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The bright overhead lights of the studio hall illuminated the platform, three podiums arrayed equidistant around the circular arena stood as the only frames of reference in an otherwise white simulation projection chamber. The door to the room opened, and three finely dressed Lupis took their places at each podium; the debate was about to begin.

"Welcome to HomeNet News, the largest news network on the Outernet. We're here tonight, 1700 Alurius-LC Standard Time, with three of the most influential Senators in the federal Republic." The announcers screen panned to the first, an early thirties male with a cream colored coat in a suit of the latest trend, the latest personal datapad on his forepaw. "The first honored guest of our tonight is Senator Alkit Betas, of the coastal metropolis of Rufus here on our beloved Alurius. Senator Betas is a leading voice in the Society Coalition, despite his recent entry onto the Federal political stage."

The next screen showed a female with a deep black coat, dark as the void of space, brightly contrasting her sparkling blue eyes. She wore a simple red blouse with a blazer, and a silvery metallic bracelet on her right forepaw. "Senator Trisha Iceheart of the city of Point Landing, a place known for its living history and as one of the most culturally vital cities on Alurius. Her voice is well regarded within the Liberty Coalition."

The final guest was an older rust colored male, dressed in a crisp black suit. "Last but certainly not least is Senator Corvian Raff, representing the Axios region of Arct Tiber, principle provider of many staple meats and foodstuff products. As a ranking member of the National Coalition he serves as a member of the esteemed Colonial Affairs Committee in the Federal Senate. Now before we begin tonight's debate, all of us here at Homenet news want to express our gratitude for your attendance here tonight."

"Of course." Raff politely nodded

"Happy to be here" Trisha gave a smile to the vid-drone hovering around the stage.

"I've been looking forward to being here." Betas enthusiastically grinned.

"We'd also like to set ground rules for this debate, then we can begin. A topic will be presented, and the floor will be open for individual responses, one at a time. Rebuttals can be made in any order after all three guests have had the floor once, however we ask that you keep to your turns, don't interrupt one another, and finalizes your points when given cue to, our studio producers are really big on that last one." A light chuckle came from the three guests. "Lets begin with the recent motion put forward by Society Coalition, the proposal would stipulate a segment of the Republic budget be designated solely for the use of a universal income program, intended to give all citizens of the Federal Republic a base, minimum income regardless of employment. We will start with Senator Betas, since your Coalition has put the motion forward."

The younger male cleared his throat, "Yes I'm glad we got to start with this critical topic, there are few matters less pressing than the vast economic disparity between many of our citizens. Alurius and the colonies are home to billions of Lupis, yet only a tiny fraction live without financial burden. The Society Coalition has long sought to even the gap between those that live at the peaks of the mega-scrapers and those that live in their looming shadows. By increasing taxes on those of immense wealth, we can bring about true equality."

"Thank you Senator Betas, lets go to Senator Raff next."

"The entire notion of forcing those who work hard for their income to pay for those who do not work hard, or even work to provide for themselves is absurd. This abomination of a motion placed before our proud Senate is a testament to the audacity of the freeloading members of the Society Coalition. How you can respect yourselves is beyond me." The elder dog scoffed.

"Anything else to add Senator Raff?"

"Nothing to say in polite company."

"Very well, moving on to Senator Iceheart, your take on the Senate Motion, ma'dam?"

"Personally, I find the sentiment noble. Ensuring that all our people have the funds to eat, keep a roof over their heads and provide for their families is a respectable goal. However we must keep in mind that intentions of this motion are not what matters, it's the contents. Increased taxes on the highest earners within the Republic puts that immense amount of wealth in the federal coffers. It posits that the wealth collected will be distributed evenly at a flat rate to all citizens. These top earners are among that distinction because they own vast corporate holdings, and employ billions of our citizens. If every citizen were guaranteed a flat rate income of the proposed 15000 credits annually, any employee already making 15000 credits annually will require a raise as well. Now any employee making 30000 credits will need a raise too, so on and so forth up the corporate hierarchy. The corporation can either induce mass layoffs, dropping many citizens down in income, or concede to the raises. Raises on that scale would drastically increase operating costs across all industries, requiring an increase in revenue from somewhere, namely product costs. The same 'extra' income the average citizen would receive from the proposition would be consumed by the marked up prices of every conceivable product. In five years time, the net change of this motion will be completely eradicated by the mass inflation incurred. The exact outcome is completely unpredictable as to whether any net gain is retained, however we run the very real risk of ruining more lives than we improve by implementing such a motion. Regardless of the benevolent intentions, there is simply no long term gain and multitudes of risk."

"Thank you Senator Iceheart. Now rebuttals are open, you may direct your comments at either of your fellow Senators or to the viewer audience themselves. Senator Betas, your requesting to speak first?"

"Yes, I will, thank you. Senator Iceheart, I appreciate your acknowledgment of my Coalitions intentions, and am glad you share them. What puzzles me is that you reject our proposal on the notion that corporations would suffer financial losses. I understand a great many firms and industry leaders are headquartered in Point Landing, is that at all influencing your stance against the motion before the Senate, or merely coincidence?"

Trisha's blue eyes met the younger males, "Well I would hope I as Senator of Point Landing would be seeking policies that benefit the citizens of Point Landing, first and foremost. They did elect me to do just that. Yes, many of my wealthiest constitutes would benefit from the failure of this motion, its failure benefits my least wealthy constitutes as well. I would dread the day the price of staple food items like kastra fish cost a hundred credits or more. The reckless nature of this motion could easily drive prices that high, and while much of the inflation could be countered by the flat rate income, those citizens who will inevitably fall between the cracks of the system will be unable to survive, let alone be successful."

The young dog spoke up again, "This measure is to fix those crack! To ensure not a single Lupis has to go starving ever again!"

The elder dog from the food producing colony spoke next, "That would assume a 100% efficiency of the program, has anything, ever in the history of our race ever operated at 100% efficiency? The bureaucracy will make mistakes, and our people will suffer because of those mistakes, that is simply the nature of it. Your goal is noble, fine, but it's looking for the solution in the wrong direction. Rather than raising the taxes of the wealthiest citizens, reduce them. The economic forecast Mrs.Iceheart gave is correct, I'm with you there sweety, so to get the opposite result we need to take the opposite course of action. With the wealthy keeping more money in their pockets, they can put those funds towards further investments, which means more jobs, better paying jobs, for all those they employ."

Trisha scowled at the gruff older dog, "Senator Raff, I would like for you to withhold the terms of endearment, I don't know you that well. And please show me the professional courtesy of addressing me by my title. The same as yours." She added an extra emphasis with hard eye contact. "As for your hasty generalization, you overlook a flaw in your argument you just gave now: government is flawed. Its true, we as members of the Senate could never ensure that every single citizen was properly allocated their portion of the taxed revenue, we also regularly mis-allocate the money we already take. How much of the Federal budget is wasted on political handouts and favors exchanged between Coalitions? Every citizen already pays taxes, roughly a fifth of their income. An additional fifth of a billionaire's income could be collected, yes, but we could always just not collect anything. If everyone got to keep the entirety of what they earn, would we have the need to re-allocate funds? Why move the money around when its already in the paws of the people we supposedly want it to be in? Do we have to collect taxes? We have the ability to, yes, but do we have to? This process of moving credits from one place to another, ultimately we lose some of the credits to blatant wasteful practices. Would the additional income provided by a state-provided one be more or less than what the state takes from incomes as it stands? Would the people who earned that money, who have a vested interest in ensuing it is well used, and maximized, wouldn't they be better custodians of their wealth?" She looked at both her opponents, jumping in near unison to retort, Trisha continued keeping them silent for now, "It's not surprising you'd both be against that, Lupis keeping their own money. You can't skim off it if it never enters the Federal budget. You can't direct it towards wasteful military hardware expansion programs that benefit your rich industrial-complex campaign sponsors" she looked at Senator Raff, who appeared mortified, then turned to Betas, "Nor can you funnel it towards non-productive social programs, revolving door failures of implementation that just keep the voters at your whim." The junior Senator held his maw agape in shock, "How about we let the people do with their money what they will? Or is the freedom of our people not something either of your support?"

The two males came about to their senses and began the tried and true means of arguing around the issue and reciting rhetoric. Trisha remained silent after finishing. Noting the heated posture of the two males, HomeNet interjected, "Senators, please, this is a civil discussion. We ask that you take turns. Thank you. Now. Let's take the opportunity to move onto our next topic..."

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