DEMOCRACY?
Re 616/7745 djohnson:
> ...in Europe representatives are chosen through a representative democracy
> that places power in the hands of individuals equally while in a
> feudal technocracy those representatives are chosen by shareholders that
> place power in the hands of owners of production.
(Any spelling errors are mine, not Dave's)
Hmm. Perhaps ideally... :-) It might be fairer to note that the 'elected'
representatives only get where they are by lying, back-handers, use of the
media to portray them as 'nice people', etc. [allegedly]. They rarely think
for themselves, preferring to tow the 'party line'. In the case of a certain
current European government within a few miles of myself, the strings are,
in reality, pulled totally by the owners of production, who ensure the
politicians vote as they desire in order that they can maintain their high
profits and so that the politicians can become directors when they retire
from politics. Perhaps not so different from a feudal technocracy? :-) or
should it be :-( ?
THE SWORD WORLDS 'DEBATE'
A lot of the problem seems to be over someone having TL11 and not having as
good starships as a TL12 world, etc. Given the World Builder's Handbook, for
TL11, maximum TL for a particular facet (power, ships, domestic, etc.) is 11
+ (11/5) = 13. So in theory the world might be rated TL11 but actually still
retain (or have built up to) TL12 or TL13 in their starship production. This
might well be the case if the world was particularly worried about being
able to defend itself from attack. Perhaps the TL12 ship production is
military only, so all other ships (traders, etc.) are only TL11. Perhaps the
domestic economy (if you play TL as a reflection of economy) has suffered to
make up for this input into the military such that the populace only has TL9
or worse facilities. Just some thoughts...
WHY DOESN'T EVERYONE HAVE THE BOMB?
New Scientist once carried an article describing how to make a nuclear bomb
in your own home. It did point out that you'd die of radiation poisoning but
that if the exercise was being carried out by a terrorist this might not
matter. Given the theory that plutonium is available by cash or manufacture,
how does one get it? Obvious answer is to go and TAKE it. That's what
terrorists could do. If your own country isn't suitable, pop across to a
nearby dissolving multi-state ex iron-curtain country, tip some guards a few
credits and walk off with a preprepared warhead. Hell, take the whole
missile. :-)
To apply this to a wider range of products, even should your own world be
TL11 and unable to supply TL12 replacements for your bought-in TL12
thingummy-jigs, there's no reason why you shouldn't buy, steal or smuggle
such from other worlds. If it's important enough then I would assume a
government would be quite willing to go many jumps and deal with less than
scrupulous worlds in order to obtain what they want. You only have to look
at today's arms trade.
"What's this consignment of pipes for Iraq?"
"Oh, just some plumbing for a water refinery."
"And these huge pointed bullet-like cylinders."
"I think they go along inside the pipes - for cleaning... probably..."
alternatively...
"So you never did see this memo mentioning this firm selling
gun-manufacturing machinery to this country?"
"I have so many pieces of paper passing across my desk I can't possibly read
every one. Anyway the machinery was marked as for industrial use."
"But that's because your own government department tipped them off that if
they made any implication the machinery could make weapons they'd be refused
an export permit."
"Er..."
or even...
Foreign gentleman:
"About this dam you've been so kind to invest in..."
Govt trade rep:
"Oh yes old chap?" (knowing smile)
"Just happen to have a few contracts for your military boys..."
"Oh, how jolly nice of you."
"Nothing to do with the dam of course..."
"Of course not. How silly. Incidentally, do you need any 'investment' anywhere
else?"
GREEN VIRUS
Thanks Steve and Cynthia. Anyone else care to play?
Enough for now...
Andy
Commander Lilly, PITS (Political Intelligence Team, Scout)
Nothing I say or do in any way reflects the views of my very kind and
generous employers.