The Problem with Winner Takes All

I liked it better with the Soviet Union. We Americans are much better when we have a common enemy: Fascism, Communism, the New England Patriots, New Coke. Things like that.

But, without an enemy - our politics have become a minefield of winer takes all. This isn't just limited to Republicans, Democrats (and me!) are just as bad. I don't understand why, if you are a for profit business you are allowed to discriminate against gays. Many anti-abortion people don't see any exceptions to an abolition ban. There can be a balance. And yet, when we try to strike some balance and use negotiation, lawyers for one side or the other (often both) attack it for going too far and not far enough.

It turns out, the Coronavirus is not a problem we should address like this. There are defiantly solutions somewhere between total lockdown and shooting guards in the back of the head because they tell you to wear a mask in the store. 

I was reading today about how Hong Kong has opened and they are successful in bringing businesses back AND stopping Coronavirus. It doesn't entail fully reopening, but a slow partial reopening. They are NOT looking at this as a way to cheer on or denigrate their President (or, more properly, their presidential equivalent).

Americans should be able to do the same thing, but we can't. And it really is possible. Ex-President Bush's plea to remember we are all Americans and what we share is more important than our differences, this should have spurred work together. Despite what Fox and Trump will tell you,  those of us Americans on the left WANT to work together on this. I don't want you to die.

It's sad. No words from anyone on the left will make the President or Fox viewers even listen to us to have a discussion.