Long's Bargain, Pt.2:
The Congress of American Syndicates acknowledges your willingness to include them, seeing the gesture as an olive branch and proof that you have no desire to become a Napoleon. Some of them probably wish you picked something less controversial, however.
The plan in a general sense is approved, despite many reservations regarding the undemocratic nature of Long's proposal. And the ceasefire is nearly universally popular, no one wants to waste bullets on potential allies, although many of the more radical wing make it clear that they view this ceasefire as a purely temporary measure.
However, the broader basis of further cooperation with Long is the subject of intense arguments. Every section of the AFL-CIO supports working with him, as does the Red Grange, various Regional Unions, and parts of the Teamster's Union. Most of the others question why you would work with a man like Long. The debate rages for hours after the agreement is approved, ending only with battle lines drawn.
Long, however, does not take your proposal of removing Kansas from his sphere of influence well. He tolerates all the other measures, but that proves to be a bridge too far.
In exchange for your request about Kansas, he wants Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont added to his sphere of influence, along with several places in upstate New York to counterbalance the parts of Texas and Oklahoma he is giving up.
Do you accept this offer?
[] [LONG] Yes.
[] [LONG] No.
[] [LONG] Make a counteroffer
He accedes to the rest of the proposed agreement without a qualm, promising to ensure full cooperation in countering "the cheating rich bastards" and their attempts at suppressing Longism and Syndicalism.
And he acknowledges the importance of ending Jim Crow, offering to support any federal bill you propose on it.
Report from Charles Schenck: 1 Influence on Union Entryism, 77+10=87
In one sense, the triumph of socialism in America is clearly imminent. But in other ways, there is so much further to go.
Even in the heart of the Red Belt, there are still mystified workers and reactionary capitalists who stubbornly resist the clarion call of the revolution, to say nothing of the military-controlled factories like the Rock Island Arsenal or the Ford Memorial Complex.
And outside it, capitalism is still dominant and determinedly crushing any hint of unionization or worker-control under its iron heel. Though it may be rusting, its gears grinding, its joints seizing up, it still has immense strength and cunning.
Worker's organizations are infiltrated and attacked, leadership is assassinated or imprisoned, false flags and propaganda is used to turn workers against their own interests.
And all the while, a steady stream of refugees flees from one place to another, seeking safety and succor.
It's that stream that Schenck takes advantage of.
Agents are deposited in the streams of refugees, fleeing to "safer waters" and seeking "sanity" in a world they say has gone mad. Factories desperate for labor hire them.
And then the work begins. Reactionary and reformist unions find members suddenly demanding more rights, more strikes, more inclusiveness. Factories begin to struggle as their workers grow restive. Vital knowledge is slowly smuggled out.
It's not clean work. Many are found out, and at best they are brutally beaten and then tossed out. At worst, they are hung or shot.
Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Result: Factories and reformist unions infiltrated.
Socialist Markets: 3 Influence, 76+58+11+32=177
It is the culmination of a multi-month conference. A new, revolutionary economic system is created, one that will free all from the tyranny of commodification. Reactionaries decry it as madness and treason, progressives question the legality of the maneuver, moderates wonder if it is too far too fast.
But for each question, there is an answer. The success and revolutionary attitude of the working masses answers the moderates. The falsity of law and order in a capitalist state answers the progressives. And the boot and the bayonet answer the reactionaries.
Still, it is not an uncontroversial decision that the conference has made, although it is one you fully approve of. The Congress of American Syndicates has gained an unprecedented degree of economic control, one that has been immediately put to use.
Regrettably, the dominant syndicalist wing of the Congress has wielded their power, slowing the transition to create an environment of economic dual power, one which had admittedly stabilized prices and assuaged many concerns. Between damaged infrastructure, disorganized economic structures, lack of physical security, and limited capacity for groups like those in the Black Belt to represent themselves, a full immediate transition to labor vouchers has been rejected in place of a slower, steadier process involving voluntary transitions with incentives similar to those for collectivization.
It's not ideal, but it is what exists.
Result: Increase to income, strengthening of the Orthodox Marxist wings of the SPA and the Congress, improved economic efficiency, economic benefits will slowly increase as the program is expanded.
Rationalize Production Schemes: 1 Influence, 95+25=120
As the economic transformation begins, further steps are taken to give the worker's state within the capitalist state every advantage that can be had. Patent Offices are looted, engineers are hired, workers share schematics and methods.
It's a slow, steady process, complicated by the fact that several factories have been effectively turned into fortified encampments rather than be seized by the workers, or else have been sold to the federal government so they can continue churning out weapons of oppression and instruments of capitalism. As long as you refuse to provoke the federal government - and more pointedly the federal army - there will be limits.
But the fundamental truth of socialism is that most limits are arbitrary, and all the guns in the world can't stop workers seeking liberation. No matter the lengths the Army and the BOI go to, plans and ideas still get shared. Factories, freed from the tyranny of the market, begin experimenting, tweaking things.
A design from Rock Island is drawn on scraps of toilet paper and then smuggled out using methods you don't want to think about, and it's carefully passed along. And far out in the wilds of Iowa, a factory begins churning out some new guns.
If you ever meet the brave man with such a brilliant memory, you are giving him a medal personally.
Not all the changes are so triumphant. There are still men of "principle" who refuse to work with the SPA to improve production and flee rather than be persuaded, many experiments are unsuccessful, and there are still many important designs and details hidden from you.
But the Red Guards are better equipped, production of various tools and toys and goods in general is going faster and smoother, and people are coming up with all sorts of new ideas.
The SyndIntern advisors help, transferring their expertise and smoothing out obstacles and confusion wherever they can, helping improve the efficiency of your assembly lines and factories.
And they take home quite a few blueprints and ideas to help strengthen their own revolutions.
It's excellent when everyone wins. Except for the capitalists and their lackeys, of course.
Result: Increase to economic efficiency, increase to income, better production of all kinds of goods, new actions unlocked.
Voucher Printing: 1 Influence, 70+25=95
The printing goes smoothly, as multiple factories are hired to produce new vouchers. With them comes books for keeping records and pens for writing it.
And through some minor legal chicanery, your strained coffers avoid taking most of the burden.
It's a success all-around, not that it was likely to fail. There had been some protests and complaints when the vouchers started printing and people realized you were serious, but many were fascinated by the possibilities, tantalized by the visions your writers and propagandists offered, and comforted by the promise that it was only a limited roll-out.
The first few voucher-made exchanges are made as the workers who created them take a set each and use them at a local bar they favor.
And it all goes smoothly.
You take up one of the first vouchers and examine it closely, a proud smile on your face.
What does it look like?
[] [VOUCHERS] Plain beige paper with a serial number and a few lines for signatures. Simple and boring.
[] [VOUCHERS] A large, square-ish dollar bill lacking any of the iconographies of an official government bill.
[] [VOUCHERS] A pale pink slip of paper with a torch-and-gear visible in the background
[] [VOUCHERS] An elaborate voucher festooned with symbols of the revolutionary cause
[] [VOUCHERS] Write-in a description
Result: Vouchers printed and produced
Report from the Coordination Committee: 2 Influence on Domestic Subsidies, 16+52+5=73
Various municipal programs are established across the nation, to help provide for the welfare of a struggling, damaged nation. Construction programs for public housing are expanded beyond what EcPlanCom had planned, stocks of food are purchased as the soup kitchens are expanded to even greater capacities, and limited programs to help care for the very young and the very old are established. Widows and orphans are given special subsidies to help them endure their losses, and there are even limited expansions of the Community Check-In programs to support the mental health of as many workers as possible.
Not every town or city is willing to pay the costs for these programs, even with state governments backing it, and there are many rumors of sweetheart deals and other corrupt bargains being used as part of the process, but the Red Guards and the democratic will of the people are determinedly working to halt such abusive behavior.
Result: Municipal welfare programs established
Report from Ben Little and some SPA Cadres: 3 Influence on Clothing Distribution, 23+70+45=138, 1 Influence on Clothing Distribution, 96+5=101
One welfare program that sees significant effort from everyone is the determined attempt to clothe all who need it. The continued disruptions in the south means there are shortages of cotton, but stocks are purchased from Egypt to serve as a substitute. The textile plants of Philadelphia and Boston and Trenton churn day and night, making coats and shirts. The colors are drab and the quality isn't excellent, but its enough to keep thousands warm who otherwise wouldn't be.
It's a great, determined effort, a struggle as mighty as the one against reaction. Cadres of party members distribute garments for hours on end, personally visiting every house and apartment to make sure they have ample supplies. Despite some concerns, even capitalists are given warm garments, as proof of the superiority of socialism if nothing else.
Even the bureaucratic machinery of the state and the Congress get involved, using censuses and records to keep track of who needs clothing and helping direct the efforts of the cadres.
No one is neglected. No one is left behind.
Result: Massive clothing donations established at reduced cost.
Report from EcPlanCom
The first decision EcPlanCom made was to request a moratorium on hours reductions, explaining that it will help them better determine how to improve safety standards. While this naturally provoked serious grumbling, the swift action the commission took regarding mandating new safety equipment and establishing standards of conduct that prioritized the safety of workers above all did demonstrate that they were serious.
Meanwhile, steel foundries were expanded, and a pair of new rolling mills see their ground broken, with two shifts working on them every day, determinedly laboring to see them expand. New ties are laid down, damaged rails are replaced, and additional coaling and diesel infrastructure is established.
Similar efforts see potholes filled in, gravel roads paved over, and a slow, steady improvement in the quality of urban roads.
Meanwhile, just outside of Rock Island, a new fertilizer factory is planned out, construction progressing rapidly. Nearby tractor plants are built slower, with several revisions to their plans being made.
The Pennsylvania oil fields, which had mostly shuttered thanks to cheaper alternatives in Texas, see new investment, and several coal mines that were closed due to a lack of profitability were reopened, although some of them were closed again due to safety concerns.
Meanwhile, all manner of new factories and workshops were constructed, ranging from canneries to furniture-makers.
The Commission is confident that they will complete their plan on schedule, and you see no reason to doubt them.
