The Practical Side Of Politics

Political efforts are often opposed not only on moral grounds, but on economic grounds.  Economic feasibility and practicality in general is one of the first things political opponents might ask about when an ideological foe proposes an idea or course of action.  Though this is sometimes a legitimate set of questions to ask, it often seems to be asked with the intent of attacking an idea regardless of its philosophical soundness or moral merits.

It is not impossible to care about the economic/practical and ethical dimensions of politics at the same time, but the latter is inevitably more important than the former.  The former is concerned with pragmatism and how "doable" or "rewarding" a policy is, whereas the latter is concerned with whether or not a policy is obligatory or just in the first place.  Without moral obligation behind it, a political policy has no ultimate authority whatsoever.

Economic utilitarians refuse this because they care for little to nothing beyond immediate, pragmatic success.  Practical success is a component of beneficial politics, just not in the way that utilitarians suppose.  An act or idea does not become morally right simply because it is profitable, easy, or appealing!  This is by necessity just as true in politics as it is elsewhere.

If a hypothetical course of action would bring about economic flourishing by means of murder or some other sinful, unjust act, the practical benefits are irrelevant: the course of action should not be taken merely because it is morally wrong.  There is nothing that can change this fact if it is indeed true.  That avoiding the evil would make some or all people's lives more difficult is of no philosophical weight.

Those who fixate on the economic or otherwise practical parts of politics over its moral aspects approach politics with a wholly backwards emphasis.  If they live out their worldview consistently, there is nothing at all they would not endorse or commit as long as it brought deterrence, superficial peace, or economic stability.  Ironically, the wellbeing of citizens is jeopardized when a utilitarian framework is the goal of politics.