The Oppressed People Of Varrag

[Nugog]

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


UN Category: Father Knows Best State
Civil Rights:
Average Economy:
Powerhouse Political Freedoms:
Outlawed

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Truckler


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a very large, economically powerful nation, remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 122 million are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

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 43%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Uranium Mining.

The government is making attempts at curtailing the flood of spam emails with little progress, murderers frequently escape punishment by claiming they were protecting their honour, the government is cracking down on subversive groups, and streakers swamp all public events in order to bare it all. 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
After a recent survey discovered that nearly 40% of all citizens in Varaag are single, there has been an increasingly loud call for the legalisation of prostitution.

The Debate
"I just can't get a girl no matter what I do," laments acne-afflicted nerd, Buy Christmas. "If the cops would just look the other way about prostitution, it'd make my life much easier. Yeah, I'd be risking all sorts of diseases, but it's my body isn't it?"
[Accept]


"We can't allow this to happen!" protests Dr. Elizabeth Chicago, senior pathologist of Varaag's largest hospital. "Prostitution is a dangerous business and must remain illegal! People need to be more aware of the consequences that could follow like the risk of contracting HIV, chlamydia, or even syphilis. I say we get some funding for a large awareness programme on sexually transmitted diseases and maybe then people will act responsibly between the covers. It'll be expensive sure, but well worth it."
[Accept]


"Not so fast now!" interjects daring entrepreneur, Peggy O'Bannon. "Why don't we just have the prostitution industry run by the government? By letting the government regulate prostitution, Varaag can force any patrons to undergo tests for diseases, make prostitutes have regular medical check-ups and pay a portion of their profits to the government. Of course we'd still have to put more policemen on the streets to keep illegal brothels from popping up and make sure the hospitals are equipped to handle the extra workload, but you can always raise taxes to account for that."

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: Father Knows Best State
Civil Rights:
Average Economy:
Powerhouse Political Freedoms:
Outlawed

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Truckler


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a very large, economically powerful nation, notable for its strong anti-business politics. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 122 million are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

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 46%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Uranium Mining.

Murderers frequently escape punishment by claiming they were protecting their honour, the government is cracking down on subversive groups, streakers swamp all public events in order to bare it all, and government-run brothels can be found on every street corner. 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
Increasing reports of child abuse and neglect in Varaag has prompted local pressure groups to call for 'parental licences'.

The Debate
"You need a licence to keep tics or drive a car," points out local current affairs commentator, Johann Longfellow. "So why should just any random idiot get to be a mother or father? It just doesn't make sense! If all potential parents had to pass tests to prove they're responsible enough, I'm sure you'd find that it would help decrease the level of child abuse, and increase proper discipline in the home."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"This is madness!" screams Bill Hendrikson. "You can't deny perfectly good people the right to bring life into this world! tics manage it easily enough, and you can't tell me they've got more responsibility than your average upstanding citizen of Varaag! The government should keep out of such matters - I've always said social workers and welfare was a drain on the budget. Yes, there will be some sad cases of neglect, but shouldn't we be giving parents the benefit of the doubt?"
[Accept]


"The answer to this problem is patently obvious," says Pip O'Bannon, your minister of Social Welfare. "The government simply needs to give more funding to the welfare department so that we can recruit more social workers to carry out regular checks on parents and judge whether or not they're doing a good job of looking after their children. It'll be expensive, but at least it's a damn sight fairer than licensing parents."
[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: Father Knows Best State
Civil Rights:
Average Economy:
Powerhouse Political Freedoms:
Outlawed

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Truckler


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a very large, economically powerful nation, remarkable for its compulsory military service. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 127 million are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

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 50%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Uranium Mining.

The government is cracking down on subversive groups, streakers swamp all public events in order to bare it all, government-run brothels can be found on every street corner, and citizens wishing to be parents must undertake a series of gruelling tests to evaluate their capabilities. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is relatively low, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. 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 recent poll has revealed high levels of dissatisfaction among the populace about tax rates.

The Debate
"Do you know how much of my year's work goes to the government?" demanded angry worker Al Hendrikson. "Too much! Government spending has gotten way out of control. It needs big cuts in welfare, health, and education. But leave those subsidies to business alone. We need them to create jobs."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"It's not the AMOUNT of tax, it's where the burden falls," says student activist Miranda Chicago. "And at the moment, far too much of the burden is falling on the poor. People on high incomes still have more money than people on low incomes. I don't think I need to say anything more than that."
[Accept]


"I don't object to the amount of tax, I object to where it's being spent," says social reformer Beth du Pont. "I'd like to see everyone have a choice as to where their varaag chips go every time they fill out a tax return. Everyone would feel a lot better about opening their wallets if they had a say as to where the money went. I think you'd see a lot more public money going to education and a lot less to business."
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 1.

[Nugog]

The Issue
Scientists at a private medical research laboratory have announced that they have produced a drug which will combat Varaag's most notorious malady - Spon Plague.

The Debate
"This pill is the only known and unknown cure for the Spon Plague!" proclaims Professor Konrad Falopian, the inventor of the cure. "But if we are to go ahead with the production of this drug, we must get some government support. We're set to make a fortune from this drug - the money we earn will help us develop even more cures for other as-yet untreatable diseases. Some people won't be able to afford it of course, but hard cheese on them: they should have got a paying job while they were still capable."
[Accept]


"That's a disgraceful way to think!" says equal rights activist, Jack Frederickson. "So the people who need the most help shouldn't get any? I propose that the government subsidises the production of all drugs so everyone can benefit from them, rich or not! That way the money-hungry corporations won't profit from the suffering of the masses. Of course there will be the matter of a small tax rise to fund it - but what's that when lives will be saved?"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"I can't believe what I'm hearing," deplores well-respected religious leader, Chastity Johnson. "If God didn't want people to have this disease he wouldn't have created it in the first place. This is completely against the will of God and if the government allows this drug to go on sale we will all be doomed to an afterlife in a dark and fiery place! Now let's end this madness and abolish the production of pharmaceuticals and drugs altogether!"
[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: Father Knows Best State
Civil Rights:
Average Economy:
Powerhouse Political Freedoms:
Outlawed

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Handshaker


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a very large, economically powerful nation, remarkable for its compulsory military service. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 144 million are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

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 41%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Uranium Mining.

Government-run brothels can be found on every street corner, citizens wishing to be parents must undertake a series of gruelling tests to evaluate their capabilities, the government is reigning in public spending, and pharmacies close down as medicinal drugs are sold freely by the government. 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
In response to increasing costs of running state prisons, several government advisors have suggested allowing the private sector to play a greater role in managing Varaag's correctional facilities.

The Debate
"Varaag's prisons are in a ghastly state," says Elizabeth Longfellow, representative for several large businesses. "The state now pays a fortune in varaag chips each day for every prisoner. My clients will be able to operate the prisons more efficiently and charge the state far less than they're having to pay now. With our help, those in jail will be able to get themselves jobs to do and the government can imprison as many people as they like!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"This is just another scheme by multinational corporations to turn our great nation into a corporate dictatorship!" claims Akira Frederickson, of the Social Justice League of Varaag. "Just say NO to privatised prisons. We should be closing them all down so we can begin focusing on rehabilitation anyway!"
[Accept]


"Private prisons?! Rehabilitation?! How utterly ridiculous!" exclaims May Silk, Varaag's toughest police officer. "Both of these proposals will simply waste resources on the scum of society. I say that we should summarily execute all violent criminals and give their property to their victims."
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 1.

[Nugog]

The Issue
Divers from a local scuba club have discovered an enormous underwater gold deposit that could be worth billions of varaag chips in one of Varaag's lakes. It has also caused a huge debate over who should be allowed to plunder the goods.

The Debate
Falala Mombota, a cabinet member, would like the government to seize the deposit. "This is an excellent time to boost Varaag's economy and increase our foreign trade with other countries! Who cares about the people that discovered the deposit? They've done their country a great favor and should let us have the money!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


Buy Steele, a civil rights activist, vehemently disagrees. "The deposit was found by private citizens and it should be their choice of what to do with the gold. If the government goes around stealing what is rightfully ours, then I shudder to think I live in such a corrupt country. These people discovered the gold, it's now their time to get rich! Nevermind the fact they were diving in a lake on government property!"
[Accept]


"We should do what now?" Environmentalist Thomas Bush exclaims. "Do you have any idea how damaging it would be to the environment to mine the gold under that lake? Think of all the aquatic life that would be disrupted or destroyed! Think of how an otherwise pristine lake view would be ruined! Forget the gold and keep those money-grubbing pigs away from nature!"
[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: Father Knows Best State
Civil Rights:
Below Average Economy:
Powerhouse Political Freedoms:
Outlawed

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Handshaker


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a very large, economically powerful nation, notable for its compulsory military service. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 151 million are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

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 37%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Uranium Mining.

The government is reigning in public spending, pharmacies close down as medicinal drugs are sold freely by the government, hundreds of thousands of convicts work as slaves in Varaag's many privately-owned prisons, and the government seizes all major gold finds. 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
In a display of unity that can best be described as "highly unnerving," criminals and law enforcement officials alike are up in arms about recent overcrowding within prisons in Varaag.

The Debate
"I tell ya, chief... this ain't good," mutters local police chief Alexei Dredd over his morning cup of coffee. "I see these no-good mohawk-wearin' punks every day, and they're a dangerous bunch. They gotta be locked in their mudholes forever! If we can't afford to keep 'em in prison, I say we need more money! Let's just casually shift some funding from elsewhere; after all, it ain't like our welfare program is helping keep these kids away from crime."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"How can these wayward individuals find their inner selves by staring at the walls within a stone cell?" challenges human rights activist and local prison license plate maker Randy Wu. "The nation's budget is absolute proof: we cannot afford prisons... strictly because of their immorality! Let these caged birds breathe the sweet air of freedom again! Shut down all prisons in Varaag!"
[Accept]


"Now hold on just a second here," says Johann O'Bannon, CEO of Varaag's most widely-known pizza delivery chain, Papa Pallocci's Pizza Pagoda. "You've got a problem with prisoners, and I've got a problem finding employees. Why don't you just send some of your criminals to Papa Pallocci's? We'll put 'em to work at lower pay as punishment for their crimes! I win, you win... the economy wins!"
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 1.

[Nugog]

The Issue
A recent poll on putting up huge loudspeakers in Varaag's cities for public government broadcasts has been brought to your attention.

The Debate
"This idea is brilliant, and Varaag can't afford to pass it up," claims Jennifer Hanover, your Minister of Safety. "These loudspeakers can assure the public that the government is always here to help them. The potential here, to immediately warn citizens of an emergency such as an earthquake or a stampede of tics or something, simply must be taken into account! This could save lives! And I suppose, when there isn't anything the citizens need to be told, you could always use them to broadcast patriotic messages like 'Doing what we are told is good for our health' and inform the good people which party to join and vote for with newsbriefs and such. It'll be worth it to strengthen the populace's devotion to our glorious nation!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"I think people need to realise what this really is: brainwashing!" retorts Freddy Hendrikson, a wealthy marketer. "I don't want to hear all this flag-waving hogwash everytime I go out for a walk. But when it comes to emergencies, I do agree that something should be done to warn everyone: we should send out messages on mandatory minature radios that you can carry in your pocket. It could tell you things you need to know too, like what shoes to buy and such."
[Accept]


"To be honest, I can't see why we should put up with advertising at all," says Roger King, an anti-business protester. "All it is is some multi-billionaire or politician somewhere trying to make even more money while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet. I say we ban it. Maybe the economy will suffer a little and some people may lose jobs but that's just a minor side-effect really, especially when you consider that no longer will our children be encouraged to fill themselves with junk-food because some guy on the telly tells them it's cool!"
[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: Father Knows Best State
Civil Rights:
Below Average Economy:
Powerhouse Political Freedoms:
Outlawed

Location: Apolyton Regional Influence: Handshaker


The Oppressed Peoples of Varaag is a very large, economically powerful nation, renowned for its strong anti-business politics. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 156 million are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

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 43%. Private enterprise is illegal, but for those in the know there is a slick and highly efficient black market in Uranium Mining.

Hundreds of thousands of convicts work as slaves in Varaag's many privately-owned prisons, the government seizes all major gold finds, public loudspeakers constantly tell citizens they are "happy people", and gigantic new prisons are springing up all over the nation. 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
The women of Varaag are demanding an end to wage discrimination in the workplace.

The Debate
"The government must put a stop to businesses discriminating against women when they apply for a job!" chants Miranda Mombota, a ferocious supporter of women's rights. "Did you know that on average men in Varaag earn four times the amount that women do for doing the same job?! For too long has the female race been discriminated against in our society due to their sex! We demand equal wages, equal opportunities, and equal respect for women and we demand them now!"
[Accept]


"Hey, my business is treading a thin enough profit margin as it is," complains Prudence Wong, CEO of Heavy Lifting Incorporated. "Women just aren't as good as men at certain jobs, it's a probably proven fact! Take firefighting - if you were dying from smoke inhalation and collapsed on the floor unable to move, who would you prefer to attempt to rescue you? A man with superior muscular strength or some weakling female? Go on, you decide. Let the businesses decide what they pay and who they pay it to - after all, the economy depends on us."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"Hah! Our society is getting far too soft!" rages May Hamilton, a staunch male chauvinist. "Whatever happened to the days when a man could go back home to find his good lady wife with his tea ready and his slippers warm? I've heard that some men even have to cook and clean for themselves! Let us return to the days when it was just the men who went out to bring home the bacon! A brand new golden age!"
[Accept]


"Personally I think things went wrong as soon as women got labelled as the 'fairer' sex," interrupts Catherine Gratwick, author of the best-selling novel 'Gynaecocracy For Beginners'. "We're strong, we're willing - and we're just plain better than men. See what a state the world is in when they're in charge? I propose that all the men should stay home and be househusbands whilst the women go out to work and earn the wage packet!"
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 2