Cross-posted at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/tug-of-war-milton-dawes-vp3be.

Imagine this as  a ‘transcript’ of the latest report coming from a Band of Anthropologists and Historians. The Band originated several centuries ago. They have been observing and  studying the evolution of Tug-of-Wars between nations.

From their records: Ancient Tug-of-Wars were carried out with Rulers pulling on the  ropes with Tuggers. Tuggers were called “Attakers” and “Resisters”. Prize for winners were  not always known.  Then as the years went by,  Rulers stood back, created Leaders, and sent Tuggers to pull.  Rules were  made about the the Tugs. Rules included Tuggers wearing dark glasses…But while “Resistors” to some extent, followed the rules, Attakers thought rules were stupid…And ignored rules.

As times went by.  The  structure of the rope changed.  The rope on the Resisters side had many strands. The rope on the Attakers side had no strands. Resisters with their many stranded rope could pull in  any direction  they chose. This allowed  Resisters to horizontally and vertically pull in any  direction. And this became rampant. While some Resisters were pulling against the Attackers, others were pulling against the others...In effect helping the Attackers. Then there were other Resisters, with their strand in hand,  who  were not doing any pulling  at all. As far as they were concerned…They would be OK. It didn’t matter  which side won.

Since Resisters were all wearing dark glasses,  they could not see what or how their team was doing. They were also hard of  hearing, and didn’t listen to advice. Meanwhile “Attakers” ignoring rules had machines attached to their side of the rope…And no  strands.

The Anthropologists-Historians published their report for all to  see. From their centuries of  observation, they have noticed how costly, how much problems, Supporters create for themselves when they blindly  ignore Proportions.

They cautioned. Before a nation rush in to support a Resister against  an Attacker…Think Proportions. What proportion of Resister Tuggers can be depended on to Strongly Tug against an Attacker…What proportion might be tugging against their side…What proportion don’t give a damn which side wins.

We all could learn from the Anthropologists-Historians. The pandemic might not have lasted  so long — So  many lives lost, so much misery could have been avoided…If more tuggers were tugging against the virus.  And less of the many who did not care  one  way or the other…Which was also tugging for the virus.

And what are the Proportions tugging for, against, don’t care, America’s ‘Democracy’?

Readers are invited to share other  examples  of Tugging and Ignoring Proportions.

Milton Dawes