[SUBMITTED] A Long Standing Tradition

[Baggieland]

I saw an article a while ago, about the Mayor of Dublin who gets supplied by Guiness.

[TITLE] A Long Standing Tradition

[DESCRIPTION] A local brewery provided the Mayor of @@CAPITAL@@ with a year's free supply of their famous Old @@ANIMAL@@ ale, as has been the tradition for many years. However, the current mayor has consumed the lot in just two months and taxpayers are now being asked to replenish the supply.

[VALIDITY] allows alcohol

[OPTION] "I know this makes me look like a drunk, but I assure you I'm not," pleads Mayor @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@, as @@HE@@ takes a swig from a hip-flask. "I host a lot of diplomatic parties and my guests expect a certain level of hospitality. Just last week I was hosting the Smalltopian ambassador and the accompanying entourage, and boy can those Smalltopians drink! @@LEADER@@, you must get the taxpayers to replenish the mayoral supply, think of the diplomatic embarrassment of dry events... hic!"

[EFFECT] everyone wants to be on the guest list for diplomatic parties

[OPTION] "We have to pay for their booze now as well?" questions @@RANDOMNAME@@, a social activist, who is always scrutinising politicians' expenses. "What if @@HE(1)@@ drinks the whole lot in another two months? Will the suffering taxpayer have to bail @@HIM(1)@@ out again? If politicians can't go five minutes without a drink, then they're not fit for office. Ban all alcohol on government premises."

[EFFECT] visiting dignitaries make excuses to leave functions early and head to the nearest pub

[OPTION] "I have an idea," interjects @@RANDOMNAME@@, a hobo, who's been listening in on your conversation from the bench outside your window. "Why doesn't the government provide free booze for everyone? That would be nice."

[EFFECT] no one is worried about government policies any more

[TITLE] A Long Standing Tradition

[DESCRIPTION] A local brewery provided the Mayor of @@CAPITAL@@ with a year's free supply of their famous Old @@ANIMAL@@ ale, as has been the tradition for many years. However, the current mayor has consumed the lot in just two months and taxpayers are now being asked to replenish the supply.

[VALIDITY] allows alcohol

[OPTION] "I know this makes me look like a drunk, but I assure you I'm not," pleads Mayor @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@, as @@HE@@ takes a swig from a hip-flask. "I host a lot of diplomatic parties and my guests expect a certain level of hospitality. Just last week I was hosting the Smalltopian ambassador and the accompanying entourage, and boy can those Smalltopians drink! @@LEADER@@, you must get the taxpayers to replenish the mayoral supply, think of the diplomatic embarrassment of dry events... hic!"

[EFFECT] everyone wants to be on the guest list for diplomatic parties

[OPTION] "We have to pay for their booze now as well?" questions @@RANDOMNAME@@, a social activist, who is always scrutinising politicians' expenses. "What if @@HE(1)@@ drinks the whole lot in another two months? Will the suffering taxpayer have to continue to fund @@HIS(1)@@ Worship's excesses? If politicians can't go five minutes without a drink, then they're not fit for office. Ban all alcohol on government premises."

[EFFECT] visiting dignitaries make excuses to leave functions early and head to the nearest pub

[OPTION] "I have an idea," interjects @@RANDOMNAME@@, a hobo, who's been listening in on your conversation from the bench outside your window. "Why doesn't the government provide free booze for everyone? That would be nice."

[EFFECT] no one is worried about government policies any more

[TITLE] A Long Standing Tradition

[DESCRIPTION] A local brewery provided the Mayor of @@CAPITAL@@ with 120 free kegs of their famous Old @@ANIMAL@@ ale - usually a year's supply - as has been the tradition for many years. However, the current mayor has consumed the lot in just two months and taxpayers are now being asked to replenish the provision.

[VALIDITY] allows alcohol

[OPTION] "I know this makes me look like a drunk, but I assure you I'm not," pleads Mayor @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@, as she takes a swig from a hip-flask. "I host a lot of diplomatic parties and my guests expect a certain level of hospitality. Just last week I was hosting the Smalltopian ambassador and his accompanying entourage, and boy can those Smalltopians drink! @@LEADER@@, you must get the taxpayers to replenish the mayoral supply, think of the diplomatic embarrassment of dry events... hic!"

[EFFECT] everyone wants to be on the guest list for diplomatic parties

[OPTION] "We have to pay for their booze now as well?" questions @@RANDOMNAME@@, a social activist, who is always scrutinising politicians' expenses. "What if she drinks the whole lot in another two months? Will the suffering taxpayer have to continue to fund Her Worship's excesses? If politicians can't go five minutes without a drink, then they're not fit for office. Ban all alcohol on government premises."

[EFFECT] visiting dignitaries make excuses to leave functions early and head to the nearest pub

[OPTION] "I have an idea," interjects @@RANDOMNAME@@, a hobo, who's been listening in on your conversation from the bench outside your window. "Why doesn't the government provide free booze for everyone? That would be nice."

[EFFECT] no one is worried about government policies any more

[TITLE] A Long Standing Tradition

[DESCRIPTION] A local brewery in @@ANIMAL@@ City provided the Mayor with 120 free kegs of their famous Old @@ANIMAL@@ ale - usually a year's supply - as has been the tradition for many years. However, the current mayor has consumed the lot in just two months and taxpayers are now being asked to replenish the provision.

[VALIDITY] allows alcohol

[OPTION] "I know this makes me look like a drunk, but I assure you I'm not," pleads Mayor @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@, as she takes a swig from her hip-flask. "I host a lot of diplomatic parties and my guests expect a certain level of hospitality. Just last week I was hosting the Smalltopian ambassador and his accompanying entourage, and boy can those Smalltopians drink! @@LEADER@@, you must get the taxpayers to replenish the mayoral supply, think of the diplomatic embarrassment of dry events... hic!"

[EFFECT] everyone wants to be on the guest list for diplomatic parties

[OPTION] "We have to pay for their booze now as well?" questions @@RANDOMNAME@@, a social activist, who is always scrutinising politicians' expenses. "What if she drinks the whole lot in another two months? Will the suffering taxpayer have to continue to fund Her Worship's excesses? If politicians can't go five minutes without a drink, then they're not fit for office. Ban all alcohol on government premises."

[EFFECT] visiting dignitaries make excuses to leave functions early and head to the nearest pub

[OPTION] "I have an idea," interjects @@RANDOMNAME@@, a hobo, who's been listening in on your conversation from the bench outside your window. "Why doesn't the government provide free booze for everyone? That would be nice."

[EFFECT] no one is worried about government policies any more

[Australian rePublic]

Must be capitalist?

[Great Nortend]

The third option seems a bit lacklustre. Also, it might be amusing to refer to the mayor as 'His/Her Worship' in option 2. “Will the suffering taxpayer have to bail His Worship out again?” Something like 'continue to fund his excesses' might be more appropriate than 'bail'.

[Baggieland]

Must be capitalist?

Not sure about that, it's only who supplies the booze at diplomatic parties. Imagine the vodka that goes down at Red Square.

The third option seems a bit lacklustre.

It's intentionally short, I'm playing on the stereotypical hobo - who's a drunk, and his inability to make a point any greater than "free booze, that's good".

it might be amusing to refer to the mayor as 'His/Her Worship' in option 2. “Will the suffering taxpayer have to bail His Worship out again?” Something like 'continue to fund his excesses' might be more appropriate than 'bail'.

Thanks, I'll add that when I get round to the next draft.

[Baggieland]

Thanks, I'll add that when I get round to the next draft.

2nd draft is up.

[Australian rePublic]

Must be capitalist?

Not sure about that, it's only who supplies the booze at diplomatic parties. Imagine the vodka that goes down at Red Square.

Sure, I guess, but then it begs the question- how does the economic model work for an organisation to give away freebies under a socialist regime? How exactly does that economic model work? The fact that the person recieving said freebies is a politician adds a whole new layer of complexity to the question of how the economic model works

[Baggieland]

A private owned brewery or a state run brewery. Both can give away free booze if they want to, or if the commisar tells them to.

[Baggieland]

Any more comments on this one?

[Great Nortend]

@@HIS@@ accompanying entourage? Also the comma between 'a social activist, who is always' seems a bit jarring.

[Australian rePublic]

I feel as if drinking it all herself/family/personal use vs giving it away is a completely different issue to giving it to diplomats. Also, why is this an issue for @@LEADER@@, rather than brewery? Also, I ferl that this could be fixed by just rewording everything. A year's supply means unlimited litres in a year, whilst a X amount of litres means when they end they end. I ferl like there should be an option to force them to fix their wording, but in an NSie kind of way

[Great Nortend]

It's a matter for the leader because the taxpayer is being asked to pay for replenishment.

[Krogon]

Wouldn't this issue require the devolution policy?

[Great Nortend]

I would imagine mayors or similar civic leaders still would exist in a nation which doesn't have devolved government.

[Australian rePublic]

I would imagine mayors or similar civic leaders still would exist in a nation which doesn't have devolved government.

Yes. You still need a local authority to look after roads, pipes, transports, etc.

[Baggieland]

@@HIS@@ accompanying entourage?

I've made the mayor female and the ambassador male, as there might be some problems with the macros sorting themselves out.

Also the comma between 'a social activist, who is always' seems a bit jarring.

I believe that comma is correct, and is the norm in NS style.

A year's supply means unlimited litres in a year, whilst a X amount of litres means when they end they end.

I looked up how much guinness the mayor of Dublin gets: it's 120 kegs.

I feel as if drinking it all herself/family/personal use vs giving it away is a completely different issue to giving it to diplomats. Also, why is this an issue for @@LEADER@@, rather than brewery?

It's a matter for the leader because the taxpayer is being asked to pay for replenishment.

Thank you Great Nortend.

Wouldn't this issue require the devolution policy?

I would imagine mayors or similar civic leaders still would exist in a nation which doesn't have devolved government.

Thank you again Great Nortend.
This is about one brewery giving a gift to one person in one city, I don't see where devolution nor capitalism comes into it.

Next draft with new pronouns and kegs is up.

[The Free Joy State]

Can I suggest somewhere smaller than @@CAPITAL@@? Old @@CAPITAL@@, maybe? It just seems like an odd tradition for the nation's main city.

[Great Nortend]

There is precedent for it in Dublin, but it does seem somewhat strange that every capital city would have this tradition, or even many. Usually issues are broadly applicable to most nations, but this inserts a lot of canon into the capital city.

[Baggieland]

Can I suggest somewhere smaller than @@CAPITAL@@? Old @@CAPITAL@@, maybe? It just seems like an odd tradition for the nation's main city.

Dublin is Ireland's main city. Also, it makes sense that diplomatic parties involving foreign ambassadors would be held in the main city. I can imagine events like that being held in London, but unlikely in smaller cities like Southampton.

However...

it does seem somewhat strange that every capital city would have this tradition, or even many. Usually issues are broadly applicable to most nations, but this inserts a lot of canon into the capital city.

Fair point, so I will change it to ANIMAL city, which is broadly accepted as NAME's second city, large enough to attract foreign dignitaries, but not stepping on capital city autonomy issues.

[Baggieland]

The next draft with the city name change is up.

[Chan Island]

This is a very enjoyable issue. I like it.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Yep, it's very solid.

I heard something vaguely related recently, about how members of Congress automatically get a free porn magazine subscription in the US, and that conservative politicians tried to get that shut down, but that the courts ruled it constituted lobbying / free speech, and so wouldn't order it to be stopped.

I'd google a link about the story for the details, buy I can't type the word "porn" into a search engine at work.

Anyway, not that relevant to this issue, but this issue reminded me of that story, which in itself would make a great issue, if anyone wants to write it. I've stopped writing issues myself, as I've got way too many queued already.

[Baggieland]

how members of Congress automatically get a free porn magazine subscription in the US,

What would the Founding Fathers make of this?

[Australian rePublic]

Good luck!

[Baggieland]

This is a very enjoyable issue. I like it.

Yep, it's very solid.

In that case, submitted!

Once again, thanks to everyone for all your comments.