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Does MERL have to complete the transaction? I thought it was already done.
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Woah! Why is everyone all of a sudden talking about war? They just did an investigation that said it wasn't and ENDTech bomb that killed Vilms. Nothing more.
unclebryan said:
Good idea. I'll go over the Newslink items and assign responsibilites to them. I haven't heard anything about war games. I've had some dealings with Levarge since I took office, and he didn't mention it to me.
Josephus
generalbob said:
I think I shall invite the Tilapian ambassador over to my office shortly for a chat and see what's going on there.
Josephus
The Gonzo said:
Look at what Marcos is saying, Gonzov.
"We will destroy the separatists and blah blah blah.."
The thing is, this is pretty much saying that if New Bengal tries to break away, they will use military force to keep it under their control.
Ok. Let's delegate investigating news items:
AMERICANS ISSUE CAUTIOUS, NEGATIVE STATEMENT ON EUTOPIAN ELECTIONS
Taken care of.
EUTOPIAN IBEROS CELEBRATE VASQUEZ PRESIDENCY, SUCCESSOR FINDS MESS IN OFFICE
What the heck is all this about….I’ve fixed the office and gave the lingerie to a woman I know. I don’t know, Loic, anything to look into here?
FLEA PRISONER CLAIMS DRUG RING RELATED TO CULT FLEA RAIDS ON CORPORATE & PUBLIC INDUSTRIES DRAW COMPLAINTS
Uh, Loic, anything you want to fill us in on here: Particulary this bit:
“. A similar investigation into OMNICARE appears to have been ordered by new MIDA Loic De Fourgéres’, though officials have refused to confirm or deny the reason for their recent demand for documentation and access to accounting files"
INVESTIGATION INTO NEW BENGAL INCIDENT INCONCLUSIVE
Maybe Austri can see what this is all about. Personally, I don’t think it’s worth getting ourselves into a state of alert. But we do need to discuss here if we would support a separatist New Bengal?
SOURCES OF KONIGSEE POLLUTION DEBATED
Keller said she would report on this. Maybe she can collaborate with Gonzov, who as resources minister, may have a stake.
On another subject: I was thinking if every week or so, ministers can give us a report on what their department has been doing. Just so that the right hand knows what the left is doing.
My report briefly: Had initial discussions with Levarge about our military…I understand he is now dealing with Austri. Had a long discussion with Langley about my idea for the Budget Committee. Doesn’t look like the UMP will participate. The demands Langley wanted were outrageous, and out of my hands. I haven’t heard back from the CUE leader either. That’s fine….we gave them an olive branch they threw it back at us.
So…next week I’ll begin budget discussions with you. Gonzov, if you will, I wish you to go over the current budget and report to us where we can make changes. I expect all ministries to submit their financial requests.
Here’s the big question. I have, in the past, talked about a VAT. Should we do this? If not, what other revenue generating items can we introduce? Maybe a luxury tax?
Josephus
AMERICANS ISSUE CAUTIOUS, NEGATIVE STATEMENT ON EUTOPIAN ELECTIONS
Taken care of.
EUTOPIAN IBEROS CELEBRATE VASQUEZ PRESIDENCY, SUCCESSOR FINDS MESS IN OFFICE
What the heck is all this about….I’ve fixed the office and gave the lingerie to a woman I know. I don’t know, Loic, anything to look into here?
FLEA PRISONER CLAIMS DRUG RING RELATED TO CULT FLEA RAIDS ON CORPORATE & PUBLIC INDUSTRIES DRAW COMPLAINTS
Uh, Loic, anything you want to fill us in on here: Particulary this bit:
“. A similar investigation into OMNICARE appears to have been ordered by new MIDA Loic De Fourgéres’, though officials have refused to confirm or deny the reason for their recent demand for documentation and access to accounting files"
INVESTIGATION INTO NEW BENGAL INCIDENT INCONCLUSIVE
Maybe Austri can see what this is all about. Personally, I don’t think it’s worth getting ourselves into a state of alert. But we do need to discuss here if we would support a separatist New Bengal?
SOURCES OF KONIGSEE POLLUTION DEBATED
Keller said she would report on this. Maybe she can collaborate with Gonzov, who as resources minister, may have a stake.
On another subject: I was thinking if every week or so, ministers can give us a report on what their department has been doing. Just so that the right hand knows what the left is doing.
My report briefly: Had initial discussions with Levarge about our military…I understand he is now dealing with Austri. Had a long discussion with Langley about my idea for the Budget Committee. Doesn’t look like the UMP will participate. The demands Langley wanted were outrageous, and out of my hands. I haven’t heard back from the CUE leader either. That’s fine….we gave them an olive branch they threw it back at us.
So…next week I’ll begin budget discussions with you. Gonzov, if you will, I wish you to go over the current budget and report to us where we can make changes. I expect all ministries to submit their financial requests.
Here’s the big question. I have, in the past, talked about a VAT. Should we do this? If not, what other revenue generating items can we introduce? Maybe a luxury tax?
Josephus
On the Vasquez item, well, there is already an investigation into him being missing. He may have given an order, that if followed, would have violated some criminal's constitutional rights, while he was MIDA.
As I said before, the Director of FLEA didn't handle our part of the OMNICARE investigation the way I instructed. I have summoned him for a discussion about it and his career.
We need to pay for the purchase of the freeways. The P4P MGA will be proposing retirement pension reform, which will cost money now. Therefore, I expect we will need to raise some revenue. VAT could be part of that. We had also discussed an inheritance tax on large estates, over ten million ducats.
As I said before, the Director of FLEA didn't handle our part of the OMNICARE investigation the way I instructed. I have summoned him for a discussion about it and his career.
We need to pay for the purchase of the freeways. The P4P MGA will be proposing retirement pension reform, which will cost money now. Therefore, I expect we will need to raise some revenue. VAT could be part of that. We had also discussed an inheritance tax on large estates, over ten million ducats.
My view on New Bengal is that Tilapia, and St. Esprit, and ourselves, we all need to affirm the ideas of common citizenship, freedom to travel, freedom to work in any of the three countries, and package of rights similar to the Eutopian Charter of Rights. That, with a reasonable degree of autonomy, such as would be given a province here, would eventually defuse all but the most strident separatists' arguments. If New Bengal were suddenly part of the UPE, there would be another group of separatists revolting.
How's this for a proposed VAT Bill:
Eutopia will have a 10 percent VAT added to all goods and services. It is projected that this will raise $15 Billion a year. There are some exemptions to VAT:
Basic groceries (defined as any food purchased except in a restaurant).
Baby/Child clothing
Medications/ health care where not covered by OMNICARE
Education (tuition/books/ on campus living)
Rent/ mortgage payments (but not house purchases)
Any other exemptions?
Further, a VAT rebate will be in place for people making less than 15000 ducats.
The rebate is a fixed amount as follows:
$0-10,000 = $550 rebate
$10-12,000= $500 rebate
$12-15000- $450 rebate
Thoughts?
Josephus
Eutopia will have a 10 percent VAT added to all goods and services. It is projected that this will raise $15 Billion a year. There are some exemptions to VAT:
Basic groceries (defined as any food purchased except in a restaurant).
Baby/Child clothing
Medications/ health care where not covered by OMNICARE
Education (tuition/books/ on campus living)
Rent/ mortgage payments (but not house purchases)
Any other exemptions?
Further, a VAT rebate will be in place for people making less than 15000 ducats.
The rebate is a fixed amount as follows:
$0-10,000 = $550 rebate
$10-12,000= $500 rebate
$12-15000- $450 rebate
Thoughts?
Josephus
The initial investigation into OMNICARE has found no indications of corruption.
On the VAT, the rebate should decline more quickly, to say 400 and 200 for the top two tiers. In other countries, a house purchase is normally VAT free, at least for already built houses.
On the VAT, the rebate should decline more quickly, to say 400 and 200 for the top two tiers. In other countries, a house purchase is normally VAT free, at least for already built houses.
I'm willing to consider the VAT rebate reductions...waiting to hear other opinions. Regarding housing....how about no GST on "first time buyers"...that is, mostly, young people buying their first new home.
Also...I'm trying to set up a meeting with the ambassador of St. Esprit. Besides CAFTA, and possibly a military alliance....any things I should discuss?
Josephus
Also...I'm trying to set up a meeting with the ambassador of St. Esprit. Besides CAFTA, and possibly a military alliance....any things I should discuss?
Josephus
A millitary allliance with St Espirit would make Tilapia VERY suspicious. Offer it to Tilapia as well.
You should discuss having a tri-lateral meeting that includes the Tilapians as well.
No, of course. Once the Tilapians open up their embassy, I'll pursue the same thing with them.
Josephus
Josephus
So...any developments in your respective ministries?
I will give you the lowdown on my meetins with representatives from both Tilapia and St. Esprit. In short, they both came across as a bunch of dorks. Especially the Tillies. St. Esprit has already signed CAFTA, of course, so it's just a matter of course for them. The Tillies don't want to ratify CAFTA, prefering to engage in it without formal agreements. I'm of two minds on this:
1. Agree to import Tilapian goods without imposting duties and hope the Tillies do the same with our goods.
2. Screw them over big time and implement an outrageous duty on their goods...meanwhile giving preferential treatment to St. Esprit goods...thus, in short, forcing the Tillies to sign CAFTA.
Both Tilapia and St. Esprit are, presently, disinterested in an alliance. They do seem interested in a joint military exercise. I'd like to hear Austri's thoughts on this.
In other news, I have sent notice to the Yanks that I'd like to talk with them, but haven't heard back from them.
Josephus
I will give you the lowdown on my meetins with representatives from both Tilapia and St. Esprit. In short, they both came across as a bunch of dorks. Especially the Tillies. St. Esprit has already signed CAFTA, of course, so it's just a matter of course for them. The Tillies don't want to ratify CAFTA, prefering to engage in it without formal agreements. I'm of two minds on this:
1. Agree to import Tilapian goods without imposting duties and hope the Tillies do the same with our goods.
2. Screw them over big time and implement an outrageous duty on their goods...meanwhile giving preferential treatment to St. Esprit goods...thus, in short, forcing the Tillies to sign CAFTA.
Both Tilapia and St. Esprit are, presently, disinterested in an alliance. They do seem interested in a joint military exercise. I'd like to hear Austri's thoughts on this.
In other news, I have sent notice to the Yanks that I'd like to talk with them, but haven't heard back from them.
Josephus
In regards CAFTA, because we have waited so long to join, St. Esprit has to approve our joining, under the terms of the treaty, although I can't see why they would object, what is the point of having a free trade association with one member. As to Tilapia, I favor the first alternative you suggested. Tilapia wanted to assert their independence, or at the least preserve the right to assert their sovereignty, so as long as they behave well, they are as good as members, so grant them the figleaf of sovereignty that they are claiming.
In regards MIDA, I have found that although PJ Vasquez was in charge only for a short time, he made a big impact, with some positive and negative aspects. He has boosted Spanish heritage representation among FLEA to levels above the national average, which shows we don't discriminate, a positive. The negative is that FLEA started thinking of itself as private eyes, and has not been careful about respecting constitutional rights. I have asked that training be expanded to cover some needed areas, but this will probably take years to fix. I am also trying to expand French heritage recruits, as that area still lags, but without relaxing the standards or imposing quotas.
In regards MIDA, I have found that although PJ Vasquez was in charge only for a short time, he made a big impact, with some positive and negative aspects. He has boosted Spanish heritage representation among FLEA to levels above the national average, which shows we don't discriminate, a positive. The negative is that FLEA started thinking of itself as private eyes, and has not been careful about respecting constitutional rights. I have asked that training be expanded to cover some needed areas, but this will probably take years to fix. I am also trying to expand French heritage recruits, as that area still lags, but without relaxing the standards or imposing quotas.
I have received word from the Tilapian embassy that they found the body of our former VP and MIDA, PJ Vasquez. It was an apparent execution-style killing, with the body dumped in the water, which just washed up recently, fairly badly decomposed. It appears that he was killed shortly after he disappeared. They said dental records matched, so it was a positive ID, officially. There are some other possibilities. It is just as likely that this is an arranged cover-up, either an official one to protect a fellow Latino who has been 'disrepected' when we tried to clean up some of the mess he left behind, or a private one arranged by Vasquez himself. Of course, we dare not question this publicly, not without proof.
One of the people we questioned about his disappearance, the daughter of the Police Chief of Eutopia City, is going to be pretty broken up about this. We could say that they were 'engaged' and offer to bury the body at state expense in a nice cemetary near here, so the 'bereaved fiancée' can conveniently visit the grave. We could even hint privately to the Tilapians that she is expecting a child by Vasquez, so PJ's son or daughter could also visit the grave if it were here. If she is not pregnant, then she can have a 'miscarriage' the day after the funeral, brought on by the stress. Getting the body here will let us get a DNA sample, which we can check with numerous samples that PJ has left through hospital tests and other less savory, but still adequate means. If we find out that it isn't the former VP's body, then we could either call off or go ahead with the funeral. I would assume that going ahead, if we don't mind doing some explaining later, would be the more astute and diplomatically adroit course, as the real PJ Vasquez would think that we are off the trail for good, while we could keep looking. The reason I am bringing this to cabinet is that I don't want it to seem that PJ Vasquez has transformed me into an Ahab, searching for him as my personal white whale. I frankly care little about the man, it is the malign portion of the influence on FLEA that I am trying to counteract, which will be done whether or not we go through this exercise. But if he is willing to go through this charade, then he probably is hiding something bigger than just violating some hoodlum drug dealer's civil rights. Therefore, I will leave it to you whether we should offer to have him buried here, but obviously, we need to decide quickly.
And one more thing, Per President, considering that the two prior holders of MIDA were both killed in Tilapia, I would appreciate it if you would not send me on a mission there, although maybe I would be safe because I turned down the VP job, which they both held.
One of the people we questioned about his disappearance, the daughter of the Police Chief of Eutopia City, is going to be pretty broken up about this. We could say that they were 'engaged' and offer to bury the body at state expense in a nice cemetary near here, so the 'bereaved fiancée' can conveniently visit the grave. We could even hint privately to the Tilapians that she is expecting a child by Vasquez, so PJ's son or daughter could also visit the grave if it were here. If she is not pregnant, then she can have a 'miscarriage' the day after the funeral, brought on by the stress. Getting the body here will let us get a DNA sample, which we can check with numerous samples that PJ has left through hospital tests and other less savory, but still adequate means. If we find out that it isn't the former VP's body, then we could either call off or go ahead with the funeral. I would assume that going ahead, if we don't mind doing some explaining later, would be the more astute and diplomatically adroit course, as the real PJ Vasquez would think that we are off the trail for good, while we could keep looking. The reason I am bringing this to cabinet is that I don't want it to seem that PJ Vasquez has transformed me into an Ahab, searching for him as my personal white whale. I frankly care little about the man, it is the malign portion of the influence on FLEA that I am trying to counteract, which will be done whether or not we go through this exercise. But if he is willing to go through this charade, then he probably is hiding something bigger than just violating some hoodlum drug dealer's civil rights. Therefore, I will leave it to you whether we should offer to have him buried here, but obviously, we need to decide quickly.
And one more thing, Per President, considering that the two prior holders of MIDA were both killed in Tilapia, I would appreciate it if you would not send me on a mission there, although maybe I would be safe because I turned down the VP job, which they both held.
Go ahead Per Fourgeres---see if we can get the body. Use any deceptive plan you like. And don't worry, we won't send you to Tilapia.
Josephus
Josephus