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So if I stop killers I lower the overall Civil Rights? This game works weird.

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"Crime And Punishment"

A national forum of police officers, criminologists, philosophers, lawyers, and, of course, yourself, have congregated to discuss what should be done to tackle crime in Skama.

1. "If we're going to make even a dent in the crime ratings we need a police force that is well-trained, and well-equipped to capture lawbreakers," says Chief Constable Emily Frampton. "There are too many violent thugs out there making life miserable for everyone else and by gum I will not rest until every single one is locked up and punished - even if we have to get a little creative with our punishments."

2. "Jails are a waste of good tax pwns if you ask me," says Mohandas Baratay, a sociologist. "The cost of incarcerating someone often far outstrips the damage they caused. And they'll only do it again when they get out - we need to ease off on punishment and focus more on rehabilitation, instituting education programs aimed at turning convicts into better people and ensuring they perform community work."

3. "What a load of bunkum," grumbles Endicott Waldmann, thumping the table. "Simply talking to people doesn't change the fact that they broke the law! There needs to be punishment, or there is no justice! Jail's too good for the miserable scumbags, we should hang the lot of them!"

4. "Can't we just... get rid of them all somehow without killing them?" asks Jack Mabo. "Why not just take them away to some island somewhere were we don't have to deal with them?"

5. "'Ave you considered the possibility, my friend, that we wouldn't need any of this 'ere chinwagging if you didn't punish crimes at all?" chimes in Boyko Plimsoll, casually climbing in through the window. "The cops are a buncha crooked pigs, they cause more 'arm than good. You should get rid of them. Besides, if there ain't any laws against crime, then, TECHNICALLY there wouldn't be any crime either. Am I right?"

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4. "Can't we just... get rid of them all somehow without killing them?" asks Jack Mabo. "Why not just take them away to some island somewhere were we don't have to deal with them?"

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So if I stop killers I lower the overall Civil Rights? This game works weird.

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Mvassreich is the most pro-market in HC... and yet "private enterprise is illegal". Yeah. Sort that out.

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We Need Cash, Sharpish, Say Librarians
The Issue

Ailing libraries have appealed to the government for a much-needed injection of funds.

The Debate

1. "Our libraries are in a dreadful state," says distressed librarian, George W. Wall. "This year we had to cancel our subscription to 'Playboy' and over half of our shelves are stacked with pamphlets from the Pizzeria across the road. We need more books and better standards. If there were more perks in this job then maybe we'd get some decent employees! If it needs a whole lot of government funds to pay for it all then so be it!"

2. "Now hold it right there!" says manager of the local MEGA-BOOKS store, Colin Barry. "I employ twenty-four people and we are dependent upon people paying us money to buy books, magazines and newspapers from my store. How can you even think about giving our tax pwns to these people so they can put us out of business? 'Course poor people won't be able to afford our wares but they'd only use them for fires or somethin'. Let our libraries die."

3. "I'm all for giving our libraries more money," says Education Minister, Pete Wall. "But we certainly shouldn't just let them spend it however they please. We need an elected board to oversee all purchases and acquisitions made by our library system, promoting educational literature and keeping out smut. That way we can keep nudity out of the hands of children. We can make sure none of those political satires and newspapers that insult our government affect the weak-minded amongst us too. Then our libraries will be something to be proud of."

4. "Great Scot! I've got it!" exclaims Bianca Bush, your science advisor. "Why do we need these brick and mortar buildings anyway? Let's just scan all these books, newspapers and magazines onto the internet and then we can fire all those expensive librarians with their pensions and healthcare benefits. Think of the money we'd save if we didn't have to print everything! Sure it'll be tough on the librarians and those with no computers but hey, this is the future and they are the past."

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This is actually the way it works in RL. In order to quarantee safety you must take away some freedom.

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It's owned by the government, with good economic freedoms -- doesn't mean it has to be private

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