Intergalactic Summit

I would just like to point out that the definition of "poverty" is not appropriate for describing the state in which many Caldari exist, because the Caldari government has a differing opinion on what constitutes poverty.

For example, in the State, if you have a job that provides habitation and enough food to maintain a minimum of health such that you are not prone to disease, you are not poor. It doesn't matter if your home is the size of an average Gallente public toilet stall, consists of a shower and a vertical bed, and you must purchase all of your food from the company you work for as you must eat all of your meals at your place of work, due to you not having the space at home or time before and after work to eat elsewhere.

Now, I can't provide a source for the following figure as the person I got them from would be charged with treason, but upward of 40% of Caldari citizens live in conditions approaching those I described above. Earning enough to just survive, with no savings, no possibility of possessions, and the only way to get a better life, is to impress your immediate superiors at work, assuming your contract allows promotion within the term of the contract.

Why don't we hear about this? Because the people currently living in these conditions don't have access to public communications, and are prevented from sharing the details of their lives by contract regardless, past or present. Almost nobody who lives in these conditions ever get promoted to a point where they have the money to leave Caldari space where they would be relatively free to disclose this information, and of the people who do climb the corporate ladder that high either are too afraid to try, don't think there is anything wrong with it, or don't care.

Largely these people are raised to think that these conditions are perfectly acceptable, or even a positive aspect of their society.

So I disagree with Mr. Khross' assertion that the Caldari people have a significantly lower percentage of their people being poor relative to either the Republic or the Federation, and I dare say the poor in the Federation and Republic have far more freedom in their day-to-day lives than their Caldari counterparts, not to mention more freedom to change their circumstances.

You have a very optimistic view of the State, M Khross. It seems the meritocracy is without fault, and that those who fall beneath the net "deserve it".

Ironically, that's exactly what libertarian Gallenteans say about the impoverished in the Federation. Naive, idealistic, unjust, and unfair.

While I disagree with certain assessments given above that attempt to portray the State as being overrun with working poor and those living in impoverished conditions, it is just as incorrect to try and suggest that there is no lower class at all. A key component of Heth's rise to power was that he highlighted the concerns of the rank-and-file living in undesirable conditions which had gone ignored or downplayed for a long time. Now I'm not remotely convinced by his stirring populist rhetoric, but the very real issue of inherent inequalities left the door open for someone to bang that drum on their way to seizing power with the popular support it gave him.

Also, older generations do not "go hungry" for the most part, as a retirement pension system has been a tradition in Caldari society dating back to even before the secession from the Federation. This is a major part of why the Chief Executive Panel directs the Tribunal to maintain a close eye on the operations of Caldari Funds Unlimited as the State's largest retirement account management firm.

The Federation provide education and culture to people, even for the refugees.

The Federation represent liberty of people againts the caldarian and amarian point of view.

Everyone have a chance to start a new life, if he is motivated and serious, independantly from his origins. This is, for me, the true wealth of an Empire.

At least I see plurality and multiplicity as an essential part of a free society. There are always people with different colours, styles, cultures, tastes, ideas and preferences. Many of us don't see this as a danger but as something we should actually cherish, not discourage. Perhaps, what should be discouraged instead is calling the lifestyle choices of people different than us with bad names. Those who have courage to walk in their own direction deserve as much respect as those following the beaten path.

Admittedly, inheritance is a deviation from the principle of fighting one's way to a privileged position. For this reason, some people refuse to accept and some people refuse to leave a legacy but I can't claim that this would be the standard. Cloning and implant technologies are slowly obsoleting inheritance as a redistribution of wealth among those who can afford to take advantage of these technologies. Still, in lack of better solution, since the home environment in any case will make a lasting impression on the growing children, it might be best to leave this practice as it is now, for the enjoyment of the families both in Placid and elsewhere.

Now, the claim that some people actively work against the happiness of others sounds like a conspiracy. It's hard to disprove a conspiracy because by definition there is little evidence for it. However, there is a wealth of evidence for the assertion that we citizens of the Federation are all working hard, in our own ways, to improve the conditions in our nation. We are all in the same boat. I like to believe that there is more friendship and shared goals than ill-will and animosity between us. Everyone's contribution is important and should be appreciated. By respecting and relying on each other, we can make our society stronger, better and faster.


It shouldn't be a surprise for anyone that the leadership of Caldari Prosperity Exchange makes an amused face whenever the word meritocracy is mentioned. Every time people are being placed in order of height, weight, walking speed or length of their nose, one can celebrate that now we have a meritocracy in place. However, when a free society organizes itself to optimize the totality of well-being under the principles of market economy, no one has been assigning any merit to anything. The invisible appendage just makes it all happen in a way that has no equivalent in the highly-regulated Caldari society.

The fact that labourers from all over the cluster flock to the Federation is a testament for our lack of meritocracy and this is exactly how we progressives would like things to stay - unlike Mademoiselle Severasse suggests, no one should be excluded, everyone should be accepted and respected as they are.

I am curious to have the amarians slaves' point of view on their educatation provided by the Amarian Empire. And for Caldarian, education is not a business sold by a mega-corporation ?




We don't affirm that others point of view are inferior. The Gallente Federation is a great support for Minmatar Republic. But when the liberty of people is threatened by the amarian religious and caldarian mega-corps expansionism, it is our duty to defend people in the univers.




Are you serious ? Do you think that an amarian slave has a chance to start a new life ? Or must he wait for a release from Gallente or Minmatar actions ? And what about people who are not agree with the caldarian mega-corps in Caldari ?

Why am I reminded of that old saying; “The poor, they will always be with us.” Each society, according to its particular organization, ethics and morality, will struggle with the question of economic "justice".

But is it the state's role to promote equal opportunity or equal result?

In my experience adversity often elicits talents which would lay dormant if equal outcomes were assured regardless of need or merit.

In promoting equity of opportunity we must avoid the traps of “entitlement and victimhood”. We must remember that self government means self support. While we as individuals depend upon communities, no one can be truly free if they are dependent upon another for their subsistence.

Societies have an obligation to acutely assist but not chronically support, "the poor" keeping in mind that lack of money or individual accomplishment are not in and of themselves virtues.