If someone points out to you that your pet theory of the universe is in disagreement with Maxwell's equations - then so much the worse for Maxwell's equations. If it is found to be contradicted by observation - well, these experimentalists do bungle things sometimes. But if your theory is found to be against the second law of thermodynamics I can give you no hope; there is nothing for it but to collapse in deepest humiliation.

-- Sir Arthur Eddington

You can't win. You can't break even. You can't get out of the game. Deal with it.

But are natural laws the only givens?

Of course politicians will look for any information or argument that they can find to advance their agendas -- that is their job. While politicians may not be above playing loose with scientific truth, more often they can and will simply search out -- and find -- a legitimate expert or two who can marshal a technical argument sympathetic to the desired political outcome. It is the job of politicians to play politics, and this -- like the second law of thermodynamics -- is not something to be regretted, but something to be lived with.

hmmmm, as Brian Hayes said in another context: "Even as metaphor it's nonsense."

It is something to be regretted, as well as something to be lived with. It isn't a law, it's merely the current context: a habit at best, more often a vice. It need not be so, though it is at present. Public scorn could change that. Perhaps it will become fashionable to ridicule and mock such crass behavior. It could happen.