Politics is always a questionable topic. Everyone, no matter how uninformed or ignorant, has their own opinion as to how their country should be run. As if being the leader of a country were easy. However, pride usually prevents us from seeing the bigger picture. Couldn’t we do a better job then those who are actually at the head of state? Why don’t you find out. Go rule your own country and see what it’s like.

For most of us, ruling our own country isn’t an option. Luckily, the creator of an online video game is here to help. The game is Jennifer Government’s Nation States, in which you can create your own country and rule it how you see fit. Democracy? Socialist State? Dictatorship? You choose. Then you make decisions for your country, pass legislation, raise or lower taxes, or even go to war. While this might sound like all fun and games on the surface, I believe it goes a lot deeper than that.

Rulers of countries must make difficult decisions. Decisions that effect not only the people or your country but the people of the world. Should you nationalise health care? Should you aid the neighboring country with massive human rights violations? Should you destroy the environment to improve your economy? These are questions real leaders of real states face, and now it is up to you to provide an answer.

Also, countries can join the World Assembly which is like the United Nations. Once a member, your country has to comply with all of the World Assembly’s rules and can vote for delegates, make proposals and pass new legislation. So far members of the World Assembly have outlawed child labor, passed a universal Bill or Rights and passes many other proposals.

While it isn’t the real thing, it is as close as most of us will ever get to knowing what it’s like to rule a country of our own. It is more that just a game, it’s a simulation. Playing not only gave me a new respect for world leaders, it also gave me hope for the future. If an online community can create a peaceful world, maybe the rest of us can too.

Max Barry, the creator of Nationstates, blog: http://www.maxbarry.com/jennifergovernment/

Nationstates: http://www.nationstates.net/