231:2

231:2

… unfortunately, the password for Nationstates is not readily available. The government thus gets a day off.

National holiday. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Does this mean government officials don't get paid and all public services shut down until they find the password? :P

'zactly.

231:2 didn't we vote this before?

We shall thus allow filibusters for certain issues.

==== Overview ====
Civil Rights: Good (60)
Economy: Reasonable (34)
Political Freedoms: Very Good (66)

The Free Land of Gogan is a massive, genial nation, ruled by Doctor Marcin with an even hand, and remarkable for its complete lack of prisons. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 1.163 billion have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it devotes most of its attentions to Education, with areas such as Religion & Spirituality and Defence receiving almost no funds by comparison. The average income tax rate is 58%, and even higher for the wealthy. The private sector is almost wholly made up of enterprising ten-year-olds selling lemonade on the sidewalk, although the government is looking at stamping this out.

Elections have become procedural nightmares due to voters persistently rejecting candidates, senior citizens can usually be found doing heavy manual labour, military spending is on the increase, and Gogan's soft-touch approach to diplomacy has made it known as the 'push-over' of the region. Crime is totally unknown. Gogan's national animal is the Goglodyte, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the Gog.

Gogan is ranked 2,359th in The North Pacific and 66,297th in the world for Most Pro-Market, scoring 8 on the Rand Index.

==== Issues ====
No changes in the overview (except the daily ranking line, population count and inherent randomness of statements), due to dismissing the issue last time.

International Community Comes Doorknocking (issue 232)
The international community has appealed to Gogan to increase humanitarian aid to the world's poorer nations.

1: "We must increase foreign aid," says beaded local peace activist Buffy de Jong. "Compared to some of these nations, Gogan is swimming in Gogs. Let's face it, not every nation in the world is lucky enough to have a government like ours. Let's show some compassion to our less economically gifted neighbors."

2: "Talk about a way to flush Gogs straight down the toilet," argues Think Tank member Abraham Marcin. "What I've noticed is that whenever we do give something, it's never enough: a few years later they're back asking for more. The best way to help these poor nations is to stop shielding them from the logical consequences of their idiotic, long-debunked socialist economic policies."

3: "Relief wouldn't hurt us... if we 'relieved' the right countries," suggests government advisor Hillary Mombota. "We give them a little humanitarian aid, they give us access to their Pizza Delivery markets... it's win-win. Nothing wrong with a little quid pro quo, especially for a good cause."

==== Public announcement ====

232: 1

232:3 Lets strengthen the economy.

Haven't read it but heard about it: William Easterly (2006):The White Man's Burden:Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good.
Some statements appear to be controversial but also interesting to discuss.

232:3 -- Mmm... pizza markets.

232:3 Let's not be naïve about this: no government aid is provided without expectations of a return. Plus, pizza is yummy.

Also, item 1. - "We must increase foreign aid," says beaded local peace activist - isn't that supposed to be "bearded"? Or is this a term I'm not familiar with?

Not entirely sure, but I suppose it could mean he's a lot of [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bead]beads.

Haha, true. I suppose a stereotypical peace activist has both a beard and beads :)