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The Great Escape
From the Diaries of Liberty President Velociryx
Dawning
The election was won by the slimmest possible margins….a single vote, and thus, I, Velociryx, became our island’s first president.
A minority president, if ever there was one.
Because of our recent tragedy, only a handful of voters actually turned out, and the deciding vote was cast by none other than Solo, who had to radio his vote in, on account of still being afield, and leading the survey effort.
Minority President or no, Liberty has her government.
The first order of business, then, was to build myself a desk. This was accomplished by bartering for a few packing crates, and borrowing a contraband axe to make some legs for the table out of a tree not far from the QuarterMaster’s Hut.
For the present time, this will serve as my “office” and it has the added advantage of freeing Lud to go afield as well, and begin cataloging the native plant life, and coming up with some strategies to maximize the synergies between the native plants and the ones we brought with us in the form of seed packs. His growing body of expertise in this area will serve our planter-capitalists very well in coming months, I am certain.
So…I’m the ditch-digging Presidential custodian of the QuarterMaster’s hut.
Not much privacy, but then, with only six Geodesics constructed, I’m certainly not alone in that regard.
Also, it seems that the Kidicious One grew tired of sitting offshore taunting us, and he and the bulk of his officers headed back to the mainland.
Of course, we know only too well that they could return at any moment, and as always, speed is of the essence.
The first thing I did was sit down and pen some notes for myself and those who come after me, outlining my general thoughts about Liberty, her chances, and her government. One part hopes and dreams, one part musing and charting a course for the future, and one part idle rambling, I guess.
Whether it proves to be of any value or particular use to anyone is a thing yet to be decided, but I’ve decided to include those notes here, exactly as I wrote them:
Notes on Liberty, her government and her future:
We have before us a chance to make a new start. A chance to prove that the market principles we believe so strongly in can be tempered from their sometimes destructive tendencies by our democratic ideals, and it is my belief that this is an utterly unstoppable combination of forces. The openness of a truly democratic society (one that does not make any effort to restrict the personal liberty and freedoms of her people, save for the minimum necessary for a well-functioning society, coupled with the burning vitality of the market system….these will be the twin engines that power and drive our success in coming years.
That we are all connected is beyond doubting. And it is this connectedness that makes us beholden and accountable to each other to a degree. Granted, not to the same degree as the familial bond, for example, but resting somewhere comfortably below that is our national and societal connection to each other.
Thus, the People will control the government and define the market, and the Government will regulate the Market and codify the code of law for the People, and the Market will allocate the resources and be the wellspring of wealth for both the People and the Government. All interconnected. All intertwined and beholden to each other.
On our first day on the island, we developed a phrase. “Nobody goes hungry.” It is, sitting by itself on the page, a simple phrase, really, but that one simple phrase can help to define us, and it is this government’s pledge that we will do all we can to not only regulate the cyclic imbalances of the market, but also to ensure that those imbalances never cause any inhabitant of Liberty to fall below a pre-determined threshold of comfort and affluence, with our stated (eventual) goal being that the poorest of the poor on Liberty are at least as well off (with their basic freedoms intact) as the folk of Kidatopia, where fairness is mandated and freedom and liberty are illusions designed to keep the masses from revolting against their masters.
Further, I pledge that, during my time in office, if ever there is an occasion when one of our citizens must go without food, then I will be the one to do so, giving what food I have to the family in question and taking their place thus.
We lead by example, or not at all. We sacrifice, not only for our personal gain, but for the benefit and well being of those who put us into positions of power and trust. To do otherwise is not only grossly irresponsible, but it is the first step toward depravity.
Further, I pledge that one of the Geodesics I have brought with me to the Island will forever remain a “haven.” As the most advanced and comfortable living space on the island (both now and for the foreseeable future), this abode will serve as housing for person(s) or family(ies) who by way of misfortune of ANY means, finds themselves without a place to call home.
They shall have one, and thus, I extend the original phrase to “Nobody goes hungry, and no one is without shelter.”
And so it begins.
Today was a day of firsts in a lot of ways.
First day on the job.
First batch of “Executive Orders” and governmental appointments.
All sorts of groovy stuffs.
No major accidents to report today, so Mrs. Flubber had a fairly easy time of it, although Mini-Flub gave everybody a scare when a coconut rolled off a workbench and knocked him in the head.
He screamed to the high heavens, but was, in truth, more frightened than harmed.
Hard headed little fellow…that will serve him well….
It was also the first day that our capitalistic leanings became apparent, and Master Flubber led the way in that regard, recommending that we try “capitalistic food gathering” just to see how it went, and it was an experiment greeted with excitement and enthusiasm by all, and turned out some interesting results.
Everyone on Liberty, save for Solo and his band of surveyors, still afield doing work for us all, participated in the “experiment” on a certain level.
Two islanders opted not to participate, in order to test the “nobody goes hungry” paradigm, and for the afternoon, we established a twenty percent rule. One (fill in the blank with food item gathered, collected, or caught) in five would be given over to the government as a tax for today.
Mara and five volunteers continued work on the Geodesics, and again, for today, they were put on the “governmental payroll” and promised that they, along with the two non-participants, would not go hungry.
Flubber headed out with his fishing crew, whose ranks had swelled remarkably at the mention of the experiment, when he added a new wrinkle. Any person making use of his boat or equipment had to give him a cut of the catch, also amounting to one in five.
This caused some people to grumble at the “unfairness” of it all, and several decided to attempt to fish from the shore instead.
Several others, however, remembering the richness of the past two days catches, signed onto the boat anyway, and off it went.
Then we had legions of gatherers and pickers, scouring the island for delicious treats to eat. Climbers and presenters, who made impromptu deals with others on the island to assist in various ways with food harvesting and preparation (in exchange for some small consideration, of course)….the whole thing was a dizzying wonder to behold, and we learned a lot from the day’s experiment.
The first thing we learned was that when you give people a goal like that, they can REALLY get a lot done. Whole stands of trees were picked bare in a single day! Second thing is that people will broker their own deals, with no outside intervention needed. The artistic guy who offered to carve Pineapple and other fruits into decorative shapes in exchange for a few fish for his family was but one example of the numerous “side markets” that spun off all on their own from today’s game.
Let’s see…what else.
Well, we learned that fishing sucks from the shore. The average catch of the guys on the shore was only two fish each. On the other hand, the crabbing was much better, and this augmented the take somewhat.
On the boat, the average catch was eleven. Minus one for tax and one for Flubber, and the folks on the boat made out heads and shoulders better than the poor sods on the shore who thought it “unfair.” Well, they’ll be dining light on account of their short-sightedness.
One dozen people fishing from Flubber’s boat gave him an even dozen fish for his role of Skipper, ensuring that his family would eat well indeed, and have plenty left over.
Ten people on the government “payroll” today, including Mrs. Flubber (who actually declined government food, secure in the knowledge that Flubber would bring home more than enough), left us with eight mouths to feed, and by the end of the day, we had a dozen fish from Flubber's boat crew, four crabs, sixty-odd assorted fruit items, some of that yummy broadleaf thing I enjoy….plenty!
Some of the seaside fishermen who had sorry luck came to the QuarterMaster’s tent looking to augment dinner, and we had plenty to spare for them too, AND some leftovers besides (this tells me that perhaps the tax was too high, but not bad for our first run).
In all, it was very educational, and it was good fun watching some of the late afternoon deals as men burdened with a heavy sack of crabs would stand ‘round dickering with impromptu banana merchants and such, brokering deals and making fortunes.
Perhaps the biggest hit of all, however, was watching the non-smoking guy.
I didn’t learn his name, but one of the things that non-smoking guy brought to the island were several dozen cartons of cigarettes.
When he made this known, suddenly the island had its first “hot commodity” and non-smoking guy proved to be a savvy trader, ending up with a bigger stash of food and other equipment than almost anybody on the whole island, selling his smokes off by ones and twos, in exchange for a staggering array of other items.
Good show. Smart lad.
I went to bed that evening with a full belly and a smile on my face. Thirteen Geodesics up and running, lights on in eight, and power for the two stereos we have on the island, so more music tonight.
We’re makin’ it work.
Already there have been requests and inquiries for land, but we must, at least for the moment, hold off on that. Until Solo’s surveying expedition returns with results and we can study the map more carefully, we won’t really know what we’ve got to work with.
Nonetheless, based on today’s experiment, I’d say things are going well indeed.
-=Vel=-
From the Diaries of Liberty President Velociryx
The election was won by the slimmest possible margins….a single vote, and thus, I, Velociryx, became our island’s first president.
A minority president, if ever there was one.
Because of our recent tragedy, only a handful of voters actually turned out, and the deciding vote was cast by none other than Solo, who had to radio his vote in, on account of still being afield, and leading the survey effort.
Minority President or no, Liberty has her government.
The first order of business, then, was to build myself a desk. This was accomplished by bartering for a few packing crates, and borrowing a contraband axe to make some legs for the table out of a tree not far from the QuarterMaster’s Hut.
For the present time, this will serve as my “office” and it has the added advantage of freeing Lud to go afield as well, and begin cataloging the native plant life, and coming up with some strategies to maximize the synergies between the native plants and the ones we brought with us in the form of seed packs. His growing body of expertise in this area will serve our planter-capitalists very well in coming months, I am certain.
So…I’m the ditch-digging Presidential custodian of the QuarterMaster’s hut.
Not much privacy, but then, with only six Geodesics constructed, I’m certainly not alone in that regard.
Also, it seems that the Kidicious One grew tired of sitting offshore taunting us, and he and the bulk of his officers headed back to the mainland.
Of course, we know only too well that they could return at any moment, and as always, speed is of the essence.
The first thing I did was sit down and pen some notes for myself and those who come after me, outlining my general thoughts about Liberty, her chances, and her government. One part hopes and dreams, one part musing and charting a course for the future, and one part idle rambling, I guess.
Whether it proves to be of any value or particular use to anyone is a thing yet to be decided, but I’ve decided to include those notes here, exactly as I wrote them:
Notes on Liberty, her government and her future:
We have before us a chance to make a new start. A chance to prove that the market principles we believe so strongly in can be tempered from their sometimes destructive tendencies by our democratic ideals, and it is my belief that this is an utterly unstoppable combination of forces. The openness of a truly democratic society (one that does not make any effort to restrict the personal liberty and freedoms of her people, save for the minimum necessary for a well-functioning society, coupled with the burning vitality of the market system….these will be the twin engines that power and drive our success in coming years.
That we are all connected is beyond doubting. And it is this connectedness that makes us beholden and accountable to each other to a degree. Granted, not to the same degree as the familial bond, for example, but resting somewhere comfortably below that is our national and societal connection to each other.
Thus, the People will control the government and define the market, and the Government will regulate the Market and codify the code of law for the People, and the Market will allocate the resources and be the wellspring of wealth for both the People and the Government. All interconnected. All intertwined and beholden to each other.
On our first day on the island, we developed a phrase. “Nobody goes hungry.” It is, sitting by itself on the page, a simple phrase, really, but that one simple phrase can help to define us, and it is this government’s pledge that we will do all we can to not only regulate the cyclic imbalances of the market, but also to ensure that those imbalances never cause any inhabitant of Liberty to fall below a pre-determined threshold of comfort and affluence, with our stated (eventual) goal being that the poorest of the poor on Liberty are at least as well off (with their basic freedoms intact) as the folk of Kidatopia, where fairness is mandated and freedom and liberty are illusions designed to keep the masses from revolting against their masters.
Further, I pledge that, during my time in office, if ever there is an occasion when one of our citizens must go without food, then I will be the one to do so, giving what food I have to the family in question and taking their place thus.
We lead by example, or not at all. We sacrifice, not only for our personal gain, but for the benefit and well being of those who put us into positions of power and trust. To do otherwise is not only grossly irresponsible, but it is the first step toward depravity.
Further, I pledge that one of the Geodesics I have brought with me to the Island will forever remain a “haven.” As the most advanced and comfortable living space on the island (both now and for the foreseeable future), this abode will serve as housing for person(s) or family(ies) who by way of misfortune of ANY means, finds themselves without a place to call home.
They shall have one, and thus, I extend the original phrase to “Nobody goes hungry, and no one is without shelter.”
And so it begins.
Today was a day of firsts in a lot of ways.
First day on the job.
First batch of “Executive Orders” and governmental appointments.
All sorts of groovy stuffs.
No major accidents to report today, so Mrs. Flubber had a fairly easy time of it, although Mini-Flub gave everybody a scare when a coconut rolled off a workbench and knocked him in the head.
He screamed to the high heavens, but was, in truth, more frightened than harmed.
Hard headed little fellow…that will serve him well….
It was also the first day that our capitalistic leanings became apparent, and Master Flubber led the way in that regard, recommending that we try “capitalistic food gathering” just to see how it went, and it was an experiment greeted with excitement and enthusiasm by all, and turned out some interesting results.
Everyone on Liberty, save for Solo and his band of surveyors, still afield doing work for us all, participated in the “experiment” on a certain level.
Two islanders opted not to participate, in order to test the “nobody goes hungry” paradigm, and for the afternoon, we established a twenty percent rule. One (fill in the blank with food item gathered, collected, or caught) in five would be given over to the government as a tax for today.
Mara and five volunteers continued work on the Geodesics, and again, for today, they were put on the “governmental payroll” and promised that they, along with the two non-participants, would not go hungry.
Flubber headed out with his fishing crew, whose ranks had swelled remarkably at the mention of the experiment, when he added a new wrinkle. Any person making use of his boat or equipment had to give him a cut of the catch, also amounting to one in five.
This caused some people to grumble at the “unfairness” of it all, and several decided to attempt to fish from the shore instead.
Several others, however, remembering the richness of the past two days catches, signed onto the boat anyway, and off it went.
Then we had legions of gatherers and pickers, scouring the island for delicious treats to eat. Climbers and presenters, who made impromptu deals with others on the island to assist in various ways with food harvesting and preparation (in exchange for some small consideration, of course)….the whole thing was a dizzying wonder to behold, and we learned a lot from the day’s experiment.
The first thing we learned was that when you give people a goal like that, they can REALLY get a lot done. Whole stands of trees were picked bare in a single day! Second thing is that people will broker their own deals, with no outside intervention needed. The artistic guy who offered to carve Pineapple and other fruits into decorative shapes in exchange for a few fish for his family was but one example of the numerous “side markets” that spun off all on their own from today’s game.
Let’s see…what else.
Well, we learned that fishing sucks from the shore. The average catch of the guys on the shore was only two fish each. On the other hand, the crabbing was much better, and this augmented the take somewhat.
On the boat, the average catch was eleven. Minus one for tax and one for Flubber, and the folks on the boat made out heads and shoulders better than the poor sods on the shore who thought it “unfair.” Well, they’ll be dining light on account of their short-sightedness.
One dozen people fishing from Flubber’s boat gave him an even dozen fish for his role of Skipper, ensuring that his family would eat well indeed, and have plenty left over.
Ten people on the government “payroll” today, including Mrs. Flubber (who actually declined government food, secure in the knowledge that Flubber would bring home more than enough), left us with eight mouths to feed, and by the end of the day, we had a dozen fish from Flubber's boat crew, four crabs, sixty-odd assorted fruit items, some of that yummy broadleaf thing I enjoy….plenty!
Some of the seaside fishermen who had sorry luck came to the QuarterMaster’s tent looking to augment dinner, and we had plenty to spare for them too, AND some leftovers besides (this tells me that perhaps the tax was too high, but not bad for our first run).
In all, it was very educational, and it was good fun watching some of the late afternoon deals as men burdened with a heavy sack of crabs would stand ‘round dickering with impromptu banana merchants and such, brokering deals and making fortunes.
Perhaps the biggest hit of all, however, was watching the non-smoking guy.
I didn’t learn his name, but one of the things that non-smoking guy brought to the island were several dozen cartons of cigarettes.
When he made this known, suddenly the island had its first “hot commodity” and non-smoking guy proved to be a savvy trader, ending up with a bigger stash of food and other equipment than almost anybody on the whole island, selling his smokes off by ones and twos, in exchange for a staggering array of other items.
Good show. Smart lad.
I went to bed that evening with a full belly and a smile on my face. Thirteen Geodesics up and running, lights on in eight, and power for the two stereos we have on the island, so more music tonight.
We’re makin’ it work.
Already there have been requests and inquiries for land, but we must, at least for the moment, hold off on that. Until Solo’s surveying expedition returns with results and we can study the map more carefully, we won’t really know what we’ve got to work with.
Nonetheless, based on today’s experiment, I’d say things are going well indeed.
-=Vel=-
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