The Budget Process Renewal Committee Act [on President's desk]

[bullmoose88]

Two things:

1.  Can someone who remembers the last budget process we had chime in here to give a reasonably accurate account about what went right/wrong?  I am having some trouble in recalling the lessons from the last budget.  My apologies.

2.  I've read the points my colleague Badger has made and in many respects I wholeheartedly agree with them.  My experience in government simulations, going back almost 10 years, has taught me that without a budget or spending consequences, the game becomes unplayable because the left naturally tends to dominate--I think there would be very few people who would choose the fiscal right over the left when money is infinite and only does good.  Spending restraints/forced choices and consequences makes the game a bit more even for fiscal moderates or conservatives and would spice up the debate.

That said, the last budget situation--as best I can recall and hence why I'm looking for some forum historians to chime in--still didn't work right.  I suggest two reasons why this might've been the case:

a) The senate's pace and deliberations over budget given the time span of the game really can cause problems.  This in and of itself isn't a wholly bad thing.  Delay or the threat of delay is a neat mechanism, but it can throw some things completely out of whack considering how fast things move in relation to real time.

b)  Even with a budget, and a GM who will write stories about budget failures or misappropriated money (or the lack of money), the consequences and restrictions on budgeting and bad budgets still seem insufficient.  Our pretty small voting electorate the nature of our electoral politics (elections here are really biased in favor of outside reputation, personal relationships etc) tend to insulate us from the political consequences of a bad budget.  Furthermore, not a single one of us will actually feel the brunt of a budget.  My fantasyland income won't be taken away at a higher rate because of a budget, nor will I have to worry about my future fantasy social security retirement benefits.  Sure the GM might write a story or two about how parents are happy their children are doing better because of money in schools, or seniors are enraged about less prescription drug benefits...but not a single one of those NPCs vote and not one of us feels the pains of controlled spending.

This doesn't mean we can't try a budget again, but it just seems to undermine one of the big pros the budget has for enacting it again in the face of many cons.

[bullmoose88]

I thank Al and Peter for their responses. I had forgotten much of the old budget debate aside for the fact I was very much for the budget and very much against its removal. As far as that budget goes, history has proven me wrong.

I also read with great interest the remarks countering my point that while no budget makes the game unplayable for one end, poorly crafted budget rules can and have worked in the opposite fashion for others. This is an important consideration in this process.

That said, on this measure, as I read it, I am unsure how I will vote. A committee to further explore the process seems inocuous in and of itself BUT as much as I am for budgets generally I remain skeptical if they can work here.

[bullmoose88]

Present and Abstaining.