years ago, populating North America and transforming into the indigenous Mound-Builders of the Talossan area. He argued that “around 3000 B.C., North America was indeed treated to a large and substantial wave of Berber immigrants who brought their culture with them when they settled around the copper mines of Lake Superior and northern Wisconsin.”

Robert I also pointed out that “Talossa” resembles the word “talayot,” the ancient Beaker civilization’s name for their hutlike dwellings. Robert I claimed that this connection was evidence for a link between the ancient Beaker culture and Talossa. He also listed a whole host of indigenous North American words that sound similar to either “Talossa” or “talayot” (“tuy,” “talo,” “tell”) and indicated that this was also strong evidence for substantial Berber influence.

If you want to find out more about the Berber people, you can listen to the British Broadcasting Company's radio program, "The Berbers of North Africa," or visit your local library.


Mick Preston is an amazing man, and has been a great Secretary of State.  I am proud to call him an exemplary statesperson, a fine Talossan, and my good friend.

Being Secretary of State is one of the most demanding jobs in our great nation.   Rather than the periodic bursts of activity that so frequently flash in Talossa, burning fiercely before guttering out like a snuffed star, the job of Secretary of State requires continuous diligence and long devotion.  While each house of the Ziu has its own ceremonial leader, it is the Secretary of State in many cases who runs both chambers, working to make the efforts of our legislators into a workable reality.  He is given discretion to decide what is unworkable and inorganic, and carries through the voting on each bill, each month.  He sorts through confusing or confused votes.  And our national elections are one of the biggest burdens a statesperson can shoulder.

On behalf of a grateful nation, I would like to thank Mick Preston for his years of service to the crown and his country.  S:reu Preston has been scrupulously just and cautious in fulfilling his duty.  Always careful to examine a piece of legislation, ferreting out those items that he could not accept or that came to him unready to be considered, he nonetheless stinted no bill in his treatment, regardless of his personal opinion.  And in collecting votes and tabulating them, he was swift and capable.   S:reu Preston says truly that he has stood on the shoulders of giants, but I think it is no exaggeration to say that future Secretary of States will sigh to themselves and say, "That Preston leaves some big shoes to fill."

Alexander Davis
Seneschal del Regipäts Talossan

Notiçieir dal Regipäts Talossan

Notiçieir dal Regipäts Talossan





Your hardworking government has set up yet another way for you to keep updated about Talossa. While Wittenberg is certainly invaluable, all too often the appearance is that our internet message board is the whole of our community. This is not just sad, it is blatantly false. To help forestall this illusion, the Government has created a brand new blog (supplanting previous iterations) to keep Talossans updated on the workings of their government.

You can read the brand new here, or if you have an RSS reader like Google Reader you can subscribe to the feed here.

Alexander Davis

Seneschal del Regipäts Talossan