In 502 this morning we were discussing game theory. Along the way Professor Chen mentioned that game theory is useful in real life as well as games. She said that in real life a strictly dominated strategy will never be the best reply. I wrote that down to think about later. It resonated with me after my weekend in Washington D.C., a weekend filled with frustration at the slow moving buracracy, at the realization that many more people will die as we wait for safety regulations to catch up with the reality of today’s highways. I think our meetings with Senators and House members were nice, but I think we were playing a dominated strategy. We are talking to people that don’t (can’t or won’t) make the decisions to make changes. I think we need to be talking to the people that can and will make those suggestions and can and will write the legislation that we need.

I think after two years of feeling like I’ve been dominated by the trucking industry it’s time for me to figure out a better reply…to figure out the BEST reply, so that I (and others working for the Truck Safety Coalition) have the best chance at getting a dominant equilibrium.