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[restingstitchface]

I have five questions for those imPorts involved in managing our community.

I: What power do you hold over us?
II: Where did you get it from?
III: Do you wield it in our interests?
IV: Are you accountable to our community?
V: How can we get rid of you?

For everyone else I have two:

I: Can you name those who do?
II: Do you know the answers to my questions?

Comments

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[drivesadesk]

What do you mean imPorts managing our community? Do you mean like...the ambassadors? Or do you mean something else?

[restingstitchface]

Well, I mean everybody performing a role that affords them power over us. Does that mean ambassadors? Yes, certainly, but there's also members of law enforcement, medical professionals with all the soft and hard power that entails, all the way down to special interest groups.

Does that help?

[drivesadesk]

In that case, the answers to your questions depend on which people we're talking about. Aegis Force seems legit, they have our best interests in mind. I'm pretty sure the medical professionals do, too. I don't follow ambassadors too much, but we do elect them, so I guess we give them their power.

[restingstitchface]

Perhaps so. But have are you aware of whether we can strip away their power? Do you know where such a process would even start? Have you never questioned how we would begin such a thing?

[drivesadesk]

My species has a 200 year history of dismantling human institutions. Believe me when I tell you that yes, if there was a need to, we could strip away the power from any group we wished to.

Not here

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[But damn, Jonathan]

[restingstitchface]

Really? Then why is the knowledge of how to begin that process so difficult to question and uncover?

[drivesadesk]

I don't know. Why is that so hard for you?

[restingstitchface]

Please, I hardly need know myself. I am speaking generally; how many people know what to do? Not many, I'd wager.

[drivesadesk]

No idea. It seems pretty straightforward to me.

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[flameout]

Well it looks like someone's read "Towards Peace". I haven't, but I recognize pre-war Megatron writing when I see it.

You're not Cybertronian though, are you? So what gives? Just interested in intergalactic politcs?

[restingstitchface]

[Being told his writing is older than dirt? That's a compliment.]

Oh, hardly! I am simply interested in who wields power in our community - and what limitations they face, if any.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[This is obviously bait of some kind. But Jacob knows that it will go worse for the team if he doesn't respond. And he's not that worried: he created Aegis to be the kind of group that would always have an answer to these kinds of questions.]

Sure, I'll answer for Aegis Force.

I: Aegis has the power to investigate, subdue, and arrest criminal imPorts.
II: We were granted this authority by the United States government.
III: Aegis acts in the interests of both imPorts and natives. Our mission is to protect people throughout the Porter Cities from extraordinary threats, wherever they come from and whoever they target.
IV: The unit answers to elected Ambassadors on the imPort side and to our military liaisons on the native side. We also keep a hotline open so anyone can contact us, and put out regular statements to keep everyone informed of what we're up to.
V: If anyone has a complaint against Aegis Force, you can bring it to me, to an Ambassador, or to the government. They'll investigate and take whatever action is needed. Including cutting our budget or shutting us down, if that's what it takes.

I hope that answers your questions, Doctor Crane.

[restingstitchface]

My guess if it didn't we would have a problem. But what a comprehensive response, Jacob. Thank you for sharing it with the community. I ask that you respond to these ensuing questions and enlighten us further:

I: Do you believe that Aegis's authority should be sought and awarded by the imPort community?
II: Are you planning to involve the imPort community in shaping Aegis direction and policy?
III: Why is Aegis incontestable directly?
IV: If imPorts cannot directly rid themselves of you, how can it be claimed you are a democratic organization?

I thank you in advance.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

All right.

I: I'm always glad when people turn to us for help with their problems. And we'll keep working to make ourselves an option everyone can rely on.

II: We've got no plans to open up any lines of influence beyond the channels that are already established. If those doors aren't big or open enough for everyone to walk through, we'll look at ways to expand them. Right now, we haven't heard much input on how we do things, which I take as a good sign. We've also had an imPort reporter visit our headquarters to interview our agents, and show the world a little more about who we are.

III: Sorry, but I'm going to need a better idea of what you mean by 'incontestable' to answer this one. I'm guessing you aren't talking about who could beat us in a fight?

IV: Aegis itself isn't democratic. At least, we don't vote on our decisions, and outsiders don't get to say who belongs on the team. I give orders, people below me carry them out and report back, just like I report back to people giving me orders. But we answer to elected representatives, or other officials who do. Through them, the chain of command leads back to the people we serve.

[restingstitchface]

I: In my trade we call that avoidance coping. Answer the question. Because much as it amuses me to see you, of all people, sound like a politician or attorney, some people need direct, easily-understood information.

II: You say you'll look at ways to widen communication. What can possibly be wider than directly involving the imPort community in the shaping and direction of Aegis policy?

III: Not quite. Complaints are taken out of the hands of citizens and handled by middlemen, right? Aegis is not independently investigated by imPorts themselves? Say by having them joint lead by committee?

IV: The chain of command, with the community at the bottom. Yes. How can we trust Aegis when we have no involvement in your selection process?

One last thing. Is your membership list available to the public?

[He knows it is. He also knows where this is going.]

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

I: I answered the question as I understood it, Doctor. If you want a different answer, you should probably put the question in plain language. We can't all write like James Joyce.

[Never forget the Ulysses Incident.]

II + III: Same answer for both of these: so far we've had no signs that those kinds of changes would be necessary. The government likes how we're doing things, and we haven't heard from any imPorts who disagree up until now. I'm not going to risk compromising our operations and efficiency by having us led by a committee [Gag.] unless it's needed.

IV: The community shouldn't need to be in charge of Aegis recruitment to judge how our recruits perform in the field. We earn trust by our actions. We've had a successful record to date, and I stand by that. And since you brought it up, our imPort agent roster is publicly available HERE.

[Pretend that link goes to the IC equivalent of that post.]

Now I've got a question for you, Professor. You don't seem to think that the elected Ambassadors really represent the imPort community. Not well enough to control Aegis, at least. Why is that?

[restingstitchface]

I don't believe anyone who claims they represent the best interests of anyone but themselves. Does that begin to answer your question?

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

It answers a lot, actually.

Does that mean you think Aegis only serves our own best interests? You think we're in this for a power trip?

[restingstitchface]

You serve your own interests, just like anyone. Problem is, your line of work draws in so many psychopaths it's become a stereotype. Did you know that?

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

I suppose you'd be the expert on psychopaths, Professor.

Everyone on my team has to pass a psych eval and an ethics test to join the unit. And we hold each other to a high standard. Not for our own interests, but because the people around us need the protection we provide.

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[eloquentness]

Rude. :')

Especially that V bit. If you want to be an Ambassador, you COULD just run the next time a spot opens up...

[ she knows it's not aimed at the Ambassadorship, or even her and her piles of cash, but she might as well pretend otherwise. ]

[restingstitchface]

That rude question, as you put it, is the most important. Surely you're not insinuating that to ask it one must be an ambassador or some such?

Anyway. You're a journalist, Ms. West. Why am I doing your job?

[eloquentness]

Of course not, but in order to get rid of someone, or more specifically the power they wield. Losing a person, or some group that has government ties, only creates room for someone else to take the position. I was half-joking re: rudeness, but what would you propose so that the balance of power doesn't dramatically shift?

Good question. I'm working on a feature, but that's taking longer than both my editor and I had anticipated... It should be out around March 10th?

[restingstitchface]

I'm a professor, a doctor, not an ambassador. If the authorities want my involvement in creating checks and balances for their extra-judicial force they can pay me for my hard work. I say this because anyone's diligence and work deserves reward.

Anyway. That's good to hear. Would you notify me by e-mail? I'm always open for something to read.

[eloquentness]

As it should. I'm not opposed to you getting payment for such a momentous task. It's just a matter of figuring out how you'd be involved, right?

Sure, though tbh one of these days I have to show you how to make Schmoogle alerts.
They're a godsend in my field.

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[choosetruth]

Why are you asking? What constitutes "power" in your mind? And what do you mean by "get rid of?"

[restingstitchface]

Well, I am asking questions because I wish to learn the answers. Specifically why there seems to be a deficit between Aegis and the community they purport to serve. I have witnessed similar organisations override the interests of the people and, well, it certainly isn't pretty.

Power in this case means exactly what Mr. Taylor explained. In effect, power over the freedom of the population. Including the ability to stop and search anybody suspected of crime - or thoughts of such.

And by "getting rid of"? Let's see. I simply mean removing them from post, or neutering their power, or even dissolving the organisation should it come to that.

[choosetruth]

Has Aegis done something to make you believe they are abusing their power?

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[pillz]

man i tihnk

i usd to give two shits about this but it fell fof.

i no
ii no

guess you aint s urprised.
it wasnt too long ago the gubmint gave us this shit right
just a couple years unless im thinkin wrong

[restingstitchface]

A couple, yes, though Mr. Taylor would know the definite answer. Perhaps you should question him?

Regardless. No, I'm hardly surprised as all that. Not even surprised that most replies here consist of the same two words as yours, frankly. Guess you're not surprised over that?

[Setting this guy on Jacob would be A+ entertainment.]

[pillz]

sure i can hit hmi up
what's his firs name

[what did poor jacob ever do to you jonathan! why would you do that]

did u know petyr bailsh wen he was doing it

[restingstitchface]

Jacob. You should have heard of him, considering how much he puts himself in the public eye.

And Baelish? Only in passing, I'm afraid. From what I've heard, he was generous in sharing his good fortune.

cw racism

[pillz]

yeah pete was good peple
i taught him how 2 shoot guns.

[kavinsky at his most affable.]

oh yeah i heard of him
big black guy wit a gun & a dope fade right

[restingstitchface]

Yes, and may I say you describe him so well?

[ Why has fate inflicted this boy on him, again? :/ ]

[pillz]

yes u may thank u bro, ur a bro
ill hit him up.


hey whos hould i vote for htough
like do u acutally know somethn abt the new candidats

[restingstitchface]

Not enough that it shows I care.

Anyhow. My advice is vote for whoever gives you cash. It's the American way.

[pillz]

but wat if they all givin u 0 dollars
who u hcoose then

[restingstitchface]

The one most susceptible to blackmail.

That's the American way, too.

[pillz]

do u have derpresison or anxiety
u sound like oyu have one of those
mayb both