Politics is the art and science of gaining influence. (Very different from Management, which is the art and science of getting things done properly and efficiently.) If there is a problem, a politician will use their influence to solve the problem. However, they will never do this for free. The benefit of being a politician is that they can solve, or not solve problems in a manner they can profit from.

One of the oldest, most rudimentary political maneuvers is to manufacture a false step in the process of solving a problem. For example, if a problem requires a process of only two steps to solve, a politician will insist there is a third, middle step that must be completed in order to finish the process. Of course, this new step is something only the politician can accomplish,.. if it is in their best interest to do so.

The single most ubiquitous manufactured step is the need for budget approval. All the conditions and strings that get attached to budget approval are very lucrative for politicians.

For the record, Political Maneuver #1 is to convince people they are powerless and cannot solve a problem on their own.

Politics is fractal. It exists at many levels in our society, ranging from Household Politics to International Politics. With cable news and social media it should be clear that politics has become the “opiate of the people.”

Everyone is pursuing influence at the highest level now. Unfortunately, most do not know why; they are only pursuing influence as a narcissistic reflex…

Making it a true opiate.