These Fair Shores: The Commonwealth of New England

[The Anglo-Dutch Union]

Argentina's advantage in populace and economic metric would impress if it wasn't so contained, with the country's presence barely palpable north of the Equator. Australia, on the other, wields not only the third largest navy in the Empire, but also the third largest in the world, with Argentina coming in at fifth. Of course, this is ignoring the fact that any conflict in which Australia becomes embroiled would also likely involve the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Coast Guard, and the Royal Cape of Good Hope Coast Guard, which are respectively the first, second, and fourth largest navies, to say nothing of the various other flotillas patrolling the waves at the behest of His Majesty.

I suppose the Argentinean sphere is contained but at the very least is is their sphere. The Areas where Australia leverages influence are not exactly under Australian influence but more under Imperial influence.

Argentina has some blemishes to answer for, too, it must be noted. The gauchos may not be the same as, say, whatever is going on in the United States, but their republic can only boast fourth place in GDP rankings by casting an exploitative net on their northern neighbor, their policy towards natives is...questionable (and something Kinsantinsuyu probably loves to comment on), and the moon is peppered with Argentine company towns. At least American workers could flee from Pullman's factories before their Revolution; Argentine estralladors can't exactly go on strike when their employers control the air supply shipments.
All around...parity if I've ever seen it.

The fact that the Argentinean economy is quite exploitative does not exactly reduce my point. It is still much and much larger. And quite frankly shitty worker conditions were (possibly are) a feature of many liberal republics, I suppose the Argentineans have taken it a step further but many things in this TL are more extreme.

The only reason Australia can even get a slight chance of parity is if you involve the entire empire. Which will happen when they come into conflict! But that’s not exactly what we are comparing, We’re comparing both of these states potential to be a “beacon” for liberal democracy. And as you said yourself Australia’s only chance at parity comes from being a part of the Imperial appartus, an appartus which won’t support Australia in being anything near a republican beacon.

Also Australia has been pulling away from the empire, they might still be commited to remain inside the empire. But the monarchy is one of the key institutions of the Empire, severing these ties present a clear rift between australia and the empire IMO, weakening their influence as a consequence.

 

[CosmicAsh]

 

[CosmicAsh]

 

[Arthur Marston]

I'm guessing that "Edouard Marciszewski" is TTL Edmund Muskie.

 

[Couperin]

I'm guessing that "Edouard Marciszewski" is TTL Edmund Muskie.

He is!

 

[CosmicAsh]

I'm guessing that "Edouard Marciszewski" is TTL Edmund Muskie.

Sure is! His family never changed their last name, and the integrated into Acadian culture fairly well.

 

[LordCalner]

Sapmi selling territory? Didnt they very recently become independent in the TL?

 

[Aron MacEanraig]

Sapmi selling territory? Didnt they very recently become independent in the TL?

I think it was NYE? Yeah, very unfortunate but that's the reality and price of independence for certain territories, they simply wouldn't be able to sustain themselves. Maybe the Scandinavians were very respectful towards the Saami cause and didn't want to argue against it when giving indie? The 'Sápmi Purchases' remind me of when OTL Norway almost gifted a mountain to Finland for her Independence Day. A Finnish-Saami association of countries or confederation might be more viable, but anyway it is very interesting to watch an alt Scandi setup.

My question though, why does the 2023 map use the Swedish name of the Sápmi capital, why not the Saami Luleju?

 

[Kibbutznik]

I suppose the Argentinean sphere is contained but at the very least is is their sphere. The Areas where Australia leverages influence are not exactly under Australian influence but more under Imperial influence.

The two are one and the same. Any consideration of Australian capabilities must account for their status as a commonwealth of the British Empire.

The fact that the Argentinean economy is quite exploitative does not exactly reduce my point. It is still much and much larger. And quite frankly shitty worker conditions were (possibly are) a feature of many liberal republics, I suppose the Argentineans have taken it a step further but many things in this TL are more extreme.

If what we're considering here is Argentina's reputation and point for inspiration for those seeking to emulate republicanism, then I don't think the "we're bad, but so is the other guy" really works if they want to establish primacy, especially when the Australians can absolutely wave their superior worker conditions, an arguably more diverse political field, and more harmonious relationship with the indigenous peoples.

The only reason Australia can even get a slight chance of parity is if you involve the entire empire. Which will happen when they come into conflict! But that’s not exactly what we are comparing, We’re comparing both of these states potential to be a “beacon” for liberal democracy.

Well, as previously pointed out, Australia can stand on her own two feet, even out-sizing the Argentinians in naval tonnage (which, let's be honest, is the military branch that most matters here between the two), and the position of republicanism's champion is far more contested than you presented for reasons outlined in the previous paragraph.

And as you said yourself Australia’s only chance at parity comes from being a part of the Imperial appartus, an appartus which won’t support Australia in being anything near a republican beacon.

Also Australia has been pulling away from the empire, they might still be commited to remain inside the empire. But the monarchy is one of the key institutions of the Empire, severing these ties present a clear rift between australia and the empire IMO, weakening their influence as a consequence.

I would have eagerly conceded on this point were Henry Jone Adams still the Lord President of the British Empire, or if we had not yet witnessed the American rockets over Boston, but neither of those are true for us. As the British Empire engages in some navel gazing prompted by the Quincy coup attempt and the bathos of the Third Anglo-American War, there is a clear desire for compromise and reform within the realm. On top of this, Australia's transformation does not mark any drastic departures from Imperial structures; Australia continues to contribute to the Royal Navy Cost Sharing Mechanism and the British Home Isles Development Fund, they continue to recognize the authority of the British Parliament, they continue to abide by British and Imperial laws. Minor disagreements like the Philippines aside, there is no particular reason for London to abandon one of her daughters simply because the dame decided to don a new dress.

 

[Aron MacEanraig]

This is correct. St. Petersburg is a city of 23 million, and it has extensive sea walls and flood defences, as well as extensive land reclamation to accomidate such a massive population. There's a decent amount of money spent on it being kept high and dry. You can see here via the (unreleased!) State Duma constituency map that the land is mostly fine. Duma constituencies are ~600k in population each.

I wonder if there's been any major incident in TTL where damaged seawalls caused massive refugee and humanitarian crisis due to military, terrorist attack or simply of natural cause.

 

[Railmotive]

So is BBC player a sort of proto youtube? In that it has some features we'd recognise but not all of them. Are there any other types of media players similart and does something similar to Iplayer (the OTL service) exist ITTL?

 

[Kibbutznik]

I wonder if there's been any major incident in TTL where damaged seawalls caused massive refugee and humanitarian crisis due to military, terrorist attack or simply of natural cause.

IIRC there was a news story in one of the BBC sidebars about missiles hitting the seawall in Alexandria.

 

[CosmicAsh]

The 2023 Newfoundland general election was held on 2 February 2023 to determine the 50th Parliament of Newfoundland. The election was held amidst the Newfoundland Debt Crisis, Closure of the Atlantic Fisheries, 2023 Great Blizzard, and the Newfoundland Baby Boom. The first-term incumbent government of Clifford Small won re-election for the first time since the 1987 general election. Opposition leader Sarah Stoodley led her party to win the second largest number of seats, despite several scandals that had erupted during the campaign. The Liberal Conservatives won the third most seats, 4, doubling their position within the House of Commons. The Socialist Party of Newfoundland (Marxist) won a second seat, while the Newfoundland Socialist Party (Hamiltonian) lost their second seat. Both the Communist Party and Labrador Independence Party won one seat each.

The Commonwealth entered 2023 with an outstanding debt of £4.309 billion, nearly six times the size of the country's economy. Debt payments for the 2023 budget are projected to exceed the total amount brought in under taxation. Under the previous government of Clifford Small, the rate of growth of the debt had been reduced for the first time since the 1996 budget. The 2022 budget had produced this slowing rate of growth after negotiations with the United Kingdom to allow for the Newfoundlander Diaspora to send remittance payments to the country without being taxed an exit fee from the United Kingdom. The government also negotiated a slightly higher transfer payment from the United Kingdom, citing the worsening global economy.

The campaign focused on the economy, and attempts to improve the country's still failing economic fortunes. Polls indicated that the New Democratic Union was heading for a defeat, with Sarah Stoodley's Nonpartisan Party in a firm position to win until it was discovered that her deputy had been involved in an illicit affair with an undercover French spy, and that Stoodley herself was implicated in a cash transfer scheme to skim money off mortgage payments at several branches of her local bank. The polls tilted towards the government following this, as supporters of the Nonpartisans instead moved to support the Liberal Conservatives.

All party leaders agreed upon efforts to encourage family planning in the country, with all pledging to ask the United Kingdom to modify the Commonwealth's constitution to remove a 1940s clause that offered cash payments for having larger families. All but the big three parties advocated for the economy to be nationalised and centrally planned to stop its shrinking. Both Small and Stoodley agreed that the sale of Labrador to another country or company was a possible path to financial solvency.

The new Parliament was sworn in on 10 March 2023, with minimal changes to the Cabinet of Newfoundland.

 

[CosmicAsh]

 

[MasterSanders]

The 2023 Newfoundland general election was held on 2 February 2023 to determine the 50th Parliament of Newfoundland. The election was held amidst the Newfoundland Debt Crisis, Closure of the Atlantic Fisheries, 2023 Great Blizzard, and the Newfoundland Baby Boom. The first-term incumbent government of Clifford Small won re-election for the first time since the 1987 general election. Opposition leader Sarah Stoodley led her party to win the second largest number of seats, despite several scandals that had erupted during the campaign. The Liberal Conservatives won the third most seats, 4, doubling their position within the House of Commons. The Socialist Party of Newfoundland (Marxist) won a second seat, while the Newfoundland Socialist Party (Hamiltonian) lost their second seat. Both the Communist Party and Labrador Independence Party won one seat each.

Once again, you spoil us. And with such a infobox dump!

Just one question: what is the philosophical difference - if any - between "Marxist" and "Hamiltonian" socialism here? And I assume the latter refers to American socialism.

 

[Egregorian Chant]

The 2023 Newfoundland general election was held on 2 February 2023 to determine the 50th Parliament of Newfoundland. The election was held amidst the Newfoundland Debt Crisis, Closure of the Atlantic Fisheries, 2023 Great Blizzard, and the Newfoundland Baby Boom. The first-term incumbent government of Clifford Small won re-election for the first time since the 1987 general election. Opposition leader Sarah Stoodley led her party to win the second largest number of seats, despite several scandals that had erupted during the campaign. The Liberal Conservatives won the third most seats, 4, doubling their position within the House of Commons. The Socialist Party of Newfoundland (Marxist) won a second seat, while the Newfoundland Socialist Party (Hamiltonian) lost their second seat. Both the Communist Party and Labrador Independence Party won one seat each.

The Commonwealth entered 2023 with an outstanding debt of £4.309 billion, nearly six times the size of the country's economy. Debt payments for the 2023 budget are projected to exceed the total amount brought in under taxation. Under the previous government of Clifford Small, the rate of growth of the debt had been reduced for the first time since the 1996 budget. The 2022 budget had produced this slowing rate of growth after negotiations with the United Kingdom to allow for the Newfoundlander Diaspora to send remittance payments to the country without being taxed an exit fee from the United Kingdom. The government also negotiated a slightly higher transfer payment from the United Kingdom, citing the worsening global economy.

The campaign focused on the economy, and attempts to improve the country's still failing economic fortunes. Polls indicated that the New Democratic Union was heading for a defeat, with Sarah Stoodley's Nonpartisan Party in a firm position to win until it was discovered that her deputy had been involved in an illicit affair with an undercover French spy, and that Stoodley herself was implicated in a cash transfer scheme to skim money off mortgage payments at several branches of her local bank. The polls tilted towards the government following this, as supporters of the Nonpartisans instead moved to support the Liberal Conservatives.

All party leaders agreed upon efforts to encourage family planning in the country, with all pledging to ask the United Kingdom to modify the Commonwealth's constitution to remove a 1940s clause that offered cash payments for having larger families. All but the big three parties advocated for the economy to be nationalised and centrally planned to stop its shrinking. Both Small and Stoodley agreed that the sale of Labrador to another country or company was a possible path to financial solvency.

The new Parliament was sworn in on 10 March 2023, with minimal changes to the Cabinet of Newfoundland.

Surprised to see a Hamiltonian party in an Imperial country. Are there a lot of American immigrants in Avalon South?
Also, I assume that the "Newfoundland Baby Boom" has something to do with soldiers coming back from the War in America. Is this phenomenon unique to Newfoundland or is it happening in other Imperial countries?

 

[Railmotive]

Whats the difference between Marxist and Hamiltonian thoughts of socialism? Also what kind of communists are the CPNL if not marxist?

 

[Rattigan]

SNIP

So strange to see a list of Newfoundland premiers without Joey Smallwood. Whatever became of him TTL?

 

[JuniperHyacinthe]

Just one question: what is the philosophical difference - if any - between "Marxist" and "Hamiltonian" socialism here? And I assume the latter refers to American socialism.

I assume Marxism is just Marxism from OTL, and as for Hamiltonianism, here's a snippet of lore from the TFS Discord server:

"The guiding philosophy of the United States, Hamiltonianism is primarily focused on the unification of the state and the political organisation of the people. It seeks to unify the people under their local communities, and encourages the mixing of the people and the political leadership. It focuses on the freedoms of the community, and liberation of the community from outside oppression of capital. Hamiltonianism carries the idea of a single political movement organising the state, and the people having either close interactions with party members or participation in sub-party organisations to impact the overall policy of the country."

Whats the difference between Marxist and Hamiltonian thoughts of socialism? Also what kind of communists are the CPNL if not marxist?

Also from the TFS Discord server, a description of communism (and also communalism):

"This ideology is less organised, and there are some that say Communism is a separate ideology. Both have their roots in Latin America, where indigenous peoples first organised in Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil against their colonialist and settler colonial governments. Communalism and Communism's main strain is a focus on rejecting capitalism and private property, and organising society differently. Communalism insists on passing all land to a collective of families in various geographic regions, and the collective being able to organise the labour and land use in their regions. Communism is similar, only that the government is responsible for appointing an overseer of a geographic region, and the people inside that region organise their labour and land use as they see fit."

 

[Yankeewolf]

Why are the Newfoundland political leaders and parties all unified around the support of 'family planning'? Wouldn't have a typical population age structure(that is actually atypical in the modern world amongst developed countries) be actually a beneficial thing if you're a country deeply in debt that needs lots of people to work? It's not like Newfoundland is all that populated either, there should be plenty of room for emigration down to New England or Canada and remittences proping the country up.