==== Overview ====
Civil Rights: Good (63)
Economy: Struggling (8)
Political Freedoms: Excellent (70)

The Free Land of Gogan is a huge, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Doctor Marcin with an even hand, and renowned for its sprawling nuclear power plants. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 953 million are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, socially-minded government stops and the rest of society begins, but it concentrates mainly on Education, although Social Welfare and Social Equality are secondary priorities. The average income tax rate is 57%, 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.

The nation is currently revamping its entire education system, the government is avowedly atheist, citizens applying for their first jobs face fierce competition from the homeless, and expensive lawyers are hired to defend citizens in court for public urination charges against their pets. 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 1,044th in The North Pacific and 29,247th in the world for Most Eco-Friendly Governments, scoring 27 on the Dolphin Recycling Awareness Index.

==== Issues ====
1 day 18 hours ago: Following new legislation in Gogan, citizens applying for their first jobs face fierce competition from the homeless.
1 day 18 hours ago: Following new legislation in Gogan, expensive lawyers are hired to defend citizens in court for public urination charges against their pets.
The overview has been updated following the last decisions made.

Quickie Marriages Under Scrutiny (issue 195)
The late-night, alcohol-fuelled marriage and subsequent annulment of pop starlet Dipsy Bubbleyum has been thoroughly condemned by tabloid presses across the country. There is now a growing call for some restraints to be put on Gogan's liberal marriage laws.

1: "This could all be solved quite easily," says Ariel Anderson, a tee-totaler. "With a little common sense. These marriages happen because the bride and groom are inebriated, right? So obviously we should make applicants pass a sobriety test before they can be issued a marriage licence. If you're too drunk to drive, you're too drunk to get hitched."

2: "I think everyone's being very unfair and mean!" says self-described party girl, Bertina Chaswick, writing in to Alright! Magazine. "I mean, like, Dipsy was just havin' fun, yeah? So she made a mistake, but we all do when we've had a few! If someone wants an annulment they should be able to get it for any reason. Divorces are long, messy and SO yesterday!"

3: "Marriage is the sacred and immortal union of two souls," declares conservative commentator, Cornelius Prodnose. "It is the ultimate gesture of love! To get married out of sheer whimsy and then change your mind later... it's obscene! People need to face up to the consequences they bring on themselves! Once you're married, that's it. No annulments, no divorces. Just eternal love and decency."

==== Public announcement ====

195:1

And thus, drunk marriage will be made illegal.

==== Overview ====
Civil Rights: Good (63)
Economy: Struggling (8)
Political Freedoms: Excellent (70)

The Free Land of Gogan is a huge, cultured nation, ruled by Doctor Marcin with an even hand, and renowned for its sprawling nuclear power plants. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 959 million are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, socially-minded government stops and the rest of society begins, but it is mainly concerned with Education, although Social Welfare and Social Equality are on the agenda. The average income tax rate is 57%, 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.

The nation is currently revamping its entire education system, the government is avowedly atheist, citizens applying for their first jobs face fierce competition from the homeless, and expensive lawyers are hired to defend citizens in court for public urination charges against their pets. 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 4,286th in The North Pacific and 96,757th in the world for Largest Agricultural Sector, scoring -5 on the Mu-Bah-Daggs Productivity 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.

Wind Farms Blowing Up A Storm (issue 196)
Wind farms have been set up across the country, generating enormous amounts of renewable energy for the citizens of Gogan. However, there are some who feel that they cause more problems than they solve.

1: "Hideous eyesores!" roars Wil Washington, founder of the 'Not Within Eyesight Of My Backyard!' pressure group. "All I wanted when I retired was a little cottage in the country; somewhere to pursue my hobby in watercolors - but no, the hippies just had to spoil it for everyone didn't they?! This place was beautiful! Green fields and perfect blue skies! Not anymore, though! These unnatural monstrosities are ruining my damn view! They should be taken down and scrapped!"

2: "Oh, cry me a river," grumbles Daniel Wall, senior maintenance engineer of the local wind farm. "Just one of these wind turbines can power over a thousand homes each year and with only a minute fraction of the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels! These people are literally in favour of doing more harm to the environment they're supposedly 'protecting' from wind farms! It's beyond hypocrisy and very, very selfish. These ignorant villagers should be ashamed of themselves!"

3: "Perhaps we're just putting them in the wrong place?" asks Jazz Hernandez, another engineer. "We should be building wind farms out at sea! Strong uninterrupted winds and no local residents to disturb! Sounds like the perfect solution, if you ask me. Setting them up and maintaining them's going to cost a bomb of course but... well, it's worth it right?"

==== Public announcement ====

196:2

196: 3

Having difficulty agreeing on a stance, are we?

The Wind farm issue will be dismissed.

==== Overview ====
Civil Rights: Good (62) [-1]
Economy: Struggling (8)
Political Freedoms: Excellent (70)

The Free Land of Gogan is a huge, safe nation, ruled by Doctor Marcin with an even hand, and renowned for its devotion to social welfare. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 965 million are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, socially-minded government stops and the rest of society begins, but it is mainly concerned with Education, although Social Welfare and Social Equality are on the agenda. The average income tax rate is 57%, 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.

The government is avowedly atheist, citizens applying for their first jobs face fierce competition from the homeless, expensive lawyers are hired to defend citizens in court for public urination charges against their pets, and the breathalyser pledge is a traditional part of marriages in Gogan. 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 847th in The North Pacific and 22,721st in the world for Best Weather, with 30 Metres of Sunlight Above Expected.

==== 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.

The Empire Strikes First? (issue 197)
Reports indicate that several neighbouring nations are engaged in major weapons programs in contravention of international law and treaty, focusing public discourse on Gogan's foreign policy—specifically, its position on preemptive strikes.

1: "We need to respond to these terrorist scumbags!" roars General Jazz Dodinas, turning a slightly alarming shade of purple. "I say we announce any illegal weapons program will be treated as an act of war! The risk of harsh words turning into an endless conflict that mires our troops in far-off lands for years at a time is a small price to pay for national security! If you don't act now, these foreigners will think they can push us around forever! They must be taught a lesson, for the good of the Free Land!"

2: Diplomatic bureaucrat Johann Harishchandra remarks calmly, "There's no need to go off half-cocked. It would be much better if we used an appropriate international body—the World Assembly, say, or a The North Pacific tribunal—to investigate these rumours objectively for us. That way we have the international community on our side, and no one can accuse us of playing judge and jury. It will be well worth the extra diplomatic costs and bureaucratic red tape."

3: "If these countries don't respect international law, why would they respect international agencies?" wonders political analyst Britney Janssen. "Our neighbours are acquiring these weapons for a reason: no one wants to pick a fight with a country that has weapons of mass destruction. The solution is simple: if we have WMDs of our own, they won't dare to strike at us. It may seem mad, but in this crazy world, it's the sanest thing we could do."

4: Noted pacifist and tambourine artist Jake Mistletoe replies, "As usual, our nation's proud leaders can only see violent solutions to our problems abroad. Wouldn't it be refreshing if they focused on achieving peace through communication and accommodation, rather than force of arms? You may call me a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

Animal Liberation Front Strikes Again (issue 198)
The increasingly militant Animal Liberation Front struck again last night, freeing dozens of chickens bound for delicious snack packs.

1: "These nuts have got to be stopped," demands concerned consumer Heather Jones. "They need to face the fact people want snack packs, no matter how many innocent chickens must be sacrificed. Besides, chickens would do the same to us if they had the chance."

2: "These Liberationists are highlighting an important issue," pleads Sean Cohen. "Too often, animals are put through needless cruelty, just to make their flesh taste a little more deliciously succulent. I'm sure we could ban the more horrific abuses without putting too much of a dent in our national obesity figures. Couldn't we?"

3: "Animals have feelings too!" yelled protestor Charles Sparkle, before being set upon by hungry passers-by. "Free the animals! Ban meat-eating!"

4: Economist Rosalia King has an alternative. "You don't need to take away the people's right to choose. You just need to build the costs of animal suffering into the price. A tax on meat-eating, in proportion to the amount of cruelty involved, would do the trick. Plus think of the benefit for the national coffers! Of course, poor people wouldn't be able to afford meat, but that's just more incentive for them to get jobs."

==== Public announcement ====

197: 4 The general need to be occupied with some more cookies. Live the dream. Also - tambourines!

198: 2

197:4
198:2

197 : 1 - "Far off lands", these are neighboring countries!
198 : 1 - Please... like I care about chickens. They are not cute or cuddly. Get if the truck!

Given the votes as of now, we shall see to reaching peace through communication, and we shall tighten regulations for keeping food critters.

==== Overview ====
Civil Rights: Good (62)
Economy: Struggling (8)
Political Freedoms: Excellent (70)

The Free Land of Gogan is a huge, cultured nation, ruled by Doctor Marcin with an even hand, and renowned for its punitive income tax rates. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 971 million are fiercely patriotic and enjoy great social equality; they tend to view other, more capitalist countries as somewhat immoral and corrupt.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, socially-minded government stops and the rest of society begins, but it is mainly concerned with Education, although Social Welfare and Social Equality are on the agenda. The average income tax rate is 57%, 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.

The government is avowedly atheist, citizens applying for their first jobs face fierce competition from the homeless, expensive lawyers are hired to defend citizens in court for public urination charges against their pets, and the breathalyser pledge is a traditional part of marriages in Gogan. 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 3,073rd in The North Pacific and 67,773rd in the world for Highest Drug Use, scoring 51 on the Pineapple Fondness Rating.

==== Issues ====
1 day 17 hours ago: Following new legislation in Gogan, the breathalyser pledge is a traditional part of marriages in Gogan.
The overview has been updated following the last decisions made.

Pizza Delivery Workers Strike! (issue 199)
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 McAlpin. "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 Mombota. "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."

==== Public announcement ====
The second national voting lottery will start with issue 200.

199 : 2

199:dismiss -- as much as I would like to get our pizza industry going again, neither of those is a good solution.