A new report by The New York Times has revealed that while DOGE did fire lots of federal workers, slash budgets, and cancel grants and programs, the end result not only didn't save the $1 trillion Musk promised -- federal spending actually went up.
I agree what you brought up of bigger rewarding feelings from new things compared to maintaining existing things is a significant component. Politicians are more reliably elected by running on a new highway, new strip mall, new water treatment plant, etc, even when that money would provide more service to more people if spent keeping up existing infrastructure instead.
I agree what you brought up of bigger rewarding feelings from new things compared to maintaining existing things is a significant component. Politicians are more reliably elected by running on a new highway, new strip mall, new water treatment plant, etc, even when that money would provide more service to more people if spent keeping up existing infrastructure instead.