[SUBMITTED] The Bottom Of The Gun Barrel

[Singapore no2]

[desc] It's harvesting season in @@NAME@@, and farms all over the country are starved of manpower. Apparently, as every able-bodied adult and child has been conscripted into the army, the agricultural sector has unable to find enough temporary workers, forcing many farms to downsize operations. Government analysts are warning that the sector could suffer greatly if the manpower shortage increases.

[validity] Only valid for nations where all adults and children serve in the army, and that have a large military, and that have an agricultural sector.

[option] "Please reduce the conscription rate," pleads @@RANDOMNAME@@, the manager of a relatively large farm, clearly afraid of losing @@HIS@@ position. "We only have a dozen employees left, and some of them don't even know how to operate basic machinery. If you could exempt people who have experience working on farms from the draft, our sector will be saved. Remember, an army marches on its stomach, so supporting us will help the military as well."
[effect] citizens avoid the draft by claiming that they drove a tractor before

[option] "That's not enough!" exclaims @@RANDOMNAME@@, a former economist, marching into your office. "The military is a wasteful organization, producing nothing and consuming resources like there's no tomorrow. As you can see, it's already reached its physical limits, and continuing to support it will result in the eventual collapse of our entire economy. I therefore insist that you scrap conscription laws, and limit the army to volunteers."
[effect] unemployment has shot up dramatically as most of the army has been suddenly disbanded

[option] "Insubordination!" yells General @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@, waving @@HIS@@ fist agitatedly. "How can you suggest that we leave our borders defenceless? With all of the threats facing our nation, we really can't afford fire any of our soldiers. There is of course another avaliable source of manpower that has been overlooked. If it is absolutely necessary, the disabled and the elderly can be made to work in the fields. The agricultural sector can put to rest any claims of ableism or ageism, and we get to maintain our army size."
[effect] injured front-line troops are forced to work in the fields

[desc] With every able-bodied adult and child conscripted into the army, arms manufacturing industrial output has begun to decline. Industry observers warn that the dropping military factory production might leave soldiers ill-equipped or worse, unarmed.

[validity] Only valid for nations where all adults and children serve in the army, and that have a large military

[option] "You should reduce the conscription rate," suggests @@RANDOMNAME@@, a military engineer, who is examining a blueprint. "It won't be any use having a massive army if they don't have anything to fight with, after all. Skilled engineers, researchers and workers should be exempted from the draft, and put to inventing and producing new weapons and armour. That should solve manpower woes in the industry."
[effect] the army is facing a serious shortage of skilled labour

[option] "That's not enough!" exclaims @@RANDOMNAME@@, a former economist, marching into your office. "The military is a wasteful organization, producing nothing and consuming resources like there's no tomorrow. As you can see, it's already reached its physical limits, and continuing to support it will result in the eventual collapse of our economy. I therefore insist that you scrap conscription laws, and limit the army to volunteers."
[effect] the military–industrial complex has collapsed overnight

[option] "Insubordination!" yells General @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@, waving @@HIS@@ fist agitatedly. "The arms industry currently hires plenty of people, and firing them would hurt the economy! All we have to do is to make the disabled and the elderly work in our weapons factories, and our arms production will increase. As an added bonus, we can finally put to rest any claims of ableism or ageism in the industrial sector."
[effect] injured front-line troops are forced to work in factories

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Seems pretty similar to #810.

[Singapore no2]

Seems pretty similar to #810.

It's about insufficient manpower, but I can see why it would appear similar.

[Jutsa]

and to continuing to support it

Option 2: I think you meant either "and continuing" or "and to continue".

ablelism or ageism in the industrial sector."

Option 3: ableism*

It appears to be another good draft, Sing#2, and one that I think raises a very good point.

Something I should point out, however, is the matter of reserved forces - those that do other things until they're called back in.
Now, this poses a problem as I don't think NS really cares about active vs. inactive troops, so I don't think you can just have a "must have highly active troops" stat.
To be honest, that'd probably solve everything.

It could very well be fine as-is anyway, but I just wanted to point that out, just in case it does prove to complicate things a bit. Good luck!

[Singapore no2]

It could very well be fine as-is anyway, but I just wanted to point that out, just in case it does prove to complicate things a bit. Good luck!

Thanks! I think that the validity is fine though, because manpower includes active and inactive troops.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Seems pretty similar to #810.

It's about insufficient manpower, but I can see why it would appear similar.

Sure. Maybe clarify this by taking out the emphasis on arms manufacture, and instead make it about a shortage in a wholly civilian industry with high levels of labour needed.

For example, it could be about fruit-picking season, when there's a sudden spike in demand for labour, where conscription could leave an employment shortfall.

The only problem with this, of course, is that there is an Employment stat that could reveal that this narrative is false, so you'd need to phrase it carefully.

[Singapore no2]

I think a title change is in order. Please suggest.

make it about a shortage in a wholly civilian industry with high levels of labour needed.

Made it vaguely about the agricultural sector.

The only problem with this, of course, is that there is an Employment stat that could reveal that this narrative is false, so you'd need to phrase it carefully.

I made it clear that it was about manpower.

[Jutsa]

I like the title as-is. There are a couple of other, somewhat-similar-sounding titles, but I really think this works beautifully for this issue.

[Caracasus]

Hmm. Either something referencing swords and ploughs or some play on the double meaning of the word arms would be my suggestion.

[Singapore no2]

I like the title as-is.

Since I can't think of anything more suitable, I think I'll leave it in it's current form.

[Singapore no2]

Anything else to change?

[Fauxia]

I think it’s submittable