Lasoun

Último Fracaso de Lasoun, also known as Unutilized Republic of Lasoun or simply Lasoun, was a country before its merger into the MAI (now known as Margate). It is a currently a state of Margate. Bought over by Kras Lasoun, then wealthy and power-hungry CEO of Elbait, during the eighties, Lasoun became an independent country from the USA. It is now however in deep debt and is seeking a merger with MAI after Kras Lasoun fled the country.

Before sovereignty
Lasoun had no official name, but it was commonly referred to as The Isolated Island due to its location at a remote part of the Sub-Antarctic. However, it was rich in resources, especially timber and organic produce. The island's economy is completely made up of agriculture. The island gained recognition from the public when more and more exports reached the mainland. By 1975, it served 10% of agricultural imports into the empire.

However, it was the island's far proximity from the mainland that later convinced Kras Lasoun to purchase the island.

The Land Deal (1982)
During the boom of Olde Antarctica's resources, Kras Lasoun made a profit by selling mass amounts of refrigerators. He started his company, Elbait, in the late '70s, and only started gaining momentum when the RF-855 came out. As time passed, the emperor penguin grew power-hungry and demanded more control over his company. He eliminated his competition, literally, by buying them out and creating a near-monopoly, save for . By 1982, his company's stock on the YOWSER held a record 50000 bits.

Kras Lasoun no longer wanted to simply control a company, but rather moved on from business to politics. He decided to start a country of his own, so he could micromanage it and make a mark on the world like other revolutionaries. At the time, he was one of the richest penguins in all of Antarctica. So, using 90% of his savings as well as his entire company capital (he bought all the shares prior to doing this), selling Elbait to his biggest rival in the fridge business. He went on to purchase an island from the USA government at trillions of bits, paying an levy each year to pay off his debt. Kras Lasoun chose the island with the farthest proximity, The Isolated Island. By ship, he settled on the island and informed villagers of the new leadership. Lasoun was soon established, after Kras Lasoun. He made it into a presidential, no-party rule like that of a kingdom. Laws were identical to that of the USA's and there were no major changes, or so they thought...

Making a Mark (1983 - 1986)
We've established that Kras Lasoun was a power-hungry CEO that bought an entire country and claimed sovereignty. That's a pretty big deal. Now, Kras Lasoun wants to start up his empire. He first placed taxes on exports out of the country, which decreased imports from Lasoun by 5%. He directed the money to paying salaries of his hundreds of servants he hired, which now made up 25% of the jobs of the population. He also changed several laws regarding crime and punishment, education and communication. He established a new system of measurement (the ♚ system, not to be confused with the Imperial system) and a new currency (☂). The years started out rough and slow, leading to lesser faith in the island by neighbouring states.

During an expedition that year, though, Kras discovered mines of jewels and coal in the mountains of Lasoun. He started what is commonly known as the Three-Year Mining Plan, in which Kras diverted taxpayers' money into coal exporting. This proved substantial for the community, as faith in the country was regained and Lasoun began earning an approximate ☂500m a year.

By 1986, mining was Lasoun's major economical activity. Kras decided to reopen the agricultural business after realising the new influx of profits earned from resources of the island.

Years of Prosperity (1987 - 1995)
In 1987, taxes on the export of timber and rice were lifted and Lasoun's profits soared. Subdivisions for agricultural activities, such as the Ministry of Mining and the Ministry of Timber, were created to manage these sectors. Research was diverted to better methods of farming and mining. Lasoun once again depended on agriculture to survive.

At the same time, residents had more opportunities. Healthcare became a new priority, and Kras Lasoun subjected Bing Lade, who would later become The Proposed One, to handle this. Start-up businesses also soared in number, while justice cases decreased thanks to efficient police. A new time of prosperity has arrived for the island, and in 1990, it became "Antarctica's 3rd Greatest Country of the Year" according to TIME(S).

Lasoun's now popular government soon gained opposition. Left-wing populist, A La Evun, manage to gain support for his seemingly-idealistic policies on "fair share of labour" and "equal division of attention to each sector". A right-wing democratic movement called for Kras Lasoun to hold democratic elections. The latter held a large protest at Under Square in February of 1991. For a while, Lasoun's economy plunged due to a blockade at ports and trading centres as well as halting of essential services such as healthcare and transport.

Eventually, by 1992, hostility among people cleared up and Lasoun's future seemed to be for the better. That is, until Kras Lasoun reaffirmed his hungriness for power.

An Agreement with Antarctica (1995 - 2001)
Residents, especially natives, were getting tired of the regime. The number of crime cases spiked between 1994 and 1996 thanks to populist modifications to fundamental laws. The economy, although stable, was no longer in its heyday. The pace of life started slowing down and penguins paid more attention to their own treatment rather than stability of income and families.

This was when war broke out in mainland Antarctica. Colonial rule was coming to an end as revolutionists started their fight for independence. Neighbouring countries were sandwhiched between two options: side the revolutionists or side the loyalists. Many did not take a stand. This prompted Lasoun to shift its focus from exports into mainland Antarctica, its traditional market, to emerging nations such as UnitedTerra and Snowzerland.

In 1997, Lasoun called on for a "united Antarctica", and signed agreements with both sides so as to not argue should it back either side. This was actually a wise decision that lead to a steady influx of imports into Antarctica with no opposition whatsoever. Lasoun also started new trade agreements with UnitedTerra and the FRG. Airports were set up to transport goods and sometimes passengers to these areas. USA was on Lasoun's blacklist for travellers to go to due to the "current situation at the forefront".

Moreover, modernisation slowly creeped into the state as one would call it. High-rise buildings started construction and the market seemed to shift its focus as well. More products such as the fridge (ironically) and clothing were released. Cellphones grew in large numbers, and Snowtendo started an office in Lasoun for a short period of time.

Eventually, when the current USA gained independence in 2000, the agreements were cancelled and signs of neutrality slowly faded into obscurity. Lasoun would back the USA's every decision. The next year however would be a heck of a doozy for the prospering nation, though.

The War for Democracy (2002 - 2004)
In December of 2001, rebel groups called for democratic elections as widening gaps in the social order and inflations angered citizens. The final straw broke when it was discovered one of Kras' advisers was found to have used taxes meant for restructuring of the popular Lasoun Cavern to purchase a twelve-carat golden tap. The first protest began in February of 2002 with a turn up of about 10,000. Police forces used tear gas, in which the USA and other nations discourage using, to stall the protesters. Rage grew as more and more penguins decided to join the rebellion. In January 2003, right-wing extremists bombed popular areas within Lasoun, injuring several. For a while, international news agencies focused on the rebellion but a media blackout within Lasoun prevented so. In July, protesters raided the public transportation system, causing operations to halt for a week.

Kras Lasoun was forced to hold democratic elections in fear of a coup. In December of 2004, after months of protesting, citizens were able to go to the polls for the first time ever. Independent and party candidates were among the list, and eventually, Bing Lade, who had retired from politics in the nineties, was elected as the new "Proposed One", a position secondary to Kras's. Fears that the polls were rigged as Bing Lade was one of Kras' most trusted advisers were quickly dispersed as Bing Lade implemented measures that helped improve the country's economy significantly.

Years of Decline (2004 - )
Due to the extensive damage caused by the protests, many areas within the city were closed for repairs. As uncertainty in the economy looms, the government has very little capital to fund many of its new projects. It was originally intended to host an Anti-Walrus summit but backed out due to lack of funding. Other nations proceeded to help but only managed to do little to curb Lasoun's inflation.

The government was once again becoming unpopular as they inserted funds into the wrong places. Several notable advisers quit and reported corruption within the government in an effort to save themselves. 2007 proved the worst year ever for Lasoun since its inception in 1982. It also faced competition in the agricultural sector as other Sub-Antarctic islands belonging to the USA were found to have suitable climates for producing fruit. The new generation of citizens were fed up with the government's old ways and many tried to move to other nations in hope of greener snowfields.

In 2009, Lasoun was accepted as a Free Republic into the USA. Reasons for this were unknown, although it could be that the USA wanted to make use of Lasoun's remaining resources to back up their then unstable agricultural sector.

Eventually, Kras Lasoun conceded defeat. He stepped down, although remained as a figurehead president for the nation. The decision to merge or sell the nation was inevitable. Lasoun is coming to an end.

Merger with MAI (2010 - 2011)
The Margate Antarctica Islands was proposing a onerepublic scheme to help rise to the international sector, standing up against the USA, UnitedTerra, Snowzerland and Freezeland. No longer a Free Republic, it was now able to merge with islands to help improve altogether. Years prior, Sherby Hoodwounds and Margate Central Island had successfully merged with the country. Auzua Mostafique was also in the process of joining the new nation. The economy was prospering, although slowly, and was gaining momentum within the international market.

Bing Lade, taking over Kras Lasoun's position since he fled, saw this as a golden opportunity to salvage his reputation. He quickly signed a deal with MAI to merge with them. Several sectors within Lasoun became handled by MAI, including foreign affairs and healthcare. Things looked for the better as Lasoun started to improve.

At midnight of the 6th of November, the deal was officially signed and put into place. At the parliament house, the flag of Lasoun was lowered and replaced with the Margate Antarctica Islands flag. Banks across Lasoun started trading Umasion notes and coins for that of MAI's national currency (Margatian Dollar, $). Parliament was immediately dissolved and state elections were slated to take place within the next few months.

In timeline format:


 * 5 Nov, 11:59 AM: Deal prepared and sealed by Lasoun government.
 * 6 Nov, 12:00 AM: Deal signed by Bing Lade and prime minister of Margate Antarctica, Lee Hsien Long
 * 6 Nov, 12:03 AM: Flag of Margate Antarctica Islands officially raised
 * 6 Nov, 12:12 AM: Parliament dissolved.
 * 6 Nov, 12:13 AM: Declaration of public holiday for 6 and 7 Nov.
 * 6 Nov, 12:30 AM: Airports and harbours start replacing signs with "Welcome to MAI".
 * 6 Nov, 06:00 AM: Official currency of MAI, the Margatian Dollar, is officially implemented. All citizens are required to switch to the new currency by 6 Nov, 2012. Banks open and allow trading for currency at no extra cost.
 * 6 Nov, 06:26 AM: Televised broadcast of MAI National Anthem.
 * 6 Nov, 07:08 AM: First batch of foreigners to enter Lasoun since merger via harbour.
 * 6 Nov, 07:23 AM: Bing Lade steps down as Proposed One, takes on position as Acting Minister.
 * 6 Nov, 07:49 AM: All citizens required to switch to new MAI passport by 6 Nov, 2012.
 * 6 Nov, 07:53 AM: Former Ministry buildings used as passport and currency exchange centres.
 * 6 Nov, 08:32 AM: Telecommunications in Lasoun disrupted, cables being rewired. Lasoun Tele Communication Service abolished.
 * 6 Nov, 09:05 AM: Seventy-five more passport and currency exchange centres open. Banks also begin exchanging passports.
 * 6 Nov, 10:01 AM: ♛ system to be abolished and replaced with Metric system.
 * 6 Nov, 10:03 AM: Lasoun Mail Service terminated.
 * 6 Nov, 10:10 AM: All external assets reclaimed. Total, a trillion Umasion in stock.
 * 6 Nov, 10:20 AM: All Lasoun bus services except four to close operations by end of 2011. Remaining four to be reorganized.
 * 6 Nov, 10:25 AM: New railway service construction starts hiring. Wages: 10 Umasion per hour.

Communication
Mail was the main form of communication prior to the merger. The Lasoun Mail Service was the main operator of mail exchange. The service itself was quite inefficient, and mail could take up to three days to be sent to its recipient. Therefore, penguins created their own, unofficial mail services that was speedier and helped drive the LMS to bankruptcy. The mail service was officially abolished at 10:03 AM on merger day.

There was also a phone operator, that is the Lasoun Tele Communication Service. Due to the poor economy and dubious wiring, their calling code appeared to be 721982423. So, if you're planning on calling a friend in Lasoun prior to the merger, you would have to dial a sophisticated number pattern that included the entire number code. Many illegal phone operators, such as the Lasoun 'Call Fast and Easy' Service, hack into satellite networks to help deliver messages, although they were not technically illegal as no laws prohibited the creation of such services. The LTCS was abolished at 8:32 AM on merger day.

Computers are not abundant in Lasoun. They use the USA's Internet service, so they don't use their own reserves. Television and radio channels, such as the Lasoun National Broadcaster, were considered niche. All newspapers hail from adjacent states.

As part of the merger, MAI plans to place some of its telco operators in Lasoun to establish new phone networks. Internet would also be started up for the first time and television would "no longer be a niche". "Illegal" phone operators are allowed to operate up till 2013, and neighbourhood mail services would not be abolished.

Transportation
The two main bus services in Lasoun prior to the merger were the Lasoun Transit Bus Service and National Bus Tram Service. Many illegal bus operators, such as:
 * Lasoun Bus Transit
 * National Bus Union
 * Bus and Bus Inc
 * Train Carry Penguin's Butt Bus
 * Lasoun Excellent Boring Buses

... have been established nationwide to cater to the high demands, proving the abundance of such transportation. As part of the merger, the bus services in MAI would be reorganised. All bus services except for the original two, Lasoun Bus Transit, and the National Bus Union, are to terminate services by the end of the year. The four bus services that could continue operations would be merged into two new buses, which will be owned by the two major public transport operators in MAI.

Lasoun will also see the construction of its first railway that will serve the east coast. The new railway, dubbed the "Ultimo Expresso", would be constructed by 2012 and will require two million workers to help build it, thus the early construction date. To prevent any disasters, the government would be handing out rewards to those who find others breaking major rules such as not constructing the tracks in place. In total, 500 billion Umasion from Lasoun's external assets would be used.

Harbours, common in Lasoun, would be expanded and upgraded by 25 billion Umasion. Airports would be expanded by a further 400 billion Umasion.

Education
Education is very poor in Lasoun. The only fully established school is Lasoun National Education Settlement (LNES), which most students go to as of June 2010. Other students would usually travel to overseas for international study. Lasoun's education system is copied directly from that of MAI, including types of examinations. Textbooks and workbooks are pirated copies of those sold in MAI, too.

Trade and Development (Economy and Resources)
Lasoun depends mainly off timber and rice. Timber is abundant throughout the country, and more than 200 trees are cut down each year. No one dares to protest against the movement, probably because their life depends on it. On the other hand, rice grains are found in north-eastern areas of the country, and they are exported mainly to MAI and the Sub-Antarctic islands.

There is no stock market in Lasoun, and the only established brand is 'Lasoun Rice', which earns up to 500 LS each year. Lasoun still has a steady income thanks to its low population, thus, monthly family income is 50 LS.

Currency
The official currency is LS. It is unknown how much LS is equivalent to 1 coin. 1LS could buy 10 pins. 2LS could buy you a cup of coffee. Utility bills would probably be up to around 40LS at most. LS are in the shape or silver square steel coins, with a tree printed on the front at all times along with the value encoded on the bottom. There are 1LS, 5LS, 10LS and 20LS coins available. 1LS coins would have a small rice grain printed on the back. 5LS coins would have five rice grains printed on the back. 10LS coins would have TEN rice grains printed on the back. 20LS coins would have another tree printed on the back.