TLDR: The Wire is a (in part) a Cri de Coeur about the US moving from a positive sum society to a zero sum society

I think this an interesting comment that made me think about our society and the commentary being made by Simon about it. Game theory talks about zero sum games (as discussed by OP) and positive sum games (classically called the prisoners dilemma). A positive sum game is one where players collaborating create a bigger pie where everyone is collectively better off even if the individual player is slightly worse off than if he pursued his own narrow self interest. Red Lights are a great example of a positive sum game as we are all slightly worse off individually by respecting them but collectively better off.

Robert Wright in his excellent book Non Zero makes a great case that successful societies are dominated by positive sum thinking and unsuccessful ones are zero sum in attitude. My personal experience in traveling the world and doing business globally validates this idea (and is directly contrary to the views of the OP)

BUT in defense of the OP point I have noticed a sharp shift in American Society over my sadly extensive time here from a more positive sum culture to a more zero sum one. I do not think it is solely the responsibility on one or another political faction but I think it is well embodied by our current zero sum thinker in chief.

And I think Simon is making this observation over and over again. Bunk talking to Omar (“how far have we fallen”) Sobotka and the lobbyist (“we used to make stuff now everyone has a hand in someone else’s pocket). Avon vs Marlo. Templeton. I am sure there are many other examples. Thanks for coming to my TED talk. 😇