What's the difference? Oh no, I'm seen as utterly dishonorable. That sure has stopped every criminal in human history ever.
The Empire's State
- Thread starter CMDR Serra
- Start date
What's the difference? Oh no, I'm seen as utterly dishonorable. That sure has stopped every criminal in human history ever.
And how has that worked for ancient Rome and medieval Japan. Are you 100% positive that there were no criminals at all back then?
Of course there were. What I was trying to point out: For the vast majority of Imperials death is a way more acceptable fate then damage to their dignitas. Due to this fact alone they treat their Imperial slaves well.
Also: In many Imperial families there is little direct interaction between the parents and their children other than at ceremonial events where they are required to perform roles. Children are attended by Imperial Slaves from a young age. The source for this is the Elite novel "Reclamation". You really think they would mistreat those who raise their children for them? That sounds highly unwise to me.
Also: In many Imperial families there is little direct interaction between the parents and their children other than at ceremonial events where they are required to perform roles. Children are attended by Imperial Slaves from a young age. The source for this is the Elite novel "Reclamation". You really think they would mistreat those who raise their children for them? That sounds highly unwise to me.
I don't think a Senatorial Family is indicative of the daily lives of the Plebeians
I kinda doubt though that only senators have slaves, considering that Imperial society has several tiers:
Imperial Slave -> Imperial Citizen -> Client -> Patron -> Senator -> Emperor
Those tiers also make Imperial society more democratic then you think (without it being an actual democracy). See here for more details.
The level of political enfranchisement and self determination of any given Imperial citizen is irrelevant to the Economic nature of the debate
But again, the depiction of a Senatorial Family will not be indicative of the daily lives of the Patrons let alone Imperial Citizens which may not be able to afford slaves, plural, just to raise children.
The mere fact that Imperial Slaves fill up the low paying jobs in imperial society will be indicative that Imperial Citizens will be hard pressed to gain entry level employment unless they have the right client and patron to secure them the position.
Which in turn means a majority of them will be barely scraping by, or borrowing until they themselves fall into debt slavery, and not busy shopping for slaves, plural, just to raise children.
Societies structured in the way the Empire is will have vast inequity in wealth, and the vast majority of the free citizens just above the slaves will be very poorly off, and the difference is often merely the difference between social value in the claim of being Free over the not free.
Slaves cause terrible unemployment among free citizens, and only those with the right connection will be able to secure the jobs above the low paying or entry level ones the mass of slaves fill up, and even the specialized roles are often filled by slaves, really limited potential employment.
The Institution of Imperial Slavery with its rules and customs does not overcome this Economic Reality.
Imperial Slavery are often paid insufficiently to ever pay of this debt.
There were mission from Imperial Factions that the flavour text indicated this when the mission was to purchase Imperial Slaves for a given faction, as it mentioned unlike their old employers the new employer "promise" to pay them at a rate that will allow them to actually pay off their debt in their life times.
Even if an Imperial Slave pays off their debt, they will be replaced by another Imperial Slave, the job will not go to a Free or Freed citizen.
There are always more Free and Freed Citizens who will fall into debt slavery.
When her Imperial Highness Aisling Duval had the bet with Senator Torvel, and had millions of Imperials Slaves delivered to Cemiess to be freed, they immediately feel in to poverty and crime to survive.
The Imperial system is set up to be unable to cope with a large number of free Citizens who will not inevitable fall in to debt slavery.
At best you could say, certain Imperial Slave, in delicate roles, will be treated in such a manner that they wont cause a greater harm to their owners, but the same book you cite has a slave rebellion due to their illegal treatment under ISA rules, a rebellion in which the Imperials Slaves in question are correct, their treatment is actually in breech of ISA rules, and they are put down with deadly force, and there was no question of the lack of honour of the action by anyone in the Chain of Command.
Just as any time the ISA appears in GalNet it is about massive breeches of ISA rules which are ubiquitous and habitual.
Honour, Tradition and Custom does not keep Imperial Slaves treated in any way that is Honourable, given there needs to be an ISA to enforce the rules and that the ISA is losing the battle.
As a senator's power in the senate is ultimately dependent on the number of patrons he represents (which in turn are dependent on the number of clients they represent and those are depending on the number of citizens they represent) they will make sure that those under him are doing well. Failure to do so (as pointed out in the article above) may result in a powershift and even in him losing his status as a senator. So I kind of doubt that the ordinary citizen is "just scraping by" but, in comparison to the ordinary Federal citizen, is MUCH better off.
And while I agree that the ordinary citizen household may not have slaves (plural) they will most likely have a slave that will take on several tasks around the household, propably those who had only smaller debts and lack skills beyond housekeeping (and are therefor "cheaper").
And while I agree that the ordinary citizen household may not have slaves (plural) they will most likely have a slave that will take on several tasks around the household, propably those who had only smaller debts and lack skills beyond housekeeping (and are therefor "cheaper").
It isnt the number but the Value of supporters that matter, as with any system of Patronage.
Corollary: treating imperial slaves well is strongly in the interests of a patron.
I'm changing the channel to NPR, now....