Final answer:
True, change is a political process where 'winners and losers' are often evident. Political change is difficult due to the benefit that certain groups derive from maintaining the status quo, with democratic systems potentially favoring identifiable and influential parties. Negotiations may fall apart, upholding the status quo, especially when multiple policy options lead to inconclusive voting cycles.
Step-by-step explanation:
T/F: Change is a political process because there are often "winners and losers."
True. Within the context of political change, it is often a challenge to implement new policies or reforms. This difficulty primarily arises because change can disrupt the status quo, which inherently benefits certain individuals or groups who are invested in maintaining existing conditions. As negotiations and bargaining occur, those who benefit from the current state of affairs have an incentive to resist changes that may reduce their advantages, fostering a political environment where there are clear 'winners' and 'losers.' Additionally, economic policies and reforms can lead to outcomes where the beneficiaries are easily identifiable, typically those with greater influence or visibility, while costs may be diffused among a larger, less visible population. This dynamic suggests a democratic political system may have an inherent bias toward those who are recognizable and more influential.
In scenarios where multiple policy options are on the table, majority rule can sometimes lead to inconclusive outcomes, known as voting cycles, where no single policy emerges as the preferred choice. This is especially true when there are more than two options available, illustrating that the process of political change is fraught with complexities and barriers. As such, those who favor the status quo can sometimes emerge victorious simply by preventing negotiations from succeeding.