I think that you are right when it comes to something like a negotiation between a business and a labor union. Both sides simply view it as an adversarial proce

I think that you are right when it comes to something like a negotiation between a business and a labor union. Both sides simply view it as an adversarial process, much like how lawyers represent their clients and presume the system will work it out from there as long as they are relatively honest. However, while it may often require some credulousness, I think a significant majority of people sincerely believe that their political positions make the world a better a place rather than just their own lot in life. There are honest discussions that can be had about most policy decisions. For instance, it might be difficult to sell your software business, if you can't legally promise not to immediately launch a competing product. And yet, most of the serious policy mistakes of the past few decades have been made in the wake of debates involving two sets of competing soundbites—a problem that could be improved by better economic education starting at a younger age if I'm right that people are generally motivated to improve the world.