The Nationstate of A Top Secret Nation

Congratulations!
You have been selected to take part in the nationstate parliament of A Top Secret Nation!
As such, you may vote on legislations as a democratic oligarchy.
If anyone has ever had a nationstates account, you know how this works.
Basically, You run a nation. You have a new issue come through every 12 hours, and it is your job to create a new legislation in support for or against the issue (or other).
Your choices on each new legislation will effect the type of government you have, economy, civil rights, political freedoms, environment, healthcare, etc.

Normally you would set up an account and run the nation yourself. It can become tedious, as you already have a goal in mind for what you want from your nation, but I thought of an interesting game/social experiment. With ATS having members with such a massive range of political positions, secret agents and tin foil hat wearers, It would be interesting to have the nation run by us as a collective using democratic procedure.
So this is how it will work- every 48 to 72 hours I will return to this thread and post new issues for us to discuss/vote on.
From there I will count up decisions made on the previous issue, and pass the legislation which contains the most votes. (it can take up to 12 hours for changes to be made)
Will we have an oppressive psychotic tyranny or a utopia? Will we concentrate on civil rights, or economy? Will we work together or will our nation crumble? The choice is ours.

Feel free to justify, debate and discuss issues as they come if you would like your views chosen but remember to have fun with it too. Remember- this is a social experiment in democracy, but once an issue is closed- it is closed.

When I post an issue, I will assign it a dilemma number and option letters.
Please mention this as you cast your vote as it will make it easier to count up. (Eg: "Who cares about the potato farmers?! Our Economy is going to ruin! Dilemma number 42, option b" or for those lazier/apathetic members, "42b" will do)
Keep in mind the dilemma numbers are not consecutive, but don't worry about that!
If you change your mind (or someone else changes it for you) before the close of an issue, only your final vote will be counted.
If there is a tie when I count the votes, legislation on that issue will be left and counted in the next cycle, until a decision is made.
To avoid corruption and conflicts of interest, I will not be casting any votes.


View:
A Top Secret Nation
Tax/Budget Distribution
Pie Chart of Leading Causes of Death
Historical Graph of Civil, Economic and Policical Freedom
Gross Domestic Product

As a starting nation, we have some cosmetic decisions to make.

At the time of posting this, the title of our nation is the Republic of A Top Secret Nation.
Will we be known as one of the following?

• Republic
  
• Kingdom
  
• Empire
  
• Commonwealth
  
• Federation
  
• Colony
  
• Principality
  
• Protectorate
  
• United States
  
• United Kingdom
  
• People's Republic
  
• Democratic Republic
  
• Confederacy
  
• Dominion
  
• Sultanate
  
• Holy Empire
  
• Theocracy
  
• Most Serene Republic
  
• United Socialist States
  
• Democratic States
  
• Allied States
  
• Queendom
  
• Fiefdom
  
• Constitutional Monarchy
  
• Dictatorship
  
• Matriarchy
  
• Emirate
  
• Grand Duchy
  
• Free Land
  
• Community
  
• Disputed Territories
  
• Jingoistic States
  
• Armed Republic
  
• Nomadic Peoples
  
• Oppressed Peoples
  
• Borderlands
  
• Rogue Nation
  
• Incorporated States
  
• Federal Republic
  

You may vote on one of the above titles and decision will be made final at the end of this cycle.

At the time of posting this,
Our Currency is The Humble Dollar
Our National animal is The Human
Our national Motto is "Deny Ignorance"
Our national flag is currently the ATS Logo.

Anyone may present their idea for

• National Currency
  
• National Animal
  
• National Motto
  
• (User designed) National Flag
  

I will repost all results in the next cycle and from there they may be voted on. At the end of that cycle I will count up the votes, post the results and make the changes.


Now, on to the first set of issues:

Dilemma 0:
Should Democracy Be Compulsory?

In response to a slow news week, certain highbrow newspapers have stirred up the debate over voluntary vs compulsory voting.

Option a
"Compulsory voting makes about as much sense as having the death penalty for attempted suicide," says civil rights activist Sophie Deny. "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."

Option b
"It's not contradictory at all," argues political commentator William Silk. "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."

Option c
"This raises an interesting issue," says Sean Usman, your advisor. "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?"

Dilemma 8:
Nudists Demand Time In Sun

A loose coalition of sartorially-challenged individuals known as "Let It All Hang Out" has called on the government to relax public nudity laws.

Option a
"For too long, our bodies have been trapped in these prisons of cotton and polyester!" yells protester Efthamia Han, while apparently developing a nasty case of sunburn. "We must repeal the puritanical laws that make public nudity a crime. My body--my choice to dangle!"

Option b
"I agree," muses sociology professor Bruce Dovey. "But I don't think the protestors are going far enough. Public nudity shouldn't be an option: it should be compulsory. Nudity is highly liberating. And it would put that disgusting "Hooters" out of business once and for all."

Option c
"Whoa, whoa," says noted accountant Ethel Summers. "Are these people serious? The last thing I want to see when I'm out for a coffee is some lumbering, over-weight nudist coming down the sidewalk toward me. If people want to get naked, they can do it in the privacy of their own homes. Think of the children!"

Dilemma 21:
Police Consider "Big Brother" Anti-Crime System

The Police department is considering installing surveillance cameras in all major public areas, in an effort to crack down on crime.

Option a
"This is a blatant invasion of the right to privacy!" says libertarian web site operator Chris Dubois. "Now I can't even go out in public any more without being watched? And you know this is just the beginning. Today there are cameras in city streets. Tomorrow they're peering through your bedroom window."

Option b
"Hey, I've got news for you," says Police media liaison Randy Deny. "When you're out in public, PEOPLE CAN SEE YOU. These cameras will be extremely helpful in reducing the national crime rate. Frankly, I can't see what the fuss is about."

Option c
"This 'slippery slope' argument has got me thinking," says Police Minister Sarah Silk. "You know, it would be a lot easier to fight crime if we watched people all the time. Not with cameras, of course. That's clearly an invasion of privacy. But how about a national database of our citizens, coupled with compulsory ID cards and barcoding? It would stop crime dead in its tracks."

Dilemma 14:
Military Demands Increased Spending

The Department of Defense has put its case for a substantial increase in funding for the coming financial year.

Option a
"These are turbulent times we live in," says Defense Chief Anne-Marie Strange. "Turbulent and dangerous. And the only sensible response to that, of course, is to build a lot more weapons. Unless we get the funding we need, I can't promise that we'll be able to defend A Top Secret Nation's sovereign borders from rogue nations and foreign powers. Or those leaky boatloads of refugees, for that matter."

Option b
"NO MORE BOMBS," chant the protestors outside Parliament House, in a repetitious and increasingly annoying appeal. Spokesperson Billy McGuffin, speaking through a feedback-afflicted microphone, says, "A Top Secret Nation needs fewer weapons, not more! Make the world a safer place! Disarm now!"

Hmph.. no place for us anarchists...
*wanders off in search of a beer for consolation*

a reply to: Gear

Dilemma 0

Have voting be an earned right. All citizens are members of the nation though an earned degree of influence should be given to certain citizens. In order to vote you must first become a "commissioned citizen".

To become a commissioned citizen you must first pass a barrage of tests and go through at least 1 year of civil education formerly known in the US as "civics" in HS.

Also 4 year mandatory military service is required to become a commissioned citizen. Its completion guarantees a complete scholarship for private education. The full scholarship for private education is to be paid for from the taxes that each town, city and community establishes for this purpose according to their population size. A government subsidy will provide for each commissioned citizen to buy his weapon as well as basic gear needed for military service and they will be responsible to keep it in working order. It is their life long obligation to do so, though military service AFTER the mandatory 4 years needed to become a commissioned citizen is entirely voluntary.

Those who do not complete the commissioned citizen program can not serve in the military.

Dilema 8

Nudists can do as they please in communities where an overall vote of 90% in support of such is taken. If no such place exists they free to buy up property and enjoy their nudity on private property.

Dilemma 21

Police can not anticipate crime. The fundamental principle of law is "innocent until proven guilty". Police are not to invade the privacy of fellow citizens unless in times of war or for a specific purpose in the name of national security. All such actions must be well documented and have complete transparency to the elected officials where those citizens live as well as an emergency council consisting of commissioned citizens to be formed from the area with over arching veto power for the entire process.

Dilema 14

Military spending must be justified by information showing an increase in threats from other nations. Quotas will then be issued to each city, town and community to be fulfilled according to their capabilities to produce the necessary military equipment. All increases in spending through individual war specific taxes must first be for training and equipment for existing forces and weapon systems already leased to the central government and in use for national defence. Once they are at their most efficient, an assessment of what is truly needed is to be made by the central government,commissioned citizen leadership and military command.

Mandatory 4 year military service for the commissioned citizen program will supply the personnel for our war machine.

All other advanced equipment will be supplied by their city, community, or town in fulfillment of their defence contracts with the central government. They will have to manufacture and produce ready combat vehicles, crafts, and munitions for the equipment in fulfillment of agreed upon quotas established beforehand and based on the number of soldiers to be supplied for national defence each year.

Advanced weapon systems like aircraft, armored vehicles and ships will be mandated by each city and town after establishing a quota to be filled and supplied from each. Each town, city and community through the commissioned citizen program will have the obligation along with elected leadership of establishing manufacturing, and training and maintenance of all military equipment that is to be offered for national defence.

All the costs for such will be paid by each town, city or community through issuing taxes on their members for the payment of workers producing the military equipment then LEASED to the central government for use.

The Community of a Top secret Nation seams an appropriate title.

0/ Should Democracy Be Compulsory?

Option d. The informed vote as a stronger connection to the commonsense. People get to vote on the people and policies that they have taken the time to research, understand and have an informed opinion on.

8/ Nudists

Option c. Very much for self determination.

21/ Big Brother

Option b. When it comes to conflict resolution, having an accurate and common view of the situation does help address the reality. The Boston marathon bombing produced a high public demand for street video, other shooting events also raise a high interest and scrutiny on these boards.

14/ Military Spending

Don't Know. Due to the principles of the informed vote it is up to the community to review and decide on all public budget issues. Personally I see a better investment in the education, training and support for foreign entities rather than contributing to the ongoing disasters.

1) Technocracy

Dilemma 0:
Only people who passed gov approved test can vote. (approximately 10%-20% of citizens) Test is not compulsory as such, but passing it would give a few points in university application. Top 5% can apply for office.

Dilemma 8:
Option "a", however too long sunbathing can cause skin cancer who are caught doing that would be ticketed.

Dilemma 21:
Cameras, ID cards + biometric database of all citizens; allowing private companies to ask queries about those data to check identity of their customer, so if one is wanted criminal he would be tracked while trying to go by bus

Dilemma 14:
Rather "a" - no problem with heavy military spending in case of nervous political situation. But also no problem in making cruel budget cuts in case of overblown threats. (anyway, illegal immigrants would be tracked quite easily by surveillance system, so not worried about them)

(Anyway I expected here on this forum that people would be very anxious about giving gov any powers)