The Diego Diaries: Economics v Economics (dd8 91)

=0=Tense moment in the Staff Meeting in the big conference room in the Ops Center, The Fortress, Autobot City as a clash of world views about EVERYTHING rolls out

Will Lennox who was watching from his chair rose tensely as Kyle Davis and Ultra Magnus of all individuals commenced a very heated stare down. It was evident to him that things had taken a turn as his dad was wont to say and not for the good. He stepped closer to Prime. :Uh, this isn't going so well. Can I say something here?:

Prime noting his discomfort grinned faintly. "Of course, William Lennox," he replied rather formally.

Will stared at him, then Magnus, Davis and everyone else who were watching and waiting. He felt the weight of the world upon him for a moment, then stood up straighter. :Well, this is fucked. Here we are living on a planet where we couldn't survive without the considerable help of our hosts and you're picking a fight in the middle of the communal meeting about money:

:We have a system in place, Colonel. Its worked just fine and was agreed upon when we came. Now its getting thrown out. I think our upset is justified: Davis replied rather hotly.

:Is that so?: Lennox replied coldly. :Magnus asked you a question, Davis, about what's a downside to living here and the system that they use to make it so. You never answered the question. Name one downside to this system:

Davis stared at him with fury. :There's no way for anyone to rise to the pinnacle of their ability here. Everyone is the same. No one gets to advance:

"And that is where you are mistaken," Perceptor said. "I was a forensics medicine and general hard science innovator and professor at the Praxus Science Academy and served on numerous boards and committees at the leisure of the Primes. I rose to the absolute pinnacle of my profession there as it was allowed to be even for high castes but its eclipsed by my work here. There, I was slotted into a category of scientist that had limitations placed on me because I was good at the things they wanted and needed. I wasn't given any opportunity to develop beyond that because they wouldn't allow it in their short sighted tunnel visioned view of things.

"Consider that Wheeljack and I are the Prime's Chief Scientists for all science within the Empire. That means we get to do anything and all things that interest us, are needed for the Empire and/or for research. It is my dream to do hard science in the theoretical realms on the topics that interest me and I can. That wasn't possible before."

"On Cybertron I was chief of medicine for the Army and Armed Forces. I had to do what they allowed which meant I had to steal medicine and supplies for the hedge doctors who worked in the slums and everywhere else to help our people who didn't matter to the bosses. I wanted to consolidate medicine in the military which was stellar for obvious reasons and the public which was crap or non-existent unless you were rich to help bring up the standard of living overall. It would benefit everyone if everyone was healthy but that was a bridge too far for them. I never got caught but it was close. Here, I've done both and have overall medical command of everything everywhere including boards of certification which has helped everyone," Ratchet said.

"I was a Wrecker. I'll leave it to Prowl to tell you what that means because he's our patron saint," Springer said with a big smile.

The room burst into laughter as Prowl frowned at Springer, crossing his arms over his rather shapely chassis. "As if," he muttered to more laughter.

"I was a special ops soldier who's chief of security and policing for the entire Empire. Drift is a former Decepticon who is second-in-command. That would NEVER happen before. Never in ten million vorns," Springer said. "Now we're working for the safety and well being of everyone. Instead of being a hammer for the wealthy, we work to ensure safety through programs that help rather than harm. Our crime statistics speak for themselves. Cybertron on the other servo was a seething pit of repression by your type of class, Davis."

It was silent a moment, then Neo leaned forward to stare at Davis. "I once was like you, selfish and entitled. The only thing I thought mattered was the maintenance of my own standard of living at all cost. I helped repress my own people and for that I share a load of the blame for what happened."

"Which has been repaid a thousand times over," Arcee said as the mechs and femmes in the room nodded in agreement including Prime.

Neo stared at Arcee with love and the others as well. "It's my dream to serve now. If there is no compassion and empathy, there is no unity. To blame the poor and disenfranchised for their condition which is created by the decisions of others with power, something I did myself is inexcusable. Everyone of our people is worth everything. They deserve everything. If they suffer, then we help them. If they're hurt or hungry, lost or ill, then we help them. If we don't then perhaps we deserve the fate that befell all of us.

"You have a duty to everyone, Mr. Davis, whether you know it or not. Maybe even a bigger one because your resources can do a lot of good. The goal of life in my opinion isn't to accumulate everything you can grasp without a care for others. The payment you'll make one way or another, sooner or later will be tremendous. I tell you that from the depths of my spark."

"Some of us grew up in slums and watched our genitors and families work themselves to death. I just got my parents, if you will, back from the Diaspora. Nothing that's a thing, nothing that's money or goods will ever reach even the faintest outskirts of the feelings of love and happiness having them back brings to me. I'm the richest mech in this room because of that simple fact.

"I went to prison over this issue and I was three days away from execution for what I'm prepared to do for every single member of my society every day even now. I don't regret one single thing," Jetta said as he leaned forward to speak to Davis down table. "Not one slagging thing."

It was silent.

"You seem to think that everything has a price, Mr. Davis, Mr. Harris," Venture said. "I'm fascinated about this. Can you tell us more?"

Davis stared around at the bots, then turned to the others. :Don't just sit there!:

Lennox glanced at the other soldiers, too. :Don't just sit there: he said with a grin.

Epps smirked. :Davis, everyone of my family on both sides that can lives here. They came to visit and stayed because they said this is the only place they've ever been where they felt completely safe and at home. This place drew them back into farming. They worked like dogs on their dairy and gave it up because it was too hard in the economy back home. Here they work at this one and its a helluva lot better.

:They make amazing cheese, butter, milk and cream. They do it for the Outpost stores on Earth and gift shops at the Resort. They do it for the habitats. They love it because the goal is to do good work, get better and produce great stuff without the bullshit and bullshitters that were the problem back home. They don't have to meet anyone's bullshit demands to do it:

Niall Graham nodded. :My parents and in-laws live here. They loved London and Fort William in Scotland. I didn't think I'd ever get them to even come here for a visit but my kids helped make that happen. They loved it so much they immigrated. They work at the Resort and volunteering at different things. They live in a great house, eat well, have fun and don't have to worry about paying for things beyond their heartfelt labor. They work harder here and love it more than they ever did on Earth. That should tell you a lot:

:How are we to make the balance sheets meet if everything we ship here to stock the malls is free? How are we to make a profit from our investments if what we make is given away?: Davis asked.

"We pay for the shipping, Davis, just so you remember," Magnus said coldly.

"It also depends upon how you define profit," Ironhide said. "If what you mean is you make yourself richer, then you're probably going to be disappointed. I just did a run on your money and it would appear, Mr. Davis, that you're worth in the ballpark as they say about 22 billion dollars."

Everyone took a moment to marvel at that.

:So: Davis said as he dug in.

"What level of wealth is too much for you then? Is there some ceiling number that's enough? Or are you ready to be a pioneer and invest in things like the habitat to advance the general overall well being of everyone on Earth without the profit motive being the first and last thought in your mind?" Elita asked. Rich people were unknown territory to her.

Davis stared at her debating what to say. In this crowd he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. He turned to his group to stare at them.

Andre Baudin, the futurist and planner for Earth2 stood. He turned to everyone slowly, then paused before Prime. :I'm what they call a futurist. I think about what could be ahead of what things are now, all of the different possibilities. I've studied your model, talked to Lazlo of Iacon and Venture … Magnus … and find myself awash in admiration for it. I'm unused to cashless societies though they exist rarely on Earth here and there. This place is a miracle of cooperation and unity which is incredibly admirable.

:We come from another tradition and haven't had the same experiences. We want to learn and grow to benefit our people and planet. Growing involves pains and shifts that are hard when you believe so ardently in what you know and hold up in practice. It requires a different set of beliefs and values as well as the idea that everyone is worthy and worthwhile no matter their estate. I, myself find no downsides to this system. It changes to meet each need no matter how big or small, how sudden or how planned. There's democracy in the councils for everyone from the local, and district councils, all the way to this one. Anyone can bring a grievance forward from the local level and get it heard here.

:If there's a need that arises then you pivot to meet it. Your needs are vast given your situation but they're met. You put your resources into your people from the prisons to the schools to your support infrastructure. Medical is a given for everyone. Food isn't an issue. Everyone gets what they want and need through a supply system that allows artisans and other specialists along with the generalists to make what they do and have those accept it. They get to continue ancient and new skills and people benefit from their efforts and genius.

:There's much to say about a system that rewards labor. There's also much to say about a system that allows those who need time to have it. If you need to take the time before finding a job or career, you support that. Its healthy and wise to do that because it creates unity and buy-in from those most deliberately and profoundly affected.

:Everyone lives well. Your housing is beautiful in cities that are beautiful, efficient and various. The skylines of your city complexes are all different and they meet the needs of the people from temples to business to amenities and societal support services. No one is far from a doctor, a grocery store, entertainment or transport. Its all planned so efficiently and well that its a model of what can be.

:When the door is open, the people will come in and tell you without it festering in the community because there's no outlet for redress. Your court systems are innovative rather than punitive and the solutions are extraordinary for some of the crimes committed but they work. Policing is sympathetic and community based. Information is available to a degree here that I've never seen anywhere else. That you, Optimus Prime as the supreme leader of your people can walk around without armed guards doing whatever you please anywhere here is testament to the level of support the people have for what you've created. Given that you've surpassed 200 million individuals, that's no small thing.

:Education, medical and quality of life matter here and its reflected in the temper of your society. You're incredibly creative and innovative. The more I learn from you the more I appreciate what you do and how you do it. Humans are competitive. We see things and want them. Sometimes we don't look around at the damage we do in the attempt. I'm glad to see that such a model as yours can be so successful: Baudin glanced at Davis. :I would be happy to explain this model to you so you can see how successful and ingenuous it is. Maybe there's no billionaires here but what is here is more genuine contentment, productivity and unity than anywhere else I've ever been: He glanced at Prime. :Forgive us our growing pains, Lord Optimus. Progress is a process for humans:

Prime nodded. "Thank you, Doctor."

Baudin sat down again and it was quiet a moment.

Then Davis frowned at Baudin. :Did you just apologize for me?:

Baudin grinned slightly, then gave a good old Gallic shrug.

At that moment, Owen Harris burst out into laughter.

=0=TBC 02-13-2021 02-13-2021

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