NationStates Issues **SPOILER ALERT**

[Golgothastan]

Despite the issue not having nearly enough Creedence references, added. Thanks.

[Lenyo]

Despite the issue not having nearly enough Creedence references, added. Thanks.

Sorry, I don't know that band.

[Golgothastan]

The title must have arrived by divine inspiration then.

[Lenyo]

The title must have arrived by divine inspiration then.

I prefer that explanation. It's more interesting.

[Sierra Lyricalia]

Despite the issue not having nearly enough Creedence references, added. Thanks.

Too bad, really. As we try to run through the jungle of economic policy, weighing the ideas of fortunate sons against those born on the bayou, it'd be nice to talk to someone down on the corner about what they see looking out their backdoor.

(Thank you! Now I no longer have crap from the radio stuck in my head! )

[Frenequesta]

Issue #127 (Aging Concerns in @@NAME@@) seems to have a new option:

4. "There's no need for anything so controversial," posits @@RANDOMNAME@@, Manager of the Department of Leaver Earnings of Wall To Wall Mart. "If our working age population can't support the pensions our retirees deserve, then clearly we need more workers. There are plenty of talented Maxtopians, Marche Noirians, and Big- well... and lots of Bigtopians too, queueing up to get jobs in this country. If we open our borders to them, we'll have more than enough taxpayers to support elderly @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ well into retirement. Everyone's a winner."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.

My country's highly inclusive to begin with, so I'm not sure if it's come because of or in spite of that.

[Autochthonesia]

I got issue 444:

#444: Virtually Assured Destruction [The Federal Republic of Austral Coast; ed:Lenyo]

The Issue
Last week a mothballed Autochthonesian nuclear missile exploded deep underground, triggering a catastrophic earthquake in rural Autochthonesia. The little evidence that could be recovered from the debris indicates that the explosion was caused by neglected maintenance of outdated warheads, spurring debate over the state of the nation's nuclear arsenal.

The Debate
1. "We clearly need a total overhaul," states Colonel Tim Nagasawa of the Autochthonesian Nuclear Deterrence Program, quite calmly despite the clamor outside of your office. "It will be costly, but once we have a new generation of warheads ready, we'll be perfectly safe from another incident like this happening, at least during my own tenure. We will, of course, need to dispose of the old missiles to make room for their replacements, but I'm sure the nuclear industry would jump at an ongoing contract to recycle the plutonium for us. It's certainly cheaper than mining more ore out of the ground."

2. "We definitely need to update our warheads," hastily concurs the Tasmanian Ambassador, Jack Song. "I propose we sell the old missiles to our friendlier neighbors. Then we get some money and ditch responsibility for the missiles, and we save an ally a lot of R&D. It's probably safe! Worst case scenario: the old missiles fall into the wrong hands while in transit to other countries, but if we just convoy them up with some regular munitions, the teamsters will be able to fight off any attempted hijacking."

3. "Really?" objects Jacob Anderson of the Autochthonesian Security Agency, startling you as he appears seemingly out of nowhere. "You actually think it was just a malfunction? Why do you think there was so little evidence left? That warhead was clearly detonated intentionally; I don't know if it was terrorists or spies from one of our rivals, but someone did this, and they did it for a reason. Our primary concern should be with securing our missile bases against sabotage. People may still be scared of nuclear malfunction, but hey - if nobody wants to live near our nukes, that only strengthens national security."

4. "You're all ignoring the real problem!" shouts a protester as she bursts through the door to your office. "The nukes were a bad idea from the get-go! Sooner or later we're going to annihilate ourselves with another accident. What's the point of even having a deterrent if we're just going to blow ourselves up? For the sake of humanity, the environment, and the national budget, it's time to disarm ALL nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons."

[Trotterdam]

Fun fact: this issue was actually added to the game at the same time as #443, but that one was reported immediately while this one seems to have eluded us for five days.

[Golgothastan]

Fun fact: this issue was actually added to the game at the same time as #443, but that one was reported immediately while this one seems to have eluded us for five days.

It has a much lower validity, so it probably didn't crop up for as many people.

I'll update the list tomorrow.

[Acronius]

Issue 445 - Evasive Maneuvers

The Issue

After a recent newspaper exposé revealed that many corporations in Acronius have been using obscure segments of the tax code to avoid taxation, an army of proletarian protesters marched on the companies involved. Naturally, the corporations sent out their own troop of crack lawyers, and they have met in the only conceivable middle ground: your office.

The Debate

"Let's look at the legal facts here, shall we?" asks William Smith, a sharp-suited lawyer opening a manilla folder filled with a seemingly unending sheaf of papers. "The organisation I represent acted within the strict letter of the law and structured its assets as anybody would - in a manner to avoid the maximum amount of tax paid. Taxes are designed to reward certain behaviours over others, by offering a scheme of incentives and disincentives to those behaviours: the mere idea that a change in which behaviours to reward, and that my organisation should finance that change retroactively, amounts to legislative tyranny."

Accept

"That's bloody ridiculous!" puffs red-faced protester, Ariel McAlpin, blowing spittle all over their supercilious counterpart. "They're trying to paint all of this as something that any reasonable person would do - but it just isn't! I don't know every inch of the tax code, and it's not like I can get all these smug big-shots to hang around the flat and tell me how to 'structure my assets', or some other rubbish. They knew what they did was against the spirit of the law, if nothing else - take them for all they've got. It's only fair."

Accept

"Erm, President Rory Whittemore?" whimpers Hope Bush, a timid conflict-fearing Treasury Ministry employee, cowering in a fort made up of boxes of tax code amendments, "I think there's a way out of this. Surely we can just change the law to take out the biggest loopholes, without asking companies for any back payments for laws they didn't break at the time? It's not a perfect solution, but at least most of the protesters will go home and leave us alone - at least until they realize the corporate lawyers are back to their usual tricks?"

Accept

The Government Position

The government has yet to formalize a position on this issue.

Dismiss This Issue

Issue by: Panageadom
Editor: Nation of Quebec

[Annihilators of Chan Island]

Issue 445 - Evasive Maneuvers

The Issue

After a recent newspaper exposé revealed that many corporations in Acronius have been using obscure segments of the tax code to avoid taxation, an army of proletarian protesters marched on the companies involved. Naturally, the corporations sent out their own troop of crack lawyers, and they have met in the only conceivable middle ground: your office.

The Debate

"Let's look at the legal facts here, shall we?" asks William Smith, a sharp-suited lawyer opening a manilla folder filled with a seemingly unending sheaf of papers. "The organisation I represent acted within the strict letter of the law and structured its assets as anybody would - in a manner to avoid the maximum amount of tax paid. Taxes are designed to reward certain behaviours over others, by offering a scheme of incentives and disincentives to those behaviours: the mere idea that a change in which behaviours to reward, and that my organisation should finance that change retroactively, amounts to legislative tyranny."

Accept

"That's bloody ridiculous!" puffs red-faced protester, Ariel McAlpin, blowing spittle all over their supercilious counterpart. "They're trying to paint all of this as something that any reasonable person would do - but it just isn't! I don't know every inch of the tax code, and it's not like I can get all these smug big-shots to hang around the flat and tell me how to 'structure my assets', or some other rubbish. They knew what they did was against the spirit of the law, if nothing else - take them for all they've got. It's only fair."

Accept

"Erm, President Rory Whittemore?" whimpers Hope Bush, a timid conflict-fearing Treasury Ministry employee, cowering in a fort made up of boxes of tax code amendments, "I think there's a way out of this. Surely we can just change the law to take out the biggest loopholes, without asking companies for any back payments for laws they didn't break at the time? It's not a perfect solution, but at least most of the protesters will go home and leave us alone - at least until they realize the corporate lawyers are back to their usual tricks?"

Accept

The Government Position

The government has yet to formalize a position on this issue.

Dismiss This Issue

Issue by: Panageadom
Editor: Nation of Quebec

Edited by Nation of Quebec. Well done mate!

[Outer Sparta]

Issue 445 - Evasive Maneuvers

The Issue

After a recent newspaper exposé revealed that many corporations in Acronius have been using obscure segments of the tax code to avoid taxation, an army of proletarian protesters marched on the companies involved. Naturally, the corporations sent out their own troop of crack lawyers, and they have met in the only conceivable middle ground: your office.

The Debate

"Let's look at the legal facts here, shall we?" asks William Smith, a sharp-suited lawyer opening a manilla folder filled with a seemingly unending sheaf of papers. "The organisation I represent acted within the strict letter of the law and structured its assets as anybody would - in a manner to avoid the maximum amount of tax paid. Taxes are designed to reward certain behaviours over others, by offering a scheme of incentives and disincentives to those behaviours: the mere idea that a change in which behaviours to reward, and that my organisation should finance that change retroactively, amounts to legislative tyranny."

Accept

"That's bloody ridiculous!" puffs red-faced protester, Ariel McAlpin, blowing spittle all over their supercilious counterpart. "They're trying to paint all of this as something that any reasonable person would do - but it just isn't! I don't know every inch of the tax code, and it's not like I can get all these smug big-shots to hang around the flat and tell me how to 'structure my assets', or some other rubbish. They knew what they did was against the spirit of the law, if nothing else - take them for all they've got. It's only fair."

Accept

"Erm, President Rory Whittemore?" whimpers Hope Bush, a timid conflict-fearing Treasury Ministry employee, cowering in a fort made up of boxes of tax code amendments, "I think there's a way out of this. Surely we can just change the law to take out the biggest loopholes, without asking companies for any back payments for laws they didn't break at the time? It's not a perfect solution, but at least most of the protesters will go home and leave us alone - at least until they realize the corporate lawyers are back to their usual tricks?"

Accept

The Government Position

The government has yet to formalize a position on this issue.

Dismiss This Issue

Issue by: Panageadom
Editor: Nation of Quebec

Edited by Nation of Quebec. Well done mate!

Ditto. NOQ edited my bee issue.

[Golgothastan]

Thanks, added.

[Sirian]

I just got a new issue. #446 In The Land Of Milk And Money?

The Issue

A recent survey from the @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ Directorate for Health showed that a growing minority of the nation's women are having difficulties producing enough breast milk for their infants. Now a leading breastfeeding advocate has suggested a co-operative scheme in which nursing mothers share surplus milk with other mothers who are having difficulties, for a small profit.

The Debate

1. "It's simple really," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, while scattering rose petals all over your office. "All kids should have a chance at the sweet nectar of a mother's breast, and we'll provide havens where mothers can share and receive in a relaxed environment. There'll be velvet cushions, scented candles and mood music. And to facilitate the money part I've designed a coin-operated nursing bra that the girls can wear. Would you like me to demonstrate?"

2. "This is a noble idea," says Doctor @@RANDOMNAME@@, grey eminence of the national health bureaucracy. "Allowing this dissemination of milk will undoubtedly improve the health of our new baby citizens. However, clearly the government must handle this, as to secure proper hygiene and acceptable safety standards. Mothers can deposit their milk at approved facilities, and those lacking can apply for free rations through the appropriate channels. Let's not talk of monetary compensation: that is distasteful."

3. "And why should this only be eligible for mothers?" counters @@RANDOMMALENAME@@, noted libertarian who has embraced his Oedipus complex. "There is a wider market here, and we should acknowledge that. Who wouldn't want breast milk with their cereal, or in their coffee? I know I would! No meddling regulations and restrictions, let milk and money flow free!"

4. "Hang on a minute there," yells @@RANDOMNAME@@, CEO of the infant formula company Got Milk Inc. "I just heard from a peg-legged homeless person that breast milk is a gateway drug to cannibalism, so maybe we're better off without it? With some government funding, my company can provide enough tasty and nutritious formula for all of Sirian's infants!"

Issue by: The Kingdom of Kaztropol
Editor: Gnejs

[Annihilators of Chan Island]

I just got a new issue. #446 In The Land Of Milk And Money?

The Issue

A recent survey from the @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ Directorate for Health showed that a growing minority of the nation's women are having difficulties producing enough breast milk for their infants. Now a leading breastfeeding advocate has suggested a co-operative scheme in which nursing mothers share surplus milk with other mothers who are having difficulties, for a small profit.

The Debate

1. "It's simple really," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, while scattering rose petals all over your office. "All kids should have a chance at the sweet nectar of a mother's breast, and we'll provide havens where mothers can share and receive in a relaxed environment. There'll be velvet cushions, scented candles and mood music. And to facilitate the money part I've designed a coin-operated nursing bra that the girls can wear. Would you like me to demonstrate?"

2. "This is a noble idea," says Doctor @@RANDOMNAME@@, grey eminence of the national health bureaucracy. "Allowing this dissemination of milk will undoubtedly improve the health of our new baby citizens. However, clearly the government must handle this, as to secure proper hygiene and acceptable safety standards. Mothers can deposit their milk at approved facilities, and those lacking can apply for free rations through the appropriate channels. Let's not talk of monetary compensation: that is distasteful."

3. "And why should this only be eligible for mothers?" counters @@RANDOMMALENAME@@, noted libertarian who has embraced his Oedipus complex. "There is a wider market here, and we should acknowledge that. Who wouldn't want breast milk with their cereal, or in their coffee? I know I would! No meddling regulations and restrictions, let milk and money flow free!"

4. "Hang on a minute there," yells @@RANDOMNAME@@, CEO of the infant formula company Got Milk Inc. "I just heard from a peg-legged homeless person that breast milk is a gateway drug to cannibalism, so maybe we're better off without it? With some government funding, my company can provide enough tasty and nutritious formula for all of Sirian's infants!"

Issue by: The Kingdom of Kaztropol

Editor: Gnejs

Great start Gnejs!

Any fans of option 3 in the house?

[Trotterdam]

Any fans of option 3 in the house?

I am, but then my nation's citizens include talking cows. That probably changes the equation.

(Personally, I love it when an issue option that looks weird/radical but still possible for humans turns out to be just the right thing for a more exotic culture.)

Sirian: You mostly did a good job on the macros, but you missed a @@NAME@@ here:

"With some government funding, my company can provide enough tasty and nutritious formula for all of Sirian's infants!"

[Viikate]

Hrm. At least half of my nations will have to dismiss #446. Since none of the options are against the idea. Some of my nations would opposite it for ideological reasons (religion, natural selection), and some are too tyrannical to care about things like that (babies are a renewable resource).

[Trotterdam]

Hrm. At least half of my nations will have to dismiss #446. Since none of the options are against the idea.

That's the last option (ban breast milk entirely, even for your own children, and make artificial bottled milk formula mandatory).

[Annihilators of Chan Island]

Hrm. At least half of my nations will have to dismiss #446. Since none of the options are against the idea. Some of my nations would opposite it for ideological reasons (religion, natural selection), and some are too tyrannical to care about things like that (babies are a renewable resource).

I think forcing people to have to use formula to feed their babies in option 4 is pretty tyrannical.

[Outer Sparta]

Hrm. At least half of my nations will have to dismiss #446. Since none of the options are against the idea. Some of my nations would opposite it for ideological reasons (religion, natural selection), and some are too tyrannical to care about things like that (babies are a renewable resource).

I think forcing people to have to use formula to feed their babies in option 4 is pretty tyrannical.

Especially if it's an artificial kind.

[Frisbeeteria]

I think forcing people to have to use formula to feed their babies in option 4 is pretty tyrannical.

Especially if it's an artificial kind.

Folks, this is the SPOILER ALERT thread, not the "Let's critique issues" thread. Back on topic, please.

[Trotterdam]

Here is the new version of option 1 of #062, as mentioned here:

1. "Although it is often dismissed as an irrelevant complaint, depression is a real disease; it isn't just 'all in your head'," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, depression sufferer. "Depression has significant effects on groups and individuals, especially amongst teenagers. Every day, more and more people commit suicide because of this disease, but this could all be stopped if this country had informative public awareness programs. Even better would be providing mandatory counselling in free, government-run facilities for those who seem down-and-out. This will save lives!"

Additionally, option 3 has been changed to end on "psychiatrist" instead of "psychologist".

[Jute]

No one had #448 yet?

[Trotterdam]

No one had #448 yet?

Why are you asking that now? I thought barely anyone even knew there is a #448 yet! And #447 isn't in the list yet either.

I believe that #447 is this issue by Gnejs, and #448 is an issue by Flanderosa that was added just yesterday - if I'm right, the next update tick a few minutes from now will be the first opportunity anyone besides the author will have to answer it. If you have it, post it!

Or did you just have a submitted issue accepted and saw that it got numbered #449?

[Jute]

No one had #448 yet?

Why are you asking that now? I thought barely anyone even knew there is a #448 yet! And #447 isn't in the list yet either.

I believe that #447 is this issue by Gnejs, and #448 is an issue by Flanderosa that was added just yesterday - if I'm right, the next update tick a few minutes from now will be the first opportunity anyone besides the author will have to answer it. If you have it, post it!

Or did you just have a submitted issue accepted and saw that it got numbered #449?

A steam contact of me who also plays Nationstates now again got it today. Here is a screenshot of it