Silence the Silly Sentiments We Get From Professional Politicians

The difference between a sentiment and a policy is the difference between a daydream and a plan.  My sentiment is that it would be nice if we could pay everyone’s medical bills, raise social security and welfare, maintain NATO, and bring manufacturing jobs back to America–without raising taxes any higher than the confiscatory rates they already are.  But I waste little time on sentiments and daydreams.  The simple reality is that if you feel it is important for America to maintain a military umbrella for most of Europe and much of Asia then you must favor  greatly increased military spending, and just as importantly, the willingness to project military  power rather than the flowery phrases we’ve become used to hearing from our leaders. Want to bring manufacturing jobs back to America? Sure, then you will have to let market forces set pay.  That would be a policy.  An unpopular and thus an unlikely one for any professional politician to promote. But if you’re not willing to do that, the least you can do is respect our intelligence and shut up.  Force pro-pols to convert their pretty sentiments into tough-minded, true and practical policies. We’re all adults; at least those of us outside the Washington DC beltway.