1.
a : the art or science of government
b : the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy
c : the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government
I'd like to offer an alternative definition: Politics is the art or science of government interference causing events or actions to take place that ordinarily would not (and often should not) occur. This typically means programs that violate the laws of economics or science and it is parts b and c of Webster's definition that causes us so much trouble. Granted, in some very specific cases it is necessary for government to step in despite all its inherent inefficiencies because those particular services are essential but would not be provided by the free market. The national defense is perhaps the best example of a necessary government function that would not be met by the free market. On the other hand, bridges to nowhere, the pursuit of "social justice" and programs like cash for clunkers, subsidized corn-based ethanol, government support for the production of electric cars or controversial art such as the depiction of Jesus with ants crawling over him (produced with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts) would never take place without government intervention because they have no economic, social or scientific merit. Too often, the impetus for the government involvement is to reward political contributors and special interests or to advance a certain ideology.
The liberal icon, Robert F. Kennedy, often said, "Some men see things as they are and ask why? I dream of things that never were and ask why not?" While this paraphrase of George Bernard Shaw makes for colorful oratory and great political rhetoric, its most valuable contribution is in providing a window into the mind of the political Left. It seems to indicate that it is more noble to ask the second question and implies that the dreams that never were - should be - and that government can make them happen. The problem is both questions need to be asked but most importantly, they need to asked without assuming the answer to either indicates some injustice that government should correct. It is the line of thinking that ignores the laws of economics, science and nature and assumes the answers are evidence of injustice, combined with the political reward system that has evolved among our political class that has delivered us the social, economic and governmental crisis we find ourselves in today.
Like many, I occasionally dream at night that I can fly or float and when I wake in the morning to remember I can't, I understand why. However, I don't petition Congress to pass a law against gravity.
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