We Mustn't be Sentimental

One of the blogs I read a couple times a week is A Blog Arund the Clock.  One particular quote I read there back in January (it's credited to Brigid Antonia Brophy, but it's not up on the site any longer) struck me:

Whenever people say we mustn't be sentimental, you can take it they are about to do something cruel. And if they add, we must be realistic, they mean they are going to make money out of it.

I think of this when the discussion turns to health care, or social programs, or school funding....