NationStates Jolt Archive

I am not trying to start any sort of discussion over this topic. I feel it is a valid enrichment to NationStates as an issue. Here is what I have:

Many women's groups are demanding general abortion be legalized. Immediately, many other groups have exploded passionately over the issue.

Validity: All nations.

Options:

[option]Freedom of Choice spokesperson @@RANDOMNAME@@ says, "Abortion must be completely legal and unlimited. We concede there needs to be some regulations, but any hospital should be able to provide abortions to anyone who wishes one. Why admit a new life into this overpopulated country if they won't have parents who want them?"
[effect]abortion is legal but regulated
[stats]happiness goes down a bit, civil freedom goes up, income tax goes up (please make it balanced between the good and bad)

[option]"Legalize abortion? There's no way we can call ourselves a moralistic nation while approving the murder of infants. How anyone can miss the logic here is beyond me," says popular radio personality @@RANDOMNAME@@. "If you have a child you don't want, give it to the church or put it up for adoption. We're not savages!"
[effect]abortion is illegal, but continues somewhat in a less ethical fashion
[stats]happiness goes down a bit, crime increases a little, civil freedom goes down a little, religion goes up, income tax goes down a little

[option]"The legality of abortion must be handled as a case-by-case issue," states retired judge-turned author @@RANDOMNAME@@. "This is something for the courts to decide. Let each woman applying for an abortion make an appeal to the courts. We will grant them for incest, rape, and underage women, but others will be turned down. It's a moderate and intelligent choice."
[effect]abortion is legal only for women impregnated in an immoral fashion
[stats]political freedom goes up a little bit, civil freedom goes down a little bit

[option]Pro-Choice Activist @@RANDOMNAME@@ says, "There's no reason for the government to burden itself with this issue. This is entirely concerned with personal choice. There are many women who are impregnated morally, but would not choose to have the baby. Legalize a safe abortion pill and let the pharmecutical companies do the rest."
[effect]abortion pills sell like hot cakes at every corner drug store
[stats]business growth goes up, personal liberty goes up, apethy goes up, religion goes down

Why does happiness go down with option 1?

Why does happiness go down with option 1?

You're right. Option adjusted. Thanks :)

You need a third prochoice option. Otherwise, its no good.

You need a third prochoice option. Otherwise, its no good.

I'm all ears. What sort of option should it be?

Here's other pro-choice option for you

[option]Pro-Choice Activist @@RANDOMNAME@@ says people should be able to do whatever they want. So if people want an abortion let them have it. Cause I know of several women that concieved morally but they just do not want to have a kid right now. So why not let an abortion medicine go on the market so people could go to the drug store to pick up something for them to have any abortion
[effect]abortion medicine is sold at every corner drug store
[stats]???

maybe you could fiddle with that and put it in your issue

maybe you could fiddle with that and put it in your issue

Good call! Okay, lemme see here...

[option]Pro-Choice Activist @@RANDOMNAME@@ says, "There's no reason for the government to burden itself with this issue. This is entirely concerned with personal choice. There are many women who are impregnated morally, but would not choose to have the baby. Legalize a safe abortion pill and let the pharmecutical companies do the rest."
[effect]abortion pills sell like hot cakes at every corner drug store
[stats]business growth goes up, personal liberty goes up, apethy goes up, religion goes down

good thing you re-wrote cause i suck at writing anything :D

Why does happiness go down with option 1?

You're right. Option adjusted. Thanks :)

I know why happiness goes down... Because all the woman have lost a basic right. I am an atheist, so thus I am PRO CHOICE! Woman have the right to chose if they want to abort. The Govt./Men should not control a woman's rights. They chose, and we should shut up.
*I am a man in case anyone is wondering.*

And it is a great issue. Surprise they didn't have it already...

Why does happiness go down with option 1?

You're right. Option adjusted. Thanks :)

I know why happiness goes down... Because all the woman have lost a basic right. I am an atheist, so thus I am PRO CHOICE! Woman have the right to chose if they want to abort. The Govt./Men should not control a woman's rights. They chose, and we should shut up.
*I am a man in case anyone is wondering.*

And it is a great issue. Surprise they didn't have it already...

You are SO right! I mean... how could ANYONE take away a woman's basic right to commit MURDER?! WHAT are those crazy pro-lifers thinking?!

Why does happiness go down with option 1?

You're right. Option adjusted. Thanks :)

I know why happiness goes down... Because all the woman have lost a basic right. I am an atheist, so thus I am PRO CHOICE! Woman have the right to chose if they want to abort. The Govt./Men should not control a woman's rights. They chose, and we should shut up.
*I am a man in case anyone is wondering.*

And it is a great issue. Surprise they didn't have it already...

You are SO right! I mean... how could ANYONE take away a woman's basic right to commit MURDER?! WHAT are those crazy pro-lifers thinking?!

I'm totally with you on this one, buddy. As for the issue, I think the argument made for case 2 is WAY too biased. It's obvious what you prefer here. Don't make leaders who illegalize the murder of infants sound like religious fanatics and I'd say the issue would be good!

That's all...I want to be able to decide on the issue of abortion, but I don't want to be labeled as a religious fanatic just because I don't like to leave the indefinate slaughter of children in the hands of the more fickle of our two genders, to put it in mean but honest words.

I'm totally with you on this one, buddy. As for the issue, I think the argument made for case 2 is WAY too biased. It's obvious what you prefer here. Don't make leaders who illegalize the murder of infants sound like religious fanatics and I'd say the issue would be good!

You're right, I totally painted that one up. I made some fixes, reinstituted unhappiness in option 1, and put all the changes in the original post. Thanks guys :)

I always planned to write an abortion issue in the near future, but the post from Zuchyria moved me to stay up past my bedtime and write and submit my own abortion issue. If Zuchyria has submitted his/her issue earlier than twenty minutes before this message was posted, then I'm afraid that my issue will be in electronic limbo for as long as the Internet lasts. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

I always planned to write an abortion issue in the near future, but the post from Zuchyria moved me to stay up past my bedtime and write and submit my own abortion issue. If Zuchyria has submitted his/her issue earlier than twenty minutes before this message was posted, then I'm afraid that my issue will be in electronic limbo for as long as the Internet lasts. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

...So basically, this forum inspired you to steal his issue and submit it?

I always planned to write an abortion issue in the near future, but the post from Zuchyria moved me to stay up past my bedtime and write and submit my own abortion issue. If Zuchyria has submitted his/her issue earlier than twenty minutes before this message was posted, then I'm afraid that my issue will be in electronic limbo for as long as the Internet lasts. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

...So basically, this forum inspired you to steal his issue and submit it?


If you asked whether I copied Zuchyria's issue word-for-word and passed it off as my own, then the answer is no. If you asked whether I rewrote Zuchyria's issue in my own words and passed it off as my own, then the answer is no. If you asked whether I used Zuchyra's issue as a template for my own issue, then the answer is no. If you asked whether Zuchyria's issue inspired me for the first time to write and submit an abortion issue, then the answer is no.

All I did was read the title of the post with alarm, skim read the contents and decided that it's not too late to write up and submit my own issue, with my own ideas that had been marinating for weeks.

When I get home tonight, I will post my own issue, and everyone can see how different my issue is from Zuchyria's issue.

When I get home tonight, I will post my own issue, and everyone can see how different my issue is from Zuchyria's issue.

Since you've been thinking about your abortion issue for weeks you probably know what you're doing. Maybe we can cooperate and make a really good abortion issue together, since they may not want two different abortion issues... Just an idea :)

I always planned to write an abortion issue in the near future, but the post from Zuchyria moved me to stay up past my bedtime and write and submit my own abortion issue. If Zuchyria has submitted his/her issue earlier than twenty minutes before this message was posted, then I'm afraid that my issue will be in electronic limbo for as long as the Internet lasts. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

...So basically, this forum inspired you to steal his issue and submit it?


If you asked whether I copied Zuchyria's issue word-for-word and passed it off as my own, then the answer is no. If you asked whether I rewrote Zuchyria's issue in my own words and passed it off as my own, then the answer is no. If you asked whether I used Zuchyra's issue as a template for my own issue, then the answer is no. If you asked whether Zuchyria's issue inspired me for the first time to write and submit an abortion issue, then the answer is no.

All I did was read the title of the post with alarm, skim read the contents and decided that it's not too late to write up and submit my own issue, with my own ideas that had been marinating for weeks.

When I get home tonight, I will post my own issue, and everyone can see how different my issue is from Zuchyria's issue.



So here it is.

Stop the genocide!

Pro-life activists have picketed abortion clinics, demanding that they be shut down.

Valid for all nations

[option] “Unborn children are the forgotten victims of feminism,” says pro-life activist @@RANDOMNAME@@. “Every year, hundreds of millions of children are murdered in @@REGION@@ because they are too bothersome for selfish women. Abortion must be outlawed except for extreme cases, such as fatal ectopic pregnancies, or pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.”
[effect] abortions are not permitted except in extreme cases
[stats] personal freedoms decrease, law & order funding increases, public apathy decreases, happiness decreases a bit, compassion increases a bit, devoutness increases a bit, government size increases

[option] “Abortion must be forbidden, no matter what,” says extreme pro-life activist @@RANDOMNAME@@. “If a mother is going to bleed to death because of an ectopic pregnancy, then so be it. Murdering unborn children to save their mothers is unethical. Every woman who chose to have abortions and every family member or partner who either agreed or did nothing to stop it must be arrested and charged with murder. Every doctor who committed these atrocities and every government official who didn’t do their best to outlaw it must be arrested and charged with genocide.”
[effect] massive anti-abortion purges have weakened @@NAME@@ to the brink of collapse
[stats] personal freedoms decrease significantly, economy decreases significantly, law & order funding increases significantly, all other government funding priorities decreases, all industries decrease significantly, public apathy decreases to zero, happiness decreases significantly, intelligence decreases, tax rate increases significantly, compassion decreases significantly, devoutness decreases significantly, government size decreases significantly, corruption level increases, crime rate increases significantly

[option] “Which is more ethical? Aborting embryos and foetuses before they perceive pain or letting them grow up with parents who are unprepared and unable to cope?” says general practitioner @@RANDOMNAME@@. “Or having a fifteen-year-old girl’s future prospects ruined because of one mistake? For most people, having an abortion is a big deal, and many of them end up guilt-ridden. Women who decided to have abortions need support and understanding, not condemnation.”
[effect] an extensive support network for women undergoing abortions is being funded by the government
[stats] personal freedoms increase, education funding increases, health funding increases, welfare funding increases, public apathy decreases, happiness increases a bit, intelligence increases, tax rate increases, devoutness increases, government size increases

[option] “Abortions are a vital service of @@NAME@@,” says economic rationalist @@RANDOMNAME@@. “For example, aborting a foetus with a severe mental disorder or physical disability instead of letting her live will save the government budget hundreds of thousands if not millions of @@CURRENCY@@s over the expected lifetime of the foetus. But why restrict abortions to embryos and foetuses? We can put down incorrigible people of any age instead of wasting tens of thousands of @@CURRENCY@@s per person per year on therapy or prison. We can also put to sleep people who develop incapacitating mental disorders, terminal illnesses and dementias. Think how much money @@NAME@@ will save if we go down this path.”
[effect] anyone deemed to be a perpetual economic burden is executed
[stats] personal freedoms decrease significantly, economic freedoms increase, economy increases, law & order funding increases, health funding decreases, welfare funding decreases, all industries increase, public apathy decreases significantly, happiness decreases, tax rate decreases, compassion decreases significantly, devoutness increases significantly, government size increases, corruption level increases

Since you've been thinking about your abortion issue for weeks you probably know what you're doing. Maybe we can cooperate and make a really good abortion issue together, since they may not want two different abortion issues... Just an idea :)

I'm afraid you're 19 hours late. I've already submitted it.

...So basically, this forum inspired you to steal his issue and submit it?


If you asked whether I copied Zuchyria's issue word-for-word and passed it off as my own, then the answer is no. If you asked whether I rewrote Zuchyria's issue in my own words and passed it off as my own, then the answer is no. If you asked whether I used Zuchyra's issue as a template for my own issue, then the answer is no. If you asked whether Zuchyria's issue inspired me for the first time to write and submit an abortion issue, then the answer is no.

All I did was read the title of the post with alarm, skim read the contents and decided that it's not too late to write up and submit my own issue, with my own ideas that had been marinating for weeks.

When I get home tonight, I will post my own issue, and everyone can see how different my issue is from Zuchyria's issue.


Since you've been thinking about your abortion issue for weeks you probably know what you're doing. Maybe we can cooperate and make a really good abortion issue together, since they may not want two different abortion issues... Just an idea :)

I'm afraid you're 19 hours late. I've already submitted it.

Regardless of how long you say you've been planning to put up an abortion issue, you have absolutely no evidence of having thought of the idea before Zuchyria, and even if you did think of it first, you were lazy, and Zuchyria was not. Now that you've seen another person post an issue, your main concern isn't whether it's a qualilty issue or not, but whether your name is on it. That's why I think you're phony. Besides, Zuchyria offered to work WITH you on submitting a collective issue, rather than playing out a stupid rivalry.

First you put cry faces up on the forum because you were too lazy to submit your own issue, then you respond to Zuchyria's gracious offer with a smug "You're 19 hours too late. It's mine now."

You're lazy, you take other people's ideas, then you go acting smug about it. In other words, you'd be perfect for corporate middle management.

When I get home tonight, I will post my own issue, and everyone can see how different my issue is from Zuchyria's issue.

When you get home tonight? Meaning you surf this site during what are supposed to be your work hours? Remind me never to hire you, buddy.

When I get home tonight, I will post my own issue, and everyone can see how different my issue is from Zuchyria's issue.

When you get home tonight? Meaning you surf this site during what are supposed to be your work hours? Remind me never to hire you, buddy.

Hey this is all i do in my first period webmasters class :D

Hello. I'd like to formally submit this issue. Thank you :)

Regardless of how long you say you've been planning to put up an abortion issue, you have absolutely no evidence of having thought of the idea before Zuchyria, and even if you did think of it first, you were lazy, and Zuchyria was not.

That's right, I can offer no proof I thought up the idea before Zuchyria, unless someone hooks me up to a polygraph. The reason I delayed writing the abortion issue is because I had several other ideas I thought up earlier, and I want to turn the older ideas into issues first.

Now that you've seen another person post an issue, your main concern isn't whether it's a qualilty issue or not, but whether your name is on it.

That's correct.

That's why I think you're phony.

If I was phony, then the genesis of every issue I submitted would be the "Got Issues?" messageboard. If you're willing, you can check the entire messageboard against my submitted issues (see below) and check for any evidence of plagiarism. You can also ask any mod to supply the submission dates.

Besides, Zuchyria offered to work WITH you on submitting a collective issue, rather than playing out a stupid rivalry.

Zuchyria made that offer 19 hours after I submitted the issue.

First you put cry faces up on the forum because you were too lazy to submit your own issue, then you respond to Zuchyria's gracious offer with a smug "You're 19 hours too late. It's mine now."

I responded with regret, not smugness. However, I can't prove that unless I'm on a polygraph so you're free to think of my nature in anyway you see fit.

You're lazy, you take other people's ideas, then you go acting smug about it.

Here are the issues I submitted. And no, I'm not smug.

#1 Expanding waistline alarms medical researchers.

A scientific study detailing @@NAME@@'s high obesity rate has sparked calls for government action.

Not valid for nations with economies weaker than "strong".

[option] "This is a medical crisis," says dietitian @@RANDOMNAME@@. "I blame the junk food companies for dragging us into this mess. Their seductive ads have brainwashed us into eating their garbage instead of wholesome foods. Ban junk food ads!"
[effect] junk food advertisements have been banned
[stats] health increases, pizza delivery sector decreases, soda sales sector decreases

[option] "That's not good enough," says cynical, world-weary scientist @@RANDOMNAME@@. "People just refuse to listen to good advice. We need to ban junk food, period. And make daily exercises mandatory for all able-bodied persons. No other methods will do."
[effect] unhealthy lifestyles have been outlawed
[stats] health increases significantly, civil rights decreases significantly, pizza delivery sector decreases to zero, soda sales sector decreases to zero

[option] "Whoa, what's this about banning junk food?" says man on the street @@RANDOMNAME@@. "I ought to be able to do what I please with my body. The government has no right in controlling what goes into me. If people want to eat and sloth to death, that's their choice."
[effect] young children are frequently inflicted with diseases associated with obesity
[stats] health decreases significantly, civil rights increases, pizza delivery sector increases, soda sales sector increases




#2 Save our climate!

Environmentalists demand that the Government takes steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Valid for all nations

[option]"Global warming is the gravest environmental problem facing @@NAME@@." says environmentalist @@RANDOMNAME@@. "We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60% below 1990 levels in order to avert climatic disaster. If we don't take these drastic actions now, we'll have to take even more drastic actions in the future."
[effect]fossil fuel industries are being severely curtailed
[stats]environment increases significantly, economy decreases significantly, automobile industry decreases significantly, commerce decreases significantly, public transport increases significantly, timber industry decreases significantly, woodchip exports decreases significantly, public apathy decreases, government-owned industries increase, weather improves significantly, environment improves significantly

[option]"This is madness," says industry spokesperson @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Fossil fuels are the lifeblood of @@NAME@@. We have no viable alternatives, except nuclear power, and you know how rabid environmentalists get when that's mentioned in their presence. Our economy and lifestyle comes first, which means unrestricted fossil fuel use."
[effect]fossil fuel consumption has increased
[stats] economy improves, environment decreases, commerce increases, public transport decreases, general mining increases, public apathy increases, automobile industry increases, weather deteriorates, environment deteriorates significantly

[option]"We can choose the middle road," says sustainable development advocate @@RANDOMNAME@@. "By taxing greenhouse gas emissions, removing fossil fuel subsidies and giving incentives to research and develop green energy resources. This is a win-all for the economy, the environment and the government budget. All we need now is the political will to impose these measures despite overwhelming opposition from fossil fuel industries."
[effect]fossil fuel industries threatened to abandon @@NAME@@ if environmental measures aren't dropped
[stats]environment increases, public apathy decreases




#3 Creation v Evolution

A group of conservative parents has sent a petition to the Minister of Education, demanding that the religious accounts of Creation be taught in science classes.

Valid for nations with high levels of Devoutness and significant spending on Religion & Spirituality.

[option] "Not even a grain of evidence supports evolution," says concerned parent and webmaster of 'NationStates Action Plan', @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Yet it's being taught in schools and universities as fact. Everyone outside @@NAME@@ and like-minded nations laugh at us for believing in such tripe. This travesty must be stopped! Our plan of action is to base the teaching of science on our religious scriptures. Studies have shown that the predictions of our religious scriptures is more accurate than the General Theory of Relativity.”
[effect] specific religious doctrines are taught in science classes
[stats] civil rights decrease, religion and spirituality increases, intelligence decreases, devoutness increases

[option] "Everything in biology relates back to evolution," says university lecturer, @@RANDOMNAME@@. "It must be taught if students are to grasp the basics of life sciences. This is a booming area, and @@NAME@@ cannot afford religious fanatics to undermine it. Since Darwin, supporting evidence has amassed so much that the theory of evolution is in the same realm as the roundness of the Earth. If those fundamentalists' beliefs are more accurate than the General Theory of Relativity, then Jennifer Government is Booker Prize material. Religion has no place in science."
[effect] a rigorous syllabus of evolution is taught in science classes
[stats] civil rights decrease a bit, religion and spirituality decreases, intelligence increases, devoutness decreases

[option] “No one needs to take sides,” says school principal, @@RANDOMNAME@@. “Why don’t we teach both creation and evolution in science lessons, giving equal time to both disciplines. That way, students can decide which theory is more viable. I’m sure that fewer people would complain about bias.”
[effect] the theory of evolution and creationist doctrines of every known religion and sect are taught in science classes
[stats] civil rights increase, religion and spirituality increases a bit, intelligence decreases, devoutness increases a bit

[option] “I agree that the theory of evolution is absurd, but the religious alternative is just as illogical,” says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a biochemist and author of ‘Irreducible Complexity- what evolution cannot explain’. “Until a viable scientific theory is developed, no reference should be made to prehistoric times and origins of life or any taxonomic rank.”
[effect] all references to prehistory and origins have been purged from science syllabuses
[stats] civil rights decrease, religion and spirituality decreases, intelligence decreases, devoutness decreases




#4 Birds, bees and breeding teens

A study has shown that an increasing proportion of teenagers in @@NAME@@ are falling pregnant.

Valid for all nations

[option] "We need comprehensive sex education in all schools," says PE/Health teacher @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Not the guilt-ridden dog's breakfast that’s being taught as I speak. The plain fact is that teenagers will experiment with sexual intercourse. We need to teach that sexual intercourse is a wonderful experience but so many things can go wrong. Our duty is to teach how to minimise those risks."
[effect] a comprehensive sex education programme is taught in all schools
[stats] economy increases a bit, education funding increases, public apathy decreases, intelligence increases, happiness increases, compassion increases.

[option] "So many things do go wrong; that's why abstinence is the best contraceptive." says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a conservative parent and Webmaster of 'NationStates Action Plan'. "You can't get pregnant if you don't mate. Sexual intercourse is a wonderful gift bestowed by our Creator, but no one has the right to abuse it. We need to convince everyone from the head of state down that any conscious sexual activity outside a monogamous, heterosexual marriage is immoral and therefore must be outlawed."
[effect] 90% of all people at and above the minimum age of criminal responsibility has been convicted of sexual offences
[stats] civil rights decrease significantly, economy decreases, law & order funding increases significantly, public apathy decreases significantly, intelligence decreases, happiness decreases significantly, tax rate increases, compassion decreases, devoutness increases significantly, government size increases significantly

[option] "Why all this fuss about teenagers mating and falling pregnant?" says person on the street @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Sexual intercourse and reproduction is an integral part of humanity. Can't those politicians in their golden towers see that attempting to control sexual behaviour is unnatural? No other animal does such a thing. This society needs to remove all sexual taboos. I ought to be able to mate with whom I please, without fear of persecution."
[effect] children as young as three are often engaged in sexual activities
[stats] civil rights increase significantly, law and order funding decreases, religion & spirituality funding decreases, public apathy increases significantly, intelligence decreases, happiness decreases significantly, compassion decreases, devoutness decreases, nudity increases, government size decreases

[option] "Hey, why don't parents have a say in this?" says P&C President @@RANDOMNAME@@. "After all, it's their children that's on the line. Parents should to be able to vote what type of sex education, if any, is to be taught to their children."
[effect] parents vote on the content of curricula in schools
[stats] political freedoms increase, education funding increases, public apathy decreases significantly, happiness increases, intelligence increases, tax rate increases, compassion increases, devoutness increases, government size increases

[option] "Why doesn't the government ban the teaching of sex education in schools and let parents teach their children what they think is appropriate?" says concerned parent @@RANDOMNAME@@. "I want my daughter to be armoured with my values, not taught how to put a condom on a cucumber."
[effect] the teaching of sex education is banned in schools
[stats] educations funding decreases a bit, health funding decreases, public apathy increases, happiness decreases a bit, tax rate decreases a bit, compassion decreases a bit, government size decreases a bit

[option] “Or better still, why don’t we purge all sexual references from @@NAME@@, no matter how vague or trivial?” says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a member of ‘Info Control Freaks’. “Forbidding certain behaviours is useless if people know how to commit them. What I propose is limiting what minors should know. For instance, teenagers can never get pregnant if they know nothing about sexual intercourse.”
[effect] people are arrested if their communications to minors contain the slightest hint of sexual references
[stats] civil rights decreases, education funding decreases, public apathy decreases, intelligence decreases, compassion decreases, government size increases




#5 Restore urban rivers, demands environmental group

A vocal environmental group, Friends of Riparian Habitats, demands that urban rivers be restored to a more natural state.

Valid for all nations with urban areas

"Urban rivers have either been reduced to underground pipes, open concrete channels or had their banks straightened and walled." @@RANDOMNAME@@, an environmentalist says. "Whole ecosystems have vanished in the name of progress. We must restore urban rivers into a more natural state. Converting riverside parks into wetland and floodplain habitats is the easiest option. Sure, many children won't have anywhere to play, but ecosystems are more important than a bunch of spoilt brats."
[effect] parks throughout @@NAME@@ have been restored to their original habitats
[stats] civil rights decrease a little, environment funding increases, public apathy decreases, happiness decreases, environment increases, government size increases

"Why restrict restorations to parks? Rivers will never be healthy until entire catchments are restored." says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a militant environmentalist. "Urban areas are a cancer of the biosphere; they must all be dismantled.”
[effect] everyone living in urban areas had been herded out and forced to live and work on farms
[stats] civil rights decrease significantly, political freedoms decrease, economy decreases significantly, commerce funding decreases, law & order funding increases significantly, social equality funding increases significantly, environment funding increases significantly, arms manufacturing decreases significantly, book publishing decreases significantly, automobile manufacturing decreases significantly, information technology decreases significantly, cheese exports increases significantly, retail sector decreases significantly, beef-based agriculture increases significantly, trout farming increases significantly, basket weaving increases significantly, public apathy decreases significantly, weather improves significantly, happiness decreases significantly, intelligence decreases, environment improves significantly, compassion decreases significantly, government size increases significantly

“This is madness,” says concerned parent @@RANDOMNAME@@. “Who in their sane mind wants to replace parks with stinky wetlands and dark forests? If I want to see the wilderness, I’ll go to a national park. I don’t want it next to my backyard where any psycho can dump their victims.”
[effect] all traces of wilderness in urban areas are being destroyed
[stats] economy increases a bit, environment funding decreases, timber industry increases a bit, woodchip exports increase a bit, public apathy increases, weather deteriorates, happiness decreases, environment decreases, compassion decreases

“Why don’t we ask the people what they want?” says @@RANDOMNAME@@, spokesperson for Government Accountability @@NAME@@. “After all, they’re the ones who’ll be living with the consequences. Let people submit their wishes, let them monitor all relevant government procedures and let them vote on their preferences during council elections. I’m sure that people tend to be pro-environment.”
[effect] people vote to either allow or disallow government decisions
[stats] political freedoms increase, social equality increases, public apathy decreases, happiness increases, intelligence increases, compassion increases, devoutness increases

#6 What’s happening to @@NAME@@’s youth?

A detailed scientific study has revealed that crime, depression, drug abuse, unprotected sexual intercourse, self-harm and suicide have increased to alarming levels among @@NAME@@’s youth. All over the nation, people are asking: what’s happening to our youth?

Valid for nations with low levels of happiness and/or low levels of devoutness.

[option] “The decline of religious observances, the breaking up of families, the decay of respect for fair authority and the withering of community connections and institutions are responsible for this plague,” says psychologist @@RANDONNAME@@. “Our youth have no purpose and expectation in life, no place in the cosmic order and no reason to live. We must encourage our youth to practice a religion. We must promote and maintain family and social connections. And we must establish firm boundaries of acceptable behaviour. My study has shown that religious youths in stable, loving and authoritarian families with extensive community participation are less prone to commit crimes, become depressed, abuse drugs, have sexual intercourse and try to harm or kill themselves.”
[effect] an extensive restructuring of society is underway
[stats] education funding increases, law & order funding increases, health funding increases, social equality funding increases, religion & spirituality funding increases, welfare funding increases, public apathy decreases significantly, happiness increases significantly, intelligence increases, tax rate increases significantly, compassion increases, devoutness increases significantly, government size increases, corruption level decreases

[option] “The study has ignored an important factor: the filth that infests entertainment in media,” says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a concerned parent and Webmaster of ‘NationStates Action Plan’. “I agree very much with the recommendations of the study; more power to the authors. But all of this may go to waste every time youths switch on the telly, go to the cinema and read fiction. The messages that entertainment in media broadcast are that violence, profanity, sexual immorality, drug abuse and disrespect of fair authority and religion are cool. We must cleanse medium entertainment of all corruptive influences if the study’s recommendations are to succeed.”
[effect] entertainment media has been strictly censored while an extensive restructuring of society is underway
[stats] as for [option] #1 AND civil rights decrease, economy decreases, book publishing decreases, information technology decreases

[option] “Our youth is being flushed down the toilet because they have become soft,” says person on the street, @@RANDOMNAME@@. “This malaise isn’t restricted to youths; adults are also affected. The world is a brutal place, and people need to be tough if @@NAME@@ is to survive. Cowards who can’t or won’t control their behaviour need to be jailed and not released until they learnt their lesson.”
[effect] troubled people are sentenced to long prison terms
[stats] civil rights decrease, law and order funding increases, social equality funding decreases, welfare funding decreases, public apathy decreases, happiness decreases significantly, intelligence decreases, tax rate decreases, compassion decreases significantly, devoutness increases, government size increases, corruption level increases

[option] “Youths are in trouble because of excessive parental control,” says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a runaway teen. “For instance, my mother and older brother told me not to pull out my hair so I did to spite them. They told me not to take drugs so I did to spite them. They told me not to have sex so I did to spite them. They are such control freaks that I escaped to salvage my sanity. I need my own personal space, not familial tyrants breathing down my neck every second. If I want help, I will ask for it. If youths don’t learn from their mistakes, they’ll end up as emotionally stunted adults. Yes, some of them will die making mistakes but that’s life; stuff happens.”
[effect] youths are given free reign over their lives
[stats] civil rights increase, law & order funding decreases, pizza delivery increases, retail sector increases, soda sales increases, public apathy increases, happiness decreases, intelligence decreases, tax rate decreases, compassion decreases, government size decreases

[option] “My 17 year old daughter threatens to kill herself every week,” says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a frazzled parent. “She lurches from crisis to crisis so often that I’ve gone beyond caring about her. Why do I have to put up with this emotional blackmail? Why can’t I let my incorrigible daughter kill herself and give the rest of the family some needed peace and sleep? You have to realise that some people are beyond help and so it’s best to let go.”
[effect] families often abandon troubled youths
[stats] civil rights increase, law & order funding decreases, welfare funding decreases significantly, public apathy increases significantly, happiness decreases, intelligence decreases, tax rate decreases, compassion decreases significantly, devoutness decreases significantly, government size decreases, corruption level increases




#7 Boy demands growth hormones

Titch Shrimpton is 15 years and 8 months old. He is 137 centimetres tall and weighs 29.7 kilograms. His puberty remains elusive and his impatience has reached flash point.

Valid for all nations

[option] Titch storms into a GP’s office, his slight feet stamping the carpet and his shrill screams bursting the eardrums of bystanders. “I can’t stand it anymore. My 14-year-old brother is taller and more developed than me. All my clothes have been stretched because bigger students keep picking me up. Younger students are losing patience because I’m still the star soprano. Strangers think that I’m 10 years old. I’m sick of being the smallest kid in my grade. I need growth hormones so I can grow faster, before it’s too late. Give them to me now!”
[effect] growth hormones are given on demand
[stats] civil rights increase, economy increases a bit, health funding increases, social equality funding increases, public apathy increases, happiness increases a bit, tax rate increases a bit, government size increases a bit

[option] Vocal stickybeak @@RANDOMNAME@@ leapt into the barney. “See what happens when you’re not part of the majority? Children are brutal monsters, intolerable of the slightest difference. What we need is compulsory genetic engineering of all human embryos to eliminate differences in height, growth patterns, body type, beauty, intelligence, and athletic ability. That way, children won’t have a reason to tease or hate their genomes.”
[effect] designer babies are compulsory
[stats] civil rights decrease, economy increases, health funding increases, social equality funding increases significantly, public apathy decreases significantly, happiness decreases, compassion decreases, tax rate increases significantly, devoutness increases, government size increases significantly, corruption level increases

[option] “Now hang on,” says General Practitioner Lang Bigatton, who is 192 centimetres tall, “I’ve told Titch many times that his growth pattern isn’t pathological. He has constitutional short stature-that is, delayed growth and puberty. His bone age is 12 years and 8 months and hence his puberty will be delayed by three years. He also has familial short stature-that is, he’s short because his parents are. His final height is predicted to be 160 centimetres. I refuse to give growth hormones for non-medical reasons. Children like Titch need more reassurance that they aren’t abnormal. Titch isn’t predicted to reach puberty for another ten months so he should just sit back and-“ Titch then explodes.
[effect] growth hormones aren’t given except for medical reasons
[stats] civil rights decrease a bit, welfare funding increases, happiness increases a bit, compassion increases, intelligence increases, tax rate increases a bit

[option] “What’s all this talk about growth hormones?” says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a militant dwarf who is 1 metre tall. “Why should anyone receive growth hormones, even for medical reasons? So what if some those people never go through puberty and end up barren? I have nothing fair to say about Titch if he can’t accept and celebrate his traits. For example, how many 15-year-old boys can sing Gollum’s Song at his pitch? Let @@NAME@@ celebrate diversity. Let short people stay short-” Titch then explodes.
[effect] a black market of growth hormones has sprung up in response to a total ban
[stats] civil rights decrease, economy decreases a bit, health funding decreases, social equality funding decreases, law & order funding increases, public apathy increases, happiness decreases, intelligence decreases, compassion decreases, tax rate decreases




#8 Where are the new issues?

Citizens of @@NAME@@ have requested reasons for the slow flow of new issues.

Valid for all nations

[option] "Well, that's because they're all twaddle,” says [violet]. "I'm so sick of reading garbage that I've decided to scrap the player-submitted system. But don't tell anyone that-the electronic bile will overwhelm the server."
[effect] riots are erupting throughout @@NAME@@
[stats] law & order funding increases significantly, public apathy decreases significantly, happiness decreases, tax rate increases significantly, crime increases significantly

[option] "The aim of this site is to promote my novel, not the writing talents of literary wannabes," says Max Barry. "I've ordered the mods to approve mediocre issues to ensure that no one finds out that there are better writers out there than me."
[effect] boredom has become a major health issue
[stats] economy decreases, book publishing industry decreases, public apathy increases significantly, happiness decreases, intelligence decreases, devoutness decreases

[option] "I've been scouring the list to find issues that are superior to other issues with similar themes," says Reploid Productions. "I'm confronted with thousands upon thousands of issues. That's why it takes so long. For pity's sake, stop breathing down my neck."
[effect] bureaucrats are accompanied by armed guards whenever in public
[stats] law & order funding increases, public apathy increases, tax rate increases, compassion decreases, devoutness decreases, government size increases

[option] "Slow flow? What slow flow?" says SalusaSecondus. "Oh, sorry. I've been busy working on my special issues. I promise you'll receive them soon, er, as soon as I'm ready. By the way, I love Easter eggs. Don't you?"
[effect] @@NAME@@’s bureaucracy is considered the least efficient in @@REGION@@
[stats] economy decreases, public apathy increases, happiness decreases, intelligence decreases, devoutness decreases, government size increases, corruption level increases

[option] "Get a blooming life," says Ballotonia. "Mods are not hermits who spend every waking second encoding issues. The mods have social lives, unlike you. You must understand that studying for exams, watching the extended edition of 'The Two Towers' and downloading the private life of Paris Hilton is more interesting than encoding issues."
[effect] citizens of @@NAME@@ are encouraged to enhance their social lives
[stats] civil rights increase a bit, economy increases, pizza delivery sector increases, gambling sector increases, retail sector increases, soda sales increases, public apathy decreases, happiness increases, intelligence increases

[option] "You will receive the new issues when you receive the new issues," says Neutered Sputniks. "Your questioning is undermining the authority of the mods. I've deleted enough nations to know flaming when I read it. You have been warned."
[effect] questioning figures of authority have been outlawed
[stats] civil rights decrease, economy decreases, political rights decrease to zero, law & order funding increases significantly, information technology sector decreases, public apathy increases significantly, happiness decreases significantly, intelligence decreases significantly, tax rate increases, compassion decreases significantly, devoutness increases, government size increases, corruption level increases significantly

[option] "You know why the flow is so slow," says Christmas. "The mods want to drip-feed us, giving just enough to avert terminal boredom yet too little to quench the lust of new issues. They want us to become addicted to this game, oh yes, this precious game."
[effect] many people have become addicted to an online game
[stats] economy decreases, all industries except information technology decrease, information technology sector increases, public apathy increases, happiness decreases, intelligence decreases, devoutness increases




#9 Traffic jams ensnare @@NAME@@

@@NAME@@’s love affair with the car has led to widespread traffic jams and angry motorists in major cities.

Valid for nations with cars and large urban areas

[option] “This is a national disgrace,” says motorist @@RANDOMNAME@@. “On a good day, it takes me two hours to travel twenty kilometres. If an accident occurs anywhere in front of me, the travel time is doubled. Every minute spent in this car park is a minute away from my family, my bed and my work. Why doesn’t the government take money from the public transport sector and use it to build more freeways? After all, public transport is often late, unreliable, stinky and crime-ridden.”
[effect] an extensive network of freeways are being constructed in major cities
[stats] economy increases, public transport funding decreases, automobile manufacturing increases, general mining increases, public apathy decreases, weather deteriorates, happiness increases a bit, environment deteriorates, tax rate increases

[option] “More roads mean more room for more cars,” says public transport advocate @@RANDOMNAME@@. “Sure, the new roads will cut travel time for a while. Then in five years time, the traffic density will be back to current levels. A complete overhaul in transportation is needed. What @@NAME@@ needs is extensive and reliable public transport. Bicycles, buses, ferries, trams, trains and the infrastructure for them need to be constructed. Taxes will need to be increased and money taken from the automobile manufacturing sector for this vision to be achieved. Public transport must be more convenient than private-owned cars if @@NAME@@ is to wean itself from car dependency.”
[effect] a extensive network of public transport links are being constructed
[stats] economy increases, public transport funding increases significantly, automobile manufacturing decreases, general mining increases, public apathy decreases, weather improves, happiness increases, environment improves, tax rate increases, government size increases

[option] “The internal combustion engine is the plague of the atmosphere,” says neo-Luddite @@RANDOMNAME@@. “All vehicles with such engines need to be outlawed and dismantled. Think of the environment!”
[effect] horse carriages are universal sights on @@NAME@@’s streets
[stats] personal freedoms decrease, economic freedoms decrease significantly, civil rights decrease, economy decreases significantly, law & order funding increases, public transport funding increases, automobile manufacturing decreases to zero, general mining decreases, public apathy decreases significantly, weather improves significantly, happiness decreases, environment improves significantly, government size increases, corruption level increases

[option] “Hey, doesn’t the common citizen have any say in this?” says protestor @@RANDOMNAME@@. “I’ve just learnt that the government plans to construct a major transport link behind my backyard. I’m not going to let the government destroy my peace without a fight. If the government refuses to listen to the concerns of mainstream @@NAME@@, then we’ll make them listen.”
[effect] protests have slowed construction work to a standstill
[stats] economy decreases, political freedoms increase, public apathy decreases, compassion increases




#10 Unsustainable agriculture is killing @@NAME@@'s rivers, warns environmental scientists

Decades of unsustainable agriculture use have pushed the ecosystems of @@NAME@@'s rivers to the brink of collapse.

Valid for nations with poor environment that have the following sectors: large cheese export sector AND/OR large timber industry sector AND/OR large beef-based agriculture sector AND/OR large trout farming sector AND/OR large woodchip exports sector

[option] "This is a disaster on the verge of happening," says environmental scientist @@RANDOMNAME@@. "@@NAME@@ needs a paradigm shift in agricultural practices right now. We must enforce drip-feed irrigation that is transported in pipes. We need an independent, vigorous audit of water use among all agricultural, industrial and residential properties. Sufficient volumes of water must be allowed to flow in rivers to keep ecosystems healthy. Wholesale land clearing must be halted at once. Deforested areas causing the most problems must be replanted with appropriate native species. Logging must be conducted with environmentally sound methods. All crops growing in inappropriate climates need to be removed by the end of the next harvest. Which fool allowed rice to be grown in semi-arid areas? We need habitat corridors to link fragmented ecosystems. We need to fence off livestock from critical and endangered habitats. We must dismantle non-essential dams and weirs. We need to promote the farming of native species. All of this will cost billions of @@CURRENCY@@s over many years, but if we do nothing, the environmental, economic and social costs will be much greater."
[effect] a paradigm shift of agricultural practices towards pro-environment goals are underway
[stats] economic freedoms decrease, environment funding increases significantly, woodchip exports decreases significantly, public apathy decreases significantly, weather improves, environment improves, tax rate increases, compassion increases, devoutness increases significantly, government size increases, corruption level decreases

[option] “We must go all the way,” says extreme environmentalist @@RANDOMNAME@@. “Agriculture is the bane of the biosphere, causing habitat loss and failing health in humans. Remove it, and we can hunt and gather food the same way our Palaeolithic ancestors did.”
[effect] mass starvation is gripping @@NAME@@ as the populace is forced into a stone age lifestyle.
[stats] personal freedoms decrease significantly, economic freedoms decrease significantly, civil rights decrease significantly, economy decreases to ‘Imploded’, law & order funding increases significantly, social equality funding increases significantly, environment funding increases significantly, basket weaving sector increases, all other sectors decrease significantly, public apathy decreases significantly, weather improves, happiness decreases significantly, nudity increases, intelligence decreases significantly, environment deteriorates significantly, tax rate increases, compassion decreases significantly, devoutness decreases significantly, government size increases significantly, corruption level increases significantly, crime level increases to ‘Crippling’

[option] “Why are those environmental Stalinists holding our economic progress hostage to emotive slogans?” says economist @@RANDOMNAME@@. “@@NAME@@ didn’t become the economic powerhouse it is now is by weeping over degraded ecosystems. I say we remove all environmental barriers to economic progress. Wrecking the environment didn’t cause any economic disasters to date, so why should we presume the future will be any different?”
[effect] large tracts of prime arable land have degraded into wasteland
[stats] economic freedoms increase, economy decreases, environment funding decreases to zero, cheese exports sector decreases, timber industry sector decreases, beef-based agriculture sector decreases, trout farming sector decreases, woodchip exports sector decreases, public apathy increases, weather deteriorates, happiness decreases, environment deteriorates, tax rate increases, compassion decreases, devoutness decreases, government size decreases, corruption level increases




#11 Stop the genocide!

Pro-life activists have picketed abortion clinics, demanding that they be shut down.

Valid for all nations

[option] “Unborn children are the forgotten victims of feminism,” says pro-life activist @@RANDOMNAME@@. “Every year, hundreds of millions of children are murdered in @@REGION@@ because they are too bothersome for selfish women. Abortion must be outlawed except for extreme cases, such as fatal ectopic pregnancies, or pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.”
[effect] abortions are not permitted except in extreme cases
[stats] personal freedoms decrease, law & order funding increases, public apathy decreases, happiness decreases a bit, compassion increases a bit, devoutness increases a bit, government size increases

[option] “Abortion must be forbidden, no matter what,” says extreme pro-life activist @@RANDOMNAME@@. “If a mother is going to bleed to death because of an ectopic pregnancy, then so be it. Murdering unborn children to save their mothers is unethical. Every woman who chose to have abortions and every family member or partner who either agreed or did nothing to stop it must be arrested and charged with murder. Every doctor who committed these atrocities and every government official who didn’t do their best to outlaw it must be arrested and charged with genocide.”
[effect] massive anti-abortion purges have weakened @@NAME@@ to the brink of collapse
[stats] personal freedoms decrease significantly, economy decreases significantly, law & order funding increases significantly, all other government funding priorities decreases, all industries decrease significantly, public apathy decreases to zero, happiness decreases significantly, intelligence decreases, tax rate increases significantly, compassion decreases significantly, devoutness decreases significantly, government size decreases significantly, corruption level increases, crime rate increases significantly

[option] “Which is more ethical? Aborting embryos and foetuses before they perceive pain or letting them grow up with parents who are unprepared and unable to cope?” says general practitioner @@RANDOMNAME@@. “Or having a fifteen-year-old girl’s future prospects ruined because of one mistake? For most people, having an abortion is a big deal, and many of them end up guilt-ridden. Women who decided to have abortions need support and understanding, not condemnation.”
[effect] an extensive support network for women undergoing abortions is being funded by the government
[stats] personal freedoms increase, education funding increases, health funding increases, welfare funding increases, public apathy decreases, happiness increases a bit, intelligence increases, tax rate increases, devoutness increases, government size increases

[option] “Abortions are a vital service of @@NAME@@,” says economic rationalist @@RANDOMNAME@@. “For example, aborting a foetus with a severe mental disorder or physical disability instead of letting her live will save the government budget hundreds of thousands if not millions of @@CURRENCY@@s over the expected lifetime of the foetus. But why restrict abortions to embryos and foetuses? We can put down incorrigible people of any age instead of wasting tens of thousands of @@CURRENCY@@s per person per year on therapy or prison. We can also put to sleep people who develop incapacitating mental disorders, terminal illnesses and dementias. Think how much money @@NAME@@ will save if we go down this path.”
[effect] anyone deemed to be a perpetual economic burden is executed
[stats] personal freedoms decrease significantly, economic freedoms increase, economy increases, law & order funding increases, health funding decreases, welfare funding decreases, all industries increase, public apathy decreases significantly, happiness decreases, tax rate decreases, compassion decreases significantly, devoutness increases significantly, government size increases, corruption level increases




#12 @@NAME@@ crowded with cemeteries

The Minister of Death has warned that the huge number and size of cemeteries are strangling economic progress by sprawling over too much government land.

Valid for nations with populations at 1 billion and over.

[option] “The expansion of cemeteries must end if the remaining government land is to benefit the economy,” says the Minister of Death @@RANDOMNAME@@. “What I propose is to declare vacant all graves older than 100 years; even the ones belonging to famous people. That way, there won’t be any cries of favouritism. The vacant plots shall be filled with fresh corpses for 100 years before being exhumed to make way for another fresh batch. If the number of people dying isn’t greater than the number of graves exhumed, then new cemeteries won’t need to be built.”
[effect] all graves older than 100 years have been declared vacant for new corpses
[stats] personal freedoms decrease, civil rights decrease, social equality funding increases, public apathy decreases, happiness decreases, compassion decreases, devoutness decreases, government size increases

[option] “What the Minister of Death proposed will just delay the problem,” says crematorium worker @@RANDOMNAME@@. “For a permanent solution, outlaw the building of any new cemeteries and make cremation compulsory. People will get to keep the ashes of their loved ones in their homes, and I get to retire rich.”
[effect] cremation is compulsory
[stats] personal freedoms decrease a bit, civil rights decrease a bit, social equality funding increases, public apathy decreases a bit, environment deteriorates, compassion decreases a bit, government size increases

[option] “We can solve this problem without outlawing anything,” says mortician @@RANDOMNAME@@. “The government can legislate to make cremations cheaper than burials and encourage families to bury their loved ones in the same burial plot. People can be nudged in any direction you wish with plenty of carrots.”
[effect] incentives are being used in an effort to reduce the expanding sprawl of cemeteries
[stats] pubic apathy decreases, tax rate increases, devoutness increases, government size increases a bit

[option] “Do you know how much funerals cost?” says person at a family barbecue @@RANDOMNAME@@. “Can’t we bury our loved ones in our backyards or at sea, or have a backyard bonfire, or even dump unwanted relatives in wheelie bins? A lot of money and time will be saved if the government backs off and let us do what we please with dead family members.”
[effect] suburban streets are often littered with unwanted corpses
[stats] civil rights increase, law & order funding decreases, health funding decreases, social equality funding decreases, public apathy increases, happiness decreases, environment deteriorates, tax rate decreases, compassion decreases, government size decreases, corruption level increases, crime rate increases

[option] “People! Don’t you realise that we’re wasting a massive, untapped resource?” says economic rationalist @@RANDOMNAME@@. “Instead of burying and cremating human and other animal corpses, why don’t we make them useful to our economy? Animal feed, creams, fertilisers, metals, organ donation, scientific research, soaps and more. We should also exhume all graves and remove all urns so the remains can be processed. Can you imagine how much calcium phosphate is waiting to be extracted? Think how much profit our economy will make! People will be beaming with delight that they’ll be contributing to @@NAME@@’s welfare even in death. Of course, giving animal feed made of mammalian brains and spinal cords to livestock is an excellent way in transmitting prion diseases; but with plenty of R&D funding, I’m sure that scientists will find ways to get rid of those rogue proteins.”
[effect] all corpses are transported to factories and laboratories for research and processing, despite massive protests
[stats] personal freedoms decrease, economic freedoms increase, economy increases, commerce funding increases, law & order funding increases, health funding increases, cheese export sector increases, retail sector increases a bit, beef-based agriculture sector increases, trout farming sector increases, general mining sector increases, basket weaving sector increases, public apathy decreases significantly, happiness decreases, intelligence increases, tax rate increases, compassion decreases significantly, devoutness increases, government size increases significantly, corruption level increases, crime level increases




#13 Shrinking waistline and stunted growth alarms medical researchers

A medical study has revealed that a significant proportion of @@NAME@@’s children are either stunted, wasted or both stunted and wasted.

For nations with poor health plus any of the following: economy at ‘Fragile’ or below AND/OR low social equality funding

[option] “Children like me are in desperate need of food,” says twelve-year-old starveling @@RANDOMNAME@@, who is 126 centimetres tall and weighs 20 kilograms. “Every minute, hunger stabs my stomach. My limbs have withered and my mind has atrophied. Yet I see big, fat Western tourists with their spoilt, asthmatic children. How dare they live in mansions, guzzling massive amounts of resources and buying material possessions at such a rate that their will to reproduce is dying. I’m sick of living on the wrong side of global capitalism. The government must do all it can to give us enough food to restore and maintain health.”
[effect] the government has begun a massive feeding program for impoverished people
[stats] civil rights increase, education funding increases, health funding increases, social equality funding increases, welfare funding increases, book publishing sector increases, information technology sector increases, public apathy decreases, happiness increases, intelligence increases, tax rate increases significantly, compassion increases, devoutness increases, government size increases, corruption level decreases

[option] “If we do this by ourselves, then there’ll be a huge tax rise, which will benefit nobody.” Treasurer @@RANDOMNAME@@ says. “What I propose is a Free Trade agreement with the Democratic Superpower of NationStates. We can give the DSN complete access all our natural and mineral resources in return for a reliable supply of food aid. Poverty will end, and our economy will go through the roof. What sane government wouldn’t make a dash for this goldmine?”
[effect] @@NAME@@ has been colonised by the Democratic Superpower of NationStates
[stats] civil rights go to ‘good’, political freedoms go to ‘rare’, economy increases, defense funding increases, commerce funding increases, law & order funding increases, health funding increases, environment funding decreases, all industries increase, public apathy decreases a bit, happiness increases a bit, intelligence increases, environment deteriorates, tax rate goes to 30%, compassion decreases, devoutness increases, government size increases, corruption level increases

[option] “The reason that many families live in poverty is because they have too many children,” says angry taxpayer @@RANDOMNAME@@. “What’s the point of giving them food if they continue to breed? I say that we convince mainstream @@NAME@@ that giving out any social, welfare and food aid benefits is a total waste of money. Then maybe poor people will learn not to have so many children.”
[effect] a man-made famine is sweeping throughout @@NAME@@
[stats] civil rights decrease significantly, political rights decrease, law & order funding increases, health funding decreases, social equality funding decreases to zero, welfare funding decreases to zero, public apathy decreases, happiness decreases significantly, intelligence decreases significantly, environment deteriorates, tax rate decreases, compassion decreases significantly, devoutness decreases, government size increases, corruption level increases significantly, crime level increases significantly


In other words, you'd be perfect for corporate middle management.

I suppose you work in an office.

When you get home tonight? Meaning you surf this site during what are supposed to be your work hours? Remind me never to hire you, buddy.

I was at a university during a break.

to anyone who uses the bible jesus stole from the jews as a reason against this option, please:

"...However, it would be a vast oversimplification to suggest that Mithraism was the single forerunner of early Christianity. Aside from Christ and Mithras, there were plenty of other deities (such as Osiris, Tammuz, Adonis, Balder, Attis, and Dionysus) said to have died and resurrected. Many classical heroic figures, such as Hercules, Perseus, and Theseus, were said to have been born through the union of a virgin mother and divine father. Virtually every pagan religious practice and festivity that couldn't be suppressed or driven underground was eventually incorporated into the rites of Christianity as it spread across Europe and throughout the world. ..."

just shove it. i've had it with you dopey christians.

------

Now then, the real question is, how many people are we to allow to populate the earth

to anyone who uses the bible jesus stole from the jews as a reason against this option, please:

"...However, it would be a vast oversimplification to suggest that Mithraism was the single forerunner of early Christianity. Aside from Christ and Mithras, there were plenty of other deities (such as Osiris, Tammuz, Adonis, Balder, Attis, and Dionysus) said to have died and resurrected. Many classical heroic figures, such as Hercules, Perseus, and Theseus, were said to have been born through the union of a virgin mother and divine father. Virtually every pagan religious practice and festivity that couldn't be suppressed or driven underground was eventually incorporated into the rites of Christianity as it spread across Europe and throughout the world. ..."

just shove it. i've had it with you dopey christians.

------

Now then, the real question is, how many people are we to allow to populate the earth

You're forgetting something very important here. Out of all those examples of religious icons that have supposedly died and ressurected, Jesus, regardless of what you think of his religious importance (or lack thereof, depending on your beliefs), was a real living breathing historical figure. Old recovered Roman documents prove that a man by the name of Jesus did in fact live 2000 years ago. That is the difference between Jesus and all those other icons. Jesus is the only one who has been proven to exist. What you claim is like saying Muhammed is a load of BS. They WERE real people, but their influence in the supernatural is up to you.

As for Christians "stealing" the Bible from the jews, perhaps you failed to notice that the purpose of the entire New Testament, which you won't find in any Jewish documents, was to correct the corruption that had been the result of bad interpretation of God's word by the Hebrews. Ironic, considering Christianity became heavily corrupted in the Medieval era that followed, but my point remains that Christianity wasn't supposed to be in opposition of Judaism in the first place. Jesus was a Jew himself, except that he claimed to be the messiah.

You're annoyed by dopey Christians? I've known some dumb Christians in my life, but people who open their mouths about other people's religions without knowing anything about them annoy me a great deal more. At least the Christians are knowledgeable about the religion they're yapping about. You're just bitching about things that you don't know the half of.

Eta Carinae, buddy, you're really wasting everyone's time putting up those issues. If we were really THAT interested, we'd look for your other posts in this forum.

Seriously...that stuff is taking up a LOT of space...that's enough already.

well, if abortion is murder, because it is killing a human life. why not charge every man that has wasted a sperm, because potentially it will become a human under the right conditions. why are we going after women? women wouldn't have to abort if men didn't get them pregnat first... just a thought..

well, if abortion is murder, because it is killing a human life. why not charge every man that has wasted a sperm, because potentially it will become a human under the right conditions. why are we going after women? women wouldn't have to abort if men didn't get them pregnat first... just a thought..

Since you never paid any attention in biology class, I'll clear it up for you. Sperm is not an individual living organism. Sperm cells are specifically engineered cells built for the creation of a new person. They are not their own, individual living beings. To accuse someone of murder for wasting sperm is like accusing someone of murder for getting a cut and bleeding, because they wasted red blood cells, which were living cells.

Besides, if you made decisions based on what was only a potential human, but not yet an actual organism, that would be making the situation much more hard on women, not the other way around. Every time a woman goes through a period, she flushes eggs out of her ovaries, which were potential humans. This is not murder, because they are still cells of the body, designed to have specific functions.

As soon as a sperm cell comes into contact with an egg cell, the product is instantly its own individual organism, because it is composed of cells that organize and serve the functions of the new organism they belong to, rather than the organism that conceives the organism itself. That is why a fetus is different from a sperm or egg cell. The organism and all of its cells collaborate and work for itself, its own body. The reproductive cells do not.

Not that I expect you to learn anything from what I just spent a good 5 minutes writing, as you should have learned it way back in your freshman year in high school, you twit.

Children, children. Cool it.
This is supposed to be *fun*, you know.
Not "let's see how nasty we can get to people we disagree with".