When it comes to reward, there is a large degree of luck involved no matter how high a poster's content quality or how well they try to engage.

..and I think not being totally truthful can help.
I see people here sitting on so many fences that their bum must be littered with splinters..But guess what? mediocrity doesn't offend anyone. (especially in politics).

Politics, as per usual in all walks of life, plays a part.
And when you're crap at it (or won't play the game) it's is detrimental.
Especially on steemit as far as upvoting.

I would even go as far as to say that people who have upvoted previously on non political works, (creative pieces) will no longer upvote you, merely because of political expression and personal differences of that specific perspective..

Sad but true, I think..