Issue: City On A Lockdown?
Pretext: Due to the recent outbreak of a novel influenza virus in (@@NATIONNAME@@) which is also causing a major pandemic around the world, hospitals are nearly overwhelmed in (@@NATIONNAME@@), and deaths are mounting. A few of your most trusted advisors and friends arrive at your office to give you advice on how to proceed.
--
Option 1: Your health minister, (@@RANDOMNAME@@) barges into your office demanding that you shut down absolutely everything, immediately, and until a suitable vaccine is developed. “We can’t be risking (@@DEMONYM@@) lives any longer! A full lockdown; complete with closing the border, mandating masks, shutting down non-essential businesses, closing parks, and keeping everyone inside unless they have a permit to be outdoors is the only thing we can do to stop more people from catching this terrible flu! Until a vaccine, at the very least!”
Effects, Positive:
-Life Expectancy
-Public Healthcare
-Charmlessness
Effects, Negative:
-Economy
-Civil Liberties
-Economic Freedom
-Cheerfulness
-Tourism
--
Option 2: “Woah, let’s not get too hasty with these measures. The people of (@@NATIONNAME@@) have rights, you know?” (@@RANDOMNAME_MALE@@), your friend from the local skatepark interjects. “In Osholm, they haven’t done a lockdown, and their death rate is no higher compared with their neighbours that did! Besides, this is a virus with over a 99% survival rate even without treatment, and most people that die are over eighty years old. Don’t shut down our society over this, and I hope to see you at the skate park over the weekend! You’ve got to see this new board I bought over in (@@RANDOMNATIONNAME@@).”
Effects, Positive:
-Civil Liberties
-Cheerfulness
-Youth Rebelliousness
-Tourism
-Economic Freedom
Effects, Negative:
-Life Expectancy
-Charmlessness
--
Option 3: (@@RANDOMNAME@@), your finance minister, calmly tells you “while I agree with (@@RANDOMNAME_OPTION1@@) in that we need to keep those particularly vulnerable safe, we don’t need to go too far. Let (@@RANDOMNAME_OPTION2@@) skate, tell people to keep their distance, close a few high risk venues, require PCR tests from inbound travelers, and advise people with elevated risk factors to be particularly cautious. At least this won’t completely destroy the (@@DEMONYM@@) economy!”
Effects, Positive:
-Scientific Advancement
-Public Healthcare
-Life Expectancy
Effects, Negative:
-Economic Freedom
-Tourism
--
Option 4: An eccentric-looking hipster with purple hair and a slight sunburn walks into your office. You haven’t seen her before, but she’s quick to cut to the chase as she hands you the name card of an obscure foreign head of state. “I’m (@@RANDOMNAME_FEMALE@@), from (@@RANDOMNATIONNAME@@), and I was actually here to photograph your urban scenery and write some cool philosophical fiction involving your country. You’d love it, and I’m a huge fan of yours. Here’s the thing; lockdowns are incredibly cringe, and as your skater friend said, nobody as cool as us likes them. Nonetheless, he doesn’t go anywhere near far enough in his advice to you. My boss, you know, the guy who’s name card I just gave you, is about to declare a worldwide war on tyranny; a jihad against lockdowns so to speak. His plan is simple; sanction, subvert, and bomb any country that refuses to end their lockdown within a month after he demands they do so. The best part is, you can join us! Imagine the money you could personally make if you demanded a monthly tribute from the lockdown countries if they want to keep their lockdowns and avoid our joint fire and fury! We’re for freedom, we’re based, and if you are too; call my boss, and discuss this further with him over a glass of our finest wine." An angry looking bald eagle soars in the distance outside your window.
Effects, Positive:
-Industry: Arms Manufacturing
-Alcohol Consumption
-Defence Forces
-Economy
-Civil Liberties
-Cheerfulness
-Culture
-Tourism
-Charmlessness
-Authoritarianism
-Economic Freedom
-Ideological Radicality
Effects, Negative:
-Life Expectancy
-Pacifism
-Niceness
-Compassion
--
Option 5: “While human rights are important, and I suggest we follow the advice of your skater friend, we can’t be threatening our hypochondriac neighbours with war or tribute should they wish to keep their lockdowns. They’ll see us as the next America!” Suggests (@@RANDOMNAME_MALE@@), the head of your foreign trade committee, with a less than a discreet wad of obscure foreign currency stuffed into his jacket pocket. “Obviously, the dignitaries from (@@RANDOMNATIONNAME_OPTION4@@) are just being dramatic to get your attention. Have you seen the memes that those edgelords broadcast on state TV? They’re the biggest trolls in (@@REGIONNAME@@)! The thing is though, (@@RANDOMNATIONNAME_OPTION4@@) is absolutely fantastic as an investment destination, and is way ahead of the rest of the world in many regards. Why don’t you tell the national pension fund to buy more of their investment bonds? The returns are tantalizing, and the future for us is incredibly sunny!” He proceeds to slip you a handful of cash.
Effects, Positive:
-Corruption
-Economy
-Foreign Aid
-Civil Liberties
-Cheerfulness
-Environmental Beauty
-Alcohol Consumption
-Tourism
-Influence
-Economic Freedom
Effects, Negative:
-Life Expectancy
-Charmlessness
-Integrity
--
Note, the formatting has been changed to make it more readable; and yes, some of the effects are purely hypothetical.
