[X] Plan Lunar Rationalization
--[X]Retire Dygai
--[X]Prioritize Unmanned Programs
--[X]Back Small Producers
On who to fire:
So I am not sure that retiring Dygai first is the right move, I am inclined to thinking we should tackle the harder problem of Smelyakov first. In general, when doing anti-corruption or similarly difficult political projects, it is wise to start off with the hardest problem first, since there's no guarantee that political capital will be left to tackle the problem later. But I am willing to give an otherwise good plan a confidence vote.
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On the space program:
I do concur that we should prioritize the unmanned programs. The Luna program remains a low risk program (Luna being closer than Mars or Venus means there's much more chance our electronics survive the trip) that can synergize with the other probe programs, can help push forward electronics, maintain prestige and develop hardware (and potentially interest) for a future manned Lunar landing. Also, if we don't continue the extended Luna program, there's little chance that we'll get another chance at it. Becoming completely disinterested in the moon means, should an American landing happen, it will actually cost prestige to start sending probes at Luna. Whereas, if we keep throwing probes at the moon, even if the Americans land, the propagandists can crow about how our robots are just so much better than those silly American manned landers (whether or not they actually are doesn't matter, so long as the program is going, they'll have to say it).
The FGB is actually very useful, providing an huge expansion in capability for the manned program - it isn't just life support, it is also more room to work in, and the VA capsule just doesn't have much of that. It is also a good foundation for a future station, but... Here's the thing, a station program is something we're going to have other chances to start and if we have the VA capsule, then at minimum there will be further chances to add an extended work area/life support/cargo boot on vehicle, since if you have a capsule that can be mated to an FGB type extension, it'll be relatively cheap to add such an extension, similar to the reason why developing the RLA-3 and 5 together means that it will be relatively easy to complete the RLA-5 down the line if we ever need it. And most critically, the FGB-VA will add almost nothing to our electronics programs at this point (no need for anything like the Apollo Guidance Computer for work in Earth Orbit, which is where we'll be staying for the foreseeable future).
So as great as the FGB is, it just isn't as useful as the Luna program.
The other projects being cancelled/scaled back include two that I consider vitally important - the orbital docking systems, which we only get to keep if we burn the whole unmanned probe program (including even a remnant Atmospheric Data Satellite program!), and thus just isn't worth it - and the Atmospheric Data Satellites, which we can't avoid being cut back, but can at least avoid being cancelled outright.
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On agriculture:
I really don't get why so many people are going full Stalinist here. The small farmers are key to maintaining a functional agriculture system because we don't have direct control over them. Extending state control will be a bloomin' disaster because fundamentally, the Bolshevik party was filled with people who had a deep anti-peasant classism and the lingering hangover from that and the horrors it created in the civil war STILL infect party men when they deal with agriculture because the classism at this point is structural. Plus, growing the party-bureaucratic farming enterprises only makes our farming crisis worse because it gives more power to people who will try to do more "line go up" at a time when we have an over-production problem. Even if we don't do well in siding with the small producers, it's still important to fight for small farmers because to not fight at all means the rural enterprise managers will have no resistance to their efforts to extend their power and make agriculture less about actually producing the food needed and instead more about destroying the countryside and the rural population in order to produce even more unneeded grain.
On top of that lighting a fire under the rural roads program and providing insurance are things that would ACTUALLY help the agricultural sector, rather than useless ideological hot air. If we roll well, we can make rural life better and thus further buttress our food production capabilities (most critically, smallholders at the moment generally produce higher value foods that provide better nutrition, rather than yet more grain). Plus, if we gain the support of small farmers for Abramov's faction, it will be a huge windfall from Abramov and Klim's political viability. And given Abramov's social conservatism and pro-ordinary worker attitudes which should make him above average at actually listening to rural people, this is probably a historic opportunity to win buy-in to the system from a group of people who are otherwise currently politically alienated and vulnerable to capitalist propaganda. Having met people from Polish and Bulgarian farming families, and I have to say, I think it's worth it to try winning hearts and minds here.
Plus, I trust Kosygin's judgement and think its worth helping him.
[X] Plan Lunar Rationalization (hard stuff first)
--[X]Retire Smelyakov
--[X]Prioritize Unmanned Programs
--[X]Back Small Producers
So there's what I think is the best plan. Same as Lunar Rationalization, but sending Smelyakov to Sakhalin first.
Also, some more confidence votes:
[X] I am just a little guy
[X]Plan: Smack down that private insurance
Regards,
fasquardon
EDIT: cleared up typos and made formatting better, because I think the agriculture and space program matters are important and want people to reconsider their votes.
EDIT2: Realized that plan "I am just a little guy" was the same as the plan I made, so adding a vote for that, while keeping my own plan, since several people have voted for it already. Also voted for "Smack down that private insurance" because it was the same as Lunar Rationalization.
