Assignment:
In order to help you understand the ramifications of national crises, budget cuts, and the political effects of fiscal policy, you'll play the following simulation game and report on your experience.
1. Go to the EconEd National Budget Simulation game.
2. For the purposes of this activity, you will be playing a role, so these are not necessarily your individual preferences.
You will play this simulation as if you were a liberal Democrat.
3. Based on your role, choose which functions will receive a cut in spending. Attempt to cut spending by at least $150 billion. Keep track of which functions you cut and by which percentage you cut them. Note that each spending category has a icon to provide you with more information if you need it.
4. Answer the following questions and submit your answers as Assessment 7.06. Remember, you should answer them according to the role you were assigned in Step 2. Please be sure to copy and paste the questions into your assessment.
1. What programs did you choose to cut and why?
2. What groups (students. Elderly, poor, veterans, etc.) will be impacted by these cuts?
3. If you had the chance to raise taxes to restore the programs you cut, would you take that action? Why or why not?
4. What is one spending category that you absolutely feel should not be touched? What is your justification?
5. Overall, do you feel it is important to limit the federal deficit? Why or why not?
Visit some policy sites:
• Brookings Institution
• The Heritage Foundation
• The Urban Institute
Visit one of the policy web sites listed at on the Lesson page and select a policy initiative that has been implemented in the last 10 years. Research the initiative and then answer the following questions. An example of a policy might be an environmental regulation or an initiative to improve education.
Go to the Discussion area and respond to the following:
1. Summarize the policy initiative.
2. How did the policy come into the public agenda?
3. How was the policy formulated?
4. What competing interests supported/opposed the policy?
5. What agencies implemented the policy?
6. "American public attention rarely remains sharply focused upon any one domestic issue for long." Evaluate this statement, making sure to discuss how it relates to the policy initiative you researched.
Now respond by either agreeing or disagreeing to the following statements made by students. Explain.
1. Summarize the policy initiative.
2. How did the policy come into the public agenda?
3. How was the policy formulated?
4. What competing interests supported/opposed the policy?
5. What agencies implemented the policy?
6. "American public attention rarely remains sharply focused upon any one domestic issue for long." Evaluate this statement, making sure to discuss how it relates to the policy initiative you researched.
Answer TWO of the following(4 to 5 sentences):
• There is much debate about the best way to organize taxes. In your opinion, what is the fairest tax plan and why?
• Many theories exist about the best way to keep our economy running smoothly. Evaluate the use of laissez-faire, Keynesian and supply-side economics as approaches to stimulating the economy.
• What is a monopoly? What has the government done to prevent monopolies? Should the government regulate monopolies more? Why or why not?
• How does the United States compare to other countries regarding tax rates? Does this influence your opinion of taxes here? Why or why not?