The Fiefdom of Vegzombia is a huge, devout nation, notable for its burgeoning Vegetarian Zombie population. Its hard-nosed, hard-working population of 260 million have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.
It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Religion & Spirituality, and Education. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Vegzombia City. The average income tax rate is 48%, but much higher for the wealthy. A healthy private sector is led by the Gambling industry, followed by Book Publishing and Uranium Mining.
The government has taken a 'sort it out yourselves' approach to fighting malaria, people reciting Shakespeare have become a common sight, artists are pillars of society, and Vegzombia has designated Vegzombia City as its capital city. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Vegzombia's national animal is the Vegetarian Zombie, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the Leaf.
Vegzombia is ranked 22nd in The Land of Blockish Landscapes and 36,350th in the world for Most Income Equality.
Thumbs up means 10% happiest nations in the region. Epic, my people are happy.
There is a growing call within Vegzombia to abolish smoking in public areas.
The Debate
1."I'm in full support of this motion," says man on the street Bill O'Bannon. "I'm sick of being stuck behind smokers, sucking in their pollution! They can light up in the privacy of their own homes, if they want."
2."What's so special about their homes?" says anti-smoking campaigner Melbourne Li. "The government has a responsibility to stop people from hurting themselves -- it's the same reason we should make them wear seat belts in cars. Sooner or later, they end up in one of Vegzombia's hospitals, sucking on taxpayer-funded healthcare. Not that that's why we should ban smoking. We should ban it because we care."
3."
Get your hands off my cigarette!" wheezes long-time smoker Zeke Silk. "I've been smoking for fifty years and it's never done me any harm. Helps me concentrate, it does! The government should back off on trying to tell me what I can put into my own body. Telling a smoker he can't light up in a restaurant is discrimination, pure and simple. If you want to put a stop to unfairness, stop that."
What
Poll