NationStates Jolt Archive


Other Options for the "Reclaim the Streets!" Issue

Shirarek
11-06-2008, 19:29
I don't know whether or not existing issues are up for modification. If not, please tell me so (nicely, thanks!) and don't bother reading the rest of this post.

In case the issue title doesn't ring a bell, here's the thing itself:

The Issue

Several major city streets were clogged with bicycles this morning, as the environmental group 'Two Wheels Good, Four Wheels Bad' staged a protest. Several hundred riders ambled through downtown streets, blissfully ignoring the torrent of abuse hurled at them by thousands of motorists running late for work.

The Debate

1. "People are sick of dirty, smelly automobiles," said protest organizer @@@NAME@@@ @@@NAME@@@. "They're choking the city, the environment--our lives! Cars must be banned!"


2. "The only thing people are sick of is long-haired idiots riding their bicycles at two miles an hour on major thoroughfares," says committed motorist @@@NAME@@@ @@@NAME@@@. "People shouldn't be able to protest like this. The government needs to crack down on them."


3. The Automotive Manufacturers Association, meanwhile, has called for government support. "It's clear that we need to boost the level of automobile support in this country. This protest this morning is a clear indication of... um... anyway, we need more government funds."



I can think of at least two other ways in which a real-world country might deal with this issue: institute congestion pricing in cities (as London has) or improve the public transportation system. Or, you know, do both at once. But let's assume they're two separate options.

Congestion Pricing would increase the environment score (less pollution) and slightly increase the economy score (in London's case, stores in areas with congestion pricing have seen an increase in business). It could also lower taxes (or raise them, or do nothing to them, depending on how this kind of thing figures into the NS tax rate). It would, however, lower your civil rights score, because then citizens aren't free to drive where they like.

Improving public transportation would slightly increase your environment score (again, less pollution) and economy score (more people can get around to shop and to work). However, it would necessitate a tax hike.

My nation is relatively new so I'm far from the point where I can submit my own issues, but I figure this sort of falls under a different category anyway.
Sirocco
11-06-2008, 20:01
Nah, sorry, we're not making anymore retrospective edits.
Blouman Empire
13-06-2008, 04:48
Just on that sirocco, and I am aware that it takes a long time, and is as it should be on the bottom of the priority list, will we be seeing an new issues soon? And is submitting issues a waste of time as they wont be placed into the game away?
The Most Glorious Hack
13-06-2008, 05:52
It's never a waste of time. Granted, it does take awhile to edit issues, but new, good ones are always welcome. It would certainly be worth spending the time to make a good issue that won't require wholesale rewrites.
Mavenu
13-06-2008, 16:19
This post on sirocco's blog will help direct your issue writing as well (http://siroccothemod.blogspot.com/2008/05/attention-all-issue-writers.html)