Are politics and economics really essentially distinct?

"The implication that politics and economics are essentially distinct, and that
politicians should not meddle in economic matters provided the theoretical 
justification for the classical liberal doctrine of laissez-faire - the idea that 
the state should refrain from attempting to plan or direct the course of 
markets."

From entry on "Capitalism" in "50 Political Ideas" by Ben Dupre'.

This idea - that politics and economics are distinct - goes back to the beginnings
of modern economics. It is self-evidently problematic and ideological in my opinion.
The decision not to be involved in certain decisions - when it would be possible
to be involved in them -  is self-evidently itself a political decision.
Also - all decisions are political anyway, by virtue of their being decisions.


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"The opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics is itself a political attitude."
George Orwell.

This view is correct in my opinion.

If you replace the word "art" with the word "economics", then it applies a fortiori - for a stronger and more convincing reason.