State of the Republic
Secretary-General Ewan Roth addresses the nation before the National Assembly
Just two years ago, we as a nation of common people embarked, for the first time in our civilisation's history, on a path towards democracy. You decided at the ballot not only who you wished to lead our nation on this path, but to also put your faith in a new system of government that stood in stark contrast to the older authoritarian regimes of our nation's history.
By casting that ballot, you put your faith in my colleagues and I, that we would both honour and defend the values of our institutions, and uphold the principles of law, justice, and equality. That we would recover our beautiful nation from the broken shackles of war and propel it towards something greater. I am reminded of a quote by Martian political thinker, Albert Fredric that, ''All nations are a transaction between the state and the people.''
In every nation, there is an exchange of power that is either given by or taken from the people. The United Republic is, thankfully, the former, led now by popular sovereignty. But like all exchanges, there is a price that must be made, and a debt to be collected. In nations with authoritarian regimes, the price is the suffering of their people, and the debt is the eventual revolutionary upheaval. In democracies, the price is the people's commitment, and the debt is their faith in that democracy.
It is because of this, that democracies must ensure they have both the people's commitment and their faith. It is a bilateral exchange of power and sovereignty, of civic duty not just to the nation or the state, but to your fellow Martian. Do we divide ourselves at the expense of our countrymen or do we stand together and build a future? These are the decisions made at every election, during every debate, and at every level of society. And at every turn where such an exchange may be made, a noble question must be answered.
In two years, my administration has enacted sweeping economic reforms. We have committed ourselves to the industrialisation of the colonies, to repairing and expanding our national infrastructure, opening our borders to trade and investments, securing economic treaties with foreign powers, and creating public welfare programs such as a federal minimum wage, universal basic income, and housing and employment programs for those that need them.
We have promoted social reform at every level of government, by adopting common law procedures, standardising our law codes, and passing perhaps the most important bill of my administration: the Sapient Rights Act.
We have sought to right the wrongs of the Conglomerate, and establish ourselves as a renewed maritime power in both the Reaches and the Delta Quadrant. We have modernised our armed forces, and increased our border security. We have been unrelenting in the face of piracy and those that would wish to disrupt or threaten the trade and safety of our people. Today, the Hermes Starway connecting the United Republic to our Deltan colonies has been made safe once again.
We have engaged in greater transparency with the public, and sought better diplomacy with our neighbours. In just two years, we have seen the once rural settlements in the colonies now rapidly industrialise and grow into the metropolises they are today. Hypatia alone has seen a population increase that has shattered records, with economic growth that rivals even Laconia. Shipbuilding, mining, technology development and general employment are all on the rise. Our GDP has shown signs of growth.
While none of these achievements have been easy to reach, and indeed, we have faced many challenges. It is fair, I believe, to say that we are on a path of an economic miracle that will propel the United Republic towards new heights that even the Conglomerate failed to reach. Democracy is possible, but while my administration has worked tirelessly for the public, I must finally ask that great and noble question.
How can you best serve our great nation, and your fellow countrymen?