"Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program"

Temporary government programs have a funny way of sticking around. They often start as short-term solutions to immediate problems, but before you know it, they’ve become a permanent part of our lives. It’s like that guest who comes over for the weekend and ends up moving in. You plan for a brief stay, but somehow they just never leave.

This idea can be traced back to the early 20th century when governments started implementing programs to deal with major crises. The New Deal programs during the Great Depression are a prime example. These were supposed to be temporary measures to help people get back on their feet during tough times. Fast forward to today, and many of those same programs, or at least their descendants, are still around, deeply woven into the fabric of society.

Let’s look at the Social Security Act of 1935. It was introduced as a way to provide financial security to older Americans during the Great Depression. FDR and his team probably didn’t expect it to become the colossal entity it is now. What started as a temporary fix for a dire situation has become a cornerstone of American social policy. Millions of people rely on Social Security today, and the idea of it being “temporary” seems almost laughable.

So, how can you apply this nugget of wisdom practically? Well, if you’re involved in creating any kind of program or project, be it in business, government, or even community organizations, keep in mind that what you set up as a short-term solution might end up lasting a lot longer than you expect. Design it with longevity in mind, or at least be prepared for the long haul.

Imagine you’re running a small non-profit and you start a food bank to help families during a tough winter. It’s supposed to be a three-month initiative, but it’s successful and the need doesn’t go away. Suddenly, your “temporary” food bank is now a year-round operation. You didn’t plan for this; now you’re scrambling to find resources and volunteers. If you’d thought about the possibility of it becoming permanent from the get-go, you might have structured things differently.

Here’s a little story to drive the point home. Picture a small town hit by a flood. The local government sets up a temporary housing program to help displaced families. Initially, it’s all hands on deck: donations pour in, volunteers are everywhere, and there’s a sense of urgency. But as the weeks and months go by, the immediate crisis fades from public memory. The families still need housing, though. The program gets extended again and again. The temporary housing becomes a semi-permanent fixture. Eventually, it’s an integral part of the town’s infrastructure, even when the flood is a distant memory.

The bottom line? When you hear about a “temporary” program, don’t be fooled. It might very well become a permanent part of the landscape. And if you’re ever in the position of setting one up, consider the long-term implications. Think about sustainability, resources, and the potential for growth, even if it’s meant to be a short-term fix. You never know how long your “temporary” solution will actually stick around.