Last April, I was invited to join a team of creative geniuses (I’m not exaggerating) to develop a card game about Trump.
Inspired by the illustrations of Ed Fotheringham (follow him on Instagram --- he is a true treat), UX designer Ron Morris saw an opportunity to design a physical card game about this particular time in history.
This particular time in history where the world has turned upside down and truth, values and kindness have vacated the White House, the Congress, the Senate, the comments sections in newspapers and on social media.
Over the last seven months, the three of us met determined to make a great, fun and funny game. We drank whiskey (the beverage of champions), played and tweaked the game over and over and over again.
We knew we needed more then simple comic relief from the continual stress of this administration, we needed to make a game that made us smarter about the function of government, civics and our Democratic society. We needed to Make Americans Smart Again.
In the seventies, we learned civics through School House Rocks’ “I’m just a Bill on Capitol Hill.” The sorrowful yet earnest Bill helped us understand how Congress worked. Our parents voted to elect leaders who worked across the aisle to do what's best for all Americans. The National Enquire produced fake news that looked intentionally and absurdly fake. We could differentiate from truth and lies. Every American feared the Cold War. Not just some of us.
Today, the lines are blurred. Greed is rampant. Courageousness is few and far between (shout out to Kamala Harris, Pramila Jayapal and a handful of others). The 24-hr news cycle is exhausting. Daily devastation is enough to break our spirits. I often feel crushed by a sense of helplessness and despair. Sometimes I simply tune out, check out and stop paying attention.
Thing is, there is a way through. And while a game, this game which I helped make, won’t Impeach Trump (or will it???), it does encourage civic dialogue. It will inspire us. It will make us laugh. You think I’m over-promising?!
Just like Bill on Capitol Hill, we learned about civics from School House Rock and that knowledge of civic duty has stayed with us.
In just a few hands of very cleverly designed playing cards, we can experience what chaos does to our psyche and how the desire to win can spin us out of control. When every card is a Trump card, we have to be smart, vigilant, creative, on task and ready for chaos.
So, yes, I am asking you to support our game, TRUMPED! A Card Game of Civics and Chaos because knowledge + fun + comic relief matters.
Because we need alternative ways to RESIST.
And because understanding how our Government was designed to work (and it is a smart design) will help us hold our legislatures accountable and elect the RIGHT leaders.
We timed the launch of Kickstarter campaign for Election Day 2017.
Much is at stake in every State.
Your vote matters.
Bill on Capitol Hill is counting on you to ensure that Trump doesn’t kill him.
The question is who’s going to get TRUMPED. Will it be us or will it be them? I’m rooting (and voting) for us and betting, in the end, they all get trumped.
TODAY'S EASY ACTIVISM -
- Please support our Game by donating to our Kickstarter campaign. You won't be charged until we met our goal. Please click on the link to donate.
- Please share TRUMPED with your networks. Our hope is that once funded, we can focus on GOTV efforts through the promotion of this game.
- Please VOTE. Nothing matters as much as this.
- And Always RESIST THE HATE & KEEP THE FAITH.
With gratitude and love to you -
:: genessa