How Time Became a Political Escape Hatch
Time, in politics, is rarely just a clock ticking in the background. More often, it’s a strategy—a deliberate tool for avoiding blame. Think about the inquiries that take years to report back, the reform announcements with no clear deadlines, or the press conferences promising that “lessons will be learned”—eventually. These aren’t delays caused by bureaucracy. They’re part of a playbook.
Political actors know how to use time to their advantage. When faced with public anger, they don’t always deny the issue. They just stretch the timeline. They stall. They spread out the details. And in doing so, they shift attention, dilute responsibility, and hope that by the time answers arrive, the questions will have faded…
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