{"data":{"id":17678,"title":"Something Every Tuesday: Titus Costigan Interview","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/spectrum-dispatch\/17678-Something-Every-Tuesday-Titus-Costigan-Interview","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/17678","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/17678","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"News Update","images":[{"id":26463,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/weozjmuuh3hwh\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":843046,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2019-09-19T15:49:32+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463\/similar"},{"id":27892,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/w3o9r4zgppm77\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":900916,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2021-09-06T14:48:40+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27892","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27892\/similar"}],"images_count":8,"translations":{"en_EN":"[ Music ]\n\nAnnouncer: This portion of Something Every Tuesday is brought to you by mo.Trader, the most trusted and secure way to exchange goods and credits. Featuring the latest security features, insured bonding by Central Core Bank, and expanded shipping options, mo.Trader is the fastest and easiest way to gift and trade from the comfort of your mobiGlas.\nNow, let\u2019s get back to the show and our host, Esen Landari!\n[ Applause ]\n\nWelcome back. Still here with me is Imperator candidate Titus Costigan. Glad the first part of the interview didn\u2019t scare you off.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Not in the least. I always enjoy our conversations, Esen.\nThat\u2019s because we\u2019ve only had a few. Ask any of my friends and they\u2019ll tell you that I have a handful of good stories and two solid anecdotes, but after I burn through those, I don\u2019t bring much to the table.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: [ Laughs ] I know several of your friends, and I\u2019d bet that \u2018boring\u2019 would be one of the last words they\u2019d use to describe you.\nOnly because they\u2019d use words like \u2018vapid\u2019 and \u2018insufferable\u2019 first.\n\n[ Laughter ]\n\nNow, before the break we were talking about what you\u2019d like to accomplish in your first 100 days as Imperator. You mentioned deregulation to spur economic growth, how you\u2019re gonna increase our reliance on militias, and you promised that you\u2019d not be getting a pet. Did I miss anything?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: I could go through all hundred days one day at a time if you want?\n[Laughter]\n\nYeah, that\u2019d be great. What\u2019s for lunch on day 53?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Meal bar. Same thing, every day. For dinner I love to get complicated, but in the middle of the workday, I tend to keep it simple.\nFuel for the fire.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Exactly. It\u2019s all about getting as much done with each day as possible. I\u2019m hopeful that my first 100 would go down as some of the most productive in the Empire. Without getting too mired in specifics, my main focus would be reducing waste, financial and bureaucratic, and maximizing returns. The Militia Mobilization Initiative has been a great recent example of that: safer systems for less credits. So expanding the MMI could save the empire a lot over the next decade.\nNow, I watched a lot of your interviews in preparation for this and I was frankly surprised that no one asked you the most important question: why?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: The projections we have been getting back have been very positive\u2014\nNo, why do you want to be Imperator?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Yeah, you\u2019re right, no one really asks me that.\nI\u2019m always curious because on the surface it seems like a pretty terrible job. Everyone is always criticizing you, you get the blame for everything bad that happens, and when something good does happen, there\u2019s a line of people around the block waiting to say it was definitely not because of you. Why switch from running a successful business to sign up for the most stressful ten years of your life?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: I don\u2019t think this question gets asked enough because it\u2019s easy to dodge by simply saying that you want to help people.\nAnd that\u2019s not your thing?\n\n[Laughter]\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Don\u2019t get me wrong, it absolutely is, but I\u2019m already helping people each and every day. My foundation, Better Together, provides everything from free daycare and meals to adult education and on the job training for millions of people. I firmly believe that the private sector and individuals are often better at directly helping people than the government. If that\u2019s your main goal, then becoming Imperator probably isn\u2019t the most effective way to achieve it.\nSo if helping people isn\u2019t the primary purpose of being Imperator, then what is?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: There\u2019s an important distinction here that I don\u2019t want to get lost. The actions of an Imperator can absolutely help or even harm individuals, and those outcomes need to be considered when making any decision, but what I\u2019ve learned is that the true power of the position is its ability to make structural reforms that can strengthen the Empire for generations.\nFor example, an Imperator could handle a famine in Fora by simply redirecting emergency food supplies, but that approach would be expensive and do nothing to address the root of the problem. On the other hand, an Imperator could bring together concerned members from the public and private sector to coordinate a relief plan that immediately provides aid, lowers fees to incentivize haulers to make deliveries there, builds more food processing factories in-system, increases investments into research focused on drought-resistant crops, and more. Being able to coordinate and affect that level of change is the true power of the position. I believe a good Imperator should not only think about how they can help now, but also how they can help the generations that will come after.\n[ Applause ]\n\nYou still haven\u2019t answered my question about why you want to be Imperator.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: To help people, obviously.\n[ Laughter ]\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: But, honestly, I want to be Imperator because I believe that my experience, focus, and commitment can help transform the Empire into a better institution for all. And if that\u2019s true, then I have an obligation to try and do just that.\nSpeaking of experience, you\u2019re on the verge of being elected Imperator, yet you\u2019ve never held public office before. Does that ever concern you?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Not at all. One thing I\u2019ve learned from watching my father\u2019s administration is that nothing can truly prepare you for being Imperator. No job in the universe compares to it, so it doesn\u2019t make a difference if one candidate has zero public sector experience and another has exclusively that. On day one of the next administration, whoever\u2019s been elected will essentially be learning to be Imperator on the job.\nHow is your father by the way? Have you talked to him recently?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: We chatted a few days ago. Really wish we could speak more frequently, but with me on the campaign trail and him focused on instituting some important reforms before his term ends, it can be tough coordinating our schedules.\nNo plans for the two of you to hang out on Imperator\u2019s Day?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: We both have events scheduled that day. I\u2019ll be holding a rally in the Ellis system on Kampos, and my dad will be the master of ceremonies for the annual Imperator\u2019s Day celebration on Earth.\nDoesn\u2019t seem fair to make him work on a day that celebrates him. You don\u2019t see me working on Esen Day.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: When\u2019s Esen Day?\nThat\u2019s up to you when you become Imperator, hint hint.\n\n[Laughter]\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: My dad loves telling everyone that Imperator Day isn\u2019t about him or any other specific Imperator. That it\u2019s meant to celebrate the moment Humanity came together under one government to aid our expansion into the stars and create a better future for us all.\nIt used to be called Council Day, right?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: That\u2019s right. I\u2019m impressed you remembered that.\nSee, I know important stuff too, besides all the hot unaired gossip about the cast of Love Liner.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Wait\u2026 do you know what really went down between Dominico and Safa?\n[Laughter]\n\nI\u2019ll fill you in after the show, but first I have to ask, why hasn\u2019t your father endorsed you for Imperator?\n\n[Murmuring]\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: I can\u2019t speak for him, but I fully support his decision to remain neutral and not endorse any candidate in this election. When I decided to run, I knew it would put him in a very unusual spot, so I made it clear to him that I would not ask for or expect his endorsement. And left it in his hands to determine what course would be best.\nStill, it must be strange to not have your father\u2019s support during this critical time in your life.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Both of us are quite good at compartmentalizing, and neither of us have allowed what\u2019s happening in our professional life to affect our personal relationship. At the end of the day, he\u2019s my dad first and foremost and I know that nothing about this election will change that.\nSpeaking of endorsements, you\u2019re running as a Universalist, yet the party has officially endorsed the other Universalist still in the race, High-Secretary Illyana Sharrad. Why have you stuck with a party that won\u2019t back you?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: I wouldn\u2019t go so far as to say that they don\u2019t back me. The party has a long-standing tradition of endorsing one candidate in the hopes their voters consolidate around that choice. For this election, they decided to back High-Secretary Sharrad, who\u2019s an incredible and impressive candidate. I would\u2019ve loved their endorsement, but she\u2019s been an active party member far longer than I, so I completely understand why they picked her over me.\nTheir endorsement of Sharrad happened months ago, giving you and your campaign plenty of time to redefine yourself as an independent candidate instead. Why didn\u2019t you do that?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: It felt disingenuous. I\u2019m a registered member of the Universalist Party, and my core beliefs mainly fall in line with theirs, so why hide it? Maybe it would\u2019ve been politically advantageous, but I am who I am and I believe what I believe, and I felt it would be best to be honest with the electorate about exactly where I stand.\nIt\u2019s been a pleasure having you on. Would love to have you back on the show whether you win or not.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Hopefully when I win, and only if you tell me what\u2019s really going on behind the scenes on Love Liner.\nDeal. Imperator candidate Titus Costigan.\n\n[ Applause ]\n\nWe need to take a quick commercial break, but then Starburst Collective will join us to play a song of their new album. Trust me, you don\u2019t want to miss it. There\u2019s more SET coming your way, right after this.","de_DE":"(Musik)\n\nAnsagerin: Diesen Teil von Etwas jeden Dienstag bringt Ihnen mo.Trader, die vertrauensw\u00fcrdigste und sicherste Art, Waren und Kredite zu tauschen. Ausgestattet mit den neuesten Sicherheitsmerkmalen, versicherter Kaution durch die Central Core Bank und erweiterten Versandoptionen ist mo.Trader die schnellste und einfachste Art zu verschenken und zu tauschen, ganz bequem von Ihrem mobiGlas aus.\nUnd nun zur\u00fcck zur Messe und zu unserem Gastgeber, Esen Landari!\n[Beifall]\n\nWillkommen zur\u00fcck. Noch hier bei mir ist der Imperator-Kandidat Titus Costigan. Ich bin froh, dass der erste Teil des Interviews Sie nicht abgeschreckt hat.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Nicht im Geringsten. Ich genie\u00dfe immer unsere Gespr\u00e4che, Esen.\nDas liegt daran, dass wir erst wenige hatten. Fragen Sie einen meiner Freunde, und sie werden Ihnen sagen, dass ich eine Handvoll guter Geschichten und zwei solide Anekdoten habe, aber nachdem ich diese durchbrenne, bringe ich nicht mehr viel auf den Tisch.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: [ Lacht ] Ich kenne einige Ihrer Freunde, und ich wette, \"langweilig\" w\u00e4re eines der letzten Worte, mit denen sie Sie beschreiben w\u00fcrden.\nNur weil sie zuerst W\u00f6rter wie \"fade\" und \"unertr\u00e4glich\" benutzen w\u00fcrden.\n\n[ Lachen ]\n\nNun, vor der Pause haben wir dar\u00fcber gesprochen, was Sie in Ihren ersten 100 Tagen als Imperator erreichen m\u00f6chten. Sie erw\u00e4hnten die Deregulierung, um das Wirtschaftswachstum anzukurbeln, wie Sie unsere Abh\u00e4ngigkeit von Milizen erh\u00f6hen werden, und Sie versprachen, dass Sie sich kein Haustier zulegen w\u00fcrden. Habe ich etwas verpasst?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Ich k\u00f6nnte alle hundert Tage an einem Tag durchgehen, wenn Sie wollen?\n[Gel\u00e4chter]\n\nJa, das w\u00e4re toll. Was gibt's zum Mittagessen an Tag 53?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Mahlzeitenz\u00e4hler. Jeden Tag das Gleiche. Zum Abendessen liebe ich es, kompliziert zu werden, aber in der Mitte des Arbeitstages neige ich dazu, es einfach zu halten.\nBrennstoff f\u00fcr das Feuer.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Genau. Es geht darum, mit jedem Tag so viel wie m\u00f6glich zu erledigen. Ich hoffe, dass meine ersten 100 als einige der produktivsten im ganzen Reich untergehen werden. Ohne mich zu sehr in Einzelheiten zu verstricken, w\u00fcrde mein Hauptaugenmerk auf der Reduzierung von Verschwendung, finanzieller und b\u00fcrokratischer Art, und der Maximierung der Ertr\u00e4ge liegen. Die Mobilisierungsinitiative der Miliz ist ein gro\u00dfartiges Beispiel aus j\u00fcngster Zeit daf\u00fcr: sicherere Systeme f\u00fcr weniger Kredite. Die Ausweitung der MMI k\u00f6nnte also dem Imperium im n\u00e4chsten Jahrzehnt viel ersparen.\nIch habe in Vorbereitung darauf viele Ihrer Interviews gesehen und war ehrlich gesagt \u00fcberrascht, dass Ihnen niemand die wichtigste Frage gestellt hat: Warum?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Die Projektionen, die wir zur\u00fcckbekommen haben, sind sehr positiv.\nNein, warum wollen Sie Imperator sein?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Ja, Sie haben Recht, niemand fragt mich das wirklich.\nIch bin immer neugierig, weil es oberfl\u00e4chlich betrachtet eine ziemlich schreckliche Arbeit zu sein scheint. Alle kritisieren dich immer, du bekommst die Schuld f\u00fcr alles Schlechte, das passiert, und wenn etwas Gutes passiert, stehen die Leute um den Block Schlange, um zu sagen, dass es definitiv nicht wegen dir war. Warum wechseln Sie von einem erfolgreichen Unternehmen zu den stressigsten zehn Jahren Ihres Lebens?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Ich glaube, diese Frage wird nicht oft genug gestellt, denn man kann sich leicht davor dr\u00fccken, indem man einfach sagt, dass man Menschen helfen will.\nUnd das ist nicht Ihr Ding?\n\n[Lachen]\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Verstehen Sie mich nicht falsch, das ist es absolut, aber ich helfe den Menschen schon jetzt jeden Tag. Meine Stiftung \"Better Together\" bietet Millionen von Menschen alles, von der kostenlosen Tagesbetreuung und Verpflegung bis hin zur Erwachsenenbildung und Ausbildung am Arbeitsplatz. Ich bin der festen \u00dcberzeugung, dass der private Sektor und Einzelpersonen oft besser in der Lage sind, Menschen direkt zu helfen als die Regierung. Wenn das Ihr Hauptziel ist, dann ist Imperator zu werden wahrscheinlich nicht der effektivste Weg, es zu erreichen.\nWenn es also nicht der Hauptzweck des Imperator-Seins ist, Menschen zu helfen, was ist es dann?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Es gibt hier eine wichtige Unterscheidung, die ich nicht verlieren m\u00f6chte. Die Handlungen eines Imperators k\u00f6nnen Einzelpersonen absolut helfen oder sogar schaden, und diese Ergebnisse m\u00fcssen bei jeder Entscheidung ber\u00fccksichtigt werden, aber was ich gelernt habe, ist, dass die wahre Macht eines Imperators seine F\u00e4higkeit ist, Strukturreformen durchzuf\u00fchren, die das Imperium f\u00fcr Generationen st\u00e4rken k\u00f6nnen.\nZum Beispiel k\u00f6nnte ein Imperator eine Hungersnot in Fora durch einfache Umleitung von Nahrungsmitteln f\u00fcr den Notfall bew\u00e4ltigen, aber dieser Ansatz w\u00e4re teuer und w\u00fcrde nichts zur L\u00f6sung des Problems beitragen. Andererseits k\u00f6nnte ein Imperator besorgte Mitglieder aus dem \u00f6ffentlichen und privaten Sektor zusammenbringen, um einen Hilfsplan zu koordinieren, der sofort Hilfe leistet, die Geb\u00fchren f\u00fcr Anreize f\u00fcr Spediteure senkt, Lieferungen dorthin zu bringen, mehr Nahrungsmittelverarbeitungsfabriken im System baut, die Investitionen in die Forschung \u00fcber d\u00fcrreresistente Nutzpflanzen erh\u00f6ht und vieles mehr. In der Lage zu sein, diese Ebene der Ver\u00e4nderung zu koordinieren und zu bewirken, ist die wahre Macht der Position. Ich glaube, ein guter Imperator sollte nicht nur dar\u00fcber nachdenken, wie er jetzt helfen kann, sondern auch dar\u00fcber, wie er den Generationen, die nach ihm kommen werden, helfen kann.\n(Beifall)\n\nSie haben meine Frage, warum Sie Imperator werden wollen, noch immer nicht beantwortet.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Nat\u00fcrlich, um Menschen zu helfen.\n(Gel\u00e4chter)\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Aber ehrlich gesagt, ich m\u00f6chte Imperator werden, weil ich glaube, dass meine Erfahrung, mein Fokus und mein Engagement dazu beitragen k\u00f6nnen, das Imperium in eine bessere Institution f\u00fcr alle zu verwandeln. Und wenn das wahr ist, dann habe ich die Verpflichtung, genau das zu versuchen.\nApropos Erfahrung: Sie stehen kurz davor, zum Imperator gew\u00e4hlt zu werden, und doch haben Sie noch nie ein \u00f6ffentliches Amt bekleidet. Beunruhigt Sie das jemals?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: \u00dcberhaupt nicht. Eine Sache, die ich aus der Beobachtung der Verwaltung meines Vaters gelernt habe, ist, dass nichts einen wirklich darauf vorbereiten kann, Imperator zu werden. Kein Job im Universum l\u00e4sst sich damit vergleichen, also macht es keinen Unterschied, ob ein Kandidat null Erfahrung im \u00f6ffentlichen Sektor hat und ein anderer ausschlie\u00dflich diese. Am ersten Tag der n\u00e4chsten Regierung wird derjenige, der gew\u00e4hlt wurde, im Wesentlichen lernen, in seinem Amt Imperator zu sein.\nWie geht es \u00fcbrigens Ihrem Vater? Haben Sie k\u00fcrzlich mit ihm gesprochen?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Wir haben vor ein paar Tagen gechattet. Ich w\u00fcnschte wirklich, wir k\u00f6nnten \u00f6fter miteinander sprechen, aber da ich auf der Wahlkampftour bin und er sich darauf konzentriert hat, vor dem Ende seiner Amtszeit einige wichtige Reformen einzuleiten, kann es schwierig sein, unsere Zeitpl\u00e4ne zu koordinieren.\nHaben Sie beide nicht vor, sich am Imperator's Day zu treffen?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Wir beide haben an diesem Tag Veranstaltungen geplant. Ich werde eine Kundgebung im Ellis-System auf Kampos abhalten, und mein Vater wird der Zeremonienmeister der j\u00e4hrlichen Imperator's Day-Feier auf der Erde sein.\nEs scheint nicht fair zu sein, ihn an einem Tag arbeiten zu lassen, an dem er gefeiert wird. Sie sehen mich nicht am Esen-Tag arbeiten.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Wann ist der Esen-Tag?\nDas h\u00e4ngt von Ihnen ab, wann Sie Imperator werden, Hinweis, Hinweis.\n\n[Lachen]\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Mein Vater liebt es, jedem zu erz\u00e4hlen, dass es beim Imperator-Tag nicht um ihn oder einen anderen bestimmten Imperator geht. Dass er dazu gedacht ist, den Moment zu feiern, in dem die Menschheit unter einer Regierung zusammenkam, um unsere Expansion in die Sterne zu unterst\u00fctzen und eine bessere Zukunft f\u00fcr uns alle zu schaffen.\nFr\u00fcher nannte man ihn Ratstag, nicht wahr?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Das ist richtig. Ich bin beeindruckt, dass Sie sich daran erinnert haben.\nSehen Sie, ich wei\u00df auch wichtige Dinge, neben all dem hei\u00dfen, unangek\u00fcndigten Klatsch \u00fcber die Besetzung von Love Liner.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Warten Sie... wissen Sie, was wirklich zwischen Dominico und Safa passiert ist?\n[Gel\u00e4chter]\n\nIch werde Sie nach der Show informieren, aber zuerst muss ich fragen, warum Ihr Vater Sie nicht als Imperator bef\u00fcrwortet hat.\n\n[Gemurmel]\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Ich kann nicht f\u00fcr ihn sprechen, aber ich unterst\u00fctze voll und ganz seine Entscheidung, neutral zu bleiben und keinen Kandidaten bei dieser Wahl zu unterst\u00fctzen. Als ich mich entschied zu kandidieren, wusste ich, dass ihn das in eine sehr ungew\u00f6hnliche Lage bringen w\u00fcrde, also habe ich ihm klar gemacht, dass ich seine Unterst\u00fctzung weder erbitten noch erwarten w\u00fcrde. Und ich \u00fcberlie\u00df es ihm, zu entscheiden, welcher Kurs der beste w\u00e4re.\nTrotzdem muss es merkw\u00fcrdig sein, in dieser kritischen Phase seines Lebens nicht die Unterst\u00fctzung seines Vaters zu haben.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Wir beide sind ziemlich gut darin, uns abzuschotten, und keiner von uns hat zugelassen, dass das, was in unserem Berufsleben passiert, unsere pers\u00f6nliche Beziehung beeinflusst. Letzten Endes ist er in erster Linie mein Vater, und ich wei\u00df, dass nichts an dieser Wahl daran etwas \u00e4ndern wird.\nApropos Unterst\u00fctzung: Sie kandidieren als Universalist, doch die Partei hat die andere Universalistin, die noch im Rennen ist, die Hohe Sekret\u00e4rin Illyana Sharrad, offiziell unterst\u00fctzt. Warum sind Sie bei einer Partei geblieben, die Sie nicht unterst\u00fctzt?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Ich w\u00fcrde nicht so weit gehen zu sagen, dass sie mich nicht unterst\u00fctzen. Die Partei hat eine lange Tradition, einen Kandidaten in der Hoffnung zu unterst\u00fctzen, dass sich ihre W\u00e4hler um diese Wahl herum konsolidieren. Bei dieser Wahl haben sie beschlossen, den Generalsekret\u00e4r Sharrad zu unterst\u00fctzen, der ein unglaublicher und beeindruckender Kandidat ist. Ich h\u00e4tte mich \u00fcber ihre Unterst\u00fctzung gefreut, aber sie ist schon viel l\u00e4nger aktives Parteimitglied als ich, daher verstehe ich vollkommen, warum sie sie mir vorgezogen haben.\nIhre Bef\u00fcrwortung von Sharrad geschah vor Monaten und gab Ihnen und Ihrer Kampagne gen\u00fcgend Zeit, sich stattdessen als unabh\u00e4ngiger Kandidat neu zu definieren. Warum haben Sie das nicht getan?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Es f\u00fchlte sich unaufrichtig an. Ich bin ein registriertes Mitglied der Universal Party, und meine Kern\u00fcberzeugungen stimmen haupts\u00e4chlich mit den ihren \u00fcberein, warum es also verbergen? Vielleicht w\u00e4re es politisch vorteilhaft gewesen, aber ich bin, wer ich bin, und ich glaube, was ich glaube, und ich hielt es f\u00fcr das Beste, den W\u00e4hlern gegen\u00fcber ehrlich zu sein, was genau meine Position betrifft.\nEs war mir ein Vergn\u00fcgen, Sie hier zu haben. Ich w\u00fcrde mich freuen, Sie wieder in der Show zu haben, ob Sie gewinnen oder nicht.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Hoffentlich, wenn ich gewinne, und nur, wenn Sie mir sagen, was wirklich hinter den Kulissen von Love Liner vor sich geht.\nAbgemacht. Imperator-Kandidat Titus Costigan.\n\n(Beifall)\n\nWir m\u00fcssen eine kurze Werbepause einlegen, aber dann wird Starburst Collective zu uns sto\u00dfen, um ein Lied ihres neuen Albums zu spielen. Vertrauen Sie mir, das wollen Sie nicht verpassen. Es kommen noch mehr SETs auf Sie zu, gleich nach dem hier.","zh_CN":"[ Music ]\n\nAnnouncer: This portion of Something Every Tuesday is brought to you by mo.Trader, the most trusted and secure way to exchange goods and credits. Featuring the latest security features, insured bonding by Central Core Bank, and expanded shipping options, mo.Trader is the fastest and easiest way to gift and trade from the comfort of your mobiGlas.\nNow, let\u2019s get back to the show and our host, Esen Landari!\n[ Applause ]\n\nWelcome back. Still here with me is Imperator candidate Titus Costigan. Glad the first part of the interview didn\u2019t scare you off.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Not in the least. I always enjoy our conversations, Esen.\nThat\u2019s because we\u2019ve only had a few. Ask any of my friends and they\u2019ll tell you that I have a handful of good stories and two solid anecdotes, but after I burn through those, I don\u2019t bring much to the table.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: [ Laughs ] I know several of your friends, and I\u2019d bet that \u2018boring\u2019 would be one of the last words they\u2019d use to describe you.\nOnly because they\u2019d use words like \u2018vapid\u2019 and \u2018insufferable\u2019 first.\n\n[ Laughter ]\n\nNow, before the break we were talking about what you\u2019d like to accomplish in your first 100 days as Imperator. You mentioned deregulation to spur economic growth, how you\u2019re gonna increase our reliance on militias, and you promised that you\u2019d not be getting a pet. Did I miss anything?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: I could go through all hundred days one day at a time if you want?\n[Laughter]\n\nYeah, that\u2019d be great. What\u2019s for lunch on day 53?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Meal bar. Same thing, every day. For dinner I love to get complicated, but in the middle of the workday, I tend to keep it simple.\nFuel for the fire.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Exactly. It\u2019s all about getting as much done with each day as possible. I\u2019m hopeful that my first 100 would go down as some of the most productive in the Empire. Without getting too mired in specifics, my main focus would be reducing waste, financial and bureaucratic, and maximizing returns. The Militia Mobilization Initiative has been a great recent example of that: safer systems for less credits. So expanding the MMI could save the empire a lot over the next decade.\nNow, I watched a lot of your interviews in preparation for this and I was frankly surprised that no one asked you the most important question: why?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: The projections we have been getting back have been very positive\u2014\nNo, why do you want to be Imperator?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Yeah, you\u2019re right, no one really asks me that.\nI\u2019m always curious because on the surface it seems like a pretty terrible job. Everyone is always criticizing you, you get the blame for everything bad that happens, and when something good does happen, there\u2019s a line of people around the block waiting to say it was definitely not because of you. Why switch from running a successful business to sign up for the most stressful ten years of your life?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: I don\u2019t think this question gets asked enough because it\u2019s easy to dodge by simply saying that you want to help people.\nAnd that\u2019s not your thing?\n\n[Laughter]\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Don\u2019t get me wrong, it absolutely is, but I\u2019m already helping people each and every day. My foundation, Better Together, provides everything from free daycare and meals to adult education and on the job training for millions of people. I firmly believe that the private sector and individuals are often better at directly helping people than the government. If that\u2019s your main goal, then becoming Imperator probably isn\u2019t the most effective way to achieve it.\nSo if helping people isn\u2019t the primary purpose of being Imperator, then what is?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: There\u2019s an important distinction here that I don\u2019t want to get lost. The actions of an Imperator can absolutely help or even harm individuals, and those outcomes need to be considered when making any decision, but what I\u2019ve learned is that the true power of the position is its ability to make structural reforms that can strengthen the Empire for generations.\nFor example, an Imperator could handle a famine in Fora by simply redirecting emergency food supplies, but that approach would be expensive and do nothing to address the root of the problem. On the other hand, an Imperator could bring together concerned members from the public and private sector to coordinate a relief plan that immediately provides aid, lowers fees to incentivize haulers to make deliveries there, builds more food processing factories in-system, increases investments into research focused on drought-resistant crops, and more. Being able to coordinate and affect that level of change is the true power of the position. I believe a good Imperator should not only think about how they can help now, but also how they can help the generations that will come after.\n[ Applause ]\n\nYou still haven\u2019t answered my question about why you want to be Imperator.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: To help people, obviously.\n[ Laughter ]\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: But, honestly, I want to be Imperator because I believe that my experience, focus, and commitment can help transform the Empire into a better institution for all. And if that\u2019s true, then I have an obligation to try and do just that.\nSpeaking of experience, you\u2019re on the verge of being elected Imperator, yet you\u2019ve never held public office before. Does that ever concern you?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Not at all. One thing I\u2019ve learned from watching my father\u2019s administration is that nothing can truly prepare you for being Imperator. No job in the universe compares to it, so it doesn\u2019t make a difference if one candidate has zero public sector experience and another has exclusively that. On day one of the next administration, whoever\u2019s been elected will essentially be learning to be Imperator on the job.\nHow is your father by the way? Have you talked to him recently?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: We chatted a few days ago. Really wish we could speak more frequently, but with me on the campaign trail and him focused on instituting some important reforms before his term ends, it can be tough coordinating our schedules.\nNo plans for the two of you to hang out on Imperator\u2019s Day?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: We both have events scheduled that day. I\u2019ll be holding a rally in the Ellis system on Kampos, and my dad will be the master of ceremonies for the annual Imperator\u2019s Day celebration on Earth.\nDoesn\u2019t seem fair to make him work on a day that celebrates him. You don\u2019t see me working on Esen Day.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: When\u2019s Esen Day?\nThat\u2019s up to you when you become Imperator, hint hint.\n\n[Laughter]\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: My dad loves telling everyone that Imperator Day isn\u2019t about him or any other specific Imperator. That it\u2019s meant to celebrate the moment Humanity came together under one government to aid our expansion into the stars and create a better future for us all.\nIt used to be called Council Day, right?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: That\u2019s right. I\u2019m impressed you remembered that.\nSee, I know important stuff too, besides all the hot unaired gossip about the cast of Love Liner.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Wait\u2026 do you know what really went down between Dominico and Safa?\n[Laughter]\n\nI\u2019ll fill you in after the show, but first I have to ask, why hasn\u2019t your father endorsed you for Imperator?\n\n[Murmuring]\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: I can\u2019t speak for him, but I fully support his decision to remain neutral and not endorse any candidate in this election. When I decided to run, I knew it would put him in a very unusual spot, so I made it clear to him that I would not ask for or expect his endorsement. And left it in his hands to determine what course would be best.\nStill, it must be strange to not have your father\u2019s support during this critical time in your life.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Both of us are quite good at compartmentalizing, and neither of us have allowed what\u2019s happening in our professional life to affect our personal relationship. At the end of the day, he\u2019s my dad first and foremost and I know that nothing about this election will change that.\nSpeaking of endorsements, you\u2019re running as a Universalist, yet the party has officially endorsed the other Universalist still in the race, High-Secretary Illyana Sharrad. Why have you stuck with a party that won\u2019t back you?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: I wouldn\u2019t go so far as to say that they don\u2019t back me. The party has a long-standing tradition of endorsing one candidate in the hopes their voters consolidate around that choice. For this election, they decided to back High-Secretary Sharrad, who\u2019s an incredible and impressive candidate. I would\u2019ve loved their endorsement, but she\u2019s been an active party member far longer than I, so I completely understand why they picked her over me.\nTheir endorsement of Sharrad happened months ago, giving you and your campaign plenty of time to redefine yourself as an independent candidate instead. Why didn\u2019t you do that?\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: It felt disingenuous. I\u2019m a registered member of the Universalist Party, and my core beliefs mainly fall in line with theirs, so why hide it? Maybe it would\u2019ve been politically advantageous, but I am who I am and I believe what I believe, and I felt it would be best to be honest with the electorate about exactly where I stand.\nIt\u2019s been a pleasure having you on. Would love to have you back on the show whether you win or not.\n\nTITUS COSTIGAN: Hopefully when I win, and only if you tell me what\u2019s really going on behind the scenes on Love Liner.\nDeal. Imperator candidate Titus Costigan.\n\n[ Applause ]\n\nWe need to take a quick commercial break, but then Starburst Collective will join us to play a song of their new album. Trust me, you don\u2019t want to miss it. There\u2019s more SET coming your way, right after this."},"links_count":0,"comment_count":35,"created_at":"2020-07-08T03:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"5 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-07 21:01:51","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":17677,"next_id":17680}}