Natopia Slowly Climbs out of Inactivity

Issue 19

Lindstrom City, Natopia - The Wild Goat Pub has been the host of an impromptu constitutional convention. What began as a discussion about whether or not to dissolve Natopia's Regions has errupted into a total government re-evaluation. After recent attempts by the Grand Chancellor to democratize the Republic, including opening his office to elections and expanding the Frenzy's power, Grand Judge Robert Davis proposed an almost 180-degree turn: invest total authority into a Sovereign and perhaps structure Natopia around a fuedal or monarchial system. Also, Davis suggested reducing the Regions into subdivisions with limited control, vastly different than the Natopian tradition of semi-autonomous Regions.

The Legislative Frenzy will be reduced to a mere check of the Grand Judge's power to overturn Chancellorial Decrees. Full legislative power will be returned to the Frenzy when the population of active citizens remains above 7 (Natopia has 3 currently).

An idea to stimulate the economy was proposed by Nathan Shepard just today. Natopia's national product, the widget, has no purpose... but Natopians buy out stores whenever new shipments arrive. To capitalize on their popularity Shepard suggested that a widget be made to equal one vote in the Frenzy. Thus enabling people to buy votes. The implications of corruption and government hijacking are certainly prevalent, but Shepard wants to explore this idea thoroughly and perhaps adopt a much more controlled system of widget/vote buying.

Here is a basic run down of the government re-evalution, topic by topic

Executive - Grand Chancellor retains decree, but with less restrictions. Natopian Ministry shuffled to maximize efficiency.

Judicial - Grand Judge may overturn any decree if it violates constitution.

Legislative - Checks the Grand Judge's overturning power. given full legislative powers when active citizens reach 7.

Regions - dissolved. Natopia will be divided into smaller units, called demesnes, and given as "gifts" to members of the Order of the Black Hole. demesnes will have no impact on the national government.