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marvelstars · 10 months

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The Republic, the Jedi Order and Slavery

So I have seen some discussions on the matter of the Jedi, Slavery and the Republic that I think would be interesting to explore from a legal point of view just to get a little bit outside the blame game going on in the fandom.

First off I think what we need to remember is that slavery, while being banned in the republic it is tolerated on worlds associated with it but that are too distant for the core to bother to enforce their own laws there, like Tatooine. The Republic tacitly recognizes the Hutt and others Empires who support slavery even if it isn´t official or legal. So right there we have a big plot hole into Repblican legislation and law enforcement.

This means that on Tatooine is completely legal to own, blown up, buy or sell people as property and it´s a practice so widespread there are actual space pirates who dedicate themselves to capture and sell people for this same end, this was the case of Shmi Skywalker who was born a free person but who was captured and sold to Gardulla´s the Hutt and her Son, Anakin, who was born a slave.

But this isn´t the case inside the Republic, much less on Coruscant, at least in the bare bones of their laws, so what happened to the Clone Army? Why no one, not even the principled Senators like Padme, Bail Organa or Mon Mothma were calling them a slave army? I believe the problem comes from the fact the clones, just like the droids, are not fully recognized as individuals with rights acording to Republican laws, when a member of a respected organization like the Jedi Order, Master sifo Dias, can use Republic credits to buy an army for a war that didn´t even exist until Dooku created the Separatist faction and no one raises an eyebrow, it means the Republic recognizes their purchase as legal within the law, which means they aren not recognized as sentient beings and the Clone Army are not citizens of the Republic but a property bought by Republican Credits with the Jedi Order acting as an intermediary.

This is my pet peeve when it comes to the Jedi Order in the Prequels, because they are not being actively evil, they didn´t order or buy the clone army, all of this was part of Palpatine´s and Dooku´s plans but by accepting the clone army they legally became the owners of the Clone Troopers.

In this instance it doesn´t matter much if they like them or treat them well, I love the fact Anakin, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan and Plo Kloon have an awesome relationship with their troopers in general but the deeper issues stays the same, they are not recognized citizens of the republic by law and they are owned by the Republic and the Jedi Order, to give an example of this problem: Watto also liked Shmi and Anakin and actually asisted Shmi´s marriage with Cliegg Lars after he freed her in legends canon, that didn´t mean he didn´t have the legal right to blown both of them up if he thought it was neccesary as their slave owner and that´s exactly the same problem the Jedi have, they are legally the owners of the clone army.

My other pet peeve was that instead of talking about this very serious issue or making a formal investigation because this was looking too suspicious, the Jedi Council, including Obi-Wan and Yoda, were more concerned about them losing their place as peace keepers by becoming members of the Republican army than by becoming owners of hundreds of people from one day to another and I could actually think this was just a plot hole in Lucas narrative but the problem is that this is actually talked as an issue by the Clones in the Clone War series, even more, Lucas originally thought to skip the use of the chip and have the Clone Army voluntarily attack the Jedi in Order 66 because their loyalty was to the Republic not to the Jedi Order, which says a lot about issues between them.

So the Jedi didn´t just renounce their right to have a political voice inside the Senate, they also skip over or just plain never talked about their responsibility as owners of sentient beings, yes, this was part of Palpatine´s trap for them, they were done for the moment they accepted the army because they were left vulnerable to an attack like Order 66 but they were still an semi independent institution within the Republic who certainly had the means to discover the truth, they just choose to let it lie until they could win the war and that moment never came.

Now another interesting discussion is that some fans make a relation between the Clone Army being a slave army and the Jedi being obliterated by the Republican army and I think this take is forgetting the canon reason why Palpatine could legally give the Order 66.

The Jedi Order being attacked with Order 66 didn´t have anything to do with them being owners of the clone army but Order 66 was legal within the Republican law post clone wars, why? because they became virtual members of the army when they became generals, this means they were subject to the Republic as members of their army and once they attacked the Chancellor of the Republic they officially became a Rogue army that needed to be put under control. The Jedi were no longer seen as civilians or diplomats or a religious order but a rogue military that was a menace for the Republic, this was the reason most of the corrupted Senate supported this action and not even Padme´s and Bail´s group could stop this because it was a "legal action" within the Republican laws as they stood post Clone Wars. Consider that even the founders of the rebel alliance were doubtful about the Jedi´s support to tackle Palpatine´s political power beyond those they knew personally, like Obi-Wan or Anakin and that Master Windu didn´t even consider to contact trusted members of the Senate because he considered them too corrupt to truly tackle Palpatine, that´s how distant the Jedi Order had become from non- force sensitive people, even members of the senate.

So I agree with the sector of the fans that are of the oppinion the Jedi´s problem was that they didn´t involve themselves enough in politics and that was the main reason why Palpatine could take over their entire organization so easily once he had enough support of the Senate because yes, he was attacked by the Council of Jedi Masters and Yes it was because he was a Sith but also yes, that´s a coup d'etat which was ilegal and punished within Republican law and Master Windu felt there was no other option because yes, the Jedi didn´t involve themselves in politics and that made sure the Senate had virtual control over all of them even in the case of naming them rogue.

Now a curious thing that happens with laws is that they just won´t go away when they became part of the legislation until there´s a change in legislation and in the comics Darth Vader as the last member of the Jedi, member of the Sith Order and part of the military of the Empire is also subjected to the previous Jedi Order´s check and balances, anytime the Emperor considers he´s become rogue, he has the right to pursue him with all the power of the Empire and the army can be used to stop him including the stromtroopers even those who are loyal to Vader.

I think this is interesting because Vader has both the power of the second in command of the Empire, he´s the "Emperor´s voice" but also one of the most precarious positions within it´s power structure and I don´t think Palpatine did this just to be a dick to his apprentice, which he can be for shit and giggles but because Vader´s position allows him to be a serious contender for the throne if an admiral or grand moff ever considered to make an alliance with him, this way he assures himself his position as Emperor, Vader is virtually isolated from the admirals and stromtroopers even if Vader truly is loyal to the Emperor and the admirals/grand moffs/etc get the message that if the Emperor is ready to do this to Vader who´s almost fanatically loyal to Palpatine, to his second in command, his literal voice, who has access to all high levels meetings, "his favorite" then what hope do they have to try something like that? It´s better to keep being close to the Emperor and follow his rules.

Palpatine as Emperor is still playing the same politics and the only way to change this was by making legislation changes, which could be done in the Republic by a Jedi Order associated with the Senate and with the imperial Senate before the Emperor disolved it.

If Star Wars was a political thriller like the Cassian Andor and to a less extend the clone wars series it would be interesting to explore the story from this pov but given the narrative is looked more like a mythical story, most of those issues are hinted but not developed much beyond what serves the narrative.

I think it´s worth discussing those issues and what they said about the society pictured in the prequels because Lucas definitely didn´t write them as a perfect society that existed protected by the Jedi Order before the evil Emperor took over, this version is mostly Obi-Wan being romantic with the past he misses, Lucas very much added a lot of issues to explain how a society like the Republic, Jedi Order included, became a dictatorship and it doesn´t need to begin with a big bad evil wizard but mostly that same society ethical issues, especially those it refuses to recognize.

#Jedi Order #age of the republic #star wars #Yoda #Mace Windu #Obi-Wan Kenobi #anakin skywalker #Padme Amidala #Bail Organa #Mon Mothma #star wars meta #prequel trilogy #fictional slavery meta #George Lucas #emperor palpatine

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fierrochaseist4t · 1 year

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happy may 4th nerds, take an anakin groundflyer or whatever the fuck his name is

#star wars #anakin skywalker #ani skywalker #age of the republic #star wars comics #marvel star wars #star wars marvel #age of the republic anakin skywalker #darth vader #anakin skywalker fanart #darth vader fanart

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dieletztepanzerhexe · 1 month

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shell necklace made of river mussels

stroked pottery culture, 4800-4400 BC

found in Šárka, Czech Republic

#neolithic #prehistory #stone age #artefact #archaeology #jewellery #stroked pottery culture #czech republic #archeology #my upl #central europe #european prehistory

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brother-emperors · 11 days

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it’s like

And he had great influence, both from the favours which he bestowed and the fear which he inspired, but more from the fear. At any rate, Sicinnius, who gave the greatest annoyance to the magistrates and popular leaders of his day, when asked why Crassus was the only one whom he let alone and did not worry, said that the man had hay on his horn. Now the Romans used to coil hay about the horn of an ox that gored, so that those who encountered it might be on their guard

Plutarch, Crassus

and a redraw of this lmao

⭐ places I’m at! bsky / pixiv / pillowfort /cohost / cara.app / tip jar!

#komiks tag #roman republic tag #tris homines #this redraw has been sitting in my drafts for AGES bc I couldn’t remember where I saved the screenshots lmaooo

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snarkspawn · 1 year

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long time no swtor! hi

#swtor #star wars #the old republic #star wars the old republic #mirialan #chiss #sith warrior #bounty hunter #jedi knight #yun #iden roth #duan #the chaytan legacy #I made them ages ago but I never posted any of the drawings I did lol #well no technically I did post yun before but they've undergone some redesigning since then #and then duan I made for the new test server #which is always a great excuse for new ocs lmao

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ltwilliammowett · 7 months

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Oi oi what ya doing ? These are my coins- put them back - the locals of the wreck of SS Republic are not pleased with the visit of a group of archaeologists

#naval history #naval artifacts #ss republic #age of steam #shipwreck #underwater archaeology #1865 #civil war

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memories-of-ancients · 7 months

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The Restoration of the Roman Republic ... in the Middle Ages? The Forgotten Commune of Rome

Today it seems men often have Rome on their minds with Tik Toks and polls indicating that men often think about Rome on a daily basis. I'm assuming that most of these thoughts revolve around the Roman Empire, lesser so the Roman republic, some the Eastern Roman (Byzantine Empire), and few think about the Roman monarchy. However I guarantee that almost no one thinks about the medieval Roman Republic known as the Commune of Rome.

In the 12th century central Italy was directly ruled by the Pope through the Papal States. One of the hot topic political issues of the day was the "investiture controversy", which was debate over who had the power to install bishops and other important clergy; the Pope or secular authorities. This evolved into a debate on who would have ultimate governing authority, the Pope, or the secular government, most notably the Holy Roman Empire. At the time, many cities in Italy were growing disgruntled with the rule of the Pope and the rule of nobles who supported the Pope. This resulted in popular uprisings in which cities overthrew the Papal government and declared themselves independent, thus forming various city states and communes in Italy.

In 1143 a wealthy Italian banker named Geordano Pierlione led a revolt against Papal authority, kicking the Pope out of Rome and declaring an independent Commune of Rome. The next year a monk and priest named Arnold of Brescia arrived in the city, becoming the intellectual leader of the movement and establishing the new Roman Republic. Arnold was a controversial reformer who railed against abuses of Church and Papal authority, decried Church corruption, and advocated a thorough reformation of the Church. Among his ideas he believed that clergy needed to return to apostolic poverty, renouncing all wealth and ownership of property, and also renouncing secular political power. Here's a statue of him in Brescia, Italy today.

With Arnold at it's head a new Roman government was formed and modeled after the ancient Roman Republic, with 56 senators who were not of noble class, 4 from each of Rome's medieval districts, and executive authority invested in a "patrician". The new republic refused to use the title "consul" as it had become an inherited noble title after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Nobles and aristocrats above the rank of knight were not allowed and thus most noble titles were abolished.

Of course the Pope, then Lucius II, was not going to tolerate such a rebellion and attempted to take back the city. In 1145 he formed an army and laid siege to the city. Amazingly the Romans drove away the invaders, with Pope Lucius II being killed in the battle after being bonked in the head with a rock.

The new republic flourished; drafting news laws, reforming medieval Roman society, making alliances with other Italian city states and war with others, setting up courts, and minting coins.

The Roman army was reformed, and a new capital building was constructed on the Capitoline Hill known as the Palazzo Senatorio (the Senate Palace), which still stands today but is much different after being heavily renovated by Michelangelo in the 1530's.

Originally the new Roman Republic swore fealty to the Holy Roman Emperor. However Rome and the Empire had a falling out. In 1149 the Roman Senate invited the German king Conrad III to the city to be coronated Roman Emperor. Rome's enemies were growing, so the Roman Senate offered Conrad this title in return for protection. Conrad had already been elected as Holy Roman Emperor and was due to be coronated, but the Roman Senate was proposing that he be THE Roman Emperor, as in like, a real Roman Emperor whose authority is defined by the Roman Senate, and not a Holy Roman Emperor whose authority was defined by the Pope and a loose confederation of high ranking German, Italian, Austrian, and Czech nobles. In the Holy Roman Empire the emperor is elected by the highest ranking nobles of the land. The Roman Senate was claiming that it had the authority to choose Roman emperors as the senate did during the ancient Roman Empire. Well, lets just say that Conrad probably didn't take too kindly to the Roman Senate attempting to usurp the governing structure of the Holy Roman Empire. In the middle ages a group of lower class burghers and knights cosplaying as Roman senators was not a good basis for a Europe spanning universal imperial monarchy. When Conrad died he was already cutting a deal with the Pope to snuff out the republic.

Conrad died in 1152 but his successor, Frederick Barbarossa continued the deal with the Pope to end the Roman Republic. It was one of the few times Frederick and the Pope agreed on anything. In 1155 a combined Papal/Imperial army invaded Rome. The city quickly fell and Arnold of Brescia was captured and burned at the stake. His ashes were scattered into the Tiber River.

Amazingly the Roman Republic lived on. Frederick Barbarossa was coronated by Pope Adrian IV as Holy Roman Emperor, an act which led to a new revolt among the Romans. Frederick put down this revolt, killing 1,000 Romans in the process, but afterwards he simply left the city and never returned after becoming bogged down in the complex politics of Italy. The Pope also left Rome, having to deal with a papal schism, resulting in no one being left in charge of the city and thus another restoration of the Roman Republic.

In 1167 Rome made war on the neighboring city of Tusculum, a long time rival of Rome who had supported the Pope and became a papal capital after the foundation of the republic. The Count of Tusculum appealed for help to the Holy Roman Empire, and Frederick I sent a small army of 1600 men. The Romans had an army of 10,000 made up of peasant militia who were poorly armed and poorly trained. While heavily outnumbered the Imperial army consisted of well armed and trained knights and professional soldiers. The Imperial army easily defeated the Romans at the Battle of Monte Porizio on May 29th, 1167, a battle which would later be called, "the Cannae of the Middle Ages". The Imperial army would continue to march on Rome, but by a stroke of luck for the Romans would be struck with the plague and forced to turn back. The Romans got their revenge against Tusculum in 1183 when they conquered and burned the city to the ground Carthage style.

The beginning of the end of the republic came in 1188 when Pope Clement III made a power sharing deal with the senate in which the people would elect senators but the Pope would have to approve the senators. The senate agreed to this in order to secure the protection of the Pope as the Holy Roman Empire was still a threat. Over the coming decades popes would reduce the number of senators until by the early 13th century, there was just one. Soon that single senate post was directly chosen by the Pope, and eventually it became a hereditary position. Before you knew it, French and Spanish nobles were becoming Roman senators and Roman senators ruled as autocrats at the behest of the Pope. By the end of the 13th century, the Roman Republic was dead.

#history #middle ages #medieval rome #roman republic #commune of rome #holy roman empire #pope

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jewishcissiekj · 23 days

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Since Asajj Ventress appeared in recent media and is set to appear in future shows and Star Wars content, I've seen a lot of people starting to read Dark Disciple. but besides that book, there are so many stories featuring Asajj over her 22 years of existence. So if you are looking for some recommendations and entry points to Asajj outside of the TV shows, here are some recommendations to get to know her a bit better, in both the Canon and Legends timelines:

(for anyone looking for a definitive list of everything she's ever been in, I also have that)

for anyone looking for just the list of recommendations without all my babbling, scroll down to the bottom, it'll be there.

Canon

Dooku: Jedi Lost Audiodrama - Script by Cavan Scott, preformed by full cast (also available in Script format) Starting off, this masterpiece. Telling the dual story of Asajj and Dooku, Jedi Lost is genuinely some of the best Star Wars content out there, in my opinion. Taking place early in The Clone Wars, it tells Asajj's journey battling her ghosts and uncovering her Master's history. It requires only the context of the prequels and The Clone Wars, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who likes the Prequels, Dooku, or Asajj.

Brotherhood - by Mike Chen Continuing with the book that serves as an introduction to Asajj in canon (chronologically), Brotherhood presents an interesting take on her first meetings with Anakin and Obi-Wan. She's far from the main character here, only supporting the book's plot as the villain and the initiator behind some of the troubles Obi-Wan faces on Cato Neimodia. This Asajj is more calculated, working behind the scenes while still facing off face to face against Obi-Wan and Anakin, and it uniquely handles her character. The book is a Clone Wars adventure taking place before and it requires only the movies' and TCW's context, once again. *While technically taking place after Hyperspace Stories #5, it contradicts that issue's events and makes more sense if it takes place before, so I listed it first (for more info on the contradictions you can go here)*

Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories #5 - Written by Amanda Deibert, with art by Riccardo Faccini (Variant cover by Cary Nord) Taking place shortly after Anakin's knighting, before The Clone Wars show, this is a short and interesting comic story for Asajj. While tying into an over-arching plot of the series, this issue stands alone well. Simply put, Asajj is sent to retrieve a mysterious item by Count Dooku and encounters Anakin and Obi-Wan in the process. It has fun art, fun dynamics, and it's really good.

Worthless - a short story from Stories of Jedi and Sith - written by Delilah S. Dawson with an illustration by Jake Bartok This one is not as set on the timeline, but we do know it takes place while Asajj is still working for Dooku. In short, without too many spoilers, Asajj falls into a pit and has to trust on a Clone Trooper's help to get out. The story is a part of an anthology, but it completely stand-alone on its own. If you can read it on its own, I recommend it, but the rest of the book is also very much worth it if you want to buy it for the story. Dawson captures a version of Asajj that rarely gets attention, before the Nightsisters, and manages to show her identity and tell a wonderful story without that tool that's often overly used (in my opinion).

Star Wars Adventures: Return to Vader's Castle #3 - Written by Cavan Scott with art by Francesco Francavilla & Nick Brokenshire Jumping forward in the Timeline, we have another Asajj story by Cavan Scott! It has Bounty Hunting, A baby Sarlacc, pretty art, fun coloring, and Asajj. So what's not to love? Like Hyperspace Stories, Return to Vader's Castle also has an over-arching plot, but that's 4 framing pages of Vaneé being a bitch and has no effect on the rest of it. Solid stuff. (it is also the source of the first picture in this post)

Sisters - a short comic story from the Age of Republic Special - written by Jody Houser with art by Carlos Gómez Next, we have a wonderful short story taking place just before The Clone Wars episode "To Catch a Jedi". In just a few pages, Jody Houser brings conflict and personality to Asajj's time on Coruscant. And there's gorgeous art.

Legends

While Legends, and especially the comics, have some of my favorite stories with Asajj, it's hard to recommend individual issues. They can be stand-alone but still connected and ingrained in the ongoing story of the comics. But I tried to hand-pick the best for introduction and knowledge of who Asajj is a character there. So I won't recommend the 12 issues she's in, I set myself the limit of sticking with the same number of recommendations I had for canon.

Star Wars: Republic: The New Face of War - 2-issue Comic arc - written by W. Haden Blackman with art by Tomás Giorello Although I'm assuming you all have at least a passing familiarity with Asajj's character, introductions are still important. And, yes, Asajj first appeared in a different comic and after a month or so in Clone Wars (2003), but chronologically, in-universe, this is her first appearance. The Face of War is comprised of issues #51 and #52 of the Star Wars: Republic comic series, and although Asajj is only in the last page of #51, it's necessary context. This one isn't a must for me, but it sets the ground for her. And it's good. Giorello's art brings a unique perspective to Asajj's character, and by that I mean it may not be to some people's taste. So take your pick with this one.

Star Wars: Republic #53 - written by W. Haden Blackman, with art by Brian Ching If the last one isn't a must, this one is. It is a stand-alone adventure, almost feeling like a (better) TCW episode. Obi-Wan is off to infiltrate a Techno Union base with a team of all-star legendary Jedi that are introduced, and everything goes wrong when they run into the Confederacy's best, Durge and Asajj Ventress. I say it's a must because it establishes the nature of the rivalry between Obi-Wan and Asajj, and gives us such a sense of who those people are. It also lays the foundations to my next comic recommendation.

Dark Heart - short story by August and Cynthia Hahn This one, a 1784-word story, originally published on Wizards.com as a part of The Living Force roleplaying campaign, is definitely not a must, but it's barely 2k words, just read it. In all seriousness though, it captures Asajj's essence and I just. love it. You can read it right now, that's the link in the name, it's up online for free legally. While it is a part of the RPG campaign, I read it individually and had no trouble at all.

The Cestus Deception - by Steven Barnes (The Japanese cover is prettier and has Asajj, ok?) Obi-Wan Kenobi and Kit Fisto head to the planet Ord Cestus to try and convince Ord Cestus's government to ally with The Republic. But under the surface, a mysterious scheme had developed and it gets messy. Never ask me to write a publisher's summary. Asajj is the villain of this one, and I don't have much to say about it, but it is good. Fair warning: it hasn't aged the best in my opinion, and not even in a politically correct sense, some of the descriptions and relationships were questionable at best. If you like Kit Fisto and political adventuring and Clone Wars fights and a mascarade ball, if I remember correctly, this one's for you. It's not much of a story for Asajj but it is a fun read.

Star Wars: Republic #60 - written by W. Haden Blackman with art by Tomás Giorello I have never ever not once said it but this right here is my favorite Asajj story of all time ever. It does require context, though, so here's it: after the battle of Jabiim, Alpha-17 (Legends Arc Trooper, you may have heard of him) and Obi-Wan (a staple in Asajj's stories, he needs to gtfo women's business) are blown up and declared dead. Turns out Asajj Ventress has been holding them in her castle on the planet Rattatak and this is the daring story of their escape. In this issue, Asajj's origin story is revealed, before the Nightsisters had anything to do with her. More than any other Legends issue, it differentiates greatly from anything you know about Asajj in TCW/Canon. She's a warlord, with armies at her beck and call, a military commander, And it's fun. Her origin story is told in this issue, and it's such a great story that shifted my understanding of her a lot. The art, once again, is by Giorello, keep it in mind.

Yoda: Dark Rendezvous - by Sean Stewart (Japanese cover, once again) Last but certainly not least, the Legends Clone Wars book I've heard the most positive reviews of, and was not disappointed in the slightest. It is as good as they say. The story doesn't focus on Asajj, and she isn't even the main antagonist, but she gets a meaningful role in it and has her place and her arc in the story. It's also my favorite approach to how Asajj would act when she has to deal with children. Worth the hype and an excellent book to read unrelated to Asajj.

Alright, that's all! I hope you check out at least one of these, they're all great. As said before, I also have a complete list of everything Asajj in chronological order. Feel free to ask me anything about the list and the things in it. I can also give a complete comic reading list for her, since it's a bit more than just the issues she appeared in. For anyone struggling with the accessibility of these recommendations, I have a hopefully comprehensive guide in the complete appearances post. And now just this list because I promised that:

Canon 1) Dooku: Jedi Lost Audiodrama - Script by Cavan Scott, preformed by full cast (also available in Script format) 2) Brotherhood - by Mike Chen 3) Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories #5 - Written by Amanda Deibert, with art by Riccardo Faccini (Variant cover by Cary Nord) 4) Worthless - a short story from Stories of Jedi and Sith - written by Delilah S. Dawson with an illustration by Jake Bartok 5) Star Wars Adventures: Return to Vader's Castle #3 - Written by Cavan Scott with art by Francesco Francavilla & Nick Brokenshire 6) Sisters - a short comic story from the Age of Republic Special - written by Jody Houser with art by Carlos Gómez

Legends 1) Star Wars: Republic: The New Face of War - 2-issue Comic arc (Star Wars: Republic #51-52) - written by W. Haden Blackman with art by Tomás Giorello 2) Star Wars: Republic #53 - written by W. Haden Blackman, with art by Brian Ching 3) Dark Heart - short story by August and Cynthia Hahn 4) The Cestus Deception - by Steven Barnes 5) Star Wars: Republic #60 - written by W. Haden Blackman with art by Tomás Giorello 6) Yoda: Dark Rendezvous - by Sean Stewart

tag list: @thechaoticfanartist @charmwasjess @metalatl @redsandspirit @slutshartsstuff @housepartyfortwo @karma-malfoy @thelivingforce

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dontmeantobepoliticalbut · 8 months

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Vivek Ramaswamy wants to end birthright citizenship—a longstanding American policy codified in the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution—and take away young people’s right to vote, all in one fell swoop.

The presidential candidate made the call Thursday night on CNN, after being asked about his opponents, Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump, vowing to end birthright citizenship. “For a period of time, I think it’s going to be necessary,” Ramaswamy said.

But the young gun was not satisfied just being in agreement with the leading duo in the Republican race-to-the-repressive-bottom.

“I’ll actually go one step further on this, Abby, is that I don’t think someone just because they’re born in this country, even if they’re a sixth generation American should automatically enjoy all the privileges of citizenship until they’ve actually earned it,” Ramaswamy told CNN’s Abby Phillip. “So one of the things I’ve said is that every high school student who graduates from high school should have to pass the same civics test that every immigrant has to pass in order to become a citizen of this country.”

Surveys in the past have shown that most people would likely fail a basic multiple choice citizenship test; one survey found just 36% of respondents actually passing such a test. And given Republicans’ all-out assault on public school education, it’s unclear what their plan would be to up those numbers.

After publishing, Ramaswamy senior adviser Tricia McLaughlin said the proposal refers “to civic duty voting via constitutional amendment.”

According to Ramaswamy’s website, this would mean raising the voting age to 25, while still generously “allowing all Americans to vote at age 18” only if they serve at least six months in the military or as a first responder, or pass the citizenship test.

Yet another successful pair of Republican talking points: seizing the right to vote from young people, and forcing people to join a military that has used trillions of American dollars to wreak carnage across the world, and leave its foot soldiers out to dry upon their return.

Anyhow, Ramaswamy’s brilliant proposal to seemingly strip citizenship from so many Americans came after Phillip noted that both of Ramaswamy’s parents are immigrants, and so birthright citizenship “was in play” for him when he became a citizen.

Yet, instead of making the citizenship process easier to navigate, Ramaswamy instead wants to make it harder for anyone to be a citizen. More than that, the presidential candidate’s formulation lays out tiers of citizenship—a matrix in which, until one passes this test, they would be a second-class citizen. While this country already treats scores of people—immigrants, LGBTQ people, laborers, the homeless, and young people—as such, Ramaswamy thinks that unfair treatment should be legally bound.