warmed-over soapboxesclever would be nice

Let's play political economy!

§ November 3rd, 2008 § Filed under uncategorized § 3 Comments

Or, Why I’m in Grad School

For my Rhetorics of Political Economy course, I’m supposed to write a seminar paper on, well, the rhetorics of political economy. For awhile, I was thinking of doing my paper on the rhetoric of the word “freedom.” But today, the best. idea. ever. popped into my head.

I’m going to design (don’t laugh) a game instead and call it, perhaps, Utopia*. The basic premise is that players choose different political systems (a democracy, republic, social democracy, totalitarian state, anarchist state, libertarianism, etc.) and stake their place on a map. From there, they have two competing interests: the people and the government. In order to achieve “Utopia,” they have to economically satisfy both — that is, the people have to be “happy” and the government has to be wealthy. Players must achieve this while also avoiding other regimes that might seek to cripple them via sanctions, embargoes, war — you name it.

And what else might sideline the players?

Wild rhetorical cards! Play the “maverick” card and you can make a decision that pisses off the entire population but pays you big political dividends. Or, play the “freedom” card in front of any decision and people, like sheep, will agree with what you say. “Lose your voice” and you’ll have no control over the populace.

Now, all I have to do is get my professor to sign off on this idea….

*I see that Rio Grande Games, blast them, already has a game called Utopia. Hmph.