God's Politics - Jim Wallis blog, faith blog, religion, christian, christianity, politics, values

American Public Media recently launched Budget Hero--an interactive game that lets people explore the major issues of the election by changing the federal budget to match their stands on issues and values. Budget Hero tries to bring a level of clarity and simplicity to the federal budget. It is bound to be controversial since the game puts numbers against issues like bringing the troops home from Iraq soon, versus gradually or not at all, and providing options on taxes, Social Security, and Medicare.

"Partisan messages tend to cloud the real issues at play during campaigns," says the Web site, "and most candidates are loath to attach detailed financial impacts to solutions which make up their platform." American Public Media worked with the Congressional Budget Office, Government Accountability Office, and many others to gather the data for the game. Commentors are already suggesting tweaks: "I would have liked a 'cut the Military by 70%" button,'" says Jim from Boston. "Everything would have been paid for, and it would put us in line with the rest of the world." (For more on U.S. military spending and the Biblical mandate for peace, see 'A Theft from Those Who Hunger' by Frida Berrigan.)

Rose Marie Berger, a Sojourners associate editor, is a Catholic peace activist and poet.

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I will have to try this one - looks interesting. Wonder if it takes into account the millions that we are underwriting Europe for their gas and oil for their cars? Does it take into account the millions of people that could purchase insurance themselves but elect not to for any number of reasons? Does it care about the billions of dollors that are invested overseas by families like the Kennedy's so they don't have to pay US taxes including the 'death tax'? If I have the time to play - I will let you know. I am working FT to find a new job since the people in charge of the Capital in MN failed to fund education and this has caused many of us to be cut because of lack of funds.

Blessings -
.

Posted by: Moderatelad | June 23, 2008 11:56 AM

Moderatelad,

I'm very sorry you're out of work, but exactly who are you blaming? That's quite a vague statement. I tried to research it, but didn't get very far. The stressors seemed to the Governor vetoeing the omnibus education budget bill, the enormous budget deficit in Minnesota this year (sigh), and the fact that they need to build a new freeway bridge.

That said, I feel for you. My husband (who isn't in education, but has plenty of it) has been out of work for 14 months and we're in the process of losing our house. I pray that God will provide for both our families.

Peace,

Posted by: JEM | June 23, 2008 1:41 PM

You are at the top of my prayer list - God will provide.

I blame the state legislature for our problem. The prardyme that we use to fund education in a work - sucks. The bill that got vetoed was so loaded that I could not call it an education bill. It was a bill that was sent to Gov. and they knew he would veto it because it was so loaded with pork I believe that a Dem Gov would have vetoed it. I talked with the Dem that is my represenative for my area - a person that I voted for in the last election. (shock - Moderatelad voted for a Dem...) Challenged him to send a bill to the Gov and was dealing only with education and see if it would be vetoed - he said that they could not do that - no reason why they couldn't. (whatever) MN says that it will fund 'special education' at 75% of the cost. In the past 20 years - I don't believe that they have gone over 60% so the difference has to be made up by the district taking money away from the classroom. It is not rocket science - MN can fund education at 100% on what they collect - they just need to get the distribution correct.

Will pray every morning at 6:45 that God will provide employment for your husband.

Posted by: Moderatelad | June 23, 2008 2:57 PM

Thanks for the info--I must admit I find the legislative process in MN a bit confusing at times.

And thank you so much for the prayers--it means a lot to me. I'll keep you in mine, too.

Posted by: JEM | June 23, 2008 3:40 PM

You refer to "the millions that we are underwriting Europe for their gas and oil for their cars." I find this a peculiar stance given that Europeans are paying about 3 or 4 times as much for gas as we are. I know this for a fact because we were there last month. Moreover, they drive much smaller cars than we do and use public transportation to a much greater extent than most of the US. I don't think you can blame Europe for this.

Posted by: caad | June 23, 2008 4:03 PM

It is called 'splash and dash' and it will be about 600 US dollors to Europe next year. Developed under the 'Harry and Nancy' show in DC

Blesings -
.

Posted by: Moderatelad | June 23, 2008 4:14 PM

I think it might be broken. Tax revenues went down when I cut taxes.

Clearly the program wasn't created by an economist.

Posted by: DITE | June 24, 2008 7:41 AM

My post should have said '600 million'

Needed to make that correction

Posted by: Moderatelad | June 24, 2008 8:52 AM

If we did not have a military would we have more peace or war?

Today we have the highest living standard we have ever had.

Roger

Posted by: Roger | June 24, 2008 12:29 PM

'If we did not have a military would we have more peace or war?'

Not sure that would matter becasue if we did not have a military - I don't believe there would be a USofA today. With no US there would be no freedom of speech or expression. With no freedom of speech or expression - no need to Sojo or Wallis as there more than likely be no freedom of religion.

Posted by: Moderatelad | June 24, 2008 3:00 PM

I completed budget hero and I found it extremely easy to balance the budget in line with my morals. I do not begrudge paying my taxes I wish we weren't spending .60 of every tax dollar to the military because with that kind of expense it begs itself to be used.

Moderatelad, we have no clue if they're would or would not be a US. Civil Disobendience or the act of non-resistance was founded with Socrates and promoted late by Thoreau. In the last few centuries has proven to bring about social change. As Martin Luther King wrote the means must be as pure as the ends as the means is the ends in process. This is the anti-thesis of the ends justifies the means. This essentially means we can not kill for any reason and feel that it is justified because of a righteous end. The good created in war is temporary while the evil and death is permanet. War requires a soldier to leave his conscious(the holy spirit) at home and simply obey orders. Sometimes I believe the problems of this country are rooted in its birth. Founded in war, genocide of native population, and funded its cities and farms on the backs of immoral slavery.

Posted by: chad | June 24, 2008 4:58 PM

Be a 'Budget Hero' (by Rose Marie Berger)

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