Monopoly

I think this is one of those divine conspiracies. I mean why do we have to start the year with filing taxes? Whoever came up with that idea never heard of well begun is half done!

I know people who go to great lengths, do all kinds of research trying to find the best split for the basket of allowances so that you can save maximum tax. I'm not that kind of guy. I love paying taxes you know. Better way to put it... I dont care how much tax I pay! Many accountants would be saying... What an idiot!

But seriously... if something which is inherently not of interest to me takes longer than a pre-stipulated variable unit of time to accomplish, I stop doing it! That's the rule... I cant break my head over 5 different types of allowances, each having a different formula, a different max limit, a different tax exemption etc in an attempt to save $10. Thank you very much keep the change I'll donate $10 to the IRS! I just look at it as my contribution towards the improvement of society which is surprising considering that I'm anti-social in a different way!

This entire financial planning reminds me of the game of Monopoly. This has to rank among the top 3 all time controversial games of all time. No game of Monopoly I've heard of has ended without a fight. It always has to end up with all the hotels destroyed and sprayed across the floor... the community chest cards hurled into the air... and almost like an unwritten rule someone has to go I'm never ever going to play this *&^$#%@ game and and and I hate all you #@$#@^%%$^!!

Have you been involved in a game of Monopoly which has ended with... Well played! That was some great tactical planning... You really set me up with that barrage of hotels in Atlanta, Tokyo and Melbourne... Now lets take a break, order pizza or something and start off once again in a while!! The reason for it is simple... Its the only game where you're playing for money.

Now in monopoly there are those who set about the game really methodically, plan it out, buy in patterns, evaluate the profitability of an investment etc (yawn!). And then there are those who go on an all out assualt in the first hour of the game to buy every damn thing they land up on. New York for $4 mn. I'll take that. Addis Ababa for $1 mn. Put it in the kitty!

Like any game Monopoly too reaches at that threshold limit, the point from which one player starts his ascent to total domination and the rest start slipping badly. Soon come the major decisions... Should I buy AT&T for $2.5 mn? But I got only $0.5 mn... I'll start mortgaging off some of the holdings... I'll be passing through the start-finish line in two turns. I'll pay it off then... I just have to ensure I dont get 3, 5, 8 or 12 on my next roll of dice... I think the strategy's set!!

People get frustrated with Monopoly because it shows you how well you're doing in reality... It's does possess some mystical powers like Jumanji or something... The exact financial picture, quite eerily, pans out right in front of you... Players are actually hoping they land on those dreaded income tax, luxury tax or such other spaces! That's how bad the situation becomes. It's better to land there and pay 10% of the few bucks you've left than be hit by an army of hotels!

It does hurt, doesnt it?? If not in real life everyone expects to win atleast in a stupid board game!

Cheers!