13-01-2003 23:35									#1
	Official: Foreign Affairs: Planetary Council policy Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Once we have discovered the commlink frequency of the Believers, we will be in a position to convene a Planetary Council to elect a legitimate planetary government. As the only faction still upholding the original goals of this mission, as chartered by the United Nations, we of the UN Peacekeepers intend to lead this government by installing noted humanitarian Brother Lal as Plantetary Governor. However, it is far from certain how this is to be achieved. Some citizens favor a trade -- exchanging for political support our technologies or energy credits. Others denounce this as bribery. Still others see nothing wrong with such a deal, provided it does not strengthen a non-democratic government. Others would be willing to trade away scientific knowledge in the name of freedom of information, but would balk at outright payments of energy credits.

I've divided the voting up into three questions:

1) Should we trade for other factions' votes, and if so, what should we trade?

2) Should we trade with autocracies, something that might strengthen a potentially hostile nation's government?

3) If we trade for votes, should we try to get as many votes as possible, in order to achieve a clear mandate, or should we only trade away what we have to to attain a majority?

What is your opinion on this issue? Vote, and feel free to post your thoughts.

Last edited by AdamTG02 on 14-01-2003 at 00:42

	14-01-2003 05:10									#2
	Got spare money?

1) Write-in: Give technology for votes, but don't give important techs away to potentially unfriendly factions.

2) Deal with all factions that will deal with us (if necessary).

3) Do only what we have to to gain a majority - a 'strong mandate' won't really ebenefit us, and in any case with Morganite support we probably have a majority in council as matters stand right now.

	14-01-2003 07:55									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

1 - Write-in: Tech or ECs, but mindful of what techs fall into whose hands (ie don't give important techs to Yang or someone who is being rolled over/spied on by Yang) and only pay reasonable amounts of ECs.

2 - Deal with anyone who'll deal with us.

3 - A simple majority will do

With our power, and Morgan's non-trivial help, installing Lal as the planetary governor should be quite possible. We just need that last Comm frequency.

	14-01-2003 08:00									#4
	Tired of ads?

Not just possible, certain. We have the majority already, as long as we don't suddenly find that Miriam has 100 votes and the support of the Hive and Gaians.

	14-01-2003 10:14									#5
	Get a bigger avatar today!

Agreed on all points with GT.

	16-01-2003 00:31									#6
	results Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Although a plurality voted to give no gifts and expect no favor, a clear majority voted to give gifts to other factions in exchange for votes. For that reason, I'm going with the most conservative part of that majority: We'll trade technology as necessary, but we won't buy anyone's vote with energy credits. As a clear majority favors dealing with any and all willing nations and making only enough deals to ensure us a majority, those will be the policies I carry out.