The Government of the Grand Union of Yingdala thanks the Terran Democracy Index (TDI) for their essential reporting. We believe that information found in their reports is in the public interest. However, we question their sources for their Yingdala report and overall analysis in Yingdala’s context.
First, we do not question TDI’s methodology, although it would be good to learn the weight given to specific variables. Second, we would request TDI to look at the laws Yingdala has on religious freedom and their implementation. They will find that the Grand Union has some of the most freedom of religion legislation in Terra, quite frankly more so than Hutori and arguably Istalia. Although Yingdala does have a state religion, no person is required to be a member or partake in the ceremonial functions carried out by the Son of Heaven, our constitutional monarch. All other laws are extremely lax. Third, we cannot force the creation of new political parties. It is the democratic choice of the people to form political parties of their own free will. That would be a sham democracy for the state to mandate the activity of more than one party. Finally, every head of state has influence on the state. That is the nature of the position. In Yingdala, the Son of Heaven is the example for all. His virtuous conduct should be emulated, as He is like a father to all of his citizens. Is not moral action something to replicate?
That said, we would welcome TDI’s advice and observance of Yingdala’s future elections.
The Government of Medina commends the Index for providing a baseline of information to the world on the practices and freedoms of the nations of Terra. Although we disagree with our ranking (for the reasons listed further) we hope that these listings can continue for the betterment of the world. Our reasoning for our disagreement is thus: we are not a dictatorship, and despise anyone or any group who dares call us such. We fought a war to overthrow a dictator, and it was not so that we could be called the same evil we defeated. For our rational, complete argument, we lay out the following.
Firstly, the Index reads that a dictatorship "supresses its people in every sense of the word", which includes "freedom of religion, expression, press and assembly". We have free religion, although we are quite homogeneous. We in fact have reserved seats for religious minorities in our Parliament. We allow people to speak, to gather, and to print what they wish. We even allow the opposition to decry the government in official newspapers. What dictatorship would allow that? The Index also states that in dictatorships, "a large state apparatus ensures that minorities and any form of oppossition is supressed", which as we have shown, is untrue in Medina. We encourage opposition, as it keeps us honest.
Most grievously, the Index is quoted as saying that "in dicatorial regimes there is no instance of democracy present in the system, with most if not all power consolidated within the ruling party, the ruler or a group of influential individuals". In Medina, we hold elections. We have a parliament, with multiple parties. We share power. Our leading group is diverse and decentralized as to combat dictatorial influences. We may have a powerful leader, but we give the power to the Vicereine, who we trust, to keep it from those who are ambitious and wish to overthrow our republic.
In summation, we spit on anyone who decries our nation a dictatorship without knowing that although our system in non-conventional, we hold democracy in a sacred place, and worked too hard to stop a dictator to be called that by a two-bit western group with no sense for what other cultures do.
We welcome the comments by both Yingdala and Medina. Our board will take all this into consideration for the index. We shall take Yingdala up on its offer and come to the country in an effort to see its electoral process. In terms of Medina we are glad to announce we have hired additional personel, specifically specialized in Dovani affairs. We will take all the feedback into consideration and make a more complete Index once its due for an update
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