A method. An approach. A process. The functional outcome of a decision as implemented.

"Scheming" is I believe always a negative in current British English, but a scheme itself, like schematic, is not a negative.

The Darien Scheme, was overall a net negative.

Not a scheme but an alleviation of existing debt by government.

$ must come from somewhere. I’m not against it, just jealous considering how I scratched my way out of debt when I came out of college.