[ethbr1]

Depends on what cards one is holding.

Getting half of what one wants and not being driven off a cliff can be preferable to smiling in moral smugness while the car arcs through the air.

[vkou]

Past behavior of this administration strongly predicts that your reward for kowtowing to its value-compromising demands... Is becoming the target of further value-compromising demands.

It doesn't engage in positive-sum games.

[ethbr1]

It doesn't have to.

Strictly in terms of self-interest, sometimes compromise can be the optimal move.

[ModernMech]

If they're willing to self-harm for the cause, then the optimal move is to grab the wheel and yank it yourself to change direction and stop the car from careening off the cliff.

[vkou]

Or at minimum, not gas it up.

[mcphage]

> smiling in moral smugness while the car arcs through the air

Sorry, why is this metaphorical car arcing through the air again? What's that all about?