NationStates

With Clasp of Controversy submitted and hopefully to be edited and accepted at some point, it's time to write another issue. As you may be able to tell, the title of this issue is an allusion to issue 120. I hope this isn't considered too similar to 447.

[the issue]Satirists have begun to take advantage of @@NAME@@'s easygoing ballot access rules. This became particularly obvious when the Society of Internationalist Liberal Localist Yuppies (SILLY) nearly won a seat in Parliament on the platform of "growing money on trees" and "popcorn for all" among other things. Political scientists predict that this may result in multiple seats for SILLY as soon as next elections.

[validity]must have elections, loose ballot rules, and political parties

[option 1]"How could we let this happen?" gasps leader of the Liberal Conservatives, @@RANDOMNAME@@, without noticing a secret microphone probably installed by SILLY. "This so-called party is the direct result of how loose our ballot access restrictions are! We need to crack down on parties that don't have actual positions! That way, none of these jesters gets into Parliament and votes down our legislation or something else ridiculous!"
[fallout]opposition parties are designated as joke parties and denied a place on ballots

[option 2]"Do we not have free speech, or do we think of that as archaic now?" inquisites Maxine Barrymore, leader of SILLY, while handing you an autographed copy of her book, Jessica in Government. "The fact that my party receives votes is just showing how unpopular the status quo is, but none of the parties out there seem to want to get rid of it! If the government starts doing something right for once, maybe these joke parties will begin to decline. Until then, keep us on the ballot, and defend the right to protest!"
[fallout]parliament now consists more of @@ANIMAL@@s than @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@

[option 3]"I have a better idea!" exclaims comedian Jon Warden, while painting a smile on your face. "You can learn a thing or two from this, @@LEADER@@! You should spice up your press conferences with a little humor! Dress up as a clown every now and then, crack a few jokes. Don’t take politics or even just life- so seriously- it isn’t permanent."
[fallout]most members of parliament fail to understand @@LEADER@@‘s jokes about obscure nations

[option 4]"Everyone seems to be ignoring the obvious solution," remarks founder of the Church Of @@LEADER@@, @@RANDOMNAME@@, while removing the microphone that @@HE@@ apparently installed. "You could get rid of this problem by doing away with elections and just installing yourself as supreme leader of @@NAME@@. That seems much more simple to me, and there will be less disagreement about it. Or if there is, you can just send in the military to silence the protesters."
[fallout]late-night satires frequently star military generals as guests

Good premise. After the UK general election with the great picture of Lord Buckethead next to Theresa May...



...there was much talk of an issue around joke parties. Nothing ever happened though.

The trick here is creating an issue where the political freedom/free speech/let them be silly isn't the obviously correct one, ending up with 80% of respondents.

The best way to achieve that generally is to present TWO pro-freedom options, both equally reasonable but distinct in position.

Wait, but how?

Well... that's kind of up to you. All I can say is that it needs two pro-freedom options.

Maybe an option to allow them to exist, and to maybe follow their example, with some moderation. For example, to tell more jokes, and to be willing to laugh at yourself and your colleagues. "Perhaps, @@LEADER@@, you could don a silly hat at the next session of parliament, and in doing so show that you're a light-hearted soul and that you don't take yourself too seriously."

Bop

True Democratic Socialism wrote:Bop

What?

Candlewhisper Archive wrote:Well... that's kind of up to you. All I can say is that it needs two pro-freedom options.

Maybe an option to allow them to exist, and to maybe follow their example, with some moderation. For example, to tell more jokes, and to be willing to laugh at yourself and your colleagues. "Perhaps, @@LEADER@@, you could don a silly hat at the next session of parliament, and in doing so show that you're a light-hearted soul and that you don't take yourself too seriously."

Thanks!

Does this conflict with the issue about Bobo the Clown? Also, you should look up some of Australia's one issue party and other minor parties (some are pretty funny) just look at the sex party

New draft- do you like the references Monitor?

Australian Republic wrote:Does this conflict with the issue about Bobo the Clown?

What issue are you talking about, because I can't find it.

If you mean the effect line to 182.1, Coco the Clown has been elected to the nation's parliament, then no, clearly there is no overlap.

Liking the current draft, no other comments at present.

I would have voted for Lord Buckethead. Also, I second what CWA said.

Well... actually, this:

Don’t take politics or, better, life- so seriously- it isn’t permanent.”

It's a little hard to parse - for me, anyways. Any way to make it a little bit more fluid?

Jutsa wrote:I would have voted for Lord Buckethead. Also, I second what CWA said.

Well... actually, this:

Don’t take politics or, better, life- so seriously- it isn’t permanent.”

It's a little hard to parse - for me, anyways. Any way to make it a little bit more fluid?

Yeah, that bothered me a bit too. We’ll see.

Ah, another problem I spotted, Fauxia - option 3 uses “smart quotes” instead of "dumb ones".
Huh... I legitimately am curious why.

Jutsa wrote:Ah, another problem I spotted, Fauxia - option 3 uses “smart quotes” instead of "dumb ones".
Huh... I legitimately am curious why.

Quirk of the keyboard, I guess. Fixed, anyway.

So do y’all think this is ready to be submitted?

Yes. Good issue.

Mind you, I'd be inclined to change the title to a more direct pun on parties as celebrations. BUt we can work on that later.

Candlewhisper Archive wrote:Mind you, I'd be inclined to change the title to a more direct pun on parties as celebrations. BUt we can work on that later.

I like this idea. I’ll think on it.

If this gets accepted when I submit it and relatively unchanged, it will be the first issue with multiple Monitor references!

How has this not been mentioned yet?

As for ideas for a title:

Third Party Pooper
The Party's Over
Party Crasher
Life of the Silly Party
Party on, @@LEADER@@!

Thanks, Drasnia! Took the last one.

Bold words are my suggested changes.
[the issue]Satirists have begun to take advantage of @@NAME@@'s easygoing ballot access rules. This became particularly obvious when the Society of Internationalist Liberal Localist Yuppies (SILLY) nearly won a seat in Parliament on the platform of "growing money on trees" and "popcorn for all" among other tomfoolery. Political scientists predict that this may result in multiple seats for SILLY as soon as the next election.

[option 3]"I have a better idea!" exclaims comedian Jon Warden, while painting a smile on your face. "You can learn a thing or two from this, @@LEADER@@! You should spice up your press conferences with a little humor! Dress up as a clown every now and then, crack a few jokes. Don’t take politics or life so seriously — it isn’t eternal, after all!"
[fallout]most members of parliament fail to understand @@LEADER@@‘s jokes about obscure nations

[option 4]"Everyone seems to be ignoring the obvious solution," remarks founder of the Church Of @@LEADER@@, @@RANDOMNAME@@, while removing the microphone that @@HE@@ had apparently installed. "You could get rid of this problem by doing away with elections and just installing yourself as supreme leader of @@NAME@@. That seems much more simple to me, and there will be less disagreement about it. Or if there is, you can just send in the military to silence the protesters."
[fallout]late-night satires frequently star military generals as guests

Candlewhisper Archive wrote:

Australian Republic wrote:Does this conflict with the issue about Bobo the Clown?

What issue are you talking about, because I can't find it.

If you mean the effect line to 182.1, Coco the Clown has been elected to the nation's parliament, then no, clearly there is no overlap.

Yea, plus the one about letting dogs run

Shwe Tu Colony wrote:Bold words are my suggested changes.
[the issue]Satirists have begun to take advantage of @@NAME@@'s easygoing ballot access rules. This became particularly obvious when the Society of Internationalist Liberal Localist Yuppies (SILLY) nearly won a seat in Parliament on the platform of "growing money on trees" and "popcorn for all" among other tomfoolery. Political scientists predict that this may result in multiple seats for SILLY as soon as the next election.

[option 3]"I have a better idea!" exclaims comedian Jon Warden, while painting a smile on your face. "You can learn a thing or two from this, @@LEADER@@! You should spice up your press conferences with a little humor! Dress up as a clown every now and then, crack a few jokes. Don’t take politics or life so seriously — it isn’t eternal, after all!"
[fallout]most members of parliament fail to understand @@LEADER@@‘s jokes about obscure nations

[option 4]"Everyone seems to be ignoring the obvious solution," remarks founder of the Church Of @@LEADER@@, @@RANDOMNAME@@, while removing the microphone that @@HE@@ had apparently installed. "You could get rid of this problem by doing away with elections and just installing yourself as supreme leader of @@NAME@@. That seems much more simple to me, and there will be less disagreement about it. Or if there is, you can just send in the military to silence the protesters."
[fallout]late-night satires frequently star military generals as guests

I took some of this, thanks. Anyone have any objections before I submit?

Great issue, send it in when you are ready.