# 25. Political / organisational tricks ## 25.5. Methodology/Refinements/Sub-species ## 25.5.15. Responsibility avoidance This is the political strategy of making sure that responsibility for a particular action doesn't fall on you or your group or party. There are several nuances to this strategy. Responsibility can be directed towards any of the following: > - It was the Opposition's fault: Another party or group unconnected with the action - i.e. the opposition > - It was terrorists: An outside agency with a generally malicious intent (e.g. "terrorists") > - It was him/me: A predetermined "fall guy" who has agreed to take the blame for a particular action. See "Fall guys". > - Public is to blame: The general public is always a good target for blame, because generally there is no-one to speak up for them. Politicians are masters in the use of responsibility avoidance. A clever politician personalises successes and socialises failures. In other words, if all goes well it was his good idea, but if anything goes badly it was someone else's fault.