Herman Cain 999 Plan: Did It Come From SimCity?

WASHINGTON -- In Herman Cain's America, the tax code would be very, very simple: The corporate income tax rate would be 9 percent, the personal income tax rate would be 9 percent and the national sales tax rate would be 9 percent.

But there's already a 999 plan out there, in a land called SimCity.

Long before Cain was running for president and getting attention for his 999 plan, the residents of SimCity 4 -- which was released in 2003 -- were living under a system where the default tax rate was 9 percent for commercial taxes, 9 percent for industrial taxes and 9 percent for residential taxes. (That is, of course, if you didn't use the cheat codes to get unlimited money and avoid taxes altogether.)

A screenshot from the game's default settings:

There has been all sorts of speculation about where Cain came up with the idea for his catchy plan -- Unnamed economic advisers? A clever marketing promotion pulled from the pizza industry? -- but beyond a few hardcore gamers in the comments sections of blogs, few have looked to SimCity, the land where there's a "God mode."

Kip Katsarelis, a senior producer for Maxis, the company that created the SimCity series, was excited that politicians may be looking to video games for ideas.

"We encourage politicians to continue to look to innovative games like SimCity for inspiration for social and economic change," said Katsarelis. "While we at Maxis and Electronic Arts do not endorse any political candidates or their platforms, it's interesting to see GOP candidate Herman Cain propose a simplified tax system like one we designed for the video game SimCity 4."

Adopting such a simple tax structure, Katsarelis said, would allow fantasy political leaders to focus their energy on infrastructure and national security. "Our game design team thought that an easy to understand taxation system would allow players to focus on building their cities and have fun thwarting giant lizard attacks, rather than be buried by overly complex financial systems."

When asked about similarities between Cain's plan and SimCity's default tax rates, Cain campaign spokesman JD Gordon replied, "Well, we all like 9-9-9."

Rich Lowrie, the Ohio Wells Fargo employee who is the brains behind Cain's plan, did not return a request for comment regarding whether he is a fan of SimCity and looked to the game for inspiration.

A receptionist at Lowrie's Wells Fargo office said she doubted his idea came from SimCity. "Probably not," she told The Huffington Post. "I don't think he's much of a game person."

Presumably, under the Cain plan, disasters would be turned off.

Ryan Grim contributed reporting.

Comments

[SluggoFthat]

02:43 PM on 11/29/2011

To Herman Cain,donot stop running for Pres.,no matter how many Women the democrats throw at you.Most people I talk too,still will vote for you,they will vote for you more now because the democrats and a few repulicans are trying to destroy you.You are the only one,that can really beat Obama.Donot fall for their dirty tricks,you are the MAN for job to bring by the Millions to this Country,Please donot drop out,no one believes the polls,no one called me.Greg for Mr.Cain for President

[Ian Tikka Worthing]

09:27 PM on 11/18/2011

"Our game design team thought that an easy to understand taxation system would allow players to focus on building their cities and have fun thwarting giant lizard attacks, rather than be buried by overly complex financial systems."

I can't tell if this quote is by one of the founding fathers or Videogame designers but it's refreshing to see a Presidential Candidate playing outside the box.

[Stephen Dirico]

04:15 AM on 11/12/2011

999 sounds like "hope & change". Please...It is all about marketing so that he can become POTUS. Please.

[Steven Telleen]

02:18 PM on 11/05/2011

If you are really into reading fantasy fiction into Herman Cain's comments, just turn his 999 plan upside down and see what kind of beastly plan he is really talking about.

[James Edd Wheeler 3]

10:21 PM on 10/30/2011

I am a computer automation controls engineer. I have an Ivy League education that my father paid for & I earned. I am a Registered Professional Engineer & have 2 degrees. I am so high tech that I get a nose bleed driving to work. I make plenty of money, but because I have no dependents or debts of any kind, I have to pay over one third of my earned income to taxes to support the lazy stupid people in the country. I am all for Herman Cain’s tax plan because I will pay less taxes. I don’t mind paying the same tax rate as everyone else, but I am tired of being fined for getting a good education & working hard.

[Jacob Christian]

09:53 PM on 11/01/2011

clearly all of that education didn't give any sense of how the world actually works. Tis a shame you have to parade your education as if it makes your opinion any more valid, it just breeds ignorance. Maybe all of your education has put you in a bubble and lets you ignore how a lot of people actually live.

[James Edd Wheeler 3]

10:40 PM on 11/03/2011

All I get from your comment is that you don't like what I said. Actually, I do know how the world actually works. Because of my work, I have been sent all over the world. I have seen crippled beggars in China. I have seen starving orphan kids in Africa. I have seen nearly naked little kids digging in garbage for food in the Philippines. I have seen the garbage pile called Smoky mountain where people stake out & fight over “territory” to survive. I have seen the same kinds of things in Latin America. I have seen how women in Saudi Arabia are kept as virtual slaves. I have seen much more in my 30+ years in the profession, but I am sure that you get my point. Most of these people have no chance at a better life. Here in America we all actually a have the chance to get out of our situation no matter how bad it is & make a better life for ourselves. Yes, it is difficult. But, if all you want out of life is to arrange your affairs so that the “Government” will take care of you by stealing from me, then I think you should have to dig in a pile of garbage for you food.

[ElleKaye]

01:20 PM on 11/06/2011

I'm glad you have all the degrees, pedigrees and registrations that allow you to practice your chosen profession. But use your research skills to re-examine the 999 plan. Unless you clear more than 750,000 a year, it will actually increase your tax obligation.

[Maria Stringfellow]

09:33 PM on 10/25/2011

SimCity mayors are maniacs. I would know, I am one. Vote for Cain and the next thing you know, we'll be relentlessly plagued by giant robot attacks.

[Michael Perenich]

01:01 AM on 10/24/2011

‎9-9-9= TDE (Trickle Down Economics). TDE=Fail

[pjloan]

03:46 PM on 10/21/2011

I live in the Buffalo, NY area where we already pay well over 9% combined state and local sales tax. Cain's proposal would add an additional 9% sales tax making a purchase for an item carry about a 19% total sales tax. In my opinion large ticket item sales would become a thing of the past in that case. The average new car goes from a price tag of $24 K to $33 K depending on the make and model who would want to pay a 19% sales tax on those numbers? This will not create jobs or sales in this country it would put the final nails in our commerce coffin in my opinion. Plus if you make $35 K a year your pretty much paying 9% federal taxes (after standard deductions etc.) anyway so there is no savings on that "9" portion either. So the average low to middle... "non-poverty level" earner would take a bath using Cain's plan. The very rich and the at or below impoverished level would be the winners, once again leaving the middle class out of the loop "What Else Is New"?

[EBGwd]

09:54 AM on 10/22/2011

I live in the South Carolina area where we already pay well over 8% combined state and local sales tax. Cain's proposal would add an additional 9% sales tax making a purchase for an item carry about a 18% total sales tax. In my opinion large ticket item sales would require more planning in the budget. Used car about a year old would be more to my liking anyway. We live within our budget or do without. The average new car goes from a price tag of $24 K to $33 K depending on the make and model who would want to pay a 18% sales tax on those numbers? This would create lots of jobs in the used car and equipment industry in this country. It would put the nails in the coffin of those that demand all new purchases without reguard to budget. Plus if you make $35 K a year your pretty much paying 9% federal taxes (have heard it would replace federal tax, fica, social security deductions?) anyway so there is a savings on that "9" portion either. So the average low to middle... "non-pover­ty level" earner would take a liking to the Cain plan. The flexible consumers would be the winners, once again. leaving the middle class happy, finally. "What Else Is New"?

[gunfyter369]

11:19 PM on 10/26/2011

The cost of items you purchase already includes 22% of hidden embedded taxes. The 9-9-9 sales tax replaces some of the embedded tax costs... such that the price you will pay for things will be the same or LOWER. See for yourself

http://www.999calculator.net/

The 9 percent income tax portion is less than the 15.3% payroll taxes everyone who works pays now... and you do not start to pay it until you reach a certain income level (about $15K for the average family). This is called the Poverty Grant.

9-9-9 was 7-7-7. To include provision for Low Income families ... the poverty grant was added and 7-7-7 became 9-9-9. Thats where it came from, NOT from Sim City.

Now you know the rest of the story.

[Bct09]

01:17 AM on 11/06/2011

You forgot to subtract income tax....that's kind of the point of it all. Have you really looked at your pay check lately?

[enochhasrisen]

08:57 PM on 10/19/2011

Every idea or concept comes from someplace. The United States got most of its ideas and concepts from Britian such as the subway transit system and that's why he United States refer to Britian as its' sister city.

Many movies we watch come from video game concepts like Tomb Raider or The Punisher.

Video games in turn get their ideas and concepts from real life such as Medal of Honor, Conflict Vietnam or Mafia wars.

If Herman Cains idea or concept came from a video game rest assured he is in good company, on solid ground and walking well beaten path.

Sincerely, Enoch Mubarak
President/CEO Mubarak Inter-prizes
www.mubarakinter-prizes.com

[mrshep]

01:02 AM on 10/20/2011

Video coming from real life are to be expected, the same way my four year old grand son copies me The reverse doesn't work I never copy my four year old grand son
That being said I can now understand why Cains plan was so ridiculous and simple, because "Sim City" is short for "Simple City" Which must be Cains home town

[enochhasrisen]

03:01 PM on 10/20/2011

1.) "Sim City" is short for "Simple City" Which must be Cains home town
mrshep

Keeping it "simple" or "simplicity" is not to be underestimated.

2.) "The reverse doesn't work I never copy my four year old grand son"
mrshep

Keep watching and you may be surprised at how many times you actually do even if it is to only recite, reenact or paraphrase a phrase, laugh, action or comment to someone else as to something you saw or heard that your 4 year old grandson did, performed or said.

[Random FAQ]

10:44 AM on 10/25/2011

"Simple City"? No.

Maxis's Sim- line were _simulations_.

[Jonathan T Cwiok]

07:19 PM on 10/19/2011

I'm not sure if this article made a major contribution to the 2012 election, but it sure did make me reinstall Simcity 4.

[devinci35]

05:13 PM on 10/19/2011

One other thing. I have no problem with people learning from computer games. What we are learning from the current president is that disasters are a lot more fun in a computer game than in real life. I would ask that he turns them off for the rest of his term in office.

[devinci35]

05:02 PM on 10/19/2011

A simplified tax code benefits everyone except special interest groups and the politicians who take bribes from them. Cain's idea is far better than the current system, but I can think of a better approach. Have one tax. It can be either income or a sales tax, but not both. Everyone is taxed at the same rate with a couple of exceptions for the poorest of the poor. If it's an income tax, then only income above the poverty line is taxed. In the case of a sales tax, food and medicine would be exempt. This is a variation on what some people call a, "fair tax".

All loopholes and exemptions would be eliminated. No one would be able to avoid paying taxes unless their income was below the poverty line or if they were only spending their money on food and medicine. The myriad of hidden taxes that we now pay would be eliminated as well, so we would all know exactly what we are paying. This level of transparency would prevent politicians from slipping stuff past us and would result in lower taxes for everyone.

One other simple rule. No one, under any circumstances pays more than 50% of their income in taxes. This rule is important to prevent government from getting too large. Large government means too much power given to the government. This inevitably leads to a totalitarian government.

[jarhdandrn]

09:25 AM on 10/19/2011

Herman Cain has a PhD in mathematics, does he really need to turn to a video game to provide his economic policies? No I don't think so.

[good4you]

01:56 PM on 10/19/2011

No, of course not...he turned to some low level Wells Fargo employee named Rich Lowrie, who, of course, has ties to the Koch Bros. Get real dude

[Maxis EA]

03:30 PM on 10/18/2011

Hey, this is the development team at Maxis. With all of the recent SimCity news coverage around GOP candidates and SimCity 4, we wanted to invite everyone to join us on Facebook to share your best stories of setting taxes in SimCity and how well this simplified tax program worked for you...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/SimCity/160156464865

[tolchocks]

09:39 PM on 10/19/2011

Hey,it's good to hear from you.I have SimCity 4 deluxe edition,and it has a problem when booting up.It usually (90% of the time) freezes during the first pop up box (the one that shows the bridge.) I've been trying for over three years to access your site at Maxis.I registered a long time ago and then lost the username and password I had written down and lost within a few days,and have never been able to ask how to fix it.I haven't even been able to have you reset the password because I don't have the username.Is there another way besides having to use facebook to contact you? Thanks.

[Bretfox]

07:39 AM on 10/18/2011

The Sim City plan is a tax on Industrial (not the same as the 999 Plan)
The Sim City plan is a tax on commercial (not the same as the 999 Plan)
The Sim City plan is a tax on residential (not the same as the (999 Plan)

The only SIMilarity is the number 9.

I think the number 9 has been around long before Sim City.

[mrshep]

01:15 AM on 10/20/2011

The number 9 has been around a long time. The concept of taxing on the 999 plan originated with Simcity and was copied by Cains adviser, only the category names were changed to fit our existing ones. DUH