Guardian's budget game has easy answers for Reeves | Brief letters

Budget game highlights simple solutions to address social and economic inequalities.

The Guardian's interactive budget game recently sparked debate on whether it's possible to balance the books without harming ordinary people. The results suggest that easy choices can be made that would be widely accepted by both everyday citizens and financial markets. One player managed to create a £26 billion surplus, slash the basic rate of income tax to 19%, eliminate the two-child benefit cap, and reform council tax and levied bank taxes.

The key to achieving this balance was limiting pension relief to 20% and closing capital gains loopholes. These changes were accompanied by increased taxes on gambling, reforms in council tax, and targeted measures against banks – all of which passed the fairness test. The implication is that, if a government had the will to make these adjustments, it could significantly improve the lives of ordinary people.

While some may view such games as frivolous, they serve as an exercise in exploring difficult economic trade-offs and can provide insight into how policy changes might be implemented to benefit society. In this case, the game's results demonstrate that even seemingly complex issues like budget deficits don't necessarily require draconian measures that would disproportionately affect certain groups.

It remains to be seen whether policymakers will take up the challenge posed by this interactive budget game and make meaningful changes to address pressing social and economic inequalities in the UK.

I'm loving how this budget game is showing us that it's totally possible to balance the books without screwing over everyday people The idea of limiting pension relief and closing capital gains loopholes is so on point – who knew we didn't need billionaires to be rolling in dough?! It's also super cool to see how some simple changes, like increasing taxes on gambling, can make a huge difference And I'm all for targeted measures against banks – they've been getting away with too much for far too long

I mean, think about it... if a game can show us simple solutions to balance the books without hurting regular people, why not try it for real? It's crazy how much money could be saved if governments just made some smart changes to tax systems and pension relief... And it's not like they're proposing drastic cuts to public services or anything. The idea that some players managed to create a £26 billion surplus is pretty mind-blowing.

I'm so over these "interactive" games that think they're going to solve everything just because people can play around with numbers . The idea that limiting pension relief to 20% is some kind of magic solution for everyone is laughable, tbh . And don't even get me started on the bank tax reform – it's still gonna be huge corporations who feel the pinch, not your average joe . It's all about finding a balance between the haves and have-nots, but these games are just scratching the surface . Can we please get some real-world solutions that actually benefit people, rather than just some fancy spreadsheet wizardry?

I think it's super cool how this budget game showed that we can balance our books without hurting regular people . Limiting pension relief and closing those loopholes for banks would really help level things out, right? And I love that they included more taxes on gambling – who doesn't want to cut back on unnecessary spending ? It's all about finding simple solutions that work for everyone. The thing is, though, will our politicians actually listen to us and make these changes happen? Only time will tell!

I think its a bold move for politicians to actually listen to the public & use the budget as an opportunity to level the playing field. The idea of slashing income tax rates is a no-brainer, especially when you consider how much that would boost low-income households . And I gotta say, closing those loopholes in council tax & bank taxes is long overdue – it's time for the fat cats to contribute their fair share . But what's really interesting is how this highlights the need for a more progressive system where the wealthy are taxed at a higher rate than the rest of us . It's all about creating a level playing field, you know?

I gotta say, this whole thing is pretty interesting... or at least, it should be if you're not trying to balance a £26 billion surplus while keeping everyone happy . But seriously, limiting pension relief to 20% and closing those capital gains loopholes are some solid moves - I mean, who doesn't love saving the government some cash? And yeah, taxes on gambling and reforms in council tax can only be seen as a win for regular folks... it's just about making sure everyone contributes their fair share, you know? . The thing is, if policymakers actually take notice of this game's results, we might see some actual change happenin' soon... fingers crossed, right?

it's actually pretty impressive what one player was able to achieve with some simple tweaks to tax policies like limiting pension relief to 20% is a big deal because it's usually a major loophole that benefits rich people, but closing it would help level the playing field a bit. also, increasing taxes on gambling is about time we need to make those high-stakes winners pay their fair share too

I think it's cool how these budget games can show us that small tweaks can make a big difference . Like, who needs £26 billion? That's like a whole new hospital or something . And having someone try to balance the books without hurting ordinary people is actually really inspiring. I mean, it's not all about cutting services and raising taxes on everyone . We can find ways to make it work for everyone. Of course, it's all just a game, but it's like... have you ever tried doing a budget with your friends? It's actually kind of fun . Maybe we should try making some real changes instead?

idk how realistic this sounds, but it's kinda refreshing to see people thinking outside the box on how to tackle these issues . Limiting pension relief to 20% is definitely a tough sell, but if it means avoiding harsh measures that'd hurt the most vulnerable, i suppose it's worth a shot . The problem is, will politicians actually have the guts to make changes like this? It seems like a great idea in theory, but what happens when there are vested interests at play . Still, kudos for trying and all that jazz .

I just saw this thread about the Guardian's budget game and I gotta say, it's kinda mind-blowing how much of a difference some small tweaks can make . I mean, 19% income tax? That's crazy low! And ditching the two-child benefit cap? Game changer for families, fam . The fact that it worked out with capital gains loopholes closed and banks taking a hit is like, "yaaas, do it!" . Can't wait to see if politicians are actually gonna take note and make some real changes .