From: "Strong, Lee" <StrongL at MTMC.ARMY.MIL>
To: "'WSFA members'" <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] The Politics of Oz
Date: Wed, 6 Nov 2002 08:26:39 -0500
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

	The Magical Land of Oz is a hereditary, absolute monarchy presided
over by Princess Ozma.  (Charming of her to use the relatively modest title
of "princess.")  Rule by a wizard or a scarecrow was a two phase aberration
caused by the temporary absence of the rightful monarch.  When Ozma
returned, the Scarecrow immediately abdicated in her favor.  Both the Wizard
and the Scarecrow are now senior counselors to Ozma.  Politics in Oz is
generally limited to sporatic attempts by the Nome King to turn Ozma into a
lawn ornament and make himself absolute monarch.
	In one of the later Oz books, there was an election for the
rulership, which Ozma won.  However, that book is generally deemed to be a
violation of the original constitution of Oz as outlined by the Royal
Historian, L. Frank Baum.
	The Commonwealth of Australia is somewhat similar except that the
hereditary monarch usually delegates her power to a scarecrow on a full time
basis.
	Every time I call up Mr. Walsh's website, I get an error.  Perhaps
Oz is not yet connected to the Internet.

-----Original Message-----
From: Samuel Lubell [mailto:samlubell at yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 4:24 PM
To: WSFA members
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Election Day

--- Michael Walsh <MJW at mail.press.jhu.edu> wrote:
> How elections are done in Oz.
>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1617327.stm
>
But isn't Oz a monarchy?  Or does Princess Ozma always
win the election?

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