Fwurg

[Senator Acehtoo of the Miomanian Colonists]

"Fellow Senators,"

the Chancellor started. It was her default opening it seemed, though this time the Senator was accompanied by the Veolian senator, standing right next to her during the opening of this new vote.

"in reference to our earlier discussions regarding subsidies, a proposal was made and seconded. As such, the Core Worlds have, in collaboration with the Veolian Commonwealth and after discussing the matter with the Praetorian Empire who seconded the suggestion, made an additional proposition for a law to aid new worlds in setting up their trading infrastructure.

The proposal consists of two parts:

First, new Union members receiving the Union Grant may spend up to 10% of their grant on infrastructural improvements. This includes Mass Transit Cargo Freighters , Holonet Relays and Hyperspace Nodes.

Additionally, there will be instituted a subsidy on Mass Transit Cargo Freighters. Specifically, 1.5 per - rounded down - will be paid to the buyer of the , if they meet three conditions:

1. The is bought from a Union Member who fabricated the themselves (this does NOT include the open market)
2. The is purchased by a Union Member with a taxable income less then or equal to 1000 per turn
3. The price of the bought is less than the price of on the open market at the time of the exchange of goods.

As this proposal has been discussed, seconded and written into a law proposal already, I will open a vote on this immediately.

The voting options are Yes (this new policy should take effect) and No (this new policy should not take effect).

The closing date for this vote is 2 October 2011.

Votes so far:

Embers of Aten: Yes
Free Peoples of Wrarrbo: No
High Chiefdom of Skuldda: Yes
Interregnum Democracy of Scir: Yes
Kalidor: No
Kingdom of Komès: Yes
Kingdom of Meritonia: Yes
Liberal Assencia: No
Lifebringer Clans: No
New Communist Imperium of the Rising Suns of Deominius: No
Praetorian Empire: Yes
Principality of Suma: Yes
Silver Forests of Remunzia: No
Socialist Republic of Niom: Yes
Sundarian Federation: Abstains
Unified Republic of Darya: Yes
Veolian Commonwealth: Yes

(( OOC clarification - this vote uses the voting laws. No changes there, just everything written down properly to avoid confusion ))

[Senator Afra Mesti Vanlind of Komès]

"This is just typical of you isn't it?!"

the Komès Senator was furious

"Just before the election you rush in a plan that favours the group you need to win the election and you actually have the audacity to arrange the funding in such a way that the next elected Chancellor will be paying for it! Weren't we short on money regarding transportation?! Weren't there going to be tax breaks?!"

She took a few deep breaths to calm down

"I am at least glad you finally recognise the importance of a good infrastructure. I take it you yield that I was right all along and that you are hurrying to get with the times and place my brilliant plans into some context that still somewhat resembles your strategy so you can save face? Pathetic!

Komès will vote Yes on this proposal because it promotes improved infrastructure, but don't think for a moment that any of that goes to your credit soon-to-be-former-Chancellor Acehtoo!"

[The Lifebringer Clans]

The Lifebringer Clans vote no, for a variety of reasons.

First, we believe a subsidy will increase demand, because become more affordable. This, in turn, will keep the price of high. We are currently seeing market forces resolve the price spike. In the last few turns, at least three nations have begun setting up their own production. The Lifebringer Clans are of the opinion that this subsidy will artificially and unnecessarily lengthen the price spike of .

Second, we believe the cutoff point at 1000 taxable income is arbitrary and unreasonable. For example, we can compare the Praetorian Empire and the Lifebringer Clans. Both our nations have entered the Union at the same time, and were of comparable size at that time. Neither of us have suffered siginificant hardships or windfalls. Therefore, we believe we are making a valid comparison. However, when we study our taxable income, we see the Lifebringer Clans currently have a taxable income of about 1500 , while the Praetorian Empire has an income of less than 1000 . This apparent disparity compensated by the Praetorian Empire producing a steady stream of , which they are selling at 6.5 each. In reality, the Praetorian economy is of a similar size as ours, if not larger. Yet, under the proposed rules, they qualify for this subsidy, and we do not. The Lifebringer Clans are of the opinion that spendable income is a better measure of economic size, if some care is taken to filter out incidental payments between nations, but this is a different discussion altogether.

Third, there are several nations who qualify for this subsidy that are producers of . Under the current proposal, they could legally sell to each other to earn this subsidy. This obvious loophole in the proposal would have to be resolved before the Clans would even consider changing their vote.

[Nehket Aeka]

The Veolian Commonwealth votes Yes.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to counter some of the arguments posed by others."

"As to the emotional response by Senator Afra Mesti Vanlin: we did not intend this subsidy as a popularity measure for the current Chancellor. We proposed this as an alternative to the flat 200 subsidy, and this is also the reason we abstained from voting in that vote. It is our opinion that an arbitrary boost like 200 to a select few new Union members will not provide a better infrastructure for the Union."

"Then on to the first argument of the Lifebringer Clans. Although this will indeed increase the demand for , the growth of current suppliers of the appearance of new suppliers will greatly increase the amount of available . A subsidy like this will most likely not increase the price of on the open market because the supply will outrun the demand."

"Second, it is our opinion that the cut-off point of 1000 taxable income is not at all arbitrary, and certainly not unreasonable. The example you have picked puts this into perspective immediately. It is not arbitrary because 1000 taxable income is exactly the boundary of the first tax bracket, and because taxable income is the only objective measure of economic stability. No other measure is available that will allow us to express economic stability. Spendable income is a subjective measure, and we could discuss for weeks and still not come to agreement on the method of determining spendable income.

Taxable income provides an objective measure of an economies stability. It is the amount of income generated by an economy on itself, without the direct influence of the open market. Of course, taxable income is also influence by the open market prices, but this influence is indirect and averaged out due to long-term trade agreements. This mitigating force is not available for those dependant upon the whims of the open market price."

"The third argument of the Lifebringer Clans causes us some concern. If this is how the Lifebringer Clans value their peers in the Union, we might be better off not cooperating at all. Not only does the proposed construction, although legal, indicate a total absence of moral fibre on behalf of those participating in it, it will also make sure that no other faction will buy these from either party. The subsidy is paid out to the buyer of the , and these need to be produced by the seller. As such, the used in such a legal construct will not be bought by any other faction due to the fact that they do not qualify for a Union subsidy any more."

[The Lifebringer Clans]

"We feel a quick reply is in order. We do not question the intentions of any of the Union members in this proposal, it is the principle of not signing a law into effect when it has such obvious deficiencies. As an example, the ministry of Finance does not expect any Union member to default on its loans, yet this eventuality is taken into account in the treaties governing loans. That is all."

[Senator Afra Mesti Vanlind of Komès]

"We are certain the Veolian Commonwealth are not so devious as to make such a dirty plan regarding the Chancellerial elections in this proposal. They are not to blame - it is the Chancellor who has hijacked their proposal to make it into the nefarious plot that it is.

We support the Veolians effort in improving general infrastructure - hence our vote in support of this proposal - it is the Chancellor and her political ambitions to rule ad nausium that we have a problem with!

The time has come for change!"

[Representative Anselim of the Free Peoples of Wrarrbo]

"Wrarrbo still opposes government intervention in the economy. We vote 'NO'.

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"The Praetorian Empire votes Yes. We think its very important that the new worlds are stimulated to extend their trade fleets."

[Senator Lonco Morubixaba of Skuldda]

"Skuldda votes 'yes' on this. We believe it to be most beneficial in supporting the the MTCF related industries."

[Representative Uriel of Liberal Assencia]

"Ridiculous! We vote No to this needless government intervention in the economy!"

[RemcoSwenker]

"Darya votes Yes, this will be good of the smaller economy's and therefore better for the entire union."

[Senator Enrorgh of Meritonia]

Meritonia votes 'Yes' on this proposal.

[Senator Ght'Twwf of the Socialist Republic of Niom]

Niom votes 'Yes' on this proposal. We believe it will be of general benefit to the community.

[Lady Peinaili de Montrève]

The Government of the Sundarian Federation, despite best efforts, cannot reach an agreement on this matter. Therefore we shall abstain from voting.

[Imhotep]

The Embers of Aten agree to these measures. They are just and fair and will allow small worlds to play a big part in the union.

[Senator Acehtoo of the Miomanian Colonists]

The Silver Forests of Remunzia have last night notified me of the fact that they vote no on this proposition.

[Iladriel]

The kalidor votes "no"

because we think that instituting a subsidy on will increase the demand, and so the price will stay high. Some say that the supply will also grow to meet the demand, we don't think so, because why would someone spend lots of money on increasing their production infrastructure, when he knows that when he does the prices will drop, and he will have trouble to earn the investments back. Also if the demand and supply would increase the Union would need to spend a fortune to pay all the subsidies.

To bad the first and second part of this vote weren't separate, because we would have voted yes on the first part.

[Senator Acehtoo of the Miomanian Colonists]

The New Communist Imperium of the Rising Suns of Deominius has voted by Diplomatic Holonet message. Their vote is No.

The Principality of Suma and the Interregnum Democracy of Scir have both let me know personally their vote is Yes.

[Senator Acehtoo of the Miomanian Colonists]

Since all votes are in and the deadline has passed, I hereby close this vote.

Results:

Yes 10 votes
No 6 votes
1 abstention

16 votes total of which 10 are yes. An absolute majority was reached. Motion carries. The subsidies as well as the liberalisation of the grant spending will start on Turn 18.