So here is a funny thing!

[sasha_feather]

The other night I was hanging out with my roommate and our neighbor Miles, who works in local Democratic politics. We were chatting about politics and Miles brought up Republican presidential contender Herman Cain's 9-9-9 tax plan. I pointed out, as you do when you have played a lot of Sim City, that Cain's plan is the same as the default tax setting for Sim City 4 (9% across the board for Industrial, Commercial, and Residential, at all income levels).

Miles thought this was hilarious and posted it to his Facebook, where he has over 1000 friends. He got a lot of "likes" and comments.

The next morning, someone Miles works with (let's call this guy Mr. Z) called him and said "Is this Sim City thing for real?" Miles said he thought so, and forgot about it.

Mr. Z susequently calls up the makers of Sim City and verifies the facts, then decides to pitch the story to the Huffington Post. Amanda Terkel at HuffPo writes up the story of Herman Cain's 999 plan and Sim City 4, and it is placed on the front page of the website.

Now, it is all over the web! The story is at ABC and Forbes!

Miles says this is because the story fits into the narrative that is being established by certain members of the media: that the 999 plan is silly.

I feel pretty special for having had a part in this mockery and perhaps helping take Herman Cain down a notch.

P.S.
I watched The Eagle today because fandom told me to. OMG. I recommend you do the same if you are a slasher at all. WOW. Wow.

Comments

[meloukhia]

Geeks: Raising the bar in electoral politics since...forever. (Pity it had to break at the HuffPo, though. Sigh.)

[sasha_feather]

:D

[emceeaich]

But what is Cain's position on Giant, Rampaging Lizards, particularly Giant Lizards from Another Star?

[sasha_feather]

I would be all over a version of Sim City that included contact with an alien species; limited resources such as water; diplomatic incidents with other city-states; etc. Giant Lizards from Another Star? I'd play that.

Your link reminded me of this NY Times article about cities cutting water fluoridation.

[giandujakiss]

Oh my god - I saw that story everywhere! YOU STARTED IT??? IT'S LIKE YOU'RE A CELEBRITY SUPERHERO.

[sasha_feather]

I know right?? I thought it was just coincidence that HuffPo noticed this at the same time. It wasn't coincidence!! \o/

[laceblade]

Who does he work for?!

[sasha_feather]

Miles is a union organizer; I don't really know. I can ask him. My eyes kind of glaze over sometimes when the political talk gets too thick.

[raanve]

OMG. You are amazing and I love you.

(I had forgotten that, too, though I have played so much SimCity it's not even funny.)

[lunate8]

That? Is awesome. \o/

[jesse_the_k]

You have the power (echo fx: power power power er er er er er er)
You have the power (echo fx: power power power er er er er er er)
You have the power (echo fx: power power power er er er er er er)

Rilly now, I'll be able to eat out on knowing you back when :,)

[opinion_rush]

Sasha FTW!!!