Accountability

 

The West has ZERO accountability for delayed, failed or over budget government projects... Here's why 👇 🇺🇸 The Western model The public gets told that elections, media scrutiny and audits keep governments accountable. So what happens when projects run years late and billions over budget? - California's High Speed Rail project was approved in 2008, with a 2020 completion and a $33 billion cost. What's f*king insane, is the latest estimate puts the cost at $126 billion, and full operations coming in 2040. - Auditors (apparently) expose waste. Politicians blame contractors. Contractors blame the government. Consultants blame the planning. The buck gets passed until the the f*ck up falls into the ether, along with all the others, and you as the tax payer foot the bill. At worst, if they're unlucky, the politician might lose an election a few years later. But still likely carrying on in another public position. 🇨🇳 The Chinese model China fixes this severe lack of oversight with, you guessed it, accountability and actual consequences. - Officials stay responsible during and after the project. Even if they've already change positions, been promoted or retired. Serious budget overruns, reckless planning or project failures bring strong penalties including demotion, dismissal, forced reassignment, disciplinary action, or criminal charges. - Auditors and development regulators monitor budgets and timelines during construction. Severe delays or reckless overspending can freeze funding, revoke project approvals and blacklist construction firms from future government contracts. - Builders and other contractors face fines, loss of qualifications and blacklisted from future government contracts for serious violations or poor performance. -- A possible slap on the wrist vs criminal charges. What are we doing here? 🤦‍♂️

— Chris M (@ChrisinLiuzhou) October 10, 2026

 

So you don't have to expand the tweet:

 

over budget? - California's High Speed Rail project was approved in 2008, with a 2020 completion and a $33 billion cost. What's f*king insane, is the latest estimate puts the cost at $126 billion, and full operations coming in 2040. - Auditors (apparently) expose waste. Politicians blame contractors. Contractors blame the government. Consultants blame the planning. The buck gets passed until the the f*ck up falls into the ether, along with all the others, and you as the tax payer foot the bill. At worst, if they're unlucky, the politician might lose an election a few years later. But still likely carrying on in another public position. 🇨🇳 The Chinese model China fixes this severe lack of oversight with, you guessed it, accountability and actual consequences. - Officials stay responsible during and after the project. Even if they've already change positions, been promoted or retired. Serious budget overruns, reckless planning or project failures bring strong penalties including demotion, dismissal, forced reassignment, disciplinary action, or criminal charges. - Auditors and development regulators monitor budgets and timelines during construction. Severe delays or reckless overspending can freeze funding, revoke project approvals and blacklist construction firms from future government contracts. - Builders and other contractors face fines, loss of qualifications and blacklisted from future government contracts for serious violations or poor performance. -- A possible slap on the wrist vs criminal charges. What are we doing here? 🤦‍♂️