communicate in a healthy manner.
All genders busy peacocking for attention, the 'one-upmanship' you mention is what has happened, problem solving also does not happen around boardroom tables or ministerial cabinets shouting each other down. No one listens, thinks, questions before putting a reasonable answer to solving situations.
Current trend is everyone kowtowing to powers that be, totally repeated word verbatim through media for sheeple to follow like puppy dogs with tails wagging, or are they being wagged by the peacocks?