When in a hole

I was listening to George Osborne on Radio 4's Today Program this morning when he said something that I wish we heard a little more often in politics. He admitted the that the government had got it wrong on some of the elements of the budget and rather than "keep digging" he said that they had listened and changed their plans. Too often politicians are criticised for not listening, but when they do it is described as a U-turn. In the private sector, products and services are launched, some work, some don't. The ones that aren't successful are dropped or changed. Why should it be different in politics?