Leading a city

SimCitizens will jeer the mayors' unpopular decisions and applaud when in favor, no matter how ill-conceived the plans. The lowering of taxes always gets the same positive response, sometimes to the detriment of the growing city's welfare. After losing a nascent town or two, students realize that popular expenditures such as new sports arenas are not wise when the basics of roads, schools, hospitals, and fire protection are not yet provided. The mayors learn to make decisions based on reason, not political expediency.

Along with the Golden Rule, another basic tenet, "Thou shalt live well-within thy means," should be taught to elementary [or middle school?] students. Through bitter experience, SimCity teaches the drawbacks of borrowing money as well as the necessity of budgeting, watching the bottom line, creating a livable environment, and planning for the future.