Washington, your Monopoly game, it’s not for kids

So why did you let them throw the dice?

We used to think Monopoly was an innocent and fun board game for children and families to enjoy, and many millions have done just that. The lessons it taught, however, are what are making America “grate” again in a way that has never “grated” before.

Whilst focussing on getting wealthy through real estate and beating our opponents into poverty, it is not surprising that the game had no philanthropic side to it when first created. I have yet to find an example that does. Let me know if you know of one.

The last time I played Monopoly was with a friend who is a client of my disability service. He is a charming and fun character everyone loves, but his family warn that when he plays this game it brings out his dark side. Truth is, it does the same for me and either one of us will grin like the Joker in Batman as our winnings multiply. Should he cry over losses it wouldn’t affect me, and vice versa. Well, that might be an exaggeration but I think you know what I mean.

There are currently over 300 versions of the original game but all are based on a similar premise, or premises if you like, and the object to acquire as many as you can to become a Landlord, ultra-rich and who cares about your competition?

My friend and I declare we are not friends during the game.

Strange today that Americans are only just now recognising how much the wealthy have controlled them for years and how whether through manipulated algorithms or whatever they have elected Monopoly winners to rule them. More and more Maga supporters will become Mega Not as major layoffs and cutbacks occur that directly affect them or members of their families.

Along with cutbacks like the $880 billion over 10 years to Medicaid as proposed by the Republican controlled House of Representatives (hopefully the Senate will not pass this), the curious irony is that cuts to taxation for the super-rich are still planned. Musk and Trump who continue to make billions from Government deals in a world where conflict of interest no longer applies desperately need not to pay any tax at all, if in fact they have or haven’t.

The question I keep asking myself if no one else is, “Why does anyone in the world think that Monopoly winners who have become mega-rich would have any idea about how to run a country, let alone what life is like for people who struggle to pay for necessities of life?”

Government for the people by the people is already a mockery as more and more people will be laid off in an America that is already Russia’s pawn.

As an Australian, the other question I keep asking is which one of our leaders will stand up against America’s Cruelty, rather than continue to suck up to our former great ally? Yes, the billions we committed to pay for nuclear submarines way into the future have tied us down but that doesn’t mean that our Prime Minister can’t stand up for what is right.

The history of Monopoly the Board Game was never about what is right. It reads as if it was straight out of “Trump, The Art of the Deal”.

On January 5, 1904 Elizabeth J. (Lizzie) Magie received her Patent for The Landlord’s Game (later to be called by others, Monopoly). Rather than promoting property investment, it was designed to demonstrate the economic ill effects of land monopolism and the use of land value tax as a remedy for it.

Illustrating this, the goal of the game was to simply obtain wealth and it contained no moral guidelines or principles as that was not the purpose. How clever that three decades later the famous board gamers Parker Bros published a modified version called Monopoly and gave no credit to Lizzie. Why should they? After all, that would have cost them money and be ethical. But then they had simply acquired a version of the game created by heater salesman Charles Darrow, who claimed to be the only creator of Monopoly and of course gave no credit to Lizzie either. Why should he? After all, same as before, that would have cost him money, and be ethical.

So you see the history of Monopoly relates so closely to the business acumen and lack of so many unscrupulous billionaires who know how to turn a dollar from a dime. Yet we have all played it so innocently, perhaps not the right word.

When the world was shocked by Trump’s announcement of Gaza as his new Riviera and to hell with the Palestinians who lived there – well not exactly in those words – Australia’s Opposition Leader Peter Dutton seemed to endorse the vision as he was reported as calling The Don a “big thinker and a deal maker”. Do we want that sort of leadership in Australia? Surely not.

As I foolishly strive to find ways to make our world a kinder place I recognise the Game of Monopoly played as it is in the real world has no place for compassion or humanity.

Now, to be fair, not all ultra-rich people have no scruples. Some have given generously to charitable and philanthropic causes.

Dame Elizabeth Murdoch, the Matriarch of the Murdoch family remains someone I revere for her generosity and kindness. She not only gave generously to many causes but she was actively involved in voluntary capacities in practical ways similar to that of President Jimmy Carter and his “holding the hammer” (if not a hose) for Habitat for Humanity in many places providing housing for the poor.

For my comparison, I asked ChatGPT to: “Create a table comparing philanthropic giving of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, her son Rupert, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Gina Rinehart, Warren Buffett, Peter Dutton, Dick Smith, and Clive Palmer, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison”.

Now, not all of the politicians here are billionaires. Dutton is reported to have an estimated wealth of around $300 million, so we can recognise he must be a lot closer to understanding the plight of the poor than perhaps Gina Rinehart or Elon Musk.

So, can we rely on ai for the truth of the following? Perhaps not a 100%, but as a guide I think this will be seen as reasonably accurate. Let me know if you disagree. I’m happy to hear from any of the following with corrections. Perhaps one of them might like to invest in my vision for a global children’s kindness movement? You can only dream.

From ChatGPT Key Observations:

● Gates & Buffett remain the biggest philanthropists on this list.
● Musk, Elisabeth Murdoch, and Dick Smith are notable givers in different sectors.
● Turnbull has a history of philanthropy in education and climate initiatives.
● Abbott has contributed personally to causes but on a smaller scale.
● Morrison & Dutton have no significant personal philanthropic records.

My information about Monopoly and The Landlord’s Game comes primarily from Wikipedia.

Can anyone recommend a children’s game that teaches social economics, kindness and empathy? Certainly the latter is reported as being much better for our mental health than world domination.

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