Asking THE Question

Whenever one discusses religion there comes a point where no matter how hard one tries they have to acknowledge that the only 'proof' that they have for the existence of God is their belief in the existence of God.  

That is faith.

In politics we are constantly subjected to debates and arguments as to policy decisions and for all practical purposes these discussions are based on faith:  They are based on a fundamental belief that one party, one official, is 'better' for the country as a whole than another.  

Like a religious battle between Christian and Muslims, no one side can prove the superiority of one religion over another, or that one God actually does exist and the other does not.  When existence depends on beliefs then without shared beliefs there can be no shared knowledge.  The seems to be the reality of political debate also.

The reality is that in politics we argue beliefs and not solutions.  We start from a set of principles and then determine what is the best policy, the best party, or the best solution based upon our principles rather than based upon logical fact.

Even with overwhelming data that might disprove our conclusion based upon principles we, as humans, have the ability to argue with reality:  We deny facts!

Take for example:

Currently, a record 47 million people live below the poverty line—$22,400 per year for a family of four—including one in five children.

Over 100 million people, or one in three Americans, live on less than $46,000 for a family of four.

Since 1980, U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) per capita has increased 67%, while median household income has only increased by 15%. 

That then brings us to the question of income distribution, both before and after taxes:

Now, from the perspective of a conservative, they will immediately claim that "big" government causes economic calamity while liberals will claim that government should rectify this situation.  

But, lets take government out of the equation, and make this a purely economic issue; at that point most Americans would have nothing to say. 

Politics HAS become our religion and our principles have become our GOD.  Thus, there is no proof that one God is superior to another as one's principles are based on faith....not facts.

Faith creates a belief in miracles not a search for solutions.

If Prosperity equals productivity plus consumption then as our nation's labor productivity has steadily increased and as our consumption increases annually then there should be no poverty in this country.

If an ever increasing GDP represents  "a rising tide" then if "a rising tide raises all ships" then income before and after taxes should rise equally for all the various income brackets.

Given the data above, "government" only enters the data in one place, and that is in the graph "Change In Income...after taxes" and thus to resolve this problem, to seek solutions, political principles, or faith, is no longer useful.