To my friends, supporters, and constituents, I give you the thanks that is long overdue for your election of myself to represent you, and your continued support through the application process. To my opposition, I thank you for your critiques have made me stronger and a better man, and you continue to keep me in the realm of reality. Through my time here already on Coruscant, I've learned many things. One of which is, Coruscant can change you. You can become...intoxicated in its aura, and before you know, you yourself have become changed. For a moment, I suffered from this, and I vow never to allow it happen again, even in the slightest. Another thing I learned, is when you believe feverently in something, you may find yourself saying just about anything to promote support for it. I am guilty of this as well, and will elaborate on this. I would like to focus on my political platform, which I laid out during my application process, but feel I need to re-affirm...to you and to myself. I have strayed from some of these...and should bring myself back into the fold of my own beliefs. To start of off, I will cover the six core values of my political platform, and elaborate on them. Gradual peace transition and improvement of the Bastion Accords.
I would like to start out on this matter by declaring I am in favor of the Pellaeon-Gavrisom Treaty. It, like many other agreements and documents, is not without flaws however. The situation is too tense to begin full blown military reductions, without having a buckup force. Of course reducing our overall force projection will help foster better relations with the Imperials, however should war break out again, we need to be able to quickly respond and contain the fighting. Thus, I believe that the forces reduced from the active forces, should be part of an established reserve and/or armory system that is established throughout the Deep Core at undisclosed locations.
Common Charter enforcement.
In my personal view, we have strayed in some aspects from the Common Charter. We must get back on track, myself included, on this matter. Last week, in the debate over the Kalevala Treaty, I ended up speaking in favor of slavery in the Mandalorian Sector. This is beyond unacceptable of myself, and to every being in this galaxy, I apologize in the strongest sense. No being should ever be enslaved...the Common Charter of which the New Republic is bound demands that every being in the galaxy be free of such a cruel and oppressive practice. We must ensure that all the ideals of the Common Charter stand strong now, as they did sixteen years ago when the founders of the New Republic, who fought so hard and bravely against injustice and oppression, when they wrote it.
Progressive economic policies.
I am firm in my belief that with the Bastion Accords going into effect, our military industrial complex will suffer, with little to no demand of their services. I am currently working on a program that will keep this sector of our economy working, and aid them in transforming into other sectors of commercial efforts. A detailed outline will come at a later date.
Prevent Shipyard closures.
Part of the above, our shipyards have been a staple of our economy...and many are now sufferings. I am currently working on developing a program that will keep our shipyards open, and maintain the jobs of our shipwrights.
Maintain combat ready stance.
Many threats remain in the galaxy, terrorists, pirates, smugglers, Imperial extremists, and rogue warlords, among others. Our forces must be ready to combat these threats at any moment. We can not become stagnant, or passive in dealing with such matters that may not effect the New Republic itself highly, but it effects our citizens...and that, we must always address and deal with in a quick and effective manner.
Reform Jedi-Republic relations.
While I will admit I am yet to develop a full fledged plan, as with my economic policies, I am in the process of meeting with the relevant people on this matter. Lacking details, I will say, we must develop a more cohesive and cooperative. More so than currently or in the Old Republic.
Regarding Corruption...
Simply put, corruption should be eliminated within the New Republic. Those conducting such practices are without honor, dignity, and will be the downfall of the New Republic should it go unchecked. We must address this matter more aggressively, and while the Corruption Panel was a step in the right direction, the NRI must be more involved and cohesive in these efforts. This is something I will elaborate on over time and introduce legislation on.
Regarding Rogue Imperials...
When it comes down to, the rogue warlords that remain need to be taken out or reigned in. They must either be eliminated or surrender to either the New Republic or the Imperial Remnant. They are too much of a destabilizing factor and wild card to the peace effort.
Regarding Neutral Worlds...
Neutral worlds; it is a subject matter that is of recent importance. My personal belief is, yes...neutral worlds should be able to join the New Republic. However, should a complicated cultural or political situation be involved, we must take time to assess the condition of the situation, not have a knee-jerk reaction to their expressed interest. We have finally achieved peace in the galaxy, and we must maintain that. Entering a tense situation in which our actions can and/or are provocative to another party is not something that is productive to maintaining peace. At the same time, should a neutral or independent world be in need of assistance, even should one of our members be involved in an aggressive action against them, we should immediatly intervene and begin work on a diplomatic solution, not allowing brutal regime changes to occur which may lead to genocidal attrocities.
There is a time where a politician decides whether or not to run for the Senate. There is a time where that politician forms his political platforms out of his belief of what is best and what is right. I have passed those moments. Now I live in the moment where that politician must face the reality of his place in the galaxy, and lay out his policies once more. Mine, have more or less not changed, but expanded...and have become... open-minded. I once again apologize for my offensive and insensitive remarks. Now, with the past behind us, we must live in the present, and be mindful of the bright future before us...one in which, perhaps in our lifetimes...we may finally see true peace and unity spread forth and ring true. The only endgame that matters to play out. The galaxy, unified, for the first time in history.
