Why do voters elect governments with only short-term interests in mind? (thewalrus.ca)

submitted 2 weeks ago by Sunshine@lemmy.ca to c/canada@lemmy.ca

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[-] DScratch@sh.itjust.works 28 points 2 weeks ago

Because you only get a short term to get anything done before you might get the boot.

What’s the point of getting 3 or so years into a 20 year project if the next election cycle is going to install a government that’s will kill the whole project. Wasting money and time and public goodwill?

Act in the now to get elected next time.

[-] Dearche@lemmy.ca 9 points 2 weeks ago

As an Ontarian, I can list dozens of projects that suffered this way, from plan changes, alterations during construction, to outright cancellations right before being completed. We probably waste half our budget this way.

[-] panathea 13 points 2 weeks ago

This was a very wordy article and I'm not sure I got anything out of it. It's in our best interests to act in long-term thinking but politics favors short-term thinking. Whatcha gonna do about it?

[-] ValueSubtracted@startrek.website 11 points 2 weeks ago

politics favors short-term thinking

So does biology. Immediate gratification wins out over delayed gratification almost every single time.

[-] LeFantome@programming.dev 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

[edit: the article did not load for me and my comment was apparently based on the article I had read just before. Apologies. Deleting my comment.

[-] Paul_1958@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago

If the 34 count felon can't be brought into line, there will be no long-term future.

[-] LeFantome@programming.dev 5 points 2 weeks ago

The comment “Canada has no felons” likely refers to the fact that a “felony” is a US concept. In Canada, the equivalent to a felony is indictable offence and a Canadian “felon” is an indicted criminal.

[-] SaltSong@startrek.website 2 points 2 weeks ago

Because we built a system where only 34 people in the entire nation get paid too look as far as six years into the the future. The president, and 1/3 of the Senate cap out at 4 years. The House of Representatives and 1/3 of the Senate can see 2 years ahead. Most CEOs and industry leaders are limited to 3 months.