This year we witnessed the debt ceiling debacle, the chance of a ‘Grand Bargain betwwen President Obama & Speaker Boehner, along with the emergence of the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement. These events demonstrate that matters of economic policy continue to hold prime importance even three years after the financial crisis of 2008. But the issues of tax, spending and overall government policy appear complicated to most citizens.

But up steps ‘Budget Hero’, with a 2011 update, to help enjoyably navigate the US federal budget. ‘Budget Hero’ allows you to choose government policy and watch their financial consequences, simulated according to assumptions taken from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.

First, you choose your priorities:

What's important to you?

The ‘Tea Party’, ‘President’s Budget’ and ‘The Great Compromise’ badges are new to the 2011 update, reflecting: The Tea Party’s emergence in the political debate, Obama’s difficultly in passing a budget this year and the comprehensive bipartisan budget plans released this year. The Tea Party…

Cut, cap and balance...

Then, see your options in each part of the budget like healthcare, for example:

Large slice of the pie...

Evaluate and choose which policy options to implement with the help the ‘more info’ policy page detailing the pros, cons and consequences of the policy option:

Yes, it costs money to repeal...

What will you choose? The Eagle is waiting…

And that’s jus’ the tip.