The Official Blog of The Most Sovereign and Holy Empire of Fermiparadoxia

The Issue

Secularists have been urging for the government to impose an income tax on religious organizations in Fermiparadoxia for some time now, and the issue has finally made it’s way to the upper levels of the government.

The Debate

1. Self-appointed civil rights spokesman Steffan Nagasawa declares, “Churches are business organizations with a large income. It’s unfair that they don’t have to pay the same taxes that everyone else does. If they really do spend on any money on charity, let them write it off as a deduction just like corporations do. There’s no reason that so-called clergy should be chauffeured around in limos tax-free, when we desperately need funds for public works.”

2. “Freedom of conscience is foremost among liberties,” says Reverend Zeke Gutenberg. “Churches have been exempted from taxation because it is wrong for the government to infringe on the right of people to worship as they please, and that includes charging them for the right to worship. Besides, churches are non-profit organizations that put all their funds back into the community.”

3. The Honorable Tobias Gutenberg, Minister of Minding Other People’s Business, has an idea: “This religion thing is such a great racket, why don’t we make it a government monopoly? We’ll ban all religions except the Church of Fermiparadoxia, and make attendance and donations compulsory. I’ll start writing the Holy Scriptures right away!”

The Government Postion

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The Issue

A well-heeled lobby group is pushing for the elimination of regulations that prevent corporations from donating money to political parties.

The Debate

1. “This is supposed to be a democratic country,” Book Publishing industry spokesperson Jack du Pont says. “Yet these archaic laws say I can’t donate money to support a political party. They put ceilings on the amount any party can spend on advertising. It’s time to stop treating voters like children, and trust them to make up their own minds. Free the ballot box!”

2. “You say political freedom, I hear vote-buying,” says popular anarchist Violet Trax. “If these fat cats get their way, politicians will buy their own seat in Congress. And let’s face it, a slick advertising campaign can convince a lot of apathetic voters. We need to tighten the laws, not repeal them. Money should have no place in politics!”

3. “Frankly, I don’t see why we need to have elections at all,” says your brother, Bianca Winters, over a late-night malt whiskey. “You always seem to know what’s best. Why not scrap the whole political system? It would make things so much simpler.”

The Government Postion

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The Issue

In order to curb youth-related crime, the police have suggested a national curfew.

The Debate

1. “The youth-related crime statistics in Fermiparadoxia are appalling,” says police chief Pip O’Bannon. “If kids can’t go out at night, they won’t have any opportunity to roam around in their baggy pants and backwards hats mugging the elderly and causing a general ruckus. Just last night I had to run down some punk who tried to steal a mailbox right off the post! This is getting ridiculous. Sure, it’ll require more funding, but think of all the mailboxes we’ll save! Our youth need to spend the wee hours sleeping or studying–not out gallivanting with their friends.”

2. “I’m not a criminal just because I’m seventeen!” shouts honors student, Abraham Longfellow. “Yeah, I like to go out partying, but I’d never hurt anybody! Besides, we’ve already got enough problems with these pigs breathing down our necks. If anything we need MORE freedom. It’s time for the government to step up to the plate and tell these power hungry swine to stop cramping our style!”

The Government Postion

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The Issue

The Police department is considering installing surveillance cameras in all major public areas, in an effort to crack down on crime.

The Debate

1. “This is a blatant invasion of the right to privacy!” says libertarian web site operator Elizabeth Washington. “Now I can’t even go out in public any more without being watched? And you know this is just the beginning. Today there are cameras in city streets. Tomorrow they’re peering through your bedroom window.”

2. “Hey, I’ve got news for you,” says Police media liaison Jennifer Mombota. “When you’re out in public, PEOPLE CAN SEE YOU. These cameras will be extremely helpful in reducing the national crime rate. Frankly, I can’t see what the fuss is about.”

3. “This ’slippery slope’ argument has got me thinking,” says Police Minister Tobias Falopian. “You know, it would be a lot easier to fight crime if we watched people all the time. Not with cameras, of course. That’s clearly an invasion of privacy. But how about a national database of our citizens, coupled with compulsory ID cards and barcoding? It would stop crime dead in its tracks.”

The Government Postion

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On May 16th, 2007, The Corporate Broadcasting System (CBS), herein called The Corporate Broadcasting System, made a monumental and fatal error in judgement. They had cancelled what had been one of it’s best new shows for 2006-2007 television season… Jericho.

The Government of the Most Sovereign and Holy Empire of Fermiparadoxia does not ordinarily engage itself in such trivial matters as the entertainment industry but this goes beyond the pale.

The Corporate Broadcasting System underestimated 8 million Jericho fans who reacted immediately and embarked on a grassroots mission to let The Corporate Broadcasting System know what they wanted.

It’s time we as the public make ourselves heard, and let the networks know that we are tired of the same old lazy reality shows, American Idiot and overworked crime dramas. We want good writing, we want in-depth character development, we want shows that make us think and give us something interesting to discuss.

We are tired of the Networks making blunderous programming mistakes such as pitting good writing production and acting against inane reality shows, putting them on haitus for 2 months mid-season, and ultimately setting the show up for a big fall.

If you have not seen or heard of Jericho please consult these links
Watch Jericho On teh Corporate Broadcasting System

My efforts to save Jericho
Nuciferous: adj. bearing nuts “Save Jericho”

The Future Starts NOW! Jericho Lives

Send Nuts to the Corporate Broadcasting System executives. Over twenty thousand pounds and counting. Nuts for Jericho

over eighty thousand signatures and counting. Let the Corporate Broadcasting system know your opinion. Sign the petition to Save jericho
Online petition to Save Jericho

on the Read what others are saying, including the cast members and join the discussion Corporate Broadcasting System Jericho Message Boards

Updates still to come
The Jericho Wiki

Jericho Rally Point

Jericho Fan Fiction

Watching Jericho

Stay Tuned to The Official Blog of the Most Sovereign and Holy Empire of Fermiparadoxia as more news developes.

So say we all

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The Issue

After the vast fortunes of a recently deceased oil tycoon in Fermiparadoxia were left to a small cactus plant, citizens nationwide have been asking the same question: should the inheritance tax laws be changed?

The Debate

1. “Every time I see a stupid rich kid having an easy ride of life with money they did nothing to deserve, I go into a jealous rage and start punching walls,” says economically disadvantaged individual Zeke Wu. “Abolish inheritance entirely! If the government takes the inheritance then we can spend all that cash on things that make ordinary people’s lives better, like education, social welfare, and attack helicopters.”
2. “This is a disgusting breach of my human rights,” says Gregory Barry, heir to an international widget empire. “Just think of all the poor families who have spent their lives scrimping and saving with the dream of passing on a modest luxury yacht to ensure the security of their children’s children. All that sacrifice, all that toil, all those long nights working their fingers to the bone setting up offshore accounts - it brings a tear to my eye. Inheritance tax has got to go!”
3. “Surely we can arrange some sort of compromise here,” says comfortable knitwear fan Akira McAlpin. “Yes, it’s true that some people exploit the system - but a lot of people rely on inheritance for their basic support! Why don’t we just set a sensible ceiling on how much you can inherit? That way you get to keep the family farm, but not the five mansions and the oil refinery.”

The Government Postion

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