More likely "immediately worse present for a better future". It just seems that humans rarely learn unless they experience a painful failure (and sometimes a mu

More likely "immediately worse present for a better future". It just seems that humans rarely learn unless they experience a painful failure (and sometimes a multiple ones are required) and get some reminders by the scars left. This, of course, doesn't work if worst is introduced gradually (it's how we got where we are) - only acute cases work. The idea is, governments would never cease their attempts just because there are some objections and counterpoints. But after a grand fuck-up they won't dare to try it - and if they do they'll be told "you want another New York, eh?" and that will work.