It can be a technique to shorten or make it still at the point of conversation and avoid unrelated issues or situation. It also makes the discussion brief and concise. This provides other people to give their own opinion at a given time. There also might be an allotted time for each people.
Guns and butter generally refers to the dynamics involved in a federal government's allocations to defense versus social programs when deciding on a budget. Both areas can be critically important to a nation's economy. Times of war can have a substantial effect on a country's economy and its societal progression.
