Lodamun

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In bringing about a complete transformation of the Lodamese manufacturing sector, the Federal Government must grapple with its numerous problems. Amidst decades of mismanagement at the hands of previous administrations wherein federal and private sector investment into boosting the nation's manufacturing productivity and capacity virtually disappeared, the sector's potential to become a driving force in the nation's pursuit of self-sufficiency has been all but destroyed. The relatively weak and uncertain nature of the nation's small and medium-sized manufacturing firms and the inability of new firms to enter the industry and maintain a stable foothold amidst crippling competition from foreign companies has created a situation wherein Lodamun's long-term manufacturing outlook remains one firmly planted in the nation's ability to court foreign firms. In their pursuit to the court said foreign firms, previous administrations had successively chipped away at the nation's quality assurance standards, virtually allowing for low-quality products to flood the market. These inherent failures are all a part of a much larger problem within the Lodamese manufacturing sector. Both a lack of intervention on the part of the federal and state governments and the sometimes indecisiveness of the private sector has allowed for the nation to lose out on potentially groundbreaking innovations. The nation's numerous universities and technical colleges remain an idle source of innovative minds. A lack of coordination/cooperation between these universities and the private and public sector remains the largest obstacle to the free market-based economic transformation envisioned by the nation's previous political administration. It is as a result of these inherent failures that Lodamun's manufacturing sector has lost its competitive edge and is now relegated to light manufacturing work with the efforts of companies in that sector being brought to nothing amidst increasing imports and increased reliance on foreign firms. Against this backdrop, Secretary of Commerce and Industry Andrew Black has unveiled the Davenport administration's plan to revitalise Lodamese manufacturing by empowering state governments to provide funding to research and development initiatives, developing a workforce development plan with the Department of Labour and the Department of Education and Culture and aid small and medium-sized businesses to build economies of scale through technical assistance and direct financing mechanisms.

Elaborating on the federal government's plan to empower state governments to provide funding to research and development initiatives, Secretary Black stated that a major hindrance to the development of the aforementioned synergies between universities and the private sector was the general lack of funding in many instances to encourage such initiatives. With funding to universities remaining uncertain and financing for private sector initiatives being largely at the behest of the nation's already weakened financial institutions, it becomes a situation wherein the blind leads the blind. With the Treasury Secretary has confirmed that the government intends on utilising expansionary fiscal policy to both stabilise the economy and position it for the best possibilities for growth, Secretary Black stated that the Department of Commerce and Industry financing for innovation within the states will come from two directions; the first being a federal innovation fund known as the National Innovation Fund (which will be administered via a direct, means-tested process managed by a National Innovation Fund Corporation (NIFC) and direct funding to state governments to establish their funding programmes for innovative projects within the respective states. Speaking to the creation of a workforce development plan alongside the Departments of Labour and Education/Culture, Under Secretary of Commerce and Industry for Economic Development Morgan Watson stated that a reviving of the nation's manufacturing prowess could not return without a competent workforce. He stated that throughout the numerous regional and extra-regional jurisdictions which have attempted to rebound their manufacturing sector, one of the major hindrances to the materialisation of their plans was the lack of a capable pool of highly-skilled workers capable of filling many of the spaces coming out of these revitalised industries. Finally, speaking to aiding small and medium-sized businesses in building economies of scale through technical assistance and direct financing mechanisms, Secretary Black stated that the federal government will create a federal-level agency responsible for aiding small and medium-sized businesses throughout the country is becoming more productive and competitive. "We are considering the creation of a Business Development Bank which will aid businesses throughout the country in enhancing their production capacity and competitiveness in the pursuit of building economies of scale. We expect that this agency will be operational in the coming months," Secretary Black explained.

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Riding high on a supermajority in both the State House of Representatives and the State Senate following the previous election cycle, Governor Andrew Brooks announced his first budget, in what is being dubbed by local economists as the largest budget in the state's history. Buoyed by the expansionary fiscal policy measured being rolled out by the federal government, the Governor unveiled his 100.4 Billion LOD budget to pull St. Christopher out of its economic malaise, primarily built on deficit financing. During a three-hour long presentation before members of the media wherein both the Governor and State Treasurer Courtney Gibson outlined the numerous policies to be introduced by the administration in both the coming fiscal year and beyond, Special Economic Advisor to Governor Jake Turner sought to silence deficit hawks by explaining that deficit spending during recessions/economic downturns was rooted in basic Kodonomics. "Whilst it may not be music to the ears of some, we are in a recession. For the past decade, we have experienced low growth and have been experiencing negative growth up to this day. The only way we can move out of this period of malaise is by expansionary fiscal policy (i.e.) we spend our way out of this, focusing on high-impact projects and programmes and pouring investment into those opportunities which will make the most return for the people of St. Christopher," Turner explained. Among the policies introduced by the Governor in his 100.4 billion LOD budget, financing for education, healthcare and the development of new economic development programmes including the blue economy and chemical production were majority priorities. An in-depth analysis of the budget revealed that although the budget does set the aforementioned areas as major policies initiatives going into the future, it also aims at securing smaller, yet still extremely important wins for the state including a marked reduction in the state's import of foreign foods, particularly fish via the creation of a major fisheries programme alongside the University of St. Christopher and the digitisation of both the state and local government. When questioned on the sustainability of the Governor's newfound interest in deficit spending, State Treasurer Gibson stated that the loans to be used by the state government would be monitored by the St. Christopher Treasury Board, a recently formed independent state-government organisation responsible for managing the state's loan financing arrangements. The agency is the brainchild of Governor Brooks and mirrors a similar structure built in Mordusia.

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For Berkwaki, the question of how the state intends on launching a strong economic recovery is largely predicated on its ability to marshall resources and expertise in reviving the state's once-thriving agricultural sector. Amidst the federal government's campaign to re-industrialise Lodamun following decades of de-industrialisation, there remains room for the state to latch onto this federal re-industrialisation campaign and bring about the revival of the state's economy through the partial, yet environmentally-friendly re-industrialisation of agriculture alongside other initiatives. Speaking at a press conference following the reading of the state budget, Governor of Berkwaki Louise Holmes announced that the state's 70 Billion LOD budget would be focused on creating new initiatives/programmes within the agricultural sector with the hopes of positioning Berkwaki as the key enabler in Lodamun's drive towards food security. Citing statistics both from the Federal Department of Food and Agriculture and the Berkwaki Department of Food and Agriculture, Governor Holmes stated that on aggregate, Lodamun's import of foreign agriculture had been on the rise, with imports of meats and dairy being among the largest groups of products being brought in. She noted that the situation in Berkwaki was of great concern as although the state had a modest's size agricultural sector, production had been on the decline in recent years amidst the gradual withdrawal of funding for numerous initiatives aimed at stabilising and boosting productivity levels. In seeking to bring about the sector's revival and enhance its contribution towards Lodamese food security, Governor Holmes outlined the numerous initiatives to be introduced by her administration both in the medium and long term including the creation of a seed bank, the creation of an agricultural financial agency, a collaboration between community colleges, state universities and farmers on innovative ideas for agriculture, improving physical infrastructure for agriculture including roads, drainage, water infrastructure and network infrastructure, the digital transformation of agriculture, state-run vertical farming system, loans/grants to farmers for the acquisition of agricultural machinery including combine harvesters, tractors and crop sprayers and also legislation aimed at enhancing food standards and quality control. Secretary of the Berkwaki Department of Food and Agriculture Dennis Medina stated that the Department had reached out to both the Kalistani Government and the Federal Department of Food and Agriculture for technical assistance, with Medina confirming that both entities had pledged to render their support to the state government in areas including research and development, legislative research and in the case of the Federal Department of Food and Agriculture; enhanced funding. Although the agricultural sector will continue to remain an essential part of Berkwaki's economy, Governor Holmes is expected to speak to the new frontier for the state: the green economy.

[ReformedEndralon]

Hosian Revival in Lodamun

November 5159

With the recent embedded dominance of the Grand Democratic Party (GDP), President Jackson’s supporters in the Senate have introduced legislation to recognise Hosianism as the official faith of Lodamun. Subtle measures have been enacted in previous decades , including introducing a reference to God into the national anthem in 5126. In 5129 the GDP introduced measures to provide preferential treatment in taxation and education to “recognised religions” and the latest law defines which Hosian religious groups will benefit from this preferential treatment.

Historically Lodamun has often practiced State Atheism and Paganism. However, the country has remained open to other religious traditions and Lodamuns neighbours all have majority Hosian populations. At times there has historically been widespread penetration by some Hosian denominations, although this has often been in short periods of religious intensity that have been followed by periods of limited activity. However the GDP is led by devout Hosians who have previously used the tools of state to foster a favourable environment for Hosianism and are once again using the levers of power to do the same.

Not all Hosian denominations have received favourable treatment. The GDP legislation provides a short list of which Hosian groups are to be preferenced by recognised status. The denomations favoured are ones that are historically relevant in either the Luthorian or Dundorfian speaking world (namely those linked to Amelioratism, Confessionalism or Bishopalism), or denominations that are native to northern Seleya (such as Charismism, Brethrenrism and Latter Day Hosianism). President Jackson is known to be a member of a Charismic denomination, but all six of the Hosians denominations proposed as recognised have members of the Lodamese cabinet.



A Charismic Megachurch in Golavia

The GDP pushing of a pro-Hosian agenda is in some ways a response to growing Hosian activity in the country. A diverse range of Hosian Churches are active in Lodamun reflecting a widespread religious revival, referred to be some academics as the “Lodamese Awakening”.

[Rafland]

Lodamese Nationalist Party strongly condems Dundorf military build up.

The leader of the Lodamese Nationalist Party had this to say in his speech:

The Dundorfian government must tread carefully. The Communist regime has decided to build WMDs, and called for a so called "Modernisation of the army". Its a fact that everyone knows that Dundorf has generally been a dangerous Communist and sometimes yes, even a fascist regime. We in the LNP call for the complete de-militarisation of Dundorf, and also to stop in its state propaganda of deaths of high profile individuals. http://forum.particracy.net/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=6725&start=620 With this in mind the Dorvik government has the full backing of the LNP, and hopefully of the government in Lodamum.
Leader of the Lodamese Nationalist Party
Samuel Smith

[arsonist]

ooc: I back tracked on the WMDs because it didn't comply with RP guidelines I missed before.

[ReformedEndralon]

Republican Red Wave Smashes Progressive Democrats

April 5211

The Grand Republican Party have swept to power in Lodamun, winning the Presidency, falling narrowly short of winning a two-thirds super-majority in the Presidium and sweeping the legislatures of all five states.



GRP supporters celebrate their landslide victory.

After almost 20 years of governance, much of it without opposition, the Progressive Democrats have been thrown out of office. The GRP Presidential candidate Anthea Bergmann easily defeated the incumbent Duncan Moray. The President-elect has promised that she will govern in the best interests of all Lodamese, although progressive opponents have reflected that the GRP has already committed to a socially conservative and anti-environment agenda, rolling back decades of progressive reforms.



President-elect Anthea Bergmann

[ReformedEndralon]

President of the Restorationist Church of Eliyahu and Latter Day Hosians Endorses Move of Church Headquarters to Lodamun

November 5212

After a month-long Conference of the leadership of the Restorationist Church of Eliyahu and Latter Day Hosians (often referred to as just Latter Day Hosians (LDH)), the President of the governing body has signed off on a proposal to relocate the Headquarters of the Church from Vrassa in Kalistan to Kregon in Lodamun over the next ten years. This follows a miraculous vision experienced by a member of the LDH in 5198 in which he saw Eliyahu returning to Terra in the city of Daro, precipitating a thousand year reign of Eliyahu on earth. President Abel Jackson-Smith has been the President of the Latter Day Hosians for ten years and the 91 year old is a highly influential figure. Under the terms of the resolution the Church will aim to relocate much of its leadership to Lodamun, encourage the use of its significant investment portfolio to invest in Lodamun, and encourage communicants to make the spiritual pilgrimage.



LDH President Abel Jackson-Smith

Somewhat controversially, this is the second time that the LDH has relocated its HQ. The Church was originally founded in Baltusia in the 4730’s, before relocating its leadership to Kalistan in the 5060’s. Over the last century numbers of Latter Day Hosians have migrated across the Baltusian and Kalistani border into Lodamun, especially after the Lodamese government changed domestic legislation to preference Hosians, specifically including the Latter Day Hosians as a preferenced Church. It is also thought that the leadership of the LDH is impressed with the new conservative government of Lodamun, in particular a proposal to legalise polygamy, which is considered an essential practice within the Restorationist Church. President Jackson-Smith was himself born in Lodamun and is the direct descendent of three Lodamese Presidents, Abraham Jackson (5124-5135), Jebediah Jackson (5157-5171) and Thomas Jackson (5173-5179).

[ReformedEndralon]

Inaugural Stickball Season Completed, Cavaliers Champions

September 5212

The first season of the inaugural Lodamese Stickball Championship has finished with the Golavian Cavaliers romping to victory with a narrow one win margin over their nearest rivals the Norstaven Mariners.



Stickball has increase in recent in recent years leading to the establish if the Championship. Ten franchises were established, two based in each state. Each team has two home stadiums and splits it’s home games between two major cities in each state.



The Cavaliers celebrate their Championship clinching final game of the season

The government has vowed that after the next elections it will make Lodamese Stickball the second national sport alongside Lodamese Football with legislation ready to be put to vote.