SPOILER! Sidermark

PeterZ wrote:Choosing those political avenues will limit future options. Choosing a course that consolidated political and economic power as tightly as in the USSR limits future options. Current Russia is well prepared for Oligarch's retaining that tight control and comfortable in that state of affairs. The effect is to keep the potential output of the Russian economy much smaller than its access to abundant natural resources would allow.

Well, China managed to became world second superpower, and seems pretty capable to surpass even USA economically... So, the "political avenues" seems to be pretty broad therms...

Dilandu wrote:

PeterZ wrote:Choosing those political avenues will limit future options. Choosing a course that consolidated political and economic power as tightly as in the USSR limits future options. Current Russia is well prepared for Oligarch's retaining that tight control and comfortable in that state of affairs. The effect is to keep the potential output of the Russian economy much smaller than its access to abundant natural resources would allow.

Well, China managed to became world second superpower, and seems pretty capable to surpass even USA economically... So, the "political avenues" seems to be pretty broad therms...

I am not arguing a political system's advantages. I am arguing that dispersing control over wealth and political power makes for a more robust economy. China has a much better system for dispersing wealth that either Russia or the USSR. Their political control can be dispersed a bit more. Maintaining that tight plotical control will limit future growth.

Dilandu wrote:

isaac_newton wrote: SNIP

I take it you mean mainland european nation

Please, who would ever consider Englishmen as true Europeans, with their pathetic cuisine?

SNIP.

well - be fair, some mainland europeans do have moderately good cuisines HAHHHHHAHAHHAH

Seriously - that statement is not as true as it used to be. Our food is/can be a LOT LOT better then it was when I was at school!

[Edit]
Tapioca, SPAM Fritters URRRRGGHHH

isaac_newton wrote: SNIP

I take it you mean mainland european nation

Dilandu wrote:
Please, who would ever consider Englishmen as true Europeans, with their pathetic cuisine?

SNIP.

isaac_newton wrote:

well - be fair, some mainland europeans do have moderately good cuisines HAHHHHHAHAHHAH

Seriously - that statement is not as true as it used to be. Our food is/can be a LOT LOT better then it was when I was at school!

[Edit]
Tapioca, SPAM Fritters URRRRGGHHH

I watched the British Baking Championships and the American version. There is way more talent with the Brits!

PeterZ wrote:I watched the British Baking Championships and the American version. There is way more talent with the Brits!

Having seen a picture of American Cheese Doughburgers (Cheeseburgers made with Doughnuts instead of the normal rolls), I would agree. However, the UK boasts the Deep Fried Mars Bar, so...

It'll be interesting to see how long before Siddarmark starts losing population to emigration. I'd guess that the first ones to go would be the Temple Loyalists who will re-re-relocate to the Temple Lands.

I'm not one o' them wussy Sassenachs, FEAR THE DEEP FRIED HAGGIS!

And we're not so scared of our Continental neighbours
Though, you gotta watch the damn Welsh around the sacred vestal sheepies.....

SilverbladeTE wrote:I'm not one o' them wussy Sassenachs, FEAR THE DEEP FRIED HAGGIS!

And we're not so scared of our Continental neighbours
Though, you gotta watch the damn Welsh around the sacred vestal sheepies.....

ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG NO
NOT THE DEEP FRIED HAGGIS!!!!!!!!!!


No-one expects the ...

Siddarmark is going Fascist and outright National-Socialist (Nazi), with Charisians becoming the convenient scapegoat. And they were the beneficiaries of Charisian innovation during the Jihad so they have the basic knowledge to push that development if necessary. That leaves 3 big questions: what the CoGA will do, what happens when all the government aid to the unemployed runs out and how will "Project Androcles" will impact the situation.

Given the late Grand Vicar's reforms and the Church's greater commitment to the physical (rather the spiritual) needs of their flock, it's pretty clear how poorly the new Grand Vicar will take to reports of violence against Charisians and other "objects of vengeance" in Siddarmark. Yet given how Siddarmarkians feel about the Temple, it's pretty certain that any censure the Temple might issue against the new government of Siddarmarkian would only widen the gulf between them.

But when the money runs out (and it will, sooner rather than later), they can blame Charis all they want but it won't pay the bills. They could start on some deficit spending and build up their military forces in order to start conquering other nations (like Dohlar or Silkiah) to increase the public's confidence in their country's strength and perhaps ransack their economies. Yet they are likely to encounter Charisian force in alliance with such countries and they could never build up a navy large and capable enough to take the fight to Charis. So we are likely to see Rahnyld and Kahnrahd asking for Charisian protection, which is likely to pose much difficulty on Charis for many reasons. And many of those Siddarmarkian veterans of the Jihad might resist any such policy. Yet Charis might be able to head off any Siddarmark revanchism with some surgical strikes that cripple its military's ability to fight. When Germany re-militarized the Saar and Rhine (in violation of the Versailles Treaty), their soldiers went in without ammo for their rifles, assuming that the French and British would not stop them (and they were right). The Inner Circle would know if Siddarmark is running a bluff and notify Silkiah and Dohlar about it.

The biggest joker in the deck in the Testimony of Schueler. It is likely to cause a major crisis of faith within the Church and that might distract them from the situation in Siddarmark. And its anyone's guess how those 300-400 "witnesses" are going to be treated if they try to bring the new testament of Schueler to Siddarmark. We may see a total rejection of religion and any witnesses might be killed. And the remaining churchmen in Siddarmark would be in even greater jeopardy, as they would want to at least read this obviously divine document (God lights and all) but needing to show loyalty to the state over any loyalty to Zion.

Fun times.

isaac_newton wrote: SNIP

I take it you mean mainland european nation

Dilandu wrote:
Please, who would ever consider Englishmen as true Europeans, with their pathetic cuisine?

SNIP.

isaac_newton wrote:

well - be fair, some mainland europeans do have moderately good cuisines HAHHHHHAHAHHAH

Seriously - that statement is not as true as it used to be. Our food is/can be a LOT LOT better then it was when I was at school!

[Edit]
Tapioca, SPAM Fritters URRRRGGHHH

Spam fritters sounds Hawaiian. Musubi is a delicacy there after all.

Not my cup of tea

PeterZ wrote:SNIP

Spam fritters sounds Hawaiian. Musubi is a delicacy there after all.

Not my cup of tea

[as far as I know this horror was purely home grown]

As practised at the school I went to - it was a thick slice of spam, thickly coated in batter and deep fried, and then left to cool, so that it leaked grease onto your plate
GROSS

[edit] and you had to finish what was on your plate