>> But both teams agree to guidelines on what makes a good football (soccer) game This seems like a very useless definition of cooperation from the perspective

>> But both teams agree to guidelines on what makes a good football (soccer) game This seems like a very useless definition of cooperation from the perspective of the discussion that we are having. Sure, following same rules is some form of high level cooperation but You could equally easy switch sport to something more extreme - war would be good example I suppose - and try to convince me that if both sides are abiding by Geneva Convention while killing each other then this is an equally good analogy. >> Imagine a world without competition and you'll see a world that's dead inside. I have to bring one of my favorite quotes into discussion, sorry You forced my hand :) : "That's just like your opinion man". I understand where you are getting this sentiment (my family used to have Trabant and I remember "good" old socialistic people republic times from my childhood) but I do not believe for a second that this is either or situation. I think that there is place for better, more sophisticated economic systems, that combines rules from current systems. The problem is that ideology is standing it their way.