WE can’t be entirely sure when the concept of “gaming” was first used to convey cynical manipulation in the political realm. In this year’s Scottish election it’s been used to label the tactics of Alba in seeking to gain an independence “supermajority” through second votes in the Holyrood lists. This was always an over-simplification, though, that owed more to deep personal disdain of Alex Salmond by some commentators and those MSPs daft enough to run with it. “Gaming” or manipulating the machinery of politics to secure a desired outcome has been with us for centuries. Take a look at the party lists right now and ask yourself why the names of so many party grandees lurk there rather than in the constituency contests? The list system itself is a form of democratic manipulation.