Why The Government Never Wins

The reason why They, the government, can never win, come what may, is because We, the governed, think of Them as our big brother who is perched far away on some celestial pedestal perpetually doling out favours to us. Therefore, irrespective of what they may do or what they may not do, We shall never be satisfied.

(A) Suppose We think that They are not doing enough for health-care, libraries, civic amenities, public safety, and internal transport. We shall then accuse them of not delivering the goods.

(B) Suppose in response to our repeated complaints They suddenly wake up from their political slumber and start making slow progess in this direction. We shall still continue to accuse them, however, and this time of indifferentism.

(C) Suppose, finally, that They do go into full drive and really begin to take an active interest in our social welfare so that the streets become cleaner, less meaner, well-policed, brightly-lit and safe. However, we shall accuse them again, and this time of patronising us and intruding into our privacy.

This, in short, is why They can never win, no matter how hard they try. It is not that They do not make an attempt : We simply do not want Them to win, for We like to have a convenient scape-goat at hand for all our troubles, and what better candidate for it than Them?