I both agree with you and disagree. I agree that having a long term plan (beyond one year) would be amazing, but I disagree that essential things will always be paid. That is actually true, you are right, but the problem is that these other things that are, essentially, essential, will become nonessential. They just do not get done. And both the "customers" and the employees are expected to deal with it. It is a public-private pipeline. I hate it. For openness, I am a federal employee.