Background Guide - TJHSST Activities

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TechMUN 2015
April 10-11, 2015
JCC Jennifer Government:
US Alliance
Background Guide
High School Crisis Committees
Crisis Czar: Vikram Sardana
Crisis Director: Nathaniel Taylor
Crisis Chairs: Edi Danalache and Anant Das
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Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and JEB Stuart High School
Fairfax, VA | April 10-11, 2015
Hi Everyone!
My name is Vikram Sardana, and I’m delighted to serve as Crisis Czar for the Jennifer
Government committee. I’ve done Model UN since seventh grade, and I’ve been very active in
activities. Outside of MUN I enjoy playing a variety of sports and games, including chess and an
online capture the flag game called TagPro that I highly recommend.
Our crisis committee is based on the book Jennifer Government by Max Barry. It is one of my
favorite books and is a quick and excellent read about a dystopian world in which corporations
hold almost all the power and the government holds very little (and also the United States
controls most of the world). I highly recommend you read the book before committee and before
you write your position paper, although for your convenience a summary of the book is enclosed
in this guide.
I look forward to you guys doing great things this TECHMUN that improve your company’s
standing and profits. If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email.
Sincerely,
Vikram Sardana
[email protected]
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What is a JCC?
A joint crisis committee (JCC) takes two individual crisis committees with opposing goals and
tasks these bodies with resolving crises surrounding a common time period or event. The two
committees have the ability to communicate with one another and the actions taken by one
committee will have a direct effect on the other committee. Additionally, major crises, events,
and the flow of time will be the same for both committees; however, each individual committee
can face specific crises as well. The ultimate goal is to further the cause and interest of your
committee, usually at the expense of the opposing committee. The additional aspects of a normal
crisis, such as written directives, press releases, and personal directives related to your
company’s power, still apply in this JCC.
Book Summary
The novel Jennifer Government follows a set of characters as they navigate a corporate dystopia.
Government has been minimized to a tiny regulatory body barely able to get enough money to
operate, while corporations have flourished under free trade and minimal regulation. The
corporate world has separated into two giant factions, Team Advantage and US Alliance,
competing with one another and forming giant reward organizations to gain customer loyalty.
Hack Nike (everyone takes the last name of their employer) is a Nike employee who is
contracted to kill people who buy new Nike shoes in an underhanded marketing attempt to
increase the street cred of the shoes. He subcontracts the killings, but becomes increasingly
entangled in bad contracts, becoming disenfranchised from the corporate world and turning to
vandalism to protest the corporate system. Violet is an unemployed hacker who makes a virus
strong enough to take out an entire corporate system, and is hired by Exxon-Mobil to use the
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virus to take down the system of a competitor before they can be taken over hostile-ly. Violet
makes the contract verbally, and is uncompensated when the president of Exxon-Mobil is killed
in the ensuing conflict. Buy Mitsui is an employee of the Mitsui stock brokerage who is slowly
burning out from his job. He is under constant pressure to fill massive trade quotas, and uses
unorthodox insider tips to make his deadline, although he burns out in the process. John Nike is a
VP of marketing at Nike who came up with the idea of killing people who buy the shoes to gain
street cred. He goes on to become the Nike liaison to the US Alliance, and eventually tries to use
NRA mercenaries to destroy Team Advantage and cement the US Alliance as the foremost
corporate organization, though he is foiled by the government agent Jennifer Government and
loses of support from other US Alliance liaisons. Jennifer Government is a government agent
who investigated Nike’s slaying of kids, and eventually tracks down John Nike and brings him to
justice, despite facing constant lack of funding. As a result of John Nike’s actions, including
working with the NRA to kill the President of the United States, US Alliance votes at the end of
the novel to work with the government to regulate the market.
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Map of the World
Notice in the map of the world (which is also available on the back of the book) that the United
States Economic Blocs consists of the majority of the world, including almost the entirety of the
Americas (except Cuba), Australia, South Africa, India, Indonesia, Japan, and the United
Kingdom. These countries also operate with the President of the United States as the most
powerful figure. Notice that Russia is also economically affiliated with the United States, but is
not, as the map says, “Fully absorbed”.
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Notice that European nations and China are members of non-US affiliated, socialist economic
blocs. The Chinese government engages in massive protectionism of its economy, while the
European Union foists tariffs on many foreign goods. These countries naturally have their own
leaders.
In the regions of Africa and the Middle East, markets are fragmented and shoddy. As the map
notes, the nations of Africa are still developing, and the markets are ripe with potential. In the
Middle East, the markets are shaken due to regional violence, and the markets tend to be hostile
to those that enter the area. Trading and operating in this region is certainly possible, and
potentially lucrative, but must be done with care.
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Topic I: Government Regulation of the Market
For many years the forces of the market and “capitalizm” ran freely, as the government
did not interfere in the market. US Alliance and Team Advantage operated without government
intervention throughout the world, in a capitalist territory that ranged from the United States to
Australia (see the map for more detailed geographic information).
After John Nike’s attempt at what he called “the greatest business coup ever”, US
Alliance member corporations voted to open dialogue with the government of the United States
regarding regulation of the market. Alfonse US Alliance, the CEO, has been tasked with
representing the alliance to the government. However, in the twelve years since then, there has
been little progress made. Although the troubles are well-remembered in the public eye,
especially Nike’s role in them, enthusiasm is waning within US Alliance circles for government
regulation. While the majority still support dialogue with the government, with varying levels of
enthusiasm and for a variety of reasons, the minority within US Alliance has grown more vocal
as frustration with the government builds. The US government has had a difficult time
determining its plan for government regulation, as the Senate, House of Representatives, and the
President have struggled with cooperation. The negotiations also stalled as the government
sought to recover from the assassination of the previous president under the orders of John Nike.
However, reports have come out that the government is close to finalizing its plans for
negotiations with US Alliance, which prompts immediate US Alliance action.
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US Alliance corporations must determine whether they want to continue engaging the
United States, or whether they want to abandon the idea of government regulations altogether.
US Alliance corporations need to create a list of regulations they would like to see, and devise a
plan of implementation for them, as the government has been too crippled by the forces of
capitalizm to effectively implement regulation on its own. US Alliance corporations should
ensure that government regulations benefit the alliance, and preferably hinder their competition,
such as Team Advantage corporations.
Enclosed in this guide is a list of the stances of US Alliance corporations on the topic of
market regulation. Although a majority of corporations cast their vote in favor of government
regulations, it is not clear that this majority is similarly large twelve years later. However, these
policies will help guide the CEOs (that is, the committee members) as they take steps to
accomplish their number one goal, increasing the wealth and profitability of their company.
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Corporate Positions
AT&T
Being a prominent telecommunications provider, AT&T generally does not support
government intervention in the market. AT&T does not need the government to demand that
certain low-margin areas (such as rural areas) do not get service, and does not wish for the
government to mandate a minimum service quality. AT&T feels that improvements and
developments will be made as a desire to outcompete other telecommunications corporations,
such as those in Team Advantage, and that government regulation is merely a hinderance.
Boeing
Boeing is a large corporate plane producer, creating planes used by many airlines. Boeing
supports government regulation because they believe that it will help their bottom line. A wellregulated airline industry will be considered safer and more desirable by the consumers, leading
to more planes being flown and a greater demand for planes from Boeing. Boeing also hopes that
the government would purchase planes from them.
General Motors
A well-known car company, General Motors is somewhat in favor of government
regulation. General Motors recognizes that the public needs to think of automobiles as safe, and
sees the role that government regulation could play in this. It is also a possibility that the
government could manipulate its economy to incentivize the domestic purchase of GM cars. At
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the same time, General Motors recognizes that many safety requirements that could potentially
be placed on the company could make car production more time-consuming and costly, hurting
their profits.
IBM
A renowned IT and consulting company, IBM is involved in many different facets of the
economy (“The Real IBM”). IBM generally supports government regulation because there is
greater need for their services in a well-regulated market. Regulations do not directly impact
IBM, but can help create opportunities for IBM to succeed in the economy.
McDonalds
McDonalds is generally opposed to government regulation. McDonalds wants to be able
to pay its workers at low wages to ensure profitability and low food prices. McDonalds also
wants low quality control, to ensure that it can produce a large volume of food. McDonalds
generally believes that whatever struggles it faces, it can solve without government intervention.
Microsoft
Microsoft usually opposes government regulation, but understands its power as a tool to
use against its enemies. Microsoft wants to continue research and development unfettered by the
government, and to engage in whatever profit-seeking techniques they like, without concern of
“monopoly forming”. Microsoft recognizes, however, that government regulation can be used to
squash start-ups and competing companies that try to combat Microsoft.
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Mitsui
Mitsui is an investment focused corporation, hoping to gain profit through its financial
involvement in many industries (“Corporate Profile”). Mitsui usually supports government
regulation because for a stock market to thrive there needs to be trust. Government regulation
can help ensure that the stock market does not fail, and that Mitsui’s investments are protected.
Monsanto
Monsanto often opposes government regulation. Monsanto has concerns that public
opinion will lead to the government setting regulations that harm Monsanto, even if Monsanto
believes that this works against the interests of the public. Monsanto believes that it can
outcompete and provide low-cost alternatives, and does not need government regulation.
National Rifle Association
The NRA generally opposes government regulation. The NRA enjoys its current position
as the military of the US Alliance, and is concerned that government regulations would prevent it
from fulfilling its current role.
Nike
Nike would normally be opposed to government regulation, as it would enable them to
sell their products more cheaply. However, because of the actions of John Nike, Nike has been
under a lot of pressure, putting strain on their brand. Nike over the past twelve years has been a
tentative supporter of government regulation, but voted to allow Alphonse US Alliance to engage
in talks with the government over market regulations.
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Pepsi
Pepsi somewhat supports government regulation as a means to prevent Coca-Cola from
gaining too much market share over Pepsi. Pepsi also hopes that government regulation can be
used to prevent smaller-audience sodas from gaining mainstream popularity. Pepsi wants to
avoid government regulation being used to ensure that its sodas meet some minimum health
guidelines.
Shell
A victim of the hacking attacks of ExxonMobil, Shell hopes for moderate government
regulation. Shell hopes that government regulation regarding the stock market can help protect
Shell from similar incidents. However, Shell hopes for no government regulation regarding oil
drilling, as regulation can be time-consuming and expensive.
Visa
Visa firmly supports government regulation in the market. Visa hopes for the government
to regulate credit-card usage and credit-card systems. A stable market where Visa is nationally
accepted is the best possible scenario for Visa. If there is a lack of trust in the economy, there
will be a lack of spending, and consumers will not use Visa as much.
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Works Cited
Barry, Max. Jennifer Government: A Novel. New York: Doubleday, 2003. Print.
"Corporate Profile." Mitsui & Co. USA. Mitsui, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.mitsui.com/us/en/company/profile/index.html>.
"The Real IBM." IBM Global Careers Newsletter. IBM, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. <http://www03.ibm.com/employment/news/200901_volume1art3_whatdoes.html>.
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Background Guide - TJHSST Activities

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