Theory dominates politics as well
Polistra constantly hammers on the idiotic dominance of pure mathematics and untestable theories in science.

The problem has also invaded politics.

Easiest example: the evangelicals who can't vote for Romney because his theology is wrong, even though his marriage is better than most Protestant marriages. There are a thousand reasons to reject Romney, but this is probably the only reason to favor him!

Somewhat less obvious: Our two Goldman Sachs labels have different theologies, but commit the same crimes in practice. Steal all productive economic activity from America. Donate the jobs to China and the money to Goldman. The two labels accomplish this evil purpose by exactly the same laws and regulations and subsidies and blackmail payments. There is no measurable distinction between the output of a Bush and the output of an Obama.

But their texts, their theologies, are quite different. Goldman Sachs dba "Republican Party" quotes verses from the Bible, the Constitution, Reagan, von Mises and Hayek. Goldman Sachs dba "Democratic Party" quotes verses from FDR, JFK, Comrade Martin Luther King Boulevard, and Paul Krugman.

These distinct sets of platitudes and quotations, all equally irrelevant to political reality, give the two labels something to "debate" and "campaign" about, so that each can have the privilege of doing exactly the same things under its own name.

= = = = =

On the state level, you can still occasionally spot a politician who understands reality, who can cut through the irrelevant verbal shit of "laws" and "constitutions" in order to improve the real situation of real people.

Here in Wash there's a growing movement away from the Fed prohibition on marijuana. As with the earlier prohibition on alcohol, the first step was to create a fraudulent "medical" exemption. This has already led to serious contradictions, with the Feds coming down hard on "medical" marijuana laws.

And now the healthy distinction between theory and reality.

Theory:

Backers of an effort to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana use in Washington state submitted more than 340,000 signatures to try to qualify their initiative on Thursday, a move protested by legalization supporters who say the proposal harms medical marijuana patients.

I-502 would create a system of state-licensed growers, processors and stores, and impose a 25 percent excise tax at each stage. Those 21 and over could buy up to an ounce of dried marijuana; one pound of marijuana-infused product in solid form, such as brownies; or 72 ounces of marijuana-infused liquids.

It's a beautiful idea on paper, especially the excise tax. Instead of pouring out big dollars for vicious "enforcement" that turns dumb kids into criminals while leaving the problem unsolved, let's earn some money from the problem.

Versus one blessedly practical politician:

Initiative opponent Don Skakie, of Renton, said the law proposed by the initiative will be pre-empted by federal law, and that he would rather see the state eliminate all state penalties tied to marijuana. The drug remains illegal for any use under the federal government.

“When you eliminate penalties, there’s no new law to conflict with federal law,” he said.

Bravo! There's a man who understands reality. No point in creating a verbal heresy that the Feds can inquisit. Instead, leave your legal formulas the same, including the requirement to impose a fine. Just make the fine equal to zero. The Feds won't be able to use their black-robed saboteurs to rewrite the law, because the law itself will still be Orthodox.
  ¶ 5:49 PM