EDWARD Tufte’s new book* suggests at American voters faithfully observe the Biblical injunction,’ In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider.” For Tufte’s is a well written, sensible, and timely case for the proposition that there exists a communion of politics and economics. “As goes economic performance,” he says, “so goes the election"; and indeed, “as goes politics, so goes economic policy and performance."