RE: [RE][gundam] Episode 6 spoilers

[Joseph Riggs]

iirc, episode 4 suggested that Azadistan was led by an ineffective legislature of some sort.  I suspect that the legislature hasn't given up all power.  Instead they've probably centralized a great deal of it into Marina.   Having at least a certain amount of authority centralized in just one person does have its advantages.   1.)  If the individual is charismatic, then they tend to have an easier time carrying out the goals that they have in mind for the government.  The individual's popularity bleeds over into the laws they attempt to pass, and it's easier for them to make an appeal to people to suffer small indignities in exchange for a hoped for blessing in the future. 2.)  An individual doesn't need to come to a concensus with him or herself, whereas a legislative body does.  And the individual tends to be beholden to a smaller number of special interest groups/people than a legislative body does (where the individual legislators will each have their own competing interests).  So the individual will hopefully be able to focus more on the things that need to be done instead of worrying about what the voters back home think (i.e. Bridge to Nowhere, and the fuss about earmarks in the US Congress right now). 3.)  If you can pick an ethical person to act as your centralized power holder, then you cut back on a great deal of corruption and favoritism.  And that means less waste in the government, which means that more gets done with the resources at hand.  And the population at large is usually happier if there's less corruption.  (unfortunately, this is an area where people tend to waver after staying in office long enough...)   Of course, there are very good reasons NOT to have authority centralized.  But the example we're given is of authority being transferred to an individual.   If I had to guess, then I'd say that the country is probably on the verge of collapse.  Marina's selection was probably made with an eye toward setting up a figurehead who would provide the government with enough popularity to let the legislature avoid a revolutionary firing squad.  Marina presumeably was granted a certain amount of power, but in a real world situation I would suspect the legislature of picking a pretty face that they hoped would win the international support that they need to ensure their country's energy supply, but that could do little else other than smile and look pretty for the television cameras..  Of course, since this is part of a fictional story, it might not work that way.  And Marina could end up getting more power than the legislature originally intended to give her.  Or we might never hear about the legislature again.  Also, centralizing power in one person makes it easier to personify their country for plot pur! poses.   Marina's age was the topic of conversation a few weeks ago.  You might recall mention of "Christmas Cake".  That was in reference to her age.   :P   I can't believe Soma's 18.  She looks more like 12 or 13, imo.  Then again, she's a product of bioengineering, so that could be a possible explanation for why she looks young.       junior ---------[ Received Mail Content ]---------- Subject : RE: [RE][gundam] Episode 6 spoilers Date : Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:58:32 -0700 From : Matthew Robinson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To : <list@gundam.com> Something I found -- Azadistan (the name of Queen Marina's country) is apparently Persian for "land of freedom." The use of Persian suggests that Azadistan may be a future Iran, or part of it. They also mentioned that it had recently reformed into (or was in the process of reforming into) a monarchy. Given that the current trends prefer reform _away_ from authority centralized in one person, it makes me wonder just what their government was before that enthroning a monarch is considered an improvement. Did they spend 200 years under some sort of military junta, or a succession of such governments deposing one another? Sadly, in that part of the world, I could believe it... NOBODY looks their age in anime. I thought Queen Marina was younger, but according to Wikipedia she's 24! Only two years younger than Sumeragi Noriega of the Ptolemaios. And Soma's listed as being 18 years old. Probably young for a military MS pilot, but not a child soldier by any means. If Sergei thinks she's too young for combat, he'd be horrified to learn that the guy who diced his Tieren on Earth was even younger! At least they're getting away from ridiculously young pilots, aside from Setsuna. Everyone else seems to be a reasonable age.

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