Hello Friends,

Democrats attack each other while the rest of us stand back and look at our political systems and wonder how the hell we got here and how we can break out of it.

I do anyway, and if you read past this sentence, I imagine you do too..

This is certainly a good news/bad news sort of situation, since the reason why is pretty clear. John Nash figured it out in a bar in the 1940's. Instead of buying drinks for women he wanted to meet he developed a theory about non-cooperative games.

He explains why we make decisions that are not in our best interest and why our political system keeps us trapped there.

The bad news is that this will not get sorted out by 2028.

Of course, things would be easier if the Democrats didn't attack themselves.

You've got to love it when leaders of the Democratic party start calling themselves weak and woke.

Maybe they got a copy of the Republican talking points, thought they were pretty good, and "went with it?"

The Democrats continue to chase Republicans off a right-wing cliff and wonder why people aren't excited about their opposition.

Though there are some rays of hope…

And then there's the economy.

Who doesn't love a good economic chart?

As exciting as most economic reports are, the first quarter was more exciting than most.

The headline read "a contracting economy."

But when you dive into the bar chart, you can see the influence of the new administration. It's pretty remarkable, actually, that in the first quarter they're able to have such an impact.

Normally, having such an impact takes much longer. You'd think the regime would be touting its amazing success, but instead, it blames Biden.

That's one thing they are consistent about: it's Biden's fault.

Game Theory Applied: Political Narratives and Third Parties

But the real story here is Game Theory and the Nash Equilibrium.

With all this silliness and political parties becoming increasingly detached from reality, wouldn't it be great to have some options?

Well, that's not going to happen. And this is the part that Nash explained in the bar.

We're trapped in a Prisoner's Dilemma without a Mob Boss.

Nash's analysis shows how, without a common enemy, third parties will exist theoretically but never practically, while our current parties are driven to increasing levels of disconnect and negativity.

It's not the economy, it's the system. (I really want to put "stupid" in there as a reference to "it's the economy, stupid," but can't figure out where it goes. So consider this a choose-your-own-adventure: how would you make the connection?)

US politics is like drinking sundowners on Safari in Africa while watching a pride of lions come over the ridge.

I hope you have good shoes.

Conclusion: Toward a New System

So, are we at the mercy of external enemies or systemic failures? Could a common enemy unite us in constructive dialogue, or might it require a gentle nudge from us, the voters?

It isn't all bad news. There are changes we can make. In the next episode, we will explore potential pathways to diversify the political voices on the debate stage and break the system. Until then, we invite your thoughts on how Nash's insights might shift our understanding of political power dynamics.

Stay curious and engaged, and please tell us how you see the strategy unfolding in today's world. We might just include your perspective as we continue to unravel the complexity of influence.

Yours powerfully,

Jeff and Joe