==== Overview ====
The Free Land of Gogan is a fledgling, pleasant nation, renowned for its compulsory military service. Its compassionate, hard-working, intelligent population of 5 million 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.

The small government concentrates mainly on Defence, although Commerce and Social Welfare are secondary priorities. The average income tax rate is 16%. A small private sector is led by the Pizza Delivery industry, followed by Cheese Exports and Soda Sales.

Crime is a problem, and the police force struggles against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Gogan's national animal is the Goglodyte, and its currency is the Gog.

==== Issues ====
As said, the first day, four issues need to be adressed, if you think none of the options are correct for a given issue, you can always choose to dismiss it. Please vote on all issues, and don't forget about the flag if you're graphically inclined.

Should Democracy Be Compulsory? (issue 1)
In response to a slow news week, certain highbrow newspapers have stirred up the debate over voluntary vs compulsory voting.

1: "Compulsory voting makes about as much sense as having the death penalty for attempted suicide," says civil rights activist Dave Wong. "You can't force people to be free! You can only give them the choice. Besides, if all those derelicts who can't be bothered to get off their butts once every few years voted, who would they elect? I shudder to think."

2: "It's not contradictory at all," argues political commentator Miranda Chen. "The fact is, if not everyone votes, the outcome isn't truly representative. Some groups--like elderly gun nuts--vote more often than others. That's why we always end up with such terrible politicians."

3: "This raises an interesting issue," says Charles Smith, your brother. "And that is: why do we need elections, anyway? Seems to me it would be much simpler if you just decided what was right, and did it. Wouldn't that save everyone a lot of time?"

Uranium Deposit Promises To Enrich Gogan (issue 2)
Prospecting company Nukes4U has uncovered a large uranium deposit in Gogan's south-west.

1: "This is a terrific find!" claims Nukes4U CEO Megan Rubin. "It will provide an enormous stimulus to our economy and create thousands of new jobs. It's win-win! All we need from the government is permission to bulldoze the rainforest that's on top of the deposit."

2: "You've got to be kidding," says Green politician Chastity Malik. "This rainforest is thousands of years old! This country needs more environmental protection, not less. And to destroy the environment in order to mine uranium that then goes into nuclear bombs--well, that really sticks in my craw."

3: "There's no need for an either-or decision," says the government's Minister for Mining, Clear-Felling, and the Environment. "We can preserve most of the rainforest and allow mining of a small part. After all, think of all the good that the money from this uranium deposit can bring to Gogan."

Cloning Research Promises New Breakthrough (issue 3)
Scientists using cloned human embryos for research are on the verge of a medical breakthrough.

1: "It's really very exciting," says lab head Aaron Smith. "Until now, we've kept very quiet, to avoid being targeted by lunatic fringe groups who for some reason think it's wrong to clone human embryos. It's too early to promise anything, but we hope that one day we will have genetic cures for a whole range of debilitating illnesses. I certainly hope the government will support our work."

2: "Well, if you have to be part of a lunatic fringe group to object to this barbaric practice, I'm a lunatic," says placard-waving protestor Mia Hanover. "Of course it would be nice to cure these unnamed diseases, but at what cost? They're messing with the sanctity of human life. It's wrong, and the lab should be shut down immediately."

Pizza Delivery Workers Strike! (issue 4)
Workers across the nation have gone out on indefinite strike over what they claim are substandard wages in the Pizza Delivery industry.

1: "We are the backbone of this country, and we demand a fair wage rise!" says union leader Colin Zhimo. "I don't think a 20% increase over two years is too much to ask. Unless the government forces employers to give us our due, we'll shut this whole industry down! Let's see how well Gogan's economy manages without any Pizza Delivery, huh?"

2: "We pay our employees very generous wages," says employer representative Sarah de Jong. "Especially when you consider that without us, they'd be OUT ON THE STREET. Hear that, you scumbags? OUT ON THE STREET! Anyway, my point is, if you cave in, you make our entire industry uncompetitive. You can't do that in the global marketplace. It'll hurt the whole country. The best solution, economically speaking, would be to relax industrial laws and allow us to fire troublemakers on the spot."

Saw the title and immediately thought "easily better than North Korea's Kim clan."

That's a given... I think.

Issue 1 - 1
Issue 2 - 3
Issue 3 - 1
Issue 4 - 1

Personally, I like the random bits of humour in the messages. Pizza delivery industry! Not pizza industry or fast-food industry. Pizza delivery industry.

Also, yeah, my stance, almost forgot:
Issue 1: 1
Issue 2: 2
Issue 3: 1
Issue 4: 1

Issue 1: 1
Issue 2: 3
Issue 3: 1
Issue 4: 1

And attatched Gogistan flag.

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Yeah, and then you get a country where over 30% of the electors abstain just when they are needed most, like mine.

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Nationstates' reactions can be a bit on the extreme side. I wouldn't be surprised to see the following report if it was made compulsory:

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(this is fun... ;p)

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[edit_2] DISMISS (was 1 previously) [/edit_2]

Nice topic and great initiative. I want to eat pizza now.

[edit_1] for the flag, cut TeT's head .... hum, I mean ... copy his avatar, mirror and then paste it on the flag. My opinion. [/edit_1]

It is, feel free to create your own nation if you wish to get in the game.
Feel free to make one. Mr. T can complain if he thinks it's inappropriate (in which case I'll simply obey and disqualify your entry), until then though, go ahead.

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Last issue needs an option 3 involving a military presence and maybe riot police (If you're feeling kind :P) IMO.