Dirty Little Minds
Description:
The Health Ministry has expressed concerns at new evidence that pollutants in the atmosphere and in the water supply may be negatively affecting the intelligence and cognitive abilities of the nation's children.
Validity:
Valid for nations with Toxicity above the world average
Options:
[option]"Legislation is the answer," says tatty-suited progressive politician @@RANDOMNAME@@, "Crack down on air pollution, regulate vehicle emissions and heavily tax polluting industry and power generation. Yes, this is going to have economic impact, but won't you think of the children?"
[effect]draconian clean air and clean water laws are hobbling economic growth
[stats]toxicity reduces a lot, economy reduces quite a lot, taxation increases, authoritarianism increases a little, business subsidization reduces, eco-friendliness increases, environmental beauty increases, health increases, human development index increases, lifespan increases, industry: automobile manufacturing decreases, sector: manufacturing decreases, most pro-market decreases,
[option]"Self regulation is the answer," says expensively dressed industrialist @@RANDOMNAME@@, "The industry will... uh... establish a voluntary code of conduct, and we will definitely think about cutting into our profit margins and reneging on our obligations to our shareholders to make a fast buck. At the very least, we'll do some PR work."
[effect]major polluting industries have painted a lot of their machines green to give an impression of caring about the environment
[stats]toxicity increases a little, most pro-market increases, intelligence decreases
[option]"Science is the answer," says enthusiastic transhumanist @@RANDOMNAME@@ with a manic glint in his eye, "The problem here is that we've got the wrong sort of pollutants. Add the right neuro-stimulant chemicals to the waterways and the air, and I can guarantee you the lovely pollution will start making our kids cleverer instead. Sure, they might have increased risk of fatal brain haemorrhage in puberty, but they'll expand their cognition and consciousness, and become Human Plus."
[effect]the national water supply has a really weird metallic taste and a slight purple-tinge to it
[stats]toxicity increases a lot, scientific advancement increases, intelligence increases, health decreases, lifespan decreases, unexpected death rate increases, death from strokes increases, primitiveness decreases
[option]"Creative thinking is the answer," says slightly intimidating 'solutions manager' @@RANDOMNAME@@, "We can keep making pollutants, so long as we don't let them get into our nation's environment. I've got half a dozen ideas, from selling our waste to gullible third world nations as fertilisers, to sticking some of the nastier chemicals into new-flavour 'smokey-cola' and pushing it to export. Recategorise waste as product, and we can get it out of the country at a nice profit."
[effect]corrupt industrial practices are endemic in the nation
[stats]toxicity decreases a little, environmental beauty increases a little, eco-friendliness reduces a lot, corruption increases a lot, niceness decreases a lot, compassion decreases a lot, beverage sales increases, economy increases a little
Unmodded:
