WINNERS & LOSERS

Election Edition

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One of the strangest things I ever witnessed working in small market TV was a well-intentioned segment called “Winners and Losers.” We had a big storm, and the reporter went around dubbing different locations as “winners,” like a movie theater or a tanning bed—because they were indoor activities unaffected by the bad weather. Then there were “losers,” like a mini-golf course that couldn’t operate during a lightning storm. The whole thing was creepy and weird, not to mention obvious to anyone with common sense.

As humans, we have a tendency to categorize events as wins or losses—even when it’s obvious. With all the strong and passionate feelings surrounding the upcoming election, it’s easy to declare your team the winner and the other side the loser.

But here’s something worth considering: According to the American Communities Project at Michigan State University— a research initiative focused on socioeconomics, culture, and politics—we actually agree on more than we think, particularly in areas where government policies have a big impact. This includes some of the most hot-button issues like taxes, immigration, the economy, and even abortion. Wild, right? We may not agree on the politics, but when it comes to policy, from the plains to Portland, across 15 different regions with varied demographics and voting blocs, when faced with tough questions—like whether we should cut social programs to lower taxes—at least 62% of people in every region sayno.

So maybe—just maybe—we can resist the urge to focus on the scoreboard and declare the obvious (like the fact that you can still go to the movies when it’s raining). Instead, let’s try to find just one thing we share with the other side—something that reflects a shared vision of how to make our communities better.