UNSR Elections 2020
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'Globalisation is Dead' - Sanders
Foreign Minister Sanders has today claimed that globalisation is dead and is no longer a sustainable form of economic policy. Sanders wants to produce more products here, in the UNSR, and not rely on globalisation of supply chains or workers, arguing that any freedom of movement is unacceptable to the UNSR.
'There is a pool of labour here, in this country, that should be trained, syndalised, and allowed to work for their own fulfillment.' Sanders said.
Mrs. Baskin was asked to comment on these statements: 'Immigration should be allowed. People from Copala City or New Birmingham should be able to share in the fruits of our socialist dream. As for globalisation, trade can occur as long as it is fair. But, I agree that globalisation is a bad thing. Factories moving overseas is bad for workers here and abroad and huge, unaccountable and untaxed multinationals are repulsive. I look forward to working with Mr. Sanders to return factories to Icholasen as, I'm sure he's aware, globalisation is also an environmental issue. Polluting cargo ships make up a huge portion of global and European pollution and that, as much as possible, should end.
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SDV: We are going to be taking a look at nearly every Département in the UNSR as the election cycle unfolds. We are starting with the largest in area, Miens Marx. We will be bringing you the news from all of the UNSR's Départements that are going to be voting for representatives that will represent you in the Assembly of Nationalities.
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SDV: How is the Assembly of Workers elected? You are assigned a 'constituency' by what sector you work in. If you work in a restaurant, your 'constituency' is leisure and hospitality. You then vote for a faction to represent you, and the votes are split proportionally per sector. If a party got 40% of the votes in Educational Services, they would receive 8 seats from that constituency. This is to ensure that all workers get a say in the regulatory system of the UNSR, with each sector having different challenges that they have to face in their journey to true communism. The Assembly then elects a speaker with whatever faction of the communist party holds the majority.
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The Marijuanas of Productionn
Carole Baskin today announced support for the legalisation of all drugs. Following recent events in Inquista, Mrs. Baskin has announced her support for the policy to be enacted by the Assembly of Workers after the election. She envisages a future of marijuana selling cooperatives where a group of people own the means of production necessary to produce and sell cannabis, LSD and other drugs for their own benefit, and not a multinational corporation.
Sanders retaliated saying that opium is the opium of the masses. We must help drug addicts in any way we can, but decriminalising drugs is not the way forward. Sanders believes in a strong and robust policing policy to make sure that drug dealers are not dealing drugs in the black market. Sanders said that it the role of the state to make sure that people do not misuse drugs.
Mrs. Baskin continued, saying, 'if we allow cooperatives to produce and sell their own drugs, then there will be no black market selling of drugs and we can avoid a subversive capitalist subculture in Icholasen where, often vulnerable people are forced to sell drugs to make ends meet and will produce profit for drug lords. Those people could set up their own cooperatives where they could sell legal drugs to people.'
Georgia Francis of the ANL said that she is 'in theory' in favour of some decriminalisation of some drugs.
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Baskin Appeals to Agriculture in visit to Romain Vineyard
Carole Baskin today visited a vineyard in Romain to pledge that all non-essential agriculture will not be collectivised. Baskin stated the government should only collectivise wheat and certain basic meat production, the rest should be owned by cooperatives -- like this vineyard in Southern Romain.
Cooperative president, Simon François, who was a grape picker before he was elected by his colleagues to the position of president, said that 'Ms. Baskin's proposals are just and correct. Sanders just wants more government control, when we here are proving that its the workers who need to be in charge.'
A Sanders source commented saying that 'we do not want to nationalise vineyards, but, we want to focus on making the UNSR self sufficient in food. That might mean that we have to take some frivolous usage of land into government control.'
A Baskin spokesperson continued, 'we need to be self sufficient in food, but we can do that without confiscating land. The right of a cooperative to buy land and exploit it should be a fundamental right. We would, however, like to see more trees being planted across Icholasen, with the consensus of cooperatives.'
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TANKIE Spitzenkandidaten for Manufacturing, Harriet LeRauk, announces her aims as she is named 'Future Speaker of the Assembly' by Sanders
Harriet LeRauk spoke today about her aims as she and the other TANKIES aim to take control of the Assembly of Nationalities. 'When industries are controlled directly by an accountable management team from the central government, output is much higher and factories or other types of production can be optimised together in a way that can't be achieved by decision making on the local level. Government is good, and with harmonised targets we can make the economy better for everyone.' LeRauk said in a speech to the Congress of Miners in the Miens Marx Département.
'We'd also like to strengthen the Police and more specifically the secret police. We can never be too careful in protecting the revolution that we have worked so hard to achieve. There could be spies, reactionaries and general disorder in the nation.' LeRauk said. 'We might have to give up some freedoms to protect the revolution, and Assembly of Workers TANKIES will always vote to uphold the revolution from subversive, reactionary influence.'
'Mining has to continue.' LeRauk said, to rapturous applause. 'We have so many raw materials here that must be extracted so that we may become self sufficient. We have oil, coal, and natural gas and we exploit them as we need them. The people own these resources and they have a right to use them. The faux-environmentalists at the AÉN have not taken into account the wastage of the former 1%, they caused probably as much pollution as any mines did. But who had to suffer during mine closures? It was not the 1% it was you. Now, the AÉN under Carole Baskin want to end your mines - is that acceptable? No. It's bourgeois, reactionary and counter-revolutionary.
'One of the main privileges of working in the Assembly of Workers is that we can commission big public works that stretch across our nation, across all of our Socialist Republics. TANKIES want our UNSR to be one big united country, with works that link our nation rather than divide us into local pockets like the AÉN wants.'
Madam LeRauk then thanked everyone at the conference for coming and shook hands with the Mining Union leaders there.
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Politburo Elections Heat Up As Eurovoice 'Star' Announces Candidacy
Communist Taylor Swift has today announced her candidacy for the Ministry of Culture, declaring that: 'just as I brought in a pop revolution, so too should the UNSR institute a cultural revolution to bring the people closer to socialism.' She has aligned herself with the TANKIE faction of the Communist Party, arguing that the UNSR 'needs a strong state to act as a vanguard against reactionary influence and also Lizzo.'
Responding to critics that say she is not the real Taylor Swift, Communist Taylor Swift said that 'Trympov and many in the Pravoslaviyan media are reactionaries and want to see our revolution fail. Through the medium of song I will stop them.'
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Baskin, Sanders attend international relations summit in Cesae Vauvra today
Baskin spoke first and highlighted her commitment to reenter the international community, including the European Union, claiming that 'we need to have good relations with everybody, foster peace, and support communism through our actions, rather than through any force.'
Sanders said that EU membership would be 'acceptable' but advocates the changing of some laws, in tandem with the PEL. He says that we must be 'wary of other powers' and continued saying 'I have literally been kidnapped by capitalist monarchists. If we're going to reintegrate into the international community, I urge caution.'
Asked about trade, Baskin said 'the best way to export our philosophy of worker controlled cooperatives is to prove they work and they can produce good products. I hope that other countries enjoy cooperative produced wine, flowers and other products and services. I love that the UNSR has cooperatives opening in Copala City. It is a brilliant exposition of the wealth of working together in a democratic workplace.' Sanders disagreed, saying that 'self sufficiency in all aspects of our economy must be achieved before we enter into deep trade with capitalists.'
Baskin went so far as to say she would open talks with Fremet and Inquista to pave over the rocky relationship that the UNSR has had with these countries in the last few months. Sanders agai disagreed. 'We must avoid working with those nations, they do not support our revolution and they will not just because we offer them flowers and wine.'
The topic then turned to nuclear weapons, with a new ENAA bill with Free Icholasen on the board of permanent members was announced. Carole Baskin said that 'despite being an environmentalist, I think we need nukes to ensure the health of the revolution. We can spend less money on the military as no one would invade a nation with nukes in silos and in submarines and in the sea. It would be suicide.' Sanders said that he supports nuclear weapons and keeping a large military budget. 'We have a smaller GDP than our capitalist neighbours, but we need to use it to keep our island fortified.'
The two then shook hands with ministers in the Foreign Office, most of whom Sanders works with as the Foreign Minister.
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Misty Foxx, Anarcho-Primitivist, has been declared the spitzenkandidat for 'Other Services'
Misty Foxx, famous Anarcho-Primitivist and singer has been declared the spitzenkandidat for 'Other Services' which is a grouping of singers, performers, actors (both clean and filthy), and general services that don't fall into either financial, retail or hospitality.
Foxx is on record saying that the 'industrial revolution and its effects have been terrible for human society' and that the UNSR should scale back its industry, reduce hydrocarbon production and reduce farmland area by 20% and make the rest of farming pesticide free and battery free.
Not just wanting to make Icholasen carbon neutral, she advocates the UNSR becoming a carbon sponge, saying that 'since we cannot convert all capitalists, we must do the work for them.' She plans to achieve this by planting trees, encouraging vegetarianism and veganism and encouraging the use of electric cars over petrol cars.
The TANKIE spitzenkandidat for 'Other Services' Peter Castle has said that 'if we get rid of our hydrocarbon industry we'll have no jobs, no electricity and no independence. Anarchists like Foxx cost the proletariat the revolution. Without strength, centralisation and energy independence we are nothing.'
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Cécile Laucre, Assembly of Nationalities Candidate for Leuse Valley, attacks Baskin accusing her of being 'soft on reactionaries'
Cécile Laucre today has attacked Carole Baskin, accusing her of being soft on reactionaries because of her policy on policing. 'Carole Baskin does not agree with the expansion of the Nicova' (the UNSR secret police) 'and as such is soft on reactionaries.' Laucre continued, saying that 'if we do not keep tabs on reactionaries and other un-patriotic influence in Icholasen, it will spiral out of control and the revolution will end. She may say that the revolution is diluted by this expansion and funding of the Nicova, but surely that is better than having no revolution at all.'
Baskin responded saying that 'of course we want security for the revolution, but there comes a time where that infringement on rights dilutes the revolution that we are all fighting to uphold. The Nicova is important and it should stay, but it should not get any more powers.'
However others in Baskin own faction disagreed with her. Misty Foxx said that all aspects of the centralised state need to be removed and the UNSR should put all of the power into the hands of workers, people and hyper-local government. Foxx said that 'there shouldn't even be a Nicova, we should defund it and use the money for local projects.'
On the (even) more authoritarian side of the TANKIES faction, Harriet LeRauk said that 'people like Misty Foxx do not get it. The state has to exist for basic order and for the revolution to be protected. It feels like these people want the revolution to fail.
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Harriet LeRauk Visits Nicova HQ
Harriet LeRauk has visited the Nicova's HQ today to rally support around the organisation. She has said that the organisation is the vanguard of the revolution and the protector of our freedom from capitalism. She hit back at the anarchist wing of the AÉN, citing people like Misty Foxx and others who call for the agency's abolition. 'Those people don't understand Marx and they don't understand the sacrifices people have made for the revolution. We need this body to keep an eye on the people of this nation, to make sure there aren't reactionaries or foreign influence in our affairs. If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear.'
When asked by a journalist what she thought about musings Bishop Lallana might be coming to Icholasen, LeRauk used the occasion to speak out against Bishop Lallana's TV show and all organised religion. 'Folks, religion is the opium of the masses, okay? And Bishop Lallana's lovey-dovey peace and love religious attitude isn't terrible, but it is still counterrevolutionary. Now, we TANKIES draw the line before iconoclasm, the Catholics do make a mean Virgin Mary statue and I won't take that away from them. But we're going to get rid of the political, economic and social power that religion still holds over Icholasen like a stranglehold. And that includes Bishop Lallana's show.'
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Baskin Defends Lallana's Show, Religion
Carole Baskin today defended the right of Bishop Lallana (of Inquistan fame) to broadcast in Icholasen. 'Look, whatever you believe personally about religion, it is not for the state to ban or encourage any religion or religious activity. Religion may be the opium of the people, but we at the AÉN actually support the legalisation of opium - we don't encourage people to take it up, but it shouldn't be for the government to tell people what to do with their bodies or their minds.
Harriet LeRauk hit back saying 'people believe in capitalism, too, which is clearly a thought that Baskin has problem with. She does tell those people what to think. Does Baskin think that we can just pick and choose aspects of Marx's work we agree and disagree with? We must follow Marx's word more closely and reduce the influence of organised religion in our society.'
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June 13th, 2020
Cesae Vauvra, Icholasen
Campaign Rally
Bishop Lallana arrives in Icholasen wearing cat printHello, Cesae Vauvra! It's such an honour to be here. This is my first time vising Icholasen, can you believe it? I said I wouldn't visit Icholasen until it was a free country, and now it is. The government of Inquista has prohibited Inquistans from visiting Icholasen, but I came anyway. I hopped on my carbon-neutral jet, which I was able to buy through the generous patronage of my newly devout comrades in Christ. Comrades in Christ, by the way, is still live every Sunday morning on Nicoleizian airwaves. Viewership has been terrific, just terrific, and I want you to keep listening to my sermons and keeping donating. Half of all donations to go to the workers of the one true Inquistan Orthodox Church.
I come in solidarity with the Nicoleizian people. That's why I am wearing leopard print. I am wearing leopard print in solidarity with the Nicoleizian people, and I will continue wear only leopard print until Nicoleizian-Inquistan relations are once again reignited. In the short time that I've been in Icholasen, I see nothing but stability, order, progress, compassion and happiness. Icholasen is thriving. This isn't an oppressed society, this is a liberated one. I call upon Inquista, the Inquitan Orthodox Church, and all governments across the European Union, to recognize and establish relations with the Union of Nicoleizian Socialist Republics. The sanctions and measures taken against Icholasen by the international community do nothing except hurt and harm the Nicoleizian people themselves. The Europolis elites are targeting and damning ordinary Nicoleizian people for their own self-important and bourgeoisie political squabbles.
I am also coming wearing cat print in solidarity with the AÉN and their leader Carole Baskin. The AÉN is looking toward a revolutionary future. In fact, the AÉN are the only ones concerned with the future. We cannot have a future without a planet to live on, water to drink, air to breathe, and a sustainable environment. The TANKIES have their heads stuck in the past and are not looking toward the perils that are facing our collective planet. The TANKIES seek to exploit the environment and use it purely for short-term economic gain, just like how capitalists seek to exploit the workers. Under the TANKIES, soon enough, Icholasen's many green fields, forests and farms will be nothing but eroded dirt. Under the TANKIES, Icholasen's rivers and lakes will become dry and polluted. Exploitation will ruin your farms and your environment. There will be no peace, land and bread under the TANKIES, just exploitation, dirt and empty stomachs. The Revolution will not stop until this bourgeoisie exploitation of public land and commodities comes to an end, and until all Nicoleizians can live freely in a sustainable environment that truly offers them peace, land and bread.
I must say, I am also especially concerned with comrade Harriet LeRauk. Comrade LeRauk hopes to become the Speaker of the Assembly? You should all be concerned. Again, the TANKIES are never looking toward the future. Establishing a dictatorship of the proletariat is a necessary step of the Revolution, but it must eventually wither away as a post-capitalist, egalitarian and truly free society emerges. Comrade LeRauk only seeks to strengthen and solidify a state that can never be eroded, one which is controlled by the police, the military and the use of coercive force. Under a possible Speaker LeRauk, the Nicova will unleash a perpetual and never-ending terror upon the Nicoleizian people, which will unfortunately prey only upon Icholasen's poorest and most vulnerable working people. Once again, only the AÉN has a vision beyond the dictatorship of the proletariat. The AÉN understands the importance of the withering away of the state, the importance of a society free from exploitation and coercion, and one where there is a future that is both sustainable and prosperous.
I ask you to please support the AÉN and to please support Carole Baskin. Thank you. I hope that you all join me for tomorrow's sermon, which I will delivering in person at the newly constructed Saint Lenin Cathedral in Cesae Vauvra. [Bishop Lallana then raises a communist crucifix to the crowd] God bless the Revolution, and may God bless Icholasen!
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Jane Birkin, Assembly of Nationalities Candidate for the Courvières Département Announces Support for Decentralisation of all Agriculture
'Communism, for me, is about the workers controlling the means of production. That's it. The state should only play a role in enforcing that system and enforcing regulations. We should be moving quickly to a form of communism with a small state whilst also allowing groups of individuals to form cooperatives and sell a product to people. Of course we should make sure everyone has enough food, but the state should take a more indirect role in that process.'
Birkin, a singer famous in the 1970s, will (if she wins) represent the sprawling vineyards of the Courvières Département and one of the most fertile areas of the country and as such wants to appease farmers and let them control their own production. She's also in favour of Nicoleizian farmers fulfilling Inquistan contracts for food, which was in the agreement between Craticus (God Rest His Soul) and Chairman Jirluchuz. She wants to improve relations with Inquista in order to allow Icholasen to support the microstates, whose agricultural capacity is limited.
Cécile Laucre has said that Jane Birkin's agricultural policy is reckless. 'How are we supposed to ensure that this nation produces enough basic foodstuffs if people can decide on their own what agricultural products they produce? The system Birkin proposes is inefficient compared to that of state ownership of the major crops needed to feed the nation. And, about Inquista, I think that they should not be allowed to exploit Nicoleizian agriculture in the way that Birkin proposes.'
