So, here's my Issue... what if the Mafia's protection racket and the government's "protection racket" FUSED?
VALIDITY: For any nation with a tax above 40% and extremely low crime.
DESCRIPTION: Heavilly crippled by the endless police busts, arrests, raids, and jail time, the @@NAME@@ branch of the Mafia seems to want to give up their ways and defect to the good side, becoming "productive members of society". Of course, the Mob's definition of the "good side" is a little... how do you say... shifty?
THE ISSUE:
[option]A very tall, muscular man comes into your office sporting the finest in striped suits and jewelry. Next to him are two equally large goons, with weapons. "Listen. My name's Big Mac Daddy, and I am a hard working, legit citizen of @@NAME@@. Your cops have been attacking me and my boys, see, but no matter how many of them we... take care of... two come back to get revenge. Now, I understand that you and me have our differences, but hey, we're like family! Now, I understand that your coffers have suffered due to a lot of yellowbellies skirting around paying youse. That's why I want to make an offer you can't refuse: pardon my family, and we will make sure that no one will ever skirt taxes again. We're the most efficient collectors anywhere. Contracting our services will certainly... pay."
[effects]tax evaders end up sleeping with the fishes
[stats]concrete industry up (heh heh), tax evasion halts, corruption soars, organized crime up, white collar crime up, government deficit/waste slashed, economy slightly up, economic freedoms down, government becomes far more efficient, funding to Administration appears, government size shrinks (contracting tax collectors slashses IRS bureaucrats), the Mafia is legalized, increases chances for the Mafia casino issue if banning of gambling is in effect, "corrupt" added to government description, "Most Avoided" up, politeness up, political freedoms down
[option]"Was that.... a mobster that just left?" stammers @@RANDOMNAME@@, chief of police. "I know we need to crack down on tax evasion... -but the Mafia is certainly not proper for this. Sure, it may shrink the government, make revenue collecting efficient, and even lift tax collecting off of our backs, but you can't choose the Mafia; they're evil! You need to let us- your police -do it, not them. However, to do so, we need funding. Lots of funding. I mean TONS AND TONS of funding! Also, just think about how well we can fight crime with more funds!"
[effects]policemen have suddenly seen their salaries doubled and tax evaders are rapidly apprehended
[stats]Law and Order up, crime slashed, taxes up, safety up, corruption down, lots more police are added
[option]"Racketeering... you know, the Mafia came to us because WE'RE a protection racket! The only difference, of course, is what we're legal! Are we really that villanious that the mob wanted to swear allegience to us and collect taxes in our name?" notes a lowly bureaucrat called @@RANDOMNAME@@. "That's just WRONG! Perhaps the best way to crack down on tax evaders... is to cut taxes? I mean, the police do have a little too much money right now, don't they? The Mafia fears us to the point of submission. Surely a little reduction in police numbers won't hurt the invincible crime stoppers of @@NAME@@!"
[effects]mugged citizens have suddenly learned what was slashed to lower their taxes
[stats]crime way up, economy up, taxes slashed, police gutted/Law and Order way down, safety way down, happiness down, rebellious youth up, vandalism and all crime up, white collar crime up, nation becomes more dangerous
[option]"Organized crime is a pimple on the backside of @@NAME@@!" shouts @@RANDOMNAME@@, a rookie policeman. "Look! We've already got them begging to be spared our from awesome law enforcing wrath! Now, let's take it a step further and shut them down! We must up our current organized crime laws so that captured godfathers can be put to death for their minion's blood! ...-and... -and anyone in the Mafia must be put to death too! Yeah! Now, all we need is the funds and approval to do it!"
[effects]convicted members of the Mafia are sentanced to death
[stats]Law and Order up, death penalty instated (if it doesn't exist already), crime down, taxes up, nation becomes more harsh/extreme, crime deterred, organized crime halts, underground economy appears (smuggled items become worth more), safety up, nation swings more to the right
This one was a lot of fun for me to write. Commenting on it is a mandate you can't refuse.