[matt4077]

It's the direct result of anti-government propaganda. If you starve the state of financial resources, they will, sooner rather than later, have to cut corners knowing that it will cost more in the long run, just to make the numbers work in the short term.

Sometimes those costs are incurred by future governments (lease-back deals), sometimes by the citizen (here). It's the collective version of living paycheck-to-paycheck.

[tomohawk]

So, the legislature, which is responsible for appropriations, is starving itself?

[moomin]

The legislature is controlled by political parties. All he's saying is that politicians put their own electoral interests ahead of those of the country. I don't think that's even controversial.