[icebraining]

> manipulation for personal gains at the cost of a larger good is what is my definition of "politics".

I think that's an unhelpful definition; one should avoid conflating the activity with a particular goal. Politics is governance and decision-making, and how to convince people to support your position; whether that's performed for personal gain, or for the good of the company, or for the good of society (and the three are not mutually exclusive), is another thing.

[littleblah]

fair enough