Political logic is a style of reasoning that recognizes the political pressures that are likely to cause a particular outcome. Political logic can be useful in analyzing opportunities, the stock market, legal trials, religious movements, sports, and even personal decision-making.
Political logic can be confirmed by other forms of reasoning or logic, but often political logic can arrive more quickly at an accurate prediction.
Stock market
It is difficult to explain, based purely on financial analysis, the meteoric rise in value of Tesla stock. But it is easy to explain based on political logic: political winds are blowing strongly towards banning fossil fuels, and California even prohibited the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles starting in 2035.
Sports predictions
By any objective analysis, Tim Tebow should have had a career in the NFL. But political logic explains the exclusion of the Bible-quoting Tebow from the demonic league. The announcement of his possible signing by an NFL team to a contract in 2021 was met by bizarre harsh criticism for merely giving him a chance.
Sports logic and fan support indicate that Tim Tebow should play this upcoming season. But political logic indicates that he will not be given a fair chance.
Cited in court cases
The phrase "political logic" has been used a handful of times in court cases, most notably in a dissent by Judge Wisdom (a dissent later adopted by the U.S. Supreme Court) in which he wrote:
| “ | 'The political logic of federalism supports placing the burden of persuasion on those urging national action.' | ” |
McKenna v. Wallis, 344 F.2d 432, 445 (5th Cir. 1964) (Wisdom, J., dissenting, quoting Wechsler, The Political Safeguards of Federalism: The Role of the States in the Composition and Selection of the National Government, 54 Colum.L.Rev. 543, 545 (1954)).