Policy vs. Politics

I was having a conversation with my dad over lunch today that reminded me about a post I wanted to write awhile back. Just finishing studying for a degree in public policy a lot of people ask me if I want to go into politics and the answer is no. The reason is the difference between policy and politics. As I see it, it's the same difference as between cake and frosting. Policy is the cake, the substance, the thing that actually fills you up, while politics is the frosting, the sugary part that makes it go down easier. Just like cake, you need about the right amount of substance and sugar to make things work well, but what I care about is the substance.

As I've thought more about it, I actually really love this analogy because I have yet to see it really fall apart on me. Too much frosting with too little cake and you have something that looks wonderful but makes your stomach churn as soon as you ingest it, leaves you longing for something more satisfying (or at least some good, cold milk to tone it down). Too much cake and too little frosting makes for something that's very filling but not as easy to sell, many people will pass it by for some more desireable-looking option. The thing is, just as you can develop a taste for dense, almost bitter dark chocolate flourless cake with just a dash of powdered sugar, I think you can develop a taste for sound policy with just a touch of political finesse to ease it through the process. But it takes time and it takes tasting enough sickly sweet full frosting concoctions to realize there's something else out there that may look less appealing but is ultimately more satisfying.

Long live the cake.