A More Perfect Union?

[Francesco Rinaldi]

Onorate Signori,

I rise to speak in order to call upon the distinguished members of this body to revitalize our most sacred homeland. We Tellians are a proud and ancient people. We have survived invasions, occupations, disasters of all kinds, be they natural or man-made. We have survived through the centuries because we have devoted ourselves to the preservation of our core ideals: virtue, honour, and liberty.

We are a people who are accustomed to our individuals rights, to the protection of our lives and properties. However, we are in an era where the rights of cities have caused dysfunction on the one-hand, and dictatorship on the other. We must not give ourselves to the extremes, for we are a people whose resilience comes from putting the good of all first. That is the stuff of virtue, of honour, and of true liberty.

I propose that we look to our past to regain our future. I propose that the patricians of each city form a Grand Council, which shall legislate for the whole of our nation. It will create a common policy of diplomacy, defense, finance, and infrastructure. To lead this nation, I propose an official who shall hold the ancient title of Doge. The Doge shall carry out the will of the Council, command our armed forces, and serve as the symbol of our nation. To that end, I also propose that the Doge be granted a council of advisors to be known as the Signoria, a council of high-minded and learned individuals devoted to the service of this nation.

I do not propose to take away the ancient rights and privileges of our city-states. Rather, I propose that they transfer their most important prerogatives to a single entity for the betterment of all Tellians. I propose that we become the Most Serene Republic of Tellia.

I call upon this assembly to consider these ideas, to take upon itself the solemn duty of granting to the Tellian people what is already theirs: liberty.

[V.V. Fabbri]

Thank you for your input and suggestions, Mr Rinaldi. I shall respond with my thoughts to the respective points below.

We are a people who are accustomed to our individuals rights, to the protection of our lives and properties. However, we are in an era where the rights of cities have caused dysfunction on the one-hand, and dictatorship on the other. We must not give ourselves to the extremes, for we are a people whose resilience comes from putting the good of all first. That is the stuff of virtue, of honour, and of true liberty.

I agree that our current geopolitical situation is not one with which we have the greatest favour, and the lack of a centralised territory to govern has affected our efficiency in maintaining a settled nation. I believe that it may be in the Tellian people's best interests to aim towards reëstablishing a contiguous claim to allow for greater cohesion between our government, the cities' charges, and the populace of our nation as a whole to create a more unified force.

I propose that we look to our past to regain our future. I propose that the patricians of each city form a Grand Council, which shall legislate for the whole of our nation. It will create a common policy of diplomacy, defense, finance, and infrastructure. To lead this nation, I propose an official who shall hold the ancient title of Doge. The Doge shall carry out the will of the Council, command our armed forces, and serve as the symbol of our nation. To that end, I also propose that the Doge be granted a council of advisors to be known as the Signoria, a council of high-minded and learned individuals devoted to the service of this nation.

While I look on such a suggestion with favour, I must admit to noticing a similarity between this proposed governmental organisation and the confederation structure which we have attempted to maintain since our independence from Ashkenatza. As I mentioned previously with land claims, I strongly feel that a better future Tellia should be homed by a distinct, contiguous territory. This is one of the key issues which has loomed over Tellia in recent times and has yet to be successfully rectified, and should be a main focus when discussing the nation's future.

An amalgamated Tellia would give us a defined single territory to govern and develop, and would incorporate larger regions for our recognised subcultures (such as the Gaians, Cisamarrese and Merenolitovinans) to grow and prosper rather than wither and be lost. Our current cities would see their areas of influence increased as well, forming subdivisions which would provide members for such a council. I would therefore suggest that working towards an expansion of our lands would be a good first step towards any greater internal changes; better infrastructure and safer means of connection between the major Tellian settlements should lead to further collaboration between our peoples and greater liberty, which can then allow the formation of a manner of government fitting to our new situation.

I do not disagree that a government change should be forthcoming, but I am of the mindset that it should be developed in a more natural sense as a requirement to match an improved geopolitical situation, as opposed to being designed to be used as a catalyst for potential development nationwide without preëxisting cohesion.