Back in 1927, German theoretical physicist Werner
Heisenberg came up with what is known as the uncertainty theory.  It is
also sometimes called the principle of
indeterminacy.  This dictates that at
the miniscule or quantum level it becomes impossible to measure a particle’s
exact location with any degree of precision.  In fact, you cannot measure the particle’s position without affecting
its momentum in an unpredictable way.  In
other words, uncertainty is inherent in the quantum realm.

I mention all this because of the temptation to
apply Heisenberg’s theory to the realm of politics as well. 

The theory might be restated as follows:  when you attempt to pin down a politician’s
position with any degree of certainty, it suddenly becomes impossible to ascertain
his exact view.  In fact, by the very act
of questioning him on a specific issue, you are affecting his opinion in an
unpredictable and often imperceptible way (particularly if he doesn’t know what
he thinks anyway).  Ambiguity, for a
politician, is a natural result of his need to preserve his political
existence.

In common parlance, this might be referred to as
flip-flopping.  To make it easy, picture
Mitt Romney as an outstanding example of the uncertainty theory of
politics.  He lost the election partially
due to the perception of most people that he approached most issues sort of
like a quantum particle careening its indeterminate way around the primary
laboratory.

Hats off to Werner Heisenberg.   He
would have made a great political commentator.