The Free Trade Association, or FTA, is a group of captains who have agreed to work together, within defined realms of activity, for mutual benefit. Specifically, to acquire information from alien governments and other sources and make that information available to its members to use as they see fit. FTA member captains come from a diverse set of alliances and backgrounds. What they have in common is the desire to increase their might by acquiring information.
The FTA is not an alliance in the traditional sense because it has no military component and instead focuses exclusively in the political sphere. Instead it serves as a discussion, planning, and action group for political strategy. Nor is the FTA a DOW-like information-sharing group: it expects active contributions from its members and does not trade something for nothing. The FTA is something which TBG has not yet seen - a political party.
1. Any captain may join the FTA, provided they control at least one vote and promise to support FTA candidates.
2. Any member may resign from the FTA at any time.
3. FTA members should support an FTA candidate each election cycle with at least one vote. Members desiring to support other candidates or who do not wish to take the time required to obtain votes should resign.
4. The attitude between FTA members shall be that of civil cooperation, even in cases where personal enmity or alliance rivalries exist.
1. The Free Trade Association operates primarily by consensus and as such should not require formal leadership. However, should it become necessary a spokesperson will be elected by majority. Voting members must have been members of FTA continuously for one full election cycle and will receive one vote each in this special election. A similar procedure will be followed to resolve policy disputes or choose candidates, should consensus be unreachable. The FTA spokesperson may not also be the galactic president or vice-president.
2. The FTA will share with its members all information, except for ship locations, gained by FTA ministers from alien sources. Ministers should be ready to make this available in a timely fashion each turn.
3. The FTA will attempt to negotiate with non-member ministers to obtain additional information for the benefit of its members, and alliances to obtain political support for its candidates.
Thank you for reading my platform and thoughts on TBG. Your comments are welcome at parakyte@yahoo.ca . If you'd like to join or arrange to exchange information informally, please contact me there also.