While I have no issue with increased security I do have an issue with big government. It seems that with each day that passes there are more and more laws proposed that will 1.) Create new taxes upon the people who we represent, 2.) Take away more and more freedoms and rights from the people and governments we represent and 3.) That are logistical nightmares.

The security of any planet should be left to that planet’s rulers and people. There is no reason that the Empire needs to intervene unless they are asked to. I know from time to time planets are unable to protect themselves from larger forces and will need the Empire’s help. But why must we raise taxes and create an occupying army on each planet? That is exactly what this proposal is asking us to do. To create an occupying army for each and every planet within the Empire. Do you truly understand the amount of resources and capital this will take? Of course you do, you have asked for us to raise taxes so that the Empire…so that WE can send an occupying force to their planet to police their every move.

Let us discuss this as reasonable adults. I am sure we can come up with some sort of compromise. Perhaps we can create a department that will conduct surprise visits and inspections. This will allow for oversight over what is happening on each planet without making it seem as if the Empire is there to control everything that happens on a planet.

I know most of you do not rule the planet that you represent but I do. I do not like outsiders coming in and pretending they know what is best for my people. We do not understand how each planet within the Empire conducts business. We cannot know that. As Queen, I do not want an occupying military on my planet and while you may not see it that way. Many rulers and common people will see it exactly as that.

As for the issue of taking away emergency aid, I personally think that will be a huge mistake. We are here to help the people of the planets we represent not enslave them. If the people cannot trust the Empire or feel as if they cannot trust it, if they feel as if the Empire is taking more and more away from them they will start to rebel. It’s the nature of people. It is the Social Contract Theory. When a form of government stops benefiting the people it is governing they will find or create a new form that will benefit them. That will restore their rights and freedoms.
Please let us evaluate this and come up with something that will please most parties.

As Senator Cerra pointed out in proposal one, it would be extremely costly, even with minute tax increases, to fund and staff an entire garrison on every Imperial world. We are not talking only customs, but a fully operable base including naval support, artillery, armor and infantry. At the present rate, this would likely tax the Imperial Military quite heavily, likely necessitating the need for a draft or other drastic measure; an item that I am sure many would not like to see, especially after the Clone Wars are so recent in our past. Perhaps an Imperial garrison could be placed on the outermost Imperial worlds instead? This would keep our support high in the less-patrolled areas and leave the inner worlds still loyal to us by easy reach of the Imperial Starfleet.

I also agree with Senator Cerra that removing the aid from worlds that have need of it does not raise us up in the eyes of the civilians we serve and, who, in turn, serve the Empire. Let us not bring the anger of the people upon our heads, for happy people are productive people.

"I am inclined to support portions of this proposal and for good measure will push for its passage in as much as I can. However there are a few things that trouble me on it and just want answers.

While I see you have agreed to Senator Cambrist's propsal which makes it more feesible and affordable in the long run I would like to say my main disagreement with him is on scale. Instead of several small outposts spread over several sectors would it be more efficient to make one medium sized outposts per a group of neighboring sectors? Since the response times would be nearly as quick in the event of a crisis especially if you were to provide a ship or two for each base that could patrol the system for their protection. With then the combined efforts of the sectors sharing the load as it were. Also as a means of rasing the forces perhaps local garrisons could aide in that by providing forces for Imperial training to then be deployed elsewhere in the galaxy for a term of enlistment before being released and replaced. These should not be overly large requirements and they should not be deployed to their home because that would rather defeat the purpose of this measure anyways.

My biggest concern though, is oversight. Who will observe to make sure that corruption doesn't take root in the echelons of the chain of command, especially when they are being given the power to remove government officials from a planet. I would propose that in most cases the executive of the planet in question should have a say in whether or not the person who is accused is removed with the presentation of evidence. And in the case of the executive themselves it comes then to either this body or to a comittee appointed from this body or by His Majesty to review the evidence against the accused and then make a ruling. This I believe would make the process a bit more transparent if there was a third party overseer.

As for the relief aid, I would propose that these commands be given extra supplies of food and medicine and given the order to deliver what is needed to a planet after an emergency. This way the aide that is despirately needed in times of crisis gets there, in a timely manner, and we don't have to send ourselves into bankruptcy to send that aid.

This is an important proposal and I believe that if the above concerns are either abated or sated it would prove to be a great bonus to over taxed and over worked local militias. I have a lot of experience with them on volus and often times they can be overwhelmed by a superior force or one that is better trained. And in my opinion this would greatly enhance the security and safety of the citizens of the empire."

With that she would yield back to the representative.

I understand that, logistically and ergonomically, it would be easier to establish fewer outposts throughout neighbouring sectors, however in the event of an immediate crisis, response times could be drastically challenged by a number of factors, wide-range communication and travel times being chief among them.
As for your mention of training locals as Imperial forces, I don't believe this subject has yet been broached, and with our continued reliance on Clone units comprising our Stormtrooper Corps, I think a seperate motion may have to be made for such a thing. It is, incidentally, a motion I could conceivably find myself in favour of, if it complements and further improves upon the solidarity of the Empire.

Your other concerns, regarding who will do what, should a conspirator be discovered, is for more experienced and finely-tuned military minds to decide. All I am putting forth here is a proposal for measures to be taken against those who will attempt to delay the Empire's progress through the Senate with one hand, while bartering and harbouring undesirables with the other. The military and ISB, respectively, are the best masters of deciding how to implement the proposal should a favourable motion be passed.

Your stance on relief aid seems as charitable as everyone else, which is an honourable thing, and if I may say, looks excellent on the headlines of HoloNet News. However we must be realistic; I am not stamping my foot and saying we deny any and all help to anyone who asks for it. It would be a complete neglect of our people, and worse, we would be treading on the promised security and safety of our citizens. As I said, we must be realistic, which I believe you are being, Representative Star. But to go beyond such things, whenever and wherever an unforseeable natural disaster (or, if you're prone to such concepts, 'a divine act') occurs, is to invite upon ourselves a wave of charity seekers, none of which we can refuse, none of which we can reasonably turn away. This is why I am proposing to end extravagant aid now, before it sucks the Empire dry and leaves us with too little to protect our people. Food, medical supplies... it can be provided by the Senate or any neighbouring system with little cost.

Your final statement really drives to the core of what this proposal is all about; it is not to invade privacy, nor is it to occupy planets or relieve their local militia of power. It is, if anything, a reinforcement measure, a means of ensuring that the embers of the war we so recently played witness to are not allowed to rekindle into a raging inferno.

I hope this alleviates some of your concerns, Representative Star, and helps clarify my position on this very sensitive matter.

As for the revisions made to the original bill, I and the people of Garos IV can accept most of them. While I still have my reservations about the increase in taxes and the issues that may arise from what is laid forth by article 2 of the proposed bill.

At this point in time I will vote in favor of this motion. Though I would still like to see some revisions done with mainly Article 2.

Needless to say, I vote In Favor. I, however, would have liked to have seen Article I stay intact, as a point of record.