Fizen Delitros
Senator of Troiken
Throughout the discussion, the junior senator had been quietly making notes as he nodded along to the speeches of the other senators and the chancellor. While he agreed with the idea of increasing military funds in the face of war, he had problems simply writing a blank check to the chancellor. He desired specific examples on how the funds would be used to improve the current lackluster performance of the military, especially when it came to ground operations. The bit about conscription was just utter drek. Local governments would oppose such a measure, as it gave the central government too much control over their people, and constituents would detest such a bill that gave such preference to the upper classes being able to draft dodge. It perpetuated the image of Republic allowing itself to be corrupted by extreme inequality and nepotism. He agreed with Saelari that the Republic should instead be looking for ways to maintain quality professional army staffed by willing volunteers.
All this was just was par for the course for major bills, but what came out of the princess's mouth next almost made his drop his datapad. Out of nowhere, she suggested that the Republic form a union with the Omega Protectorate. So her solution to combat one set of despots was giving up the Republic to another set of despots? Like many Xextese, he generally had a low opinion of humans, but she just took the cake. Such a ludicrous suggestion required a rebuttal from the normally quiet man.
“I’m sorry Princess, but I think you’re letting your personal losses cloud your judgment in what’s best for the Republic as a whole. The Republic isn’t so desperate as to need to merge itself with the Omega Protectorate. You overestimate the strength of the enemy while you underestimate our own. Our situation is difficult because we are currently operating against a well prepared foe with a diminished military organized for peace-time operations. If we were fighting at full capacity, then Byss would have been glassed a long time ago, to put it bluntly. Collectively, we have resources to build up our military, but the issue at hand is figuring out a way to gather said resources from each member-state in the most equitable manner possible.”
Other senators had shot down the plan as way too extreme and inappropriate for current discussion, so Fizen left it at that to address the relevant issues. He didn’t even want to get in how he felt about the Jedi getting an even larger role in government affairs. Being able to wave around a laser sword or conjure space magic shouldn’t automatically grant a religious institution say so in the government. The Republic Order didn’t even have its own house in order, as they had recently suffered a schism near the beginning of the war.
“I agree that there should be an increase in funding, but I won’t support any sort of increase beyond the current emergency expenditures until the chancellor produces a detailed plan of action on turning around the military. On that note, while I appreciate his contributions on the frontlines, I think our warrior-chancellor would better serve his constituents here as an administrator as well commander-in-chief, and trust our admirals and generals to do their jobs.”
Fizen hoped he hadn’t offended Popo, but he felt strongly about this issue. If the chancellor wanted to involve himself deeply in military affairs, that was fine (and expected), but Fizen felt like he was neglecting his other duties. While administration wasn’t a glamourous as fleeting, it was an integral component in maintaining the Republic.
“Princess, the issue of funding shouldn’t just be glossed over. We are asking our member-states and constituents to contribute much more than they ever have before. Anyway, I believe the best course of action in a flat increase on the central sales tax, and a progressive tax system for our member-states, with the rates based off individual economic output. However, even with increased taxes, in the short term, the government will need to draw upon its reserves, and perhaps even engage in deficit spending. Now I’ll be the first to admit how much I detest paying more taxes or going into debt, but as Senator Ozio has stated, war is here. We’re going to have to take some hard measures and open up those coffers to defend ourselves, or we’re going to lose everything by being stingy.”
“One last point, about conscription. I’ll stand behind Senators Holgor, Callas, and Saelari in opposing such a flawed scheme. Senator Beswin, I’m appalled for how little you seem to regard your people, well, the other 95% that keep your elites rolling in credits. I’m sure the scum among them can find a way to weasel out of serving without our help. Senator Saelari is correct in that financial and educational incentives will attract all the recruits we’ll ever need. As the human saying goes, you catch more bees with honey than vinegar. With that said, we should still trust in our compatriots find enough motivation in defending their homes and livelihood. We do not fight a war of aggression, but survival.”
[member="Faith Balor"] [member="Alyesa Praxon-Organa"] [member="Torill Holgor"] [member="Alena Beswin"] [member="Aurelia Saelari"] [member="Nitram Ozio"] [member="Persephone Callas"] [member="Popo"]
All this was just was par for the course for major bills, but what came out of the princess's mouth next almost made his drop his datapad. Out of nowhere, she suggested that the Republic form a union with the Omega Protectorate. So her solution to combat one set of despots was giving up the Republic to another set of despots? Like many Xextese, he generally had a low opinion of humans, but she just took the cake. Such a ludicrous suggestion required a rebuttal from the normally quiet man.
“I’m sorry Princess, but I think you’re letting your personal losses cloud your judgment in what’s best for the Republic as a whole. The Republic isn’t so desperate as to need to merge itself with the Omega Protectorate. You overestimate the strength of the enemy while you underestimate our own. Our situation is difficult because we are currently operating against a well prepared foe with a diminished military organized for peace-time operations. If we were fighting at full capacity, then Byss would have been glassed a long time ago, to put it bluntly. Collectively, we have resources to build up our military, but the issue at hand is figuring out a way to gather said resources from each member-state in the most equitable manner possible.”
Other senators had shot down the plan as way too extreme and inappropriate for current discussion, so Fizen left it at that to address the relevant issues. He didn’t even want to get in how he felt about the Jedi getting an even larger role in government affairs. Being able to wave around a laser sword or conjure space magic shouldn’t automatically grant a religious institution say so in the government. The Republic Order didn’t even have its own house in order, as they had recently suffered a schism near the beginning of the war.
“I agree that there should be an increase in funding, but I won’t support any sort of increase beyond the current emergency expenditures until the chancellor produces a detailed plan of action on turning around the military. On that note, while I appreciate his contributions on the frontlines, I think our warrior-chancellor would better serve his constituents here as an administrator as well commander-in-chief, and trust our admirals and generals to do their jobs.”
Fizen hoped he hadn’t offended Popo, but he felt strongly about this issue. If the chancellor wanted to involve himself deeply in military affairs, that was fine (and expected), but Fizen felt like he was neglecting his other duties. While administration wasn’t a glamourous as fleeting, it was an integral component in maintaining the Republic.
“Princess, the issue of funding shouldn’t just be glossed over. We are asking our member-states and constituents to contribute much more than they ever have before. Anyway, I believe the best course of action in a flat increase on the central sales tax, and a progressive tax system for our member-states, with the rates based off individual economic output. However, even with increased taxes, in the short term, the government will need to draw upon its reserves, and perhaps even engage in deficit spending. Now I’ll be the first to admit how much I detest paying more taxes or going into debt, but as Senator Ozio has stated, war is here. We’re going to have to take some hard measures and open up those coffers to defend ourselves, or we’re going to lose everything by being stingy.”
“One last point, about conscription. I’ll stand behind Senators Holgor, Callas, and Saelari in opposing such a flawed scheme. Senator Beswin, I’m appalled for how little you seem to regard your people, well, the other 95% that keep your elites rolling in credits. I’m sure the scum among them can find a way to weasel out of serving without our help. Senator Saelari is correct in that financial and educational incentives will attract all the recruits we’ll ever need. As the human saying goes, you catch more bees with honey than vinegar. With that said, we should still trust in our compatriots find enough motivation in defending their homes and livelihood. We do not fight a war of aggression, but survival.”
[member="Faith Balor"] [member="Alyesa Praxon-Organa"] [member="Torill Holgor"] [member="Alena Beswin"] [member="Aurelia Saelari"] [member="Nitram Ozio"] [member="Persephone Callas"] [member="Popo"]
