Diminishing Options

John Venlet wrote here that he hoped I was right about always having other options.  I hate to tell him that I am only half right, which could very well end up being the same as all wrong.  The direct opposite of YAHOO is exemplified in game theory when the rules force one player into a course of action.

Think chess.  Both players see the whole board, every piece, but at the beginning of the game it is anyone's guess if black or white will win.  As the game progresses one player is able to impose his will on the other player and ultimately force the other player into a losing coarse of action.

If the field of conflict is defined and bounded then it is possible to begin limiting choices down to a true dichotomy, ie win or lose.  If the field is not clearly defined or bounded then the only limit is creativity.

In a current political example, the Opposition wants to create a totalitarian socialist state.  If we assume that their efforts are creating this course of events then we have clearly defined goal, motive, and endstate.  This means that we are agreeing to play on their field of politics and compromise to a Sweden/Switzerland type socialist state as an alternative.

However, if the Opposition is not willing to be bound by the rules of the game (rule of law, Constitutionality) then the field of contest cannot be clearly defined and the options either move towards infinity or towards one. 

The "Threeper" solution is outside the accepted rules of political process.  However the current Opposition has a proven history of ignoring the rule of law and Constitutionality.  So right now we are either hurtling towards an infinite number of options (social collapse, socialism, economic recovery, restored Republic, etc) or our options are being funneled choice by choice into one single outcome of armed conflict.  So far the Opposition has avoided naked violence, but behind every Union put ahead of guaranteed investors is the THREAT of violence. 

So I do not have unwavering hope in American Ingenuity to produce options other than Civil War should the Opposition continue a series of actions that attempt to limit the choices of the Freedom Forces into final submission.  Knowing your options is all about knowing the rules.