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Detove: Greetings to my esteemed viewers and guests, and welcome to tonight's episode of On Topic, your official government newsvid source, with insider news and interviews only available on this specifically sanctioned channel.

Tonight's topic will be the current successes and ongoing efforts for the Proprietor Population Improvement Program. As you may know, we have completed the first six periods of that program, colloquially referred to as "The Lottery." That to me seems like it's something of a misnomer at this point, as the last five periods have been covered entirely by volunteer efforts - for which we're all thankful, I'm sure.

With me tonight is Temvik, who as many of you know is the chief counsellor in charge of administering the program. Temvik, welcome to the show.

Temvik: Pleasure to be here, Detove.

D: First, let's talk about the most obvious thing, which is your new look. I hope it's not inapproprite to say this, but I can't help but notice that you look somewhat more, ah, attractive than you did when we had our interview last year.

T: Oh, no offense indeed. It wasn't a decision to take lightly, but there did come a point where it seemed hypocritical to be in charge of potentially asking random citizens to make the choice to become a proprietor if I wasn't willing to take the responsibility myself. So, as of the fifth round of the program, I made the personal decision to undergo proprietor conversion. I know there are some people out there who are still questioning or hesitant about making that voluntary choice, and I'm here to say that not only is it an easy, even pleasant procedure, it is also a highly patriotic decision and a worthy career choice.

D: And you've actually been able to balance doing the work of a proprietor and your position at the head of this program?

T: I have, definitely, although my situation is different than most proprietors who are going into the business as a full-time career. I do spend a certain amount of time each day fulfilling the basic proprietor requirements, usually at the end of the day after my work as counsellor is complete. Not a bad way to relax, in a certain sense at least.

I do have to say that the government has been very supportive in ensuring that I can meet those dual obligations without an undue burden of work time. That being said, I am here as a counsellor rather than a proprietor, so I don't want to spend to much time dwelling on that aspect of things.

D: Understood, of course - perhaps we'll have time for a couple of questions about that experience for our viewers a little later in the program. For now, though, quite a bit of success to report, isn't there?

T: Oh yes, very much, and it's part of the reason I'm happy to be here. As you know, when the government started this program under emergency decree, the goal was to get up to a minimum sustained rate of proprietors. That comes to about four percent of the population, which ensures that everyone's minimum needs can be met and no one is relegated to entering a medically dangerous state of desperation. As you alluded to in the introduction, we have been quite successful in volunteer recruitment efforts, thanks in no small part to the generous subsidies and incentives put into place by many prominent citizens. In fact, after the initial six planned recruitment periods, we're actually above our goal - proprietors, including those currently undergoing conversion, are now at closer to five percent. Even taking into account the former Red Ones who have decided against taking on proprietor duties, active proprietors are projected to reach four and a half percent, which should adequately meet minimum needs.

D: I'd like to take a moment to drill down on one of those points you mentioned, about the prominent citizens and their voluntary incentives. It is true that their efforts have helped avoid an actual lottery being held, a case in which they might be drafted into proprietorship. There are some who criticize these incentives as essentially bribing those less well off to take on positions that they are unwilling to. I'm sure you'd like an opportunity to respond to those criticisms and put them to rest?

T: Of course. I can certainly understand why some people might perceive things in the way that you referenced. I tend to look at it, though, from an efficiency perspective. No one is being forced to become a proprietor, and regardless of the compensation or prestige of other jobs, people's basic needs are being met at all levels of society. While they might be incentivized, people are not being financially pressured by their circumstances to make that decision. All those incentives are doing is providing additional compensation for those who do perform the patriotic act of volunteering, and in fact they benefit people at all levels of society who are not interested in doing so, as such volunteers have prevented additional lotteries from occurring.

D: And it's true that, thanks to those volunteers, there will not have to be any further lotteries?

T: At this point, that's certainly true. And probably into the future, if our levels are maintained. In fact... there's another aspect of the incentives that have been offered that hasn't been all that publicized, but that I think is important to note. Those who have been offering subsidies have done so under the auspices of the state, and as a result they have had to comply with certain requirements. One of those is that, if they are to offer those incentives, such incentives shall continue through subsequent scheduled recruiting periods.

D: And that's in addition to those mandated by the emergency decree?

T: That's correct. We have now exceeded the threshold for the emergency decree, and we're at a comfortable minimum. That beind said, we're still trying to increase recruitment on a voluntary basis, with similar half-year targets of a tenth to a quarter percent of the population converting to proprietors. This will take place gradually over the next several years, but our projected goal is to eventually get proprietors to a more acceptable nine to eleven percent of the population.

D: And that doesn't seem... excessive to you? It's already taken a considerable effort just to get to the point of having proprietors at the level they're at now, and you want to double it?

T: I'm just the one presenting it, as I'm sure you well know. The science behind it is based on the consensus of a team of medical and social experts, with the goal of having a society that is not just minimally satisfied in this regard, but functioning smoothly.

D: And that really requires so many more proprietors?

T: Well, think about it. At the level we're at right now, proprietors do meet the need, with nearly all of them working full time. But that's only if they're working on meeting that need exclusively. The other need that they will soon be required to meet is the propagation of our species, through rotating fertility cycles, but while they're pregnant they need to be more concerned with that process, and that precludes serving clients. While in the past, the Red Ones would have shared, indeed shouldered, most of that burden, that can no longer be the case, and if we have enough proprietors become pregnant simultaneously to maintain the population's replacement rate, we drop down below the minimum available proprietors needed to service clients. Just in that regard, if we raise the overall amount, it allows us to have enough out on pregnancy leave at any given time while also maintaining the minimum supply of proprietors.

Plus, over time proprietors will move into more lucrative work with greater experience, and instead of full-time public availability will go down to the twenty-five percent mandated while spending the rest with fewer clients. Having that greater number helps to maintain the minumum, and also keeps a gradual stream of new proprietors coming in to make sure everyone's needs are served.

D: Well, I suppose it makes sense to take your word for it. And you think that this can really be done without any further lotteries?

T: Certainly, with the incentives continuing. And, of course, the government is also continuing its outreach efforts. I think one thing that has helped immensely is the overall normalization of this profession, and how people now view it in society. I see a lot of that as coming from the current generation, who are in the process of choosing their careers and charting their paths. While the choice of becoming a proprietor was more rare in prior years, it is now far more prevalent in the media, and is seen as not just patriotic, but a worthwhile, glamorous, and lucrative option. As a result, I think a lot of people are now seeing it as a regular and often desirable option, and in fact enough students have been looking to pursue it as a specific career path that the educational counsellors will soon be rolling out a full curriculum designed around training and preparing potential proprietors for their profession.

D: A good thing, to be sure. And, as you're a case in point, becoming a proprietor doesn't have to mean giving up on your dreams of another career entirely.

T: In a sense. Our overall preference is for full-time proprietors, as if most were to work part-time we would need to convert a much higher percentage of the population. So, my case is really something of a rarity in that regard, and most incentives are offered for those looking to make a full career out of being a proprietor. That being said, for someone who might not otherwise consider it, even having a proprietor a quarter of the time would be helpful over not having one at all. Full time is still definitely the best approach, though.

D: All right. Sounds like there's a solid plan in place for proprietors going forward. Anything else you'd like to tell our viewers about the program, while you're on?

T: I know this is probably obvious, but respect the law. There aren't Red Ones anymore, but proprietors are still protected, and harrassing them outside of work will be dealt with harshly. Involuntary sexual contact with proprietors is still punishable by summary execution, and that's not going to change any time soon. If you need relief, contact a proprietor that's open for business and take care of things properly.

Also, remember that proprietors do need to be available to meet the needs of the general public for at least some of the time. We've run into a few cases of private citizens doing unreported proprietor conversions, and then keeping those proprietors contained privately for their own personal use. While it is the case that true females can enter into exclusive relationships, that is primarily to ensure that they are protected and provided for to the greatest extent possible. As that is not the case for proprietors, individuals who keep proprietors isolated privately can and will be charged with kidnapping, and several have already faced significant sanctions as a result. Again, for the general public, if you're thinking of becoming a proprietor, do it right and sign up through the proper channels - you'll still get your incentives, and you won't risk having to deal with a questionable situation.

D: Excellent advice all around. As we're reaching the end of our interview, though, I did want to ask you a few things about the proprietor side of your experience. I'm sure our viewers are always eager to know more about those experiences, and who knows - you might convince some of them that becoming a proprietor is the right choice for them.

T: Fair enough, although I will speak more generally about what people should anticipate about the experience. One thing I can't stress enough is that the procedure really is painless. You enter the chamber, you undergo sedation, you drift off to sleep, and when you then wake up afterwards, you're simply a little different. No pain, no discomfort. From a mental standpoint, it does feel a little surreal for a couple of days, but you'd be surprised how quickly it becomes the new normal. There's also just some spacial and kinesthetic awareness that takes a little while to get used to, you have to walk a little differently and things like that. And using the toilet, I guess. Beyond that, though, your average daily life really isn't all that different.

D: Besides the work, that is.

T: Yes, besides that. (Laughs)

D: But I can only assume that you find that fine too, right? Surely that was part of your consideration when you made this choice.

T: It was certainly one of the big unknowns, back when I did. And it's a fair point, since it's hard to imagine having an entirely new part of anatomy, much less how it would feel in action. It's far harder than, say, trying to imagine yourself with an extra arm, since generally speaking you already know how an arm works and what it can do instinctively. It's not something that I had an easy time anticipating, and it certainly didn't feel like how I'd attempted to imagine it. But like I said, from just a general day-to-day perspective, it doesn't feel that different. Outside of the times you're actually making use of those different parts, you really can just go about your life the same as usual.

Like I said, for a couple of days you might tend to notice or dwell on some of the differences, but after that it really does quickly just become a normal part of you. And in some of the newer conversions, they're not only doing the physical conversion, they're doing some really fascinating neurological realignment in terms of how those sensations come in and are perceived, and if you opt for that, they say that when you wake up you feel like it's the body you've always had, and nothing feels changed or missing at all. I had an adjustment period as I didn't opt to try that, but it really does make the whole process incredibly easy to acclimate to.

D: Right, but getting back to the work... I think that's one of the sticking points a lot of people have, in terms of what they would have to feel as part of the job. I mean, as a guy, you've... experienced it from that perspective, you've seen your own spines and know what they can do, seen how other proprietors, we'll just assume you've always used proprietors, react to them. How was that to deal with? Was it daunting? Was it easy to get used to?

T: Hmm, that seems like it's a little personal to be asking on an official government newsvid, don't you? I think it may be necessary to have a... conversation with your producer.

D: Er...

T: Nevertheless, let me offer some assurances to those considering proprietorship that such concerns are taken closely into account during the conversion process. In fact, say what you want about that episode of our recent history, but the evolutive prototyping done while converting the Red Ones led to a lot of advances which make being a proprietor completely safe in that regard. The, ah, receptive area of a proprietor has been enhanced with significant armoring and elasticity, allowing them to accept and conform readily to the complete range of possible sizes, and for the spines to nestle and engage with that area in a way that does not risk any actual tissue damage. In fact, development of specific nerve attachments and filtering of neural impulses means that someone undergoing conversion can now significantly mute or almost entirely remove the sensation of physical pain in reaction to the spines entirely, while retaining the closely associated tension and intensity that necessarily provide for a proprietor's pleasure.

Furthermore, I think that a lot of men simply cannot understand the impact of the heat chemicals on providing and easing the sort of receptive response that proprietors need. Until you experience it, there simply is no frame of reference to really explain it, considering how different it is from the arousal that men feel, even once they reach a state of desperation. While it is true that a proprietor can regulate their level of heat to balance their arousal and responsiveness in a combination that is ideal for their particular clients, if the heat regulator is turned up to a reasonably full level, it is easy to let it take over and do what comes naturally for your new body. Certainly, that is advisable for new proprietors as they become used to the profession.

D: I, ah... I'm not sure that I dare ask this, but-

T: For the sake of those who are considering becoming proprietors... yes, once you get used to it, and especially if you opt for the intensity-only option, it feels significantly better than it does as a guy. I don't think it is especially appropriate to go into more detail here. However, I would simply suggest asking a proprietor that you know about it. Or simply procure a proprietor's services, and observe the intensity of her reaction as opposed to yours. That really should tell you everything you need to know about it.

D: Well, I think that's probably a good note to wrap up on. Anything else you'd like to say before we close, and before you, preferably, decide not to have words with my producer? (Chuckles nervously)

T: I'll say what I always say: become a proprietor. It's fun, it's exciting, it can be a well-paid and glamorous career if you do it right. You can reinvent yourself, become a newer, better, more attractive you. Also, if you're interested, it's your patriotic duty to volunteer on behalf of everyone else. It's the right thing to do!

D: (coughs) Okay, then. Thank you so much, Temvik, for coming on the show.

T: And thank you for having me. Remember: decorum in all things, hmm?

D: Heh heh, right! And that will, um, do it for us tonight. Be sure to tune in next time, when we discuss finance - if you're a new proprietor with a sudden financial windfall, we discuss appropriate corporate and government investment vehicles to preserve and expand your newfound wealth, whatever amount that may be. Until next time, probably, this is Detove, wishing you a pleasant evening and an even better tomorrow.