Charactoria

Well, with all this abuse of power going on all around me on a daily basis, I've decided to get in the game. For the past few months, I've seen what's its like to run my own country. Well, my own internet country, that is. Through this website, you can create your own nation, name it, and give it whatever kind of government you want. Here's what mine looks like right now:

The Rogue Nation of Charactoria
"A man's character is his destiny."

UN Category: Capitalist Paradise
Civil Rights: Good
Average Economy: Thriving
Political Freedoms: World Benchmark

The Rogue Nation of Charactoria is a massive, environmentally stunning, economically powerful nation, notable for its burgeoning horse population. Its compassionate, hard-working, intelligent population of 1.386 billion are either ruled by a small, efficient government or a conglomerate of multinational corporations; it's difficult to tell which.

The government -- a sprawling, bureaucracy-choked morass -- juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Education, and Healthcare. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 37%. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Book Publishing industry, followed by Beef-Based Agriculture and Uranium Mining.

Artists are pillars of society, the alarmingly racist tv show "Bigtopians say the darndest things" is a huge hit, space shuttles regularly launch rubbish into space, and your press secretary has had to issue ANOTHER public statement to tell everyone you're not a hyper-intelligent aubergine.

Crime -- especially youth-related -- is well under control, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Charactoria's national animal is the horse, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the dollar.

The trouble with this game, is that it give you some public issues that have come up before the government to decide upon. If you make a wrong move, you could end up changing your entire government style for better or for worse. I started out pretty well, with a "New York Times Democracy". Then, I accidently took a wrong turn (too darn compassionate, I guess). Imagine my horror, when I loged on the other day to find I had overnight warped into "Democratic Socialists". Nish Nish. So, with much time and effort, I have made my way not only to New York Times Democracy, but on up to "Capatist Paradise". Very good.

I've also been trying to keep the income tax low, not destroy my enviornment, keep civil right up to a liveable level, and keep the crime down. Right now, I'm feel like I'm doing pretty stellar with the whole deal.

I find it especially funny to go around the "region" and look at people's countries that are extremely liberal. While they have excellent civil right, their political freedoms are "abused", their crime level is "choking" their society, and their income tax rates are around 90%. You see? You just can't make everyone feel "happy" without tanking your economy. Just can't do it.

Feel free to create your own nation. Let me know - perhaps one day we can do battle over a neutral uranium mine or something.

I may have a little too much time on my hands.