Drachmaland

I've used it in nations with a strong 100/100 Economy, so it was unaffected. The employment isn't actually increased: manual labourers must be willing to have cybernetic limbs to get a job...

The Issue: #453: Parliamentary Playground [Nation of Quebec;Lenyo] The Issue After a WhoTube video featuring MPs in an outright brawl went viral, foreign commentators now regularly mock the hijinks in the @@DENOMYADJ@@ Parliament. In order to save face, several MPs have tried to reign in the legislature's embarrassing behavior. The Debate 1. "We need a Parliamentary Code of Conduct to make sure this appalling behavior doesn't happen again," states Opposition Leader @@RANDOMNAME@@. Your entire cabinet mooned me while I was speaking yesterday for Violet's sake! You wouldn't get away with that kind of behavior in any other workplace, so why is Parliament exempt? We need to show the citizenry that this is a place of serious and mature discussion, not a schoolyard playground." 2. "That's a good start, but it doesn't go far enough!" exclaims avid @@NAMEINITIALS@@-SPAN watcher and schoolteacher @@RANDOMNAME@@. "I always sit down and watch Question Period with the kids to teach them how democracy in @@NAME@@ works. They were subjected to the brawl, the mooning, and all those fights involving the chicken costume. Any politician who acts in such a disgraceful way should be barred from running for political office ever again. If we don't take tougher stances against this disgraceful behavior, our kids will start thinking that this is an acceptable way for them to act." 3. "We have a right to express our political dissatisfaction, no matter how... unorthodox our methods are," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, one of your more outspoken cabinet ministers while making an obscene gesture towards the other speakers. "Sure, sometimes things can get a little heated, but that's the nature of politics. If the loyal opposition can't handle a few choice words or an entire hour of jeering, then they shouldn't have run for office. Besides, what about freedom of speech? Aren't we still big on that?" 4. "Hold up! Outta my way!" shouts pro-wrestler Stone Fist as he barges his way into your office and places one of your aides in a chokehold. "What if instead of debates, politicians settled their scores with trial by combat? Build a thunderdome in Parliament. Two MPs enter; one MP leaves! Imagine the ratings and publicity! People could even bet @@CURRENCIES@@ on the results. At the very least, the public will be a lot more invested in the outcome of parliamentary debates." Your aide passes out as Stone Fist releases his grip. Points to pay attention to: Option 1, “we need a Parliamentary Code of Conduct”: An indication that Political Freedom will be reined and Rudeness will decrease. Option 2, “any politician [...] should be barred from running for political office ever again”: An extreme provision, a very severe restriction — a clear indication to expect a big drop in Political freedom. Option 3, “right to express [ourselves] no matter how unorthodox our methods are”: Kind of an opposite to Option 1 — no rein in Civil Rights or Political Freedom, but an increase in Rudeness is logically expected. Option 4, “politicians settle their scores with trial by combat”: This is decreasing Political Freedom, because you cannot win through arguments. Option 4, “bet @@CURRENCIES@@ on the results”: A hint for Corruption increasing, as well as Gambling. Actual results: Option 3 in Drachmaland (Civil Rights Lovefest, 88/100/91) had only one effect: Political Apathy became 7 (from 6).Suggestions: This is WIP and the issue brand new, so expect more stats coming in soon. If in doubt, just ask — that's what this thread is for, anyhow.

The Issue: #440: Jumping The Sharknado [sedgistan; ed:Sedgistan] The Issue After another movie season dominated by sequels, remakes and spin-offs, cinema boffs have come to your office begging for action. The Debate 1. "What happened to the classics of days gone by?" rhetorically questions renowned film critic @@RANDOMNAME@@. "The @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ movie industry used to be known for such masterpieces as 'The Modfather: Part One', 'A Clockwork Violet', and 'Once Upon A Time In The West Pacific', not the drivel they're putting out these days. If studios want to release films in @@NAME@@ they should give us something original." 2. "I didn't become a director to make films like 'Rise Of The Planet Of The @@ANIMAL@@s Revisited'," gripes @@RANDOMNAME@@. "But it's all the studios will sanction. It's such an expensive business making movies, and given the risks it's no wonder we play it safe. Perhaps if the government were to underwrite our projects, I'd finally get a chance to finish 'Heaven's Door'." 3. "Haha!" chortles @@RANDOMNAME@@, while watching 'Mad Max vs. Jar-Jar Binks 2: The Unrated Edition' on his smartphone. Shovelling another handful of popcorn into his mouth, he turns to interject, "Oh my god, this is the best part, guys. Will you keep quiet back there?" Points to pay attention to: Option 1, “if studios want to release films”: This means the ability for a studio to release a film any other way, has been removed — a serious restriction. Option 2, “if the government were to underwrite our projects”: A clear indication that the Government will have to subsidize the movie industry, and that taxes will need to increase so that there is money available for this. Option 3, “watching 'Mad Max vs. Jar-Jar Binks 2: The Unrated Edition' on his smartphone”: A hint that low-quality/not cinephile films are produced. Actual results: Option 1 in a triple-zero Psychotic Dictatorship kept all three Freedoms at zero.Option 2 had the following effects in another nation (also didn't affect that nation's three Freedoms, which were 93/98/100 at the time):Business Subsidization 57→60 Culture 21→23 Taxation 7→7 (unaffected), but actual Tax Rate 35.1→36.0 Commerce 20.3%→21.1% Defense 16.4%→16.2%, Education 22.8%→22.5%, Social Equality 6.8%→6.7%, Welfare 12.1%→12.0% (probably due to less available government funds to spend, despite the tax-rate increase; please keep in mind that this nation has Environment, Law&Order and Spirituality at 0.0%, therefore these couldn't be adversely affected) Option 3 lowered Culture in a nation with a feeble cultural level (9→6). It didn't affect that nation's three Freedoms (93/96/94). Suggestions: If you want to be oppressive, then choose Option 1. If you want your Business Subsidization high, then choose Option 2. If you want to keep your Pro-Market rating high, then dismiss the issue. If you want your Culture high, choose Option 2. If you want your Culture low, choose Option 3. If in doubt, ask here — that's what this thread is for, anyhow.

The Issue: #193: Robots Leaving Workers Jobless [The Ethics Union; ed:Sirocco] The Issue Amidst a growing level of unemployment, thousands of workers have been fired and then replaced by automatic systems. They have petitioned you to intervene. The Debate 1. "It's just sickening! Do you know how long it took most of us to get a decent, 'stable' job?" shouts @@RANDOMNAME@@, president of the @@NAME@@ Labour Alliance, before dramatically sweeping your personal belongings off your desk. "And now we're losing our livelihoods to robots so that while our families starve, the corporations get even richer! Don't let the capitalist pigs blind you! This practice must be banned!" 2. "Hey, I've got a job to keep up too, you know," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a factory manager. "If I don't think of new ways of keeping costs down, the investors will go elsewhere. It's my neck on the line as much as anyone else's, even if I do have much more money. Besides, it's business, and no-one ought to be able to say who - or what - I can hire." 3. "This could be resolved if instead of replacing workers with machines, we added machines to workers!" enthuses @@RANDOMNAME@@, CEO of Mondas Ltd. "By replacing the body parts with stronger, better, metal prostheses, we can make the best industrial workers - literally - in the world! Imagine a shelver who can shift whole crates with just one arm! One finger! So let's hear no more of this deplorable 'replacing workers with machines' idea and look to the future!" 4. "You can't allow that!" gasps @@RANDOMNAME@@, a manual labourer. "If that happens, only the people with cyber limbs will get jobs! And the corporations will contract you into having the surgery if you want to have one! No thank you! We should go back to the grass roots of industry when all the machines weren't computerised and workers were the salt of the earth! Then maybe we'd see a bit more appreciation! And cash!" Points to pay attention to: Option 1, “this practice must be banned”: Always be very watchful for this word, because it typically results in drops in freedoms. Option 1, “dramatically sweeping your personal belongings off your desk”: An indication that Rudeness will increase this way. Option 2, “even if I do have much more money”: A clear indication that Wealth Gaps will increase (and Income Equality will decrease) this way. Option 3, “By replacing the body parts with stronger, better, metal prostheses”: The CEO's proposal is not to add, but to replace — resulting in a massive drop in Civil Rights. Option 4, “go back [...] when all the machines weren't computerised”: A clear indication that most industries that depend on manufacturing technologies will severely suffer, and that Primitiveness will increase. Actual results: Option 2 surely increases Economic Freedom (and thus one can even have a nation shift government type) but it does not always increase Economy (strength); I once had a nation that had just gone to 97/100 Economy go with opt.2 at the very next update — and Economy went back to 96/100.Option 2 was tested on an Anarchy with its Freedoms at 95/97/94, and the main effects were the following:Employment, Environmental Beauty, Income Equality, Basket Weaving, Pacifism, Primitiveness, Safety: decreased Ideological Radicality, Automobile Manufacturing, Book Publishing, Gambling, Information Technology, Tourism, Pro-Market, Obesity, Rudeness, Scientific Advancement, Toxicity, Wealth Gaps, Weaponization: increased Option 2 was tested on a Civil Rights Lovefest with its Freedoms at 83/91/88, and the main effects were almost identical (the only differences being in Ideological Radicality and Taxation — but these might be due to rounding):Employment, Environmental Beauty, Income Equality, Basket Weaving, Pacifism, Primitiveness, Safety, Taxation: decreased Automobile Manufacturing, Book Publishing, Gambling, Information Technology, Tourism, Pro-Market, Obesity, Rudeness, Scientific Advancement, Toxicity, Wealth Gaps, Weaponization: increased ​Option 2 was tested on a Civil Rights Lovefest with its Freedoms at 87/97/89, and the nation changed to Anarchy — the other main effects being:Tax rate 27.1→23.6 Heart Disease & Murder increased, the other two death causes (Cancer & Old Age) decreased Economy 97→98 Employment, Environmental Beauty, Income Equality, Pacifism, Primitiveness, Safety, Taxation: decreased Ideological Radicality, Gambling, Information Technology, Tourism, Pro-Market, Obesity, Rudeness, Scientific Advancement, Toxicity, Wealth Gaps, Weaponization: increased Suggestions: If you are anti-capitalist/anti-free-market, and you don't care how well your Economy performs, then choose Option 1. If you want to keep your Pro-Market rating low, but you don't want to hurt your Industries/Economy or your Civil Rights, then dismiss the issue. If you are after a high Pro-Market rating, choose Option 2. If you don't want to hurt your Civil Rights and you don't despise Anarchies, then choose Option 2. If you want to be maximum oppressive, then choose Option 3. If you pursue primitiveness or you're anti-industry, choose Option 4. If in doubt, ask here — that's what this thread is for, anyhow.

I'll start bringing over some of my stuff from the NS forum, so that this subforum starts gaining some issue-related material until my definitive comprehensive guides get completed and posted.

Thanks for the ensuing kudos, guys!

This is the current Welcome Telegram: Greetings %NATION%, and Welcome to The West Pacific! ~Where the coffee is always fresh, the bar always open, and there's Karaoke every Friday.~ It's so nice to see you here! The West Pacific is one of the best regions in the game and it has just about everything any region can offer. It's the best place to learn how to play the game, meet new people, and get involved at your own pace. New players can quickly learn more about the game by reading our Dispatch: "New to NationStates? Click Here to learn more" We have dedicated offsite forums which host our Regional Government, Armed Forces, Embassies and many entertaining activities. You'll find our forums here: http://www.westpacific.org Make an account, introduce yourself, and make yourself at home. We think you'll like it here. If you have questions, feel free to post them or send a telegram to any nation. We are generally a friendly lot and we will do our best to answer any questions. I'd also encourage you to join the NationStates World Assembly. Once you have joined the World Assembly, I invite you to endorse the Delegate and the Guardian nations listed in our World Factbook Entry. Your endorsements increase the power and influence of our region. You can join the World Assembly here: World Assembly You may also want to browse the region's dispatches along with this nation's Factbook entries for more information on the Laws and Treaties of The West Pacific. Once again, Welcome to The West Pacific! Remember to have fun! Sincerely, The Zombie Hating Hater Palace of Elegarth, World Assembly Delegate of The West Pacific -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Please note: To avoid receiving recruitment telegrams, or regulate the number of official regional telegrams you may receive, please visit your telegram settings here: Telegram Preferences Suggestions / Discussion topics: In the WA paragraph, I suggest that the words "World Factbook Entry" are hyperlinked to http://www.nationstates.net/region=the_west_pacific because some new players may be unaware of where this WFE is. Regarding the "join WA" rationale, do you think that it'd be a good idea to also mention that, by joining WA, a nation can also start getting endorsed and thus becoming more influential? I'm asking because I believe our argument lacks the answer to their "what's in it for me?" question inside their heads. I propose that a succinct sentence mentioning the NS Daily Issues is added in the TG body. I propose a couple of sentences explaining the issue-support that they can receive gets added in the "New to NS" dispatch. In case you believe it's time for an updated "New to NS" dispatch, I can get into it.

Don't we have to coordinate ourselves in some way? A regional poll, maybe? This is my first Z-event ever, and I'm thinking about selecting the Cure Development approach (provided that available options remain the same).

Congrats, Badge — so now let's get this party started:

Thank you for the thumbs-up, guys!

Thanks, BBD! First dispatch, here: http://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=494723 Please provide feedback, corrections etc. PS Be gentle, it's my first dispatch evah!

Thanks Eli, Ele, Mal & Consular! The subforum where dealing with issues is no issue is open for business! PS I just LOVE the subforum's description!

Big Bad Badger

Hi and welcome back!

Questions: Will there be any official off-site thread for the Daily Issues Ministry? If yes in (1) above, can it be stickied? If yes in (1) above, which subforum is best suited for it? General discussion?

Great! I believe the best way to start would be a dispatch from my part, that will serve as a hub for both info and directions regarding the NS daily issues; then this dispatch could be linked in the WFE for easy reference. What do you think?

If it's a blend of on- and off-site. maybe triple? *fills in compensation forms*

Either way, I'm getting ready! *stretches*

Moreover, the original list contains a nation banned from TWP.

Well, Jimbo told me otherwise.

I have a keen interest for hedgehog jokes! So, how's the matic part getting into it?

The fact that he keeps flying a flag of a type reserved only for TWP Delegate & Guardians, while at the same time posting miserably vile comments on the DEN rmb, brings his extremely sadly immature and idiotic behavior well into the pure treason realm — and without return.

Hello and welcome to TWP!

Hello, HedgeHogMatic, and welcome to TWP!

Hello, Transpacifia, and welcome to the West Pacific!