Kalistani Major History

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Bennots begins Campaign for President
Ananto Governor signals support for Dual Economy and Internationalism
Dahriel, Ananto District
December 8, 4054

Ananto Governor Victor Bennots began his efforts to win the Office of President of the Republic last Tuesday with an official speech and press conference.  The former Dahriel farmer turned ODEN exporter, and member of the Bennots political dynasty entered Kalistani Politics nearly 15 years ago, serving first as mayor of Dahriel and then as governor of Ananto.  During his tenure, Bennots increased his District's exports by 15% and lowered District personal taxes.  He recently worked with Deputies in the National Assembly to help craft the National Ferry Service which became law in October.  Bennots has reportedly described himself as "... not a member of any Brethrenist Meeting, though my Parents are."


Ananto Governor and now Presidential candidate Victor Bennots, speaking at Dahriel Polytechnic School on Tuesday

Bennots gave a brief message Tuesday, formally announcing his candidacy.  Below is the transcript of his speech:

"For the first time in decades, Kalistan will have a contested election.  The Socialist Party welcomes that development, and has tapped me to represent the Party in the Presidential Election.  I would welcome the endorsement of the other Parties, but I also believe we will have a good contest regardless.  If I am elected, I plan to continue the trajectory that I have started here in Ananto, but you must understand that it is rather difficult to promise better times ahead, when things really are quite good now.  In Kalistan, we have a stable rate of growth which allows us to keep up with our fairly stable population rate.  Some people would demand 3, 4 and 5 percent growth yearly.  Others would say we have been a failure unless we turn in 15%.  But Kalistani economics has always suggested a different approach:  We see growth in certain fields, as demanded by the people, and none in others.  The result is that Kalistani economic growth always hovers right around zero percent economy wide, and we are satisfied. 

"The benefits of zero growth, as the 150 years of Socialist Party rule have demonstrated is that national needs can be taken care of without massive displacement in the Private Sector.  We can encourage robust participation in both Sectors, and promote policies which yield excellent jobforce participation, while at the same time, being able to offer a generous social safety net.  Under Kalistani economics, which some call the Dual Economy, the Private Sector does not ever get large enough so that boom and bust cycles which are inherent in Capitalism can affect the lives of average citizens in any way:  The population is insulated from the speculative decisions of finance and investment.  And yet the Private Sector is large enough to entirely meet the consumer demands of fickle tastes of the People of the Republic.  Meanwhile, critical national services, such as health, drug export and pharmaceutical development, infrastructure and electricity, phone and food, and so on are guaranteed to Kalistan's citizens regardless of their ability to buy these things:  Universalizing social spending gives ALL people a stake in the system and works against resent created by means-testing.  Besides:  Kalistan has the money to universalize social services.  We save money by having a military just large enough to defend the Society with the help of the Militias, we have abolished the prison system, and we maintain a massive budget surplus each year which allows the government flexibility to deal with temporary downturns in the private sector's markets.

"We have protected consumer choice as well:  If we, as consumers want to work and save and so forth, and desire a nice television or a nice automobile or whatever, that is an option for us.  But if we need to get to work and cannot afford our own vehicle, we never have to worry about whether that will be possible.  We never have to choose between rent and food, or electricity and medicine for our kids.  We are freed, through the twin pillars of Kalistan's Labor Market, the National Service Program and the Minimum Basic Income, of both labor shortages and labor gluts which put workers at the mercy of employers who chase the bottom line, or which deny producers the opportunity to produce things that consumers want to buy at an affordable price, while making a nice living for themselves in the process.  Kalistan is doing well, and I do not intend to run away from that.

"But one thing I do think we could be doing better at is our foreign Affairs.  Quite often, it is desirable for Kalistani politicians to get complacent.  We have things good here, they may say.  Why rock the boat in international waters?  This complacency is the result of having complete security at home and on the Sea.  We haven't experienced a single international event since the end of the War two generations ago.  Our people have decided to generally stay put, and let others come visit us.  But-  it has been 50 years, and now we are seeing signs that the world has more or less took us off their Holiday card list:  Fewer and fewer people are visiting what is becoming a darkened corner of the World.  Kalistanis stay home, and foreigners go elsewhere.  I would like to work on changing that.  I would like the spotlight to shine again on this beautiful country of ours:  Where are people are well fed, highly educated, and at nearly complete liberty, the industrious among us are well compensated, and the lazy among us are at least content.  Kalistan is a remarkable country, full of natural beauty and modern convenience.  But unless we begin engaging the world again, we are in danger of returning to the cultural stagnation of the 39s, where the only real cultural innovation was the development of the Brethrenist faith which has since attained ubiquity among the religious in Kalistan and has since replaced all other religions.  Therefore, I would like to turn Kalistan back toward the world, and if I am elected President, I will promote policy along those lines within the Government. 

"I wish my political opponents good luck in their bid for the Presidency.  I am sure that each of these candidates will serve as competent an administrator as I will strive to be, and I trust that whoever the Kalistani People elect as their President, they will make the choice which is best for them.  For my part, I welcome the opportunity to stand for election and wish you all a wonderful day."   

The assembled crowd, which is by now used to seeing the Governor give speeches, politely applauded.  The Governor, though extremely popular and well-liked in this part of Ananto, stopped for few photographs before heading back across the street to his home.  As this is his home town crowd, most of the people know him personally, and consider him one of their own.  Said one man, "Well, it was a pretty good speech, all in all, but you know, the speech was for folks who ain't here."  Then he wryly added with a smile, "And you all..." meaning the Press.