August Subscription 2/4
Added 2017-08-01 18:39:26 +0000 UTCThe Sprawl isn't overcrowded, because the city continues to expand faster than the population, but the population is growing at a tremendous rate and there aren't enough jobs to keep everyone employed, most live off a sustenance level stipend and try to get jobs to pull themselves up to a better standard of living. This also means people are more willing to take dangerous jobs, like expeditions to the poles for a mineral survey.
Comments
Due to the level of technology of the city, there are far more people than there are jobs. Standard of living varies from region to region (by this point in the comic, the city covers an area about the size of North America and some of the levels are high enough oxygen needs to be pumped into them to make them habitable). In some regions, those who can't find jobs are packed into crowded residential blocks and might never eat a meal that isn't a type of nutrient paste. Even job like working as a mechanic or security guard for a processing facility for a few years could get you a roomy upper level apartment and real food for life, unless you screwed up bad enough for the corporation to null your contract and leave you without the bonuses that make the job worthwhile. This gives the government, the Authority, and NASTRAND a huge amount of control over the population. A couple of years of survey work in the wastes outside the city, or keeping the machinery running at an ice processing facility, can set you up pretty well afterwards.
2017-09-28 15:06:19 +0000 UTCInteresting concept. Does this mean The Sprawl operates on a socialist form of government? Also, does it have any issues with those who -don't- have an interest in seeking employment and just intend to coast along, taking their stipend and slacking off all the time?
Mike Fang
2017-09-20 16:24:29 +0000 UTC
