Tailed Wind Demons
17-07-2006, 19:18
Wicked Weapon Woes
The Issue
An unlikely coalition of tie-dye clad tipi-dwellers, hostile governments, and small children missing legs has recently demanded that @@NAME@@ outlaw the production and use of certain "brutal" weapons, among them landmines, napalm, poison gas, depleted uranium rounds, canine-delivered anti-tank explosives, and barbed pitchforks.
The Debate
1. “The use of these cruel weapons of war is an affront to the standing of @@NAME@@ as a civilized nation!” chants protestor @@RANDOMNAME@@, holding a baby @@ANIMAL@@ wearing a “@@ANIMAL@@s for Peace!” T-shirt. “Our nation should not employ such horrid devices, nor peddle them to other countries!”
Statement: the army is gradually exchanging its rifles for squirt-guns.
Effect: Military Budget down, Taxes down, Compassion of Citizens up, Arms Manufacturing Way Down, economic freedom slightly down. economy slightly down.
2. “That’s not going far enough.” quietly explains @@RANDOMNAME@@, a pacifist monk, calmly sipping tea. “All weapons by design take life, and to steal life from another is an evil thing. By example, our @@Type@@ must lead the way to a more peaceful world. We should eliminate our military and outlaw the production of weaponry.”
Statement: the government is sworn to pacifism
Effect: Military Budget down to zero, taxes down, compassion of citizens up, arms manufacturing massively down, economic freedom down, economy slightly down
3. “I agree in principle, but unfortunately both of these suggestions are impractical.” warns historian and compulsive compromiser @@RANDOMNAME@@. “The reality is that armed conflict will remain a part of this world for the foreseeable future, and we cannot afford to handicap our military by outlawing some of the most efficient weapons available. However, we cannot ensure that those we export arms to shall be as responsible as we are in their use, and so, we should ban the export of weaponry at once.”
Statement: the courts are debating whether exporting fireworks is legal
Effect: Arms Manufacturing down, compassion of citizens slightly up, economic freedom slightly down, economy slightly down
4. "This is absurd!" screams armchair general and video gamer @@RANDOMNAME@@, while pointing a miniature flame-thrower at a nearby anthill. "Accepting the demands of these water-blooded crybaby protestors would render our nation's proud military impotent and leave @@NAME@@ naked to a host of enemies! The only way to ensure the security of our @@TYPE@@ is to keep our military powerful and up to date with the most technologically advanced and efficient military gear available – and there’s no reason we shouldn’t afford that protection to our allies as well! If that means a few barbarian foreigners get turned into puddles of flame – then so be it!”
Statement: parents in nations hostile to @@NAME@@ often find their children on fire
Effect: Arms Manufacturing up, Military Budget up, compassion of citizens down, citizens are more hard nosed
5. "Isn't this debate a little... superfluous?" asks local convenience store clerk @@RANDOMNAME@@, while cooking a pyramid of six instant burritos with a microwave. “A good weapon is going to kill people, or at least threaten them with a painful, explosive, death. So, instead of fussing about humane weapons, let’s simply replace all of our conventional weaponry with nuclear missiles. No one will be dumb enough to mess with us, so we won’t have to fire a shot! Everyone wins, and it will be cheaper to boot!”
Statement: the military is aiming nuclear missiles at a nearby pirate base.
Effect: Military Budget down, Taxes down, Arms Manufacturing down, Uranium Mining up
The Issue
An unlikely coalition of tie-dye clad tipi-dwellers, hostile governments, and small children missing legs has recently demanded that @@NAME@@ outlaw the production and use of certain "brutal" weapons, among them landmines, napalm, poison gas, depleted uranium rounds, canine-delivered anti-tank explosives, and barbed pitchforks.
The Debate
1. “The use of these cruel weapons of war is an affront to the standing of @@NAME@@ as a civilized nation!” chants protestor @@RANDOMNAME@@, holding a baby @@ANIMAL@@ wearing a “@@ANIMAL@@s for Peace!” T-shirt. “Our nation should not employ such horrid devices, nor peddle them to other countries!”
Statement: the army is gradually exchanging its rifles for squirt-guns.
Effect: Military Budget down, Taxes down, Compassion of Citizens up, Arms Manufacturing Way Down, economic freedom slightly down. economy slightly down.
2. “That’s not going far enough.” quietly explains @@RANDOMNAME@@, a pacifist monk, calmly sipping tea. “All weapons by design take life, and to steal life from another is an evil thing. By example, our @@Type@@ must lead the way to a more peaceful world. We should eliminate our military and outlaw the production of weaponry.”
Statement: the government is sworn to pacifism
Effect: Military Budget down to zero, taxes down, compassion of citizens up, arms manufacturing massively down, economic freedom down, economy slightly down
3. “I agree in principle, but unfortunately both of these suggestions are impractical.” warns historian and compulsive compromiser @@RANDOMNAME@@. “The reality is that armed conflict will remain a part of this world for the foreseeable future, and we cannot afford to handicap our military by outlawing some of the most efficient weapons available. However, we cannot ensure that those we export arms to shall be as responsible as we are in their use, and so, we should ban the export of weaponry at once.”
Statement: the courts are debating whether exporting fireworks is legal
Effect: Arms Manufacturing down, compassion of citizens slightly up, economic freedom slightly down, economy slightly down
4. "This is absurd!" screams armchair general and video gamer @@RANDOMNAME@@, while pointing a miniature flame-thrower at a nearby anthill. "Accepting the demands of these water-blooded crybaby protestors would render our nation's proud military impotent and leave @@NAME@@ naked to a host of enemies! The only way to ensure the security of our @@TYPE@@ is to keep our military powerful and up to date with the most technologically advanced and efficient military gear available – and there’s no reason we shouldn’t afford that protection to our allies as well! If that means a few barbarian foreigners get turned into puddles of flame – then so be it!”
Statement: parents in nations hostile to @@NAME@@ often find their children on fire
Effect: Arms Manufacturing up, Military Budget up, compassion of citizens down, citizens are more hard nosed
5. "Isn't this debate a little... superfluous?" asks local convenience store clerk @@RANDOMNAME@@, while cooking a pyramid of six instant burritos with a microwave. “A good weapon is going to kill people, or at least threaten them with a painful, explosive, death. So, instead of fussing about humane weapons, let’s simply replace all of our conventional weaponry with nuclear missiles. No one will be dumb enough to mess with us, so we won’t have to fire a shot! Everyone wins, and it will be cheaper to boot!”
Statement: the military is aiming nuclear missiles at a nearby pirate base.
Effect: Military Budget down, Taxes down, Arms Manufacturing down, Uranium Mining up