A Minor Musing About Rounds And "Profit Is Not A Dirty Word"

Pat Powers previews former Governor Mike Rounds's talking points as Rounds explores a U.S. Senate candidacy. The former Governor will apparently be testing the tweetable clause: "Profit is not a dirty word." It's unclear if Rounds will try to appropriate the music that accompanies the Billy Joel lyric "honesty is such a lonely word" or just repeatedly utter the phrase while standing in front of church choir humming "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

Rounds, like many politicians, is offering a solution in search of a problem. No one considers profit a dirty word; many, however, consider profit a get out of jail free card. One needs look no further than the investment bankers whose schemes ushered in the recession that bottom 80% hasn't recovered from. None has faced any consequences for scamming investors and regulators.

The new talking point is confusing for another reason:. Rounds could just use a tried and true line that would have the virtue of being more honest.