[ Senate ] Senator Lophos of Scir announces Candidacy for turn 40 elections
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[ Senate ] Senator Lophos of Scir announces Candidacy for turn 40 elections
Representative Lophos of the Interregnum Democracy of Scir » Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:19 pm
"Do you want to pay more taxes?"
The slender and tall Kaminoan paused a moment, looking around.
"I sure don't. - Every turn, Scir pays hundreds in taxes. And we are on the low end of the scale. Some nations pay taxes numbered in the thousands. Yet most of the almost 25.000
collected every turn is spent on fixed costs such as maintenance, wages and upkeep.
When you buy a 5000 credit speeder, you expect to pay for insurance and fuel. But when that cost becomes 750 credits per week, the 5000 credit price tag on the speeder becomes a very deceptive number. Owning that speeder for a year will cost 44000 credits. That 5000 credits price-tag represents only a fraction of the actual cost.
What can you do in such a case?
You could drive it less or sell it. That would save you some on fuel, but it would also mean you cannot use your speeder as often which means you are not getting what you bought the speeder for in the first place!
The only reasonable thing to do is to find a better insurance company. One that may not give you a brand new speeder if it breaks, but that will have it repaired instead. That way you still get a functional speeder - it won't be brand new, but at least you won't be paying through your nose for something you may not even need!"
He looked around waiting for that to sink in.
"The government, like that insurance company, has become too fat, providing something too fancy that we do not need. We don't need the most expensive computers doing our tax returns when a cheaper model will do. We don't need to give our officials spots in luxurious hotels when they travel abroad. We don't have to have gold plated protocol droids to give directions. When I am elected Chancellor, I will cut into these frivolous expenses, which give us things we do not want rather than staying at the heart of the matter of what we need.
What does that mean for you? That means at the end of every turn, you will see more money going to your world and less money going to everything you never asked for and might never need."
For a moment it appeared as if he was done, but this was not the case.
"With pain in my heart, I must also bring another matter to your attention.
Last election, Chancellor Acehtoo promised her support for terraformation. Since then, she has created general subsidies for new technologies, technically fulfilling her promise. Yet she has done nothing for terraformation as a whole.
Scir has long been an expert in the organics industry and terraformation is a natural extension of this. We were with high hopes when we received word of the Chancellors re-election that her plans would bear fruit, but the fact is that the fruit is sour.
As an election promise to you, Scir will create real, measurable subsidies for terraformation. We will reduce the cost of Terraformation Modules in a way similar to the current subsidies on Mass Transit Cargo Freighters."
- The message was delivered with the Senators of Wrarrbo and Liberal Assencia standing next to the Scir candidate, both immediately voicing their seconds for the candidacy.
((OOC: If you wish to discuss the idea of tax cuts and terraformation subsidies of the Interregnum Democracy of Scir or ask clarifications and positions on various issues, this is where to do it
))
The slender and tall Kaminoan paused a moment, looking around.
"I sure don't. - Every turn, Scir pays hundreds in taxes. And we are on the low end of the scale. Some nations pay taxes numbered in the thousands. Yet most of the almost 25.000
collected every turn is spent on fixed costs such as maintenance, wages and upkeep. When you buy a 5000 credit speeder, you expect to pay for insurance and fuel. But when that cost becomes 750 credits per week, the 5000 credit price tag on the speeder becomes a very deceptive number. Owning that speeder for a year will cost 44000 credits. That 5000 credits price-tag represents only a fraction of the actual cost.
What can you do in such a case?
You could drive it less or sell it. That would save you some on fuel, but it would also mean you cannot use your speeder as often which means you are not getting what you bought the speeder for in the first place!
The only reasonable thing to do is to find a better insurance company. One that may not give you a brand new speeder if it breaks, but that will have it repaired instead. That way you still get a functional speeder - it won't be brand new, but at least you won't be paying through your nose for something you may not even need!"
He looked around waiting for that to sink in.
"The government, like that insurance company, has become too fat, providing something too fancy that we do not need. We don't need the most expensive computers doing our tax returns when a cheaper model will do. We don't need to give our officials spots in luxurious hotels when they travel abroad. We don't have to have gold plated protocol droids to give directions. When I am elected Chancellor, I will cut into these frivolous expenses, which give us things we do not want rather than staying at the heart of the matter of what we need.
What does that mean for you? That means at the end of every turn, you will see more money going to your world and less money going to everything you never asked for and might never need."
For a moment it appeared as if he was done, but this was not the case.
"With pain in my heart, I must also bring another matter to your attention.
Last election, Chancellor Acehtoo promised her support for terraformation. Since then, she has created general subsidies for new technologies, technically fulfilling her promise. Yet she has done nothing for terraformation as a whole.
Scir has long been an expert in the organics industry and terraformation is a natural extension of this. We were with high hopes when we received word of the Chancellors re-election that her plans would bear fruit, but the fact is that the fruit is sour.
As an election promise to you, Scir will create real, measurable subsidies for terraformation. We will reduce the cost of Terraformation Modules in a way similar to the current subsidies on Mass Transit Cargo Freighters."
- The message was delivered with the Senators of Wrarrbo and Liberal Assencia standing next to the Scir candidate, both immediately voicing their seconds for the candidacy.
((OOC: If you wish to discuss the idea of tax cuts and terraformation subsidies of the Interregnum Democracy of Scir or ask clarifications and positions on various issues, this is where to do it
))
Nehket Aeka » Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:59 pm
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Nehket Aeka - PC
"Candidate Lophos,
The Veolian Commonwealth would like to know your opinion on the following subjects:
The Veolian Commonwealth would like to know your opinion on the following subjects:
- The position of Minor Worlds within the Union. Although they do not have the requisite economy to have a measurable influence, there might be benefits to allowing such members.
- The impact of colonisation. While it might not be the most cost-effective measure, it is certainly one with great possibilities.
- The status of faction military and Union military as a whole.
- The development of defensive, and possibly offensive, technologies with Union funds or support.
Representative Lophos of the Interregnum Democracy of Scir » Fri Feb 10, 2012 8:03 pm
"Would you allow a vagrant to live in your house, sleep in your nest and consume your food?"
He paused for effect.
"I did not check the entire Union, but on our world, interest in this is very low. Surely we live with others, but we live with them because we care for them, because they take care of us as we take care of them. The relationship is symbiotic, not parasitic.
Minor worlds are, by definition, small and economically insignificant. While I would not oppose certain minor worlds, looking at the worlds out there, most are poor and riddled with all sorts of problems: pollution, violence, crime.
We do not need new members who only bring us problems, which they no doubt expect us to solve with our money and resources, to their benefit. We believe minor worlds should grow first so they can stand on their own legs, rather than demanding large quantities of money from us.
However, in exceptional cases, such as minor worlds who have their affairs in order and who can give as well as take, we are willing to shift our borders to include them. In such a case, we feel they should have a position as equals amongst our ranks.
Colonization is another matter entirely - however in such a case the burden of costs rests on the world that is doing the colonizing. We do not believe the Union should bear these costs, however, we do support the development of technology in this area, which can be shared by all Union members.
We believe our military and defences currently are incorrectly focussed. We have fleets positioned throughout our territories to defend against invasion or wage war against a large enemy force. This was necessary to establish dominance over the pirates that plagued our sectors.
However, piracy is down. Hostile actions between the Union and other foreign super-powers would lead to full scale wars, which places us in a position where we either have desperate need for our entire military, or no need for it at all.
I propose investing in new technologies and especially on increasing our cooperation with the Jedi - they are far more effective in accomplishing goals than the military and can operate without engaging in a full scale war, even in contested territories, where fear of a full scale conflict might otherwise prevent us from acting. Efficiency is the key here."
He paused for effect.
"I did not check the entire Union, but on our world, interest in this is very low. Surely we live with others, but we live with them because we care for them, because they take care of us as we take care of them. The relationship is symbiotic, not parasitic.
Minor worlds are, by definition, small and economically insignificant. While I would not oppose certain minor worlds, looking at the worlds out there, most are poor and riddled with all sorts of problems: pollution, violence, crime.
We do not need new members who only bring us problems, which they no doubt expect us to solve with our money and resources, to their benefit. We believe minor worlds should grow first so they can stand on their own legs, rather than demanding large quantities of money from us.
However, in exceptional cases, such as minor worlds who have their affairs in order and who can give as well as take, we are willing to shift our borders to include them. In such a case, we feel they should have a position as equals amongst our ranks.
Colonization is another matter entirely - however in such a case the burden of costs rests on the world that is doing the colonizing. We do not believe the Union should bear these costs, however, we do support the development of technology in this area, which can be shared by all Union members.
We believe our military and defences currently are incorrectly focussed. We have fleets positioned throughout our territories to defend against invasion or wage war against a large enemy force. This was necessary to establish dominance over the pirates that plagued our sectors.
However, piracy is down. Hostile actions between the Union and other foreign super-powers would lead to full scale wars, which places us in a position where we either have desperate need for our entire military, or no need for it at all.
I propose investing in new technologies and especially on increasing our cooperation with the Jedi - they are far more effective in accomplishing goals than the military and can operate without engaging in a full scale war, even in contested territories, where fear of a full scale conflict might otherwise prevent us from acting. Efficiency is the key here."
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