In 1968, Dr. Laurence J. Peter caused a stir in the business world with the publication of his book, The Peter Principle, a treatise in which he explains how individuals reach their “level of incompetence.”
Cover of the original edition of The Peter Principle, (money.howstuffworks.com)
If ever there was someone who fits Peter’s definition, it’s Hillary Clinton.
Clinton joined the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock in 1977 after graduating from Wellesley College and Yale Law School. Just two years later, she was coincidentally named the first female partner at the firm when she became the first lady of Arkansas. This, after never arguing a case in court for the firm.
She was first lady of the United States during Bill Clinton’s 1993-2001 tenure as president. In 1993, Bill asked her to lead a massive task force to draft a plan to develop a health insurance system to control costs while expanding coverage.
Documents have shown that her effort was seen as secretive, unworkable and behind schedule toward the end of the year. White House advisors were quoted as saying the bill was “not only confusing, but frightening.” Another cited the Congress as being “petrified” by the issue.
By mid-1994 her healthcare overhaul plan had all but collapsed and died without a congressional vote. While her senior aides had advised her to consult closely with members of Congress, build bridges with business leaders, communicate clearly to nervous voters, and move swiftly, she failed.
Think about this when you hear her 2016 campaign promises.
She became the only first lady to seek public office when she ran and won a seat in the U.S. Senate from New York, as liberal New York voters ignored the fact that she was an Arkansan carpet bagger. With no big legislation to her credit, she retained the Senate seat in 2006.
Hillary Clinton had already reached her level of incompetence when President Obama appointed her secretary of state. (telegraph.co.uk)
In 2008, she lost the Democratic nomination for president to Obama, but in 2009 he selected her to be his secretary of state, a position she held for three years. An ambassador and three other Americans were killed in Benghazi and $6.5 billion in funds are unaccounted for on her watch. And a huge shadow now hovers over her for the mishandling of classified e-mails and foreign relationships that led to contributions to the Clinton Foundation. It’s a prime example of how the Peter Principle transfers to promotions in government.
President Obama, who some believe is also an example of someone who has reached his level of incompetence, followed the pattern Peter described as the hierarchical nature of filling a position, rather than selecting the best person for the position.
It actually makes sense that Obama would set Clinton up for failure in Peter’s scenario because of his inexperience as a manager or leader. Dr. Peter determined that every position tends to be occupied by someone who is incompetent to carry out its duties. There are numerous examples of the lack of vetting of Obama’s appointees, and by the media and voters of Obama himself.
From her “coincidental” partnership at the Rose Law Firm, her failure to develop a health care program for Bill’s administration, her inability to write any worthwhile legislation as senator, and her lack of judgment and no real achievement as secretary of state, she has reached her level of incompetence. The Peter Principle personified.
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