Ever since discovering playground kickball in the second grade, I have loved sports. In high school I ran track (a mediocre 400 meters), played football (a decent linebacker), basketball (a good corner jump shot),  and baseball (always a little afraid of line drives).

I loved the competition, the practice—loved  improving my competence, loved team camaraderie. I enjoyed winning; I accepted losing. I argued the calls of umpires and referees but accepted their decisions. Even in the passion and intensity of the games, players knew we needed objective rule keepers. Otherwise a game would disintegrate into chaos. The games were a measure of our achievement and that achievement depended on following the rules. Our physical safety also depended on the rules; intentionally injuring another player was illegal. Being able to compare performance historically depended on the constancy of the rules. If our team did well and we were invited to a postseason tournament, we could be confident that our opponents from other areas played by the same rules. Sports are not activities where might makes right.

Strength may make success, but rules make it right.

Recently I watched a TV interview with Trump.  He was on Air Force One standing in the doorway between the executive section of the plane and the press area. Behind him, before someone pulled a shade, viewers could see a football game playing on a large screen. Presumably Trump had been enjoying the game before he came to talk with the press. And, presumably, he would agree that enjoyment in the game depends on its rule-based structure and competent referees. 

And then I thought about how routinely he ignores domestic and international rules, ignores the courts, ignores Congress, ignores the Constitution, ignores the UN Charter, ignores the laws of science, ignores treaties. He routinely lies, and proceeds on the basis of might—his—making right. In other words, he makes the rules that are convenient and that enhance his power and wealth. 

But that is not quite accurate.  If one person is making the rules, they can’t really be called rules at all. Rules are shaped by people and organizations and states agreeing to a set of behaviors that work for everyone. Trump enforces behavior that works for him. Might is not a rule. And might doesn’t make right. Might makes dominance; it makes exploitation. Might makes misery. Might enforces injustice. Might makes retaliation inevitable. Might ends in instability. Might is about ego. Might is cruel. Might overpowers to make order but ends in chaos. Might sabotages peace. Might makes wrong.

Finally, no one wants to play the “might” game. One must only resist. That’s the rule.