Democracy is for losers.

Democracy is for losers.

George Will says that “politics is the business of accommodating differences.”?

I’ve often wondered just what politics is. (Are?) And when I first read it, Will’s definition sounded about right – simple, concise, civil and polite.?

And maybe that was a good definition, fifty or seventy-five years ago, back when this crusty old political pundit’s viewpoints took shape. But this touchy-feely take on politics is all out of touch now. Because today’s politics are anything but accommodating. No, today’s politics are a bare-knuckle cage match, even to the death, with all glory to the victors and no concern whatsoever for the bleeding wounds of the vanquished.

For that matter, we need a radical makeover for what “democracy” means. We were raised to love democracy in America. We idolized it the same way we did our country, believing in the innate goodness of our nation, in our exceptionalism and our superiority in the world. From kindergarten on, Americans were taught that we’re different and we’re better. And historically, we believed that what made us different and better – more than anything else – was our absolute and unflinching dedication to democracy.?

In all of the ugly old political systems – from monarchy to facism to anarchy – might made right. Well, it didn’t really. But it did in practical effect, because in those downtrodden societies, the ones in power also got to define the terms.?

In a democracy, on the other hand, most makes right. And that feels more fair. More virtuous. And by and large, it is. Because in a democracy, a lot more people end up being accommodated than when there’s just one king of the hill or warlord of the jungle.

Of course America didn’t invent democracy – that happened back in ancient Greece, thousands of years earlier. But by the time the mid-1700s rolled around, we were the shiny new thing in government of the people, by the people and for the people. And unlike the fledgling democracies that were popping up in places like France, the Americans were able to grow their system from scratch, in a protected greenhouse that was thousands of miles and an ocean away from the weedy soil of Europe’s political past. So America’s democracy grew fast and furious, like bamboo.?

And for the next two-hundred years, there also grew a belief that America’s preeminence in the world stemmed from our unique dedication to democracy. It was thanks to our virtuous commitment to political equality – one man (even eventually one Black man and one woman), one vote – that America was rewarded with divine favor from the Almighty, giving us a big leg up on the rest of the world.?

But what about now? How does America feel about democracy today, after collectively winning the game of global Monopoly for the past two-hundred-plus years, by throwing our lot together time after time after time??

Honestly, we’re not so keen on democracy these days. Because Americans no longer feel like we’re all playing for the same team. Not even close. Today, it’s you against me against her against him. And the more teams there are chasing the same prize, the fewer of us are going to win.?

In truth, democracy is for losers. You just can’t be a true-believing adherent of democracy without being a good loser. Because democracy means going along with the majority when you’re the odd lot out, and doing it with a smile. Not because the “right” policy or person prevailed, but simply because the majority rules and them’s the rules. When it gets right down to it, that’s what it means to love democracy. And in case you haven’t noticed, there are precious few good losers left in America today.

Maybe that’s because we also have so few good winners left here. Back in the day when politics was about accommodating differences, winners took? great pains to soothe the losers. They were generous with genuine civility, kindness and concessions. Maybe the winners were so magnanimous because they knew they might be the losers next time around, and they wanted to establish a precedent for gentle treatment. Or maybe the winners were just nice because they believed that’s what Jesus would do. Who knows?

But that’s not the way of winners anymore. No, these days, winners can’t wait to rub the losers’ faces in it, say na-na-na-na-na and f!@# off.

Winning is fun. Winning means getting what you want. Winning is, well, for winners.

And democracy? Not so much.