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Name: Bullying On The Rise, Study Warns
Validity: Valid for all nations with education spending
Description: A new study conducted by schools across @@NAME@@ reports a sharp increase in bullying in the recent years. Angry parents are demanding the government take immediate action to address this growing concern.
[option]"Somebody had better do something around here! Did you see what these little monsters did to my Billy?" asks parent @@RANDOMNAME@@, standing beside a small child with a visible black eye. "This bullying problem is getting worse by the day. Sometimes it's name calling and other times it results in physical violence. It's due time the schools got tough on bullying. Hire some security guards to monitor classrooms and the playgrounds. If they see an action that even resembles bullying they should take immediate action against the perpetrator. I don't care what that punishment is so long as it makes the problem go away."
[effect]schoolchildren as young as five are tazed by security guards
[stats]healthiest ranking falls slightly, funding for law and order increases, funding for education increases slightly, most rebellious youth ranking rises slightly, safest ranking rises, unemployment falls slightly
[effect]"Corporal punishment will only make this bullying problem worse," counters child psychologist @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Studies have clearly shown a positive correlation between abusive households and increased aggressiveness in children. Children will take this aggression out on their peers. We shouldn't punish children for what they can't control at home. We should punish the parents who can't be bothered to teach their children proper behavior. Mandatory parenting classes ought to do the trick."
[effect]parents of reported bullies are sent to mandatory parenting classes
[stats]funding for welfare increases slightly, funding for social policy increases, funding for education increases slightly, most rebellious youth falls slightly, crime falls slightly, civil rights decrease slightly
[option]"Punishing parents only addresses a small portion of the problem," replies social worker and welfare activist @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Let's face it. Parents are spending an increased time at work and that alone will cause psychological problems with kids. I also note that these bullies are largely from poor and middle class families struggling to get by. If we increased welfare programs, subsidized housing, and free after school activities for these families I think you'd see this problem disappear. Not overnight, but it will happen."
[effect]the government has stepped up its welfare programs for low income families in an effort to curb youth related crime
[stats]funding for welfare increases, funding for social policy increases, economy decreases, taxes increase, crime decreases, most rebellious youth ranking decreases, most compassionate citizens ranking increases
[option]"You know what they say. @@ANIMAL@@ see, @@ANIMAL@@ do," chants pundit @@RANDOMNAME@@ in a singsong voice on his radio show. "How can we expect our kids to play nice when us adults are setting such a poor example? Kids are highly impressionable. If they see two grown men beating the living snot out of each other at a sports game or our own politicians screaming obscenities at each other then of course they will think it's okay. I call upon adults everywhere to clean up their act for the sake of our children."
[effect]doctors across @@NAME@@ are reporting increased stress levels in parents trying to set an example for their kids
[stats]apathy falls, nicest citizen ranking increases, rudest citizen ranking decreases, crime falls slightly, healthiest ranking falls
[option]"Hah! You're all looking at it the wrong way," replies cane-waving @@RANDOMNAME@@, recipient of last year's Grumpiest Old Man Award. "I got beat up all the time back in my schooldays and my folks never fussed about it. The government spends so much time babysitting kids these days kids can no longer just be kids. If anything getting beat up made me stronger. It taught me to stand up for myself because nobody else will. Now if anyone talks smack to me they're met with the back of my hand! It's time for the government to stop focusing on non-issues and turn to real ones like my pension!"
[stats]the government has decided to take a hands-off approach regarding parenting and discipline despite outcry from parents groups
[stats]most rebellious youth ranking increases, crime increases slightly, funding for social policy decreases, most compassionate citizens ranking decreases, nicest citizens ranking decreases, civil rights increase
