Political leaders and their parties when in opposition find fault with practically all decisions made by the government. Should they gain power they are frequently faced with the same decision-making dilemmas.
Economics and the choices about scarce resources is not an exact science. There are ethical dilemmas when prioritising which department will receive a greater share of the pie.
Some of the economic choices might entail reorganising current bureaucratic structures before pouring more water into a leaky vessel. In the UK our National Health Service is struggling under the pressures of an aging population, overworked frontline staff and a shortage of beds. The waiting lists for surgery are driving those who can find the money to opt for private medicine. Who can blame anyone who is suffering pain on a daily basis and is facing years on an NHS waiting list from opting to get much faster treatment when they go private?
Education makes big demands on both national and local budgets. Failing to provide primary schools with the infrastructure and resources to do their work effectively is storing up problems for the future. We see people sending their children to private schools in order to give them an educational advantage. That elitism ensures the continuation of the class system.
Those are just the perennial choices governments have to make. When you add in law and order, immigration and local democracy there is a mountain of work to get through in a four or five year term of office.
Populist movements appear to cut through the bureaucratic barriers and demand instant solutions to complex problems. Sending asylum seekers or economic migrants elsewhere might appeal to those who have no compassion for human beings caught up in wars, prejudice and extreme poverty.
The trouble with moderates is that they come across as grey and boring. Listening to reasonable arguments put forward in a calm and respectful way does not boost the ratings for private communications corporations. The televised debates encourage outspoken and provocative sound bites to inflame the passions of the studio audience.
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