National Budget Simulation Worksheet

Directions: When you have finished your budget simulation and reviewed your results, answer the following reflection questions by writing at least 4-5 sentences for each.

1. Describe how successful you were at balancing the budget by providing your ending numbers.

2. How will the program cuts that you made affect specific groups (the elderly, students, environmentalists, savers,the poor, foreign aid recipients, producers, etc.)? What programs did you choose to cut? Why did you choose those programs over others?

3. Would other cuts have had less impact on people's lives? Which budget cuts had the largest impact on reducing the deficit?

4. Which decisions might be perceived as politically motivated?

5. What are the tradeoffs of preserving some programs while protecting others?

6. What problems does Congress have in creating the real budget?

7. If you had the opportunity to raise taxes rather than cut programs, which policy would you choose?