Exactly. Not to mention that by the time it gets to the elected official's desk for signature, it's been negotiated between government employees and their senio

Exactly. Not to mention that by the time it gets to the elected official's desk for signature, it's been negotiated between government employees and their senior managers, who are also government employees... It's basically a deal negotiated by government employees among themselves, and approved by a politician who often needs to maintain favor among these employees. Add to that the fact that these agreements only lead to a crisis long after the politician is retired (or dead), and it's no wonder these unsustainable deals get approved as a matter of course.