As the Congressional Supercommittee announces its failure to broker a budget deal, citizens – even the nonvoting ones – have an opportunity to show off their budget cutting and tax raising skills.

The Woodrow Wilson Center asks, “Could you balance the budget better than politicians?” in an online game they developed called Budget Hero.

In the game, players decide what types of programs to cut, fund, and where to raise taxes. The game starts 10 years from now to show what would happen if current policy were to continue on, unchanged.

Before the game begins, players choose what types of values he or she holds – from energy independence to tea party to national security. Players are evaluated not only on how well the budget is balanced, but also on how well their values were fulfilled. Someone who chooses national security as a political value will not fare well with a lot of military budget cuts. 

Players of all ages learn who is affected when discretionary spending is cut or the Bush tax cuts are extended. Winners in the game may not be suited for Congress though – the game does not include filibusters, supermajorities, or Presidential vetoes.