The Josephites: For A Better Tomorrow

[Braehn Elendil An'Hiraeth 474]

FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

 

The Right Path Forward For Our Empire

 

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CONTENTS

 

1. FOREWARD

2. OUR PLATFORM

    Opportunity and Prosperity

A Second Pax Orenia

Departing From the Typical

A Smarter Empire

3. OUR CANDIDATES

4. CODA

 

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Opening Remarks at the Josephite Convention, by Terrence May

 

        Thank you, thank you all for attending. Let us begin in 1715, where the fight against oppression was waged. The Nenzing Proclamation brought forth the notion of a sacred social contract between the governed and the governing. Here we stand, freely electing our officials and holding those who hold power to account. My fellow Josephites, I am proud that we are here to forge the discretion of our future! We are gathered today under the generous auspices of the Northern Geographical Society.    

 

     I thank the good director Celestine Herbert, a staunch supporter of our cause, for her support and hosting us. We are here because we are reminded of what an enlightened era has brought us. Advancing education, knowledge, and intuition has led us into a period of unprecedented growth. We must be champions of this movement. Today, we face many new challenges and an opportunity to improve the lives of our people. We are the side with a heart of gold, pledging our service to champion the dignity of all in Oren. Our goal is to advance the cause of liberty, the cause of businessmen, and the cause of the farmer.        

 

     Up and down this country, people are seeking something new. They have found that they have yet to find the necessary support to help them prosper. Our message is to forge a compassionate society, welcome all who seek to build on a future that works for all of us. I have been serving as an elected official in the Imperial Diet since 1736. In the last thirty-two years, I have devoted my life to work towards many goals. From legislation that promotes transparency in the legislature, to the institution of juries, to the promotion of business and labor opportunities, to the increased funding to our clinics, to the passage of civil unions, it has been my pleasure to uplift every sector of our Imperial livelihood. In both times of war and peace, this body has stood to defend the values of a compassionate society. We, as a convention and we, as a movement of people across the Empire, we have done this and more!        

       

       In the last election, we campaigned on a promise of many things. We have sought to promote education, fairness in property laws, and reforming our justice system. We need to keep the vision consistent, firm, and unyielding. Our campaign must be broad and bold. It must comprise every sector of our society. Everyone who calls themselves a Josephite, be they noble or common, finds themself to be a valued partner in our vision. We must reach out not to the frontiers and the fringes of society, bringing together those who are seeking change for the better. Those on the other side like to prey on fear. . . They want to draw out the gloominess of an Orenian wave of change. I ask you all this -- why fear a future of change rather than control it with our deeds and convictions?         

       

       As you know, they campaigned that we are a movement that is anti-Church and secularist. So let me bring up scripture as a way for us to find our message. The Holy Scrolls tell us that we must be charitable, sharing the abundance of our bounty to others. The Josephite Union is a union that negotiates and speaks for all! We must protect the cultural fabric of Oren, respecting the rights of individual people. We must uphold the provincial character of our Empire, maintain accountability of government, and strengthen our bond with our fellow people.        

         

        My friends, in this spirit. . . I recognize that this movement must be energized to represent the new generation of leaders seeking to bring change to Oren. With change, we also see that new leadership is in order. I am proud to say that my last four decades have been in your service. Now, I no longer hold the strength needed to carry on this fight with what I believe one needs. At our second convention, I remind you all that power must be transitioned peacefully. We must relinquish our authority and respect the changing tides of the electorate. Power concentrated in the hands of one or a few for far too long is a dangerous misstep towards tyranny. For some, I have known for most of my life. Others, I have just met, and I thank God for giving me the chance to learn your stories.        

 

    Let it be known that at this Second Convention of the Josephites, I hereby announce my resignation as your Chairman. - Terrence May, 1768       

       

 

2.OUR PLATFORM

As decided upon at the Josephite Convention of 1768, we have outlined part of our path forward. Job protections & creation is at the front of our platform, as well as ensuring wage growth for our working class is guaranteed. 

 

Opportunity & Prosperity

 

A FREE, FAIR, & OPEN MARKET 

by Jonah Stahl-Elendil 

 

One of the defining characteristics of our great Empire is the unprecedented new wealth and upward mobility that is now possible for the common man. Through the Josephite principle of laissez-faire economics, free enterprising individuals have sown a new prosperity that all citizens of the Empire enjoy. We, as Josephites, value these economic freedoms to grow and accumulate wealth, as they allow Orenians of all backgrounds to improve our collective standard of living through market engagement and job creation. 

 

We believe in a fair and balanced tax on businesses and property that ensures the continued maintenance and development of our Imperial systems of government. The ISA, Ministry of the Interior, and much more are funded by the people who reap their benefits in return. 

 

We as Josephites believe in promoting and expanding opportunity for all throughout the Empire. We will do this by legislating for fair and modest taxes on property and business, ensuring an individual's ability to gain wealth. 

 

Due to the modesty of our proposed tax rates, Imperial citizens are able to maintain and save most of their newfound wealth. This allows them to provide for themselves, as well as create employment opportunities for others in turn. 

 

The fairness we so often emphasize means that our Empire's larger enterprises will pay more than the smaller businesses, by an evaluation of assets and property. 

 

INNOVATION THROUGH INDEPENDENCE 

By Jonah Stahl Elendil 

 

We as Josephites believe that competition leads to creation, and the results prove us right. The free market of Oren creates a positive competition between businesses both big and small. This competition in turn inspires innovations in technology, production, and in how we conduct businesses. 

 

It incentivizes businesses to keep the price of consumer goods and services particularly low. Our currency carries strength and value, and we must ensure that it stays that way. A good example is how Iron tools, food products, and consumer comforts are at record affordability. People today are saving and spending more than they had ever done before in history.

 

We as Josephites aim to legislate the protection of consumer freedoms, helping spur innovation, creation, and ultimately keep prices low. This will increase people's willingness to do business in the Empire.

 

CONSUMER PROTECTIONS

by Jonah Stahl-Elendil 

 

We, as Josephites, believe that true progress is achieved when fairness and opportunity are guaranteed. After carefully hearing from you workers on the ground, the Josephite government promises that it shall enact several measures to ensure that these ideals are demonstrated through our laws and practices. 

 

We will abolish wage slavery and indentured servitide across the Empire. We shall work with cities to place a rent cap on properties, to disable the exploitative Landlords and secure fair housing opportunities for our Imperial citizens. We shall fight for fair wages that allow a citizen to save and to spend properly, and we shall continue supporting and enabling free enterprising individuals to succeed. We will make the economy work. A Josephite government can help bring the common man out of the poverty that is predicated in an immobile, repressive society that our Everardine opponents wish to create.

 

A Second Pax Orenia

 

MAINTAINING OUR RIGHTS

by Franz Nikolai

 

In today’s world, we are blessed with a great many institutions that protect our rights as both Imperial citizens and as people. The courts, the ministry departments, and the Diet all serve to benefit the Empire at large and  are enabled to do so through our will as people. 

 

We as Josephites are committed to upholding and preserving these institutions. They are the great bulwark against government overreach, and the stalwart defenders of the rights of man. We will ensure that, at all levels of the imperial bureaucracy, these vital positions are filled by people who are both qualified and dedicated to preserving the liberties enjoyed by all citizens of the Empire.

 

This delicate balance of power can easily go awry if infringed upon, for giving one branch of the government too much power is never a good thing. The Josephite Party will maintain this careful balance to prevent the overreach and dominant control of any one government body. 

 

PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH

By Franz Nikolai

 

It was only mere years ago that we found ourselves beset by enemies on all sides. Many laughed and jeered at our stubborn resistance to the forces of the AIS, many more prophesied our downfall. Now, we sit atop Arcas as the foremost military and economic power with no rival to speak of. War is a costly endeavour, one that takes children and parents alike, burns fields, and empties coffers. It is against our interests, and the interests of the people, to send our gallant men and women off to fight in foreign, fruitless wars. However, many still linger in the shadows, for they covet our position yet are powerless to act on their ambition. It is because of these lingering threats that we must remain vigilant and keep a strong military in order to deter jingoists from sparking another conflict.

 

Intelligent forethought and careful preparation will end any conflict before it begins. Negotiating peacefully, and cooperating with foreign nations and entities to ensure peace, are certainly beneficial in every regard. It seems that most of the world is intent on maintaining the peace that we have, for many remember the horrors of the Rubern War and the War of the Two Emperors, but history has shown, time and time again, that peace is always ephemeral. 

 

 

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Departing From the Typical

 

REMEMBERING OUR HISTORY

by Franz Nikolai 

 

The Josephite movement has its roots in the Nenzig Proclamation of 1715, where Joseph of Marna denounced the many abuses of the Pertinaxi regime and envisioned a world where the many could obtain the freedoms enjoyed by the few. In order to see his vision realized, Joseph declared war on the Empire of Man, claiming the Imperial Throne. The ensuing War of the Two Emperors was a long and bloody affair that ended in a defeat for Joseph and his coalition. 

 

Even though Joseph’s cause was in ruin, and his armies lay defeated, we would not have to wait for long for his message to take root within the hearts and minds of the Imperial populace. Just a few years later, the abdication of Emperor John Achilles brought an end to the Pertinaxi dynasty. Emperor Alexander, despite his short reign, ushered in a new era of freedom and liberty, establishing a precedent that was markedly different from the iron-fisted rule of the Pertinaxis. 

 

The history of the Josephites is a mix of revolution and peace, hope and despair, but throughout both victory and defeat we have never compromised our morals. We stand upon the proud shoulders of those who fought and died to bring about the actualization of the principles of life, liberty, and fair trial that Joseph of Marna advanced a half-century ago. 

 

FEDERALISM & THE BALANCE BETWEEN PROVINCES

By Jonah Stahl-Elendil

 

The strength in our Empire is not derived from the few at the top, but a balance of power created through our political system. We, as Josephites, believe that the political and economic strength of the Empire must be consistent across the board. 

 

Through the blessings, inalienable rights, and providence granted to us by our Emperor, we as citizens have a duty to ensure that our Provinces are run efficiently and fairly.

 

We as Josephites will legislate the mandate of Constabularies, in order to ensure that Provinces are able to carry out the letter of the law locally. This will lessen the strain felt by the ISA and other Imperial forces, while allowing Provinces to properly shape their laws,regulations, and bureaucracies within the scope of the Oren Revised Code. 

 

A Josephite government is a government for the ISA, and we will increase funding to the ISA to better equip and train our Empire's greatest defenders. We hope with these new resources, that the proposed Provincial regiments can also be developed thoroughly and within the next five Saints years.

 

We have passed through the House of Commons laws that protect the citizens of Provinces, guaranteeing fair trials of their peers and neighbors. We have worked to give greater responsibility to the Provinces to enact the Emperor’s vision of providence.

 

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3.OUR CANDIDATES

Below is our finalized list of selected Candidates for the House of Commons. Veterans, businessmen, and experienced public servants from all walks of life define the people of our Empire and our party membership. Our Candidate list is no different.

 

1.Jonah Elendil

2.Konrad Stafyr

3.Franz Sarkozy

4.Oisin O’Rourke

5.Abram Stalistena

6.Konstantin Wick

7.Angelika Bykov

8.Peridot Carrington

9.Cyrus Basrid

10.Vaerus Douglas

11.Juan Lyons

12.Edward Napier

13.Sam Lowe

14.Edward Galbraith

15.Charles d’Arkent

 

We also nominate Padraig O’Rourke for Mayor of Owynsburg, and appoint Porphyre Nicephore as our Representative to the Helena Mayor's office. You will see all of our candidates on the trail very soon.

 

4.CODA

 

It is our belief that the providence of our Empire is derived by the contract between the state and the people. Our success as a nation comes from the balance, and cooperation between the two. This means that active participation from the people, from all origins and stations in life, is absolutely necessary. 

 

The Josephite philosophy is about the inalienable rights that people hold, and the freedom to decide their path in life. Voting Josephite is an affirmation of these beliefs, and a helping hand securing them for the Empire and you, the people.

 

 

WANT TO GET INVOLVED? REACH OUT TO THE JOSEPHITE HEADQUARTERS FOR VOLUNTEER AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES!

((JakobiWitness#3859 or AndrewTech#1007 on Discord))

[King of Cartography 546]

Juan Salinas Ruiz Villalpando de Ponce de Lyons approves this message!

[Caranthir_ 2533]

“The Josephites promised similar things last election, and then when they got the majority they did absolutely nothing with it. The Everardines got things done, whilst they barely managed to fill their benches each sitting.” said Amadeus, Minority Leader for now.

[ApplePieKathy 561]

Vivaca Rutledge frowns after reading the policies in her home, “I expected better. No economic justice for the Orenian citizen. These policies are nothing new!” She said to her friend Nicole, then she turned to her husband Duarte, sighing “Honestly, I feel let down with these policies. The market should and must be regulated to protect the Orenian people from monopolies such as Carrington and Co! This is supposed to be a party of progress and change! ‘For the dignity of the market’...” She rolled her eyes

[yandeer 734]

The Dame Kortrevich hopes that both factions will submit their lists in a timely manner and through the proper mediums- not simply through manifestos on public bulletins.

[AnonymousAlexa 3890]

Angelika Bykov reads over the document with a smile. ”Well said, Mr. Elendil and Mr. Nikolai. For the dignity of all!” She then continues to write her speech for the upcoming rally in New Reza!