The fate of nations is not random. It is not luck, geography, or historical accident alone. It is the product of which of these three forces dominates — and whether the society's institutions, culture, and policies enable or suppress each one. You can diagnose any nation's trajectory by asking one question: who is winning?
Americans pay $1.45 billion for Olympic broadcast rights—four times more than all of Europe—yet only 9% of the U.S. population watches, compared to 33% of Europeans who get free access. While every other developed nation treats Olympic coverage as a public right, Americans must subscribe to Peacock to watch their athletes compete. NBC profits $450 million while 90% of Americans are locked out of one of our last shared national experiences. At just $400 million per Olympics, the U.S. could provide universal free access—less than we currently pay through inflated subscription costs. It's time for reform.