Government is very good at starting things. It’s far less willing to stop them.
Programs often outlive the problems they were created to solve. Others continue despite years of weak results because they’ve become politically protected. Jobs depend on them. Contracts depend on them. Reputations depend on them.
But taxpayers deserve more than inertia.
Good governance requires regular evaluation: Is this working? Is it worth the cost? Are there better ways to achieve the same goal?
Ending a program isn’t an admission of bad intent, it’s a sign of responsibility. The real failure is allowing ineffective spending to continue because stopping it is uncomfortable.
Saying no creates space for better solutions. It frees resources. It forces innovation. And it restores trust by showing that government can correct itself.
Accountability doesn’t mean doing more. It means doing what works, and having the courage to stop what doesn’t.
