Politicians take advantage of the time delay in their decision, whereas this is a luxury that private companies cannot afford. A local representative can run promising to charge low bus fares, knowing that there will not be enough money to replace buses in the long run because their short term interest is acquiring votes. Private companies which neglect this future cost will experience an immediate reduction in their stock value. A market economy means that those few with insight can detect and punish poorly managed companies. Here, the minority who understand the mismanagement has power. In politics, it is only the ignorant majority to whom a political must make his appeal.