Steel Striders[]
- Chapter 7 -
- Power to the People - 2787[]
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Deborah
Jerold's decision to convene with only representatives is both a lifesaver and a curse, mostly the latter than the former but still a little bit of a curse. These delegates know they have people counting on them, and so they fight all the harder for what they and their constituents believe. The old problem of representative democracies—gridlock—reared its ugly head when we asked who should have the power of the budget.
As the spokesperson for the Triumvi- I mean Stewardship, I mostly stayed silent on this topic. Jerold's recommendation was to let the delegates fight till they didn't want to anymore and asked us for a compromise. In his words, "The fewer games the executive branch plays, the fewer messes get made, the more people are helped by the government. In addition, if they get tired and hand us the budget, well that's great."
There were two major and one minor schools of thought on the topic. Camp number one stated that it should be an executive privilege exclusively from creation to execution. Camp number two wanted the budget firmly in the hands of the legislature. The smallest camp wanted it to be a judicial power, but unless something drastic happened, they weren't getting what they wanted.
"I actually pulled out my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather's annotated copy of The American Pageant, its synthleather cover cracking at the seams. The margins were full of frantic notes, likely from some long-forgotten AP student who never imagined his descendant would be rebuilding a civilization.
Letting the delegates argue among themselves instead of turning their fire on us felt like a vacation compared to yesterday's grilling.
I think Vinaya was subtly looking at her noteputer while they argued. Jerold as always was laser focused on the discussions going on.
Eventually, Zendaya Smith had enough, "Alright, we will now break out into smaller rooms, delegates, now is the time to break the gridlock, I can see you, but can't hear you, so no throwing hands please, I already had to remove one pair engaged in fisticuffs."
They had a name, but no face to place the voice, and so the deception was kept. An easy way to moderate discussions without causing any bloc to hate us.
As the "negotiator" of the Stewardship, I stood up and followed one of the larger blocs into our room. Zenith assigned every delegate a number, and randomized the numbers for these breakout rooms. The Stewardship was just supposed to attempt to play moderator within these debates.
I drew three pro-executives, four pro-legislators, and one lonely judicial advocate.
It's time to sound smart while asking for info. "What does the budget mean to you all? Judicial representative, you are up first."
Samuel Wichi sprang into his folding chair. "The budget is a large power of the government, without it, one branch may cut off the others from executing their rightful duties, say not allowing the electrical bill to be paid in the Legislature or Judiciary buildings. I joined the Judicial bloc because I didn't want to see it only going into one branch."
Something about his speech nagged at me, but I waved the next delegate on. "You next executive representative."
"Thank you, Steward, now, the budget belongs to the executive branch, it has been that way for millennia from the First Lord to the great houses."
I take a moment to sit there stupefied for a second, and get up, uncrossing my legs. "Hold up, you want the Stewards to have this power… Because there is a precedent?" my voice clearly betraying my mind boggled tone.
Representative Lars continues, not detecting my ire, "Yes, I do believe that in every Great house the power of the purse belongs with the House Lord."
Me and some of the Legislative representatives lock eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose, pushing up my glasses a little. "Legislative representative you may go."
Lilia Morales, Mayor of Saltsburg on Felsen, begins, "I'd like to reiterate some of Representative Wichi's points about power over the other branches, In addition, as the legislature is a popularly elected majority, it would be the best in interpreting the people's needs."
I nod my head, agreeing with most points made.
It all comes back to power, doesn't it.
I consider for a second, what was the goal of this government. We want a system with checks and balances on each. The Judiciary should have enough, existing as the maintainer of balance of both the Legislature and Executor.
Lets rip a page out of history.
"How about, the executive branch will create a budget, with discretionary spending constituting a percentage of that budget. The legislative will either need to approve or veto the bill within say, three weeks time."
I get two of the executors, three of the legislators, and the judicial advocate, nodding with their perception of my vision.
"Great, shall we head to the snack tables before the other delegates finish?" I say diplomatically.
All of us stand up, stretch, and start filing out of the room.
Vinaya
Running the Department of Research and Science was easier than this. At least I enjoyed that.
This feels like a less convoluted way to commit suicide.
Vinaya Singh- Cause of Death: talked to death by people who couldn't agree.
After Zenith started the breakout rooms, I walked into a room with three representatives.
"We should have a flat tax rate for simplicity!"
"No, we should have a bracket tax rate for more equality."
The judicial representative was quiet. He knew, like me that the best thing to do here would be to stay quiet.
He and I had the same idea and saved a snack for these rooms, he liked peanuts, I liked these herbal salty crackers.
I held my bag towards him, "cracker?"
The other two delegates were yelling at each other now, red faced and puffing.
He grabbed a handful of crackers and offered me his peanuts. "It is only right that I reciprocate."
"I'm allergic."
He quickly jerked his arm back, and his face fell. "Oh… Er, my apologies, Miss…?"
"Miss. Singh."
"My apologies, Ms. Singh."
"You are quite forgiven, Representative Leonard."
He and I, hearing a deafening silence, turn back to the no-longer arguing duo. They are busy chugging water from their bottles.
I chose this moment to step in, "You guys are both concerned with equality right?"
"Affirmative." "Yes."
"Why don't we have a flat tax rate-" I heard the inhalation from the legislative representative, and continued quickly, "And we tax property, stock, and commodity transactions instead. Obviously rich people spend more money on these things, and so they should pay more, say a flat 10% tax rate, a 5% property tax, with a 15% tax on the exchange of stocks, bonds, commodities, or jumpship shares."
"In order to make these commodities and stocks more easy to obtain, why don't we lower the rate, say 10%?"
"When did we decide that money earned by sweat is equal to money earned by capital? I mean, I certainly worked for my budget in the Star League Cabinet meetings."
I looked pointedly at each of the delegates.
Representative Leonard took this moment to jump on my bandwagon, "I think Miss Singh provides a wonderful idea, shall we take it back to the greater assembly for review? We might even be able to reach the catering table in time for dinner…"
"Between your tax structure and Steward Alms' budget compromise, we might actually have a functioning government by dinner."
Jerold
Deborah is getting along nicely, she serves as the Stewardship's compromise between new and old. Vinaya always wants to experiment, and her new uncomplicated tax code has the delegates up in arms and exaltation. I am the traditionalist- the cranky old man, if you will. This is a genuinely good idea though, I stay silent despite my "traditional" leanings, the Star League tax code was shit, like utter shit.
Plenty of loopholes, complicated conversions between each great house's money, and corporations got lots of tax cre- damn, we have to print our own money now. Just had that thought, that's gonna be a talk.
Vinaya is giving an animated debate in front of the whole assembly. She may not be the most motivated person, but she will see something to the end, I'll give her that.
After her speech, we take a vote and it passes. We of the Stewardship have chosen to not vote as a principle, we merely observe and mediate. We also stop fights, I pulled one man off another while Vinaya and Deborah grabbed the arms of the other.
They were arguing over a percentage in the tax. Absolute loons, Deborah exercised her executive power to have them cool their heels in the lobby while the sensible people got work done.
Our constitution is coming along. I wonder how long it will last before someone tries to burn it to ashes.