Circumstances

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Circumstances (which with some gentlemen pass for nothing) give in reality to every political principle its distinguishing colour and discriminating effect. The circumstances are what render every civil and political scheme beneficial or noxious to mankind.

Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, 1790

The economy, the culture, global warming, war are the surroundings of which the current political campaigns for office work within. These circumstances color how people view political platforms by our candidates. And of course all of these same circumstances color constituents' views of their legislators, too.

+