I played the game several times and finally had one member of the family survive through year 4. The game congratulated me, and went on to describe my rather miserable condition. I doubt I would have survived a year 5. I attached my congratulations sheet, which I found morbidly amusing.
Unlike other games, the point wasn't really to win, but to understand that poor Haitians face huge obstacles that impede progress. Luck, particularly with regard to the weather, health and accidents, seems to pay a huge role and hard work does not necessarily pay off. It became clear to me that health needed to be a primary concern because earning power declined quickly when the Haitians experienced sickness of injuries.
Here are my Essential Questions:
1- To what degree do luck, hard work, and skill/ability determine the life outcomes for different people? (Does this vary depending upon a person's place of birth, social class, or other variables?)
2- What, if anything, should wealthy people and nations do to help poor people in countries like Haiti?
Unlike other games, the point wasn't really to win, but to understand that poor Haitians face huge obstacles that impede progress. Luck, particularly with regard to the weather, health and accidents, seems to pay a huge role and hard work does not necessarily pay off. It became clear to me that health needed to be a primary concern because earning power declined quickly when the Haitians experienced sickness of injuries.
Here are my Essential Questions:
1- To what degree do luck, hard work, and skill/ability determine the life outcomes for different people? (Does this vary depending upon a person's place of birth, social class, or other variables?)
2- What, if anything, should wealthy people and nations do to help poor people in countries like Haiti?