> “Conservative solution: Abandon failed programs.“ This almost never happens. <
Yes, you’re right. Modern liberals (“progressives”) are ruthless in pursuit of their goals. Most conservative leaders are, unfortunately, not like that. They might know what the correct solution is.
But they are not ruthless. It’s compromise, compromise, and compromise some more.
The “conservatives” across the West might oppose Leftist agendas, or at least campaign against them.
But when they get into power, they never reverse anything.
Supposedly “conservative” parties have won plenty of election victories in the last, say, 50 years, but none of the big Leftist programs were ever ended.
The political systems of the West are like a ratchet, or a diode or a sprag: they only turns one way; left.