21-12-2025, 03:44 AM
A compromise, if you can keep it.
March 13th, 5697
Metz-Leonid, Karoboro Canton, Xsampa
-----------------------------
"You're kidding me." The disbelief in Rabyang's voice was indescribable. Passang spun the chair around and looked out the window of his office. "I wish I was. I know that the bill is DOA. Unless you can convince Left-Green to even entertain the bill in good faith." Passang was asking for the impossible. The seconds between his request and Rabyang's silence felt like minutes. Hours. All in a few seconds. The voice on the phone spoke up. "You do know that you're asking me to convince my party, my own party, to tolerate the antics of your own coalition, right? Even if I could convince the rest of Left-Green, why would the CPX or SLP allow this to go through? They'll kill the bill and your administration by afternoon. Besides, why should I? I'm not s social monarchist."
Passang knew that would be an issue. Convincing Rabyang and then figuring out the CPX and SLP issue. "Look." He paused, hesitant to speak. He gulped, and tried to sound confident. More then he was. "Politics is just the art of compromise. If you can be sold on the idea, Left-Green can follow through and then so can the SLP. So let's work together. I can already tell you that the bill won't have any provisions for an absolute monarchy, let alone a hereditary one. How's that sound for a start?" Silence. Rabyang was thinking. A sigh was heard from the other side of the phone. "That's... A decent start. Removing the hereditary issue will make it easier to convince the party. But then why should I support the bill? Or the rest of Left-Green? This is just going to be what, the Custodian but we call them Your Royal Comrade? You know how the SLP votes. They'll want actual policy, not just giving the Custodian a fancy gown and calling it a day. Besides... There's still the NDA. The CPX will demand that be amended if you even try touching the position of Custodian."
Passang thought for a moment. He forgot about the New Democracy Act. Even if it's basically impossible to trigger, the CPX and the wider public will want to make sure it can be theoretically applicable if democracy killed socialism. He took a deep breath. "Your right. Think of the monarch like this. They'll still pay tax, and be loyal to the Revolution and Socialism, but they'll be like a cultural ambassador. A diplomat. A rallying figure for the people. And maybe the state can even make some money from a monarchist institution. The SLP gets to say they voted in favour of a long term plan for taxation. And that can help the Tsokling Deficit. I can assure you, no one in my coalition wants a strong monarchy. They're all socialists first and foremost. They'd want a constitutional monarchy ideally, but I can make sure they compromise for a ceremonial one or at least a soft c constitutional one. I can enact a Revolutionary Order to give the CPX the avenue to amend the NDA and placate them. Surely that's enough, yeah?"
More silence. Rabyang hesitantly replied. "I suppose. But." He paused, letting the words float in the air a little longer. "25% of whatever is sent to maintain monarchist institutions must go to the Tsokling. Guarantee me that, and I'll talk to the rest of my party, and see if I can get the SLP to follow suit." Passang almost jumped. He nodded, and quickly responded. "Of course, of course, that's perfectly acceptable. You have a deal. The bill will not include any provisions to see the monarch with any abilities to override PAX."
Rabyang said one last thing before hanging up. "Good good. You'll need luck with this bill. The CPX will go ballistic unless you can sway them. And if you piss them off, the media will take notice and turn this into a bigger issue. And when the CPX is re-elected, whether it be in 5700 or 5705, or 5710, they will move to kill your monarchy project. So you should focus on them before you draft the bill." His words were ominous, but he was right. The CPX would be a major obstacle. Passang didn't need their votes to pass it, but when they come back into office, they will strike hard. He couldn't ignore them. He would need to find some compromise. Somehow.
March 13th, 5697
Metz-Leonid, Karoboro Canton, Xsampa
-----------------------------
"You're kidding me." The disbelief in Rabyang's voice was indescribable. Passang spun the chair around and looked out the window of his office. "I wish I was. I know that the bill is DOA. Unless you can convince Left-Green to even entertain the bill in good faith." Passang was asking for the impossible. The seconds between his request and Rabyang's silence felt like minutes. Hours. All in a few seconds. The voice on the phone spoke up. "You do know that you're asking me to convince my party, my own party, to tolerate the antics of your own coalition, right? Even if I could convince the rest of Left-Green, why would the CPX or SLP allow this to go through? They'll kill the bill and your administration by afternoon. Besides, why should I? I'm not s social monarchist."
Passang knew that would be an issue. Convincing Rabyang and then figuring out the CPX and SLP issue. "Look." He paused, hesitant to speak. He gulped, and tried to sound confident. More then he was. "Politics is just the art of compromise. If you can be sold on the idea, Left-Green can follow through and then so can the SLP. So let's work together. I can already tell you that the bill won't have any provisions for an absolute monarchy, let alone a hereditary one. How's that sound for a start?" Silence. Rabyang was thinking. A sigh was heard from the other side of the phone. "That's... A decent start. Removing the hereditary issue will make it easier to convince the party. But then why should I support the bill? Or the rest of Left-Green? This is just going to be what, the Custodian but we call them Your Royal Comrade? You know how the SLP votes. They'll want actual policy, not just giving the Custodian a fancy gown and calling it a day. Besides... There's still the NDA. The CPX will demand that be amended if you even try touching the position of Custodian."
Passang thought for a moment. He forgot about the New Democracy Act. Even if it's basically impossible to trigger, the CPX and the wider public will want to make sure it can be theoretically applicable if democracy killed socialism. He took a deep breath. "Your right. Think of the monarch like this. They'll still pay tax, and be loyal to the Revolution and Socialism, but they'll be like a cultural ambassador. A diplomat. A rallying figure for the people. And maybe the state can even make some money from a monarchist institution. The SLP gets to say they voted in favour of a long term plan for taxation. And that can help the Tsokling Deficit. I can assure you, no one in my coalition wants a strong monarchy. They're all socialists first and foremost. They'd want a constitutional monarchy ideally, but I can make sure they compromise for a ceremonial one or at least a soft c constitutional one. I can enact a Revolutionary Order to give the CPX the avenue to amend the NDA and placate them. Surely that's enough, yeah?"
More silence. Rabyang hesitantly replied. "I suppose. But." He paused, letting the words float in the air a little longer. "25% of whatever is sent to maintain monarchist institutions must go to the Tsokling. Guarantee me that, and I'll talk to the rest of my party, and see if I can get the SLP to follow suit." Passang almost jumped. He nodded, and quickly responded. "Of course, of course, that's perfectly acceptable. You have a deal. The bill will not include any provisions to see the monarch with any abilities to override PAX."
Rabyang said one last thing before hanging up. "Good good. You'll need luck with this bill. The CPX will go ballistic unless you can sway them. And if you piss them off, the media will take notice and turn this into a bigger issue. And when the CPX is re-elected, whether it be in 5700 or 5705, or 5710, they will move to kill your monarchy project. So you should focus on them before you draft the bill." His words were ominous, but he was right. The CPX would be a major obstacle. Passang didn't need their votes to pass it, but when they come back into office, they will strike hard. He couldn't ignore them. He would need to find some compromise. Somehow.
"Yet I am here, and here I shall remain to behold the world in all it's beauty"
"The world is but a stage. Why cry, when you can laugh instead? For laughter is humanity's preserve. Laugh it all off, fret not, Let's just enjoy the moment."
"The world is but a stage. Why cry, when you can laugh instead? For laughter is humanity's preserve. Laugh it all off, fret not, Let's just enjoy the moment."