Transcript of "State of the Fleet Address."
Members of the Quorum, Members of the House of Commons, Ladies and Gentlemen, I come before you in the words of the Articles to report on the State of the Fleet, to share this Governments vision and, to recommend such measures as I judge necessary and expedient. It is thus that we begin anew, an important moment in our democratic life, by opening the First Session of the Third Colonial Parliament today.
As we reassemble, to bring this parliament and Government to order, and to continue our mandate, the impact of war at home makes it natural to approach "the state of the fleet" through a discussion of domestic affairs.
But it is important that those who hear and read this message should in no way confuse that approach with any thought that this Government is abandoning, or even overlooking, the great significance and imperative of our current war with the Cylons.
This fleet, like the great phoenix, is born out of the ashes of what once was, built with enormous potential through the imagination and dedication of ordinary Citizens; Colonials who have joined with their neighbors to maintain a society founded on peace and prosperity; Members of this Chamber who have worked with us to put progress before colonialism; and members of the Colonial Forces, whose commitment and courage in the name of justice, equality and freedom, are worthy of our utmost respect.
During the first two years of our mandate we saw what can be accomplished when we work together. To lift the standards of our agriculture, we began to expand our agriculture system across the fleet. To bring our fleet out of divisive Colonialism, we created a new central government. To protect individuals we reorganized our government to create the Colonial Police Service, which is mobilized against the threats of a new era. To insist on Government integrity and fair election, we passed needed reforms and tough election laws.
The results are clear: The government is clean, the fleet is united, and we are safer...
But civilization must not stand still, now is the time to raise our focus from the deck plating, and to invest in building a better fleet to secure humanity a future worth surviving for.
The Twelve Colonies of kobol were united on the principles of Peace, Security and Good government. This is the birthright of all Colonials; yet Colonials feel less safe today and rightly worry about the security of themselves and their ships. There is no greater responsibility for a government than to protect this right to safety and security.
But this threat to safety and security comes not from the outside by Cylons, though they still exist. It comes from within, the failing and inadequacies of our infrastructure, the growth of crime, the degradation of humanity from society to gang.
In the next session, our Government will focus on four clear priorities: providing effective economic leadership; improving the fleet and our quality of life; providing security; and building a stronger federation.
But, to achieve these great and lofty goals, we must address this fleets chief and ever present obstacle of raw resources. For too long, citizens of this fleet have been fighting for and sacrificing themselves to gather the resources this fleet needs to continue. While sadly never seeing but a trickle returned back to their ship and civilian fleet; needed utilities have gone unfixed, and important equipment have been poorly maintained. These facts reflect the state of this fleet, they represent the results of our focus to the great Cylon threat, but they do not reflect the sole needs of this fleet or the vision of its government.
In an effort to right these wrong, I have authorized a military operation to secure and gather many of these much-needed resources. But it is not without risk, we begin this operation reluctantly -- yet, our purpose is sure. The people of this fleet will not live at the mercy of Cylon oppression, and we will not live in fear of our current surroundings. This fleet is built on a common heritage of values, which Colonials have fought and died to defend, and we will ensure their prosperity.
To do so, Our Government will introduce an infrastructure program, the Future fleet Plan, to support our long-term growth. For though this fleet is united as one, to many of us are still light-years apart when it comes to free trade. We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the Colonial Phoenix in order to feather their own nests. For it is the result of their actions, that it is often harder to move goods and services between different colony flagged ships, than between interstellar space.
Through the full utilization of the federal trade and commerce power to make our economic union work better, this Government will rebuild our fundamentals for continued growth, by investing in our transport and trade hubs. The result will be safer and shorter commutes, improved productivity, more competitive business, improved cultural infrastructure and a better quality of life for all Colonials.
The agricultural sector has benefited from this Government’s expansion program. And to complement this, our Government will begin to support Colonial researchers and innovators in developing new ideas and bringing them to the marketplace through a new Fleet Science and Technology Strategy.
This Government believes that action is needed now to ensure a better quality of life, particularly for those most vital to our future, and those most vulnerable to health threats we face- our children. Through the creation of new schools, science and health laboratories, we will return Humanities creativity, and ingenuity back to the rightful hands of the public citizenry.
With new schools, we shall guaranteed children a free quality education, equal throughout the fleet, regardless of location or economic status. With new medical centers and fleet hospitals, we shall increase the availability and timely access for Colonials to receive medical aid and attention, while relieving the burden from our already over depended upon Military.
During the coming session, it will be the Governments chief priority to maintain and strengthen the safety of Colonials. For though we are a society based on the common values of the sacred scrolls, we have not done nearly enough to rid ourselves of our current hypocrisies; organized crime, drugs, waste, sexually transmitted diseases, these are the inheritance we as a group are bequeathing our children.
And to correct this Hypocrisy, our Government will immediately introduce a new Colonial Values Strategy. One that gives law enforcement agencies the powers necessary to take on those who produce and push drugs across this fleet, that protects citizens and their communities from violent criminals and predators. This will include measures for stricter bail and mandatory prison sentences for those who commit gun crimes. As well as ensuring the resources for effective law enforcement—by recruiting 500 more officers for the Colonial Police Service.
These measure and goals will not be easy, things worth doing rarely are, and it is no surprise that some would have us maintain where we are a little longer to rest, to wait. But if we turn our backs on our principles we stop being human. This Government, this Fleet of the Twelve Colonies was not built by those who waited and rested and wished to look behind them. This Fleet was conquered by those who moved forward, because Fear and terror are not political weapons. And to those who would use them your day is over.
Colonials can be proud of their fleet and its achievements. In the best traditions of humanity, we are determined to set things right. By working together, we are replacing outmoded ideologies with a new vision anchored in basic, enduring values: opportunity for all, responsibility from all, and a community of all. We are reinventing Government, transforming it into a catalyst for new ideas that stress both opportunity and responsibility and that gives Colonials the tools they need to solve their own problems.
Our Government is committed to strong leadership to realize a future, were we are no longer on the run, or living in fear of humanities great mistake. It is up to us to build on the legacy we have inherited, to seize the opportunities of the future, and to bring about an even better future for our children.
So I ask all Colonies, to pray for their fellow man. Pray for swift deliberation in these chambers, and swift success for our current operations. May the Gods bring home our brave volunteers, and may their determination and patriotism enlarge the prosperity of this fleet and promote in every way the well being of humanity.