This week, a candidate for Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor bolted the Independent ticket and endorsed the Republican candidate for Governor. His act of public betrayal has been met with disgust among some voters, and could backfire for the Republican campaign. We will have a better idea after the election next month whether this unusual defection will help propel the Republican ticket to victory or will contribute to its defeat.
The danger of such acts is that they create perceptions that bring into stark contrast two very different traits: gamesmanship and loyalty. We abhor gamesmanship, which I define as the attempt to outsmart and outmaneuver an opponent with tactics that contravene shared values of fair play and good sportsmanship. In contrast, we cherish loyalty as fundamental to good citizenship and to our humanity. While gamesmanship, when successful, may be rewarded by temporary strategic gain, it often sacrifices trust, and can interfere with the game player's credibility and future relationships. Loyalty, on the other hand, displays character, builds trust, and strengthens relationships.
In literature, few characters are despised more than those who are disloyal. From the Christian tradition, the word "Judas" has become a noun, and the Biblical figure of Judas represents the archetype of something horribly repugnant. Those who are disloyal to country are branded "traitors," and the most egregious acts of treason are punishable by death. Disloyalty is vice at its most extreme.
Of course, there are limits to loyalty, as it is only worthwhile when it is deserved. Blind loyalty to an evil ruler, for example, is no virtue. But loyalty to family, friends, co-workers, clients, and, yes, running mates, ordinarily requires no compromise of our values, and is itself a value to which we should aspire.
We should not vilify the Massachusetts politician, nor elevate his defection beyond what it is -- simply one of many interesting developments in a traditional political contest. No doubt there are elements to the story to which we who only read about it in the newspapers are not privy, and that may put the defector's actions in a more favorable light. But this most recent example of a highly public act of disloyalty brings to light a core value that we human beings share, and on which it would be useful to reflect.
The danger of such acts is that they create perceptions that bring into stark contrast two very different traits: gamesmanship and loyalty. We abhor gamesmanship, which I define as the attempt to outsmart and outmaneuver an opponent with tactics that contravene shared values of fair play and good sportsmanship. In contrast, we cherish loyalty as fundamental to good citizenship and to our humanity. While gamesmanship, when successful, may be rewarded by temporary strategic gain, it often sacrifices trust, and can interfere with the game player's credibility and future relationships. Loyalty, on the other hand, displays character, builds trust, and strengthens relationships.
In literature, few characters are despised more than those who are disloyal. From the Christian tradition, the word "Judas" has become a noun, and the Biblical figure of Judas represents the archetype of something horribly repugnant. Those who are disloyal to country are branded "traitors," and the most egregious acts of treason are punishable by death. Disloyalty is vice at its most extreme.
Of course, there are limits to loyalty, as it is only worthwhile when it is deserved. Blind loyalty to an evil ruler, for example, is no virtue. But loyalty to family, friends, co-workers, clients, and, yes, running mates, ordinarily requires no compromise of our values, and is itself a value to which we should aspire.
We should not vilify the Massachusetts politician, nor elevate his defection beyond what it is -- simply one of many interesting developments in a traditional political contest. No doubt there are elements to the story to which we who only read about it in the newspapers are not privy, and that may put the defector's actions in a more favorable light. But this most recent example of a highly public act of disloyalty brings to light a core value that we human beings share, and on which it would be useful to reflect.
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