A commentary on the ISG conclusions.

This article was good in its own right, but it also gave me something I've been looking for for a while: a term for the gaseous and useless "solutions" usually found in political speeches. A "Captain Obvious" statement.

"We need to ensure that all our children are properly educated!"

"If elected, I will fight terrorism effectively!"

"Social Security must be preserved!"

"The situation in the Middle East needs to be settled!"

Often these kind of strident and earnest statements are greeted by wild applause from the audience, as though they had actually heard some kind of policy declaration.

I'm sure you've heard countless other examples from politicians of all stripes. If the words "how, exactly?" pop up in your brain, you've probably heard a "Captain Obvious" phrase.