More Words, Deeper Hole

I would say read the book, or support what you say with quotes, but I think we'd be here quite a bit if I took that tack, so I'll quote:

----begin----

Hardin felt weary. He broke in: "What is your proposition, your eminence?"

The sub-prefect seemed quite ready to stop fencing in favor of more direct statements. He said briskly: "It seems perfectly obvious that, since Terminus cannot defend itself, Anacreon must take over the job for its own sake. You understand we have no desire to interfere with internal administration–"

"Uh-huh," grunted Hardin dryly.

"–but we believe that it would be best for all concerned to have Anacreon establish a military base upon the planet."

"And that is all you would want – a military base in some of the vast unoccupied territory – and let it go at that?"

"Well, of course, there would be the matter of supporting the protecting forces."

Hardin's chair came down on all four, and his elbows went forward on his knees. "Now we're getting to the nub. Let's put it into language. Terminus is to be a protectorate and to pay tribute."

"Not tribute. Taxes. We're protecting you. You pay for it."

Pirenne banged his hand on the chair with sudden violence. "Let me speak, Hardin. Your eminence, I don't care a rusty half-credit coin for Anacreon, Smyrno, or all your local politics and petty wars. I tell you this is a State-supported tax-free institution."

"State-supported? But we are the State, Dr. Pirenne, and we're not
supporting." Pirenne rose angrily. "Your eminence, I am the direct representative of–"

"–his august majesty, the Emperor," chorused Anselm haut Rodric sourly, "And I am the direct representative of the King of Anacreon. Anacreon is a lot nearer, Dr. Pirenne."

----end----

Dr. Pirenne, btw, is the head of the Encyclopediasts.

Now I'll say it: Read.The.Book.