Times- Budget game

[cubby1223]

I love the option "Use an alternate measure for inflation"

The option is really just "Pay out less in benefits", except you play some math games to justify it

 

[sandorski]

I love the option "Use an alternate measure for inflation"

The option is really just "Pay out less in benefits", except you play some math games to justify it

hehe, ya, I just kinda passed on that one.

 

[nyker96]

yes awesome game! I played it, but cutting SS, military, bush tax cuts, medicare I got it to not only balance I think even can produce some surplus although program don't allow to go over the balancing line.

 

[sandorski]

yes awesome game! I played it, but cutting SS, military, bush tax cuts, medicare I got it to not only balance I think even can produce some surplus although program don't allow to go over the balancing line.

:hmm: Yes, it does.

 

[zephyrprime]

Why is there never the suggestion to change from fix amounts of SS to lower rates at younger years that would increase as you get older.

This would reflect that some people will not be able to find work past a certain age and would still not fall into abject poverty but at the same time would be low enough to create an incentive to find work work.

Never seen the numbers for something like that.

Seems much better (and kinder) than just saying "raise retirement age to X"

I'm not exactly sure if I understand you but SS already has the feature you describe. It doesn't save any money though because if you retire early and get less SS, you will simply live longer and collect SS for a longer period of time.

 

[epidemis]

I included some tax increases in my solution, but mostly spending cuts with the 2 really big ones, capping medicare and reducing troops in afghanistan to 60k by 2015.

Among the taxes, I actually think a real estate tax makes the most sense of all the taxes proposed. Also; fix loopholes and reduce rates.

 

[shira]

It's so easy and painless to play this game. Anyone consider the real-world consequences of the various options?

 

[sandorski]

It's so easy and painless to play this game. Anyone consider the real-world consequences of the various options?

Somewhat. I think the Political consequences are greater though. One side or the other will fight tooth and nail no matter what you do. This is where a Winner take all Government system like the British Parliamentary system works better. It allows not just the Popular solution, but also the Unpopular solution to be implemented, with the only real opposition being the next Election. However, once the Unpopular begins giving the desired result, Voters usually change their opinions about it(opposite can happen too of course).