When
Hermes declared independence from Terra, its new constitution
recognized the Kindred as the Thousand Families controlling the
"domains": either landed estates or corporations. The presidents of the
domains elect the Duke or Duchess of Hermes from the Tamarin family
which must not own a domain. Ancestors of Kindred and Tamarins were the
first to arrive from Earth but, instead of founding a corporation, the
Tamarins free lanced as scientists etc. "Followers," holding entailed
shares, are junior partners in domains, each holding a single vote in
domain affairs whereas Kindred have ten. "Travers," hirelings or
unaffiliated business people, descended from latecomers, are not taxed
and have no vote. The Liberation Front demands full rights for Travers
who, as a result of "Libby" campaigns, gain a vote in choosing
municipal officers. Travers bow to the Duchess, Followers salute,
Kindred shake hands.
The following paragraph describes how one Follower negotiated with Travers:
The Asmundsens, Followers of the Runebergs and tenants on the Brightwater estate, manage the Runeberg's copper industry. A younger Asmundsen, who explores and develops other planets in the Maian system, is obliged by custom to give preferential promotions to fellow Followers but acknowledges that his strike-threatening Traver employees have legitimate grievances which he tries to address by negotiating in person with their leaders and offering compensations like extra vacations
I wrote that, after the Babur War, Hermes:
became an ordinary crowned republic while remaining nominally a Grand Duchy
At least, that is what was expected to happen. However, during the Troubles, Hermes:
developed a military-oriented society with authority concentrated in the executive and rule by whoever commanded the greatest armed force;
When Hans Molitor seized the Imperial Throne, Hermes:
rioted against forced demilitarization under Molitor and was pacified by the Marines;
prospered under Grand Duke Edwin Cairncross who reclaimed the interior with canals, landscaping, imported species, urbanization, commerce and a castle on an extinct volcano.
And that is as much as we know about Hermes.
7 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And I find myself liking even more the original constitution of Hermes. I would have modified it a bit by having Travers being able to vote and hold local and municipal offices from the beginning. Perhaps these mayors and councilors could have had the single vote of Followers in affairs affecting Hermes as a whole? That might have conciliated many!
Sean
Sean,
But ten votes for Kindred and one for Followers makes no sense whatsoever.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
But it does, if you think in terms of libertarian theory, with its stress on limiting, checking, restraining, etc., the powers and scope of activity by the state. Even the US has something like this "weighting" of votes, with its Electoral College, every state having only two senators, the need for a three fourths majority for amending the Constitution, etc.
Sean
Sean,
Since the Hermetian state is derived from private corporations, I suppose that the "votes" have to be thought of as more like "shares."
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
And that too makes sense. Followers are mentioned as having entailed shares in the domains, with that right to a single vote.
Sean
Sean,
However, giving multiple votes to a few people is a way to concentrate power, not to limit it.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
The Grand Dukes of Hermes were elected from among the Tamarin family by the Presidents of the Thousand domains of Hermes. Obviously as a check on the Dukes. But the Kindred within the Domains, with ten votes each, would seem to have been meant as a check on the Presidents, and so on to the Followers, with their single votes. So this does look like a restraint or limitation on the powers of the domain presidents.
Sean
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