Decizii

Tarabostes Decides:
A Request For Military Aid

Government Acts
The Issue
A small nameless nation within your sphere of influence has gone on a genocidal rampage within its own borders, ridding itself of what their Supreme Ruler For All Eternity, Emperor Aaron Jones, refers to as 'those pesky Bigtopians'. Some escaped refugees are requesting that your government do something to end the slaughter of millions.

The Debate
"They're killing everyone!" gasps Calvin McAlpin, one of the refugees. "I implore you to please intervene and stop this murder of my people! If Tarabostes has any compassion at all then it must help us! With these madmen out of power we can finally go about rebuilding our nation as a land of justice and freedom!"

"Woah, woah, we can't just go around being a knight in shining armour for every random hell-hole on this planet," says Konrad Summers, your minister of Foreign Relations. "Should we send citizens of Tarabostes into war just so we can save a bunch of foreigners? I don't think so! Now, I'm no xenophobe, but I've gotta ask: what's in it for us? Nothing but the death of our soldiers and criticism from the rest of the region, that's what. Trouble is we're getting too much of a reputation for having a big army. So drop some of our military funding and let them fight their own wars. It's got nothing to do with us."

"Well, maybe this nation does have something we need, sir," says Chastity Fellow, your Military Advisor, while perusing a giant map of Tarabostes. "We're fast running out of land and resources here, so why not invade this place, kick out whoever's in power there, and take over? We've got the military power, so why wait? If any of those hippies in the region have somethin' to say about it, they can say hello to our missile programmes, haha!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.

"They have as much right to their own internal politics as we do," says activist and peacenik Chastity Bush. "While their actions may be deplorable by our standards, we can't intervene unless the legitimate government requests it. It's just an invitation to anarchy on an international scale, and nobody but a few crackpots want that."

The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 3.

Two Mommies One Too Many?

Government Acts
The Issue
The commercial release of the controversial children's book 'Heather Has Two Mommies' in Tarabostes has sparked debate over laws concerning the adoption of children by homosexual couples.

The Debate
"I cannot understand for the life of me why anyone could possibly be against this," complains Jacob Kantelberg, showing up at your office wearing a pink feather boa. "Bart and I are good and caring people and will make excellent fathers, so what's the problem? All of the scientific studies have shown that there's no difference in the wellbeing of children raised by gay and straight couples. All that's holding these little darlings back from the happy family life that they deserve is the outdated prejudices of some prudes. All we want is to adopt a child to call our own. It'll be fabulous!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.

"I don't care what these so-called scientific studies say," says Max Spirit, representing a number of conservative religious organisations. "How can a boy hope to develop properly into a man if he's being brought up by poofs? A father figure is not supposed to behave as if it is 'okay' to be, um, romantically invested in another man - and the same goes for lesbians! Why? Because it is not okay. It'll just give them gay! Think about it: say you have two gay sabertooth-tigers - they can't have children because nature did not provide them with the tools and if God wanted gays to have kids then they would have those tools. Don't legalise this blasphemy! Think of the children!"

"This just doesn't go far enough in my opinion," grumbles Elizabeth Licorish an ardent opponent to homosexuality. "The more concessions we give these people, the more they'll reduce our nation to the most embarrassing gayfest of all Romania! We'll be a joke! Homosexuality is a sin, and not only that it's a disease of society and there's no two ways about it. It must be criminalised and those responsible hanged just like in the good old days."

The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 1.

Close Encounters Of The Sci-fi Kind?

Government Acts
The Issue
A recent, well-publicized UFO sighting over rural areas of Tarabostes has turned people's attention to the skies, and what... or who... might be up there.

The Debate
"This event proves one thing: there are other life-forms out there," says eccentric astronomer Roger Broadside, "All we have to do is find them! What is the price of a few hundred Radio Telescopes compared to the benefit of living in peace and harmony with our brethren of the stars?"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.

"Spies! It's gotta be spies! A few planes or satellites from our enemies or 'allies' in our region," rages General Klaus Clinton, head of Tarabostes's military, "The only way to keep those snoops out of our airspace is to patrol the streets 'n skies, and shoot 'em down! Even if they are some sort of little green aliens, a couple of SAM batteries and a few flak cannons'll keep 'em from abducting our sabertooth-tigers."

"Extraterrestrial lifeforms? Alien invaders? I don't know why we even have to listen to such idiocy!" complains prize-winning physicist Abraham Mombota. "In my opinion, the idea of 'aliens' on another planet is highly unlikely, and even if they did exist, getting from there to here is technically impossible! I say we forget this nonsense and stop spending our tax forlorns on it. Leave this sort of foolishness to the people who attend those 'trekkie' conventions."

The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 1.

Compensation Culture Must End, Say Corporations

Government Acts
The Issue
After a recent spate of high-profile lawsuits against corporations concerning the safety of their products, corporations have appealed to the government to change the laws of compensation.

The Debate
"It's crazy!" cries Larry Hanover, CEO of Sharp 'n' Pointy Things Incorporated. "These people should simply not be allowed to put the blame on us if they mindlessly abuse our products! I'd have thought it would be common sense not to stick your hand in a blender to 'see if it was working properly'. We need to outlaw these ridiculous lawsuits so I can get on with my business and those working in the law profession can get on with theirs."

"I'm almost inclined to agree," muses Falala Love, a nearby firefighter. "People really should know better than to dry their cats in the microwave oven. But it's also that microwave oven that should not start a fire if one leaves it running overnight. Let's just put higher national safety standards in place that all products must be certified to meet. The extra expense shouldn't worry people if it's the difference between life and death after all."

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.

"There's nothing wrong with victims getting a little money for the damage they've suffered," claims Beth Mistletoe, Tarabostes's most notorious lawyer. "In fact we should be increasing court capacities so everyone with a complaint to file won't have to wait long before they can get before a judge. Sure it'll be expensive to implement, but maybe then the manufacturers will think twice before selling their unsafe junk without explaining things clearly in the manuals!"

The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 2.