SKILL, INCOMPETENCE & LUCK IN ELECTIONS

In the 2017 local government elections, the ALP did well on the basis of a well-run campaign. The non-Labor forces got thrashed after running an appalling campaign, but nevertheless, afterwards blamed the “stupidity of people in Newcastle” for their failures. I wrote this piece shortly after the election.   

Losers in elections always tend to blame the stupidity of the electorate rather than themselves. Conversely, the victors always attribute their success to their own skill, and never recognize that part of it is their opposition’s incompetence - or just luck and timing.