JEDI HoloNet

Disaster strikes as a housing-price bubble across the Galaxy finally bursts, and the stock prices of all major Republic Banks and Investment-Centres crash to an all-time low, falling by over 40% overnight. Speculators continue to withdraw their shares only bringing the prices down by the minute, and major banks are beginning to collapse or close their doors to savers as a ‘run on the bank’ occurs across the Galaxy. The economic calamity has caused not only outrage, despair and travesty for the banking elite, flow of investment to businesses and the Republic, but businesses across the Deep Core are beginning to let off workers. Many business owners are attempting to sell their assets in the chaos of the Stock Crash, but this is putting millions across the Galaxy out of work, out of pay, and possibly onto the streets.

Republic Security personnel is seeing the early days of massive riots outside of banks and other commercial centers, the Police Chief on Coruscant warning RSF across the Galaxy to “Prepare for an impending wave of public disorder.” Tragically, many Stock Brokers have been found dead across Coruscant, presumably due to suicide at the loss of all of their gambled assets.

In these early days, it is unclear how this Economic development will affect the rest of the Galaxy. Speculators predict that with the loss of commercial activity within the Deep Core, the entire Republic – and by extension, the entire Galaxy will be hurt by this loss in commerce. Ex-Chancellor and leading Coruscant Economist Ja’lal Munn predicts that not only will job losses be a pandemic source of monetary distress across the Galaxy, but it will create a catalyst for all kinds of corruption and dissent, “possibly violent”, in the worst-effected areas.

One thing is certain, unemployment will create idle hands, and idle hands are the devil’s playthings. However, Holonews remains optimistic, and reminds its viewers to keep optimistic as well.