UN in 2183

Chris said: hm....I don't see that. Partly because I don't see the UN having
that big a tax base (big, but not bigger than NAC or ESU), and partially
because they're not in FB1: The Major
Powers.   Call them The Largest of the
Minor Powers, if you want to irritate the Secretary General.

[Tomb] Neither are the Savasku or the
Kra'Vak. Call them minor powers at your peril, friend.

I don't actually think there's a lot of difference between
the TomB-verse UN and mine--it's mainly a
matter of the actual (not necessarily professed) motives of the people at the
top, and what UNBOSS does to dissidents.

[Tomb] It may also have to do with the
efficiency with which the job gets done. The UNSIA also tends to remove
"problems", just perhaps my definition of a problem is a bit less open. To me,
the UN
is one path for humanity - the path to
Global (and in the long term, sphere-wide)
Government. That brings with it a uniformity of law (in theory), just
administration (though "just what?" might be asked), and a coordinating point
for things of large scope and a great equalizer of opportunity economically
and under the law. OTOH, it is a great equalizer with what that entails, and
it is also a bureaucratic nightmare. And it sometimes gets carried away with
its "great mission to save humanity" and thus loses sight of what it means to
be a human being. I think my UN fits with Jon's "no white hats". Or in this
case, they wear them and try to convince themselves (and others) that they
really are the good guys.

[Tomb] And I probably have a vision of a
UN with more tax base than either Chris or John. And I also happen to think
that if there was a workable way to be a citizen of humanity (esp if it came
with some tax shelters for research corporations, etc), you'd find more than a
few people willing to consider it. A lot of the smart people from the
developing world for example, who, given opportunity, could well shine as
bright or brighter than their major nation counterparts. I'm a Canadian, and
if I had a chance to go out and stand up for the entire populated world
against external threats, and be offered citizenship of some sort of
supranation, I'd surely consider it. Maybe I'm alone, but I think not. I think
fewer Americans might (because American
patriotism is probably more entrenched -
not that I'm judging that in one way or another). I also think a lot of
business types might move to UN based companies, etc if there were economic
incentives. Look at how many people move their banking offshore nowadays. And
I think once the UN has some planetspace, they can encourage some agressive
population growth options for their colonies. And if they can cherry pick some
of the best and brightest from all the other blocks, they're well setup.

[Tomb] I don't believe they can match any
major power on the ground - I don't think
they have the scope of ground force required to think of it, and they are
probably a bit light in supporting arms (main force being Marine in nature or
mercenary which is usually light mechanized). But in space, where they have
concentrated and have some neat tech toys, I rate them as a match to one of
the big boys. Maybe not in raw numbers, but in combat power (this makes some
guestimates on the power of some of their systems in the next FT product). So,
they aren't quite a major power, nor a minor, but something in between.

PS - Thanks to Brian for the immortalizing
in cardboard crating. You need to have a packing crate for "Impact Point
Games(TM)". Contains hazardous materials of course! And Chris, your suggestion
of Booze Raider as a scenario idea is just bad enough to have me try it out. I
have a whole pile of 25mm Cantina style bar settings, a big cantina band, etc.
Mos Eisley might become Mos Tuffley and feature some of Brian's crating.

Too much fun! (Just like Star Fleet
Command 2 which I just got running - SFB
on computer!)

> [Tomb] Neither are the Savasku or the

"Warships of the Major Powers:2183", it says. I don't think the SV and KV
qualified because we didn't really know about them at that point.

> fewer Americans might (because American

According to my wife (who is a Canadian living in America), patriotism is
definitely stronger in America..

> not that I'm judging that in one way or

<g> You meant "AE" rather than "UN" here, I think.

> growth options for their colonies. And if

I can easily see nations passing laws that severely restrict the ability to
leave the contry or to send your money outside. Some of these laws are already
in place in 2002. As people become increasingly able to telecommute, and as
the present day First World countries continue to decline, I think we'll see
more and more effort to prevent brain drain. This may be one of the factors
that drives
colonization--"You can't leave the FSE but we're opening a new planet,
all the conveniences of home and you can pick a spot that has no neighbors
within 20km if you like."

 and
> brightest from all the other blocks, they're

> > of course! And Chris, your suggestion of

Kind of like "Carnage con Queso" plus "Tomb Raider" plus a few cases

So, this is the latest incarnation of the "Beer Game"?