Baffling expedients.................

"The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays is coming to its close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences."
-Winston Churchill


While it is tempting to think Churchill is talking to us today about the state of our finances, this quote was excerpted from a speech he made in the House of Commons in November of 1936.  You can read the whole thing here.  The context is Churchill expressing dismay that Germany is rapidly militarizing and that Britain and France have lagged dangerously behind.  Churchill is encouraging his nation to play catch up to the end that  "we may be the architects who build the peace of the world on sure foundations."  They listened too little, too late, and the consequences were appalling.  History does seem to approximate itself.


thanks tom