11th General Election of Sønderland (IC, ESQ only!)

[Vajorr]

11th General Election of Sønderland IC THREAD

OOC Thread

Hello! Welcome to the 11th General Election of Sønderland! Here you will roleplay as a political party vying for power within the northern, mountainous Vajorrian state.

Major locations
Places where you can campaign at
Sønderberg
- Central Square
- Königshügel Castle Museum
- Sønderberg State University
- Air and Space Museum
- State Centres of the Science and the Arts
- Nord Hotel

Lüttich
- Museum of Tolerance
- Anett Checkpoint
- Vajorrian-Sønderlandic Museum
- Nay Square

Svendberg
- Lykke Hall
- Stamm Centre of the Arts
- Northern Science Museum

General Links
iiwiki
List of political parties

Timeline Here's a list detailing the election's major dates:
May 18 - 27: Registration of parties.
May 27: IC Thread opens. Deadline for registration for presidental canidates.
June 5: National debate (optional).
June 10-12: Elections!

-Credit to Lecistan/Pisdara for the idea and opening post.

[Baiwa]

The Central Committee of the Socialist Worker's Party of Sønderland is releasing a series of posters for the upcoming elections, under the title "REVOLUTION-CHANGE-PROTECTION" :

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"Greet the Change"

"Onwards to Revolution"

"Smash the Reactionaries"

[FreYhill]

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The Sønderlandic Conservative Party is proud to announce their Presidential Candidate, Tristan Wertheim. Tristan has advocated on behalf of the Conservative Party within the Statsing tirelessly for economic liberalism and political reform; elements of Sønderlandic Government that the Conservative Party has advocated for since its establishment on 26 June 1987. Furthermore, The Conservative Party strongly believes that Tristan will fight for the Sønderlandic people; Tristan will fight for the freedom of the people economically and socially.

[Pisdara]

Common Alternative
Gemeinsame Alternative | Faelles Alternativ

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As the campaign started, Common Alternative candidates and supporters began to paste and hang up posters, often near working-class neighborhoods and government institutions. These posters, both of Vajorrian and Vjaarlandic, were not only part of Common Alternative's campaign in the election, but also as a way to agitate towards the Sonderlandic working class.

Say No
Abolish Wage Slavery, Smash the State
Resist

[Luziyca]

Südreichisch Widerstand Bewegung

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Mark Hönigberg had plans to embark on his first speech. He wanted to make an impression on the residents of Sønderland, and decided for his venue to be at the Königshügel Castle Museum.

At noon, Mark Hönigberg began his speech.

"Vajorrians," he declared, "for centuries, this land, the land of Königshügel, has witnessed genocide against the people who have lived: the Vajorrian people. The Vjaars have occupied this heartland of Vajorrian civilization and culture, and engaged in genocide against the native Vajorrian inhabitants."

"Now," he shouted in fury, "this region has autonomy. The Vajorrian government decides that it'd be in their best interest to reward the Vjaarlandic occupiers, with autonomy. And what does the Vajorrian get in return? The risk of losing this sacred land, the place where Vajorrian culture began to take shape, means that if we are to lose this land, what will stop the Fjallandics from seceding? What will stop the Lyds from separating their lands from this nation?"

"Nothing at all!" he declared. "This is why I am going to run this General Election. It is so that this domino effect shall never come into play. It is so to give you, the Vajorrians, the land that had long been occupied by the Vjaars. I promise in the name of the Lord to confiscate all the assets owned by those who have came during the Vjaarlandic occupation, and redistribute them to the Vajorrian people. I promise that you Vajorrians will be able to keep this land for eternity."

"But most of all," he added, "I will make sure that by the next election, this land shall be as Vajorrian as the Haustadt metropolitan area. This land will be as Vajorrian as it was before the Vjaars invaded Königshügel. Thus, to this end, when I take power, I shall rename this land to Königshügel, and I shall reverse all the changes imposed by the Vjaars!"

"That is all!" he declared.

[Vajorr]

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ELECTION 2016: Sønderland’s Future is at Stake.
With Sønderland’s political fracturing, the state faces an uncertain future.

SØNDERBERG - On June 10th, the state of Sønderland will hold an election for the Presidency and the 170 seats on the State Council. However much more is at stake; it is an effective referendum on Sønderland’s future in Vajorr. The 2016 elections in Sønderland will go down as one of the most important and unpredictable elections in national history.

Last month the Liberals, Social Democrats, Nationals, and several other federal parties did not register with the Federal Electoral Commission for Sønderland’s election. These parties will not appear on the ballot in June. Instead exclusively native Sønderlandic parties will contest, a first time for any state election. There are a total of eleven parties to contest at the election.

The political climate is not only split on the traditional left-right political spectrum, but it is also divided by those who want Sønderland to remain within Vajorr (federalists), those who want Sønderlandic independence, and those who want unification with Vjaarland. There are a total of eleven political parties with various ideologies vying for seats on the state’s legislature and the position of State’s President.

The federalist camp is lead by the Sønderlandic Red-Greens, a social democratic and green party supporting Sønderlandic autonomy within Vajorr. The party supports expanded welfare system, more workers rights, and other traditional social democratic positions. In addition the party advocates for increased Sønderlandic autonomy while still remaining Vajorr. However there are two parties who also support a more radical platform; the Vajorrian Resistance Movement (SWB) and the Socialist Worker's Party of Sønderland. The SWB is a fascist nationalistic party who is determined to keep Sønderland within Vajorr at all costs. The Worker’s Party is a communist party who wants to start a communist revolution in the entire country.

The independence faction is lead by the Sønderlandic National People's Party. It is a radical right and nationalist political party similar to the Vajorrian Freedom Party. It is against multiculturalism, immigration, and globalism. It seeks an independence referendum and the creation of an independent Sønderlandic nation. The unification faction is led by the Vjaarlandic People’s Party who seeks Sønderland’s reunification with the Vjaarlandic Confederation. It is very similar to the Vjaarlandic National Party in platform and policies. It is significantly more conservative than the Red-Greens but less than the Nationals.

[Baiwa]

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Socialist Worker's Party of Sønderland

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Asbjørn took a deep breath and entered the stage that had been set in the Central Square of Sønderberg. Traditionally, the Worker's Party got the largest share of it's votes from urban centers. It was a wise decision to start the worker's campaign from the capital of Sønderland. The message and platform of the S.W.P. could be heard loudly and many more people might decide to vote for them in June. As he walked towards the podium, he greeted the gathered people and took his place, his papers in hand. He began his speech.

"It is with great pleasure that I am here, in the great city of Sønderberg, to address it's workers and the common people. We all know that is a heavily contested elections. The Vajorrian parties have done us a favor and chose not to run in these elections. A smart move, for it allows the people of Sønderland to take their fate into their own hands. This election has created many false dichotomies, which attempt to divide the Vjaar and Vajorian proletariat. The parties that support independence or at worst, union with Vjaarland, are trying hard to make us forget our Sonderlandic identity. We are all united as brothers and sisters of Sønderland, and that we must never forget.

In light of these circumstances, the Socialist Worker's Party comes with a proposal to the people. Yes, we support remaining with Vajorr. Yes, we are against independence. But we do not support the current capitalist exploitation of the Sonderlandic worker, the person who moves this country forward. All working men and women are our brethren and their home is the Socialist Worker's Party. We support a total renovation of the Sonderlandic political scene, a turn towards people's democracy, expanded worker's rights and social welfare for all those affected by the mechanics of the unfair capitalist state. Yes, if we want to, Sønderland can become a state that supports all it's workers, a true shining beacon, a People's Republic within Vajorr!

In days long gone by, the Socialist Worker's Party was founded to support the autonomy of the peoples. We have had our ups and our downs as an organization and tool of the people. Dark times, when the purpose of our mere existence was being put to question by reactionary forces, and even those within our ranks. But these days are over. We now look towards the future! A future where the working man of Sønderland, the young independent woman, the single-mother of two and the elderly can look up towards brighter days. We must, and will change the present social injustices. We shall forge a new world from the old, where the words of past revolutionaries will come to life. We can, and will achieve, the People's State!

This is why I ask of you, each and everyone of you, to cast your vote for our party in the elections of June 10th. So that we may begin the process of renovating and sculpting Sønderland to the shape we want it to be. So that all the reactionary forces that call us radicals will see that what we propose is not mad, or authoritarian. It is the pure will of the working people."

[Luziyca]

Südreichisch Widerstand Bewegung

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Mark Hönigberg now realized that he needed to do more. He felt that posters were not enough, claiming that "posters will get ignored in favor of social media." To this end, he increased the social media presence of the SWB. He ordered them to begin posting on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and many other platforms.

But he knew that social media by itself was not enough. He had to make an impact on the physical world. He decided to make his party stand out, and mandated that a fleet of vans be purchased: he would then order a public address system be installed on these vans, creating what would be known as sound trucks. The decibels of the public address systems was to be maintained at a level between 80 and 100 decibels, so it could be heard by a large variety of people, and he planned to operate them 24/7 until the end of the election campaign.

On them, he ordered Vajorrian nationalistic music and traditional Vajorrian music be played, as well as speeches from SWB officials. He sought for a network of these to "roam around the countryside and the tourist attractions in the cities," hopefully to promote the presence of the SWB. As for the sound trucks themselves, they were all painted to look like the flag of Vajorr.

Among the many speeches spoken by Mark Hönigberg via the sound trucks was this:

"For generations, this land, the land of Königshügel, was Vajorrian. The people spoken the Vajorrian language, the people made significant cultural contributions to the Vajorrian culture that we know and love, and they lived like Vajorrians."

"Then, the Vjaarlandics arrived. They seized our land, our houses, and resettled their own people into this majestic land. They banned us from speaking our language and made us speak their language. They imposed Vjaar culture, they tried to make this land, the land of Königshügel, more Vjaarlandic than Strendhavn itself."

"And what did we get when we took back our native land from the Vjaars?"

"Nothing! We allowed the Vjaars to reap the seeds of their unjust conquest. We allowed the Vjaars to continue living there. We even granted them autonomy! And now what do they want?"

"They want to leave us and become part of Vjaarland again! We need to send a clear message to them: that this will be Vajorrian land, and that we shall always remain part of Vajorr. We will make sure that if this land secedes, that we shall fight to make sure that this land returns to the embrace to the Vajorrian fatherland. When we complete that, then we must make sure that the Vajorrian reasserts his rightful place in the land of Königshügel."

"So on the tenth of June, vote for the SWB. It is the only way to prevent genocide against the Vajorrian nation, and the only way to prevent cultural destruction of the Vajorrian people."

[Vajorr]

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ELECTION 2016: Polls Show Largest Support For Union, Independence.
Federalists polls at 53 percent, Separatists at 37 percent, Unificationists at 10 percent.

SØNDERBERG - The latest polls for the election has come out, painting a possible picture of the next government of Sønderland. The Electoral Commission published its results today, after gathering the information during the weekend. The results are as follows:

SRG - 40.5% (69/170)
SNVP - 30.4% (51/170)
VVP - 10.7% (18/170)
SSAP - 10.1% (17/170)
LVP - 2.9% (5/170)
SWG - 2.7% (4/170)
SKP - 1.8% (3/170)
GA - 0.7% (1/170)

The poll shows broad support for the Federalists and Separatists, with some minor support for the unificationists. It was a surprise for the Vjaarlandic People’s Party (VVP) who expected strong support for their platform. Instead most of the nationalist vote seems favor the Sønderlandic National People’s Party (SNVP). The Nationals, a radical right party, advocates for an independent Sønderlandic state, economic protectionism, and strict immigration laws. Independence parties who got little support were the Common Alternative, Conservative Party, and Citizens. The biggest winner however was the Red-Greens who won a plurality in poll at 40.5 percent. The Red-Greens are a social democratic and green party who support a continued union with Vajorr. However they support increasing autonomy with the creation of a constituent country. It is safe to assume that Sønderland will remain a part of Vajorr if the current poll numbers holds.

[Qianrong]

the OFFICIAL 2016 PARTY PLATFORM
of the SØNDERLANDIC RED-GREENS
Für das Volk und die Zukunft - For Folket og Framtiden

Preamble - A Future for All of Sønderland

This election is not simply a choice between political parties, but between many fundamentally different paths for our homeland and our families. We stand at a make-or-break moment, and are faced with a choice between moving forward and falling back.

Our proposed path for Sønderland is very different from the paths proposed by others- especially the paths of those who preach hatred and violence. Ours is one that is based around building a future for all parts of Sønderlandic society, preserving security while guaranteeing democracy, and protecting the beautiful environment of our homeland. We believe that a strong, proactive participatory democracy that works to protect economic security, civil liberty, social justice, and ecological sustainability is what will best guarantee the future of our families and our homeland.

The Red-Green party platform seeks to identify the most crucial problems facing our homeland and offers ideas for responsible action to solve them. Looking to the future with hope and optimism, we believe we can truly correct the course of reckless, destructive governance that has exploited the Sønderlandic working classes and encouraged the degradation of our environment.

it is our hope that the Sønderlandic people will look at our policies and feel that we are the party who will create a better, freer, fairer Sønderland for all of Sønderland. This party believes that Sønderland has always been a land whose greatest strength has been the will of its people. We affirm that Sønderland has always been a land of grand dreams and even grander potential- and so it will be again, if we move to protect the most vulnerable sectors of our society, lift up the marginalized to their role as equals in society, and take concrete action to preserve and protect our environment. As we embark upon this critical mission, we must make it clear that all of the people of Sønderland have a right to participate in its prosperity and governance, that all of us deserve a fair shot at a brighter future, and that we have a duty to future generations to act responsibly instead of recklessly.

Regardless of our politics, ethnicity, class, or creed, we share a pride in our nation, a firm self-reliance, and a can-do attitude. We have always worked together towards a brighter future we can all participate in. We strive for greatness and we fight for our freedom. And we transform our dreams into the truth, always keeping our future in our hands.

The proud, strong people of Sønderland deserve trustworthy, honest leadership. We must ensure that our government is not abandoning any of Sønderland's citizens, and that it is instead reaching out to assist the worst-off among us and protecting the rights and liberties of the citizenry. We must recreate confidence in our country's security while still preserving our rights and liberties and political autonomy. And we must guarantee that we preserve our beloved homeland so that our descendants can partake in its blessings as we do.

Our common destiny must be what brings us together across Sønderland. We act in service to our fellow Sønderlandic citizens, of all classes, creeds, and colors, so that we may live together in more perfect harmony. We act in service to our forefathers, who fought for the rights and liberties we now too often take for granted. We act in service to our children and to the future generations of all our relations in the community of Earth. We act in service to the future that we are creating today.

Democracy and Equality - Preserving Our Rights And Liberties

In Sønderland, we are blessed with free access to the plethora of irrevocable, undeniable rights and liberties to which we are all entitled. We have the right to speak our minds openly, to worship however we choose, to disseminate our opinions through petition and assembly, to be tried before a jury of our peers in a fair public trial, to have a judicial defense, to have privacy in our homes and in cyberspace, to elect our own leaders. Many of our ancestors fought and even died to guarantee and preserve these rights, which all too often are taken for granted.

Unfortunately, recent years have seen several downward trends. Voter apathy runs rampant not only in Sønderland but across the democratic nations of Esquarium as a whole. The actions of a corrupt, oligarchic elite have corroded public trust in the bodies of governance that are supposed to carry out the will of the people but too often carry out the will of an elite few. Politicians are bought and sold by major corporations and donors. The means of governance are obscured by complex laws aimed at disenfranchisement, and too many deals still occur in backrooms, behind closed doors. Government does not act proactively, but reactively.

We seek to rescue democracy and republic from the erosion of citizen participation. Moreover, we seek to dissolve the grip of the ideology, intoned by big-money interests for more than twenty years, that government is intrinsically undesirable and destructive of liberty and that elected officials should rightly "starve the beast" by slashing all spending on social program, in the name of freedom. We challenge that tactic by calling on all Sønderlandic citizens to think deeply about the meaning of government of the people, by the people, and for the people. In a democracy, individuals come together to form structures of governance that protect and advance the common good. The true owners of the public lands, pension funds, and the public airwaves are the Sønderlandic people, and we assert that the Sønderlandic citizens should have full control over their common wealth. We the citizens are the government and the source of all its authority, and we the citizens can direct it to fulfill its finest goals and purposes. Our citizens must not permit usurpation of their authority by acts of individuals and government agencies that isolate or insulate government from their oversight and control. We, the people, have a responsibility to participate in self-government through all the means that the law provides.

The Sønderlandic Red-Greens consider Sønderlandic democracy to be an ongoing, unfolding project that is dynamic and creative in nature. We are committed to the strengthening of our civil society, including the many mediating institutions at the community level that have always characterized our democracy. We seek to heal the alienation and apathy that has been cultivated in the citizenry by the power brokers of the status quo. Righteous anger about the crippling of our democracy is rising in the land, and we seek to offer constructive alternatives. A growing and grave imbalance between the citizens of this country and the interests that extract power from the citizens is an imminent danger to our security and national and global social stability.

Furthermore, we must reject the rhetoric of any and all individuals who call for the suspension or nullification of our civil liberties and civil rights. Authoritarian groups and movements, domestic or foreign, are a deep and terrible threat to democracy, republic, and all the principles that the Sønderlandic people hold dear. The foundation of any democratic society is the guarantee that each member of society has equal rights. Respect for our constitutionally protected rights is our best defense against discrimination and the abuse of power. We must reject all calls to restrict or abolish the rights of any sector of Sønderlandic society, no matter how "temporary" the restrictions are supposed to be, and we must oppose all attempts to establish a xenophobic, authoritarian government of any ideology in Sønderland.

One of the key values of the Sønderlandic Red-Greens is respect for human rights and for diversity. We will always wholeheartedly affirm that all people are endowed with several irrevocable rights, among them the rights to life, liberty, and property; that all people have the right to think, speak, write, and worship freely; that all people have the right to privacy; that all people have the right to an independent judiciary and a fair trial; that all people have the right to choose their own leaders in fair elections, free of intimidation and rigging; that all people have the right to physical and economic security; that all people have the right to be treated as equals and to be given equal opportunity to succeed. We are committed to establishing relationships that honor diversity; that support the self-definition and self-determination of all people; and that consciously confront the barriers of racism, sexism, homophobia, class oppression, ageism, and the many ways our culture separates us from working together. We support comprehensive and wide-ranging actions to remedy discrimination, to protect our rights, and to provide equal opportunity under the law.

Economics - Protecting Workers and Building Prosperity

It has not been that long since the great regional economic crash sent stock markets across Esquarium tumbling down, and left millions globally without jobs. In some regions, unemployment in the wake of the crash rose as high as 40%; millions of people across the region were left jobless and homeless. In the months since this great crash, Sønderland has slowly recovered- but there are still many of our fellow citizens who are in dire need of hope. Too many people in our homeland cannot guarantee their economic and financial security.

The people who are worst hit by this sort of economic crisis are never those with the capital to easily deflect the blow. The worst victims of economic crises are almost always those who cannot afford it. They are the common citizen and his family; hardworking and patriotic individuals who form the basis of our economy, our government, and our society. In times of economic crisis, it is all too frequent to see these noble individuals struggling- unsure if they'll be able to pay the rent or cover their utilities bill, stretch a paycheck to the end of the month, or even keep food on their tables. The situation is truly heartbreaking, as good and honest individuals are forced through pain they do not deserve.

Some would propose that we simply stand by and let fate deal with our fellow citizens who fall on hard times. They say that it is not the place of the government to intervene and protect its citizenry. But this runs contrary to our morality and our values. The people of Sønderland should do everything to guarantee the well-being of one another. We must stand together, work together, and fight together so that everyone in our homeland has the chance at prosperity. The government is beholden to its people, and it should protect their financial security and look out for the people who form the basis of our society- honest, hard-working, everyday citizens.

The issue of families who face economic troubles is heart-wrenching and it must be solved urgently. To fix this issue that does so much harm to our nation and people, we propose creating or extending a wide variety of programs designed to create a public safety net, protect the well-being of our people, and ensure that our citizens can guarantee that they will have food on their table and a roof over their heads. We propose the creation of several programs, each designed to target areas that threaten the prosperity of the Sønderlandic people- unemployment assistance, pensions for public employees, housing assistance, food stamps and vouchers, veterans benefit systems, and the creation of a living minimum wage.

Some individuals will claim that these proposals are too expensive, or will not reinvigorate the economy. We, however, believe these assessments to be incorrect. The reasoning behind this is simple: economic crashes are caused because people begin to fear that the money they put into the economy will not come back to them. As such, they stop spending in the interest of guaranteeing that they will be able to pay for their necessities in the future, as they feel they can no longer be sure they will have the money to do so unless they change their spending habits. Because this money is no longer being put into the economy, business owners turn less profit, making them worry about their ability to cover the costs of running a company. In the interest of guaranteeing a continued profit margin, they too make cuts- often to their employee rolls, resulting in layoffs. News of lowering profits and unemployment creates further fear and uncertainty, and more individuals feel insecure about putting their money into the economy. This creates a vicious cycle in which many innocent, hard-working people are harmed.

To solve these issues, we must alleviate the uncertainty that is the root of all economic trouble. If we make sure that the people of Sønderland feel secure in their finances, then they will be more willing to put money into the economy. More cash flow means that profits for businesses will rise, allowing them to expand their operations and hire more employees. This, in turn, will give more people more money to put into the economy. Rising profits and increased wages create the feeling of increased economic security, stimulating further growth. The people of Sønderland benefit from increased foreign investment, higher wages and employment, and can partake in the fruits of prosperity. By protecting the financial security of our citizens, everyone wins.

Furthermore, we will fight for labor laws that provide a fair process for workers to choose union representation, that facilitate the collective bargaining process, and that strengthen remedies for violations of the law. We will fight for collective bargaining rights not only for private sector workers, for police officers, nurses, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, teachers, and other public sector workers- jobs that are a proven path to the middle class. We support the right of employees to unionize to benefit themselves and their families. And we support passing regulations that will protect Sønderlandic workers from hazardous and dangerous workplace practices and Sønderlandic consumers from manipulative and risky corporate behavior.

Ecology - Preserving Our Natural Beauty

Sønderland is known around the world for its many majestic national and regional parks- some of the proudest environmental reserves in Vajorr and Esqarium. Within these beautiful parks, the soaring mountains, thick forests, and clear-running rivers of our homeland are preserved for us and for our children, and protected from logging, mining, and industry. But much of Sønderland's environment still remains under threat from unsustainable and exploitative practices that upset biodiversity and foster phenomena like global climate change.

The human community is an element of the Earth community, not the other way around. All human endeavors are situated within the dynamics of the biosphere. If we wish to have sustainable institutions and enterprises, they must fit well with the processes of the Earth. The ideology of industrialism, in both capitalist and communist countries, insists that modern society lives on top of nature and should rightly use and despoil the rest of the natural world as we desire- because any loss of the ecosystems is merely an "externality" in economic thought and because any problems can be addressed later by a technological fix. We are now living through the painful consequences of that arrogant, ignorant perspective. Many of our children suffer from accumulations of mercury and other toxins in their neurological systems, environmentally related cancer is on the rise, and our air and water are increasingly polluted.

Our houses and buildings, manufacturing processes, and industrial agriculture were all designed with the assumption of an endless supply of cheap and readily available fossil fuels. Pollution and despoiling the land were not part of the thinking. We, however, are optimistic about the alternatives that now exist and that could be encouraged through tax policy and the market incentives of fuel efficiency. We also challenge the grip of the oil, automotive, and automobile insurance industries that have managed to block or roll back progress in public mass transit. The gutting of subsidies for the railroads has meant not only fewer passenger routes but also the addition of thousands of large freight trucks on our highways, decreasing public safety, and increasing pollution. We are committed to encouraging the spread of such practices as reduce, return, reuse, and recycle. We strongly support the protection laws that safeguard our air, water, and soil, and believe more can be done in this regard.

The health of the ecosystems of our homeland is of paramount importance. Inherent in the efficient dynamics of those ecosystems is a vital profusion of biodiversity. Therefore, the Sønderlandic Red-Greens call for a halt to the destruction of habitats, which are being sacrificed to unqualified economic expansion. We humans have a moral responsibility to all of our relations, many of which are facing extinction because we carelessly and permanently halt their long evolutionary journey.

We especially support the reduction of consumption of the world's raw materials by the industrialized Northern Hemisphere, and recognize that a overwhelming majority of scientific studies tell us that climate change is not only real, but also man-made. We support all measures to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, and to increase the usage of energy-efficient devices and techniques. We seek to adopt an actively responsible position in this crisis and to take significant action to address the problems of global climate change that imperil not only Sønderland's future, but the future of all of Esquarium.

Autonomy - The Best of Both Worlds

The Sønderlandic Red-Greens agree with the concept that our future- the future of Sønderland- should be in our hands. We wholeheartedly and unequivocally endorse the principles of popular sovereignty, freedom of choice, and self-determination that form the basis of modern civilization. We understand that there are many in Sønderland who question whether or not the Vajorrian government in Haustadt truly understands our will and our needs, because of our unique ethnic makeup. And we in the Red-Greens believe that there is a way to guarantee that our future lies in our hands while still guaranteeing our security and prosperity- maximum devolution as a constituent country within Vajorr. If we push for maximum devolution, then we will be able to gain the self-control while still guaranteeing our security.

Though it may seem appealing, total independence from Vajorr is simply not a viable solution to Sønderland's issues. Such simple "solutions" generally do not solve the issues they claim to face. While the concerns of preserving our ethnic and cultural uniqueness are without a doubt valid concerns, and independence might look like a viable solution, an independent Sønderland would not be as secure or as prosperous as an autonomous Sønderland within Vajorr. If independent, Sønderland would be a small, landlocked country with an uncertain future- unappealing and risky to businesses. An independent Sønderland's economy would be marred by the uncertainty and fear that provoke the economic crashes that harm honest, hard-working Sønderlandic citizens. And we must not forget that, just across the border, are two of the greatest enemies of freedom and progress in Esquarium- Teutonia and Estovnia. There is no doubt that the Iron Pact would view Sønderland as easy prey, and would likely try to spread their ideologies of hatred, oppression, and intolerance through force. Within Vajorr, however, we are stronger and better able to defend ourselves from the enemies of freedom and justice.

Union with Vjaarland, however, is not feasible either. Sønderland and Vjaarland are not in any sense of the term geographically contiguous; we would be isolated politically, geographically, economically, and militarily from Vjaarland, leaving us vulnerable in almost every aspect. If the government in Haustadt knows little about the wants and needs of the Sønderlandic people, then the government in Strendhavn will know even less. Furthermore, history shows that the Vjaarlandic government operates in a far more centralized manner and gives geographically noncontiguous and ethnically non-homogenous provinces significantly less control over their own future. If our desire is truly to place our future in our own hands, then shouldn't we stay with a government that has a track record of respecting our rights to self-determination and self-government?

That is why the Sønderlandic Red-Greens are supporting maximum devolution within Vajorr. Under maximum devolution, Sønderland would have full fiscal autonomy from Vajorr, and would have authority over its affairs in all areas except foreign affairs and defense. The people of Sønderland would have control over education, economics, environment, and other critical areas of government within Sønderland; at the same time, we would continue to work with Vajorr to preserve our rights and liberties from the Iron Pact nations who would gladly destroy them. This would give us all the benefits of outright independence- control over our politics, finance, and future- while simultaneously guaranteeing our security from the Iron Pact.

Furthermore, Vajorr has a track record of respecting our right to self-determination and local sovereignty- a track record that Vjaarland does not have with ethnically unique regions of its nation. If we were to join Vjaarland, we would be far more beholden to Strendhavn than we have ever been to Haustadt. If we truly want to guarantee maximum sovereignty for Sønderland while preserving and protecting our rights and liberties from those who would destroy them, then maximum devolution is the way to go.