I blame ESPN. As part of a generation raised on SportsCenter, it has snuck up on me how much this nightly recap of the day’s scores has infected our national politics. Democrat and Republican alike seem addicted to the primal need to win every single day. What is a staple with sport is proving to be toxic in politics.
Lost in the obsession to win is what should matter most: good governance. The best things in life come letting short-term losses lead to long-term goals. This is true with finances, diet and exercise. Instead, the election doesn’t focus on making government work; it’s all about who wins.
A bipartisan bill to address the border crisis is rejected because one side might be credited with its success. An aging president first insists on running again, then steps aside, not because he might be unfit, but so his party comes on top. Last week’s debate (complete with Game Day pre-debate coverage) was less about policy than which candidate won.
It doesn’t have to be that way. The Olympics celebrates second- and third-place finishers as well as those who don’t win medals. In NFL preseason football, it doesn’t matter who wins the game; it’s about player development and teamwork. When parties just have to win, the nation loses.
