Governments about to collapse

 The redoubling of effort that precedes COLLAPSE of a powerful party is designed to keep the audience from seeing that that party has sent the country broke. See Santayana on the science of such phenomenon in history. 
The EXTRA big spending by a party that precedes COLLAPSE is designed to keep the very cost conscious audience from seeing that that party is sending them broke ;
Things must, whatever the cost, look like they are getting better - Such rhetoric and imagery falls apart when the desperado's claim does not make sense  For eg : that "houses are becoming more affordable and holding their value at the same time"
It appears that modern governments can use advertising to say whatever the people want to hear --  even if it doesn't make sense. Nothing risks a collapse like allowing the ruling party a big advertising budget ( Parliaments should legislate to limit it )  

Less obvious but just as common is the less costly redoubling of effort  to 
-- please the people by appearing to do things that give them things 
-- give the people a sense of calm and steady state 

Even less obvious is the costly redoubling of effort to 

--keep spending big on what is seen as a moral responsibility 
 - keep a war going by saying how just that war is
-- make the people feel better about themselves.  This has to be subtle to work  

-- make the reporting (by being good friends with the media ) look like the government are actually winning the war . 

Notes 
If there is a fear on the peoples mind's the leader will often being very consoling.Detail is not important but acting confident is . 
His or Her party will remind the people that they have a solution and to stick with it  ( not about how much it will cost in the short term) .That;s one reason why there is a risk if the solution changes .

Clearly The Brits have lost the plot because if releasing new gases will cool the atmosphere , even Jeremy Clarkson will not get a subsidy to have a wild field and all real English farmers will just go broke-- with no payment for being good boys .  
see the [CO2 ] argument 
---If the solution is costing too much, do not even try to explain why. The Government must in such situations be unflappable.   
A Politician trying to defend a scientific solution is one of the worst things a politician can do . Its likley to emind the public that polys really are often stupid . A smart but  untrustworthy PM will let one of his ministers go into defense on such matters.    
-- Make sure  you make the people feel better by using the advertising budget to full extent possible
-- increase the money that government spend in the media , infront of cameras and on marginal voters 

I could go on .
It appears that in times of real threat,  the public can be completely captivated , not by logic but by fear that what they fear could come true . Such times are not for logic but an appeal to righteousness , self righteousness and even sacrifice " we , "meaning you slaves ", need to suffer pain .  " 
Amazingly some people are happy with the Emperor parading in the street and handing out lollies.