Questions Thread

[Vedek Tabor]

That makes sense--would it be possible for me to play a multi/NPC councilor during my tenure as PPT and for any successive President during their Presidency--at least until we grow in size to where we have a steady core of active Federation Councilors?

[beeman]

Yes! Great idea, I authorize it

[Toran Kalix]

Can someone give me a more in depth description of the Federalist Party

[Idris]

As I have seen it played, the prime emphasis is on defense. Too many cultures have had to suffer invasion, and this should be prevented at all costs. They are less concerned with spending Federation money to enhance planetary economies. Bringing new underdeveloped worlds up to standard is fine, but if you are out to build up a culture or an industry you can do it on your own dime. They tend to see some Constructionists as money grabbers. In the last sim, they were.

The Constructionists may talk of more diplomacy and making friends, but the Federalists will remind you that the best diplomatic tool is a fully charged phaser bank. Diplomacy is fine, but it is more likely to progress if you can back it up.

The other Constructionist push is for expansion, finding new members. I don’t recall that the Federalists oppose this, but expanding in most directions results in conflict with more militaristic cultures. It would have to be done carefully.

In the novel The Klingon Way, the klin principle was to distinguish between that which grows and that which dies. The Klingon Empire was thus a poor translation, referring to Earth concepts. What they were really was an entity that grew, Seeking to be the only power allowed to grow would make many militaristic cultures unhappy, no matter how noble your excuse is. Unbridled expansion and growth? Perhaps not wise. Make sure it is a blessing to the newcomer and not at the expense of other powers. Don’t set too much of a bad example.

[Toran Kalix]

Thank you for the explination

[Toran Kalix]

Is the Prime Directive just General Order 001 or is it both general order 001 and a Law in the Federation Charter?
Basically if a civilian ship makes contact with a pre-warp civilization, would it be a crime?

[Idris]

I think it was originally a General Order, and it would apply only to Starfleet. I would think by now it would be very traditional at least to apply it to civilian ships. At minimum, I would have an ordinary law make it illegal, but they haven't written it into the charter. I kind of expect someone would have ignored it if it had not been addressed.

I do note the meaning of the Prime Directive has changed over the years. In TOS, it was bad to effect pre starlight civilizations. In TNG and on, the wording changed to say one should not interfere in any civilization. For example, Earth thought Betazed improper in mixing religion and government, and insisted on separation of church and state before they could become a member. This was a blatant interference with culture. Syrta is still ticked about it. Bajor on the other hand mixes religion and government freely. What has been considered acceptable has changed over the years.

If some canon source cannot be found to settle the issue cleanly, we might want to leave it unresolved and have a scenario to settle it? It would be a shame to let a good debate go to waste?

Of course, if a member plant decided it was wise to interfere with nearby primitives, it would be improper to interfere with them?