NEUSTERN MOVES TOWARDS A TAX FREE FUTURE

The flat income tax rate in the autonomous coastal city state of Neustern has been cut from 7% to 5%. The sovereign municipality has the lowest income tax rate in the world. The newly electedLibertarian government has pledged a further 5% cut by years end, effectively ending the forced redistribution of wealth in Neustern. The new government aspires to reduce the involvement of civic authorities in the non essential personal welfare NEPW of citizens. A gradual transition of NEPW services from the state to the community, voluntary and charity sectors is central to the new Libertarian ethic.The average indirect and consumption tax level has also fallen to 5%. Taxation on typewriters, alcohol, tobacco, airline tickets and imported goods has been reduced. Simultaneously new levies on the price of foreign published publications, portable telecommunications and non gray car paint have been introduced to offset the loss of revenue to the exchequer.

Gary Farrelly, Neustern.

(Above image) Gary Farrelly, NEUSTERN TAXATION STATISTICS(2011), Galerie Modonov.

AUTOCRACY VS. LIBERTARIANISM IN NEUSTERN

(Above) PROGRESS OF THE PARTIES, Gary Farrelly, Neustern.


An opinion poll commissioned by this publication indicates that a new opposition party has 30% popular support in the autonomous coastal city state of Neustern. The Libertarian Party of Neustern (NLP) was formed in May of this year and has steadily grown in popularity over the summer. 30% popularity is the highest recorded level of support for an opposition party in Neustern history and will be  seen a a direct challenge to the authority of the autocratic National Compades Party (NCP) who have ruled the state for almost three decades. The NCP has seen it's support slip by 9% to a historical low of 57%. The traditional token opposition parties have also shed support to the NLP: the conservatives, greens and workers have slipped a combined 19% and now stand at 3%, 3% and 5% respectively. Neustern has been governed by the NCP since the state was founded in 1983. NCP rule has been characterized by significant state intervention in the economic and social life of the state and comparatively high standards of living. The NLP propose a smaller government, personal freedoms, reinforced property rights and private sector innovation. The NLP have already obtained 61,000 of the 100,000 signatures necessary to force a general election. Sources at the NCP say that they take these developments very seriously and are formulating a plan of action to reinvigorate their support. 

(Above) OPINION POLLS, Gary Farrelly, Neustern.

ABOUT THE SUPREME CONTROLLER

Renate Muller is the personal secretary of Neustern’s Supreme Controller. She has been authorized to answer seven questions about the reclusive despot exclusively for New Obsessive. One of our operatives flew to the autonomous coastal city state armed with 7 previously unanswered, sensational questions. The operative must remain partially unnamed for national security reasons.

Facts: Neustern’s Supreme Controller

What is the role of the Supreme Controller?
To promote coherence in all aspects of the functioning of the State.
To set the tone for governmental process.
To safeguard the integrity of the State of Neustern from unfriendly forces both within and without.
To be a role model for the population of Neustern.
To promote the ideals contained in the State of Neustern abroad with a mind to their proliferation.

What do civilians call the Supreme Controller?
“Your Excellency”.

How was the institution of the Supreme Controller established?
When the State was created in 1983 the national patriot, whose name is no longer relevant, was given the position of Supreme Controller, which is a lifelong role. If he were to die or abdicate, it would be an issue for Politburo to appoint a successor. If the Supreme Controller were to misuse his authority and become tyrannical, it would be an issue for the armed forces. Failing that the civilian population of Neustern would remove him by force. All Neusterners over the age of 21 bare the responsibility to maintain a firearm.

Where is the Supreme Controller’s residence?
The official residence of the Supreme Controller is located on Great Development Square. The building itself is an imposing international style complex called Neustern palace. Several key government ministries are also located in Neustern Palace and needless to say that the structure is heavily fortified.

Does the Supreme Controller have dealings with foreign diplomats?
The Supreme Controller frequently entertains both foreign diplomats from all nations as well as representatives of international bodies e.g. the United Nations, the European Union, and the International Monetary Fund, though it should be stated that Neustern is not a member of any such organisation and the State’s diplomatic strategy with such bodies is strictly bilateral and highly pragmatic. The hospitality of Neustern is famous the world over for it’s liveliness and abundance. Recently The S.C. hosted a banquet in honour of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Temoshenko. She was treated to a banquet of Raw vegetables, rare beef, fine wine, calvados, gold infused confections, futurist canapés and Neustern Calvados.

The Supreme Controller is very mysterious and there are very few photographs of his person. The last interview he gave to a foreign news agency was to East German state television in 1989. Tell us a little about the man who rules Neustern.
The Supreme Controller is 6 foot tall and in excellent physical condition. He possesses unprecedented charisma and is well versed on a very wide array of subjects. He is a fluent speaker of French, German, English, Russian and Greek. He is married. He is a practicing Christian. He is openly bisexual. He has a keen interest in the arts as well as economics, politics, gardening and military tactics. The Supreme Controller is unprecedented in his scope of his abilities. The age of the Supreme Controller as well as his history prior to the foundation of the state are classified. The people of Neustern are very lucky to have a leader of such stunning character, strength and enthusiasm.

The Supreme Controller rules Neustern by blending autocracy and Libertarianism. Can you explain the mechanics of this seemingly impossible fusion?The Supreme Controller is in the process of writing a manifesto on this very subject. It will be proliferated widely upon completion. The readers of New Obsessive will have to wait patiently for the dispensation of this great innovation.

O.B. Diem, Neustern