I tend to run a “sunny on the outside, rotten on the inside” Imperium. In that, the news is more or less controlled, interstellar trade is more or less controlled at the larger end, and the Imperium can always glass your planet if you step too far out of line. Not that they have… but the ImpNav is the strong arm of the local nobles.

The Zho’s are far more progressive than the Imperium, and far less capitalistic and authoritarian. Of course the nation state is going to sow fear, uncertainty and doubt about those Evil Mustache Twirling Mind Readers.

> On Aug 1, 2024, at 10:26 AM, Jeff Zeitlin - editor at freelancetraveller.com (via tml list) <xxxxxx@simplelists.com> wrote:
>
> Canonically, we're supposed to believe that psionics and attempted
> manipulation/subversion of Psionic Institutes is the reason. But...
>
> JimV has offered some interesting food for thought regarding the Imperium
> and its governance model (and attitude toward its own member worlds with
> less-autocratic governments).
>
> When looked at "objectively", the Consulate has the structure of a
> republic, though one where the franchise is limited. Is this the _real_
> reason that the Imperium chooses to 'demonize' the Consulate, even though
> they're using psionics as the 'public' reason in the propaganda?
>
> Discuss.
>
>
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