All the talk about the debt ceiling and debt crisis has left a foul taste in mouth. Its hard for me to take this issue seriously when there are obviously divisive party interests involved that seem to have zero interest in coming to a solid solution. Certain folks in Washington do not mind dragging this thing out to achieve their political motives even if it means the country could dive headfirst into economic disaster.

So while you and I are being held hostage by a certain bunch in Washington, . American Public Media’s new Budget Hero seeks to provide a values- and fiscal-based lens for citizens to examine policy debates during this election year. Budget Hero provides an interactive experience involving policy options that have been extensively researched and vetted with non-partisan government and think tank experts to enable players to objectively evaluate candidates.
http://www.marketplace.publicradio.org/features/budget_hero/

I actually find “Solve the budget” games like this fascinating. With a few experiments I could cut the deficit by 3 million. With a few more clicks, I could raise, only slightly, taxes on the richest people and corporations and save educational resources for millions. Not only did Budget Hero help me realize the magnitude of responsibilities elected officials have in creating a budgets that works for everybody, but also it makes clear just how partisan (and might I say childish) the arguments are for cutting and slashing.

It’s not easy, I can see that. But at the end of the day, I hope my elected officials will focus on lifting people out of one of the most devastating economic avalanches in decades. While deficits are important, it seems to me that an even-handed approach that prioritizes people during this difficult time seems more important.

That’s what I think. What do you think?

*Information about “Budget Hero” has been taken from the Budget Hero website