Issues #174, #175, #178, #181, #183, #184, #189, #190, #191 and #195

#174: Maternity Leave A Must, Say Mothers [Vashaan; ed:Sirocco]

The Issue
A coalition of expectant mothers (Mothers 4 Justice) has banded together to demand legislation allowing for six months of fully paid maternity leave.

The Debate
1. "Six months?! Six WHOLE months?!" blusters @@RANDOMNAME@@, a payroll manager. "Six whole months of being fully paid by our company for doing nothing but looking after a baby?! This will sink the small businesses and lose us an obscene amount of revenue! We cannot allow this to pass!"
The Result: the nanny industry has had a boom after maternity leave was recently banned.

Economy +3

Taxes -3

2. "I believe that passing this law will be a step in the right direction," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, the nation's most outspoken feminist advocate. "These kids need their mothers' love and attention during an important part of their growth development! I don't see why mums should be forced to juggle with the stress of bringing up children and having a job! It's simply too much! Six months maternity leave with full pay is what this country needs - even if it is at the expense of a few avaricious fat cats."
The Result: all mothers are allowed six months fully-paid maternity leave.

Civil Rights +2

3. "Look, I've got an idea," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, an obsessive centrist. "Perhaps we can allow for six months of paid maternity leave, but have the government pay the companies for lost revenue? That way the mothers can bring up their children without financial worries, companies won't lose investors, and everyone will be happy. Apart from the taxpayers, of course, but you can't please everyone."
The Result: untold millions of forintas are going into a new government-funded maternity leave scheme.

Taxes +1

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#175: Is @@NAME@@ Too Promiscuous? [Masalium; ed:Sirocco]

The Issue
The highly moral and religious pressure group 'Cuckolds And Cuckqueans Anonymous' has lobbied for the criminalisation of adultery.

The Debate
1. "Whatever happened to the sanctity of marriage?" asks @@RANDOMNAME@@ while wearing a T-shirt bearing the slogan 'Marriage is for life, not just for anniversaries'. "Whatever happened to lifelong companionship? Whatever happened to simple faithfulness because of love?! Adultery seems to be more of a hobby than anything these days! The government must impose the utmost punishments on those who commit this sin. A good old-fashioned stoning should sort it!"
The Result: adultery has been made a capital offence.

Civil Rights -4

Taxes +1

2. "I don't agree with adultery either," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a passer-by. "But, uh... stoning? You don't think that's a little extreme? If we find someone guilty of fornication we can just lock them up in jail. That way no-one gets killed and the sinners get justice. It's more expensive to the tax payers than a stoning of course, but I reckon it's worth it."
The Result: those found guilty of illicit affairs are jailed.

Civil Rights -1

Taxes +1

3. "With the greatest of respect, this is none of your business!" yells @@RANDOMNAME@@ who is rumoured to have had more than a thousand lovers and even more children. "The government has no right to go about trying to dictate the laws of love and romance! Marriages break down, people move on - is it really the government's place to make people stay put? You must recognise the fact that the law has no place within the bedroom!"
The Result: NATION is notorious for its citizens' infidelity.

Civil Rights +3

Taxes -2

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#178: Free Press Too Free? [Ice Hockey Players; ed:Sirocco]

The Issue
Citizens, politicians, and businessmen have been campaigning for the government to keep a tighter rein on the media after several well-respected newspapers printed false articles with contents ranging from claims that the capital city had been stolen by a UFO to erroneous share prices which led to job-losses and a stock market decline.

The Debate
1. "Over a thousand jobs lost!" clamours @@RANDOMNAME@@, angry protester and ex-employee of Dreddmax Incorporated. "And why? Because the press isn't concerned about the truth anymore; all it wants is higher sales! We must forbid these rags from lying to the people and dish out heavy fines to those who try! This so-called 'free press' has a dark side, you know. We learnt that ever since we discovered it wasn't cottage cheese they were mining up north!"
The Result: reporters often lose their jobs over fact-checking errors.

Civil Rights -4

Political Freedoms -3

2. "This is censorship!" says @@RANDOMNAME@@, editor-in-chief of The Hebdomadal Gabfest while carefully noting everything you say in a notepad. "We speak for the people! Admittedly some newspapers didn't check all of their facts before they published, but that doesn't merit such draconian measures at all! If we're only allowed to print the absolute truth then how soon before we're getting constantly sued by politicians for libel? What about our rumour columns? It'll totally destroy the business! The government must have no part in repression of the media!"
The Result: truth is often impossible to tell from fiction on the evening news.

Civil Rights +6

Political Freedoms +16

3. "You know that no matter what we decide we're going to make people mad," points out @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister of Public Relations. "But the best way to control public opinion is to tell the public what their opinions are. I suggest nationalising all the newspapers and putting them under government control. Then we can tell them whatever we like! After all, we're much more trustworthy than some profit-driven media moguls, right? At least we won't have to issue ANOTHER public statement to tell everyone you're not a hyper-intelligent aubergine."
The Result: all news sources are under strict government control.

Civil Rights -10

Political Freedoms -32

Taxes +2

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#181: Radio Rebels Ruffle Government [Dupeksland; ed:Myrth]

The Issue
The 'Underground Element', a newly formed resistance force to the governing party in @@NAME@@, has begun broadcasting anti-government messages over a network of public radio stations.

The Debate
1. "These rebels are harmless," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, political commentator. "In the interests of free speech and democracy, we should allow them to broadcast their messages. There's nothing wrong with a little criticism of the government - indeed, it could do with some more incentive to perform well."
The Result: 'The Anti-Government Hour' is a popular programme on many of NATION's radio stations.

Civil Rights +2

Political Freedoms +28

2. "It'd be one thing if it was genuinely insightful criticism," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, your personal advisor. "But this is a disgrace! It's simply fear-mongering and government-bashing. We should shut down these punks before they fill our citizens' heads full of mistruths. And while we're at it, there are a few other radio stations that need to smarten up their attitude to the government, too."
The Result: a spate of enforced closures has left 'Government FM' as the nation's only radio station.

Civil Rights -4

Economy -2

Political Freedoms -9

Taxes +1

3. "Now now, let's be reasonable about this," muses @@RANDOMNAME@@, radio chatshow host. "The government should think very carefully before it gets into the business of telling people what they can and can't say on the air. The solution here is not to ban criticism, but to price radio station licenses at an appropriate level - that is, higher than a rabble of unshaven hippies can afford."
The Result: NATION's airwaves are dominated by corporate-backed commercial radio.

Political Freedoms +1

Taxes +1

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#183: Buy A Better Baby? [Sci; ed:Myrth]

The Issue
A top fertility clinic has recently announced a new service allowing parents to create so-called 'designer babies'.

The Debate
1. "Embryo selection isn't really genetic engineering in the technical sense," explains Dr. @@RANDOMNAME@@, owner of the Babies-2-Go Clinic. "It's more like being able to have a dozen abortions per month until you get the foetus you desire. I can't really see what's wrong with parents who can afford it being able to eliminate foetuses with undesirable genetic traits - like stupidity."
The Result: wealthy parents-to-be can select their perfect baby.

Civil Rights +1

Taxes -1

2. "Thou shalt pay for thy sins!" screams @@RANDOMNAME@@, waving a crucifix. "This is just meddling with the sanctity of life. If these children are to be born with horrible defects then it's God's will and who are we to question it? This technology must be banned at once!"
The Result: research into 'designer babies' is banned.

Civil Rights -4

Taxes +2

3. "This technology shows promise," muses @@RANDOMNAME@@, minister of health. "But we can't trust the private sector with the future of our nation's children. We must place it under strict government regulation, so that we only screen out embryos with serious genetic conditions."
The Result: government-run screening operations remove embryos with severe genetic disorders.

Economy -1

Taxes +1

4. "This has got me thinkin'," says General @@RANDOMNAME@@, thumbing through a big folder marked 'X'. "If this technology lets us reduce genetic defects, then couldn't it work the other way? We could create ourselves an army of genetically superior soldiers! With our army of Super Soldiers, no nation would dare stand in our way!"
The Result: Zvirici's army is full of two-metre tall super-soldiers.
Civil Rights -2
Taxes +1

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#184: Compulsory Military Service Under Attack [Randino; ed:Myrth]

The Issue
Concerned mothers and nervous school-leavers are petitioning the government to abolish compulsory military service.

The Debate
1. "Our children are forced to be trained to murder!" protests @@RANDOMNAME@@, chairman of the Parents Against All Things Violent organisation. "For too long now the government has been snatching away our children and training them to become killing machines. This archaic practice must be banned at once! Sure, some of them could end up breaking into cars or terrorising old people, but hey, kids will be kids, right?"
The Result: the military struggles with recruitment.

Civil Rights +4

2. "What a preposterous idea!" scoffs Drill Sergeant @@RANDOMNAME@@. "The youth of @@NAME@@ has never needed the discipline provided by the armed forces more than it does today, and with all those rogue states out there we need all the recruits we can get! If anything, the government should lengthen the required service and drop the minimum age to something more reasonable."
The Result: children as young as twelve are conscripted into the armed forces.

Civil Rights -1

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#189: Dangerously Cheesy [Disposablepuppetland; ed:Reploid Productions]

The Issue
The popular daily cartoon strip "Barry the @@ANIMAL@@" has always been highly critical of the political system within @@NAME@@, but in recent weeks the cartoon has depicted the main characters throwing melted cheese at unpopular politicians. Inspired by this, protestors armed with fondue sets stormed a government building, cheesing off several government officials.

The Debate
1. "It's just a bit of harmless fun!", says @@RANDOMNAME@@, creator of Barry the @@ANIMAL@@, while spraying your advisors with melted cheddar. "If the government were doing a better job people wouldn't feel the need to throw cheese at them. We should be free to express our displeasure in any way we choose. Besides, my cartoon books are selling like hot cakes, and that's got to be good for the economy, right?"
The Result: cheese has become the new icon of political dissent.

Political Freedoms +20

2. "This has got to stop!" insists @@RANDOMNAME@@, head of the censorship board. "I spent 3 hours this morning scraping wensleydale out of my hair! Arrest these lunatics! The protestors and the people responsible for this vile cartoon, throw them all into jail!"
The Result: popular political cartoonists are thrown in jail for inciting dissent.

Civil Rights -1

Political Freedoms -18

3. "Arrrrrgh!" screams lactose-intolerant @@RANDOMNAME@@, a member of the public safety board, as incoming rounds of mature gouda smash the windows and claim the suits of several nearby advisors. "As I've been saying for many years now, cheese is a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands and should be outlawed. Ban all cheese now, and enforce it!"
The Result: cheese has been labelled a dangerous weapon and banned.

Taxes +1

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#190: Immigrants Import Homeland Rivalries [Rowaria; ed:Reploid Productions]

The Issue
After a series of bloody wars between the nations of Maxtopia and North Bigtopia, fights have broken out in the streets between immigrants in @@NAME@@ who came from the warring nations.

The Debate
1. "Foreigners are a major cause of civil disturbances," begins @@RANDOMNAME@@, whose opinions form the book '101 Arguments FOR Slavery'. "What we should do is make all immigrants, foreigners, and non-native @@NAME@@ folks slaves! I mean, who in @@NAME@@ wouldn't like a minority slave group to do his bidding? Imagine! People could be bought and sold over the Internet!"
The Result: immigrant Maxtopians are routinely sold on popular internet auction sites.

Civil Rights -5

Taxes -1

2. "I am shocked and appalled at what my colleague is suggesting!" exclaims @@RANDOMNAME@@, President of the Civil Rights Union of @@NAME@@. "Slavery? We should punish these offenders, yes, but send them to rehabilitation centres instead! As for the ethnic squabbles, programs in school should begin to stop these racist attitudes in childhood! All it will take is some slight fortification to the education budget!"
The Result: children are brainwashed at a young age to accept "Love and peace!" as a way of life.

Taxes +1 (in less developed nations +0)

3. A quiet old man stands up to speak. "Now, I may be a quiet old man, but I believe that these ethnic disputes are none of the government's business. It's not our war anyway, so it's not our problem. I'm sure if you leave it alone, it'll work itself out. Just think of the money that would be saved if the police don't have to be paid to deal with this!"
The Result: the government's new 'Crime Can Fight Itself' policy appears to be backfiring rather badly.

Taxes -2

4. "It's not our war? It's not our war?" cries (in)famous @@NAME@@-born fascist @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Well maybe it's time it became our war! @@NAME@@ should take a more active, and by 'active' I mean 'hostile', role in international politics! This ethnic squabbling will be over when the war is over, and WE can end that war and purge the impure! @@SLOGAN@@! Sieg @@NAME@@!"
The Result: a massive campaign is underway to ensure the race of NATION remains pure.

Civil Rights -1

Taxes -1

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#191: Blood Banks Running Dry [Karmanyaka; ed:Sirocco]

The Issue
A violent and rather messy stampede of @@ANIMAL@@s during a parade in your honour has brought widespread media attention to the shortage of blood, plasma and platelet donors in @@NAME@@.

The Debate
1. "Blood donation should be compulsory!" argues @@RANDOMNAME@@, a spokesperson for the @@NAME@@ Blood Donors' Association. "We can't expect citizens to come flocking to donate blood just out of the goodness of their hearts, so the government should take the matter into its own hands. If we could maybe require healthy citizens to... let's say... donate blood every three months, we wouldn't have such a problem with shortages. It'll require more funding to organise and carry out, yes, but your people are worth it, aren't they?"
The Result: citizens are forced to donate blood once every three months.

Civil Rights -3

Taxes +1

2. "Don't listen to that devil worshipper!" preaches @@RANDOMNAME@@, a Jehovah's Witness. "It isn't up to us to decide what should be done, it is God, and only God, who decides what someone should do with their blood. I'd rather die clean and go to Heaven, thank you very much! We must heed this Gospel and ban blood donations now! Of course some people will die, but they will be rewarded in the afterlife for obeying His word."
The Result: blood donations have been banned because of the risk of eternal unrest.

Civil Rights -4

Taxes -1

3. "You're kidding, right?" burbles anaemic patient @@RANDOMNAME@@ from a hospital bed. "I'm not going to let some closed-minded priest tell me what I can and can't do with my blood! But I don't think people should be forced to give blood; they just need incentive, that's all. Like money. Trust me, any kind of '@@CURRENCY@@s For Blood' scheme will have them almost begging to donate. It's the only humane way to ensure that people like me are getting the care we need. If you're worried about funding just get it from those religious nuts... they're not helping anyone with it."
The Result: the poor are often seen pale and dizzy after selling their blood to make ends meet.

Civil Rights +6

Public Healthcare +1

Godlessness +1

Religiousness -1

Weather +2

4. "I have an even better idea," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a prison officer. "How about we force every healthy prisoner to donate blood? It's about time they gave back to society what they've taken away in the first place. If we do this we won't have to beg the law-abiding citizens of @@NAME@@ to take time out of their day to give blood. It's not like these thugs are really doing anything for us, so missing a pint or three won't matter, am I right?"
The Result: jails have become colloquially known as 'vampire houses'.

Civil Rights -2

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#195: Right Of Way Or Wrong Of Way? [Teaberry; ed:Sirocco]

The Issue
An increasing number of land owners have been fencing off footpaths which run through or near their property and as a result you have been petitioned by The Rambler's and Hiker's Association to allow the 'right to roam'.

The Debate
1. @@RANDOMNAME@@, a famous hiker of @@NAME@@'s countryside, storms into your office, arms waving dangerously. "These pompous land owners are fencing off hundreds of years of tradition! The public should have right of way by law! It is every man's right to be able to enjoy the scenic beauty of our native lands and I don't see why some toffee-nosed prat should be the only person allowed to walk around his hundreds of acres of land when most of us don't even have one! It's simply unforgivable! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going for a walk! Wherever I ruddy well like!"
The Result: public footpaths are being slowly eroded by the burgeoning number of ramblers.

Civil Rights +10

2. "It's trespass, plain and simple," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, wealthy owner of six mansions. "My home is my castle! If these smelly ramblers think they can abuse and defile my land, they should start thinking again! You've got to look at this reasonably: where people go, pollution follows. Before I know it I'm going to have litter in my fields, drunken parties in my woods, and more eroded footpaths than I can count! Will they be the ones paying to have it all maintained? Not likely! I say no to this 'right to roam' rubbish! This land is mine, and I intend to keep it that way."
The Result: large areas of NATION are not accessible by the public.

3. "There's an opportunity in every problem," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Minister of Rural Affairs. "And there's always some sort of compromise. We could simply allocate some government funding to teams of environmental workers to maintain and promote our network of footpaths that anyone may use... for a price. Think of the money we could get from all those hikers and ramblers! Not to mention the tourists, birdwatchers, and hippies! Everybody wins! Except for those who can't afford the fees, I guess, but you can't please everyone."
The Result: all footpaths have tollbooths.

Taxes +1