234:1 - Riders? What kind of nonsense is that? *disapprovingly closing Wikipedia*

234: 1 - we banned them before, we can ban them again

(should be our new slogan?)

234:1

234 :2 Line item all the way.

Riders will thus be banned.

==== 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 devotion to social welfare. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 1.18 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 59%, 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.

Military spending is on the increase, Gogan's soft-touch approach to diplomacy has made it known as the 'push-over' of the region, multiple polls have christened the newly-formed Filibuster Committee as "the least efficient government bureaucracy", and the government extracts trade concessions from poor nations in exchange for humanitarian aid. 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 1,001st in The North Pacific and 27,066th in the world for Most Influential, scoring 20 on the Soft Power Disbursement Rating.

==== 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.

A Capital City For Gogan? (issue 235)
As Gogan continues to grow, so too does its government. The number of politicians needed to administrate and legislate the country is rapidly surpassing the Houses of Parliament's capacity with ministers often requiring periscopes to see the House Speaker. Some are suggesting a new building be built in another city - a city which would then be designated as the capital city of Gogan.

1: "I would like to make a humble recommendation for my own proud jurisdiction," says Miranda Barnes, mayor of one of Gogan's major cities. "It would be an honour for our city to be host to the seat of power! If it will seal the deal, you can change the name if you like..."

2: "Hah! Capital city indeed!" shouts Jean-Paul Spirit, a fervent anarchist, spilling leaflets all over the floor. "What's wrong with being free as the wind? Do you really think one city could possibly represent a whole country? Its people? I've had enough of the man trying to screw us down all the time! Say NO to a national capital!"

3: "I can accept and even approve of having a capital city," says Margaret Nagasawa, a military strategist. "But we'd be putting all our eggs in one basket if we choose somewhere too vulnerable! Believe me, capitals always get the brunt of the enemy attack because of their political and economic importance. We should put aside a few billion Gogs and build our capital city underground. They'll never bomb us there!"

4: "I've got an idea," says theme park tycoon, Lindsay Tew. "My company will happily sponsor the new establishment and cover all costs - as long as it's made to our specifications. We've already got plans drawn up to put a roller coaster straight through the House of Commons! A cafe, some kiosks for ice cream... maybe even a water slide or two in the lobby! It'll be one part legislative seat of government, one part family-fun theme park! Tourists will flock from around the globe!"

5: "What's wrong with the old building?" asks Tim O, a noted disestablishmentarian. "We don't need some kind of fancy capital city just to make the bigwig ministers feel important! If there's no room, then fire politicians until there IS room. Have you never heard of doing more with less?"

==== Public announcement ====

235:5 - Do more with less.

235:5

235:5

235 : 5 Updates are wonderful but to move the capital due to some space limitations? Absurd.

235:1 -- Bigger, better, faster, stronger. Er... or something like that. Always wanted a capital, too.

235:5

235:5

Gogan will shrink the government until it fits the old parliament building.

EDIT: Hey! Where did the issue go? They can't just disappear, can they? *Sigh* I guess it'll be "dismiss", then.

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

The Free Land of Gogan is a massive, cultured nation, ruled by Doctor Marcin with an even hand, and renowned for its complete lack of prisons. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 1.185 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 60%, 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.

Gogan's soft-touch approach to diplomacy has made it known as the 'push-over' of the region, multiple polls have christened the newly-formed Filibuster Committee as "the least efficient government bureaucracy", the government extracts trade concessions from poor nations in exchange for humanitarian aid, and legislators work 24/7 due to an influx of single-issue bills. 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 4,100th in The North Pacific and 93,738th in the world for Largest Mining Sector, scoring -3 on the Blue Sky Asbestos Index.

==== Issues ====
17 hours ago: Following new legislation in Gogan, legislators work 24/7 due to an influx of single-issue bills.
The overview has been updated following the last decisions made.

Brotherly Love - A Bit Too Close to Home? (issue 236)
A brother and sister, Jack and Jill, went to apply for a marriage license today, causing a stir among the populace and many media outlets.

1: "We just want to get married!" Jill yells to a nearby reporter. "What exactly is wrong with a brother and a sister getting married? Who are we hurting?!" adds Jack, defensively. "The government should just butt out of marriage. It's not their business who or what we marry."

2: "M-m-married?!" stammers Gertie Cheap, head of a major religion. "You want to desecrate the most holy and sacred union of marriage by allowing SIBLINGS to marry each other? Are you mad?! Those who are related must be forbidden from even loving each other, let alone marriage - it's shameful! They should be punished for this abomination! Oh, and while we're at it, we should ensure that every marriage is regulated by a major religion. Just in case something this sinful should ever come up again, of course."

3: Dr. Chris Wu, a fertility expert chimes in. "No, no, definitely not! Marriage leads to kids and d'you know what happens when inbreeding is allowed?! The children are born with five heads! Yes, five heads, always! We should encourage people, maybe with a monetary incentive, to marry those who are as distantly related as possible!"

4: "Duuude, marriage is like totally outdated", says a hippie, wearing a multi-colored robe and in need of a wash. "They're like, restrictive and they bring down the vibe, man. Why put people in a box; let us roam free and we can all be brothers and sisters! It's what's nature wanted!"

5: "This was bound to happen sometime", sighs an advisor from behind your chair. "We give these people a huge amount of freedom and they do this. It just shows that you can't trust them with their own lives, they'll just muck it up! I think it's time that we take such trivial matters out of their hands as they obviously can't deal with it. Maybe from now on the government should tell you who to marry?"

==== Public announcement ====