Or: How to fix the current issues with planetary governments
(As an aside before starting: this may sound very similar to the way planets used to be administered, through corporations and all that. I think this has some potential, especially now that governments have their own contexts. I was not a player during that period, and would value any comment from older players to that effect.)
(Also, I have no idea how this would interact with the faction government system once that’s implemented. If this were to be added (or something like it), it would likely need to come after the faction update is complete.)
(OK I’ll stop writing asides and get to my idea 
)
The current problem and debate over planetary administration stems primarily from the question of who gets to benefit from planetary investment. In some ways this is a Ship of Theseus question: how many players, contributing through their taxes, does it take before the original founder of a planet has lost control? On the flip side, what planets should be considered “untouchable” due to their importance for new players, or their greater value to the faction? Not to mention, what is a fair and adequate way to prevent unwanted company on your private little paradise, without those same tools being turned on an already established planet?
I propose the following:
- As soon as an ADM is constructed, the government receives a number of planetary allotment shares (henceforth called simply “shares”), equal to the number of plots on the planet.*
- Any player currently on planet receives 1 share for free
- The government retains sole control over these shares. A new motion is added to permit the sale of these shares to other companies, which in turn permits said company to settle a base on planet. Once sold, the share cannot be traded or returned to the government, except in the event that the company it was sold to leaves the planet, at which point it should be returned.
- At any point, a motion may be passed placing the planet in the “public domain”. This removes the share requirement for settling, and deletes all currently held shares. This action may not be undone, forever placing the planet at the mercy of politics.
- If a planet finds itself with no governor,*** all shares are reset and the next player to settle the planet may do so ignoring the share requirement.
The concept here is to take the original intention of settlement fees, that being compensation for the settling player, and simultaneously increasing their power, as well as allowing them to be permanently disabled if and when so desired. Players who settle a planet either solo or in a small group may strictly control access to the planet on their terms, while planets that have been opened to the public can and must remain so in perpetuity. Additionally, players who settle the planet before the ADM is added may continue their base, so long as they are willing to pay if they leave and return.
* This is a bit iffy, as plots can be taken by non-player bases, but in general should work.**
** This could potentially be a percent of the plots instead, with any plots past that overriding the following.
*** Potentially for a period of time, to allow for missed elections