All writers are liars. They twist events to suit themselves. They make use of their own tragedies to make a better story... They are terrible people. ↗
The most important thing however is the money. What use would it be to us, to have a a mighty stadium but a useless team, because we couldn't afford anything better? ↗
Even if one is interested only in one's own society, which is one's prerogative, one can understand that society much better by comparing it with others. ↗