Should Politics Be A Zero-Sum Game?
by Robert A. Levine
Otto Von Bismarck, the German chancellor in the late 19th century, responsible for unifying the independent states that now encompass modern Germany, once called politics the art of the possible. However, the political process in the United States is currently stagnant. The expected bargaining and compromise between the two parties has not succeeded in solving the most important issues of the day- unemployment, economic growth, and curbing the budget deficits and national debt. Politics has become the art of rationalizing legislative stalemate for the nation’s voters and explaining why progress on the pressing problems of the day is impossible. The opposing party is always blamed for the impasse by elected officials from the other party, hoping to gain some political advantage from disgruntled citizens.
Aside from the ideological rigidity that has straight-jacketed the Republicans and Democrats, the major problem for America is that the parties see politics as a zero-sum game. If one party is successful in passing legislation, their winning is seen as a loss for the other party. The parties don’t want to cooperate because they’re afraid the opposition might have some of its ideas enacted and its image enhanced with the voters. Each positive step taken by one party is seen as a step backwards for the other. Because the Democrats and Republicans have this mind-set, America is the big loser.
How can the voters make the parties understand that politics should not be a zero-sum game? If they worked together for the good of the country, America would benefit and it would become a win-win situation. America would win and the political parties would win, perhaps reversing the low esteem in which politicians are currently held by the public. Their insistence on keeping the paradigm of zero-sum politics benefits no one and will only lead to further American decline.
Perhaps a new entity, a centrist third party could change the political equation in Washington and end the zero-sum stalemate, making American politics again the art of the possible.
A VietNam vet and a Columbia history major who became a medical doctor, Bob Levine has watched the evolution of American politics over the past 40 years with increasing alarm. He knows he’s not alone. Partisan grid-lock, massive cash contributions and even more massive expenditures on lobbyists have undermined real democracy, and there is more than just a whiff of corruption emanating from Washington. If the nation is to overcome lockstep partisanship, restore growth to the economy and bring its debt under control, Levine argues that it will require a strong centrist third party to bring about the necessary reforms. Levine’s previous book, Shock Therapy For the American Health Care System took a realist approach to health care from a physician’s informed point of view; Resurrecting Democracy takes a similar pragmatic approach, putting aside ideology and taking a hard look at facts on the ground. In his latest book, Levine shines a light that cuts through the miasma of party propaganda and reactionary thinking, and reveals a new path for American politics. This post is cross posted from his blog.