|
Post by ➤ GRAZ ! on Aug 29, 2011 18:36:47 GMT
THE RESULTS ARE IN!
Miranda Isle’s Official Poll Committee has recently revealed the results on the controversial referendum conducted across the country last week. The slim majority of Solastellans voted no in favour of moving the commercial capital of the nation from Sierraville to Menes City.
The Menesian Governor, Dr. Jensen Kallei said he was disappointed with the news but would be contesting the results when the Legislative Assembly reconvened in the city of Miranda later this month. He pointed out that more islands than not were in favour of the change, which proponents say would centralise the system and make it easier for southern islands to conduct trade with the rest of the world, especially since Sierraville was miles inland. Some Marsmontians were quick to point out that Menes City was equally inland, but the Menes River, which already serves thousands of cargo vessels a month, did dampen this argument somewhat. Interestingly, Marsmonte Island defied the predictions of political commentators by failing to produce a conclusive majority. It had previously been tipped for an outright NO verdict.
Political analyst, Geoffrey Waterman had this to say - “By far the most interesting result of the referendum was Marsmonte’s vote. It’s just one more problem with the way that we as a nation tend to look at islands as separate entities. On one level, that is a perfectly adequate way of distinguishing between the different people that live in this country, but Marsmonte is an island divided.”
“Although the results haven’t been in the public domain very long, my team have been working away at them, and among other things, we’ve found that if we delve closer, we find that the Marshtown swing vote was what kept the overall island from being as pro-Sierraville as we had expected. Marie Cuthbert had spoken out often about the inconvenient economic situation whereby Marshtowners had to accept passing, seafaring, trade and then transport it through the deep forest and uphill to reach Sierraville. The increased investment in Menes City would certainly have been a windfall for the city - a lot of costs would have been saved.”
The governor of Sierraville, Sir William Dowes, refused to comment on the failure of his party to secure the entirety of the Marmontian vote, though Marie Cuthbert, neighbouring governor of Marshtown did note that it was ridiculous that one of the most northernmost cities in Solastella should be the capital.
“The southern islands, which Marshtown does the most trade with, were being bled dry. No-one wanted to invest in places so peripheral to the big power cities in the north. Menes is still in the north, yes, but as the southern-most ’northern’ city, it was the best compromise. Not to mention it’s a lot closer to Miranda Island.”
Nonetheless, the results of the vote, especially the 100% no vote from Gloriana Tower comes as a crushing blow to many Menesians, and especially Carrick, the gym leader, who had been campaigning deeply for the switch. The Elite Four’s disdain for the Leader will cast doubts as to whether he will remain in his position in the future - he has locked horns with them before after being rejected a position in the Tower.
Other major regions to vote against the change were the Twin Isles and the Isle of Bracken, which receives all of its trade via air. Though the Air Transportation Service was touted by pro-Sierraville campaigners as an instance of the way that the city was accessible from around the country, many southern islands bemoaned the fact that they lacked funding and space for airstrips to utilise air-trade. As a concession, Dowes has announced plans to introduce airstrips across the country for easier air transportation. With many citizens, Pokémon and businesses currently using the well-developed sea routes, though, the plan has attracted criticism for trying to solve a non-existent problem.
Despite the set-back of the vote, which was lower than expected, Dowes can come out of this with his head held high, which will put him in a better position when he runs for the presidency later this year.
Feel free to comment on this story below:
|
|