an idea for democracy

[The diplomat]

If you are a democracy there would be a public opinion feature. It would work pretty simply:
Every time you sign a treaty (of any kind), declare war, begin construction of a Wonder, the computer would calculate the percentage of your population that supports the idea and would tell you. The lower the percentage, the more unhappiness. The higher the percentage, the more happiness (if the percentage were really high, you would get a We love the President day... like in civ2)

This idea nicely implements the notion of public support in a democracy and would NOT necessarily hinder a democracy from waging war. Public support would be high in a defensive war (ie a war on your own soil that you did not start). Public support would only be negative if you started a war of agression.


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No permanent enemies, no permanent friends.

[tniem]

The diplomat-

I like the idea for non-democracies. If you are fighting an unpopular war, the people would decrease in happiness and would riot, loss production, etc. In a democracy polliticians trying to stay in power would not give you the funding you need to fight the war. So, if President Clinton attacks Kosovo and the people are not behind him, he can fight but Congress is not going to provide more units, repairs, etc.