Intergalactic Summit

What a fantastically gross generalization.

More aptly, it may be a concern when a member of Caldari society simply refutes Heth's successes - of which there are many, but is it not understandable if somebody does not wish to support the man due to a simple dispute of policies?

Otherwise, very astute write-up. A shame that it is sullied by succinct bias.

I will not address your view on the Meritocracy at large; because I believe it is accurate. There is however one part I feel needs correcting. Merit does not equal skill. In the Meritocracy people are promoted on Merit; Work ethic, leadership and, yes, skill. With that minor nitpicking done, I will move on to the rest of your post.




Enlisting as a capsuleer? Perhaps you are not aware of the genetic compatibility required to become a capsuleer? Becoming a capsuleer is not an escape from incompetence in the work place either. Nor does this mean all capsuleers will be the most competent individuals in the galaxy. They are created by chance, the chance that they were born with the correct genes. It’s what allows the myriad of differing characters we see in space: Pirates, Preachers, Soldiers, Industrialists, Altruists and so on. This is what we have, not endless ranks of Diana Kim clones.

To the meat of the matter; having a difference of opinion with the current head of the CPD does not a traitor make. There are actions and policies of Heth that I personally agree with and many that I do not. All people are different, even in our society. The difference of opinion and perspective strengthens us as long as we pull in the same direction. I see things that you will not, for example, because of our difference of opinion/perspective and others will see yet more that I will not. This is, for the largest part, why it has not strengthened us to date. There are many groups pulling in separate directions. You are as guilty as any other of this.

Finally, there are many thinly veiled insults in your rant. I suggest if you wish to insult others of the State you at least have the decency to do it directly.

My concerns with Heth-Haan have little to do with his record of successes and failures, an issue that could be debated vigorously in its own right. Largely they revolve around the political machine he has erected over the past few years that stand in stark contrast to the Caldari way. It has been my understanding that duty to family and corporation always prompted our greatest attributes to show themselves far more than nationalistic fervor or a misguided sense of ethnic superiority. The Waschi Uprising would be among the most stark examples of how such attitudes often result in a blight upon our cultural memory.

Prior to the rise in power of the Provists, the power rested mostly in corporate governance. Only the most vital functions were organized into central bodies with their authority limited and overseen by representatives of the megacorps. The CEP was their way of ensuring power arose from the participants to the State. Through their input they could maintain control of the Business Tribunal, Navy and other institutions. The situation as it now exists is entirely backwards, the CPD has for all purposes deposed the CEP and dictates policy to the boards and officers with no oversight.

Whereas before, the various blocs were varied in their approaches to policy and free to pursue them as long as they did not run afoul of statutory principles or infringe on the sovereignty of another corporation, we are beginning to see signs of truly divisive ideology forming. Throughout history this pattern has repeated itself, wherein the call for uniformity -backed by coercive threats- has resulted only in greater disharmony and the fracturing of what was otherwise a functional society, a cooperative union of otherwise independent beliefs. The spirited debate of rivals and freedom to let innovate concepts be proven in the marketplace of ideas, to let them succeed of fail in the real world as the true test of merit, were what made us strong.

To close off entire ways of operating, to label any dissent, criticism or independent thought as a threat or sign of weakness or unworthiness will prove counter-productive over time. Those who wish to let their ideas see the true proving ground of implementation, be it successful of not, will simply be forced to do so outside of the CPD's influence, which is to say, outside of the State. Those ideas which do prove superior will then belong to others to be wielded against us and our then obsolete manners of operation. Demanding such absolute uniformity of thought as Heth and his Provists demand serves only the interests of a few for the sake of nothing more than protecting a few fragile egos.

Should things continue as they are, I forsee the Liberal bloc continuing its distancing from the State (as it now exists) until they are so entirely severed as to demand a response to extract compliance through force, which will itself finalize their complete division from the whole. Now I am careful to note, the distance growing is with the governing structure and not the Caldari people, meaning this could well lead to a situation where secession or civil war occurs. Either outcome would be detrimental to our society and you can certainly expect the Federation will happily take advantage of the resulting chaos.

I expect the situation will only continue to grow worse as long as the CPD remains in a position of strength over the CEP. Centralized power is simply not compatible with our way of life, which has always been far more of a confederacy of partners who had to prove their legitimacy in quantifiable, tangible ways rather than who's soaring, jingoistic rhetoric played best upon the baser emotions.

This is not a new meritocratic system, it is the original meritocracy that was part of Caldari society since the time of the Raata Empire, when the Philosophy of Heiian governed the community and each person gave to the whole so that the whole, in turn, gave to the person. When everyone strives to commit themselves to the good of the community, then everyone in the community benefits. Heth did not create this system, he restored it and it should be to his credit that he has done so.



Actually, historically speaking, the reason for many deposed would-be corporate officials and administrators is because we had allowed ourselves to become an aristocracy instead of a meritocracy, in which birth and family influence had more sway on your position than your own merit or contribution. The people who lost the most when the meritocratic system was restored were those officials who had not earned their position through merit and commitment but through birth and circumstance.

Most of these individuals did not become capsuleers because capsuleers must have a compatible biography and gene structure, which places us in the extreme minority of persons in this cluster.



Whether or not an individual supports the CPD has nothing to do with their merit, capability or competence. It only demonstrates their mindset regarding the CPD and Tibus Heth. I have met capable and competent pilots on both sides of the issue. Also, it might surprise you to discover that many "successful" Caldari have differing viewpoints regarding Heth and the CPD.



The criteria you are basing a pilot's merit on is a fallacy. You are speaking to an individual's loyalties and opinions, not their merits. That you consider the two inseparable is a perfect example of exactly the mindset that Tibus Heth and the CPD are seeking to establish.

The Caldari people survived for centuries on a harsh and unforgiving planet, I doubt words are a danger to us. What we need to realize is how we survived under such conditions. We survived by understanding that service to the whole community strengthens each part of that community. By sacrificing our selfishness and committing to serve one another, we build up the strength of the whole. In this way, there is strength in unity.

Currently, the Caldari are not united. The CPD has directed the industrial bloc of the corporations toward funding and supplying a war against the Gallente. This form of totalitarian control is a mockery of the Caldari people, it is a direct violation of the principles that governed our spirit of community in times past. The Philosophy of Heiian runs strong through the children of the Raata, the spirit of commitment to one another, not the spirit of submission to totalitarian control.

Commitment to the Caldari people and to the State requires us to understand the principles that define us as people, the principles that our ancestors embodied. Honor, integrity, character, perseverance, commitment, duty, sacrifice. These are not borne of Tibus Heth, these burn in the hearts of all Caldari and we are strengthened when we embody them in service to one another. Prejudice, hatred and submission to iron-handed authority are borne of Heth.



Since when is it non-Caldari to question? Since when is it shameful to evaluate whom we are and where our actions are leading us? I urge you to consider the history of the Raata Empire and the events leading up to Tibus Heth's political takeover before you brand anyone who can recognize both his merits and his demerits as shameful.

Words, words, words, words. Please stop jerking it to 'Heiian', 'Honor' and 'Raata Spirit'. I can wait.












Done? okay, none of what you say is any more then the hollow words of a self jerking dullard. First point makes no sense; the Caldari are united, the CPD have directed unified industry to the war effort through proper contracts and agreements with megacorporations. This is not totalitarianism, and it is definition of unity. It is 'spirit of community', all corps are working together towards a common goal, Heiian calls for shared service and sacrifice. This is what working together to make things is about.

You are militia, your non-capsuleer friends in the militia are flying in ships made by this industry, you are asking them to fight with nothing more then sticks against the Gallentes if you want to abolish war time industry plans. You show no commitment, integrity or honor by wanting them to die because you do not want them to have good weapons. It seems you do not want to sacrifice your pig head opinions for greater good but want to see others sacrifice their lives for your opinions.

Children of Raata? Yes, the Raata Empire existed long ago, it was an Empire, its people submitted to higher authority by definition. Authority gained by the sword and given to one man. Authority to Tibus Heth is literally in line with 'Spirit of Raata'.

Please do not make a mess if you reply. Thank you.

It is a shame that I only have one like to give. You defend us better than most, Khross-haan

The rest of your post aside, you might want to rephrase that.

The last time that line was blared proudly across the IGS, it heralded the resurgence of the Sansha.

Not something you may wish your views to be associated with.

We have always been a nation both united and divided, to my understanding. We come to consensus and then pull, together, as a team. It isn't unity that drives us, though. It's our love for one another. Our leaders watch out for us from their high positions, seeing things that we can't. Our workers pull, and together form the body of our State. But we have never, ever, relied on our leaders for sole direction. Should one of us - any of us - encounter a danger, or an opportunity, it is our responsibility to cry it out, ere the wolves descend on us all in the cold night. In this way we are all family.

I think that this is the core of being Caldari, of Heiian. It's not blind loyalty to our leaders. It's heartfelt, unbending devotion to one another, to our home. It is a willingness to do what must be done, as the revered Admiral once did, and as we all do silently, every day. Our leaders must feel this as well, or we will be led astray.

It sounds like to me that people are looking for unity, as long as it is under their own unity and conditions. Which is fine, but what is stunning is that they actually complain that the rest of the people they try to enforce their unity on seem to disagree somehow.

However, nobody will make me believe that just because a man and his provists rose to power that everyone's protocols, procedures and traditionnal employment suddenly changed to fit that man's ideals. I am pretty sure that the Caldari re-discovered meritocracy to magnify it to a point where it became one of the pillars of their ideals again, but I will never believe that everything suddenly changed accordingly to this. I am convinced that most employers and Caldari executives still continue to live more or less the same way they did several years ago. This kind of change does not come true in one night. And it would also be useful to remind that the Caldari State was already seen as a meritocratic model before, even if not on the same scale as of now.