A rather unsubtle parable, because that’s just how I’m feeling today after reading the news.
The game you loved to hate has morphed in recent years. The newest versions are cashless (you swipe the title deed with your ‘debit card’), and in some versions the prices of properties change as ‘market conditions’ change; some others are based on industries instead of geographic regions (corner an industry and you get to double your prices — talk about realism)! The original game, of course, was designed by Elizabeth Magie with two different rule sets to teach the evils of untrammelled capitalism. There are ‘cooperative’ versions and alternatives, but they haven’t succeeded; I guess reducing inequality is a hard sell in the gaming world.
And so, a group of kids sat down to play a game of Monopoly at Rick’s house. Since it was his game, and his house, he assumed he would be the banker, so he handed out money to each of the other players.
One of the kids noticed that the amounts of money he was giving to each player were different, and questioned him on it.
“Bankers’ privilege”, replied Rick. “I deem some of you as higher risks than others, so that determines how much I’m willing to lend you.”
The other child insisted that the initial moneys were not loans, but just the starting conditions for the game.
“I’m the banker”, said Rick. “And no competent banker would give out money for free. So here’s the list of interest rates that each of you will owe me on the moneys I’ve loaned to you. You can repay the loans and interest at any time.”
The other child insisted that that was not fair, since it essentially guaranteed that Rick would win the game, to which Rick replied that it was his house, his game, his rules, and that because of his exceptional skill and knowledge of the game, having never lost in his entire life, it was only reasonable that he would establish the rules, and that all other players would have to play according to his rules-based order.
There was considerable grumbling at this. One of the players asked if there were any other “rules” that would apply that were not in the rules of the game they were used to.
“Just a few,” replied Rick. “No one is allowed to form alliances without my permission. And Nat, since he’s my best friend, has to do whatever I tell him, and in return he gets special privileges like low-interest loans. And I don’t have to pay rent if I think it’s too high, and as banker I have exorbitant privilege, so can always just print more money when I do pay rent. And… take a look at these babies!”
Rick tossed out several black tokens the same size as the red hotels, that had an oblong silo shape.
“These are bombs,” he explained. “Only Nat and I can buy them, and we can use them on our turn to eliminate any of your houses and hotels. So you’d better be nice to us when we land on your properties.”
“That’s completely unfair,” one of the other children said. “I don’t want to play by those rules. Who’s up for playing our own game, using the regular rules?” Except for Nat, the others nodded and raised their hands.
“Up to you,” Rick replied. “But when you leave, you’ll have to face sanctions. You know, my leadership is what holds this group together. When I don’t run the game, then one of two things happens: either someone else tries to take my place, but probably not in a way that advances my interests and values, or no one does, and then you get chaos.” Finally he smiled and added: “If you prefer, we could play Diplomacy or Risk instead. I have special rules for them, too.”
Nat looked unhappy but stayed seated. The other children rose but looked unsure. Would they be able to organize their game without Rick and Nat? Stay tuned.
Very good analogy. That’s indeed how Hegemons and Banksters play the game or rather force everybody else how to play “their” game.
As long as there is only one Hegemon in town, his Rules-based order will work it’s magic for him.
If there is more than one Hegemon, then the “black tokens” can land anywhere and even obliterate the Hegemons’ playground. Then it’s too late to invent new rules that might suit both of them. That was never the intention anyway. Better to destroy the whole playground and go down with it than to play another Hegemon’s silly game.
Love it!
To my friends in the town I grew up, my father (an air force officer) brought the tools of Cricket and explained the rules of the game. We started playing and I was first to bat, but got out easily. I did not want to leave the game as all the items were (sort of) mine. My father would not have it. He was firm in making sure I left the game and waited for the second chance. Although I was angry at my father at that time, later I realized he taught me a valuable lesson of life.