My name is Sharon Kiel. I am one of twenty women selected from over 497,000 applicants in the 25-29 years age bracket (Biologically Female) to compose a document to be enclosed in a Time Capsule which is to be buried with the foundations of the Carlos Agrotti Plaza Office Tower No 2. I have been instructed to write of the times in which I live using any style of language I choose and covering topics which I personally find of interest. I have been assured that my document will be com-checked for accuracy and that any terms which may require explanation will be covered in a separate document, such explanations being derived from the Standard Quynn State Lexopaedia (9th edition). All opinions expressed are voluntarily my own, although they may be shared by others.

Today's date is 19 March 2596; in IGAL Standard this is 1049-446.32/D44-1. I will begin by providing some personal information about myself.

I am 28 years of age and live with my cohab and three children (two are ours and one his from a previous cohab). I work 20 days per LC as a Plovsk Administrator with the Department of HT Security in Sydney, Quynn, having held this job since I graduated from high college at the age of 21. My hobbies include swimming, banch, ergoplam, abseiling, paragliding and graf-cycling. I enjoy many forms of music including H- and M-classical, HT- and OW-ethno-folk, prabish, CRR, ambient and saal. I was raised in the Brougham-Christian religion but since meeting my cohab have converted to Siblings' Future (traditional sect). I fully support the HT Policy (3rd amendment, 2488) and am an active member of LYU (HT branch). I am not politically active and have never been imprisoned nor are there any criminal matters outstanding against me.

The topics I am going to cover in this document are crime, population control, the current government, public transport, education, the health industry and items of general interest to me. Naturally, due to the restrictions placed on this document (length and content), I cannot discuss anything in great detail, nor can I impart information which is restricted in any way.

CRIME

Until approximately 200 years ago the crime fashions in this country closely followed those of GC, for example, assorted drive-by crimes (shootings, rattings, polings, pittings, narkings and ekoms), rammings and genetic terrorism. Analysts have for some time believed that the changes came about as a result of the formation of GC and the abandonment of the previous republic system, forcing the population to contend with certain new compulsorisms and largely irradicating the social structures which had previously nurtured crime (Edward Nahler's From Ghetto to Godhead: The New Black America [Stockhardt, NY, 2391] covers this in detail). Since its formation, crime in GC is now virtually non-existent, and that which is committed is mostly the result of ill-informed tourists expecting diplomatic immunity for any social blunders they may (accidentally or otherwise) commit.

Crime in this country, unfortunately, is still alive and well, and the current "craze" is Carol Killings: Christmas Carol singers luring people out of their homes, usually just to kill them (apparently for the "joy" of it) but occasionally to venture into their homes and also kill anyone in there (very rarely to plunder the contents). This crime fashion originated in Perth two years ago, and by the end of last year was a major statistic in Adelaide and Melbourne. It is only beginning to catch on here, in the eastern state, but already 47 people have been killed, most in daylight hours, and less than half were the "bewildered elderly" (President Fisher's latest statement). As Christmas is no longer celebrated commercially and only occasionally as a religious festival, one does wonder why anyone would open their door to Carol singers (no matter how sweetly they sing) - particularly at a time other than the now-refuted date of Christ's birth. Other current crime fashions include drive-by zoanings (first occurred circa 2140) and rattings (circa 1990) - although the HT rat has been replaced by the Tarkan kaumic and zoanings are now carried out with poviki rather than shrapnel bombs, fly-by narkings and tankings and old-fashioned armed hold-ups, although these are almost impossible to carry out successfully so I don't know why anyone bothers.

POPULATION CONTROL

Population control in this country was not seriously enforced until one-hundred-and-three years ago, when the gross population hit 100 million. In the two hundred-odd years before that, some attempts were made, but mostly by White Policy groups who wished to restrict the number of children allowed to non-Caucasians. Once the states were restructured, however, and particularly once the Keresan Government was dissolved, the PGP (Population Growth Policy) became serious legislation and anyone deliberately creating more than their allocated number of children was automatically declared bankrupt for five years and given a CTI implant which was non-treatable by any means. Once Hoyer's Syndrome became a serious concern (circa 2510) the PGP was reviewed and excess children were no longer exported.

The PGP currently enforced supports up to six children per cohab couple where there is no genetic history of Hoyer's, no CTI implant if there is no history of Hoyer's on the mother's side of the family (blood ancestry only), and automatic bankruptcy only if both parents (whether cohabs or not) already have their maximum allocation of children (eg if the father had 4 children by the previous cohab and already has 4 with the current cohab, and she already has 2 each by two previous partners, both of whom are allocated a maximum of 2 dependants, then the maximum is considered effective and bankruptcy will follow for both cohabs). My personal allocation is four and my cohab's is two; however we are not a typical example as we are rated DNA-444, ie we have no history of either Hoyer's or Gimball's Syndromes and our combined longevity is assessed as B-.

GOVERNMENT

The current government is the Fisher-Palos Government and is the eighth government to be wholly responsible for all five states. Until the dissolution of the Keresan Government the old system of individual state governments was retained and in this allegory the Heads-of-States were the jury and the President the judge (no logic monkey applicable). After the Merrony scandal however it was decided that a new system was required and so legislation was rewritten to enable the current system, which allows eight representatives for each population-based region per state plus one additional representative for each major rural and city area per state - an average of twenty representatives per state, although Bourke usually has fifteen or less. The Constitution has been rewritten on such a scale that I don't believe it bears any resemblance to the original, and now mostly follows the HT Standard Human Rights Policy (113th amendment, Manchester, UK, 2401). The five states - Quynn, Bass, Bourke, Merriwa and East Quynn - each have a state council which performs similarly to the old state governments, however the councils have no power to pass legislation which affects other states and may not pass any legislation which conflicts with the Presidential Order.

The Fisher-Palos Government is essentially Polar Left, however supports multiple fiscal policies for rural districts and will not allow foreign-owned companies to mine in Bourke or Merriwa. This is not in accordance with strict Polar Left policy, however, which is strongly Hattonist and quasi-Seftonist. The current government has been in power for eleven years and is expected to be re-elected for the third time later this year (25 August). President Fisher and Sub-President Palos are cohabs of 22 years and have four adult children and all six immediate members of the Presidential Unit are well liked and respected by the population.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Public transport is currently free to persons employed for at least 100 hours per LC. This has been standard practice for 38 years and was instituted by the LeBauer-Ruben Government and isn't expected to change in the near future. Public transport comprises travel by government-owned-and-operated transport in and between capital cities and in and between major suburban and rural centres, by means of road, rail, water and air. Public transport runs 24 hours a day and is so efficient that two years ago a few people got together and called themselves We Reserve the Right to Zoan Regardless and complained about having nothing to complain about until they were suddenly given newly-created jobs in which they ran a hotline which helped other disgruntled persons like themselves to find something to complain about.

Public transport for persons not employed is free for the first three months following retrenchment, free for full-time students, free for single parents until their youngest child reaches 16 years of age or until the parent cohabs, free for the long-term unemployed (18 months and over), free for persons aged over 60 years and free for persons who have a permanent physical disability (including advanced Hoyer's, Gimball's at any stage, impairment or loss of vision or hearing, natural infertility and limb loss).

For persons who do not fit any of the above categories, public transport fees apply as a tax per annum: (all amounts in HTSMU) less than 200,000 - 0.5%, less than 300,000 - 0.85%, less than 450,000 - 1%, less than 650,000 - 1.25%, less than 1,000,000 - 1.75%, over 1,000,000 - 2.11%.

Tourists pay by credit card on a per-trip basis, the cost of each trip being assessed by distance, time of day, popularity of departure and destination points and by the person's annual income.

EDUCATION

Basic education is funded by a standard tax and has been for the last 372 years. Basic education covers ordinary schooling up to the age of 14 years and subjects studied include the HT Standard Languages, basic mathematics (including algebra, geometry, trigonmetry, statistical analysis, naval, land, aerial and spacial navigation, accounting and commerce), basic science (biology, HT- and standard OW-geology, biology, physics and chemistry), geography, domestic and basic international history, basic OW history, music, sports, art (art history and techniques), computer literacy, basic clerical skills, basic home skills, personal development (mental, emotional and physical and includes assorted religous teachings from an academic point of view), drama, HT political histories and basic business skills.

The basic education tax rate is 0.15% which is paid annually by every resident of the country who earns more than 72,000 per annum (the basic adult wage).

Higher education is divided into two categories: college and high college. Every resident is eligible to attend college (age 14-19 years), however some choose to go into private tuition and do not re-enter the public education system unless they wish to attend a high college, all of which are government run.

College or private tuition allows the student to specialise in certain subjects (the only compulsory subjects are three of the six HT Standard Languages and a standard competency in general mathematics). By the middle of the second year of college or private tuition a student usually has a good idea of their strengths and weaknesses and of the area in which they intend to be employed, and can then specialise even further in the final two-to-four years (private tuition is usually chosen if the student has shown special promise or dedication at an earlier age, and studies are therefore very likely to be condensed into a shorter time-frame than in the public system).

College is paid for by the student's two highest-paid blood relatives at the rate of 1.15% tax per annum. Private tuition is paid under a number of schemes and as I have no idea what the likely rates are I suggest you look it up in the Tax Schedule (Private Arrangements) for this financial year (Canberra Archives, Quynn).

High college is paid for by forward-debiting the student's earnings at the rate of 1.6% of the highest annual income earnt within the first decade after completing high college, multiplied by the number of years high college was attended.

Basic education may commence when the student is aged between three and six-and-a-half years (at the custodial parent's discretion and in conjunction with a qualified assessor's report) and high college may be attended by any person of at least 19 years of age who holds a Certificate of HT Standard Languages Literacy and a Certificate of Basic Numeric and Mathematical Literacy.

High college provides courses for all specialised education and work-related training. There are no private training companies (the last was dissolved 280 years ago) anywhere on the planet and are in fact illegal. Persons providing private tuition may belong to a union, association, society or agency if they desire, however that body has no right to provide training for its members, may not limit or in any way dictate their hours, earnings or any aspect of their work and may not be listed on the sharemarket (either HT or OW).

HEALTH

The health industry covers general practitioners of chemical and non-chemical medicine, surgeons in private practice, public hospitals, non-parental child care, dental, optical, prosthetic (has not been handled by hospitals for 177 years - refer to Alistair's Decision by Donna Rowell, DiscMedia, 2420), herbalists, acupuncturists, neuroclinics (public and private), regen clinics (private only), health and safety in all public environments and private companies, ergonomic policy for government employees, health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, orphan pensions, production and sale of cosmetics, substance dependence rehabilitation, general, child, gender-specific and cohab counselling, treatment of mental disorders (natural and induced), nutrition policy, pollution regulation, domestic conservation policy, recycling of limited resources and pharmaceutical restrictions (production and sale of low-level medications, including lotions, gels, sprays, creams, tablets and capsules, powders, self-injectables and self-implantables of preventative, curative or other beneficial properties).

GENERAL COMMENTS

*   Private transport has not existed for several decades.
*   There are no prisons for higher crime - persons found guilty of higher crime are treated with social or financial restrictions, debilitative surgery/implants or executed.
*   It is illegal to remove any native animal or plant from the country.
*   It is illegal for a non-goverment person or authority to force entry into any person's residence for any reason and is punishable by one year's enforced bankruptcy for the first offence, five years' for the second, enforced sterility for the third and execution where any act of violence or theft is involved.
*   Inflation is currently 16.237% and has been increasing steadily at the rate of approximately 0.35% per annum for the last 32 years. The HTSMU is expected to be re-valued after the next election and there is talk (not for the first time) of abolishing cash altogether and operating wholly on a credit system.
*   Legislation was recently passed which allows a grade 11 logic monkey in lieu of a jury for trials where jury bias is very difficult to avoid.
*   CTI implants are compulsory for menstruating females until they have been employed for at least two years and have been allocated an allowable number of children.
*   Only government-approved agricultural bodies may breed cattle or sheep.
*   The koala recently became extinct. The wombat became extinct 23 years ago and the bandicoot now exists only in government breeding laboratories.
*   Children who dislike the names given to them by their parent/s may legally change them at age 12 and 15 years. Any adult may change their name legally at any time and as many times as they like during their lifetime. A person's name can also be altered posthumously by their nearest surviving blood relative and/or longest-standing cohab.
*   Every person in the country (resident and otherwise) is issued with two forms of identity at birth. One is a sulachip which is implanted at the base of the skull, and from and to which information can be read/written with a Cromer laser. Typical information includes date of birth, medical history, education status (once a year), employment status (once a year plus once for each change of job or promotion or demotion), personal wealth, all immediate blood relatives, blood type, religion, allergies, criminal convictions, DNA rating, longevity rating (once a year from the age of 15 to 45), regen status (following major surgery, accident and the age of 60), tax number, personal identity number and basic will. The second is the HT Standard ID Card, which every person over the age of 16 years must carry with them at all times. The HTSIDC contains as standard: personal ID number, tax number, personal wealth, blood type, allergies and full will instructions (and related legal information). It may also optionally contain criminal convictions, DNA and longevity rating, occupation and employer details, a full listing of all blood relatives and lists of cohabs past and present and dependents past and present.