Fodoron said:You can post there or here according to your preferences.
Sorry Fodoron, but we must decide on one thread or the other! Already, part of why there are less people voting (I think) is that the moderators stuck you in the AAR thread. That's fine if that is their wisdom, but I can speak for me that I didn't reply for a few days because I couldn't find you. Obviously, we know its here now and your sig may bring some new people in, but. . . However, checking here AND there will be confusing in my opinion. Someone who posts in one may be missed by the others.
I think THIS thread should be the one we post our opinions in and such and the brother thread should be THE HISTORY of what happened, a true AAR in otherwords.
Sorry to "break character," but it'll get confusing enough as it is. Please rule on this to clarify things for us all. Now, to your question. . .
Senators, there is absolutely NO REASON why we should not attempt to send tax collectors. I certainly know that for centuries, the "tax collector" has been an onerous position, yet needed. Our excellent forefathers, the glorious Roman Republic that we WILL resurrect in our own excellent way, certainly used this method of unifying and controlling the Republic and Empire. It should be noted that glorious Charlemagne also brought forth similar officials across his broad empire and with God's will, we too will have an empire of similar glory. Rumors already abound that French, Castillian, and English leaders have sought the same level of administrative control. There simply is no logical reason why we would not make this decision. I call upon you all to heed to wisdom. Of course we will not make the taxes overbearing and we will seek to bring fair justice to each province as soon as possible to ensure fairness to our people. But we MUST raise tax collectors.
Let me also add in closing, while I abhore the Genoese as much as any here in this illustrious body, we cannot idly sit by and watch the infidel cross into glorious Europe. While some of you would have us attempt to wreck havoc in Italy proper, our unguarded southern flank will be swallowed whole by the Turk. Heed this warning, if we are not vigilent and quick, not only will the glorious capitol of Constantine himself fall to the enemy, but turkish warriors will be seen on the outskirts of our own empire. Do you not remember the tremor that ran through our towns and villages as rumor of the Mongolian invasion came just over 60 some odd years ago? If we do not work to stop the muslim invasion at the Straights and push them off the continent proper, we will face them closer to home.
You may not wish for war, but to rather dabble in Italian political games (and I too know we will see a day in which the glory of Venice shines over our fabled ancestoral birthplace), YET WAR IS UPON US. We have long been the faithful friend of the Pontif; now do you not hear his cry for a nation of Christians to stand up and defend the faith? Let us move and move quickly!