Politics as It Really is
by James Quillian, Economist, Political Analyst, Natural Law

Politics is the art of turning other people’s effort into personal gain.

How do we know this is true? Start with a simple principle of natural law: observe what happens in the real world, not what people claim is happening. Look at the political scene, examine the explanations, and then compare them to the outcomes.

The popular definition of politics goes like this: “Politics is the process by which groups make decisions, distribute power, and allocate resources within a society.” It sounds appealing. It sounds orderly. But it doesn’t explain the results we live with. If that definition were accurate, politics would be a harmless tool for managing public life. It clearly isn’t.

That leaves two choices. Either politics is a destructive force that should be outlawed, or the definition is wrong. The more honest path is to redefine politics in a way that matches its actual outcomes.

Here is the definition that fits reality: “Politics is the art of turning other people’s effort into personal gain.” — James Quillian

Now look at the outcomes. Lawmakers enter Congress with moderate wealth and leave office many times richer. The standard definition of politics could never produce that result.

The public, meanwhile, believes in the textbook definition. Compare their economic progress to that of the people they elect. The difference is not subtle.

Then consider the billionaire class. They may not articulate the true definition of politics, but they understand it intuitively. Their economic progress over the same period dwarfs that of the general public.

Here we have three groups: two that understand what politics really is, and one that clings to the idealized version. The outcomes speak for themselves.