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Writer's pictureJim Perkins

Tic-Tac-Toe, the W.O.P.R. and the Budget Ceiling



In 1983 Hollywood was in their typical 'lecture the masses' mode and produced a B movie hit thriller that starred breakout stars Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy. WarGames is seen as a statement about the futility nuclear war but in today's world it could be the poster child for the game playing in Washington. You see, like Tic-Tac-Toe and Nuclear War the budget ceiling debate is a futile, ridiculous game.


In the movie a government defense system is hacked by teenage Brodrick and almost starts a nuclear war. The system is run on a giant living breathing computer called the W.O.P.R. that was designed to be a childlike learning device (yes AI was a thing in the '80s). The designer imagines the W.O.P.R. after his deceased son and teaches the computer to play childhood favorites including Tic-Tac-Toe. The government takes the computer over and turns this childlike computer into a device to take incoming data from the NORAD war room, analyze it, and then create endless scenarios of nuclear war.... Looking for a way to ultimately win. See where I'm going here? Yep, the movie progresses and the W.O.P.R. learns what Washington today wont..or cant...and that is: the only winning move is NOT TO PLAY.


Today Brian Wesbury from First Trust Advisors LP writes about the debt ceiling debate, the futility of it and the real problems that once again our elected officials are not addressing...


(my take: the real problem is the politicians themselves and their inability to spend in a prudent manner)



ll opini

Information contained herein does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice but is limited to the dissemination of general information.

A professional adviser should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies or options presented.

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