"We're not making a personal apperance," says Sienar. "This is something best observed rather than experienced."
-
She seems- as ever- quite moody about that question, Andro.
"There isn't 'a' solution. It doesn't work like that. Looking for the magic solution is the kind of thing the Senators always do, which is why we never get anywhere. This problem is huge. It's a massive underlying social issue within the Republic. The problem is that the food producers have no incentive to sell to the poorer areas because there simply isn't any profit in it compared to selling the same food to much richer planets who they can get much more out of. So when a crisis like this comes along and planets can no longer support themselves, all these major food producers and distributors are dragging their heels. And they start talking about fundemental rights and being sovereign worlds and so on, but I think there has to be at least some recognition that the Republican system itself contributed towards creating this crisis, by creating a disincentive for food to go to where it is most needed.
"So ok, I'll give you a solution. You Jedi should force the food producers to distribute food evenly. You say you are all about justice- well, where's the justice in letting billions starve?"
Sienar actually takes you up a little higher, Gallagher. Where you end up is on a cross between a balcony and a bulding gantry, but basically you are very high up in the rafters above the Great Hall- where down below you can see the entire feast, and all the myriad species consuming it. Unintelligble babbles and murmurs of conversation drift up to this darkened vantage point.
"I suppose that is rather difficult to maneuver," Jelena says. "The unity of the Republic is not exactly impressive, I'm sorry to say. I feel the sovereign worlds of the inner core should understand the plight that they put the farthest reaches of our space in by not distributing the food, but I suppose that is why the Poverty Commission is here at all."
Jelena looks upwards for a moment, sensing something for the briefest moment, a glimmer of a strong mind, before it is gone. She returns her purple eyes to Senator Joylo, having seen nothing above.
"How do you feel about the Synod hosting the meeting of the Poverty Commission in their Basilica? I cannot say they are exactly unbiased hosts, what with their donations and Abbot Sienar's stance on the matter."
"Oh, the do-gooders?" says Joylo. "They mean well but there's not much they can really do on a Galactic scale. I'm surprised they ever do anything at all, their views are normally so passive. Say what you like about you Jedi, at least you get out and DO something. "
He demolishes another small bird.
"But they are good hosts and holding it here seems to have been a good idea. I don't think they are going to make any difference to the big argument though."
-
"I thought it would be obvious," says Sienar. "The Poverty Commission meets to discuss a coming famine- and in the process consumes more food then most people on these worlds will see in their lives before they die."
Gallagher stops concentrating on Andro and takes a moment to survey the vast tables, laden with all kinds of exotic foods that the Senators are spoiling themselves on.
"That is rather... disgusting..." Gallagher says, imagining the people of whom Sienar speaks, who will never see a feast even a tenth of the size.
Gallagher turns towards the hooded Abbot. "I don't understand you, Sienar. As a fiend of the Dark Side, I would expect you to say that you have poisoned all their drinks or that your master plan is to take control of something, anything. But your motives seem... almost wholesome. You wish to prevent the famine, but how does that benefit you?"
Andro smiles. This is going to be a fun conversation. "Well. First of all, the Jedi are not the Senate's goons," He gently corrects her, and leaves it at that.
"For the second, do you want the practical answer or the real answer? The practical, is to have the Republic subsidize the food supply to the planets that need it. That's just a nutshell answer, of course there would be all sorts of planning, haggling, etc involved, and it wouldn't be a perfect solution, but of course there never can be. The system would feed as many as could be arranged. Justice."
"The real answer, which may shock you coming from a Jedi, it to let the system play itself out as it is. The Force is all about Balance, and any system will balance itself out. Each of this Galaxy's species started off on one world, tailored to support that particular species. Eventually, long long ago, whenever Hyperdrives were invented, these species began to colonize other world, and eventually co-inhabit yet more worlds. They spread beyond the systems that support them. Many species have different diet requirements and many of which are incompatible. In a sense, each species is responsible for it's own plight by moving away from it's support system. Is the rest of the Galaxy responsible for them? Justice?"
He holds up a hand to forestall her expected reply. "Of course that's absurd, but that is a factual answer, one that many interested parties might hide behind." He sighs, and probably looks a little sad. "Justice is a complicated word, trust me. There are two sides to every issue. The fact is, the food producers have the right to run their businesses. Forcing food from them for the impoverished could shut many down. That's lost jobs and more poverty. So in the end, you are deciding who lives and who dies. Is that justice?" The irony in his words almost makes him sick, and he turns back to his drink and empties it.
(Ush I hate you. ) 😛
"Oh, there are a lot of various guarantees and deals being struck," says Joylo. "We have a lot of business representatives here, forming a powerful lobby group, trying to ensure they aren't hoodwinked. But the biggest debate will be about reform of the voucher system."
-
"That's juat babble," says M'Lim. "There are two massive issues with your theory that would condmen countless people to death. The first is that planetary disasters make entire ecosystems uninhabitable- the entire purpose of the Republic is that we group together to aid each other in such emergencies where, in the days before the Republic, the entire world would have simply perished. This aid is not happening.
"Secondly, when it is the Republic that contributes towards creating this problem, then the damn Republic should be the one to help alleviate it. Otherwise, more than just standing by, you are actively causing these deaths. And if you do not work for the Senate, then I do not know who you work for, but no-one ever voted for you, I know that. The Jedi Order has the power to solve this crisis. In fact you are probably the only people that do."
-
"That is a fair question, Gallagher, but you won't have the answer until you think more about power, like I told you.
"Look at these Senators. What do you think their motivations are. What is their relationship with power?"
"You are right partly, about the Jedi, on many things you said; but I won't split hairs with you. I'm not a great political thinker, my argument was simplistic at best. Maybe the sinister one was explained poorest. I was talking about natural selection. The planetary disaster are a part of that. But you are right, the Republic does bring a lot of its problems on itself. Which is why I do beleive the Republic should solve it. Maybe you don't like my idea about subsidies, I don't like your about the Jedi forcefully redistributing it. [Wish I could make a Robin Hood reference in Star Wars] That's what makes this gathering so complicated. We are on the same side of the main issue, but even we cannot agree."
"And your comment about not voting for the Jedi, that represents a gross misunderstanding of what the Jedi are. Which is a growing issue with the Republic these days, which will be another great crisis for the Republic one day. Hopefully not in my lifetime."
"Many of these politicians use their position to accumulate wealth, become greedy and force political matters that would benefit them personally, but not the Republic. There are some, like my father, now that the Klinge-Faust's are clean, that would seek to use their political stance to do as the Jedi do; use their power to help others. But the way the system is set up, all of these Senators, each representing their worlds, push for personal needs rather than the needs of the Republic."
Andro's tone lightens, he doesn't want this argument to come off as hostile. "Ah, then we're arguing the same thing, about the redistribution. And I was comenting on your point that the Jedi are not 'elected'. It doesn't work that way." Then his voice mellows, "And the Jedi do not have the power you imagine, either. Not anymore." He takes another drink.
"I'm sorry, it seems that you've touched upon a sore subject with me, just as I have you." He forces a warm smile in an obvious and well-intentioned bid to change the subject. "So, how is your meal?"
She is less keen to avoid conflict.
"Of course you have the power. There's nothing they could do to stop you if you made them re-distribute. You'd save more lives in one move than possibly the Order has done in its entire history."
---
"Well, naturally," says Sienar, "they are elected to advance the interests of their own worlds, after all. And do not get sentimental about your father- he is doing the same thing. What is going on down there has nothing to do with charity or problem solving. It is ALL to do with power. Deals are being made. Assurances. Businesses are willing to be exceptionally 'geneorus' to politicians in order to safeguard their profit margins they can get by avodiing selling to poor areas. Politicians will listen to these offers, partyl because they want the money, and partly because they wish to improve their own positions, which can be done merely by turning up to an event like this. And they wisdh to do this because they want to advance their own power- whether that be for themmselves or for their planets. And if they do not do this, their planets will be powerless, and they will be dominated by the others that take such deals. Everyone here must play the game, or they will come away with nothing. And no matter what motivation you give them, the fact is that without power... they cannot achieve whatever it is they are motivated to do, good or bad."
"And he uses that power in the way he sees fit, none of which changes the way the Galaxy works, and none of which changes that we see before us. He needs to make deals, he eneds to curry favour, he needs to maintain his backing amongst the Senators or he is out of a job like his predecessor. You need power to acheive; without power you ar enothing. This holds true for every being in the cosmos."