==== Overview ====
Civil Rights: Excellent (71)
Economy: Weak (20)
Political Freedoms: Very Good (74)
The Free Land of Gogan is a huge, socially progressive nation, renowned for its restrictive gun laws. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 305 million love a good election, and the government gives them plenty of them. Universities tend to be full of students debating the merits of various civil and political rights, while businesses are tightly regulated and the wealthy viewed with suspicion.
The medium-sized, socially-minded government is effectively ruled by the Department of Education, with areas such as Law & Order and Religion & Spirituality receiving almost no funds by comparison. The average income tax rate is 28%, but much higher for the wealthy. A small but healthy private sector is dominated by the Pizza Delivery industry.
The government has adopted a more thrifty attitude to administrating the country's needs, anti-government political posters adorn every building like wallpaper, people take government jobs for the frequent flier miles, and there's a shortage of swinging hot spots as land development grinds to a halt. 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 721st in The North Pacific and 17,611th in the world for Happiest Citizens, scoring 11 on the Relative Cheerfulness Rating.
==== Issues ====
20 hours ago: Following new legislation in Gogan, people take government jobs for the frequent flier miles.
20 hours ago: Following new legislation in Gogan, there's a shortage of swinging hot spots as land development grinds to a halt.
The overview has been updated following the last decisions made.
Blood Banks Running Dry (issue 86)
A violent and rather messy stampede of Goglodytes during a parade in your honour has brought widespread media attention to the shortage of blood, plasma and platelet donors in Gogan.
1: "Blood donation should be compulsory!" argues Konrad O'Bannon, a spokesperson for the Gogan Blood Donors' Association. "We can't expect citizens to come flocking to donate blood just out of the goodness of their hearts, so the government should take the matter into its own hands. If we could maybe require healthy citizens to... let's say... donate blood every three months, we wouldn't have such a problem with shortages. It'll require more funding to organise and carry out, yes, but your people are worth it, aren't they?"
2: "Don't listen to that devil worshipper!" preaches Robin Shiomi, a Jehovah's Witness. "It isn't up to us to decide what should be done, it is God, and only God, who decides what someone should do with their blood. I'd rather die clean and go to Heaven, thank you very much! We must heed this Gospel and ban blood donations now! Of course some people will die, but they will be rewarded in the afterlife for obeying His word."
3: "You're kidding, right?" burbles anaemic patient Brian Song from a hospital bed. "I'm not going to let some closed-minded priest tell me what I can and can't do with my blood! But I don't think people should be forced to give blood; they just need incentive, that's all. Like money. Trust me, any kind of 'Gogs For Blood' scheme will have them almost begging to donate. It's the only humane way to ensure that people like me are getting the care we need. If you're worried about funding just get it from those religious nuts... they're not helping anyone with it."
4: "I have an even better idea," says Max Schultz, a prison officer. "How about we force every healthy prisoner to donate blood? It's about time they gave back to society what they've taken away in the first place. If we do this we won't have to beg the law-abiding citizens of Gogan to take time out of their day to give blood. It's not like these thugs are really doing anything for us, so missing a pint or three won't matter, am I right?"
==== Public announcement ====
Post edited June 09, 2013 by MGT