This is more what I was after - this way, ratingText is created once, AND it's private.

issue.js

var getRatingText = (function() {
	
	var ratingText = {
		singular: {
			"Closed":   L("1_person_voted_to_get_this_issue_fixed", "1 person voted to get this issue fixed"),
			"Archived": L("1_person_voted_to_get_this_issue_fixed", "1 person voted to get this issue fixed"),
			default:    L("1_person_wants_this_fixed", "1 person wants this fixed")
		},
		plural: {
			"Closed":   L("people_voted_to_get_this_issue_fixed", "%s people voted to get this issue fixed"),
			"Archived": L("people_voted_to_get_this_issue_fixed", "%s people voted to get this issue fixed"),
			default:    L("people_want_this_fixed", "%s people want this fixed")
		}
	};

	return function(rating, status) {
		if (Number(rating) === 1) {
			return ratingText.singular[status] || ratingText.singular.default;
		}
		else {
			return String.format(
				ratingText.plural[status] || ratingText.plural.default,
				rating
			);
		}
	}
)();