UMF - Character & Lifestyle
National Character
It would be easy to classify Mercantile citizens as greedy, but while that certainly describes their most well-known character trait, it does little justice to this complex and pragmatic society. The UMF's willingness to allow member citystates to retain their own cultures and governments results in the "typical Mercantilist," a hard nosed corporate executive willing to do anything to turn a profit, being little more than a caricature. Such individuals do exist, but they are in the minority. Instead, local traditions such as the Jerusalemite Matriarchy of Swanscombe, the nobility of Ashington and the socialism of Zagreb provide the defining characteristics of the population.
The drive to succeed appears as a constant factor in the UMF, applying equally to corporate, socialist and noble alike. The principal of "there's no such thing as a free lunch" also dominates Mercantile thinking, prompting a selfish attitude that colors the relationships between individuals and groups. Everything in society has to be earned and few Mercantilists will willingly help others. The giving of gifts, however, pervades both corporate and private life in the Federation. To outsiders it appears as endemic corruption - for a business deal to even be considered, a substantial gift must change hands - but such gifts are intended to ease deals and personal interactions. Depending on the circumstance they can be a thank you or request for attention. Despite this, charitable concerns i n the Federation find fundraising difficult, and when individuals or corporations make donations it is usually associated with a high-profile public relations exercise.
Mercantilists believe wholeheartedly that the ends justify the means and will willingly push the accepted social and legal boundaries, resulting in a very flexible system of morality. This attitude i s particularly prevalent in corporate bodies but appears equally applicable to farmers and artists. Lying, cheating and theft are accepted practices, provided one central tenet i s followed: do not get caught. In the media-conscious UMF, image is important to most citizens, and blackmail (known as kornprornot) is an accepted part of UMF culture. Citizens and corporations alike are constantly alert for information they can use as leverage against their rivals, or to offset leverage applied against them.
The Mercantile sense of honor, strong albeit rather twisted, prevents the excesses of the drive to succeed from having too great an impact on the Federation as a whole. Each Mercantilist citizen, while seeking to advance their own position within their social circle and work group, is also seeking to advance that group within the overall framework of society. Thus while a corporate citizen may scheme to usurp the place of his immediate boss, he also seeks to advance his team or department within the company. The same applies to companies, who constantly jockey for position but work together through the Corporate Council to further the aims of the Federation at large. Balancing personal and group status is a difficult proposition, and many break under the strain.
The desire for success and self-advancement forms the core of the Mercantile work ethic. Corporate employees work long hours, often up to 18 hours a day, as much to demonstrate their commitment to the job and their value to the company as for the pay. Those who do not work long beyond their contracted hours, usually unpaid, are viewed with suspicion and usually find themselves limited to minor positions or even out of a job. Such conditions result in a high level of jobrelated stress, with mental breakdowns and heart disease commonplace.
The Northern Inquirer
Although headquartered in Valeria, the Northern Inquirer maintains branch offices in Canterbury, Marathon and Lyonnesse and produces local Mercantile editions. They specialize in lurid stones about the rich and famous, and pay handsomely for compromising video footage and stories, but also serve as a forum for conspiracy theories and fringe groups. Recent stories range from the bizarre - "Trideo star ate my grassrunner"
The Art of Kompromat
Kompromat- the practice of gathering and utilizing compromising material - is almost an art form in the Federation. At the simplest level, knowledge of an opponent (or potential opponent) gives a valuable insight into their psyche, allowing a reasonable prediction of their actions. In corporate circles such knowledge is invaluable, often making the difference between profit and loss on a venture. Given the impact of simply knowing the actions of an opponent, the ability to manipulate that person (or organization) is almost priceless. Most corporations thus have whole departments investigating the background of almost everyone and every thing, looking for items that can be used as Leverage. The media-conscious Federation actively encourages the practice, with numerous scandal sheets reporting the latest gossip. Of course, the material gathered by the corporations is not squandered away. Instead it is used to wring concessions from other departments or corporations, or as counter-leverage to offset kompromat applied against them. Many individuals seek 'the goods' on their colleagues, knomng that in order to climb the promotion ladder someone needs to be knocked off it.
Customs
Mercantile customs are diverse, a product of a cosmopolitan society and willingness to borrow the facets of other societies that have proved financially successful. Many customs and traditions are limited to specific geographical areas, institutions or elements of society, but still have a considerable impact on Mercantile life and how it is perceived by outsiders. Mercantilists are seen as slaves of rampant capitalism, enthralled by profit and the power of the corporations. While this is certainly true of many facets of UMF society, it is a sweeping generalization, and any who take it at face value should be prepared for the consequences.
Family
Mercantilists are strong believers in the family, usually having three or four children, but their work ethic, particularly in the city-states, places considerable strain on family life. Adult Mercantilists work long hours to demonstrate their commitment to their job, and with provisions for maternity leave minimal (though this vanes from company to company and individual circumstances), most children are raised in crPches from a very young age. These corporate-sponsored institutions serve as surrogate families, weakening the biological bonds and replacing them with loyalty to the corporate family. Rural families stand in stark contrast to their urban equivalents, often numbering as many as eight children and maintaining strong parent-child relationships. Many such families never live far apart, marrying within the community and forming close-knit extended families akin to the Clans of the WFP.
All Mercantile parents make particular effort to be with their offspring during holidays, with visits to friends and relatives particularly important. Among Mercantile Revisionists the practice of creating Bond Twins remains strong, usually between members of a corporate creche. The bond-twins play together and provide each other with companionship, often becoming closer than biological siblings, and marriages between bond-twins are not uncommon.
The status of marriage in the UMF is unusual. Like much in Mercantile society, it is regarded as a business transaction. UMF law calls for a contract to be drawn up between the two parties prior to their marriage, stipulating any restrictions on their activities, ownership of property and conditions under which the contract can be dissolved. Failure to comply with the contract's provisions can be construed as grounds for divorce or a legal case, though few Mercantile couples take the procedure that far. Indeed, strict adherents to the Revisionist and Swanscombe Jerusalemite faiths, both of which condemn divorce, often stipulate "none" as a condition under which the marriage contract may be terminated.
Prejudice
Mercantile society is the most diverse in the CNCS, but this variety among the population has allowed prejudice to take root. At the most basic level, Mercantile society is generally prejudiced against the poor. There are no social security provisions for individuals not belonging to a corporation, resulting in a considerable underclass in many Mercantile cities. These individuals are forced to work for many of the Federation's less reputable groups and often find themselves drawn into crime syndicates. Any attempt to escape this life and gain useful employment is halted by prejudice: corporate culture regards these disenfranchised citizens as lazy and unemployable, thus perpetuating the cycle. Furthermore, Mercantilists regard wealth as an indication of status to be flaunted as much as possible. Expensive houses, the latest designer fashions, and hosting lavish parties form the key elements of creating an image of conspicuous wealth, though conspicuous ownership of major stockholdings is perhaps the most important element. Those unwilling or unable to partake in the public display of wealth are perforce regarded as of lower status. The major exception to this is Zagreb, where any conspicuous display of wealth is frowned upon and regarded as bourgeois.
With little empirical contribution to society, religious bodies have been widely scorned, even among their adherents. This has led to both the Revisionist and Jerusalemite churches, and by extension the governments of the city-state of Swanscombe and the NLC, being held in poor regard. The upsurge in Revisionsm in the UMF has prompted a re-appraisal of this stance among many individuals, but for every Mercantilist who now accepts the role of religion in society, another decries the role of fanaticism.
Swanscombe is also notable for its strict matriarchal society. Only females are allowed to hold positions of authority, own property or vote in elections (though a male may serve as a proxy). The UMF constitution strictly forbids the federal government from acting to promote sexual equality in the city-state, but this has not prevented the city's male population from staging occasional uprisings against the female government and police force, the last of which was in TN 1883.
To a lesser extent, the monarchy of Ashington and the nobility that surround it embrace another form of regional prejudice. Only nobles are allowed to hold senior posts in the city-state's government, and by local law, any company headquartered there must have at least one noble on the board of directors. The personal freedoms of modern Ashington commoners, however, are a far cry from the serf status they had prior to the city-state joining the UMF. The Prince quickly found that with his people virtual slaves, other Mercantile concerns were loath to invest Locally. The Emancipation Proclamations of TN 1624 granted the commoners their freedom and formed the Privy Council that advises the Prince.
Lifestyle
The UMF allows its people considerable freedom in their lifestyles. It makes no value judgments about an individual's desires or aspirations. It only asks one thing. Do you have the money? The corporation forms the center of Mercantile Life, acting as employer, teacher and surrogate parent. It asks much of its workers, but it also gives a lot in return. The absence of taxes gives corporate employees the highest average wages in the CNCS. This combines with the pressures of work to manifest what amounts to a split personality in many corporate workers. I n the office or the factory they are sober, respectable, hardworking corporate employees. Away from their place of employment they live life to the fullest, singing and dancing, often with their teammates. Even the most straight-laced corporate drone is Likely to be found cruising the bars and clubs with his colleagues. Indeed, avoiding such activities is a sure-fire way to damage career prospects
Life in non-corporate circles is very different. Almost seven million Mercantilists (twenty-five percent of the population) do not work for a corporation, and with no government 'safety net' they form a veritable underclass. They are barred from the best education, and those without education are ignored for the even the most menial corporate jobs. Parents cannot get jobs, so their children are denied education and in turn cannot get jobs. A self-perpetuating poverty trap whose victims gather in distinct ghettos riddled with violence, it is a rife breeding ground for organized crime. Only in the isolated farming communities of the Marathon Basin of the Badlands fringe can non-corporate employees eke out a respectable living, trading the dangers of the ghetto for the equally real dangers of the Badlands.
Residence
Housing in the UMF demonstrates the influence of corporate affairs on Mercantile life, even for those not directly associated with a company. Corporate-owned housing forms distinct enclaves, usually associated with other company assets and leased to employees as required. Apartments blocks dominate these districts, frequently rising to a height of thirty stories. Most have direct access to shopping malls and entertainment complexes, forming an inter-linked series of residential and commercial units that i s virtually self contained and to which access is tightly controlled. Small three- or four-room apartments are the norm in such areas, comprising a bathroom, kitchen, living room and bedroom, though in the smallest the kitchen and living room may be combined.
These are comfortable for an individual or a couple but ill suited to family life, and though some larger apartments exist for those with families, most choose to move away from the corporate enclaves into low-rise suburbs. The purchase of a house is seen as one of the most important life-events of a Mercantile citizen, signaling a new degree of maturity and financial responsibility. Furthermore, the district in which the house is located as well as its size and style are considered major social indicators.
Non-corporate urban housing follows a similar pattern to that of the corporations, but where corporate apartments are compact, those in the private sector are claustrophobic, with one or two rooms and many facilities strictly communal. Most tenement blocks are poorly maintained, often flouting federal safety laws.
Rural housing in the UMF i s little different than elsewhere in the CNCS. The emphasis is on extended families and courtyard-houses are the norm, often with three generations of a family living in a single building. Despite the number of occupants, these are large, spacious structures and are considered the ideal of many Mercantile citizens. Indeed, many urban houses attempt to mimic the courtyard house construction, often with four houses surrounding a communal space.
Rites
Over the cycles, many rites and traditions have emerged in Mercantile society. A few originate with the Revisionist or Jerusalemite churches but the majority are corporate in origin. Most are so deeply enmeshed in Mercantile society that they are often taken up by non-corporate citizens. Few are formal.
The foremost ceremony of a Mercantilist's life welcomes the newborn into the family. Often combined with the Revisionist bond-twinning ceremony, it centers on presenting the child with a gift intended to help them in later life. In corporate families this is usually shares in the parent's corporation but can also be a money gift, placed in trust until they reach their majority. In other groups the gift is largely symbolic - a gift of seeds is common in rural communities - but nonetheless is considered important.
Graduation from school and entry to the workplace is also the subject of a semi-formal ritual. The child-pupil packs a bag and leaves the family home for a short period, often going on vacation with friends and classmates, though a brief stay with relatives i s equally common. The graduate is supposed to reflect on his life to date and the future that lies ahead. In practice most graduation holidays are little more than an extended party. On returning to the family home, usually to a family celebration, the graduate is deemed an adult and a full member of society.
Marriage occupies a strange place in Mercantile life, partly religious and partly legal. Though most marriage ceremonies are carried out by Revisionist or Jerusalemite clerics, UMF law regards marriage as a legal institution and requires a formal contract to be drawn up between the couple. Mercantile law also allows couples to be married in civil ceremonies, but though equally valid under the law, they are seen as somehow inferior to those involving religious ceremonies. Nonetheless, civil ceremonies have become the norm, particularly in corporate society. Whether the ceremony is religious or civil, it is traditionally followed by a reception and party to which the guests are expected to bring practical gifts for the couple to aid them in their new life together.
Housing is also surrounded by a number of rites. When a couple purchases a house they traditionally invite their friends and neighbors to a "house-warming" celebration. In a reversal of traditional practice - when visiting someone else's home it is traditional to take a small gift for the hosts as a thank-you for their hospitality - the householders give their visitors small gifts in gratitude for their friendship, though the visitors are expected to bring food and drink for the party.
Promotions and the receipt of the annual bonus are also cause for celebration, usually in the form of small parties or meals. Many corporations organize more formal celebrations to fete anniversaries, large contracts and other business objectives, often at considerable expense. The most significant events are marked by a company-wide holiday, though most corporations are loath to disrupt their work schedule. Many agricultural communities also hold rites associated with sowing and harvesting, though timing and details vary from community to community. The pre-harvest rites are intended to ensure the success of their crops and the prosperity of the community and usually take the form of a religious service. Harvest celebrations are more lively affairs, usually involving an upbeat thanksgiving service followed by a large banquet.
Food & Drinks
Food and dining out plays a significant role in Mercantile culture. Breakfast serves as the principal family gathering in Mercantile households and the traditional cooked breakfast - fried barnaby steak, eggs and wheat pancakes - is intended to provide energy throughout the day. The size of breakfasts has led to the replacement of lunch by a series of daytime snacks, a practice encouraged by many corporations. Though considerable effort is made to gather the family for evening meals, the workload of Mercantile citizens often results in a staggered series of meals during the evening. Children are fed early and packed off to bed while the principal wage earners often do not eat until late at night.
Meals are ideal occasions for business meetings, ranging from business breakfasts between corporate managers to contract negotiations over lunch and lavish dinner receptions for corporate and media personalities. Catering to such needs has become an art, with food choices dictated by both season and fashion. Much of the food consumed in the Federation is grown locally, but Mercantile concerns also import rarities from across both polar regions. For example, Dominion grown tea or Republican cawfee are status symbols, particularly given their current scarcity. Likewise luxury products of Terran origin grown in Pioneer's hydroponics domes are held in high regard despite their high price.
Tour guides claim that every Terranovan cuisine is represented somewhere in the UMF, and judging by the range of restaurants found i n most city-states this may well be true. Anything from Western grillhouses to Dominion-style sushi bars can be found in most commercial areas, though fast food is even more prevalent. MainzFood dominates such concerns in both the UMF and across the CNCS, operating several chains to cater to different segments of the population.
Meat forms a central part of the average Mercantile diet, with cattle, springers and barnabies forming the largest portion, while hopper and snake dishes appear as regional delicacies. Pasta and root vegetables are the traditional accompaniments to meals but soy products have increasingly gained a foothold in the market.
Alcohol is widely available in the UMF and often accompanies meals. It is illegal for bars or shops to sell alcoholic produce to minors (those under 20 cycles), but weak alcoholic beverages may be served to children during part of a meal provided they are supervised by a legally responsible adult. Furthermore, in sharp contrast to their CNCS neighbors, there are no restrictions on the days when alcoholic drinks may be sold though recent Revisionist pressure has brought calls for restrictions on Gentle Day (Wednesday). Ales and lagers form the staple of Mercantile bars and pubs, often from local microbreweries, though wine and whisky also play a significant role. Fashion often determines the range of produce stocked. In the early TN 1930s locally produced dark beers were all the rage, but their place has been usurped by lighter ales from the NLC. There has also been increased demand for Southern products like sake and Feu-de-nuit liquor. Pioneer Ice Mead remains the drink of choice for those wishing to flaunt their wealth.
Fashion
Fashion has always played a part in the Mercantile dichotomies of work versus leisure and corporate employees versus the underclass. Most corporations impose a rigid dress code on their employees, producing a virtual uniform of business suits. Indeed, a few companies, most notably in the service sector, provide uniforms for their employees. These range from the functional but gaudy outfits of MainzBurger staff to the restrained elegance of the Bank of Marathon. Most companies allow employees to purchase their own clothes within the guidelines laid down. Even within these seemingly stringent conditions there are a host of ways to express personal tastes and status. Differing colors, materials and cuts from doublebreasted jackets to tuxedos form the most basic distinctions, but the suit‘s manufacturer confers true status. Off-the shelf outfits are the norm among the most junior employees, but designer labels and custom made clothing become increasingly important with status. The suits of Lyonnesse’s Marco Flugi are the most sought after in the Federation and the young designer, famous for his clean lines and daring use of color, commands prices in excess of 5,000 marks for a suit. Many senior corporate officials prefer the more traditional work of Canterbury‘s Antonia Guz.
Accessories play a major role in establishing individuality, but they can also be used to reinforce corporate identity. For example, ties, cravats and scarves are sometimes used to accentuate and personalize business clothes, although high, stiff collars are now standard for business suits, so jewelry and watches now serve to personalize. Many corporate employees, however, wear pins unique to their company, bearing the company logo or insignia, which provides a common link between the staff. The pins are traditionally also worn outside of work, and they provide a ready means of identifying corporate affiliation. Furthermore, they contain micro transmitters that communicate with Personal Interface Technologies (PITS) as well as building security systems to restrict access to sensitive areas.
Outside of the corporate environment, fashions are wild and ever changing. According to Mode, the Federation’s leading fashion magazine, the current ‘in thing’ on the street and in clubs are bright colors in daring cuts, replacing last cycle’s demand for vidfabric. The most popular designers are JiB and Wallace, both of whom favor velvets, though style-leaders seem to be moving toward the stylish silk creations of Nishi Sui. Mode also reports the rise of so-called ’military chic‘, styles and colors intended to resemble the military uniforms and popularized by UMFAA publicist, Sadie Dholakia. Unlike the ‘royal fashion‘ popular among the corporate elite and driven by the nobility of Ashington, ‘military chic‘ is most popular among junior executives and is widely predicted to be little more than a brief fad.
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