Election 2024: The Greatest Zero-Sum Game in America
Trump’s “All In” and he can’t lose, or he’s toast. But he has a plan if that happens — a plan that’s been playing out for years
Long ago (June 2021), I explored the accuracy of an oft-appearing phrase from that time … that politics is a zero-sum game. As I concluded in my ancient article, politics is not — but elections might meet the definition of a zero-sum game.
Here’s a definition of a zero-sum game, drawn from my prior article for your ease of reference:
In game theory and economic theory, a zero-sum game is a mathematical representation of a situation in which an advantage that is won by one of two sides is lost by the other. If the total gains of the participants are added up, and the total losses are subtracted, they will sum to zero.
Ask yourself: In America, what is the biggest game of them all in November 2024?
That would be the presidential election in November; and it seems to meet the definition given.
Yes, in that particular moment there is no game or sporting event that even comes close to the importance of, the sheer life-changing potential of, the existential import of, the November presidential election.
