"We can do things the cheap way, the simple way, for the short-term and without regard for the future. Or, we can make the extra effort, do the hard work, absorb the criticism and make decisions that will cause a better future"
About this Quote
Notice the rhetorical stacking: "cheap", "simple", "short-term", and "without regard" are all terms that imply not just bad outcomes but bad faith. The alternative path is framed as adult discipline: "absorb the criticism" is doing a lot of work, preemptively naming the political cost of long-range decisions while flattering the audience as people mature enough to take heat. It also launders controversy. If a proposal draws backlash, the quote invites you to interpret that backlash as proof the decision was serious, not that it was misguided.
The intent is coalition-building around austerity or reform: pay now, benefit later. In a U.S. political context - where election cycles reward immediacy and punish pain - "better future" becomes a bipartisan talisman that can justify everything from infrastructure spending to entitlement cuts, depending on who’s speaking and what they’re trying to move. The subtext: trust me with unpopular choices, because popularity is the wrong metric. It’s a classic inoculation strategy, positioning opponents as peddlers of the "cheap way" before they even respond.
Quote Details
| Topic | Work Ethic |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Rounds, Mike. (2026, January 17). We can do things the cheap way, the simple way, for the short-term and without regard for the future. Or, we can make the extra effort, do the hard work, absorb the criticism and make decisions that will cause a better future. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/we-can-do-things-the-cheap-way-the-simple-way-for-73690/
Chicago Style
Rounds, Mike. "We can do things the cheap way, the simple way, for the short-term and without regard for the future. Or, we can make the extra effort, do the hard work, absorb the criticism and make decisions that will cause a better future." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/we-can-do-things-the-cheap-way-the-simple-way-for-73690/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"We can do things the cheap way, the simple way, for the short-term and without regard for the future. Or, we can make the extra effort, do the hard work, absorb the criticism and make decisions that will cause a better future." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/we-can-do-things-the-cheap-way-the-simple-way-for-73690/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
