Playing Hearts, and playing with Democrats

Today's Lesson

For several years now, every time I'm put on ''hold,'' or am listening to a conversation that bores me, I play Microsoft Hearts.   As a consequence, I am now the world's foremost authority on this game that has been bundled with every Windows OS since day one. I know, for instance, that the XP version set a new standard for blatant cheating (reneging), and contains a seldom used, but horrifying "berserk" mode where the cheating is outrageous, and you can actually see your cyber opponents stick tongues out at you.  Still, in any20 game set I will win 17 straight away.  And, since reneging is punished with disqualification, and there is reneging in every game, I will actually win them all! This is analogous to playing  politics with Democrats. Yes, they cheat like Hell, and like MS Hearts there is no penalty invoked when they're caught - ever, and nobody in authority who gives a crap. However,  if you pay attention, and count the cards played, you'll still win damned near every time.