10000 IslandsBoard

The Issue

Students from many universities in Harmony Choas are protesting about the rising financial cost of studying at university and are demanding that the government provide more financial aid to students.

The Debate

"We need money now," screams Calvin Wong a student from one of Harmony Choas's top achieving universities. "All these tuition fees are just too much! I need that money to spend on books, study materials, accommodation, and alco- well, uh, you get the gist of it. All these fees are doing is preventing people from poorer backgrounds achieving their potential. The government ought to pay for all university expenses. After all if nobody went to university where would all the doctors and teachers come from?"

Accept

"OH GOD NO THE EXPENSE!" screeches Maria Chen, your Minister of Education before eventually calming down. "No, no. This is not a good idea. Do you know how high the tax rate is already without introducing something like this? We should be making tuition fees higher if anything. University is a privilege, not a right, and only the elite should be allowed within those walls. And by elite, of course, I mean rich."

Accept

"These young people are the greatest resource our nation has," says Cooper Smith, a famous demographer. "If you're going to discourage them from going to university then you're cheating our nation out of its potential. What I suggest is government-funded loans to students from poor families. That way we can have the best of both worlds without the expense. Admittedly, some may still not be able to afford it but there's no pleasing some people."

Accept

"Why bother with universities anyway," says refuse collector Ariel Hanover. "These students could be working and earning a living instead of wasting time and money learning things with no point whatsoever. Who needs to know about ancient Maxtopian poetry, huh? Who would hire you for that? There are plenty of jobs out there, so why don't they go and get one? I'll tell you why: it's because they are lazy. I propose the government close all universities in Harmony Choas and make people get a job after they leave school. With all the money saved from closing down universities we can have a well-deserved tax cut too."

Accept

The Government Position

The government has yet to formalize a position on this issue.

Dismiss This Issue

Aladianda wrote:

William Thiesen, CEO of Wendy's Weapons stores. "We can sell them to all sorts of groups and organisations: other nations, the WA, terror- uh - freedom fighters, anyone! And we produce our own for our protection. Think of the money we can make! I'm sure none of our clients would ever even think of trying to use them to influence our government with threats or anything like that!"
I'm suspicious of this person now...

All of Aladianda has been in an uproar since yesterday when a car exploded in the middle of Amerigo City, killing dozens and injuring hundreds. This terrorist act was traced back to a violent minority group known as the Lilliputian Freedom Fighters, a group allegedly supported by an unfriendly regime, despising Aladianda for its heathenish ways and political bent, but more particularly for supporting the recent occupation of their homeland by an ally.

Hmm... I need to find this William Thiesen and find out what he is up too... and I feel like my nation is kind of like the U.S. in some way...

Hideo kojima wrote:

"It's not our war? It's not our war?" cries (in)famous Hideo Kojima-born fascist Lars McGuffin. "Well maybe it's time it became our war! Hideo Kojima should take a more active, and by 'active' I mean 'hostile', role in international politics! This ethnic squabbling will be over when the war is over, and WE can end that war and purge the impure! I always say, 'This will be my last Metal Gear.'! Sieg Hideo Kojima!"

That pro-war option's hilarious when that person shouts my motto (Through peace we are strong!) :P

Blumenvaal wrote:

Answers that improve your country.

Begging the question!

My Dept. of Defense spending is now more than 60% of my government, after I recently abolished my Law & Order department and assimilated all of its funding into Defense. Atleast I don't have to worry about petty issues such as "Fair Trial" and "Prison Sentences". Anyone who breaks the law just gets summarily executed!

Palanar wrote:

I've switched my flag back, but my 2 alternate accounts (Vhalhan and Yolotopis) are staying as France until this problem is over. VIVA LA FRANCE!

*Vive la France

Unless that was Spanish.

Palanar wrote:

The Issue
Natural gas extraction has been thrust into the political spotlight after a corporation proposed utilizing hydraulic fracturing to boost the production of shale gas. After weeks of protests, a crowd of lobbyists and environmental protesters have barged into your office and demand that you finally make a decision.
The Debate
"Any opposition to hydraulic fracturing has been born out of ignorance," claims Shale The Love lobbyist Al Dovey after tossing some impressive looking pie charts on your desk. "If we further hydraulic fracturing, we can finally be independent of foreign natural gas. Do you really want to continue paying dictatorships like Maxtopia for their expensive oil? Just think of the advantage producing our own natural gas will give us. Look at the charts that clearly show how many jobs this will create in rural areas. We should be encouraging fracking operations and cracking down on these environmental terrorists who would be happy to send us back to the Stone Age."
Accept
"I don't think you understand the magnitude of these environmental issues," says Naki Washington, the organizer of the anti-fracking protest movement No Fracking Way. "Fracking can pollute the air and contaminate groundwater with toxic chemicals, which will end up in millions of people's drinking water. Weren't you guys paying attention when fracking operations caused all those earthquakes in Blackacre? Never mind that they're on a fault line! We must put an end to fracking and start investing into green energy sources like wind, solar, and tidal power. We'll never run out of those clean energy sources, but we will run out of clean air to breathe."
Accept
"There's always room for compromise," chimes in Larry Wall, one of your top aides famous for diffusing tension in your office. "We obviously can't ignore the benefits of fracking, but we can't turn a blind eye to the impact it would have on the environment either. Why not allow fracking, but only in areas of Palanar where there are no major populated areas? I hear that the land in the Northern Forest Chicken Mountain Range is just ripe for hydraulic fracturing. There is a Forest Chicken preservation area nearby, but it's not like they're going to be protesting."
This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.
What do I choose? I need to improve my economy, but I need the environment

Bump.

Anollasia wrote:

That pro-war option's hilarious when that person shouts my motto (Through peace we are strong!) :P

It's more racist than pro war actually

It is crazy cold lately!

Hey guys who wants to help me advance in this game. I don't really have a clue what I'm doing.

Buhadi alamar wrote:

Hey guys who wants to help me advance in this game. I don't really have a clue what I'm doing.

If you're interested in learning more, you can join our forum! There are plenty of people both here and there that can help you out.

As a general note though, advancement in this game is what you make of it. You can read the FAQ for general tips, but you can answer issues however you want. There is plenty more to this game than just answering issues though. The Islands are home to TITO, which is the best army in NationStates and also a lot of fun to participate in. We have games, contests, spam threads, even a regional currency on the forum. There is a lot to do here though. Welcome to the Islands!