Others have said it better than I can:
One of the most naive notions is that politicians are trying to solve the country's problems, just because they say so-- or say so loudly or inspiringly. Politicians' top priority is to solve their own problem, which is how to get elected and then re-elected. --Thomas Sowell
Results among progressives are less important than symbolism, intent and high-minded nuance. —Tom Shattuck, Boston Herald
And, paraphrasing someone I can't remember: If socialists understood economics, they wouldn't be socialists.