rational geekery

The future is every politician's favourite territory. Nothing has happened there yet, so there's nothing they can be blamed for. It can be full of hope and new opportunity, and all those feelgood things they love to talk about. We fall for it every time. All successful political campaigns focus firmly on the future and what can credibly be promised. We voters are an ungrateful lot. We bank and quickly forget any benefits that have come our way and are far more likely to recall past mistakes and misjudgments. So the politicians will change the subject, change the tense, and start looking forward.