Intergalactic Summit

On a Federation world someplace, a carbon compound crisis quadruples fuel prices, and proves problematic for a small country in particular. The resulting financial crisis forced the government of this country to turn to the Federal Administration's interstellar aid scheme for assistance. This government will receive credits from the Federation on the condition of severe austerity measures, including a local currency devaluation and slashing in social programs. The Federation deemed that the this country's fiscal budgeting was somehow inappropiate or irresponsible in light of the carbon compound crisis.

Although the government of this country would receive its credits, it would come at a severe long-term cost. One particular stipulation regarded agriculture. Whereas previously, local farmers would grow a variety of crops to support their communities, the Federation agreements forced farmers to "specialize" on a few crops for export. Since the Federation had requested that tariffs on import goods were significantly reduced, citizens of this country would instead have to purchase import produce that was now cheaper than local goods. While good for the consumer, it shafted the farmers. The local economy was decimated, although foreign business interests were now able to make a significant profit from consumers being able to cheaply purchase their goods.

They call this the "free market". Of course, the reality of the matter is that this country did not have great relations with its neighbours and, by sheer cosmic coincedence, these same neighbours had very warm relations with the Federation Senator who represented that entire planet. That country is no longer economically independent, and now must rely on off-world corporate interests to keep it afloat. You could, of course, accuse the government of the time in that country of 'selling out'.

So, when I criticize the Caldari way of doing things, do not assume this automatically means that I must support the Federation by default. I'm sure many of you fell asleep reading the above, and that's part of the problem. There is a notable cult of interest around Caldari meritocracy and Minmatar tribalism, with little in the way of a focused criticism of the former in the style of the above. Until there's actual interest in exploring the criticisms of a supraplanetary union, don't blame me for always seem to be talking about the Caldari.