Much like other governments from around the world, the citizens of Graceland, a class from Mountlake Terrace High School in Washington State, have realized that their environment can and may be in danger. Although it is important to earn a living and keep the country working economically, it is easy to abuse the land Gracelandians share causing irrepuable damage. Gracelandians seem to be in an uproar about recent land development and through the guidance of their instructor, are discussing possible action to fix the problem. According to Instructor Ryan Niman:

“What should we do with the hex being developed? Why? These are the options I’ve heard:

* Let Nathan decide - he owns it!
* Let the President decide - she’s in charge!
* Make a Power Plant
* Don’t make a PowerPlant - another one is already being developed
* Make a farm, insurance company, school, or something else

So, how should this be decided? What should it be? Why?”

Representative GraceG begins the discussion,

“I think that Nathan should decide on what he wants that hex to be. Because he owns that hex, and he bought it. So I don’t think its really fair to him that we are telling him what to make it.”

AdamO, a citizen from nearby Dinoland shares his point of view on the subject,

“Pardon me for invading your forum, but I have a thought on this. Nathan owns the hex, correct? If he owns the hex, it is his property to decide what to do with. True, the government could seize it so they could decide, but it should not be up to the president. The president is not in a legal position to dictate what somebody should do with their property.”

Interestingly, it seems all of the citizens agree Nathan should be able to decide, but what happens when he makes a decision the citizens disagree with?  What will they do when his decisions affect their own families?

The citizens of Eden, a class from Hudson High School in Hudson, Massachusetts, are working to create laws that will better their country and (hopefully) give some citizens more well being points.  In order to help Edensians write these bills, their Instructor Ken High posted this assignment,

“As citizens or government representatives, it is your job to pass laws and policies that will help you gain Well Being points or fulfill Hidden Agenda goals. Therefore, each of you must persuade the government by proposing at least one bill that you want to be passed as a law. Your classmates can then comment on your proposal and engage in a discussion before the lawmaking session tomorrow.”

In response, Edensians came up with many useful ideas.   Each citizen had different goals in mind, however, when creating these laws.  Citizen Trevor wanted to be sure the president as the head of the government did not hold too much power,

“Any property bought by the government should be used for the government. Not for the president to use for his own purpose. What ever the government spends the money one, its only for governmental use.”

Citizen Shannon responded with,

“Why would we have the government use the property they bought for the government it should be used for the people so that they have what they need to survive. I think you are saying this because you are a reprisentive and think that you should get special treatment because of it.”

“I propose that we make a law saying that anything bought by the government should be used for the well been of the people.

I also propose that we pass a law to keep the government from seasing and buying any citicen ouned land.”

While her fellow citizens worry about individual versus government rights, Citizen Rachel felt it was just as important to protect the environment,

“I think that a law should be passed to keep a certain amount of wilderness hexes from being developed on. For instance, only one wilderness hex per year. This will help ensure that we still have enough wilderness hexes to keep our well-being points high and the citizens happy.”

In a third vein,Citizen Melissag wanted to ensure the economy had boundaries as well,

“I think that agoodlaw that should be passed is one that allows a cap unit prices.That way if someone wants to buy a food unit they do not have to pay $400 for one because that is ridiculous and based on what else every person has to buy like health care, power, education, security etc. having a food unit or any one of those other “necessary” units cost too much is not right. The price of units should be affordable but obviously not too low, so no one is making money.”

Edensians have a lot of interesting ideas for their country.  It is obvious that Edensians care deeply about their country as well as their own self interests, however, it seems as though there is an underlying current of mistrust as well.  While citizens can suggest as many laws as they like, at the end of the day, they must trust that the government officials they have elected will represent them.  Will the government live up to these expectations or make choices to fulfill their own self-interests?  Only time will tell….

The citizens of the country Lost, a class from Newcastle High School in Newcastle, WY, may have felt that way when they first began The Civic Mirror, but are orienting themselves very well thanks to the fearless leadership of their instructor  Sonja Karp.  The citizens of Lost have begun to get the lay of the land as they discover where their priorities lie.   Sonja Karp began the post with this important question,

“What hexes in The Civic Mirror are so important to the public welfare that they should be owned and operated by the government? What about in the United States?”

Woodk began the conversation showing his trust in the government of Lost,

“The hexes that are really impoartant for everyone are the farms, electricy one, the health care one, the school one, and houses. The reason they are so impoartant are because people would die if they dont get any of these resorces. If everyone dies then the game will be over. If the government owned most of them they would be cheeper because there are more people in the government that make different disshions and it will not be a dictatorship. When the government owns sertian spots it is less biest against other things like in the United States.”

Millsk also agrees that the government would own the hexes responsibly but disagrees on which ones,

“As the economy is a thing that is important to survial the government should own the forest and the school and the technology and at least on river hex. The forest hex would help with polution, the school the government owns in the U.S. already, the technology so the world would be more helpful because instead of creating bigger and better they would create what the people need, and the river would give the people some water instead of having them fight over it.”

Unlike  Millsk and Woodk, Harleya has reservations about taking power out of the hands of individual citizens,

“In the Civic Mirror, I believe that the only hexes the government needs to operate and control are the green tree, green river, and education hexes. For the most part the citizens of Lost, and NOT the government should own most of the businesses and enterprises. The government of Lost is here to ensure that our precious natural resources, that take many years to redevelop, are not destroyed. The small amount of taxes that the government charges the citizens of Lost will help fund the free education they deserve.
In the United States, I believe that the national government only needs to own and regulate industries like education and national safety. The founders of our country intended for our economy to be a free enterprise, in which private individuals wheeled and dealed with each other; in turn creating a healthy, competitive economy. The U.S. Government should never become entangled in ownership of healthcare, private companies, power industries, or insurance agencies. The judiciary system has the right to declare what these industries do is right or wrong and the legislative body should make laws that ensure these agencies act in an appropriate manner; but they should never take permanent ownership in any situation.
Christiansenl also jumped on the bandwagon about the environmental hexes,
 
In the Civic Mirror, the most important hexes concerning public welfare that I feel should be owned and operated by the government are some of the environment hexes such as forest and river hexes. Because these hexes are so difficult to repair, the government should make sure that our country has substantial neccesities so that our community will not die as the manual explains will happen if too many of the environment hexes are developed into something new. I believe that the government should give the people the right to own and manage the farms and school systems along with the rights of free enterprise. In the United States, the government should also protect nature, but keep a close eye on industries such as power plants, and only step in if a populas is in danger.”

Mirelesk, approaching the subject with a slightly different agenda, brings another political theories into play,

“The hexs that are important enough to be government owned are power, security, healthcare, education and some natural resources. Why, one might ask, would these be manditory for our government to own? Simply stated, to ensure the instigation of equality. In a prior post I mentioned that the people would have issues with “unfair” money amount. I believe that the government should step in, when deemed important, to help stablize not the illusion of fairness, but the steady drone of equality. It was once stated that communism is the greatest government in theory. In prior experiments (conducted by Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin etc.) communism proves only to feed power-hungy dictators. Why not use the controled enviroment and the need for equality as a chance to test this erratic theory? I believe it will weild staggering results.”

The citizens of Lost would obviously like to trust their government but have some reservations in handing over hexes.  While some citizens feel the government would do well with the most important resources, power and food,  other citizens feel that it would be in Lostians’ best interests if the government stayed within the environmental sector.  How will these citizens be able to compromise and what will turn out to be “best” for everyone involved? Only time will tell…