Our political system, from local government through national politics, relies on candidates contesting for votes, and political representatives contesting over policy proposals. It is not surprising that commentators often use sport metaphors when talking about the games of politics. The same insights apply to political contests. Politics can be dedicated to pursuing excellence in public service or they can degenerate into entrenched battles over narrowly defined ideologies and personal careers. Debates over policies can be honest efforts to allow the best ideas to surface or they can be manipulated sound bites designed only to placate donors and voters.