What happened to teamwork?

I appreciated Brian Greenspun’s Feb. 12 column, “When America wins, all of us should cheer,” which opined that there was a time when people on both sides of the aisle in Congress came together for the good of the country and that, unfortunately, the “new kind of Republican Party” belittled America’s greatness at the State of the Union address simply because that greatness was enhanced by legislation passed by Democrats and President Joe Biden.

Unfortunately, even though the Constitution envisions a bipartisan effort of “We the people,” individualism is today’s controlling mentality. New York University professor Scott Galloway, in his book “Post Corona,” recognized, “Individualism has become prized above all, resulting in a conflation of freedom with a lack of civic duty and a refusal to bear minor inconveniences.” Sound familiar? Like members of the Republican Party who didn’t get COVID-19 vaccinations and refused to wear masks.

Members of the Party of No sat on their hands without acknowledging the myriad federal legislation passed during the Biden administration to improve the lives of all Americans (i.e. production and exportation of goods worldwide and infrastructure). Galloway pointed out the importance of such legislation by noting that, “The reason we need a strong federal government is to balance fast thinking and selfishness with slow thinking and community.”

Individualism and special interests have no place in team sports, and it’s been said many times that there is no “I” in team. Public service will always be about serving the common and greater good.

Tom Harper,