NationStates

Posted: **Wed Mar 03, 2021 9:06 am**

2nd draft

[TITLE] The Defenestration of Progg

[DESCRIPTION] Just as you are reaching the dessert course of a lovely dinner, the doors fly open to reveal @@RANDOMFIRSTNAME@@ Progg, governor of one of your most remote provinces, who is covered in what you're fairly sure isn't chocolate. Sputtering with rage, @@HE@@ declares that @@HIS@@ local populace has risen in rebellion, and threw @@HIM@@ out @@HIS@@ office window into a septic tank that was open for maintenance nearby.

[VALIDITY] Devolution, Protest Permitted

[OPTION 1] "I hurried here immediately, @@LEADER@@!" concludes the governor, seemingly oblivious to the odor that is choking your nearby staff. "The unwashed masses have gone completely mad, and our local resources aren't enough. Send in the national police! Send in the military! Flush this rebellion before it starts, and prosecute the ringleaders! I have a list of 27 names of those whom I suspect took part – we need surveillance on them right away. Please, send the message that the central authorities have our back!"

[EFFECT 1] local officials love to claim the protection of their Big Brother

[OPTION 2] "Smells like you're the unwashed one, Progg" quips @@RANDOMNAME@@, an angry provincial citizen who has followed the governor across the country. "Listen, @@LEADER@@, nobody touched this turd. Sure we went to @@HIS(1)@@ office, but @@HE(1)@@ jumped out the window rather than hear us out! Did you know @@HE(1)@@ was demanding bribes for basic services? Just say no to dirty politics! Audit local officials to make sure their hands are clean, and then check on the auditors too!"

[EFFECT 2] the government is washing its hands of alleged corruption

[OPTION 3] "Well this is as clear as sludge" mutters your Director of Sewage and Wastewater Management, who was touring the building's bathrooms while you ate. "Without our people having been there, who knows what the truth is? No matter what really happened, it seems like local authorities just can't handle things themselves, so maybe it's time we exert a bit more day-to-day control over the provinces? That's the only way to keep these bumpkins from clogging up the works!"

[EFFECT 3] the central government is trying to keep things flowing

1st draft

I took a look and am not aware that we have any issues that touch on the famous Defenestration(s) of Prague. Being one of the more entertaining of historical oddities (or at least as entertaining as the spark to a decades-long religious conflict can be), this seems like a gross oversight. Given that the incident itself was turned into a poop joke by participants at the time, that seems like an obvious inclusion.

[TITLE] The Defenestration of Prague

[DESCRIPTION] Just as you are reaching the dessert course of a lovely dinner, the doors fly open to reveal @@RANDOMFIRSTNAME_1@@ Prague, the governor of one of your most remote provinces, covered in what you're fairly sure isn't chocolate. Sputtering with rage, @@HE_1@@ declares that the local populace, incensed by some new policy, burst into his office and threw @@HIM_1@@ out the window and into a septic tank that was open for maintenance nearby.

[VALIDITY] Devolution

[OPTION 1] "I hurried here immediately, @@LEADER@@!" concludes the governor, seemingly oblivious to the odor that is choking your nearby staff. "This rabble is completely mad. Send in the police! Send in the military! Quash this rebellion before it starts, and prosecute the ringleaders! I have a list of 27 names here that I suspect took part. We need to send the message that the government is not to be challenged, and we won't tolerate the unwashed masses laying hands upon politicians!"

[EFFECT 1] a fierce crackdown on public opinion is underway

[OPTION 2] "Smells like you're the unwashed one, Governor" quips @@RANDOMNAME@@, a representative of the mob in question, carefully concealing a pitchfork. "Listen, @@LEADER@@, nobody touched this oaf. Sure we went to @@HIS_1@@ office, but @@HE_1@@ jumped out the window rather than hear us out! Did you know @@HE_1@@ was demanding bribes for basic services? Just say no to dirty politics! Audit local officials to make sure they're clean, and then check on the auditors too!"

[EFFECT 2] the people responsible for auditing auditors are being audited

[OPTION 3] "Well this is as clear as sludge" mutters @@RANDOMNAME@@, your Director of Sewage and Wastewater Management, who was on a tour of the government building's bathrooms while you ate. "Without your people having been there, who knows what the truth is? Maybe it's time you exert a bit more personal control over the provinces, so this kind of thing doesn't happen again. That's the only way to be sure it doesn't get mucked up!"

[EFFECT 3] if you want something done right you have to do it yourself

As of draft 1 I'm definitely still wanting to re-work the effect lines, but these will suffice for the moment.

Posted: **Thu Mar 04, 2021 12:22 am**

Option 1- Why can't he send out the police if he's in charge of the province? What will federal police do that provincial police can't do? In fact, wouldn't the provencial police have more power in this regard? Either case, what does he expect the federal government to do? The very purpose of federation is to limit the power of the federal government. He'd have more authority of his province than leader would

Posted: **Thu Mar 04, 2021 7:44 am**

Australian rePublic wrote:Option 1- Why can't he send out the police if he's in charge of the province? What will federal police do that provincial police can't do? In fact, wouldn't the provencial police have more power in this regard? Either case, what does he expect the federal government to do? The very purpose of federation is to limit the power of the federal government. He'd have more authority of his province than leader would

Devolution is different from Federation - powers under Devolution still flow from the central authority. That said, it's still a very valid question - I pondered the use of "police" in that line for that exact reason, but because of that difference between those terms, I didn't want to use the word "Feds" to describe the law enforcement support the governor is asking for. I'm still pondering other terms that might work, or could just drop it and have this be a troop request. Alternately, I'm also open to changing the word "governor" to use some other term that implies less direct power - a council chairperson or something, maybe an Alderman? I started with "governor" because in the original incident, the defenestrated party were direct representatives of the emperor, and I want to make sure it's still reasonable that they come directly to you, the national leader.

Generally speaking, because there is no established rule for precisely what devolution means in NS context, and which powers are at which levels under that idiom, I'm working within a concept of devolution similar to that seen in the Shire Districts of England where (by my understanding) lower tier councils oversee things like housing, schools, and utilities, while policing is usually at a higher level, and the military is strictly nationally controlled.

Posted: **Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:00 am**

Been a while! Going to start getting this one polished up.

Changes:
- Modified title and governor's name slightly
- Smoothed text and shortened some sections
- Clarified that the locals were incapable of dealing with the problem
- Replaced all effect lines
- Improved the humor through-line

Posted: **Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:12 am**

Crazy option where?

We need our crazy, ridonculous options!

NationStates

[Submitted] The Defenestration of Progg

[Submitted] The Defenestration of Progg