Tariffs and You (Mongoose edition)

[actionman]

Prior to this thread I always thought the Imperium were the bad guys, now I realise they are a whole lot worse than that.

I concur, and the adventure potential grows greater as the discussion deepens!

 

[Condottiere]

Wouldn't eat cat or dog... Are you sure? Ever been to a non-franchise Chinese restaurant?
Even in the nineties we were chided about using stereotypes. That didn't stop the restaurant inspectors from shutting down three local restaurants in one year due to cat carcasses in their coolers.

What does not going to mainland China have to do with a restaurant that serves Chinese style food?

 

[Arkathan]

Non-franchise. That means locally owned. Panda Express is an example of a franchise. The Peking Moon would be a non- franchise restaurant, albeit a semi-fictional one. This has nothing to do with the location of the restaurant.

 

[Condottiere]

Personal experience with cat and dog cuisine, beyond family anecdotes, is unlikely.

If I want to eat Asian cuisine, I generally tend to do so while in Asia; exceptionally cheap sushi, and instant mee (though not too sure if that can defined as Japanese, anymore).

If in the West, Chinese restaurants are serving cat and food dishes, or elements thereof, outside of a chef preparing one privately for a specific customer, than the local health authorities aren't doing their job.

 

[Arkathan]

Personal experience with cat and dog cuisine, beyond family anecdotes, is unlikely.

If I want to eat Asian cuisine, I generally tend to do so while in Asia; exceptionally cheap sushi, and instant mee (though not too sure if that can defined as Japanese, anymore).

If in the West, Chinese restaurants are serving cat and food dishes, or elements thereof, outside of a chef preparing one privately for a specific customer, than the local health authorities aren't doing their job.

And yet, inspectors only come around so often. As I said, inspectors shut down three in that one year.

The point is, that might not have been chicken in the chow mein.

Unless you watch them prepare it, you simply do not know.

 

[Condottiere]

Outside of Chinese buffets while I stayed in California, I avoid Asian themed restaurants, unless I have to entertain, or be entertained.

I'm not sure how far it would be worthwhile for Chinese restauranteurs, in California, to go out of their way to round up stray cats and dogs for the hot pot, without getting discovered.

Arguably, you could come across that in Hong Kong and Singapore, though, I'd assume, it would be clearly labelled.

Which leaves us with the Koreas and Mainland China, where, I hear, it's a matter of taste and health benefits, specifically for dogs.

 

[Condottiere]

The one category of goods that the Imperium could insist, and regulate, on, would be military grade.

Meson weapon systems are regulated by the Imperium, so they could insist on a specific supplier.

The Imperium might employ soft power to guide consumer preferences, but telling their citizens what commercial products they must purchase, seems unlikely.

 

[Arkathan]

Just remember when throwing that word around that it means someone who is betraying the country and its citizens. Someone who gives aid to the enemies of freedom. Not someone who disagrees with the ideology espoused by a lying main stream media.

 

[actionman]

Meson weapon systems are regulated by the Imperium, so they could insist on a specific supplier.

I can't imagine there would be that many manufacturers for that sort of thing, given the way it would be in the Iridium Throne's interest to consolidate that manufacturing capability in a few trusted controllable suppliers. Noble backed / controlled megacorps would move in on anything interesting, like manufacturers of military grade equipment, major end items, vital components, starship hulls, power plants, jump drives, etc.

They probably wouldn't care about unit level equipment like small arms, vehicles, and artillery, and planetary conflict munitions, but everything naval IMO they'd want some kind of control. For the unit level equipment, noble megacorp owned suppliers would get the Imperial contracts, and the noble contracts and planetary contracts too, for compatibility's sake. There could be knock-off manufacturers who supply mercenaries or planetary governments on the cheap, or who are capable of producing for subsector and sector forces in an emergency. Smaller specialized manufacturers could supply a noble house with high quality Imperial compatible military hardware that might even have a little prestige attached to it. Their gear might be higher quality and more expensive, but only the best for their distinguished customers.

 

[actionman]

Which leaves us with the Koreas and Mainland China, where, I hear, it's a matter of taste and health benefits, specifically for dogs.

True, in S. Korea dogs were food animals, like goats would be to people of other countries. You could buy dog meat dishes from street vendors, and there were dog markets. Those were sad to see.

It's understandable, because there's not much land suitable for agriculture or cattle in S. Korea, so they did what they could with what they had.

 

[Sigtrygg]

The Imperium might employ soft power to guide consumer preferences, but telling their citizens what commercial products they must purchase, seems unlikely.

That's the whole point. They don't tell anyone what they must or must not buy.
They require worlds to open their markets to any Imperial trade that arrives at the starport.

Imperial goods are cheaper so what do the locals choose?

 

[Condottiere]

Cheaper, might also taste like oppression.

Pretty sure the patents and trade secrets expired for Ce, quite a while back, so public domain.

 

[Condottiere]

I can't imagine there would be that many manufacturers for that sort of thing, given the way it would be in the Iridium Throne's interest to consolidate that manufacturing capability in a few trusted controllable suppliers. Noble backed / controlled megacorps would move in on anything interesting, like manufacturers of military grade equipment, major end items, vital components, starship hulls, power plants, jump drives, etc.

They probably wouldn't care about unit level equipment like small arms, vehicles, and artillery, and planetary conflict munitions, but everything naval IMO they'd want some kind of control. For the unit level equipment, noble megacorp owned suppliers would get the Imperial contracts, and the noble contracts and planetary contracts too, for compatibility's sake. There could be knock-off manufacturers who supply mercenaries or planetary governments on the cheap, or who are capable of producing for subsector and sector forces in an emergency. Smaller specialized manufacturers could supply a noble house with high quality Imperial compatible military hardware that might even have a little prestige attached to it. Their gear might be higher quality and more expensive, but only the best for their distinguished customers.

It's more about long term service contracts, if the issue isn't about Empire security.