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
