V.3

== If you believe this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

== If you believe this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

== If you believe this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

== If you believe this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

== If you believe this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

== If you believe this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

== If you believe this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

== If you believe this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

== If you believe this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

== If you believe this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

== If you believe this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

== If you feel this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

The current OCCUPY Energy game card -- Front and Back: == If you feel this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Just about anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

The current OCCUPY Education card -- Front and Back: == If you feel this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Just about anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

The current OCCUPY Banking card -- Front and Back: == If you feel this card can be improved, please submit suggestions. Periodically, the game will be updated to reflect changes in the real-life game. Each side can be read in about 30 seconds (the length of an average commercial--and attention span). The goal is to provide insights to people you play with. Does the card accurately summarize the problem in 80 words or less? Is the solution reasonable even if difficult to enact in the near future? Is the solution the right thing to do regardless of political Party positions (which are often influenced by money)? Though issues are complicated by 1% excuses and distractions designed to protect their interests and power, politicians are employed by us, to serve us -- the 99%. Just about anything is possible if the will of a fully informed public is behind it. [Note: The focus is optimizing the game card. The larger political debate belongs in the main forum]

Q: Is the board game anti-business? A: No. It is just anti corporate rule. It plays out the philosophy that: The priority should be big business serving the interests of society rather than the opposite. People, not corporations should have majority control of government. Q: Does the game imply that corporations are evil? A: No. But it does suggest that it is immoral for corporations to prioritize their profits over the best interests of society. It suggests that good people leave their ethics at the door when they walk into the corporate board room, and driven by greed and pressures to raise their stock prices, they do evil deeds.

Q: Are you really non-partisan or are you just playing to both sides? A: I am playing to both sides -- and you should be too! The reality is that the Right and Left have to work together for their mutual best interest and keep their "eye on the prize" -- restoring Democracy! Every issue raised in the board game reflects the very real conflict of interests between the 1% and 99%, regardless of what talking points agents of the 1% successfully circulate as a smokescreen. Some politicians still talk like true liberals and conservatives but they ALL perform their jobs like corporate employees commissioned to advance the interests of big business. It took me too long to pull the plug on cable news and accept that I was duped. The only sides that are relevant to what's happening now are the rich on one and everyone else on the other -- and neither Party in the 2 Party system represents me/us adequately. The 1% exploits differences of opinion on Issues like the separation of church and state, but their #1 priority is money and power, and you can't credibly worship Money and God at the same time. The word for what has been taking place is CLASS WARFARE! It has little to do with the age-old differences between liberals and conservatives. For example: Age-old differences of opinion on taxation are one thing. But corporate taxes are at their lowest and profits are at all-time highs while the middle-class works longer per week for all-time low comparative wages and will retire at an older age with less benefits. And the 1% is still pushing for less tax for them and more "austerity" measures on you. That's a whole new level of greed! Age-old differences of opinion on business regulation is one thing. But spreading misinformation about "global warming" despite the preponderance of scientific evidence just to protect your profit margin? That's environmental treason!

Q: Is this a money-making venture? A: No. Like this site, the goal is non-profit. The game would be available at the cost of manufacturing it, without any profit markup, printed on demand in Wisconsin. Due to the political nature of the project, however, it would not qualify for non-profit tax exemption. The development was self-financed with no funding or affiliation with any political Party or group. My personal priority is working on things I believe in and I will continue to develop the game and run this forum as long as I can afford to. If you believe this is a worthy project, you can support it by participating. If there is interest and support for it, I'd like to release a 1v99 World edition of the game with this community. Bigger spaces, even more injustice.

Q: Do you really think a board game can influence people? A: I don't know, but, surely, there aren't enough voices for real change reaching political "civilians" in traditional ways. The media speaks to audiences who tune into their partisan sources. Change requires that you bring new players to the table. A board game is an opportunity to sit people down at your table for some fun that they can get something more out of at the same time. To substitute a challenging, provocative, interactive experience for one Netflix movie. The best way to engage is face-to-face.

Q: What is the game's aim? A: The game is intended to be a stimulating tool to raise awareness of how government doesn't work, but should. It's intended to be part of a larger, collective, focused action to reform our election system. Ideally, someone who knows the game would oversee a group playing it. Q: When was it made? A: I started researching & developing the game, full-time, when Occupy Wall Street started in 2011. The next year, I tested it's release, but by that time the movement had ended, and the game still needed fine tuning. I submitted it to a Menza Society gaming event and feedback included one person drawing a Communist symbol on the review card. Another said it was too rooted in the moment. I laughed to myself, knowing it would be a looong time before anything changed. Now, 13 years later, and the problems have only gotten worse. Q. WHAT NOW? A: As time permits, I'd welcome further development of this project with the community's help. Q: Is the Occupy Movement an appropriate subject for a board game? A: Movies, shows, and other forms of entertainment have always conveyed social messages and games have as well -- most often, however, the wrong kind of messages -- ruthless competition, monopolizing, exploiting, killing and conquering. But games can have social value and be fun at the same time. An excellent example is a computer game that inspired me in 1985 called Ultima: Quest of the Avatar. Players advance in the game by studying a set of virtues, and through ethical achievements -- as well as swinging a sword at monsters and evil-doers.

Sure, the Lyin' King (or Prez-a-King, whichever you prefer) is prejudice against every category of human being that is not a white male. Actually, ANY human being that doesn't like and/or support him. But his bias won't stop him from hanging with Kanye or turning against the DC police if it's useful. His policies and relationships are purely transactional. If most Hispanics voted for him, he'd open the borders. If crime benefits him (as did the Jan 6 insurrection) he'd rationalize it and pardon the thugs. If peace can get him a Prize, he's for it, otherwise he'd risk a global war by dropping bombs on Iran and support the massacre of Palestinians to appease the interests of powerful political allies. He pretends to be an anti-abortion Christian for the same reason. In reality, he's not even a Republican. He's a Narcissistic Sociopath out for himself. "Follow the money" is the traditional advice for figuring out the moves of politicians around the Monopoly board. The Top Hat, Battleship and Racing Car own Park Place. They routinely PASS GO and collect $200 (million or billion) from The Banker. The Boot & Wheelbarrow (working men), Iron & Thimble (working women), and Dog (natural world), are stuck on the 2 purple spaces. Today, "follow the money" still applies. But, also, the dice are fixed and the guy rolling them is most interested in accumulating GET OUT OF JAIL FREE cards!

I'm sure we'd all rather be talking about new ideas than dealing with the ravings of a grown man who literally and figuratively needs his diaper changed every day. But if we step around it like the profit-prioritized media we'll be in it up to our necks before long. Until we can move on, let's contain his bullying and dictatorial stink in this thread so we can toss it like a doggy-bag when that bright newBlue day arrives. However, since I do believe we need a break from his name and brand, any typing of his name on this forum will be converted to "The Lyin' King" Topics related to this administration, its policies, and all-the-king's-men and women should be directed to their own threads. People tend to believe that every unprecedented move by the would-be Prez-a-King is intended to distract from his more insidious crimes. But despite the lack of journalistic scrutiny, the public is beginning to catch on to the bigger picture. The thing this Prez cares about first and foremost is not being exposed to prosecution and potential prison time. To that end, he must stay in office, past the midterms, and beyond... The military, the press, the courts and Congress are being groomed to protect him from, more than crimes past -- crimes to come -- including, not surrendering the White House when his gig is up.

This is an interactive sci-fi story. (blue text = the story/narrative) This is an experiment to boldly go where few men have gone before. To explore the inner reaches of his deepest, darkest regions. To probe. To illuminate. Perhaps, to come out tainted, but learned. Purged of dangerous ideas spreading like cancerous polyps within. The mission must avoid man's past, indelicate bumblings. So, maybe the thrust of the thing is to go where a modern woman dare go. Co-piloting my starship will Microsoft's AI Copilot, whom i designated as a female named Copi. To be clear, however, it will be YOU and i who will be setting the course -- with your feedback and participation in polls. DESTINATION: Planet Newbl The year is 3001. Like countless prior worlds over eons, the technical evolution of earth's most advanced life-forms outpaced their ethical evolution. Instead of caring for mother earth, we plundered her. Our extinction is inevitable. A dozen spaceships are being loaded for the journey to NEWBL, the galaxy's nearest life-sustainable, blue-skied planet... to be continued--unfolded--for months, perhaps years!

WHO CAN USE THIS SITE? Anyone can participate in the main forum. The "Blue" in newBluePlanet does not represent the Democratic Party. However, this site does cater to people with progressive minds and liberal hearts. WHAT CAN I USE IT FOR?: Use it as a progressive resource, to share, build and promote ideas, socialize, and network your interests. More detailed FAQ HOW TO PARTICIPATE? Follow these steps. WHY WE NEED AN AGGRESSIVE PROGRESSIVE SPACE: As is, we waste time listening to softball interviews and talking heads we can’t talk back to -- interrupted often by sales pitches. Though late night TV offers much needed comic relief, we’ve settled for laughs for far too long while right-wing ideology, mythology, superstition, science denial, and racism signals dominate other broadcasts. Mainstream Media newBluePlanet Passive consumption. They decide what is news. Active engagement. You decide what is newsworthy. People talk at you. Try to sell you things. Like a 2-way fireside chat (if we behave). 100% free. No ads. Social Networks newBluePlanet Feed driven noise/theater for short attention spans. Forum driven, deep-dive discussions. Algorithms push rage, distractions, manipulations. Users can elevate ideas through real communication. Competition for "likes" and "shares." Collaborative expression for progress and reform. Profitized, billionaire-owned echo chambers Nonprofit, grassroots platform "of the people, for the people." Your opinions scroll away to make room for ads and rage bait. Enduring, meaningful conversations that build over time. Track you and sell your personal data to the highest bidder. We respect your privacy. We do not track you or your data. You need to watch what you say in your social circle. We don't ID you. Share ideas with the world under an alias. OUR PRIME DIRECTIVE To build tools and organize ideas that can be effectively shared outside of Newbl to expose and counteract disinformation & misinformation. WHY WE NEED TO DO IT because politicians prime directive is being elected and re-elected. In a 2-Party system, Democrats believe they only need to be LESS corrupt. They lose big donor money if they challenge the powers that be. because mainstream media are private profiteers competing for audience share -- afraid too many will tune out. because, instead of undermining democracy behind the scenes, the rich & powerful now do it in plain sight. FUTURE PLANS* activate local town hall forums, and newBlue Biz listings. elect Newbl national and state leaders via the built-in voting system. Establish a Newbl Constitution. advance the development of a virtual, fair & balanced, nurturing, blue sky, blue ocean planet. have more fun! Earth newBluePlanet Life forms under pressure -- dying. A place we find (in us) or re-imagine/fix. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *THIS IS AN EXPERIMENTAL NON-PROFIT PROJECT THAT WILL BE RUN BY VOLUNTEERS. PLEASE BE PATIENT DURING THE BUILDING PROCESS