Why governments miscalculate

The Modi government is rightly being crucified by critics and supporters alike for having miscalculated so terribly on the Covid front. To misquote that horrible man, Winston Churchill, never have so few been cursed so roundly by so many.

But without mitigating the government’s errors of omission and commission, which are galore, a quick survey of history shows that a combination of governmental/bureaucratic stupidity, intelligence failure and simple arrogance has always led to monumental disasters. These can happen either singly or in combination. But when all three come together, as they have now, what you get is total devastation.

Then