Pacific Riots of 2047

A series of strikes, demonstrations, and rioting took place in the Pacific (State) as a response to the proposed and passed End of the Homeless Era Act, which would have authorised the state takeover of the entire housing market across the state. The riots led to widespread interruption to public life, and the targeting of Socialist Unity Party members and politicians, across the state. It resulted in the eventual appointment of Hi Haifeng as the new Lt. Governor of the State, and then the resignation of Fateema el-Farman as Governor, making Haifeng the new Governor, who has attempted to introduce executive legislation to try and address the crises.

## Background

### Governor Platform

Fateema el-Farman became the Governor of the Pacific States in the year 2044, winning out opponents in the gubernatorial race and running on a platform of progressive economic policy, such as raising the minimum wage, capping profit margins on consumer goods, and socialising college education for poorer families. This campaign proved widely successful, and legislation was rapidly introduced and passed by significant margins, to become law in the Pacific States.

Eventually, the direction of the administration shifted into addressing homelessness, following an economic down turn resulting in a skyrocketing unemployment rate, and a $70bn deficit. This economic event led to a rise in homelessness, which was a primary motivator in legislation being introduced to take over abandoned housing, and then all housing in a subsequent act, ultimately leading to the outbreak of rioting.

### Opinion Polling On The Law

Opinion polling on the law, conducted prior to its introduction, asserted to show widespread support for the SUP policy to take over the housing sector. However, this polling suffered from wording bias, with the framing of the question not specifically ascertaining support for a takeover of the housing sector.

## Motivations

The clear motivating factor in the outbreak of demonstrations and rioting was the introduction of The End of the Homeless Era Act, tabled by the Governor of the Pacific States on January 1st , 2047, and passed into law not much later. The legislation bought all housing units, releasing them of private ownership and making them property of the state. The law included no opt-out or optionability, and although compensated, it was mandatory for property owners to turn their housing over to the state.

With around 50% of the state population owning the property that they lived in, this led to a significant amount of the population losing a unique asset type, in exchange for the more tangible and less valuable cash, regardless on if they lived in the housing, or if it was being left abandoned, as was the previous legal requirement.

This legislation also hits the middle class disproportionately, as whilst the wealthy are generally immune to property limitations due to their ability to flee with relative ease, the middle classs tend to be more rooted in the location that they live, with work being local, family being near, and the monetary power that they have not being so widespread, limiting their ability to move around and buy new property to generally where they currently reside.

## Aftermath of the Legislation

### Rioting and Targeting of Politicians

The response was swift and widespread, within days of the legislation being passed into law, the State police reported a sharp rise in rioting, looting, theft, and targeting of Socialist Unity Party members. The Governor and police swiftly lost exclusive control of many areas of the state, and anger continued to pervert the state, embroiled in constant violence.

The costs and amount of property damaged is yet to be determined, this also applies to the loss of life, or amount of injuries sustained over the duration of the riots.

### Economic Impacts

The collapse of the housing market resulted in a severe economic response. Already in a downturn and facing a deficit of $70bn, the fallout from state wide market destruction in the private sphere, immediately led to the loss of thousands of real estate jobs, and a signifcant icnome generator for the landlording population. There was also a sharp and notable rise in inflation.

### Resignation of Governor Faateema el-Farman

In late 2047, an announcement to appoint Hi Haifeng to the position of Governor was quickly made, and this was seen by Observers to be a sign that she was intending to resign from the position and hand over the reins to the Asian Gubernatorial Candidate in the next election. These suspicions were confirmed true, when her resignation was handed in not long after, making Hi Haifeng the new Governor of the state.

## Hi Haifeng's Response

Hi Haifeng quickly introduced four pieces of executive legislation as the new Governor of the Pacific States, whilst also on the campaign trail for the upcoming legislation. During the first speech given by Hi Haifeng, he recognised the rushed policy decision of the previous Governor, vowing to correct the mistakes that were made, but to not give up on the overall idea of the legislation.

### State of Emergency

In the first executive order given by Hi Haifeng, he invoked the emergency powers granted to the Executive Branch of the state, to establish a statewide State of Emergency, granting him powers to mobilise the National Guard residing within the State, and introduce or void legislation without the consent of the State Government and instananeously.

### Mobilising the State Guard

The state national guard was mobilised in the second executive order, announced on the same day as the first, and set to a level of State Active Duty, allowing them to respond to fallout from the riots, and attempt to stabilise the situation in the streets. The Adjutant General for the Pacific States and the C2 Command for the State National Guard were instructed to attend daily briefings with the Governor to update him on the situation.

Specific mention was made to provide national security details for politicians at any level across the state, after threats to life were made by the rioters.

### Revoking of the Legislation

In the third and final executive order, the act which led to the fallout in the first place was revoked, cancelling the measures contained within, and therefore ending any attempts buy the state to acquire all residential property across the state.

### Executive Clemency

In the first use ever by any Governor, Hi Haifeng introduced a motion of executive clemency in an attempt to show goodwill to those who partook in the rioting and violent behaviour, granting all citizens of the state, potentially facing criminal conviction within the state, full and unconditional pardons.