The Great Welfare Empire Conspiracy - Page 05

Retailers Frightened

The combined actions of these government officials and special interest groups threatened to take a big bite out of the income of retailers who carried the game. The bared fangs of just one of these groups was frightening enough to store owners and managers, but imagine the fear in the mind of the merchants surrounded by a howling pack of them, unleashed by the authority of the state, and whipped into a frenzy by their own "racist! sexist!" rhetoric. Considering that some of the protesting callers didn't say much more to them than "Why are you carrying that game, you f---ing racist!," these petrified merchants would have to be crazy not to do what was necessary to call off the dogs-remove the games from their shelves.

A Maryland official described this menacing plan to ban the game in very polite terms: "We talked to store officials about the negative impact the game would have . . . We let them know our concerns, and they were very cooperative . . . a number of welfare rights groups were involved."

Ron and I had no idea of the breadth and seriousness of this government-directed conspiracy. We continued to conduct business thinking we had a fair opportunity to sell our game (our satirical political opinion critical of liberal government policy) in our country's marketplace.

Bob and Ron Get First Big Clue to Government Conspiracy

Our first clue to the government-directed conspiracy came in March of 1981 when a New York libertarian freelance reporter named Cathy Groudin sent us a copy of an official letter she obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. The letter had been sent by Stanley Brezenoff, the chief of New York City's 3 billion dollar welfare agency, to the presidents of 13 chain stores, soliciting their cooperation in keeping the game off their shelves. The letter was sent to Abraham & Straus Stores, Alexander's Department Stores, B. Altman and Company, Bloomingdale's Department Store, Hammacher-Schlemmer, Saks Fifth Avenue, F. A. O. Schwartz, Brentano's Bookstores, Barnes and Noble Bookstores, Toys-R-Us, Lord & Taylor, and Macy's Department Store. These stores controlled 700 major retail outlets nationwide, and another 2500 stores utilized the same buying services. The letter, carrying the official seal of the city and the name of the Mayor, concluded:

By perpetuating outdated myths, I believe the "Public Assistance" game does a grave injustice to taxpayers and welfare clients alike; by its insensitivity and plain shoddiness, it is a discredit to those associated with its manufacture and marketing.

Your cooperation in keeping this game off the shelves of your stores would be a genuine public service.
With thanks and best wishes,

Sincerely,
Stanley Brezenoff
Administrator/Commissioner

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