Democracy 3: Zkribbler for President of the U.S.

[Zkribbler]

I am playing my first game of Democracy 3. I’ve played lots of Democracy 2, which features fictitious countries. Democracy 3 has real countries.

Zkribbler from the Liberal Party has just overcome the Jehovah Party and has won the first of what may be two 4-year terms as President of the U.S. Obamacare does not appear to exist because the U.S. provides only emergency care and is in condition red. Condition yellow is found in: GDP, unemployment, crime and poverty. Only education is condition green. The U.S. is running a slight budget surplus, with revenues of $1,346 Bn and expenditures of $1,283 Bn.

Year 1, 1st Quarter.
I’m going to be spending some big bucks, so first I need to beef up my surplus.
I cut military spending from $236 Bn/quarter to $136 Bn, which will still leave me with a well trained military. These changes and cuts will be phased in over several turns. Americans love their military, and thus I am facing a major hit in my popularity, esp. among the patriotic faction. I need to spend what is left of my political capital on popular programs.
A maxed out Welfare Fraud Dept. will cost $3.76 Bn.
A maxed out Telecommuter Initiative will cost $8.71 Bn.
A maxed out Community Policing Program will cost $15.83 Bn.

 

[Zkribbler]

2nd Quarter: Revenues of $1,370 Bn and expenditures of $1,277 Bn.
Zkribblocare: We go from $91.8 Bn/qtr "emergency care" to $205.5 Bn/qtr, giving us “some preventative care.”
I back a Debtor Protection Law and institute two new programs:
City farms: $2.63 Bn.
Natl Business Council: $3.82 Bn.

3rd Quarter: Budget Surplus: $114 Bn.
I ban alcohol advertisement and institute two new education programs.
University Grants: $60 Bn.
Adult Education Subsidies: $7 Bn.

4th Quarter: Budget Surplus: $50 Bn
I ban tobacco advertising and attack pollution.
No more road construction; now only basic maintenance: $65 Bn -> $15 Bn.
Car pooling campaign: $1 ½ Bn.
Clean Energy Subsidies instituted at “high:” $20 Bn.

After 1 yr:
Health +5.23%, Education +8.23%; Crime -15.7%; Violent Crime -7%; Poverty -5%;
Unemployment -1 ½%; CO2 -5.5%; Envir: +2%; Immigration -4.7%; Racial tension -12.5%
Foreign Relations +1%; Oil demand -6%; Oil supply -1%; Oil costs: -2%
Poor Earning +15%; Middle class earning: +8%; Wages +1%; GDP +5%