The Oppressed People Of Varrag

[Nugog]

The Issue
Varaag's industries have an ever-growing amount of toxic wastes to dispose of, and doing so in safe ways is becoming prohibitively expensive, leading a group of lobbyists to try and pressure the government into changing existing disposal laws.

The Debate
"These waste dumping laws are destroying our businesses!" rants Falala Steele, head of the Varaag Bigger Business Bureau. "We need cheaper ways to eliminate industrial by-products, which really aren't as harmful as people think, such as pouring them into rivers or deep ocean ravines where they're harmless to us. Let's remember that the products we manufacture make your life easier and more fun!"
[Accept]


"A better way to deal with this problem is to convince the public it isn't a problem at all," whispers Buffy Nagasawa, head of Scamcorp, an industrial think tank. "Fudge some research, declare that the chemical by-products from industrial processing and production actually make one's teeth and bones healthier. Then, sell them to municipalities to add to their drinking water! Yes! This will not only save us the trouble of disposing of the waste correctly, we'll be able to sell it at a profit! I can taste the money already!"
[Accept]


"These corrupt, money-hungry corporations are only looking out for themselves and their bottom line!" says Konrad Nagasawa, an environmentalist from northern Varaag. "The government needs to enact stricter laws for how these companies can dump their waste safely, and when they poison Varaag's people and environment, the government needs the authority and manpower to enforce harsh penalties! These companies make their messes, they should pay to clean them up!"
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government is preparing to dismiss this issue.

[Nugog]

The Issue
After the vast fortunes of a recently deceased oil tycoon in Varaag were left to a small cactus plant, citizens nationwide have been asking the same question: should the inheritance tax laws be changed?

The Debate
"Every time I see a stupid rich kid having an easy ride of life with money they did nothing to deserve, I go into a jealous rage and start punching walls," says economically disadvantaged individual Colin Clinton. "Abolish inheritance entirely! If the government takes the inheritance then we can spend all that cash on things that make ordinary people's lives better, like education, social welfare, and attack helicopters."
[Accept]


"This is a disgusting breach of my human rights," says Beth Broadside, heir to an international widget empire. "Just think of all the poor families who have spent their lives scrimping and saving with the dream of passing on a modest luxury yacht to ensure the security of their children's children. All that sacrifice, all that toil, all those long nights working their fingers to the bone setting up offshore accounts - it brings a tear to my eye. Inheritance tax has got to go!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"Surely we can arrange some sort of compromise here," says comfortable knitwear fan Freddy Christmas. "Yes, it's true that some people exploit the system - but a lot of people rely on inheritance for their basic support! Why don't we just set a sensible ceiling on how much you can inherit? That way you get to keep the family farm, but not the five mansions and the oil refinery."
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 2.

[Nugog]

The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag
"Doing what we are told is good for our health"


UN Category: Compulsory Consumerist State
Civil Rights:
Average Economy:
Powerhouse Political Freedoms:
Unheard Of

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Duckspeaker


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a very large, economically powerful nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 199 million are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it is mainly concerned with Law & Order, although Defence and Commerce are on the agenda. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 42%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Uranium Mining.

Teenagers are sent to jail for being out too late, divorce is illegal, the psych wards are overflowing with transsexuals, and inheritance tax has recently been abolished. Crime is moderate. Varaag's national animal is the tic, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the varaag chip.

[Nugog]

The Issue
Due to the explosive population growth in Varaag, coupled with recent droughts, people are beginning to worry about the nation's decreasing water supply, and who should get first dibs on the vital H20.

The Debate
"We need this water to raise our crops," says incensed farmer Jazz Love. "If it wasn't for us farmers, the rest of Varaag would be starving. How about laying the blame where it belongs, and look to those cookie cutter suburban houses with their green lawns and pristinely washed mini-vans!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"It is my right to have the most beautiful lawn in the neighborhood," says neighborhood spokesman Prudence Steele. "Our community spends a lot of effort cultivating a nice environment for our kids to grow up in. Why, if they didn't have these nice lawns to play in, they would be hanging out on street corners peddling drugs, or worse! Won't someone please think of the children?"
[Accept]


"Here is a novel idea," proclaims Tobias Broadside, spokesperson for radical environmental group Leave Nature Alone. "How about getting rid of all these dams and irrigation projects that are getting in the way of Mother Nature's plans for the water. It is time to allow the rivers to take their natural courses and leave the environment alone. I'm sure things will work out fine if we let Nature take its course."
[Accept]


"Obviously, who gets how much water is only a part of the problem," notes famed population-control advocate Bianca Silk. "We must try to curtail the rapid growth of our population, whether by limiting the amount of children people may have, or by deporting immigrants and criminals... we must get a handle on our population before we can hope to correct this water supply problem."
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 1.

[Nugog]

The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag
"Doing what we are told is good for our health"


UN Category: Compulsory Consumerist State
Civil Rights:
Average Economy:
Powerhouse Political Freedoms:
Unheard Of

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Duckspeaker


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a very large, economically powerful nation, remarkable for its strong anti-business politics. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 199 million are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it is mainly concerned with Law & Order, although Defence and Commerce are secondary priorities. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 40%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Uranium Mining.

Divorce is illegal, the psych wards are overflowing with transsexuals, inheritance tax has recently been abolished, and major cities are suffering under water rationing. Crime is moderate. Varaag's national animal is the tic, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the varaag chip.

[Nugog]

The Issue
A group of local motorists have assembled outside of City Hall to protest against the shoddy state of roads in Varaag.

The Debate
"These roads are terrible!" shouts Alexei Trax, president of the Varaag Auto Club. "Every few feet there's a crack, or a pothole, or a gravel patch, or the remains of someone else's car! It's really too much! And just look at this-" he adds, rubbing a nasty bruise on his forehead - "I got that from my rear-view mirror after flying over a bump on Main Street! These roads must be fixed! There really needs to be vast improvements made now, before anyone gets seriously hurt."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


Buffy Chicago, avowed anti-spending advocate, disagrees: "Road construction? What a waste of varaag chips! If people can still drive on them, then the roads are fine as they are. Spending more to make trivial repairs would just be a waste of the tax payers' money! We should just ignore these whiners and leave the roads as they are and if the drivers don't like that - well... then they can just learn to walk like the rest of us."
[Accept]


"Why on Earth is it the government's responsibility to build and maintain roads?" asks bicyclist Akira Winters, pausing for breath. "Not all citizens own automobiles, you know. The government should be trying to make life better for all, not just car owners! If people want roads, then let private industry build them, and they can charge tolls to the people who actually drive on them. Leave the government out of it!"
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 1.

[Nugog]

The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag
"Doing what we are told is good for our health"


UN Category: Compulsory Consumerist State
Civil Rights:
Average Economy:
Powerhouse Political Freedoms:
Unheard Of

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Duckspeaker


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a huge, economically powerful nation, remarkable for its complete absence of social welfare. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 219 million are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt, pro-business government stops and the rest of society begins, but it is mainly concerned with Law & Order, although Defence and Commerce are on the agenda. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 40%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Uranium Mining.

The psych wards are overflowing with transsexuals, inheritance tax has recently been abolished, major cities are suffering under water rationing, and roads are often attended by round-the-clock construction crews. Crime is a problem. Varaag's national animal is the tic, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the varaag chip.

[Nugog]

The Issue
A top fertility clinic has recently announced a new service allowing parents to create so-called 'designer babies'.

The Debate
"Embryo selection isn't really genetic engineering in the technical sense," explains Dr. Aaron Longfellow, owner of the Babies-2-Go Clinic. "It's more like being able to have a dozen abortions per month until you get the foetus you desire. I can't really see what's wrong with parents who can afford it being able to eliminate foetuses with undesirable genetic traits - like stupidity."
[Accept]


"Thou shalt pay for thy sins!" screams Jennifer Trax, waving a crucifix. "This is just meddling with the sanctity of life. If these children are to be born with horrible defects then it's God's will and who are we to question it? This technology must be banned at once!"
[Accept]


"This technology shows promise," muses Roxanne Rubin, minister of health. "But we can't trust the private sector with the future of our nation's children. We must place it under strict government regulation, so that we only screen out embryos with serious genetic conditions."
[Accept]


"This has got me thinkin'," says General Billy Shiomi, thumbing through a big folder marked 'X'. "If this technology lets us reduce genetic defects, then couldn't it work the other way? We could create ourselves an army of genetically superior soldiers! With our army of Super Soldiers, no nation would dare stand in our way!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 4.

[Nugog]

The Issue
A coalition of expectant mothers (Mothers 4 Justice) has banded together to demand legislation allowing for six months of fully paid maternity leave.

The Debate
"Six months?! Six WHOLE months?!" blusters Hope Dodinas, a payroll manager. "Six whole months of being fully paid by our company for doing nothing but looking after a baby?! This will sink the small businesses and lose us an obscene amount of revenue! We cannot allow this to pass!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"I believe that passing this law will be a step in the right direction," says Max Broadside, the nation's most outspoken feminist advocate. "These kids need their mothers' love and attention during an important part of their growth development! I don't see why mums should be forced to juggle with the stress of bringing up children and having a job! It's simply too much! Six months maternity leave with full pay is what this country needs - even if it is at the expense of a few avaricious fat cats."
[Accept]


"Look, I've got an idea," says Dave du Pont, an obsessive centrist. "Perhaps we can allow for six months of paid maternity leave, but have the government pay the companies for lost revenue? That way the mothers can bring up their children without financial worries, companies won't lose investors, and everyone will be happy. Apart from the taxpayers, of course, but you can't please everyone."
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 1.

[Nugog]

The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag
"Doing what we are told is good for our health"


UN Category: Compulsory Consumerist State
Civil Rights:
Below Average Economy:
Powerhouse Political Freedoms:
Unheard Of

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Duckspeaker


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a huge, economically powerful nation, remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 229 million are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt, pro-business government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defence, and Commerce. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 41%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Uranium Mining.

Major cities are suffering under water rationing, roads are often attended by round-the-clock construction crews, the nanny industry has had a boom after maternity leave was recently banned, and Varaag's army is full of two-metre tall super-soldiers. Crime is a problem. Varaag's national animal is the tic, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the varaag chip.

[Nugog]

The Issue
After a recent high-profile case of a minority student being refused admission to a traditional, prestigous college, civil rights activists, conservatives, and teachers are up in arms about affirmative action and ethnic equality in education.

The Debate
"This is just another attempt to discriminate against people of color," declares civil-rights activist, former TV commentator and unabashed publicity speaker Calvin Mombota. "If people are disadvantaged in their upbringing they they should be given an 'equal' chance to succeed in college."
[Accept]


"The affirmative action programs aren't necessary at all," rejoins conservative speaker and hair care product salesman Dave McAlpin. "If you really want to treat everyone equally, as you claim, how can you support special treatment for a few so-called minority groups? Besides, it would cost even more money to enforce."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"I think you are both looney," says Al Fellow, professor of liberal arts at Varaag National University. "All education should be open to everyone regardless of their grades in high school, economic status or academic prowess. Free college education should be available to every citizen of Varaag, no matter what the cost!"
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 2.

[Nugog]

The Issue
In response to rising rates of depression related suicides, mental health groups have called for government funding to help support treatment programs, citing various surveys that indicate psychological disorders are often an overlooked problem.

The Debate
"Although it is often dismissed as an irrelevant complaint, depression is a real disease, it isn't just 'all in your head'," says Alexei Wu, depression sufferer. "Depression has significant effects on groups and individuals, especially amongst teenagers. Every day, more and more people commit suicide because of this disease, but this could all be stopped if this country had a decent level of funding for support and public awareness programs."
[Accept]


"Screw them," Lars Rubin, talkback radio host, stated yesterday. "Depression isn't a disease, it's just another example of today's youth finding something to complain about. Life's never been better. In fact, just yesterday, I bought my fourth BMW. And even if it is as serious as the bleeding hearts claim, then I say we leave it and cut some of the funding being wasted on these head cases. If a few whiners jump off a bridge, it'll be good for the genepool. Natural selection, my friends. It's a great thing."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"Actually, a lot of depression cases in teens are related to school and all the stress and pressure young people are under to succeed. A greater effort to correct the problem of depression should start there, with more funding so that schools can provide better counseling programs." Comments Dr. Pete Winters, author of the book "Tomato Soup for the Soul". "That way teens who are depressed can get help even if their parents can't or won't take them to see a psychologist."
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 2.

[Nugog]

The Issue
In response to an increasing number of people falling into debt and declaring bankruptcy, activists are arguing that the government should take a stronger role in protecting its citizens from loosely regulated lending firms and in helping its citizens pay off or cancel their debts.

The Debate
Freddy Longfellow, head of consumer watchdog 'Debt-Busters' urges the government to enact new laws: "We've got middle and lower class families falling victim to predatory financial institutions and plunging into debts they can never hope to repay. The government must pass legislation restricting things like interest rates to stem the tide of people losing their property to these sharks, and take an active role reviewing all loan repayment terms."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"That's just not going far enough!" cries newspaper columnist, Billy Utopia. "The government must eliminate the shackles of debt from our good nation once and for all! What we need are vast reforms of the welfare system then we can provide these poor, downtrodden souls with money and housing, so they don't need to take out such huge loans in the first place!
[Accept]


"They're irresponsible with their money and yet they're the victims? Call me crazy but borrowing money and not paying it back isn't debt, it's theft!" scoffs Bill Spirit, representitive of one of Varaag's largest lending firms. "What we really need is the power to send these parasites to debtor prisons, where they can work off the money they owe through hard manual labour."
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 1.

[Nugog]

Is Varaag Too Promiscuous?

The Issue
The highly moral and religious pressure group 'Cuckolds And Cuckqueans Anonymous' has lobbied for the criminalisation of adultery.

The Debate
"Whatever happened to the sanctity of marriage?" asks Gregory Johnson while wearing a T-shirt bearing the slogan 'Marriage is for life, not just for anniversaries'. "Whatever happened to lifelong companionship? Whatever happened to simple faithfulness because of love?! Adultery seems to be more of a hobby than anything these days! The government must impose the utmost punishments on those who commit this sin. A good old-fashioned stoning should sort it!"
[Accept]


"I don't agree with adultery either," says Gregory Li, a passer-by. "But, uh... stoning? You don't think that's a little extreme? If we find someone guilty of fornication we can just lock them up in jail. That way no-one gets killed and the sinners get justice. It's more expensive to the tax payers than a stoning of course, but I reckon it's worth it."
[Accept]


"With the greatest of respect, this is none of your business!" yells Buffy Fellow who is rumoured to have had more than a thousand lovers and even more children. "The government has no right to go about trying to dictate the laws of love and romance! Marriages break down, people move on - is it really the government's place to make people stay put? You must recognise the fact that the law has no place within the bedroom!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 3.

[Nugog]

The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag
"Doing what we are told is good for our health"


UN Category: Compulsory Consumerist State
Civil Rights:
Average Economy:
Powerhouse Political Freedoms:
Unheard Of

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Duckspeaker


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a huge, economically powerful nation, renowned for its compulsory military service. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 236 million are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defence, and Commerce. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 42%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Uranium Mining.

Ethnic minorities are often refused admission to some of the nation's best schools, psychological disorders are a taboo subject, Varaag is notorious for its citizens' infidelity, and lending firms are subject to strict government regulations. Crime is a problem. Varaag's national animal is the tic, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the varaag chip.