In Chapter 21, Earth is a single state but its society is stratified economically and even genetically. However, the state lacks funds. Colonel Torwen Jormack from Canda, of the Supreme Staff, wants to intensify the tax burden both on Terrestrial subjects and on the Kith interstellar traders but he is canny enough not to want to goad the Kith into abandoning Earth. From Canda is a conscious and calculating class warrior. He simply accepts that economic classes have opposed interests and plans how to further the interests of his own class against all others.
If I were on Earth at that time, then I would oppose from Canda's plans but what would be the alternative? Convene a meeting of the leaders and representatives of all social groups to formulate policies in the best interests of society as a whole? This could be tried but history tells us that the ruling elite would either refuse to participate in such a meeting or alternatively would use it to promote their sectional interests as identical with the social interest. (Roman patricians: "We are the belly; you are the members. If we are not fed, then you starve as well." See here.)
Thus, more active resistance would be needed: strikes; work place occupations; organized resistance to military repression. However, the Kith have what is regarded as the ultimate freedom in American sf, for example in James Blish's They Shall Have Stars and in several works by Anderson. They can leave the Solar System, never to return.
6 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I am not sure you were being wholly just about From Canda. What I remember from both the original story "Ghetto" and its revised form in STARFARERS is that he knows the times are bad and the Domination has become increasingly corrupt and repressive. The further impression I recall is that the only alternative From Canda expects would be its collapse and the nightmarish upheavals and chaos stemming from that. So, he concluded his duty was to struggle to preserve the Dominatin as long as possible in order to postpone that age of anarchy and chaos.
I mgiht be wrong, of course, I'm writing only from memory.
Sean
Sean,
Interesting perspectives. Maybe you could reread the chapter and see what you think?
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
A worthy and interesting suggestion. But I'm already reading John Wright's ARCHITECT OF AEONS and I plan to take a collection of Robert Howard's "Conan" stories with me during my trip to Las Vegas. But, a quick scan of Chapter 21 of STARFARERS, focusing on Colonel Torwen Jormack from Canda should be possible!
Sean
Kaor, Paul!
I have since reread the section of Chapter 21 of STARFARERS showing us Colones Torwen Jormack from Canda. And I still have to disagree with your comments about him being a class warrior. Note how he dismissed entirely, with the utmost scorn, the prejudices against the Kith. Col. Jormack considered the Kith to be fully genetic and intellectual equals of people in the Star Free and Norm AA categories. Nor does he have any illusions about the Star Frees, just consider how contemptuously he regarded his own degenerate grandson!
Rather, the impression I get is Col. Jormack knows how precarious the Dominancy is becoming, and how pressed for funds. He mentioned how even that wretched badge tax imposed on the Kith was of actual use for the Dominancy. He wanted to tax the Kith only up to the degree they would feel compelled to leave the Solar System. My conclusion has to remain that Col. Jormack was trying to preserve the Dominancy because, altho that was only read by me between the lines, he knew its fall would bring on nightmarish chaos and upheavals.
Sean
Sean,
You are right that from Canda is not racially prejudiced against the Kith but I think that you are imagining the crisis that means the only two options are extortionate taxes or chaos.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
On second thought, I have to agree with you, we don't SEE Col. Torwen Jormack from Canda SAYING he served the Dominancy because the only other alternative he could realistically see was a nightmarish time of chaos, collapse, anarchy, etc. But we do see ample signs of the decine of the Dominancy in Chapter 21 of STARFARERS: corruption, repression, incompetence, neglect of their duties by the leaders of society, etc. Historically, the end result of that in human history has been collapse, chaos, anarchy, wars and civil wars. etc.
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