Polnut for Northeast Governor - Concession Speech

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I am announcing today, my intention to seek the Governorship of the Northeast.

In the time since I returned to Atlasia I have had two priorities, the first was to assist in whatever way I could to further an inclusive, positive and pragmatic progressive agenda in both the region and the country. My second, but equally important priority was to get the stagnant and unrepresentative Assembly working in the best interests of the citizens again.

I was surprised and humbled to have been originally elected to the Assembly as a write-in, then to have been re-elected with the support of people from across the political and ideological spectrum, and I will not forget that support.

I am now honoured to serve as Speaker of the Assembly, the first progressive to do so. While I still have my views, and contribute to debate, I know I must serve in that role with as much objectivity as possible. So I have sought to reduce my role in the development of legislation.

But prior to that I did my best to promote positive legislation, to produce that legislation and to reduce the impact of, or prevent dangerous legislation. Now, I wasn’t able to do everything, but given the opposition I believe have achieved, with my fellow Representatives, some positive outcomes.

I was a Governor before, in October 2007, not long after arriving in Atlasia for the first time, I stood up and became Governor of the Mideast when it was nothing but a basket-case. I made some mistakes in my first term, but had a very successful second term. I worked with a very Conservative Lt Governor and we worked together well. I pushed through legislation on carbon mitigation, protecting same-sex couples from any regulatory discrimination that was not covered in the Federal legislation. I also put in place legislation that created a strategically placed emergency management centre and the only thorough mental-health system in the country. I’m proud of those achievements.
But looking to the future.

I will work with the Assembly, whatever its political make-up, to create legislation that will have a positive impact on the lives of those we serve. However, I will not shy away from vetoing legislation that I feel is reckless or puts the region in jeopardy.

Some specific proposals
•   Incentives for small and medium sized businesses to put on and retain staff
•   Put in place a training program for the long-term unemployed
•   Undertake a study to see what gaps there are in the Federal healthcare system that we can address at the regional level
•   The repeal of the Nullification Resolution – which I consider to be a fundamental undermining of the rule of law in a modern democracy
•   Support more investment, both public and private into renewable energy
•   Incentives to reduce carbon intensive daily-travel

While I run as a member of the UDL, I run with the hope that this positive and pragmatic agenda will be attractive to many more outside of progressive politics. I’m prepared to listen to alternative points of view, and I pledge to work with whomever I have to make sure this region is strong and prosperous again.

Thank you all.

[AndrewTX]

This...is...epic.

You've made me happy by announcing this!

[Ban my account ffs!]

Endorsed!

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I look forward to a positive contest of ideas in this campaign, and I welcome Ghost to the race.

I also put the request out for those willing to host a debate at some point later in the month.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Endorsed !

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I'm also available to answer any questions anyone might have

[Rowan]

I think I know who I am going to support for Governor, but I'll keep it under wraps to make both of you worry.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Endorsed

(Sorry, Han)

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I think I know who I am going to support for Governor, but I'll keep it under wraps to make both of you worry.

I expect nothing less Rowan

[HappyWarrior]

Endorsed of course.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

CAMPAIGN UPDATE...

I will be announcing my tour schedule and also releasing detailed proposals for renewable energy, transport infrastructure and constitutional reform.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I want to take this opportunity, in my first speech of the campaign to address what I consider to be the three key underpinnings of my argument.

The first, in reverse order, is government that works.

You will all hear a lot of the coming weeks about 'limited government', 'small government' and the terms go on. I have a question for those who believe that small or limited government is the cure-all so many of them seem to... is it better to have 10 people with their eyes closed putting in a light-globe? or 50? In my view the answer is neither is likely to do the job well, and the result will likely be the same... broken glass on the floor.

I know of no evidence which says that small government or big government in isolation produces positive outcomes for our fellow citizens. The debate about the size of government is a cheap-seats act in my view, what matters isn't how big government is, it matters how well it works in making the lives of people better.

Mind you, there are many who couldn't believe that the state could make anyone's lives better. In some ways I agree. Those who would like to paint me as a dyed-in-the-wool-socialist will be terribly disappointed. I am, first and foremost, a pragmatist. I want whatever size of government is necessary to do the job required. It might be a few, it might be a lot. One thing I can say, when it comes to service delivery quality, as Governor I promise we will not run regional services like businesses. One advantage about government services is that we don't have to adhere to the profit expectations of shareholders. The people we answer to, are you. You don't get angry when a Government agency doesn't deliver on dividends to profits... you and I get angry when government agencies don't do the job we need them to do. As Governor, the buck stops with me. If we have ineffective government, that would be my shortcoming.

Effecitve government requires effective and active leadership. When Governor Han was elected, he pledged to increase activity, we had a constitutional reform vote before the people, and it didn't pass... even thought there was a clear majority in favour... a majority of voters didn't turn up. As someone who has struggled to bring a floundering region back to life, inactivity in Atlasia equals death. Since my opponent has pledged that if he's elected, it will be in effect another Han term, I ask him... what will he do to address the inactivity that has continued in Han's term despite the pledge?


NEXT: Strength

[Lief 🗽]

Endorsed! And as the Northeast JCP Chair I'll work to make sure that my party officially supports you as well.

[Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey]

Hey hey hey, overall activity increased over my term; maybe it didn't increase to the extent that we all would've liked, but these things take time.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

Hey hey hey, overall activity increased over my term; maybe it didn't increase to the extent that we all would've liked, but these things take time.

Yeah, I gotta say, Han has probably had the most active Governorship since Andrew.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Hey hey hey, overall activity increased over my term; maybe it didn't increase to the extent that we all would've liked, but these things take time.

I agree there was an increase, but I hope my plans going forward will lead to a marked increase, returning to the levels they were under Andrew.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

STRENGTH

This country is suffering through very difficult financial times.

It's believed that there are two ways to handle these issues, spend a lot, in the hope that the economic stimulation will come into place or cut taxes, and hope that money trickles down.

What has worked in countries all over the world is a combination of sensible stimulus, a reduction in spending and targeted tax cuts.

In the Assembly we passed a Bill, which was vetoed by the Governor, which would have led to the creation of a series of wind farms across the region. This was a worthy program which not only would have created renewable infrastructure for the future, but also jobs in the struggling manufacturing sector. This was an opportunity for the Northeast to have been leaders in Wind energy, that was lost.

If elected I will request that Representative Sbane re-introduces that Bill, and if passed, I will proudly sign it.

This is the kind of stimulus that works. Creating jobs in areas that need them, creating industries that weren't there before. We need vision for the future.

Another benefit of infrastructure stimulus is the opportunity for skill diversification. So many people are out of work for the first time in decades, they know only one thing, they have invaluable experience, but are without the skills to continue to be active in the workforce. Changing careers in the sight of difficult times, is hard for anyone, but especially hard for those over 45.

This also goes beyond regional government driven infrastructure. This also goes for private industry. In many ways, our unemployment rate is somewhat inflated by the fact that businesses are skittish about bringing on new workers. There is the capacity for jobs to be created now, with the workforce there, ready, willing and able to undertake those opportunities. We need businesses that are prepared to take on people for the long term.

So my jobs package includes.
1.  Offering those aged 45-60 who are currently unemployed, and receive benefits a $1500 voucher to undertake skills training.
2. Offering businesses that employ 50 people or less, a tax credit for each person that the employ in the next six months and retain for at least 24 months

People need to see this as more than expenditure. These are measures that could save the Government Billions going forward in unemployment benefits and social assistance. And once those people are employed, they will be repaying that assistance in their taxes.

While we invest in the future, we must also be careful to make consolidations and reduce the pressure on the public purse where it can.

For example I will advocate a freeze on some public sector salaries.

For those in the top 25% of the public service a pay-freeze of 18 months, for those in the next 25% 12 months. I will stress that emergency personnel will be exempt from these freezes. 

I also will recommend a recruitment freeze on senior public service positions for the next 12 months.

We need vision. We need to put in place the infrastructure, both literal and figurative to move us through and beyond these economic times. We shouldn't be afraid to spend where there's evidence that it will help, we must also have the courage to make cuts where we can without affecting the quality of front-line services.

Next: Community

[Хahar 🤔]

Next: Community

I love that show!

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Apologies - will be back on the Campaign trail shortly.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Endorsed of course.

[AndrewTX]

You mentioned something about my time as Governor as being something decent, and not horrible.

 You must have my endorsment, and first born.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Hey hey hey, overall activity increased over my term; maybe it didn't increase to the extent that we all would've liked, but these things take time.

Indeed, but NDN/Mint/ghost_whote, formerly a Senator known for inactivity and lack of accomplishment, is not the right person to carry on.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

You mentioned something about my time as Governor as being something decent, and not horrible.

 You must have my endorsment, and first born.

Can I just have the endorsement?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Community...

I chosen to speak about this pillar of my platform last because I think, in the final analysis, it is the most important.

We all, regardless of race, religion, gender, socio-economic status or sexuality are part of a community... most of us indeed, communities within communities, within communities.

It is that recognition that what happens to our neighbours will affect us. If we spend all of our time thinking about ourselves, and our own personal gain, that connection to one another which is such a cornerstone of human civilisation, becomes more and more tenuous.

I'm not saying that everyone should forget about personal achievement or ambition, they are important to all of us. What I am saying is that lives lived without that sense of community and connection to other people is a life half-lived.

We need a greater sense of community, and of the benefits that come from helping those around you that need help, and I believe this can be of great benefit to the young.

If elected, I will launch the Northeast Community Service Scheme. This scheme will be targeted at those currently in High School. Guidance counselors will sign off on each student's chosen community service activity, they may have a passion for books and want to read to those who have lost the ability, they may love baseball and want to coach a little-league team, or any other number of possible choices. They will earn credits that will be converted into a tax-free grant for their college education.

For those students who do not go to college, those credits will be converted into tax-credits once they start earning an income.

But this is just a start.

We desperately need a more inclusive society, we need to reach out to those in trouble, not cast them aside. We have to stop thinking of ourselves as we all share a stake in this society. Each of us has a responsibility to make the world just a little bit better, even if it's only for one other person.

But this greater ideal is not something I can, or would try to legislate or enforce. But I hope that by appealing to people's better angels and trying to foster cooperation across the political divide we can, as a community, do a little each day to make the region and this country, not just a richer or more powerful... but a better place than we found it.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

CAMPAIGN SCHEDULE
- May alter due to responsibilities as Speaker dictate

17 January - Barnstable, Boston MA

18 January - Providence RI, New Haven CT, Norwalk CT

19 January - Greenwich CT, Easthampton NY

20 January - New York City NY

22 January - Philadelphia PA

23 January - Harrisburg PA, Pittsburgh PA

25 January - Wilmington DE, Trenton NJ

28 January - Newark NJ, Buffalo NY

30 January - Bangor ME, Portland ME

31 January - Manchester NH, Concord NH

1 February - Burlington VT