Acceptable Alternatives to the Truth
James Quillian,Economist, Political Analyst, Natural Law

In economics and politics, I have an advantage that anyone could have but almost no one uses. I do not believe lies. That is not unfair. It is simply uncommon. In politics, the truth sits in everyone’s toolbox, but no one touches it. Any politician who tells it is immediately handicapped.

So I begin with a simple rule. When politics speaks, I assume I am not hearing the truth. All political communication is designed to achieve an outcome or advance an agenda. People who think they are hearing truth—especially from their favorite candidates—start from a false premise and end with a false conclusion.

Mainstream economics works the same way. Study it if you want to master a system that does not exist in the real world. Continue reading →