President Consults Zircule

“Zircule my officers are nervous that the U.S. is frittering away its preeminence in Terran affairs. They wish to undertake dramatic action to catch up with the Japanese monetarily and maintain a dominant position as we humans acclimate to Sentient Galactic Society. Do you have any thoughts regarding this matter?” asked the President.

“Well Mr. President, the U.S. is without a doubt the most influential nation on Earth under your current civilization’s structure. This is leading to complacency with regard to the transition to Galactic Sentient Society. Your government is in the position to do the most in assisting others in becoming civilized yet in most cases you are doing the least. You do not even attempt to adequately take care of your own citizens. Congress has had several opportunities to act to provide comprehensive access to health care and longevity treatment and refused each time; citing the sanctity of the private sector and the superiority of the ideology of capitalism over other local ideologies. If you continue on this course the U.S. will fade into another country whose glory days have come and gone,” said Zircule.

“What do you suggest we do?” asked the President.

“Look at pragmatic ways to use your power and vast resources for the benefit of others as well as your own citizens. For example:

  • 1. Your military is very large and manuevers quite frequently. Establish exercises where they move donated or purchased materials to where they are needed as part of military exercises.
  • 2. Establish a regular distribution network of military trucks and landers that moves people and materials to and from inaccessible areas. This will connect them with the cities and civilization.
  • 3. Takeover performing longevity treatment in outlying areas where it is difficult for people to get to hospital ships scheduled in cities. This can be done with the same landers as in the distribution network. It can be performed for the same fee I am charging and help finance your government.
  • 4. Medical research. Expand your medical research as quickly as possible. There are limits to what the Doctors and Hospital Ships can provide a new species until specific research is completed. This will go faster with your own cadre of interested researchers.
  • 5. Starships – Commit to building a few of your own starships, both civilian tradeships and military. Get the hulls laid while you do the research necessary to complete them. Use volunteer efforts where possible. If you ask the military will probably provide specifications on various engine classes that could be used in your starships prior to developing your own. It will be expensive in galactic terms so you may prefer to develop your own.
  • 6. Interplanetary settlement. Exploit your solar system resources for the benefit of all. Not just a moneyed few. The U.N. Outer Space treaty started this process but the wealthy industrialists who control your resources refuse to invest if it benefits all rather than just themselves.
  • 7. Expedite learning, research, and commercial opportunities with other species as quickly as possible.
  • 8. Get every citizen and friendly participant started using a transceiver to study a few hours a day. Encourage international interaction via the transceiver.
  • 9. Use your military network to distribute transceivers as widely and densely as possible.
  • 10. Approach the U.N. with the proposition that it is a basic human right to have access to first aid and medical care. Lead the charge to have this passed. Add other rights as you feel appropriate.
“These are just a few ideas,” said Zircule. “The largest problem I see is that large chunks of your resources are tied up under the control of financiers who will do nothing unless they receive more back than they put in. An exorbitant economic profit, not just a fee for moving resources around or converting them efficiently from one form to another, is demanded. As the financiers grow old and undertake the longevity treatment up to half of the resources tied up will become available to the University of Sol or to your first aid network. Unfortunately this will occur over the next twenty to fifty years, so it is not much help in the short term.

The second largest problem is that remaining resources such as people’s time, available goods, scrap, etc. are assumed, by your culture, to be worthless without cash to mobilize. I have used cash to expedite several projects. Perhaps these should have been done without cash; to demonstrate to your citizens that their efforts are valuable even without the backing of a financier or government department.”

“I will compare your input with my military officers’ and think about our options. Thank you for your time and expertise in this matter Zircule,” said the President, keeping his anger at bay with common courtesies. Imagined scenes of Zircule's hands on Carolyn's spreadeagled, restrained figure flitting behind his eyes.

“You are most welcome Mr. President,” responded Zircule. Perhaps he had overestimated the personal skills and character required to hold the highest office in the U.S., he thought to himself. Jonathon Brightwater still harbored a grudge that his wife was subjected to half the standard security procedures she had agreed to in order to gain access to information from Alicia. Yet millions were pledged to fight and die at his command and he controlled the most destructive native forces on the planet.

The Pathfinder