Eu's d'acord!

Tarabostes Decides:
Think Tank Proposes Privatised Prisons
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 Tarabostes's correctional facilities.

The Debate

1. "Tarabostes's prisons are in a ghastly state," says Anne-Marie Bush, representative for several large businesses. "The state now pays a fortune in forlorns 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.

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

3. "Private prisons?! Rehabilitation?! How utterly ridiculous!" exclaims Steffan Gutenberg, Tarabostes'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."

Oh, The Angst!
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

1. "Although it is often dismissed as an irrelevant complaint, depression is a real disease, it isn't just 'all in your head'," says Bianca Wall, 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."
This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.

2. "Screw them," Max Utopia, 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."

3. "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. Billy-Bob Rifkin, 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."

Orbital Armageddon?
The Issue

The space research organization in Tarabostes has requested more government funding for space-related research and development, and the possiblity of creating orbital weapons platforms has become a topic of intense debate.

The Debate

1. General Max Mistletoe says, "We should spend more. But not just on exploration. We should start developing Orbital Weapons! Space Marines! Armed Spacecraft! We would rule the region, and look cool doing it! Just divert some funding from environmental protection, and BAM! Sci-fi goodies!"
This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.

2. Noted Scientist and pacifist writer Hack Bush thinks otherwise, "No! Space is a place for peace! It's the only place left we've got that we haven't screwed up. Oh, the space program still needs funding, don't get me wrong, but none of this 'military in space' stuff will do! We ought to divert funding from the military to education and space research instead!"

3. Fringe Group Leader Clint McGuffin disagrees, "Space is a total waste of time. We should spend more on stuff people actually CARE about. Like voting rights and protecting the environment! Forget that fancy-schmancy space station!"

Bug 'em All, Say Police
The Issue

The Tarabostes police force have come to you for permission to use phone taps to trace suspected criminals.

The Debate

1. "This is a great idea," says police officer Beth Chicago. "We can never have too much evidence in a case, and this will be of enormous help to us at reducing crime and seeing that those who deserve punishment get justice! If we could just get those silly privacy laws repealed and some funding we could find out stuff the government wants to know too."
This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.

2. "This is an unacceptable intrusion into the personal lives of the population," says Pip Silk while checking under your chair for bugs. "Just imagine all of the sensitive personal information that the police will pick up! Would you like someone listening to your calls to your mother or your lover? I think not! Laws should be passed so that the government and police can't stick their big noses where they're not wanted!"

"Give Us Money!" Quoth the Poet
The Issue

The National Poetry Society of Tarabostes is demanding government-funded programs to promote the arts, especially poetry.

The Debate

1. "We need government help to promote culture." says Bill Wong, chairperson of the National Poetry Society of Tarabostes. "Poetry is the soul of our nation, the very pulse of humanity! We will ultimately be judged according to our contribution to artistic enlightenment. In other words, please provide funding for our humble mission to bring the beauty of poetry to the masses!"
This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.

2. "Artists and poets should support themselves, like everyone else," replies Roger Mombota, spokesperson for the Capitalism Now Party. "The suffering taxpayers should be given a break. In fact, we should abolish all government subsidies for special interest groups."

3. "Poets--who needs them?!" scoffs May Rubin, Chairperson Emeritus of the Troglodyte Coalition. "These long-haired troublemakers should all be lined up against the wall and shot! That would be far more entertaining than reading some dumb poems!"