Post

"I've told you a million times Senator Aldridge, we can't sell off national assets to keep the government afloat, it's unsustainable and will likely drive half of our population into poverty. Don't you remember that corporatist nightmare that ruled our country a few years ago, you'll bring them back in and they'll suck billions of credits out of our yearly revenue. You're prioritizing short term gains over long term losses."

Aldridge grimaced as McRain sat behind the podium at the head of the senate chambers in the Telmanian Administration Building, tearing apart an spending bill Aldridge had just introduced with the aim of reducing the spending deficit and reducing government debt. This legislative session was the first one since the election and already only three bills in the two major parties in power had come to a deadlock on a seemingly simple issue.

"Mr. McRain, it's been proven time and time again that a little bit of privatization has never hurt anyone. Just look at our neighbors in North Usea, they're all members of LoPN with little to none publicly owned industries and you never hear them complaining about a lack of funds. Besides, we'll still have significant influence over these companies and competition between them will help drive end prices down."

"That's President McRain to you, and your ideas are stupid and dangerous. We won't make nearly as much money off of taxing these companies as we would running them ourselves, and we run the risk of a non governmental monopoly arising on essential services like power and extorting the Yeetusan people. You're setting a bad precedent with this and frankly acting unloyal to your country."

Aldridge glared at McRain. "If you think you can write a better spending bill, be my guest, but the Tridentist Front won't support it. Remember what happened when you tried to reduce the deficit a few months ago, and how you threw the entire country into chaos? Why should we ever trust you and your party to act competent enough to throw together a small spending bill? This is all you will get, and now is your only opportunity to take it or leave it."

Senior members of McRain's party rushed up to the President's podium to give him their advice. Aldridge could catch small snippets of their whispering from across the hall. "We're not going to get a better offer than this." "Don't do anything stupid." "It's not worth the fight."

McRain kept his eyes locked to Aldridge's while his party members frantically tried to convince him to concede to the Tridentist Front's demands. He waved them all off. "Just because you're the Speaker of the Senate doesn't mean I have to follow your every demand. I refuse to be strong-armed into a horrible deal by fascists. As President, I can tell you with absolute certainty that this bill will never go up to vote and become law. No one in this chamber should ever vote to let capitalism, the system that oppressed our country for years, back in. My party and I will prepare another spending bill to be introduced tomorrow. I hereby declare this session adjourned."

Murmurs swept through the chamber as senators started moving through the massive iron doors at the entrance to the chamber. Aldridge remained in his seat for a few more minutes, staring at McRain with a furrowed brow. He then violently stood up, knocking over a side table next to his chair in the process, and strode out of the hall, muttering under his breath.

McRain leaned back in his chair and wiped the sweat off of his forehead. Andrew Finch, leader of the hardline communist Red Bloc, walked towards him, shaking his head. "He won't forget this Viktor. We'll be lucky if all he does is make sure your bill doesn't pass. You forget he has a majority here, and already I hear rumors of members of your own party losing faith in your ability to run this country."

McRain got up and walked to a massive window lining one of the side walls of the chamber. "Don't worry, I've laid out a plan on how to deal with Aldridge."

Behind him, Finch gave a dry giggle. "Wonderful job Viktor. Your plan are exactly what makes me worry."