Idea #9 American Simulator

Author: Stu Feeser

Stu’s Idea #1:

Could you write a game for US citizens to play where they can select various options including the specific options that you and I have agreed upon so that people can visually see the outcome? I'd prefer to see this logic predominantly contained in the front end, with minimal backend support just serving the js. Sound doable?

**TL/DR GROK says PLAY THIS GAME https://somesaturday.com

GROK

Sure thing! Below is the raw Markdown for my previous response, containing the game description and code. You can copy this directly and save it as a .md file if you’d like. markdown Absolutely, we can build a game-like tool for U.S. citizens to explore these options and see the outcomes visually, with most logic in the front end (JavaScript) and a minimal backend just to serve the JS file. The goal is an interactive experience where players tweak settings—like mortgage refinancing, tariffs, or budget cuts—and watch how it impacts their wallet, the economy, and the national debt. Let’s design it as a single-page web app, keeping it simple and client-side heavy. Here’s the plan and code.

Game Concept

  • Title: “Fix the Future: Your America Simulator”
  • Setup: Players start with a baseline U.S. scenario (2025, $26T debt, $6.1T budget, $4.9T revenue). They pick options, including our agreed plan, and see outcomes like personal savings, GDP shifts, and debt payoff years.
  • Options: Toggle our plan’s features (USCB refinancing, matching tariffs, slimmed-down government) or mix and match others (e.g., no cuts, higher taxes).
  • Outputs: Visuals (charts, numbers) show mortgage payments, job growth, debt timeline, and a “citizen impact” score.
  • Tech: HTML/CSS/JS for the front end, served by a basic Node.js/Express backend (just to host the static files).

Front-End Logic

  • HTML: A form with checkboxes/sliders for options, a results div for outputs.
  • CSS: Clean layout, mobile-friendly, with animated charts (using Chart.js).
  • JS: Handles inputs, runs calculations (e.g., mortgage interest, tariff revenue), and updates visuals. No complex server calls—just static data and formulas.

Backend

  • Node.js/Express: Serves the HTML, CSS, JS files. No database or API—purely a file server.

How to Run

  1. Check if Node.js is installed

    node v

    If you see a version skip the next step.

  2. If NOT installed then install now

    # ubuntu/debian:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install nodejs npm -y
    # mac:
brew install node

  3. Clone america-simulator

    git clone https://github.com/sfeeser/america-simulator.git

  4. Install npm

    {
cd ~/america-simulator
npm init -y
npm install express
}

  5. Start the server

    {
cd ~/america-simulator
node server.js
}

  6. Play the game

    http://localhost:3000

Play:

Instructions: How to Play “Fix the Future: Your America Simulator”

Welcome to Fix the Future: Your America Simulator! You’re in charge of the U.S. economy starting in 2025. Your mission? Slash the $26 trillion national debt, keep Social Security & Medicare funded, and protect jobs—all while seeing how your choices affect your wallet. Ready to run the country? Here’s how to play:

Getting Started

  1. Launch the Game:
    • Run node server.js in your terminal (assuming Node.js is installed).
    • Open your browser to http://localhost:3000.
  2. Goal:
    • Pay off the national debt (or at least shrink it), keep Social Security & Medicare above $2.4T, and boost job growth—without tanking the economy. Watch the charts: avoid “FAIL” overlays!

Your Controls: “Your Choices”

  • Checkboxes (click to toggle on/off):
    • U.S. Citizens’ Bank: Refinance mortgages at 2%, adds $120B revenue—saves you money on your mortgage!
    • Matching Tariffs: Mirror other countries’ rates, adds $170B—boosts jobs (+1%).
    • Slim Government: Cuts spending to $3.4T (with Safety Nets) or $0.96T (without)—watch jobs drop (-2% or -4%).
    • Keep Social Security & Medicare: Locks in $2.4T for seniors—uncheck to cut it.
    • Keep Medicaid Spending: Holds $0.6T for low-income healthcare—uncheck to save cash.
    • Keep Veterans’ Benefits: Secures $0.3T for vets—uncheck to trim spending.
    • Alternate: No budget cuts: Full $6.1T spending, overrides cuts—adds jobs (+1%) but balloons debt.
    • Boom Phase: +2% job growth if USCB and Tariffs are on—housing and manufacturing kick in after 2 years.
  • Radio Buttons (pick one):
    • Military Spending Reduction: None to -40% of $0.9T (up to $360B cut)—save money, but no job impact.
    • Gold Card Program: Sell $5M cards—None to 10M (up to $50T revenue)—big bucks, big stakes!
  • Slider:
    • Extra Tax Rate: -10% to +10%—tweak revenue (e.g., +10% ≈ $490B, -10% ≈ -$490B).
  • Your Mortgage Savings:
    • Your Loan Balance: Enter your mortgage (default $300,000).
    • Your Current Rate: Set your rate (default 5%)—USCB drops it to 2%, see savings!

Playing the Game

  1. Tweak Options:
    • Click checkboxes, pick radio buttons, slide the tax rate, input your mortgage—watch numbers shift instantly.
  2. Check Results:
    • Your Monthly Mortgage: Your payment—lower with USCB.
    • Job Market Outlook: Weak (-X million), Stable, or Strong (+X million)—your job future.
    • Job Growth: % change—positive or negative?
    • Social Security & Medicare: Stable, Strained, Thriving, or Failing—keep it alive!
    • Other Services: Same status—schools, roads, etc.
    • Adjusted Tax Rate: Final tax tweak.
    • National Debt Payoff: Years to zero—or “Never (Debt Explodes)”!
    • Citizen Impact Score: 0-100—how’s your leadership?
    • Estimated Inflation/Deflation: % change—watch deflation with big surpluses.
  3. Read the Charts:
    • National Debt ($T): Blue line—rising? Big red “FAIL” if Year 15 > Year 0.
    • SS & Medicare Funding ($T): Orange line—falling? “FAIL” if slope < 0 (funding drops).

Winning (or Losing)

  • Win: Debt hits zero (or shrinks), SS funding holds or grows (no “FAIL”), jobs stay Stable or Strong—bonus if your mortgage drops!
  • Lose: Debt explodes (“FAIL”), SS funding tanks (“FAIL”), jobs plummet (Weak)—economy’s a mess.

Tips

  • Start with defaults—debt falls, SS thrives, jobs dip slightly.
  • Try “No Cuts” for a debt bomb—see “FAIL” in action.
  • Max Gold Cards (10M) for a wild surplus—debt vanishes, but is it real?
  • Balance cuts (Slim Gov, Military) with revenue (USCB, Tariffs)—keep jobs afloat.

Have Fun!

  • Experiment—cut everything, tax the rich, save your mortgage. See what breaks or builds America’s future. What’s your fix?
  • Download the code and edit the model
  • pull requests are welcome, but please keep the model accurate!