Winfred Landry laments that politics has become a Zero Sum Game (Saturday, Oct. 27). “Game” is the operative word. In the minds of too many people, politics is a sport. A sport in the sense that, while issues are important, what ultimately matters is their side winning.

In order for change to occur, people have to stop treating politics as a sport. The consequences of winning or losing in other sports are fleeting. Maybe you lose money on a bet. In politics, the consequences persist and affect all our lives every day until the next “game” is played.

Politicians care about staying elected and holding onto power, so their only goal is to give voters what they want. As long as voters insist on their side winning, that’s what politicians will work toward.

In politics right now, as in other sports, “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” That’s why we’re divided. That’s what has to change.