A Zero Sum Approach to Politics
The article linked provides a very good explanation of how game theory can be applied to modern day politics. To win in the game of politics, one must amass power, while of course keeping the nation afloat. Analyzing his past behavior, the article categorized President Trump’s presidency as a huge zero-sum game, a game in which there is a clear winner and loser.
Is this kind of approach to politics beneficial to our nation? In a zero sum game, each player has a clear win and lose condition. If one player wins, by nature of the zero sum game, the other loses. Because of this there is no way for both players to compromise and mutually benefit. This may lead to feelings of malice between the two parties. This can be seen in the current political climate and if this phenomenon were to metastasize and make its way into foreign relations it could lead our nation down a very dangerous path.
One more important thing to note is that President Trump’s definition of “winning” plays a big part in whether or not his politics can benefit the nation. Does he define winning as amassing power, healing the nation, both, or some other condition?