Simulating the UK

[Mysterae_]

I like to play simulation games such as the Anno series, Civilisation etc and with all the current issues of government mismanagement, corporate greed, broken economy and world events I've often wondered how hard would it be to create a game based on managing the country, for real.

Sure, these games mega-over-simplify a lot of functions and decisions politician face each day but when it's boiled down it's all numbers. Without a doubt it would be far too much for one person to manage so would have to be multiplayer with people in your 'party' that you trust. Or you could use AI controlled NPCs to manage policies and fiscal matters etc like many real governments before.

You would have complete control on how to set taxes, the NHS, welfare system, laws and defence policy to name just a few, to appease the 67 million citizens. Considering the scale of it I don't think it would be possible, I can't even save 100 people on hard difficulty on Frost Punk!

Would it even be fun to play, would you play it? Or is politics just too damn boring to be gamified?

 

[Mysterae_]

@Hagar , a friend suggested annexing Scotland and making it a penal colony but I'm sure that was a plot for a film already.

 

[Mysterae_]

Doomsday.

I'm not so sure and could be getting mixed up, the plan might have been to turn Britain in a prison rather than just Scotland. It's annoying me so a quick google suggests Jonny English of all moves .

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion of Democracy and to search for democracy simulators.

I was thinking of the possibility of something bigger, more UK focussed and less of a game but more simulation where the people join to make decisions rather than the lobbied politicians we have now. It was just the thought of there being the possibility of something in the future as we all live connected lives and want a say in politics how the country is run. Rather than a single political party being in power that stands for some of the things you care about, the public could vote and influence all matters. Could such a system work and would it be better than how it is now? Would you take part?

Sounds like a Black Mirror dystopian future episode!

 

[Mysterae_]

Actually, in the real world it's all about innovation and the rule of law (which makes the UK a safe place to innovate).

I agree, but the numbers have to add up.

It would be difficult to predict how we'd do in a simulated UK as I suspect we never get told the full picture of how much money the UK has.

On the one hand the government pleads poverty and then when it wants to do something billions come out of no where to pay for it.

I suspect we're a lot richer than we're told.

For sure! The balance sheet would make for intriguing reading. A quick scan of some statistics:

Total population - 67.33 million
Number of employed - 32.7 million, 5.74 million of them are in the public sector, 1.5 million in the NHS alone.

How much does income tax and other stuff rake in?

Source

How would you spend £916,000,000,000?