John Major's Olympic long termism!

It is the long held view by continental Europeans that the UK suffers from short-termism with respect to business planning and civic development. Most governments in Britain don't see past a ten year period. Mostly, I think, this is because, like Blair and Thatcher, they do ten years and the grey-suited men get restless. The grey suits seem only keen to let Buggins get his turn. The rest of us have to make do.

Once in a while a bit of strategic thinking breaks through. John Major, no doubt prompted by the likes of Lords Coe and Moynihan, thought that the only way to win big at the Olympics was to INVEST LONG TERM! Wow! Did he do right or not? I'd say he did. He arranged for part of the Lottery money to go to sport, and the rest is history as they say.

Why not do the same (long term strategy) for the railways, housing, retail, the lot. Then we would know what was happening 25 years ahead. A continental friend told me recently that the UK was "crap at project management". Maybe she's right. After all, according to the radio this morning we as a country are borrowing more in real terms than in 1945! Any more of this and the PM will be printing ration books and sounding all sombre.

So, let's have a bit more of the Olympic winning streak in business and government, and a little less of the doom and gloom.

Posted in: Great Britain,John Major,Olympic Games