00 Lobbies Events

A Web of Distrust fund_lobbies_events.1 · dlc010

The influx of … lobbying money into … politics has raised domestic tensions significantly. Rumors and accusations of certain politicians being … agents have become commonplace.

"I often feel like it is impossible to get anything done, nowadays. I was asked about a purchase made by a cousin of mine - a woman who I have met a total of once." "Who asked?" "One of the Treasury's men. I told him precisely what I am telling you now." "They seem to be on edge as of late. I'm inclined to blame that fool downstairs. Silverware from …, and he used it for a meeting with the Minister? We let him into a good thing, and he's completely ruining it for the rest of us."

Accountable to Whom? fund_lobbies_events.2 · dlc010

An anonymous author affiliated with the … has written a polemic attacking the …'s affiliation with the …. The document accuses them of being foreign agents sponsored by the … secret service.

"We are inclined to assume the best, and this is an attribute which we are the last to condemn. Let us imagine a world where there is no …, and thus no …. In this world, we believe that … …'s conduct would be thoroughly righteous. … is entitled to a good first impression. However, it is also our responsibility to be objective, and to report deficiencies where we find them. Because of this, for every coin … accepts during … visits to the … embassy, we must adjust this good first impression accordingly..."

Proven Right fund_lobbies_events.3 · dlc010

Reports of … money arriving in the hands of domestic actors amicable to them has caused the … to issue a flurry of condemnations directed at its opponents.

Vindication was a feeling that … had been feeling more and more often as of late. The reports strewn across … desk confirmed what … had been warning against for what felt like years - the penetration of … influence into the highest levels of governance. … rivals could all be said to be suspects, and … allies painted as savvy insiders. It would take work, of course. These same confirmations would be flowing to groups other than …, and others were certain to have the same idea. It was a race, now, and he who started earliest was nearly guaranteed to finish first.

Above One's Means fund_lobbies_events.4 · dlc010

…, a prominent ally of the …, has recently been sighted living significantly above … means. … detractors claim that … lifestyle is enabled by … "donations".

One could identify …'s new residence immediately. Its freshly polished stucco was unlike the weathered facades of … neighbors, all of which transmitted a sort of timeless, quiet dignity. There was none of that in … facade, and there was none of it inside. It hosted a lavish party which seemed to blur between days without ever stopping. The sight of it posed a question to all of who observed. It lingered in the air, palpable and pressing. How?

Unabashed Opportunism fund_lobbies_events.5 · dlc010

With the influx of … lobbying money, elements of the … have sensed an opportunity to enrich and empower themselves. They have begun gravitating towards the ….

A fraction of them made excuses. A smaller fraction of them made good excuses, essays that presented lines of logic which sprawled out over hundreds of pages. Most of them did not. They claimed that their choice was informed by their friends, or by the atrocities of …'s enemies, or by their unerring sense of justice. But why, then, said their critics, did they only come to this epiphany now? Why not when their coffers were lean, and all they had to their names were their principles? None of them could think of an answer.

Lobby Core 1 lobby_core.1 · dlc010

The Revolution Betrayed lobby_events.1 · dlc010

"We have allied ourselves in order to fight Communism," … said, "because they have cast themselves as enemies of democracy. Without democracy, there is no freedom. Violence, no matter who is using it, is always reactionary." The response was anemic, applause scattered enough that one could identify the individual participants. But it was more than … had ever received from this crowd - much more.

Our Oppressed Siblings lobby_events.2 · dlc010

"Even they may find forgiveness, yes, but such a thing requires repentence, and the … government is the very definition of unrepentent arrogance." "How merciful." "And yet I show far more than their … ever did!" He was on the warpath - that was plainly obvious to the beleaguered attaché. And if he had his way, the nation would soon be as well.

Technical Talents lobby_events.3 · dlc010

"By our standards? With the methods they employ in their manufactories, they often find themselves saving half a man-hour per worker to produce the same output we do. The building I toured had quite an innovative lighting system, as well. Imagine, if you will, shifts being able to extend up to an hour more per day..." His mustachioed compatriot was already pulling out a paper, drawing a line between disparate sets of calculations. When two sums were placed next to one another, he let out a low whistle.

No Longer the Same lobby_events.4 · dlc010

The defeat of the … … in a revolution has broken the …'s interest in upholding the …. They have halted their advocacy for closer ties with ….

The letters they had sent had all gone unanswered. A discreet visit confirmed their worst suspicions - the building they once owned had been seized, and now housed an apathetic-sounding lawyer, his practice, and his extended family. This new man was a friend of a minister - one who had just fought for his position in a very literal sense. A moment's glimpse of the bullet holes that still speckled the facade served as a definitive statement that recompense would not be provided.

Capital Interests lobby_events.5 · dlc010

"Does the increased volume not permit for more risk?" "Quite the opposite. When a deluge of money enters one's pockets, one becomes predisposed to mania. An extra coin to a waiter, a formerly shocking fee paid off with a smile. If one is not careful, one ceases to look at their ledgers. They pay more than they ever did - and this is the road to ruination." "An excellent point. Will it justify the deployment of warships?" "It had better. If it does not, perhaps a donation will."

Former Friends lobby_events.6 · dlc010

Defectors spearheaded by the … are rushing to depart the …, alienated by communist rule in ….

"In the span of months, the Communists have snuffed out the very spirit of the … nation. They have uprooted an ancient social order, and torn down monuments to culture. Our men in … were barely able to escape alive." The attaché could believe it. The man's words seemed to carve the air itself into images of red flags, of bayonets, of smoke billowing from an embassy chimney. "I see," he said, his tone tinged with practiced deference. "I'll assemble the board at once."

Proletarian Solidarity lobby_events.7 · dlc010

"The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Working Men of All Countries, Unite!"

Falling in Line lobby_events.8 · dlc010

The …, prominent supporters of …, have proposed support for the … to be a component of the official party platform.

"I've considered the risks, and I'm willing to push it forwards. The fact of the matter is that voters do not, and have never, cared for anything outside of our borders. Even if the climate shifts heavily against … in the coming months, we may still run on our internal policy without compromising our more wide-ranging principles." "I see the rationale. Nonetheless, I would like to know more before committing to a side. The stance our nation takes must not be informed by the whims of ideologues, but rather hard necessity."

Use of Weapons lobby_events.9 · dlc010

The reports from … had been passed around the room so many times that the edges had already started to become soft. Some attendees were in awe, others more measured in their opinion. Some simply refused to believe what was written. "I believe," said the officer at the end of the table, "that if they can manage it, so can we. Until we can, however, we had ought to take measures to make sure those guns aren't pointed at us."

Foreign Inspiration lobby_events.10 · dlc010

The … have acquired a fascination with …, regarding it as a model for modernizing the … state. Analysis of … laws and technologies fills their publications.

… had developed a vision. Rail lines from … to …, planned cities with wide, gas-lit boulevards, a healthy and professional bureaucracy. The Westerners and their allies had all of this, among multitudes of other things. … could have this as well - there was nothing stopping them. But that was not the full truth, and … was well aware of this. Every invention imported carried baggage with it, the risk of becoming a … province. How was … to strike the balance?

The Concert Interrupted lobby_events.11 · dlc010

"Those damnable fools! I had investments there! Does their … think … to be Napoleon? Who will be next to take advantage?" "The Danes, I expect." "Yes, yes, the Danes... I suppose so. Regardless, you know what to do, now." He departed with a slammed door and a scowl. The secretary, left behind, had already prepared an envelope addressed to …. With luck, it would arrive within the month, and permit something to be salvaged of this mess.

Artistic Inspiration lobby_events.12 · dlc010

… Impressionism. The words now seemed to fit together seamlessly as French wine or Chinese silk, acquiring a meaning greater than the sum of their parts. He could spend the rest of his life in this gallery, import enough masterworks to coat every wall in his home, and yet remain just as enraptured as he was when he first laid his eyes on it. Each painting was a window into a culture he could spend a lifetime attempting to comprehend, each brush-stroke driven by a vigor which had grown from a foreign seed. How much could he understand about … through these, if he merely had the time and ability?

The Fickle Crowd lobby_events.13 · dlc010

The populist base of the … has turned against supporting foreign entanglements. Pressure from within has led the group to distance themselves from the ….

… Needs First The people say - NO to foreign entanglements, and NO to foreign treaties! PROSPERITY at home, or CHAOS abroad? NO FOREIGN POWER could successfully attack a fortified …!

Buy or Else lobby_events.14 · dlc010

A group representing those within the … with an interest in the … trade has begun lobbying the government for action against …, citing its hostile trade practices.

They had been in and out of the foreign minister's office all morning. Men of wealth and status, all known to the ministry, all reciting the same complaints. "The … trade war", "impediment of the free movement of goods", and "seizure of unrealized gains". Just as he stood to flick the lock closed for the day, another knock rung out. The energy flowed out of him all at once, nearly driving him to fall onto the carpet. With a grimace, he forced himself to take another step forward, and fling open the door. "Yes, sir. If you would have a seat..."

Good, Not Foreign lobby_events.15 · dlc010

"They build all of their factories from cardboard and lead chips, and their steel is fit only for razor blades. And even then, if you use them, they're liable to give you bruises!" The circle of men at the table roared with laughter. The man with the red cravat gave a knowing smirk, and continued with his pitch. "If we let them buy up our land, there'll be a … spy in every dormitory within the year. I know them well. I spent a month in …, you see..."

Hard to Love lobby_events.16 · dlc010

The outbreak of armed hostilities between … and … has had disastrous effects on the …. Spearheaded by the …, its once-stalwart supporters have begun an exodus from the lobby.

The first shots had been fired whilst they slept, and they awoke to a world alien to the one that they departed. Within a week, all solidarity between the sides had vanished, and they began to attract nasty looks on the street whenever they approached their office. After the third hard-faced policeman who had come by to ensure they were "compliant with fire regulations", even the most stalwart of them had cracked. Cabinets were emptied and briefcases filled, and seats were left askew.

Whichever Way Forward lobby_events.17 · dlc010

With the attitudes of the … towards … growing more apathetic, their leadership has begun to discuss reassessing the group's support for the ….

It was more difficult to get appointments at the foreign ministry, these days. The initial interest that they had inspired had long since waned, the lobby's activities falling into …'s background noise. The … were the first to lose interest, their representatives initially disheartened by an absence of news, and then no longer inclined to read the papers when they arrived. "What reason do we have to care for happenings in …?", their younger members challenged. The elders did not know how to respond.

Rightful Borders lobby_events.18 · dlc010

"It is indisputable that … possesses a distinctly … character. In fact, this region belonged to several of the precursor states of whom we embody the legacy. Firstly..." The officer sat politely as the man at the front of the lecture hall presented his dissertation. When he held up an ancient coin he claimed had been found beneath …, the audience exploded into cheers. He clapped along, but it was a solely mechanical gesture. His mind had already departed from the age of swords and sails. To retake … was a matter of the present, of gunsmoke and cannon shot. All else could be argued over afterwards.

Clouds on the Horizon lobby_events.19 · dlc010

"All is well to be filled with dread. There is no shame in it. Their reach extends across the world like a sea monster, and devours whatever lies vulnerable before it. They achieve without fail, and menace us from seemingly every direction. We have not fallen yet, however, and there is a reason for this." It was a frail hope indeed. … could only think of a single blade of grass left after a wildfire. "We must look to those reasons, and wield them as a weapon. We require time to do so, and you must buy it for us."

Spread Thin lobby_events.20 · dlc010

The limited political resources of the … have made the group's leadership question its membership in both the … and the ….

"And for office supplies, on average..." The auditor turned a page to the relevant entry, and ran his eyes down the column. "Three hundred crowns per month". For the man who sat across from him, the world was beginning to spin. "You're certain?" "And one thousand two hundred for work-related travel expenses." "...excuse me," he managed. "Could I have a copy of the manifest? I need to meet with my colleagues at once."

… Demands Action lobby_proposal.1 · dlc010

The … has requested that we … …. … is a known opponent of … interests.

"We must be as comprehensive as possible. Any other approach is irresponsible. … aggression is as old as the hills." "I fear that it may appear as if we are using our own nation as a piece on a chessboard, for the sake of a foreign power. What would you say if pressed?" "A circumstantial alignment will not subordinate us. In this case, … interests happen to be … interests. It is as simple as that."

… Demands Action lobby_proposal.2 · dlc010

The … has requested that we … …. Successfully acting on the proposal will gain our government significant goodwill from the lobby.

"And to those who would refuse, and prefer preserving the status quo?" There was no hesitation. His response sounded well-rehearsed, because it was. This was a proactive man, one who spent hours pacing his chambers and anticipating attacks to come. "My reply would be that we should never have allowed them to become so close to us in the first place. A friendship built upon deceit is nothing at all, and the good will gained from it illusory."

… Offers Opportunity lobby_proposal.3 · dlc010

The … has offered us an opportunity to … …. The lobby has offered to use their connections to smooth the negotiating process.

The negotiations, done under the table with a representative of the … government, had been long and arduous. The … representative knew they were dealing with a group without power to match theirs, and had adjusted their strategy accordingly. Nonetheless, they had come to an agreement. Nothing in writing, but that was hardly important. When the government sent the official copy - if they did - they would find that there was already a drafted response waiting in ….

… Offers Opportunity lobby_proposal.4 · dlc010

The … has offered us an opportunity to … …. Their proposal, if accepted, is intended to counter … interests.

It was a veiled sort of aggression, one which could, in theory, appeal to both ardent jingoists and those who preferred to mitigate losses. It would force the enemy to respond, possibly drive them towards a reckless confrontation in response to a seemingly benign maneuver. "A plan to fight … to the last …," one minister remarked. The representative flushed. He had practiced responses along both lines, but none of them quite fit.