Your Career in Politics

[achtungbaby]

By Phil Tajitsu Nash
Asianweek.com

Why should you get involved in politics? Because you already are, whether you want to admit it or not. Someone decided the admissions standards for your college, the hiring requirements for your job and the rules governing your retirement plan. Someone else decided how far you can park from the curb, how fast you can drive on the highway and how much exhaust can legally escape from your exhaust pipe. Someone has decided that gay people cannot get married in most places, that life does or does not begin at conception and that immigrants can or cannot be eligible for various Constitutional guarantees.

full story (http://yellowworld.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=151&mode=nocomments&order=1&thold=-1)

[artsfartsyjanet]

I agree that politics, whether one admits it or not, permeates into the system we choose to run our lives.

[angel nympho]

The last thing in this world that I want to be is a shady ass politician.

[kasia]

Originally posted by angel nympho@Oct 27 2002, 11:40 PM
The last thing in this world that I want to be is a shady ass politician.
does that mean that you would be a politician but just not a "shady-ass" one or that you wouldn't want to be a politician at all because all of them are shady?

:o

[amietron]

i want to be a politician. i want to work for the good of my community. i want little girls to look up to me and say "i want to be like her." if you don't like something take one step at a time and do what you can do to make it better.

[speshllkay]

One thing about the politicians that sort of baffles me is when they spend millions of dollars campaigning to win a position that doesn't even pay a million dollars. It seems like wasted money.

I'm down for grassroots movement and government reform. Screw being involved in a system that doesn't represent the people and a system that was build by/for racist white men.

[princess]

i wouldnt mind going into politics...but on the lower local level

[VV o n g B a]

Originally posted by speshllkay@Jan 24 2003, 12:26 PM
One thing about the politicians that sort of baffles me is when they spend millions of dollars campaigning to win a position that doesn't even pay a million dollars. It seems like wasted money.

I'm down for grassroots movement and government reform. Screw being involved in a system that doesn't represent the people and a system that was build by/for racist white men.
most times the millions of dollars isn't their own money. they get campaign donors to give them money. also, wanting power is part of human nature. some ppl want money, others power. for the very very rich who use their own money, they want power AND money. but some also really want to change things for the better. at least in the beginning.

as for reforming the gov't, what would u reform? ppl vote, and if the elected ppl suck at politics they get voted out. its that simple. its true that there are racist white men in power, but there are also racist white men in life. if u give those ppl a vote, then they have a good chance of voting in ppl that will pander to them. it makes sense. its not great, but do u have a better idea?

[speshllkay]

Originally posted by VV o n g B a@Jan 24 2003, 10:39 AM


as for reforming the gov't, what would u reform?  ppl vote, and if the elected ppl suck at politics they get voted out.  its that simple.  its true that there are racist white men in power, but there are also racist white men in life.  if u give those ppl a vote, then they have a good chance of voting in ppl that will pander to them.  it makes sense.  its not great, but do u have a better idea?
The way our government is ran is a joke. You have old Christian white men who want to tell women what to do with their bodies based on their religious beliefs. The war on drugs is a joke...they should call it a war on people of color, especially poor people of color. Ask Joelle Bush if it's fair for her to not serve her mandatory minimum sentence. The prison system is a joke. You have a private company printing our money. You have a man running a country, making excuses about going to war when it's all about his pocket book and oil. There are people in this country who have much better ethics, more intrest in the community and the people, and better thoughts on how things work in this country and would serve this country better than those who are in office but who's gonna give the little man money to campaign? It's a joke. They teach in school what a great place this is as a country. And it has it's good points but, the bad far outweighs the good when you take the time/trouble to find the TRUTH. And they sure as hell don't teach the truth in school. The public school system is a joke.

In fact IMO people of color should not be in the military for this country based on the fact that it's not for us/by us/or right by us. I think it's enough that we pay taxes. Until the government is reformed and changed to a point where people of color are represented fairly and treated equally then we can fight for the same common goal.

And if votes count tell that to the people who voted for Gore. If we start a war with Iraq before the next re-election chances are that Bush won't be voted out of office.

[kasia]

after this year, i've realized how much i *hate* politics. i'd rather be a nobody and lead a stress-free life. at the same time, politics is necessary to accomplish certain things that are important to me.

[lethal]

I've harbored thoughts of running for local office once I'm established in a community...like School Board or City Council or something. Something to help out the community, but not be an overly political position. I'd like to do it to make a difference, not for money or power. There's probably no better way to effect change than to lead changes from the top.

[princess]

Originally posted by kasia@Jan 24 2003, 12:54 PM
after this year, i've realized how much i *hate* politics. i'd rather be a nobody and lead a stress-free life. at the same time, politics is necessary to accomplish certain things that are important to me.
you seem to handle stress and pressure well, kasie

[VV o n g B a]

Originally posted by speshllkay@Jan 24 2003, 02:51 PM
The way our government is ran is a joke. You have old Christian white men who want to tell women what to do with their bodies based on their religious beliefs. The war on drugs is a joke...they should call it a war on people of color, especially poor people of color. Ask Joelle Bush if it's fair for her to not serve her mandatory minimum sentence. The prison system is a joke. You have a private company printing our money. You have a man running a country, making excuses about going to war when it's all about his pocket book and oil. There are people in this country who have much better ethics, more intrest in the community and the people, and better thoughts on how things work in this country and would serve this country better than those who are in office but who's gonna give the little man money to campaign? It's a joke. They teach in school what a great place this is as a country. And it has it's good points but, the bad far outweighs the good when you take the time/trouble to find the TRUTH. And they sure as hell don't teach the truth in school. The public school system is a joke.

In fact IMO people of color should not be in the military for this country based on the fact that it's not for us/by us/or right by us. I think it's enough that we pay taxes. Until the government is reformed and changed to a point where people of color are represented fairly and treated equally then we can fight for the same common goal.

And if votes count tell that to the people who voted for Gore. If we start a war with Iraq before the next re-election chances are that Bush won't be voted out of office.
i don't dispute what you say abotu the gov't even if i don't totally agree with all of it. but as i said b/f, the laws in place were put there by ppl who were voted into office. they were voted in b/c whites are the majority.

the little man isn't gonna get money if his ideas aren't catchy or he doesn't present them correctly or he's not ambitious enough. if someone is persuasive and driven enough, he can get money. if ppl don't want to hear his ideas before or after he gets that money, then thats life... it sucks, but u can't do anything about it.

even if the military is not run by us, it is filled with a volunteer force. they are CHOOSING to do the job. if they are being lied to and don't see the "truth", then thats too bad, they volunteered for the duty. black, hispanic, and asian ppl don't have to join the force if they don't want to.

[achtungbaby]

Let's try not to get wrapped up in anti-government talk and stay on topic. Rants about our current system can be taken up in the Rant Room.

[BeTheReds]

After reading Michael Moore's book "Stupid White Men" recently, I have considered actually running for office once I get home. I don't have money to finance a campain, but no one votes for the offices I would be running for anyway. I'd go on public access to campain and that's about it.

[Emperor_Mike]

Having experienced what it's like to work on a campaign, I can safely say that politics is a very dirty business staffed and run by idiots. Ninety percent of the time the candidates don't know what they're talking about and it's the aides who give them their issues, the speech writers who provide them with the eloquent words (*cough*my role*cough*) and the major monetary contributors who actually provide the politician with the means to sit in office. Naturally, this sort of arrangement lends itself to special interest finding its way into places like City Hall, Parliament, Congress, and the Senate.

I'd rather spend my days in service of the world at the United Nations, preferably as one of the justices at the International Criminal Court, if not Secretary General. :D It's a dream. Hehe!

As far as local politics are concerned, however, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot barge pole if the position doesn't provide me with the means and flexibility to make a difference. Politicians only run for office because it's cushy job, not because they want to make real changes and that's not something I'd want to strive for.

But give me absolute power and I might reconsider. :D

[kimpossible]

ignore

[moschikat]

I'm down for grassroots movement and government reform. Screw being involved in a system that doesn't represent the people and a system that was build by/for racist white men.

MoveOn.org (http://www.MoveOn.org/) <-- grassroots movement, and good free Bush-bashing entertainment!! :biggrin:

[nola]

After reading Michael Moore's book "Stupid White Men" recently, I have considered actually running for office once I get home.I recommend "How To Get Stupid White Men Out of Office" about successful, small, grassroots campaigns.

[truMp]

After reading Michael Moore's book "Stupid White Men" recently, I have considered actually running for office once I get home. I don't have money to finance a campain, but no one votes for the offices I would be running for anyway. I'd go on public access to campain and that's about it.

hah. same thing as i was thinking.

[jamixen]

I think there should be an Asian American candidate for Vice President or President sometime in the future. I almost thought Collin Powell was going to be the first African American President. But as always, Americans tend to be predictable.

[sqeeshienutt]

its pretty interesting how people are so into politics. im sure youve all heard of friendships being broken over political differences. i dont really care much bout politics. if things happen, they happen. i dont even vote all the time since i figure my single vote will most likely be insignificant. unless youre willing to spend lots of time convincing others to see things your way its kinda of pointless to care so much isnt it? lots of people feel so strongly about certain laws and stuff yet they do nothing about it. as long as there are people out there who care and DO act on it, i can just sit back and adapt to what comes.
heh wat u guys think of my stance towards politics?

[LaiSteve66]

I can't be a politician, I'm too PI.

[groundedlight]

I Believe everyone has an opinion, and tha tif someone doesnt get theirs viewed, it creates unrest.
I believe that we are ALL citizens of "planet Earth" adn should act/react accordingly,
I Believe we have a rich world, and if we wouldnt waste on one end and shortchange on other everyone woudl have plenty, as we are an abundant sphere in the multiverse.
I believe everyone wants to provide some kind of usefullness, and to therefor be "acceptabley decent" to themselves, and those around them, and we all deserve this basic right.
-I personally think that if everythign was doen from an empassioned point of view, not for greed or need but out of joy, tha tthe whoel world would be a much happier place,
hanceforth I believe the tiny percentage that think they control the other huger percentage should jsut wake up and realize theres more to be done with shareing and caring, than by control adn limits.
This is only opinion of course, would you Vote for a "non educated" person?
have a Great Day

[Yeahman]

Your life is run by politics, I don't see how you can't be interested in it and want to change it. Political indifference has grave ramifications. It allows people in power to get away with murder, literally.

[NextNoName]

I've just received the news that I was accepted into a political party. This is after more than one year of application for membership. What I like to do in a political party? I have low expectation. I will probably stand around holding placard, murmuring dissent, and when the opposite demonstrators near, I will call it a day, call others to go home, and go home, take a shower, do other stuffs. I will probably write about it though, maybe here so that my standing around holding the placard and murmuring of dissent will not be for nothing.

[Yeahman]

For those interested in fostering 3rd party politics in the US:
Libertarian Reform Caucus (http://www.reformthelp.org/)

The most Americans, including myself, find the Libertarian Party far too radical. The Libertarian Reform Caucus aims to make the party more inclusive by scaling back its more radical positions and taking neutral positions on the more controversial issues.

[LaiSteve66]

For those interested in fostering 3rd party politics in the US:
Libertarian Reform Caucus (http://www.reformthelp.org/)

The most Americans, including myself, find the Libertarian Party far too radical. The Libertarian Reform Caucus aims to make the party more inclusive by scaling back its more radical positions and taking neutral positions on the more controversial issues.

I'm skeptical these reforms will actually do much for them.