NationStates Jolt Archive


Here's an example of my beef with issues.

Murder City Jabbers
15-01-2008, 09:06
<b>The oldest power station in Murder City Jabbers suffered a catastrophic failure last night, plunging a third of Murder City Jabbers's national power supply grid into darkness. There is no debate that it needs to be replaced, but the question is with what?

The Debate
"The solution is clear," says environmental activist Konrad Li. "Wind turbines and solar power stations are the cleanest there are. We must switch power production to forms of renewable energy, that will never run out. The only minor problems are that wind farms will take up a great deal of space and of course we can't exactly rely on the weather. It isn't as though we control it. But think of how much healthier people will be without all that pollution!"

"Wind power? Solar collectors? Bah! Have you ever wondered when the least amount of strain is placed on the national grid? WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING!" exclaims Southern Murder City Jabbers Electra official Calvin Rifkin. "We need power under our control, and cheaply. Coal has been the cheapest and most abundant power source for ages. We don't need this airy fairy wind malarky when we have cheap and reliable power available for all. True, pollution will be a bit on the heavy side but I'm sure that's only a minor problem, with how well funded our health system is!"

"Now the way I see it is that it's either green, expensive, and sprawling; or compact, polluting and cheap. Wouldn't it be nice if we had the best of both worlds? Well, we can!" claims fission technician Thomas Spirit. "Nuclear power is reliable, clean, and although it isn't cheap, it won't break the bank. There is a risk of deadly meltdown, but this is relatively small, and the only people who could be against this are anti-nuclear protesters, but what do we care about those tree-hugging hippies?"
</b>

So dig it, my personal belief is that the supply of electrical energy should be private and the government should not support one over the other. I think the market demand should ultimately rule on which mode of power manufacture becomes most widely used. With these 3 options presented, all three have in common that my government become the supplier of some form of power.

In the responses to issues it is most commonly the libertarian solution that is unavailable. As long as this trend is prevalent Nationstates will not be a complete game. Furthermore it reinforces the already too-widespread belief that only government can solve life's problems. My dream nation where the responsibilities of life are put into the hands of the individual cannot be brought into virtual reality until this problem is amended.
Ardchoille
15-01-2008, 12:21
NationStates does not exist to bring into reality your dream nation where the responsibilities of life are put into the hands of the individual.

It exists because an Australian guy wanted to advertise a book he'd written. It worked fine for that. He wrote the first 30 Issues -- or maybe some mates helped, I'm not sure -- and they reflect his quirky, funny, satirical take on politics. Subsequent issues that other people have written reflect theirs.

Consider real life. Issues aren't always as clear-cut as governments would like. Sometimes those in power can't get away with what they really want to do. Sometimes decisions have unexpected side-effects. Sometimes people have to choose the least worst, rather than the best.

Sound familiar?

But you do have a chance to fix up any imbalance:

In your sidebar there is a link that says 'Issues'. Click it, and if you have 500 million citizens or over, a link will be there that asks you if you wish to submit an issue. Remember to read the guidelines.

The stickies at the top of this page explain how to write issues. Read over the existing ones (also in a sticky), read what others have said about them, and go for it! Good writing!
Murder City Jabbers
15-01-2008, 20:17
Well, I hope your first statement isn't true. But I'll look into writing one.
Shazbotdom
15-01-2008, 21:38
Ardchoille's first statement is true. The game is meant for fun and not to be a serious thing.
Ardchoille
16-01-2008, 01:20
Which doesn't stop people taking it seriously, if that's their idea of fun. But when your economy's been imploded for four years ... yeah. Let's go knock back a few pints in the Strangers' Bar. My shout.
Shazbotdom
16-01-2008, 03:23
Which doesn't stop people taking it seriously, if that's their idea of fun. But when your economy's been imploded for four years ... yeah. Let's go knock back a few pints in the Strangers' Bar. My shout.

Just as long as your payin.