The Ruritania Times

vol.3, no. 30 Committed to Democratizing Ruritanian Society March 3rd, 2006

Party Stands Hold the Key to Election Victory

In a "Responsibile Party System" Stands Actually Matter

In a speech to The Shanorewni Chamber of Commerce, Professor Jon Kendlander, head of RNUSSRC's Trotter Poll, explained to the audience the role of party manifestos in the Ruritanian electoral process.  According to Kendlander, the National Council on Reconciliation (NCR) made a conscious decision to try to implement  a "responsible party model" electoral system in Ruritania.  "The NCR was dominated by people who believe in democratic theory.  They asked themselves the question: 'How do you encourage meaningful participation in politics at the electoral level?  Their answer was a system of elections which would bring real issues to the people, present them with a range of alternatives, and then register the public's opinion via the ballot box.  Then, after the election, compromises could be worked out among the various representatives of ideas.  They basically decided that to achieve these objectives one needed a parliamentary system with multi-member districts and  multiple parties capable of reflecting the diversity of opinion in Ruritanian society. You then needed a way for these opinions to be accurately reflected.  After much research and discussion, the NCR opted for the "single transferrable vote" system".  In response to a question from the audience, Kendlander stated that the NCR never once thought of copying the American system of election which he characterized as "overly simplistic and issue free popularity contests structured around advertising and not politics".  According to Kendlander "American politics is really a fine example of the hyperpluralist notion that politics and economics become inseparable.  American elections are now all about two giant corporate behemoths (the Republican and Democratic corporations) try to sell their products (candidates) to consumers (voters) through advertising.  There's hardly a mention of any issue!  American elections are all about who has the best negative ads!".  For Kendlander American public opinion is also very skewed.  "Americans pay so little attention to politics, they are easily swayed by negative ads.  Various writers have called it the non-ideological electorate, I call it a lazy electorate!".  He went on to explain such things as the increase in the number of independents and weak partisan identifiers and contrasted the current state of American politics with Ruritania's: "We in Ruritania see the upcoming elections as very important.  Voters realize that this election will probably set the country off on a direction it will take for decades.  Perhaps America is so locked in to its particular approach that people realize the politics is not very important and best left up to "the elite".  In Ruritania however, things are still up in the air!  The country is at a critical stage and people recognize it.  Every poll we've taken shows that turnout will be near 90%!  Every poll also shows that citizens are spending an awful lot of time trying to find out a lot about the parties. Polls show more than 80% have said they've read a lot about the parties (in contrast to about 20% of the American electorate).  They are taking their citizenship responsibilities seriously!".  For Kendlander such signs show that the NCR made a correct decision.  Parties with different position, active informed voters!  Ruritanian politics is interesting!

Environment, Entrepreneurialism Two Key Stands

Two of the issues which resonate with Ruritanian voters are issues related to the questions:  "What is the tradeoff between economic develop and the environment?" and "In moving towards a more open economic system, how active should the central government be in developing new enterprises?".  While the two issues may seem separate, they are intertwined for when answering these questions, the costs of possible answers and the possible negative or inverse relationship between the two becomes apparent.  Strong environmental positions can cost money and some of the approaches can create government organizations that could inhibit the development of enterprises.  Environmental regulations could make it prohibitive for some small businesses to develop.  Yet it also seems that unlimited enterprise development could have disastrous consequences for the land and the environment in general.  In a country such as ours, with a strong tie to the land, how do you balance these two competing factors?

Reindeer Prepare for Sweden in Scandinavian Cup Game

There is now palpable tension in Stockholm as the long-anticipated match between Sweden and Ruritania occurs tomorrow night at SAAB Stadium in Stockholm.  All of the Scandinavian sports press has been talking about this match.  The two top contenders for the Cup have had a strained recent history and the tension on both teams is great.  Both sides have publically said that this is more than a soccer game.  It is about national pride!  Last year the Swede's humiliated the Reindeer in the Cup final and prevented Ruritania from advancing to the World Cup in France.  Both the players and the entire Ruritanian nation claimed that Sweden purposely ran up the score and create the goal disparity which allowed Norway rather than Ruritania to be one of the 32 teams in France.  Other tensions have, of course, added to the highly-charged atmosphere:  the violence against ethnic Swedes, the killing of the four Swedish tourists, and accusations (later withdrawn) that the Swedish government was responsible for the sabotage of the southern Laklund oil pipeline.  The fans have also increased the tensions.  Swedish fans have created signs and worn buttons taunting the Ruritanian team.  "Oil the Reindeer" and "Rip Ruritania" signs and buttons are everywhere.  Ruritania fans who have travelled to Sweden (an estimated 15,000)  have also reported some problems.  A number of fights and subsequent arrests have marred an otherwise wonderful first Cup weekend.  On Tuesday night, the team and 15,000 fans will face a hostile crowd of nearly 100,000 in SAAB Stadium.  It should be exciting, it should be tense, it should be interesting!

All Things Considered

V.  Dannisdotter of Valtala writes: "While the Scandinavian Cup is exciting, why does it seem to take on such political overtones?"

M. Klednann, ATC: "Dear V., where have you been for the last 50 years?  Ever since the end of World War II most countries have "gone to war" on the sports field rather than the battle field! Rather than thousands of dead bodies we now have sprained ankles and broken arms--a great trade-off!  Didn't you watch the Olympics for years when the Soviet Union and the United States used to "duke it out" on the basketball court, hockey arena, etc?  Those were more than sports contests, they were battles between systems.  Fortunately for Ruritania, we'll "go to war" with Swedes tomorrow night and no one is likely to get much more than a minor injury".