Lets Run Australia, My Off Topics Denizens (Democracy3 Game)

[Gillipig]

Now we're thinking. BUT we can't import these products. We have to make them from scratch, so more jobs will be created!!!

Finally you're talking sense. Be prepared to be quoted on this Obama.

[BigBallinStalin]

What? No/Yes, because socialism, and blame it on teh corporations!!

How about subsidies to farmers? The poor need jobs! The socialists need jobs! The jobs need jobs!

(I'm not sure how the game models wealth creation. Pick whichever boosts the well-being of those Medium groups. Small business grants (e.g. to farmers) should benefit the poor and the farmers. It might annoy the envr/socialist crowd a little, but that should be offset by the gains from the Wealthy/fat cats/middle income, so at least they won't try to kill you yet).

I can definitely subsidize agriculture if desired.


--Andy

May a 1 billion subsidized farmers spring forth!

[Dukasaur]

.

I can definitely subsidize agriculture if desired.


--Andy

May a 1 billion subsidized farmers spring forth!

Why am I not surprised that Lenin hangs to the left?

[BigBallinStalin]

He actually hangs to the right, but after consulting with Lenin, the sculptor reluctantly obeyed.

[DoomYoshi]

90% of men hang to the left... it's not surprising.

[AndyDufresne]

90% of men hang to the left... it's not surprising.

Is this a coded message indicating that I should initiate Rent Controls in Australia?

Also, which policy groups would like to know more about, regarding our options:
Foreign Policy
Welfare
Economy
Tax
Public Services
Law and Order
Transport

ALSO, how important is balancing the budget for our country?


--Andy

[BigBallinStalin]

90% of men hang to the left... it's not surprising.

Is this a coded message indicating that I should initiate Rent Controls in Australia?

Also, which policy groups would like to know more about, regarding our options:
Foreign Policy
Welfare
Economy
Tax
Public Services
Law and Order
Transport

ALSO, how important is balancing the budget for our country?


--Andy

Balancing the budget:

Borrowing today results in reduced spending 'tomorrow', unless you use the borrowed funds to make an investment which would increase net spending 'tomorrow'.

(Are interest rates held constant in this game? Are there interest rates?) If interest rates are low, you'll get a larger yield on your investment. If interest rates are high, it would make more sense to convert your surplus into 'savings' because the yield would be greater due to the greater interest earned. Savings = Investment because you're lending money and reaping the yield from that.

If there's no interest rates and thus no option to convert your surplus into loanable funds for others, then borrow and invest in whatever project yields greater future spending (for you or your people). As long as the return on your investment is greater than the payments on interest of your loan, then you'll be fine.

[thegreekdog]

90% of men hang to the left... it's not surprising.

Is this a coded message indicating that I should initiate Rent Controls in Australia?

Also, which policy groups would like to know more about, regarding our options:
Foreign Policy
Welfare
Economy
Tax
Public Services
Law and Order
Transport

ALSO, how important is balancing the budget for our country?


--Andy

Tax obviously; but it sounds like you still need some more law and order (duh duh).

Are there term limits for you, Andy? If yes, then spend to your heart's content, you will not reap the consequences. If no, then probably need a balanced budget so you can continue to get elected.

[AndyDufresne]

Tax obviously; but it sounds like you still need some more law and order (duh duh).

Are there term limits for you, Andy? If yes, then spend to your heart's content, you will not reap the consequences. If no, then probably need a balanced budget so you can continue to get elected.

I think we can only be re-elected 3 or 4 times, every 4 years -- each turn represents 3 months.

show: Some Tax Policies Not Yet Instituted

show: Taxes Collected

Balancing the budget:

Borrowing today results in reduced spending 'tomorrow', unless you use the borrowed funds to make an investment which would increase net spending 'tomorrow'.

(Are interest rates held constant in this game? Are there interest rates?) If interest rates are low, you'll get a larger yield on your investment. If interest rates are high, it would make more sense to convert your surplus into 'savings' because the yield would be greater due to the greater interest earned. Savings = Investment because you're lending money and reaping the yield from that.

If there's no interest rates and thus no option to convert your surplus into loanable funds for others, then borrow and invest in whatever project yields greater future spending (for you or your people). As long as the return on your investment is greater than the payments on interest of your loan, then you'll be fine.

I don't think I have control over interests rates, I haven't found that part out yet. But here is some interest rate information:

show: Chart with Lots of Data Points

--Andy

[thegreekdog]

Plastic bag tax and junk food tax seem to fit in with your "big, caring government" idea - you can save environment and save health, right?

BBS and I are going to see how fast we can ruin you.

[Lootifer]

JUNK FOOD TAX, TAX DEM FATTIES!

Also if you even think about micro generation grants ima punch you in the penis.

[AndyDufresne]

JUNK FOOD TAX, TAX DEM FATTIES!

Also if you even think about micro generation grants ima punch you in the penis.

I'll make sure to avoid micro generation grants. I don't think Australia has an Obesity epidemic (it is something that can happen evidently in-game), but we'll make sure to stamp out fat if you think it is best?!


--Andy

[BigBallinStalin]

Interest rate is 1.7%. It doesn't look like you can lend, so invest into anything which will get you >1.7% per year (or what have you).
(invest = building projects. Build some solar panels and wind farms and stuff. The people need busy-work!).

1. TAX DEM FATTIES indeed.
2. TGD is right. If you'll only in for four years, then SPEND, SPEND, SPEND. No need for surpluses--you want the support of people living TODAY.

3. Be a Good Socialist.

a. We're in a Recession,
b. rich people have lower marginal utilities of wealth,
c. we do not treat individuals equally
d. Mansions are too big for one family, which is inefficient and that's wasteful!
e. therefore, TAX THOSE MANSIONS. Give 'em to the poor.

[AndyDufresne]

How do you all feel about big projects? Like a Space Program -- developing satellites, or bigger...developing resusable shuttles, or bigger...developing a space station? Funding a space program evidently lowers the amount of people that identify as religious, and it likely to be a big national work with jobs.

Fitting?


--Andy

[Lootifer]

Definitely. ALso I heard winter olympics on the cheap is a good scam.

[DoomYoshi]

Doing a space program is a waste of time with Australia's limited resources. I'd rather build colossal pyramids in the Outback using slave labor.

[thegreekdog]

The more I think about this, the more I think we should all play Democracy 3 separately and see who does the best with their line of thinking (BBS with his anarcosyndicalist commune, Andy with Banana Land, PS with Conservativebeckistan, Mets with Epcot Center, etc.).

[Dukasaur]

I'm worried about the rights of dingoes. What protection are you putting in place to stop discrimination against dingoes?



Also: definitely say yes to graduation tax. Smart-ass college kids deserve it!

[BigBallinStalin]

The more I think about this, the more I think we should all play Democracy 3 separately and see who does the best with their line of thinking (BBS with his anarcosyndicalist commune, Andy with Banana Land, PS with Conservativebeckistan, Mets with Epcot Center, etc.).

It's probably too time-consuming, and I'm iffy about them modeling spontaneous order or order in general (especially when you can sit there and control the levers of power so easily: 100% feedback, people follow orders seamlessly, projected "effectiveness" is not incorrect, long-run repercussions don't matter that much, etc.).

Besides, I like being Andy's economic consultant. I'll take credit for the good, and blame others for the bad. It's Bureaucracy 101!

[BigBallinStalin]

Space, the final frontier.... FOR MORE JOBS!!!

[warmonger1981]

How about I install a cannibalistic totalitarian dictatorship and have you all executed then served as lunch as most of you are rambling fools who need, at the least, your tongues cut out and stabbed with a rusty fork. I will have Crocodile Dundee fillet your pathetic offspring before more of those mentally deficient kangaroo bangers can make it past the age of one. The only economy needed is harvesting flesh.

[AndyDufresne]

The only economy needed is harvesting flesh.

I'm interpreting this as a suggestion for legalizing prostitution, which is a possibility I can indeed undertake if desired.


--Andy

[DoomYoshi]

The only economy needed is harvesting flesh.

I'm interpreting this as a suggestion for legalizing prostitution, which is a possibility I can indeed undertake if desired.


--Andy

Do it, with heavy regulations.

[AndyDufresne]

Where's that notyou2? I give 'em a whole day to give feedback, like requested, and he just flakes?!?! I might just name our worst policy after you.


--Andy

[DoomYoshi]

After briskly reading through Paradise Lost, I came across Raphael's advice to Adam:
Heav'n is for thee too high
To know what passes there; be lowlie wise:
Think onely what concernes thee and thy being;
Dream not of other Worlds,