Intergalactic Summit

Thank you for the summary, Fred.

I suppose that corruption is another of those universal constants and every system can be manipulated. My own personal experience with democracy is that it almost encourages corruption. In a way, the people who rise to power are not necessarily the most able to govern, but those most able to win an election. So it would stand to reason that manipulation would serve you better than honesty. You do not necessarily have to be right or well-learned (although it would surely help), but instead need to be sufficiently likable and get people hooked on a feeling.

So I suppose that this might be a somewhat extreme example, but I see Eran's point that this is somewhat common to what those of us outside Gallentean space generally see in democracy. There are, of course, plenty of working exceptions, but it seems to encourage factionalism.

My other experience is that, for as much investment as it takes to win a major election, most people want to see a return on that investment. I am sure there are altruistic politicians out there, but it seems that it would be easier for a politician to raise funds for an election, then spend his time in office making back his money.

Again, all government systems have their issues, even my own Imperial (i.e. fascist) government. Staying on topic though, this seems to be an endemic problem in democracies. The entire system is built on the idea that every single citizen will become thoroughly educated about every single politician and issue and vote on merit. It more often seems that you get a job in, say, the ministry of education not by being an excellent educator or administrator of educators, but by being a great politician. It almost seems that you would get better results by lottery, randomly appointing some citizen to be said minister of education every five years and giving him perhaps five years to prepare while his predecessor serves his term. That way, politicians could not be bought, could not manipulate the system, and could not say they won a popularity contest. I suppose that wouldn't necessarily be a democracy anymore, though it would certainly be the rule of the common people. I believe that is the basic intent.

While that may not seem newsworthy to us, I do think the entire communications system going down around the planet is fairly newsworthy. It makes it somewhat important to know who was tampering with the relay network, as it may expose corruption by one of the major parties or, more dangerously, outside tampering. The only prayer democracy has of working seems to lie in the presence of a free, objective, tenacious press (which, by the way, I thank for the reporting of this story). Obviously, someone did not want anyone to know what was happening for a while. If that had happened in any other space, we would be throwing fits trying to figure out what was covered up. It seems even more right to ask that question in this referendum, as so much was at stake for the winners.

Take anything I say with a certain grain of salt. Nobody elected Jamyl and even if we didn't like her we would still have to bow to her judgement. We can only pray she continues to make good decisions for our Empire and that all the people of our Empire are suitably trained for the positions they are expected to fill. I suppose you could call that our personal political problem.

Sometimes, you can be trained from birth to do something and still suck.

Earlier today, the Elusenian Agora approved the Directorate's proposal to send electoral administrators to Mantenault VI for the purposes of independently facilitating a re-run of the referendum that took place a week ago. The ESS Rosmerta, a Viator-class transport captained by myself, was sent by the Cooperative Republic of Elusenia, ferrying an undisclosed number of administrators from relevant Sub-Directorates, as well as a security attache.

We have set up a command center on the outskirts of the capital city of Latiene, as well as five additional landing sites dispersed across the planet. From here, we will begin the process of organizing and facilitating a re-run of the referendum via traditional pen-and-paper methods. As the relay network has yet to be re-established, this is the only logistically sound method for conducting the plebiscite, to be coordinated via portable radiowave communications. Additionally, this method is the least susceptible to fraud or sabotage when conducted by an independent body such as ourselves.

The referendum will include the original question ("That the National Administrative Government be dissolved and full sovereign authority returned to the citizenry of the colony through a direct democratic model."), as well as an additional question regarding the Elusenian presence and the potential to reconstruct the relay network; "If a direct democratic model is resumed, do you support a reconstruction of the relay network with assistance from outside agencies?"

Public order is stable, and as commander of the Elusenian mission, I would like to stress that we will not be involving ourselves in security matters unless so instructed by local democratic mandate. ELPIDA Carabineros are on-world exclusively for the purposes of providing security at voting stations. Nonetheless, if Elusenians conduct themselves beyond the limits of their station, I will take full responsibility as the highest-ranking officer in the constellation.

The ESS Rosmerta has made dock at FDU Mercomesier. I and my staff will be making shuttle trips back and forth to Mantenault VI to ensure that matters are proceeding smoothly. I am available for all public relations enquiries.

General Seriphyn Inhonores
Space Forces Commander
Elusenian Peacekeeping, Intelligence and Defence Agency (ELPIDA)

I was pleased to be able to negotiate the assistance of the Elusenian people on the behalf of Mantenault and its electors. It is my hope that this 'circuit-breaker' will be able to get in, get the job done, and resume the normal state of affairs with Mantenault as a functioning and forward-thinking community in line with the many great Gallentean democracies across, and even outside of, the Federation.

I wish the teams of the Cooperative the best fortune as they conduct the ballot.

This is pristine comedy.

We would like to remind everyone that the No won the referendum, and we are still waiting for proofs that the election was rigged. The progressive and unionist parties should know better than throwing tantrums and shaking fists when they have absolutely no proof to back it up, besides a few unreliable witnesses of "mysterious individuals tampering with the election relays".

This is only another proof that these political parties only care for democratic principles as long as it suits them. And now that they have lost, unable to admit their defeat and swallow their pride, they ask for foreign intervention.

Thanks to sociocracts, who still unfortunately hold the majority of seats at the NAG, the vote for a new vote - how ludicrous is that wording ? - passed. One cannot just re-vote ad vitam eternam until the "correct" decision is taken. The true value of a popular referendum lies in its uniqueness, and any new one on the same matter is indicative of a serious constitutional breach.

As such we would like to point out that we do not recognize any new vote for any new referendum, as per Mantenault and Federal constitution.

- Marnian Veroe
Member of the National-Republican Party and delegate of the National Syndicate of Mantenault.

Sometimes, after living for an ideal after so long, you forget that the ideal defines you, not the other way around. As it has happened in other cultures and in other places throughout eternity, idealists for democracy sometimes forget that they should bow to the principle and not bend the principle to them.

It will be important to see how it develops, though. It is difficult, from so far away and with so little contextual information, to make assumptions about much.

We have to live and die by our morals, though. Even if you don't believe you need to answer for them in the afterlife, it seems the Gallente just as quickly fear the god of History judging them poorly.

Our society has always been about self improvement, primarily learning from past mistakes. Assuming there was a "god of history" we would certainly worship him, for those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.

The greatest component of Gallente Individualism is that constant desire to improve ourselves. It's why the Federation has managed to stay influential and powerful, both in good times and in bad.

- Magpies tend to have loyalties, I don't know what you're going on about. They register for a party like every other bloc. Whether or not they make informed decisions on what party the vote for is besides the point, they do have loyalties but can easily be winned over.

- Your point?

- And now the typical sociocrat "Tu Quoque" defenses.

I like how you dodged literally everything I stated. You've made no effort to disprove me, and instead ran your mouth, diverting the topic and hoping I would be too eager to respond to notice. Your typical Sociocrat antics may work on the soap box, but they won't work against any educated voter and party member, sorry.

Too late. Didn't you read? The Elusenians have 'boots on the ground' already.

I shall probably be in the area but might be a little too engaged to socialise.

You know how these things are.

Elusenian boots are not welcome on our soil.