A new way to look at government

[Aerozord]

So I was watching one of my favorite informative shows, and their latest topic is politics


Specifically a new way of looking at it, through the lens of game design. Ultimately government is a system of mechanics. While the external varies it is internally structured with governing rules and restrictions like a game. This is the first video in the series and it specifically addresses the idea of incentive.

To be clear it doesn't demonize politicians, well not inherently, just saying that the system does not motivate them to do their job.

While humans are generally good people they are generally not so altruistic as to hurt themselves to help others. There are no real punishments or rewards for their job. They are ironically the ones least affected by the laws they pass. A well made system rewards them for doing a good job and punishes them for doing a poor job. Tie their well being to the nations well being. The two examples they give I love and think alot of issues would be resolved alot more effectively if they were implimented

1. Congress wage is tied to average earnings. Their suggestion was 2.5 times the average. Before you rail against them getting paid more making it a multiplier makes alot more sense since even small changes for good or ill will have a larger impact on them. At first I was thinking inflation would be an issue but inflation in this situation would affect them just as much so they are motivated to keep that under control

The biggest advantage is this is the median average. Motivating them to focus more on building up the middle and lower class. Increasing the paycheck of a few rich wont increase their pay, in fact if it harms the working class it will drop them down. To see the median increase they have to move up that bottom 50%

2. Congress gets the same health care as everyone else. I doubt they'd be as keen on a privatized healthcare system if they were forced to use it themselves. If they do institute national healthcare it had also better be good because its still what they get too. If they want their tax payer funded deluxe triple platinum healthcare then everyone will need to get it.

Now I'm sure there are still ways to work and abuse the system, but atleast these are suggestions that will encourage better behavior instead of punishing it.