Ratchet effect

Forget that Miley Cyrus junk, this is the real ratchet.

Ratchet effect – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: “A metaphorical ratchet effect is an instance of the restrained ability of human processes to be reversed once a specific thing has happened, analogous with the mechanical ratchet that holds the spring tight as a clock is wound up. It is related to the phenomena of featuritis and scope creep in the manufacture of various consumer goods, and of mission creep in military planning.”