NationStates Jolt Archive


Annor declares war on Poverty

Annor
04-12-2004, 09:04
The next Annorian election is fast approaching. The economy is buoyant and people are enjoying the right to live their lives as they wish under the libertarian government of President Michael Snake and his party; the Market Liberals. However on issue has plagued the party; crime.


The President stood before the podium and placed his glasses up on his nose, “Fellow Annorians, I have been privileged to rule in the most glorious times our federation has seen. The average married couple, gay or straight, now finds themselves with more funds than ever before. Income tax has been abolished and unemployment is confined. One thing has stopped us from achieving our goals. Huge crime has crippled our economy. This is the final frontier for this government, reverse the situation here and this government will have one on every battlefield. Thus in coalition with the conservatives, we have just passed a bill allowing us to crack down on crime completely. Tonight the campaign begins. The world will see what crime prevention means.”

Darkness fell over Annor City as the military began encircling the largest of Annor’s slums. “They won’t get away Major, we have every street blocked,” Sergeant Bard.
“Good,” said the Major, “Tell the teams to go in quietly and take the targets.”

The teams went in silently, hunting targets all over Annor. Power had been cut to the slums, blackouts were officially blamed. “Third floor, wasn’t it,” muttered Private Kemp.
“Fool,” said his Sergeant, “How many times do I have to tell you the suspect is in 2B, the second floor.”
They progressed up the apartment block stairs and along the second floor balcony to 2B. “Hammer that door,” hissed the Sergeant.
Private Kemp looked at the cheap, loose door before giving it a firm kicking. As the door swung open, a series of gun shots rang out. Each shot hit Kemp squarely in the chest. He crumpled to the horror of his team mates.
“We weren’t f***in told to expect resistance,” said Private Riley, watching as his former friend bled in the dark.
“Come and get us you bastards,” yelled someone in the flat.
“Stay calm men,” said the Sergeant, “I’m sure there is only one of them in…”
His words were cut short by a rifle blast. The sergeant felt a warm sensation his back before he crumpled into a heap.
His men opened fire into the darkness using torches to try and pick the target. A scream and a body holding a shotgun indicated success.
“What do we do?” asked Private Riley.
The other two members of team had no idea. The three young men charged into a flat full of armed men. None survived.


The President had to explain the disaster of the previous night. Furthermore he had to turn it to his advantage, “My fellow Annorians, last night the army was given the duty of carrying out several arrest warrants in slums. Very few of the warrants were successful. Instead many brave young men are dead of wounded. The slums are in full revolt blaming civilized society for their poverty. Furthermore they demand we provide welfare. However this government is strong and will not give in to such demands. We will meet violence with violence, especially to give them money for not working. Slums are now officially off-limits and no one may leave or enter them. No goods may be crossed into the slums to dry up the revolt. We believe the Socialist party informed the criminals of our planned crackdown and hence all member of the party have been placed under arrest for treason. Furthermore, it has become clear that poverty is the directly linked with crime. Thus, as of 2 0’clock this afternoon poverty is a crime.”

On the border of the largest Annor city slum road blocks were firmly in place. Anyone trying to leave the slum was shot on sight. Artillery could be heard smashing locations in which soldiers had been slaughtered the previous night.
The Major stood before the press and said, “It is general military policy to kill anyone who murders soldiers. As soon as we smash where the murders last were we will blast any inch where we suspect there is some militant socialist or disgruntled beggar.”
One of the journalists asked, “What will you be doing to enforce the new Poor Law?”
The Major laughed, “Enablement Act says the military can do whatever it wants to enforce the law. Our plan is simple we will wipe out every last poor person in this slum. Be it by cannon fire or those roadblocks stopping these traitors from getting food.”
Farmina
04-12-2004, 09:59
The Farminan government condemns this act of slaughtering people for being poor. Perhaps the government should have instead provided government works to supply jobs for the poor.
Annor
04-12-2004, 10:26
Farmina, your words are hollow. Your's is a nation that burns people for witchcraft, so upholding the Poor Laws is perfectly reasonable in comparison. A government works program will be a strain on the government budget and the honest working people of Annor. Your suggestion is officially mocked and rejected.
Thrashia
04-12-2004, 10:31
Such a waste of man-power, if you want to get rid of the poor, "do as the Romans." Gather them all up, give them basic military training then make a Penal Legion out of them to spearhead your attacks.
Annor
04-12-2004, 10:43
Put them in the military? I do not know about Thrashia, but Annor has a policy of keeping the army small to cut costs. Only in wars do we use surplus labour to feed the cannons. Your suggestion although not unwise would be expensive in peace time. An expense will cause more taxes, draining the economy. The economy must be kept strong.
The Phoenix Milita
04-12-2004, 11:33
We'll come and take them off your hands, we could always use workers in the diamond mines :cool:
Annor
04-12-2004, 12:01
The Federation of Annor is interested in Phoenix Militia's offer. We do however wonder if it would be cheaper to have machines do the work? Humans are such a nuisance to feed if they are only doing menial work.
The Phoenix Milita
04-12-2004, 12:05
Nah its fine, we dont wanna waste money on machines when we can use cheap labor, they can eat grass, gruel etc, its not expensive.

CH-50 Helicopters and C-15 Nova Cargo Aircraft are standing by to pick them up.
Annor
04-12-2004, 12:25
A few of more questions:
a) How many do you want (there are millions)?
b) Many are murders, thieves and rapists; and it is very hard to pick them out from the rest. How do you plan to deal with this?
c) Many are often armed and may not take well to being removed. How do you plan to deal with this?
The Phoenix Milita
04-12-2004, 12:36
a. all of them, we will make several trips if required.
b. we wont seperate them, rather we will simply let nature take it's course
c. sleeping gas
Annor
04-12-2004, 13:02
Okay you can have the people; but all their belongings, including clothing is property of the Annorian government. Also, since we are partaking in slavery for all intensive purposes we require an amount of profit on the labour resources we are handing over. 5% of the value of their production should be fine.

One final request; brutalise these people and record it. We need to show people what happens if they fail as a resource.
The Phoenix Milita
04-12-2004, 13:08
We are not actualy enslaving them, they will recieve a small wage as well as some provisons so we will pay you a one time lump some, equal to 5 % of 5 years of thier labor, is this agreed?
We will only brutalize the trouble makers
Annor
04-12-2004, 13:18
Ten percent of five years production.
The Phoenix Milita
04-12-2004, 13:26
sure
Annor
04-12-2004, 13:31
"It's a deal," said the Minister for Foriegn Affairs.
"Good," replied the President Snake, "This should slash crime, fill the coffers and we can now build luxury resorts and high rise apartments on the land. A real election winner. Oh, and tell the Defence Department to stop slaughtering the poor people. Now what do we do with Socialists?"
He paused them and realised there was one election winner, "They will hang as traitors."
The Phoenix Milita
04-12-2004, 13:38
How many people are there exactly? So I know how many transports to send.
Annor
04-12-2004, 14:26
About 12 million. The government doesn't keep precise records and kills are unsure.
Winnors
04-12-2004, 14:36
forgive me, i'm just slightly confused.
we're talking about nationstates here, i assume right? well, um, can you actually send helicpters and whatever, or are the two of you just talking utter rubbish? I didn't think we had that much control over what happened in our nations, we just had to pick one of the three options that you get whenever an "issue" arrises?
Is there something i'm missing?
The Phoenix Milita
04-12-2004, 14:51
http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=357975
read it

yes we are speaking rubbish, that is how this game is played :D
Winnors
04-12-2004, 16:23
right, so.. as fasr as i can tell, this is what happens.
nationstates.net is a game where you make those few descisions every day.
then you come here, and pretend that actually other things happen.
but you can't actually control anything, or really do anything, so how do people know if you've done well or not? i mean, wrt this thread, it seemed as though the guy sold some gypos and got some money for it, but in actual fact, does the game nationstates not recognise that at all? so what difference does it make? i'm so confused
thanks for replying in the first place, i had already read that thread but it only made me wonder "why?"
Annor
05-12-2004, 01:34
We roleplay because its fun.
Who cares what one little page says about a nation. Sure it gives some detail, for example Annor has: a thriving economy, very good civil rights and crippling crime, as described in the thread. However you can't really mould a nation unless your in the forums, then a nation takes true character.
Winnors
05-12-2004, 01:49
yeah but unless someone sits and reads every post you've ever made how are they going to know what you think your place is like?
Annor
05-12-2004, 03:02
I doubt anyone cares what your nation is like. The only person who really cares is you. If your RPing you will might give a brief description of your nation's current situation or just blend it into the RP.
Omicron Alpha
05-12-2004, 03:08
Assuming a lack of social welfare schemes, and assuming a lack of chartable institutions (and individuals) within your borders, and a decent police company/publicly funded police force, the poor will either find a way to make profit, or die trying. If they achieve some level of profit, however minor, they will be of benefit to the economy. If they die trying... well, they better hope they had insurance, and that their insurance company covers body disposal, otherwise their body will be auctioned to the highest bidder, dissected and experimented on. Certainly, they would be denied access to the Divine Economy.

Either way, there is no need at all to kill the poor -- if anything, it is just a waste of money. They either make money or die. It is the way of things. Simply discontinue any social welfare programs you have running, and they will cost you nothing.
Annor
05-12-2004, 04:44
The problem was that in Annor poor people are inherently considered criminals. And we have no social welfare. Plus its all over now anyway.