816 lines
46 KiB
Plaintext
816 lines
46 KiB
Plaintext
Urantia Book Paper 72 Government On A Neighboring Planet
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SPIRITWEB ORG, PROMOTING SPIRITUAL CONSCIOUSNESS ON THE INTERNET.
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Subjects Archive The Urantia Book Urantia Book PART III: The History of Urantia
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: The Origin Of Urantia Life Establishment On Urantia The Marine-life Era On
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Urantia Urantia During The Early Land-life Era The Mammalian Era On Urantia The
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Dawn Races Of Early Man The First Human Family The Evolutionary Races Of Color
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The Overcontrol Of Evolution The Planetary Prince Of Urantia The Planetary
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Rebellion The Dawn Of Civilization Primitive Human Institutions The Evolution
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Of Human Government Development Of The State Government On A Neighboring Planet
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The Garden Of Eden Adam And Eve The Default Of Adam And Eve The Second Garden
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The Midway Creatures The Violet Race After The Days Of Adam Andite Expansion In
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The Orient Andite Expansion In The Occident Development Of Modern Civilization
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The Evolution Of Marriage The Marriage Institution Marriage And Family Life The
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Origins Of Worship Early Evolution Of Religion The Ghost Cults Fetishes,
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Charms, And Magic Sin, Sacrifice, And Atonement Shamanism--medicine Men And
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Priests The Evolution Of Prayer The Later Evolution Of Religion Machiventa
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Melchizedek The Melchizedek Teachings In The Orient The Melchizedek Teachings
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In The Levant Yahweh--god Of The Hebrews Evolution Of The God Concept Among The
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Hebrews The Melchizedek Teachings In The Occident The Social Problems Of
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Religion Religion In Human Experience The Real Nature Of Religion The
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Foundations Of Religious Faith The Reality Of Religious Experience Growth Of
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The Trinity Concept Deity And Reality Universe Levels Of Reality Origin And
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Nature Of Thought Adjusters Mission And Ministry Of Thought Adjusters Relation
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Of Adjusters To Universe Creatures Relation Of Adjusters To Individual Mortals
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...
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Paper 72 Government On A Neighboring Planet
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Introduction
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BY PERMISSION of Lanaforge and with the approval of the Most Highs of Edentia,
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I am authorized to narrate something of the social, moral, and political life
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of the most advanced human race living on a not far-distant planet belonging to
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the Satania system.
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Of all the Satania worlds which became isolated because of participation in the
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Lucifer rebellion, this planet has experienced a history most like that of
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Urantia. The similarity of the two spheres undoubtedly explains why permission
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to make this extraordinary presentation was granted, for it is most unusual for
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the system rulers to consent to the narration on one planet of the affairs of
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another.
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This planet, like Urantia, was led astray by the disloyalty of its Planetary
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Prince in connection with the Lucifer rebellion. It received a Material Son
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shortly after Adam came to Urantia, and this Son also defaulted, leaving the
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sphere isolated, since a Magisterial Son has never been bestowed upon its
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mortal races.
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1. THE CONTINENTAL NATION
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Notwithstanding all these planetary handicaps a very superior civilization is
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evolving on an isolated continent about the size of Australia. This nation
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numbers about 140 million. Its people are a mixed race, predominantly blue and
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yellow, having a slightly greater proportion of violet than the so-called white
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race of Urantia. These different races are not yet fully blended, but they
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fraternize and socialize very acceptably. The average length of life on this
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continent is now ninety years, fifteen per cent higher than that of any other
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people on the planet.
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The industrial mechanism of this nation enjoys a certain great advantage
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derived from the unique topography of the continent. The high mountains, on
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which heavy rains fall eight months in the year, are situated at the very
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center of the country. This natural arrangement favors the utilization of water
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power and greatly facilitates the irrigation of the more arid western quarter
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of the continent.
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These people are self-sustaining, that is, they can live indefinitely without
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importing anything from the surrounding nations. Their natural resources are
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replete, and by scientific techniques they have learned how to compensate for
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their deficiencies in the essentials of life. They enjoy a brisk domestic
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commerce but have little foreign trade owing to the universal hostility of
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their less progressive neighbors.
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This continental nation, in general, followed the evolutionary trend of the
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planet: The development from the tribal stage to the appearance of strong
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top of page - 809
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rulers and kings occupied thousands of years. The unconditional monarchs were
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succeeded by many different orders of government--abortive republics, communal
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states, and dictators came and went in endless profusion. This growth continued
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until about five hundred years ago when, during a politically fermenting
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period, one of the nation's powerful dictator-triumvirs had a change of heart.
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He volunteered to abdicate upon condition that one of the other rulers, the
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baser of the remaining two, also vacate his dictatorship. Thus was the
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sovereignty of the continent placed in the hands of one ruler. The unified
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state progressed under strong monarchial rule for over one hundred years,
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during which there evolved a masterful charter of liberty.
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The subsequent transition from monarchy to a representative form of government
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was gradual, the kings remaining as mere social or sentimental figureheads,
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finally disappearing when the male line of descent ran out. The present
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republic has now been in existence just two hundred years, during which time
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there has been a continuous progression toward the governmental techniques
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about to be narrated, the last developments in industrial and political realms
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having been made within the past decade.
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2. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
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This continental nation now has a representative government with a centrally
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located national capital. The central government consists of a strong
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federation of one hundred comparatively free states. These states elect their
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governors and legislators for ten years, and none are eligibLe for re-election.
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State judges are appointed for life by the governors and confirmed by their
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legislatures, which consist of one representative for each one hundred thousand
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citizens.
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There are five different types of metropolitan government, depending on the
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size of the city, but no city is permitted to have more than one million
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inhabitants. On the whole, these municipal governing schemes are very simple,
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direct, and economical. The few offices of city administration are keenly
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sought by the highest types of citizens.
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The federal government embraces three co-ordinate divisions: executive,
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legislative, and judicial. The federal chief executive is elected every six
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years by universal territorial suffrage. He is not eligible for re-election
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except upon the petition of at least seventy-five state legislatures concurred
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in by the respective state governors, and then but for one term. He is advised
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by a supercabinet composed of all living ex-chief executives.
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The legislative division embraces three houses:
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1. The upper house is elected by industrial, professional, agricultural, and
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other groups of workers, balloting in accordance with economic function.
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2. The lower house is elected by certain organizations of society embracing the
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social, political, and philosophic groups not included in industry or the
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professions. All citizens in good standing participate in the election of both
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classes of representatives, but they are differently grouped, depending on
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whether the election pertains to the upper or lower house.
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3. The third house--the elder statesmen--embraces the veterans of civic service
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and includes many distinguished persons nominated by the chief execu-
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top of page - 810
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tive, by the regional (subfederal) executives, by the chief of the supreme
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tribunal, and by the presiding officers of either of the other legislative
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houses. This group is limited to one hundred, and its members are elected by
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the majority action of the elder statesmen themselves. Membership is for life,
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and when vacancies occur, the person receiving the largest ballot among the
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list of nominees is thereby duly elected. The scope of this body is purely
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advisory, but it is a mighty regulator of public opinion and exerts a powerful
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influence upon all branches of the government.
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Very much of the federal administrative work is carried on by the ten regional
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(subfederal) authorities, each consisting of the association of ten states.
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These regional divisions are wholly executive and administrative, having
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neither legislative nor judicial functions. The ten regional executives are the
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personal appointees of the federal chief executive, and their term of office is
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concurrent with his--six years. The federal supreme tribunal approves the
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appointment of these ten regional executives, and while they may not be
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reappointed, the retiring executive automatically becomes the associate and
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adviser of his successor. Otherwise, these regional chiefs choose their own
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cabinets of administrative officials.
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This nation is adjudicated by two major court systems--the law courts and the
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socioeconomic courts. The law courts function on the following three levels:
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1. Minor courts of municipal and local jurisdiction, whose decisions may be
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appealed to the high state tribunals.
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2. State supreme courts, whose decisions are final in all matters not involving
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the federal government or jeopardy of citizenship rights and liberties. The
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regional executives are empowered to bring any case at once to the bar of the
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federal supreme court.
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3. Federal supreme court--the high tribunal for the adjudication of national
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contentions and the appellate cases coming up from the state courts. This
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supreme tribunal consists of twelve men over forty and under seventy-five years
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of age who have served two or more years on some state tribunal, and who have
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been appointed to this high position by the chief executive with the majority
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approval of the supercabinet and the third house of the legislative assembly.
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All decisions of this supreme judicial body are by at least a two-thirds vote.
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The socioeconomic courts function in the following three divisions:
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1. Parental courts, associated with the legislative and executive divisions of
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the home and social system.
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2. Educational courts--the juridical bodies connected with the state and
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regional school systems and associated with the executive and legislative
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branches of the educational administrative mechanism.
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3. Industrial courts--the jurisdictional tribunals vested with full authority
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for the settlement of all economic misunderstandings.
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The federal supreme court does not pass upon socioeconomic cases except upon
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the three-quarters vote of the third legislative branch of the national
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government, the house of elder statesmen. Otherwise, all decisions of the
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parental, educational, and industrial high courts are final.
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top of page - 811
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3. THE HOME LIFE
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On this continent it is against the law for two families to live under the same
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roof. And since group dwellings have been outlawed, most of the tenement type
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of buildings have been demolished. But the unmarried still live in clubs,
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hotels, and other group dwellings. The smallest homesite permitted must provide
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fifty thousand square feet of land. All land and other property used for home
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purposes are free from taxation up to ten times the minimum homesite allotment.
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The home life of this people has greatly improved during the last century.
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Attendance of parents, both fathers and mothers, at the parental schools of
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child culture is compulsory. Even the agriculturists who reside in small
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country settlements carry on this work by correspondence, going to the near-by
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centers for oral instruction once in ten days--every two weeks, for they
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maintain a five-day week.
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The average number of children in each family is five, and they are under the
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full control of their parents or, in case of the demise of one or both, under
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that of the guardians designated by the parental courts. It is considered a
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great honor for any family to be awarded the guardianship of a full orphan.
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Competitive examinations are held among parents, and the orphan is awarded to
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the home of those displaying the best parental qualifications.
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These people regard the home as the basic institution of their civilization. It
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is expected that the most valuable part of a child's education and character
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training will be secured from his parents and at home, and fathers devote
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almost as much attention to child culture as do mothers.
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All sex instruction is administered in the home by parents or by legal
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guardians. Moral instruction is offered by teachers during the rest periods in
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the school shops, but not so with religious training, which is deemed to be the
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exclusive privilege of parents, religion being looked upon as an integral part
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of home life. Purely religious instruction is given publicly only in the
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temples of philosophy, no such exclusively religious institutions as the
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Urantia churches having developed among this people. In their philosophy,
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religion is the striving to know God and to manifest love for one's fellows
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through service for them, but this is not typical of the religious status of
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the other nations on this planet. Religion is so entirely a family matter among
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these people that there are no public places devoted exclusively to religious
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assembly. Politically, church and state, as Urantians are wont to say, are
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entirely separate, but there is a strange overlapping of religion and
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philosophy.
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Until twenty years ago the spiritual teachers (comparable to Urantia pastors),
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who visit each family periodically to examine the children to ascertain if they
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have been properly instructed by their parents, were under governmental
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supervision. These spiritual advisers and examiners are now under the direction
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of the newly created Foundation of Spiritual Progress, an institution supported
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by voluntary contributions. Possibly this institution may not further evolve
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until after the arrival of a Paradise Magisterial Son.
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Children remain legally subject to their parents until they are fifteen, when
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the first initiation into civic responsibility is held. Thereafter, every five
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years for five successive periods similar public exercises are held for such
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age groups
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top of page - 812
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at which their obligations to parents are lessened, while new civic and social
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responsibilities to the state are assumed. Suffrage is conferred at twenty, the
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right to marry without parental consent is not bestowed until twenty-five, and
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children must leave home on reaching the age of thirty.
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Marriage and divorce laws are uniform throughout the nation. Marriage before
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twenty--the age of civil enfranchisement--is not permitted. Permission to marry
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is only granted after one year's notice of intention, and after both bride and
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groom present certificates showing that they have been duly instructed in the
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parental schools regarding the responsibilities of married life.
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Divorce regulations are somewhat lax, but decrees of separation, issued by the
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parental courts, may not be had until one year after application therefor has
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been recorded, and the year on this planet is considerably longer than on
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Urantia. Notwithstanding their easy divorce laws, the present rate of divorces
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is only one tenth that of the civilized races of Urantia.
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4. THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
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The educational system of this nation is compulsory and coeducational in the
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precollege schools that the student attends from the ages of five to eighteen.
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These schools are vastly different from those of Urantia. There are no
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classrooms, only one study is pursued at a time, and after the first three
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years all pupils become assistant teachers, instructing those below them. Books
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are used only to secure information that will assist in solving the problems
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arising in the school shops and on the school farms. Much of the furniture used
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on the continent and the many mechanical contrivances--this is a great age of
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invention and mechanization--are produced in these shops. Adjacent to each shop
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is a working library where the student may consult the necessary reference
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books. Agriculture and horticulture are also taught throughout the entire
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educational period on the extensive farms adjoining every local school.
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The feeble-minded are trained only in agriculture and animal husbandry, and are
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committed for life to special custodial colonies where they are segregated by
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sex to prevent parenthood, which is denied all subnormals. These restrictive
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measures have been in operation for seventy-five years; the commitment decrees
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are handed down by the parental courts.
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Everyone takes one month's vacation each year. The precollege schools are
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conducted for nine months out of the year of ten, the vacation being spent with
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parents or friends in travel. This travel is a part of the adult-education
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program and is continued throughout a lifetime, the funds for meeting such
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expenses being accumulated by the same methods as those employed in old-age
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insurance.
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One quarter of the school time is devoted to play--competitive athletics--the
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pupils progressing in these contests from the local, through the state and
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regional, and on to the national trials of skill and prowess. Likewise, the
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oratorical and musical contests, as well as those in science and philosophy,
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occupy the attention of students from the lower social divisions on up to the
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contests for national honors.
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The school government is a replica of the national government with its three
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correlated branches, the teaching staff functioning as the third or advisory
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legislative division. The chief object of education on this continent is to
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make every pupil a self-supporting citizen.
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top of page - 813
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Every child graduating from the precollege school system at eighteen is a
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skilled artisan. Then begins the study of books and the pursuit of special
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knowledge, either in the adult schools or in the colleges. When a brilliant
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student completes his work ahead of schedule, he is granted an award of time
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and means wherewith he may execute some pet project of his own devising. The
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entire educational system is designed to adequately train the individual.
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5. INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION
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The industrial situation among this people is far from their ideals; capital
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and labor still have their troubles, but both are becoming adjusted to the plan
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of sincere co-operation. On this unique continent the workers are increasingly
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becoming shareholders in all industrial concerns; every intelligent laborer is
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slowly becoming a small capitalist.
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Social antagonisms are lessening, and good will is growing apace. No grave
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economic problems have arisen out of the abolition of slavery (over one hundred
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years ago) since this adjustment was effected gradually by the liberation of
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two per cent each year. Those slaves who satisfactorily passed mental, moral,
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and physical tests were granted citizenship; many of these superior slaves were
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war captives or children of such captives. Some fifty years ago they deported
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the last of their inferior slaves, and still more recently they are addressing
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themselves to the task of reducing the numbers of their degenerate and vicious
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classes.
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These people have recently developed new techniques for the adjustment of
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industrial misunderstandings and for the correction of economic abuses which
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are marked improvements over their older methods of settling such problems.
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Violence has been outlawed as a procedure in adjusting either personal or
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industrial differences. Wages, profits, and other economic problems are not
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rigidly regulated, but they are in general controlled by the industrial
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legislatures, while all disputes arising out of industry are passed upon by the
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industrial courts.
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The industrial courts are only thirty years old but are functioning very
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satisfactorily. The most recent development provides that hereafter the
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industrial courts shall recognize legal compensation as falling in three
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divisions:
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1. Legal rates of interest on invested capital.
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2. Reasonable salary for skill employed in industrial operations.
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3. Fair and equitable wages for labor.
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These shall first be met in accordance with contract, or in the face of
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decreased earnings they shall share proportionally in transient reduction. And
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thereafter all earnings in excess of these fixed charges shall be regarded as
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dividends and shall be prorated to all three divisions: capital, skill, and
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labor.
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Every ten years the regional executives adjust and decree the lawful hours of
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daily gainful toil. Industry now operates on a five-day week, working four and
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playing one. These people labor six hours each working day and, like students,
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nine months in the year of ten. Vacation is usually spent in travel, and new
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methods of transportation having been so recently developed, the whole nation
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is travel bent. The climate favors travel about eight months in the year, and
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they are making the most of their opportunities.
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Two hundred years ago the profit motive was wholly dominant in industry, but
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today it is being rapidly displaced by other and higher driving forces. Com
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top of page - 814
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petition is keen on this continent, but much of it has been transferred from
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industry to play, skill, scientific achievement, and intellectual attainment.
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It is most active in social service and governmental loyalty. Among this people
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public service is rapidly becoming the chief goal of ambition. The richest man
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on the continent works six hours a day in the office of his machine shop and
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then hastens over to the local branch of the school of statesmanship, where he
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seeks to qualify for public service.
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Labor is becoming more honorable on this continent, and all able-bodied
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citizens over eighteen work either at home and on farms, at some recognized
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industry, on the public works where the temporarily unemployed are absorbed, or
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else in the corps of compulsory laborers in the mines.
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These people are also beginning to foster a new form of social disgust--disgust
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for both idleness and unearned wealth. Slowly but certainly they are conquering
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their machines. Once they, too, struggled for political liberty and
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subsequently for economic freedom. Now are they entering upon the enjoyment of
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both while in addition they are beginning to appreciate their well-earned
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leisure, which can be devoted to increased self-realization.
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6. OLD-AGE INSURANCE
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This nation is making a determined effort to replace the
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self-respect-destroying type of charity by dignified government-insurance
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guarantees of security in old age. This nation provides every child an
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education and every man a job; therefore can it successfully carry out such an
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insurance scheme for the protection of the infirm and aged.
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Among this people all persons must retire from gainful pursuit at sixty-five
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unless they secure a permit from the state labor commissioner which will
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entitle them to remain at work until the age of seventy. This age limit does
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not apply to government servants or philosophers. The physically disabled or
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permanently crippled can be placed on the retired list at any age by court
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order countersigned by the pension commissioner of the regional government.
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The funds for old-age pensions are derived from four sources:
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1. One day's earnings each month are requisitioned by the federal government
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for this purpose, and in this country everybody works.
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2. Bequests--many wealthy citizens leave funds for this purpose.
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3. The earnings of compulsory labor in the state mines. After the conscript
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workers support themselves and set aside their own retirement contributions,
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all excess profits on their labor are turned over to this pension fund.
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4. The income from natural resources. All natural wealth on the continent is
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held as a social trust by the federal government, and the income therefrom is
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utilized for social purposes, such as disease prevention, education of
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geniuses, and expenses of especially promising individuals in the statesmanship
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schools. One half of the income from natural resources goes to the old-age
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pension fund.
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Although state and regional actuarial foundations supply many forms of
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protective insurance, old-age pensions are solely administered by the federal
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government through the ten regional departments.
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These government funds have long been honestly administered. Next to treason
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and murder, the heaviest penalties meted out by the courts are attached
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top of page - 815
|
||
|
||
to betrayal of public trust. Social and political disloyalty are now looked
|
||
upon as being the most heinous of all crimes.
|
||
|
||
7. TAXATION
|
||
|
||
The federal government is paternalistic only in the administration of old-age
|
||
pensions and in the fostering of genius and creative originality; the state
|
||
governments are slightly more concerned with the individual citizen, while the
|
||
local governments are much more paternalistic or socialistic. The city (or some
|
||
subdivision thereof) concerns itself with such matters as health, sanitation,
|
||
building regulations, beautification, water supply, lighting, heating,
|
||
recreation, music, and communication.
|
||
|
||
In all industry first attention is paid to health; certain phases of physical
|
||
well-being are regarded as industrial and community prerogatives, but
|
||
individual and family health problems are matters of personal concern only. In
|
||
medicine, as in all other purely personal matters, it is increasingly the plan
|
||
of government to refrain from interfering.
|
||
|
||
Cities have no taxing power, neither can they go in debt. They receive per
|
||
capita allowances from the state treasury and must supplement such revenue from
|
||
the earnings of their socialistic enterprises and by licensing various
|
||
commercial activities.
|
||
|
||
The rapid-transit facilities, which make it practical greatly to extend the
|
||
city boundaries, are under municipal control. The city fire departments are
|
||
supported by the fire-prevention and insurance foundations, and all buildings,
|
||
in city or country, are fireproof--have been for over seventy-five years.
|
||
|
||
There are no municipally appointed peace officers; the police forces are
|
||
maintained by the state governments. This department is recruited almost
|
||
entirely from the unmarried men between twenty-five and fifty. Most of the
|
||
states assess a rather heavy bachelor tax, which is remitted to all men joining
|
||
the state police. In the average state the police force is now only one tenth
|
||
as large as it was fifty years ago.
|
||
|
||
There is little or no uniformity among the taxation schemes of the one hundred
|
||
comparatively free and sovereign states as economic and other conditions vary
|
||
greatly in different sections of the continent. Every state has ten basic
|
||
constitutional provisions which cannot be modified except by consent of the
|
||
federal supreme court, and one of these articles prevents levying a tax of more
|
||
than one per cent on the value of any property in any one year, homesites,
|
||
whether in city or country, being exempted.
|
||
|
||
The federal government cannot go in debt, and a three-fourths referendum is
|
||
required before any state can borrow except for purposes of war. Since the
|
||
federal government cannot incur debt, in the event of war the National Council
|
||
of Defense is empowered to assess the states for money, as well as for men and
|
||
materials, as it may be required. But no debt may run for more than twenty-five
|
||
years.
|
||
|
||
Income to support the federal government is derived from the following five
|
||
sources:
|
||
|
||
1. Import duties. All imports are subject to a tariff designed to protect the
|
||
standard of living on this continent, which is far above that of any other
|
||
|
||
top of page - 816
|
||
|
||
nation on the planet. These tariffs are set by the highest industrial court
|
||
after both houses of the industrial congress have ratified the recommendations
|
||
of the chief executive of economic affairs, who is the joint appointee of these
|
||
two legislative bodies. The upper industrial house is elected by labor, the
|
||
lower by capital.
|
||
|
||
2. Royalties. The federal government encourages invention and original
|
||
creations in the ten regional laboratories, assisting all types of
|
||
geniuses--artists, authors, and scientists--and protecting their patents. In
|
||
return the government takes one half the profits realized from all such
|
||
inventions and creations, whether pertaining to machines, books, artistry,
|
||
plants, or animals.
|
||
|
||
3. Inheritance tax. The federal government levies a graduated inheritance tax
|
||
ranging from one to fifty per cent, depending on the size of an estate as well
|
||
as on other conditions.
|
||
|
||
4. Military equipment. The government earns a considerable sum from the leasing
|
||
of military and naval equipment for commercial and recreational usages.
|
||
|
||
5. Natural resources. The income from natural resources, when not fully
|
||
required for the specific purposes designated in the charter of federal
|
||
statehood, is turned into the national treasury.
|
||
|
||
Federal appropriations, except war funds assessed by the National Council of
|
||
Defense, are originated in the upper legislative house, concurred in by the
|
||
lower house, approved by the chief executive, and finally validated by the
|
||
federal budget commission of one hundred. The members of this commission are
|
||
nominated by the state governors and elected by the state legislatures to serve
|
||
for twenty-four years, one quarter being elected every six years. Every six
|
||
years this body, by a three-fourths ballot, chooses one of its number as chief,
|
||
and he thereby becomes director-controller of the federal treasury.
|
||
|
||
8. THE SPECIAL COLLEGES
|
||
|
||
In addition to the basic compulsory education program extending from the ages
|
||
of five to eighteen, special schools are maintained as follows:
|
||
|
||
1. Statesmanship schools. These schools are of three classes: national,
|
||
regional, and state. The public offices of the nation are grouped in four
|
||
divisions. The first division of public trust pertains principally to the
|
||
national administration, and all officeholders of this group must be graduates
|
||
of both regional and national schools of statesmanship. Individuals may accept
|
||
political, elective, or appointive office in the second division upon
|
||
graduating from any one of the ten regional schools of statesmanship; their
|
||
trusts concern responsibilities in the regional administration and the state
|
||
governments. Division three includes state responsibilities, and such officials
|
||
are only required to have state degrees of statesmanship. The fourth and last
|
||
division of officeholders are not required to hold statesmanship degrees, such
|
||
offices being wholly appointive. They represent minor positions of
|
||
assistantship, secretaryships, and technical trusts which are discharged by the
|
||
various learned professions functioning in governmental administrative
|
||
capacities.
|
||
|
||
Judges of the minor and state courts hold degrees from the state schools of
|
||
statesmanship. Judges of the jurisdictional tribunals of social, educational,
|
||
|
||
top of page - 817
|
||
|
||
and industrial matters hold degrees from the regional schools. Judges of the
|
||
federal supreme court must hold degrees from all these schools of
|
||
statesmanship.
|
||
|
||
2. Schools of philosophy. These schools are affiliated with the temples of
|
||
philosophy and are more or less associated with religion as a public function.
|
||
|
||
3. Institutions of science. These technical schools are co-ordinated with
|
||
industry rather than with the educational system and are administered under
|
||
fifteen divisions.
|
||
|
||
4. Professional training schools. These special institutions provide the
|
||
technical training for the various learned professions, twelve in number.
|
||
|
||
5. Military and naval schools. Near the national headquarters and at the
|
||
twenty-five coastal military centers are maintained those institutions devoted
|
||
to the military training of volunteer citizens from eighteen to thirty years of
|
||
age. Parental consent is required before twenty-five in order to gain entrance
|
||
to these schools.
|
||
|
||
9. THE PLAN OF UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE
|
||
|
||
Although candidates for all public offices are restricted to graduates of the
|
||
state, regional, or federal schools of statesmanship, the progressive leaders
|
||
of this nation discovered a serious weakness in their plan of universal
|
||
suffrage and about fifty years ago made constitutional provision for a modified
|
||
scheme of voting which embraces the following features:
|
||
|
||
1. Every man and woman of twenty years and over has one vote. Upon attaining
|
||
this age, all citizens must accept membership in two voting groups: They will
|
||
join the first in accordance with their economic function--industrial,
|
||
professional, agricultural, or trade; they will enter the second group
|
||
according to their political, philosophic, and social inclinations. All workers
|
||
thus belong to some economic franchise group, and these guilds, like the
|
||
noneconomic associations, are regulated much as is the national government with
|
||
its threefold division of powers. Registration in these groups cannot be
|
||
changed for twelve years.
|
||
|
||
2. Upon nomination by the state governors or by the regional executives and by
|
||
the mandate of the regional supreme councils, individuals who have rendered
|
||
great service to society, or who have demonstrated extraordinary wisdom in
|
||
government service, may have additional votes conferred upon them not oftener
|
||
than every five years and not to exceed nine such superfranchises. The maximum
|
||
suffrage of any multiple voter is ten. Scientists, inventors, teachers,
|
||
philosophers, and spiritual leaders are also thus recognized and honored with
|
||
augmented political power. These advanced civic privileges are conferred by the
|
||
state and regional supreme councils much as degrees are bestowed by the special
|
||
colleges, and the recipients are proud to attach the symbols of such civic
|
||
recognition, along with their other degrees, to their lists of personal
|
||
achievements.
|
||
|
||
3. All individuals sentenced to compulsory labor in the mines and all
|
||
governmental servants supported by tax funds are, for the periods of such
|
||
services, disenfranchised. This does not apply to aged persons who may be
|
||
retired on pensions at sixty-five.
|
||
|
||
4. There are five brackets of suffrage reflecting the average yearly taxes paid
|
||
for each half-decade period. Heavy taxpayers are permitted extra votes
|
||
|
||
top of page - 818
|
||
|
||
up to five. This grant is independent of all other recognition, but in no case
|
||
can any person cast over ten ballots.
|
||
|
||
5. At the time this franchise plan was adopted, the territorial method of
|
||
voting was abandoned in favor of the economic or functional system. All
|
||
citizens now vote as members of industrial, social, or professional groups,
|
||
regardless of their residence. Thus the electorate consists of solidified,
|
||
unified, and intelligent groups who elect only their best members to positions
|
||
of governmental trust and responsibility. There is one exception to this scheme
|
||
of functional or group suffrage: The election of a federal chief executive
|
||
every six years is by nation-wide ballot, and no citizen casts over one vote.
|
||
|
||
Thus, except in the election of the chief executive, suffrage is exercised by
|
||
economic, professional, intellectual, and social groupings of the citizenry.
|
||
The ideal state is organic, and every free and intelligent group of citizens
|
||
represents a vital and functioning organ within the larger governmental
|
||
organism.
|
||
|
||
The schools of statesmanship have power to start proceedings in the state
|
||
courts looking toward the disenfranchisement of any defective, idle,
|
||
indifferent, or criminal individual. These people recognize that, when fifty
|
||
per cent of a nation is inferior or defective and possesses the ballot, such a
|
||
nation is doomed. They believe the dominance of mediocrity spells the downfall
|
||
of any nation. Voting is compulsory, heavy fines being assessed against all who
|
||
fail to cast their ballots.
|
||
|
||
10. DEALING WITH CRIME
|
||
|
||
The methods of this people in dealing with crime, insanity, and degeneracy,
|
||
while in some ways pleasing, will, no doubt, in others prove shocking to most
|
||
Urantians. Ordinary criminals and the defectives are placed, by sexes, in
|
||
different agricultural colonies and are more than self-supporting. The more
|
||
serious habitual criminals and the incurably insane are sentenced to death in
|
||
the lethal gas chambers by the courts. Numerous crimes aside from murder,
|
||
including betrayal of governmental trust, also carry the death penalty, and the
|
||
visitation of justice is sure and swift.
|
||
|
||
These people are passing out of the negative into the positive era of law.
|
||
Recently they have gone so far as to attempt the prevention of crime by
|
||
sentencing those who are believed to be potential murderers and major criminals
|
||
to life service in the detention colonies. If such convicts subsequently
|
||
demonstrate that they have become more normal, they may be either paroled or
|
||
pardoned. The homicide rate on this continent is only one per cent of that
|
||
among the other nations.
|
||
|
||
Efforts to prevent the breeding of criminals and defectives were begun over one
|
||
hundred years ago and have already yielded gratifying results. There are no
|
||
prisons or hospitals for the insane. For one reason, there are only about ten
|
||
per cent as many of these groups as are found on Urantia.
|
||
|
||
11. MILITARY PREPAREDNESS
|
||
|
||
Graduates of the federal military schools may be commissioned as "guardians of
|
||
civilization" in seven ranks, in accordance with ability and experience, by the
|
||
president of the National Council of Defense. This council consists of twenty-
|
||
|
||
top of page - 819
|
||
|
||
five members, nominated by the highest parental, educational, and industrial
|
||
tribunals, confirmed by the federal supreme court, and presided over ex officio
|
||
by the chief of staff of co-ordinated military affairs. Such members serve
|
||
until they are seventy years of age.
|
||
|
||
The courses pursued by such commissioned officers are four years in length and
|
||
are invariably correlated with the mastery of some trade or profession.
|
||
Military training is never given without this associated industrial,
|
||
scientific, or professional schooling. When military training is finished, the
|
||
individual has, during his four years' course, received one half of the
|
||
education imparted in any of the special schools where the courses are likewise
|
||
four years in length. In this way the creation of a professional military class
|
||
is avoided by providing this opportunity for a large number of men to support
|
||
themselves while securing the first half of a technical or professional
|
||
training.
|
||
|
||
Military service during peacetime is purely voluntary, and the enlistments in
|
||
all branches of the service are for four years, during which every man pursues
|
||
some special line of study in addition to the mastery of military tactics.
|
||
Training in music is one of the chief pursuits of the central military schools
|
||
and of the twenty-five training camps distributed about the periphery of the
|
||
continent. During periods of industrial slackness many thousands of unemployed
|
||
are automatically utilized in upbuilding the military defenses of the continent
|
||
on land and sea and in the air.
|
||
|
||
Although these people maintain a powerful war establishment as a defense
|
||
against invasion by the surrounding hostile peoples, it may be recorded to
|
||
their credit that they have not in over one hundred years employed these
|
||
military resources in an offensive war. They have become civilized to that
|
||
point where they can vigorously defend civilization without yielding to the
|
||
temptation to utilize their war powers in aggression. There have been no civil
|
||
wars since the establishment of the united continental state, but during the
|
||
last two centuries these people have been called upon to wage nine fierce
|
||
defensive conflicts, three of which were against mighty confederations of world
|
||
powers. Although this nation maintains adequate defense against attack by
|
||
hostile neighbors, it pays far more attention to the training of statesmen,
|
||
scientists, and philosophers.
|
||
|
||
When at peace with the world, all mobile defense mechanisms are quite fully
|
||
employed in trade, commerce, and recreation. When war is declared, the entire
|
||
nation is mobilized. Throughout the period of hostilities military pay obtains
|
||
in all industries, and the chiefs of all military departments become members of
|
||
the chief executive's cabinet.
|
||
|
||
12. THE OTHER NATIONS
|
||
|
||
Although the society and government of this unique people are in many respects
|
||
superior to those of the Urantia nations, it should be stated that on the other
|
||
continents (there are eleven on this planet) the governments are decidedly
|
||
inferior to the more advanced nations of Urantia.
|
||
|
||
Just now this superior government is planning to establish ambassadorial
|
||
relations with the inferior peoples, and for the first time a great religious
|
||
leader has arisen who advocates the sending of missionaries to these
|
||
surrounding nations. We fear they are about to make the mistake that so many
|
||
others have made when they have endeavored to force a superior culture and
|
||
religion upon
|
||
|
||
top of page - 820
|
||
|
||
other races. What a wonderful thing could be done on this world if this
|
||
continental nation of advanced culture would only go out and bring to itself
|
||
the best of the neighboring peoples and then, after educating them, send them
|
||
back as emissaries of culture to their benighted brethren! Of course, if a
|
||
Magisterial Son should soon come to this advanced nation, great things could
|
||
quickly happen on this world.
|
||
|
||
This recital of the affairs of a neighboring planet is made by special
|
||
permission with the intent of advancing civilization and augmenting
|
||
governmental evolution on Urantia. Much more could be narrated that would no
|
||
doubt interest and intrigue Urantians, but this disclosure covers the limits of
|
||
our permissive mandate.
|
||
|
||
Urantians should, however, take note that their sister sphere in the Satania
|
||
family has benefited by neither magisterial nor bestowal missions of the
|
||
Paradise Sons. Neither are the various peoples of Urantia set off from each
|
||
other by such disparity of culture as separates the continental nation from its
|
||
planetary fellows.
|
||
|
||
The pouring out of the Spirit of Truth provides the spiritual foundation for
|
||
the realization of great achievements in the interests of the human race of the
|
||
bestowal world. Urantia is therefore far better prepared for the more immediate
|
||
realization of a planetary government with its laws, mechanisms, symbols,
|
||
conventions, and language--all of which could contribute so mightily to the
|
||
establishment of world-wide peace under law and could lead to the sometime
|
||
dawning of a real age of spiritual striving; and such an age is the planetary
|
||
threshold to the utopian ages of light and life.
|
||
|
||
[Presented by a Melchizedek of Nebadon.]
|
||
|
||
top of page - 821
|
||
|
||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Subjects Archive The Urantia Book Urantia Book PART III: The History of Urantia
|
||
: The Origin Of Urantia Life Establishment On Urantia The Marine-life Era On
|
||
Urantia Urantia During The Early Land-life Era The Mammalian Era On Urantia The
|
||
Dawn Races Of Early Man The First Human Family The Evolutionary Races Of Color
|
||
The Overcontrol Of Evolution The Planetary Prince Of Urantia The Planetary
|
||
Rebellion The Dawn Of Civilization Primitive Human Institutions The Evolution
|
||
Of Human Government Development Of The State Government On A Neighboring Planet
|
||
The Garden Of Eden Adam And Eve The Default Of Adam And Eve The Second Garden
|
||
The Midway Creatures The Violet Race After The Days Of Adam Andite Expansion In
|
||
The Orient Andite Expansion In The Occident Development Of Modern Civilization
|
||
The Evolution Of Marriage The Marriage Institution Marriage And Family Life The
|
||
Origins Of Worship Early Evolution Of Religion The Ghost Cults Fetishes,
|
||
Charms, And Magic Sin, Sacrifice, And Atonement Shamanism--medicine Men And
|
||
Priests The Evolution Of Prayer The Later Evolution Of Religion Machiventa
|
||
Melchizedek The Melchizedek Teachings In The Orient The Melchizedek Teachings
|
||
In The Levant Yahweh--god Of The Hebrews Evolution Of The God Concept Among The
|
||
Hebrews The Melchizedek Teachings In The Occident The Social Problems Of
|
||
Religion Religion In Human Experience The Real Nature Of Religion The
|
||
Foundations Of Religious Faith The Reality Of Religious Experience Growth Of
|
||
The Trinity Concept Deity And Reality Universe Levels Of Reality Origin And
|
||
Nature Of Thought Adjusters Mission And Ministry Of Thought Adjusters Relation
|
||
Of Adjusters To Universe Creatures Relation Of Adjusters To Individual Mortals
|
||
The Adjuster And The Soul Personality Survival Seraphic Guardians Of Destiny
|
||
Seraphic Planetary Government The Supreme Being The Almighty Supreme God The
|
||
Supreme Supreme And Ultimate--time And Space The Bestowals Of Christ Michael
|
||
|
||
<EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>Ŀ
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||
<EFBFBD> // <20> <20> <20> <20> <20>
|
||
<EFBFBD> Development Of <20> The Garden Of <20> Urantia Book <20> Search <20> SiteMap! <20>
|
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<EFBFBD> ... <20> E... <20> PA... <20> <20> <20>
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<EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>
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||
//
|
||
|
||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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<EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>Ŀ
|
||
<EFBFBD> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> SPIRITWEB ORG (info@spiritweb.org), <20> <20>
|
||
<EFBFBD> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> http://www.spiritweb.org <20> <20>
|
||
<EFBFBD> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> Webmaster <webmaster@spiritweb.org> <20> <20>
|
||
<EFBFBD> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20>
|
||
<EFBFBD> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> ONLINE SINCE 1993. MAINTAINED IN SWITZERLAND. <20> <20>
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<EFBFBD> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> <20> DISTRIBUTED TO CALIFORNIA, SPAIN, ITALY, SOUTH AFRICA, <20> <20>
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