Economics and Philosophy

When it comes to the economic aspect of politics, I try to keep my mouth shut. (Emphasis on 'try'.) This is for the simple reason that I know very little about the subject, and I feel my time and energy can be more useful when applied to civil rights and other areas in which I am more knowledgeable.

I'd like to learn more about it, though, so I've been trying to do some reading. (It's slow going, though, since I find the whole topic quite dry and boring.) I've been focusing on the U.S. economy within my lifetime as a starting point, and I'm planning on branching out once I get a handle on things.

Except that so much of economics seems to be a matter of opinion...

Some say that the surplus in the 90s was the result of Clinton's policies. Others that it was really Reagan and Bush (Sr.) that got the ball rolling, it just took a while to produce results. The same thing with the current deficit... It's Bush (Jr.)'s fault. It's Clinton's fault.

Yeesh.

I'm suddenly reminded of a concept I read about in philosophy. (Although you'll have to forgive me for forgetting who originally wrote about the idea.) Basically, it says that cause and effect do not exist. What we percieve as cause and effect are in reality random events that our mind links together.

At the time, I didn't think much of it. Now, I'm starting to wonder if that philosopher was on to something...