NationStates Jolt Archive

Righto, new issue I thought up in the shower last night. Same as last time, I'd like any advice you people have for improving the options presented. I'll give you all a week to have your say, then it goes on the pile(though like last time, I may postpone the deadline if there's still a good debate going).

Title: Pathetically Predictable Partisan Politics Precipitates Popular Panic

Description: The most recent election in @@NAME@@ has become a joke after the most incompetent members of each party were elected into office.

Validity: Valid only for democratic nations

Options:

[option]@@RANDOMNAME@@, host for a conservative talk show shared his "Fair And Balanced"®©™ opinion on the matter. "It's all the fault of those damned liberals voting in the weakest of our candidates in the primaries! I say we force regestered voters to chose a political party, and then restrict them to only voting for people within that party!" Comments pointing out that his party did the exact same thing were answered with "They started it! The filthy liberals!"
[effect]citizens commonly join political parties they hate to sabotage election efforts
[stats]*hidden*

[option]Noted civil libertarian @@RANDOMNAME@@ had a different idea altogether. "I say it's high time we abolished the entire party system. Make candidates run on nothing more than their own merits and let the public sort out who's worthy of office!" Questions regarding how to keep the number of candidates down to a manageable level were met with a vacant stare.
[effect]in the wake of the recent outlawing of political parties, voting ballots now number hundreds of pages
[stats]*hidden*

[option]"Shucks, there ain't nuttin wrong wit' the way things are now. No sense rockin' the boat when it ain't needen t' be fixed '
n all that." said @@RANDOMNAME@@ a recently elected governor shortly before choking on a @@ANIMAL@@-on-a-stick.
[effect]@@NAME@@s government has become the laughingstock of @@REGION@@
[stats]*hidden*

[option]Finally, there's Senator Bubbles, a goldfish in a slightly dirty bowl.
[effect]the inmates have taken over the asylum, and the TV stations, and the hospitals, traffic lights, @@MAJORINDUSTRY@@ and anything else they can find
[stats] Instant Anarchy(just add goldfish!)

The fourth option doesn't have a point, and is too strong. I highly recommend you tone it down and add some substance. :roll: Oh, and add another requirement: The nation must cook its national animals. Or you could just remove the @@ANIMAL@@-on-a-stick reference.

An interesting and well-written issue.

The fourth issue might need elaborating on, though I'm not quite sure how you'd do that. Perhaps some mention on what the goldfish's policies are (or at least what the policies are of the madman supposedly translating for it, whatever). It's quite fun as it is, but I'm not sure how the mods would take to that sort of surrealism. :wink:

I kinda thought the idea of a goldfish becoming senator wouldn't need any further text. That and it's a rather jarring contrast with the other issues, where there's always a random name and some odd speech giving a clue as to the effects.

Not sure how to elaborate on it either, but I'll sleep on it and maybe have something in the morning.

BTW, the stat effects on number four arn't the real ones, I wrote that in more for the humor of it, though to be honest it would fit.

When you speak of "registered voters" and "primaries", I'm immediately thinking of the US election system. In many other countries people don't have to separately register in order to be able to vote, nor are there primaries. My suggestion is to remove those references, rewriting it with more general wording to take different election systems into account.

Ballotonia

Personally I like the fourth option, and would keep it as is. The reason I suggest elaboration is that I can't see it getting past the mods as it currently stands.

OK, here's a potental revision for #4

[option]Finally, there's Senator Bubbles, a goldfish in a slightly dirty bowl. You don't need reporters, psychics or even your own brother to tell you this is a very bad sign.
[effect]the inmates have taken over the asylum, and the TV stations, and the hospitals, traffic lights, @@MAJORINDUSTRY@@ and anything else they can find
[stats] *hidden*

[Edit]

Or that second sentice could read "Something tells you that the voices in your head arn't going to stay safely locked away much longer."

No oppinions on the revision?

I like the second option because it gives power to the people, and in my nation freedom is a necessity.

I like it a good idea, but option 4 maybe should look something like this

"He was elected fair and square!" shouts Senator Bubbles nutty translator, while he is swimming in his goldfish bowl. "His orders are final and of course i translate for him, and he wants a pay rise, payed to my account!"
[effect] you listen to Senator Bubbles

I like the idea of the goldfish and people who want a funny nation and a good laugh will chose it but it should do something as well. Also try and keep it as general as possible because we're not all American. otherwise good issue!!!

Emperor Matthuis

OK, here's v1.2

Title: Pathetically Predictable Partisan Politics Precipitates Popular Panic

Description: The most recent election in @@NAME@@ has become a joke after the most incompetent members of each party were elected into office.

Validity: Valid only for democratic nations

Options:

[option]@@RANDOMNAME@@, host for a conservative talk show shared his "Fair And Balanced"®©™ opinion on the matter. "It's all the fault of those damned liberals voting in the weakest of our candidates! I say we force voters to register and chose a political party, and then restrict them to only voting for people within that party!" Comments pointing out that his party did the exact same thing were answered with "They started it! The filthy liberals!"
[effect]citizens commonly join political parties they hate to sabotage election efforts
[stats]*hidden*

[option]Noted civil libertarian @@RANDOMNAME@@ had a different idea altogether. "I say it's high time we abolished the entire party system. Make candidates run on nothing more than their own merits and let the public sort out who's worthy of office!" Questions regarding how to keep the number of candidates down to a manageable level were met with a vacant stare.
[effect]in the wake of the recent outlawing of political parties, voting ballots now number hundreds of pages
[stats]*hidden*

[option]"Shucks, there ain't nuttin wrong wit' the way things are now. No sense rockin' the boat when it ain't needen t' be fixed '
n all that." said @@RANDOMNAME@@ a recently elected governor shortly before choking on a @@ANIMAL@@-on-a-stick.
[effect]@@NAME@@s government has become the laughingstock of @@REGION@@
[stats]*hidden*

[option]Finally, there's Senator Bubbles, a goldfish in a slightly dirty bowl. He never says anything, just kinda swims about, and stares, endlessly, with those lidless fish eyes, in an incessant and unblinking manner. It is clear to you now, madness this way lies...
[effect]the inmates have taken over the asylum, and the TV stations, and the hospitals, traffic lights, the @@MAJORINDUSTRY@@ industry and anything else they can find
[stats]*hidden*