President Roden, for all of his faults, was a leader necessary for the Federation at its lowest point in centuries. Having enjoyed relative peace since the Caldari secession, the Federation took blow after blow during Heth’s regime. The extremists and xenophobes took one constellation after another until the entirety of what now forms the Fed-State ‘Warzone’ was under their control. In response, President Foiritan attempted to nationalize the arms industry, and in response Roden proclaimed the overreached of Federal powers and won by a landslide. Through the trials and tribulations brought about by war, Roden brought the Federation back from the brink.
That time is over. With Heth’s removal of power and the tempering of State aggression, the Federation now re-enters a time of relative peace. The war is no-longer fought from hatred, but economic sentiment. The necessity of Federal might is as well tempered.
So it comes as some surprise to this fledgling Intaki that the same wariness and fear of Federal overstep on Member State powers is now set aside: President Roden leaves the ratification of the Capital Punishment Bill to the hands of the next world leader. Thusly, men like Bellaron are forced into action to see it through. I will not debate the benefits or banes of what this bill will bring. I will instead remind the Federation citizens what Roden did: Strength of the nation does not reside in Federal powers, but in the unity of its citizens who vary wildly and whose opinions are as vast as the nebulae you reside.
Do not fall prey to the rhetoric of a single-issue. Do not fall into the trappings of voting based on what this bill will bring. Think beyond, and remember what ill the Federation as a government has brought: The Ultra Nationalists, the No-Vote Bill, the contemptuous voice that would speak for you rather than let those member states speak for themselves. This is a dangerous time. Who you support and endorse will decide the view the rest of the world takes to the Federation.
Though Bellaron’s bill has some merit, it is important not to let one’s thoughts be clouded by emotional sentiment in the most extreme examples, such as Eturrer’s horrid death. Fear not for those exiled by the Jin-Mei, as they are guaranteed a basic standard of healthcare by the Federation Constitution. The sentiments toward the Sang-Do condemned are well heard by many, and even the Aidonis Foundation established a camp of doctors and humanitarians to care for these people. In additional, a plethora of capsuleer organizations also provided for those exiled. They were cared for not by the hands of Federal powers seeking to leash member states, but by individuals who took it upon themselves to exercise their compassion.
In essence, they were not “given a slow death”, and the merits of Bellaron’s bill are questionable in this regard. The citizens of the Federation should be mindful of these appeals to emotion as they are often wrought with ulterior motive. None are more familiar with exile than the Intaki, of whom were given little sympathy and yet found a way to forge a path of their own.
If one needs more evidence of this appeal to emotion, look no further than a quote from the man himself:
To that end: What does Bellaron speak of the Syndicate? If he regards exile as a slow death, then he as a representative of the Intaki should raise the banner of repatriation for our kin. This is where one can see the fault in his ambition. This is where one can see that, in light of his bill not being ratified, he seeks presidency to see it through… but what then? What can we expect of President Bellaron if he succeeds? Why does he not speak for his kinsmen of the Syndicate who were bred from exile? Ask yourselves these questions. Ask what can be gained from this, and who stands to gain from it.
We live in a time where unity is a necessity. The Amarr Empire has welcomed the Order of Saint Tetrimon and the Khanid Kingdom back into the fold; the Minmatar Republic has brought the Thukker, Starkmanir, and Nefantar tribes back into the fold; the State has never been more unified even despite the mega-corporations’ rivalries. This is a necessity. The other nations have already begun to recognize the threat of precursors to the world: The Triglavians, the Drifters, etc.
Now the Federation must seek to unify. Candidates who would push for the support of the ever-shifting interests of the Magpies and Ostriches through single-issue topics are short-sighted. The Federation needs a President who would welcome those minority races that can support her in her greatest time of need. Repatriation is a common cause: The Minmatar of the Federation, the Intaki of the Syndicate, the Caldari of Caldari Prime, and the formerly disenfranchised citizens of the warzone are without a doubt a powerful force if they would but be acknowledged, welcomed, and encouraged.
Though former candidates such as Ramnev and Ontbad have not (yet) announced their candidacy for this election, I would encourage it. I endorse it, even. Unification and repatriation of the Federation citizenry must come now, and these representatives speak volumes with their platforms. They would recognize the overstep of Federal powers and in tandem with sentiments of unification of Member States, not the Federal government’s grip, they could easily wrestle a majority vote. More than that, they would make excellent leaders in the current climate. Those candidates in which capsuleers such as myself would broadly support…
My people have suffered too long the isolation of being without a nation that puts their interests at heart. The momentum of the Intaki Prime Crisis has shown what unity can bring. Even though their interests are diverse, Federation, Syndicate, and Independent powers came together to force State invaders out of my homeworld. I cannot express the gratitude. As embarrassing as it is to admit, even GMVA tempered my bitterness toward the Federation when they provided support. It is through efforts like these that the greatest strength of the Federation was shown: Not in emotional mantra. Not in the closing grip of government powers… but in the strength of unity.
Vote well, my Federation friends. Show the world who you really are.
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