Should Policy Address Concerns of the Future?

Government policy should be directed at addressing the needs of the present.
Describe a specific situation in which government policy might be directed at addressing concerns of the future rather than the needs of the presents. Discuss what you think determines when government policy should be directed at addressing present needs and when it should be directed addressing future concerns.
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Good politicians exhibit foresight and an ability to view policy implications in a broad light. They are able to use their intellect and wisdom to not only address present needs but also anticipate future problems and concerns. When politicians face a limited time in office, sometimes it is difficult to contemplate about how their decisions will affect the future. They aim to please constituents in the short-term and this often results in negative implications in the long run. Ideally, politicians should be able to address the needs of the present but also keep an eye on future concerns. In times of emergency, though, politicians should and really can only focus on present concerns.

In a world of scarce resources and time, politicians should have the ability to prioritize needs. That is, they cannot provide every service to their constituents and instead, focus resources on items of priority. For example, the main purpose of government is to provide a sense of order in society. This means ensuring the security of the nation and the basic needs of people. When people, for instance, are starving in large numbers, the government should not spending on projects focused on the future (e.g., promoting arts to preserve the nation's cultural integrity). Other examples of national emergencies where politicians could only possibly focus on present needs may include attacks on the nation (war) and huge national disasters.

Once a country is not facing a crisis or national emergency, politicians should ideally make sure their policies take into account future implications. Good politicians not only think about their time in office but also about the greater good of the country and a better future for all. Their decisions at the present moment regarding the environment could make a difference in the quality of life of those not yet born. Their power to grant or take away funding for certain unsustainable services (i.e., entitlements) could affect the United States' long-term economic standing in the world. In short, many of the policy decisions made by politicians today will affect the trajectory of our nation for the next decades or even centuries to come.

Taking into account the future while addressing present needs, indeed, has many advantages. The nation could, for example, save money and resources in anticipating future needs. It could also avert disasters related to climate change and extreme population growth. True leadership means not only addressing needs of current voters but also thinking about the future of the country and empathizing with people of the future. Unfortunately, many politicians exhibit a tunnel-vision perspective by only foreseeing the policy's implications on their political future.