Stargate 11

[ionnsaigh]

Captain Slog,
Six Months out.
Neptune's huge size - has had a negative psychological impact on most of the crew - This became apparent early last month - as the blue blob grew larger, than that of the view our screens provided. Captain Dr Snoddy Chief Medical Officer - reported that most symptoms of inadequateness - had decreased by the third week. We caught sight of Triton today - 354.8 thousand KM from Neptune. What a strange world, as it's surface is divided into different types of terrain. To the north a bluish and hummocky cantaloupe terrain - juxtaposed with the smooth landscape, coated with grey and brown ices of the south. Bathed in blue we hurtle towards the ice giant - 4.5 Billion KM from the Sun... ETA 22-30hrs Tomorrow.
We decided to avoid the Great Dark Storm area for safety reasons - as it's approximately the size of Earth - it was never hard to miss. The mother craft responded particularly well going through the Scooters - Bright white arrow shaped - high altitude clouds. Our instruments measured a wind speed in excess of 1,250MPH.
High above the surface we cut forward thrust - in the relatively thin gaseous atmosphere the ship appeared stable.

From here on in we would rely on the Work-Pod. The pods overall capacity - is comparable to that of three old super size Jumbo jets. Twenty members of crew - excluding the Eight member drilling team and equipment - set off for blue yonder.
We landed on a mantle of slushy chemical ices, of Water Ammonia Methane. The blue light reflected various sized objects littering the surface. On inspection these where found to be diamonds, of the highest quality.
We spent Three hours on the surface - as drilling would be imposable - the slush depth reached the limit of our
measuring capability 5 miles. We collected fifty large diamonds - secured for the retirement pension of all crew.
We would return to Earth rich. One of the younger members of crew accidentally fired his ray gun - narrowly missing Capt bill. Weapon training will be high on the agenda - as we turn and head for the rings of Mighty Saturn.
signing out
SS TYREKIN.

[Buzz Lightyear]

Do you plan on paying my universe a visit? We are very friendly here at Star Command, we can give you some good advice and help here with your problems you are experiencing at the moment.....spaceship or personal wise!!!

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Ionns - glad to see you're maintaining your socialist principles, even in deep space. It must be great being on the only spaceship in the galaxy where EVERYONE is a Captain

[ionnsaigh]

Do you plan on paying my universe a visit? We are very friendly here at Star Command, we can give you some good advice and help here with your problems you are experiencing at the moment.....spaceship or personal wise!!!

Captain Slog,
We have received a distant signal from deep dark space - We have notified Ground Control. Owing to the signals unique position - being the first to confirm intelligent life - we have decided to send the following signal.

SS Tyrekin to Star Command - message sent 14-20hrs. November 10th 2051.
Greetings from Scottish Starship Tyrekin - Communist Peoples Pathway Expedition
We have in essence a common value of equality - each member of our crew enjoys equal treatment - status and exercises appropriate individual responsibility for all. Decisions are made openly and by way of vote - the majority sways the outcome.

We come in peace - our joint presence can only serve to develop both our cultures. However we hold that sovereign right - to take up arms if met by tyranny. As a race we humans have a warlike history - Our development has encountered so far - Three main stages of development - Barbarity Savagery and this present stage Civilization. We as a life form are in the process of Evolution. Our secretariat expressed concern through the popular vote - chiefly the use of the term Star Command - as being in some way - appearing total in nature -it's dominating inference - raised an eyebrow or Two. Would you explain your meaning please. We take this opportunity in thanking you for your kind offer of assistance. One that we have no immediate need of - We extend similar greetings and offers.
signing out
SS Tyrekin.
PS do you lot have eyebrows ?

[ionnsaigh]

Ionns - glad to see you're maintaining your socialist principles, even in deep space. It must be great being on the only spaceship in the galaxy where EVERYONE is a Captain

Sheik, I thought you had cracked it there. The Socialist principle lies with the equal distribution of the diamonds.
The rank is merely stamp

[Bobbie En Tejas]

In reality, if everyone had an equal share of diamonds, diamonds would be valueless.

[ionnsaigh]

In reality, if everyone had an equal share of diamonds, diamonds would be valueless.

That could be further extended to include anything really. As abundance or scarcity - effect the value of any given thing. Prices in a capitalist economy are kept artificially high. Due to the abuse of this law of value - by making things scarce - they drive up price and profit.

[EMDEE]

Who would have thought that a discussion of economics would have come out of the Stargate thread?

Science fiction to economics within three posts!

One comment I would make is that socialist economies also have to work with the laws of supply and demand. These laws are not laid down, neither can they be avoided by any political ideology, but are essentially elements of human nature, and as such are fairly entrenched.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Ionns, no one has everything equally, it is impossible.. if it isn't a money system set up, it would have to be a barter system, which ultimately is the same thing. Where one man's soil and season may grow apples, another may grow cotton, and then you have to decide how much cotton is worth how many apples. The person who has slaved over the cotton may think his cotton is more valuable than the apple that someone else grew.

If a person thinks the price of an item is artificially high and not a good value, the best thing to do is not buy the item. And I agree with Emdee, in any political system there is a law of supply and demand. The artificiality would be if the government demands that something that required much labor by one person is equal in value to something that required little labor by someone else just so everyone can pretend that everything is equal.

[ionnsaigh]

Captain Slog
Captain Bent - please report to captains quarters at 16-00hrs. She sighed shuddered - swiftly she switched - the communications pad - back over to Beethoven - then continued her daydream of - monsters - men - and the price of a banana. Memories of childhood filtered through her mind - Mother reading her stories from the bible - as she perched snugly on her lap - the fire would crackle - bright orange flames danced - a merry, yet hypnotic dance.
Those thoughts ran deep down to the formative zone - solidly marking - the impressionable young girl - who sat on mammy's knee. She learned the false lessons of crass individualism - from the big black book.
Come on in Bent - grab a seat - he spoke softly - aware of her predispositions. He began, cotton and apples share a common value - in the amount of labour required to produce them. One Starbuck equals one hour of labour.
Crew members require - Three Starbucks a day - to live work and play - The Mars bar formula - requires all to be treated fairly and squarely. Come on now Bent - play the game - with that she was given a copy of - Citizen rights and obligations - before he terminated the interview with a warm and friendly smile.
signing out
SS Tyrekin.

[hugh]

I knew this would happen. "Join this crew, sign on the dotted line," he says, "you'll get a diamond when you retire." he says.
Now here I am stuck on this bloody red planet working for three Starbucks and a freakin' Mars bar a day. "but it's utopia," he says, "We all get
paid the same." Wish he'd stop saying things and start passing the cigarettes around.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Ionns, I can only surmise what you are trying to say. If it is what I surmise, it is so far off it doesn't make sense to respond to it.

[ionnsaigh]

Captain Slog,
To Captain Hugh.. and motley crew.
Comrade Captain as you are aware - we had to leave a skeleton crew on the Red planet. Captain Dr Snoddy recommends an increase of 250mg - of your anti solar radiation pills. Your signal clearly indicates - the first stages of microwave oven fever. Your contracted obligations are 20hrs per week - Monday - Friday. Your earnings correspond exactly - to that of everyone else - employed by Marx ltd. You have earned the same amount - Three Starbucks a day - as our dear Presidenti on Earth. Thundering galaxies - try taking it easy - smoke some grass man - chill out. Remember there is a diamond here for you. See you in six years - all the best Captain Overandout.
PS
Have you found any wattur yet.
signing out
SS Tyrekin.

[ionnsaigh]

Captain Slog,
Ground control re, Captain Bent.
I have unconsciously found a weakness in Capt Bent's armour . Who would have thought that our bravest - most decorated soldier - in Starfleet - cannae take a joke. lighten up bob bud.
Bob bud
bud bob
bob bob
bud bud
signing out
SS Tyrekin.

[EMDEE]

Ionnsaigh

Have you ever thought that many of the precepts of Socialism are also shared by Christianity? Which came first? I don’t think there is really an answer to that! It’s a rhetorical question.

The absence of a God in Communist beliefs is something that needs to be rationalised by the individual who wishes to adopt these beliefs in the same way as the presence of a God needs to be rationalised by those who wish to adopt the philosophies of a particular religion.

Tolerance and respect for the right of anyone to hold beliefs different from one’s own should be paramount.