I have withdrawn my Article XI proposal now that I have had a chance to properly appraise the situation ((i.e. load up the game
)).
Regarding your Article IX proposal, I’ve had some ideas of how to achieve the result you want without sacrificing our defensive capability. I agree, with the current financial crisis we need to arrest the treasury deficit. But instead of focussing on cutting expenditure I believe we have opportunities for raising revenue that can be pursued.
My main concern with rapidly reducing our standing forces is that it might embolden those who wish to do us harm. Also, these assets will cost a great deal of time to rebuild if we later decide we need them, and would tie up cities in the event of war. Also, I think we should quarantine the M1A1s from any military cutbacks because in the event of war I think we will be glad to still have them.
A brief note here, I realised I made some assumptions that were incorrect. With regard to Article V, I mistakenly thought we had existing alliances with other countries. I now realise we are still in the process of establishing embassies and declarations of friendship. As our allies will not trade with us in favourable terms until these treaties are signed I propose we do so as a first order of business before attempting any trade.
I believe we can resolve our civil unrest ((happiness)) problem and account deficit largely through trade mechanisms. I think this can be done in three phases:
Phase 1 (first few turns) — Trade surplus luxury items to other nations to acquire new luxury resources. I believe this will restore law and order almost immediately (we would only need three or four new types of luxury goods to push us back into happy territory, I think). If there are any leftover surplus luxury resources, trade them to other countries for gold per turn. Trade old strategic resources (by which I mean only coal and earlier resource types) that are not in use to other countries for gold per turn. Each turn decommission one military unit (non-garrisoned Bradleys in the continental US at first, but then Apaches if we run out of Bradleys to disband), the savings of which will cover the current term’s deficit. If our account balance is for some reason still going backward (I mean in real terms after the asset sale, not what the deficit says it is) we could look to employ one city in the generation of wealth for a short time (I would recommend a landlocked city if this is something we are going to do).
Phase 2 (after some trade routes are established) — Once a few trade routes are established (as per Article X) the decommissioning of military units may not be as necessary, if the deficit is sufficiently small. At this point we could probably allow any cities who were producing wealth to produce other works.
Phase 3 (after all trade routes are established) — Once all trade routes are established (as per Article X) I believe we will not have any remaining cashflow problems and the armed forces can remain at whatever size they are and cities will be free to build whatever else we may need.
So instead of seconding your Article IX motion I guess I would like to instead propose an alternate vision, something like an
Article XI: Emergency measures to quell civil disorder and arrest the treasury deficit.
All in all, I think we can turn our financial position around much quicker than it would appear. I have not moved this as a motion because I wanted to see what you thought first and to see if it could use any reworking before moving.
What are your thoughts?
Maybe the citizens hold a controversial and highly divisive referendum to join Japan and we facilitate their handover that way . . . that could work. I say controversial because of the history in the region . . . and yet today the island receives huge numbers of Japanese tourists. Maybe in our hypothetical scenario an anti-American, Japanophile party wins a majority in the legislature and causes the above. That the U.S. isn't interested in further incorporation but the Japanese might be. What do you think?))
