I’m not a fan of politics. Mostly because I hate arguing and I’m an independent so I’m not really fixed on any particular issues except certain social ones (abortion, gay rights). I find that talking politics usually results in a net gain of zero for anybody involved, as from what I’m observed politics is one of the subjects that people are LEAST likely to change their opinion on during a debate. It’s also a subject that people are very likely to be misinformed on.
Or maybe it’s just because I’m getting sick of the “All liberals are evil” fountain of information that comes from my relatives’ mouths.
I love politics. One of my college friends was very involved in the Hart '84 campaign and told me lots of war stories from the campaign trail; I’ve been a volunteer (and sometime monetary contributor) in every presidential and many state and local campaigns since then. Politics are how we discuss and decide the most important issues of our time: war, peace, taxes, the environment, the economy, guns, abortion, etc. Who is going to appoint judges? Will a sewage plant be built next to your house? Will we invade another country? Sooner or later it comes down to politics.
Democracy simply won’t work unless most, if not all, people play at least some role in politics. As Plato said, “Those who refuse to participate in politics will, before long, be ruled by fools.”
I like the idea of politics, but IRL, the members of any governing body seem like a bunch of passive-aggressive, pandering, self-serving assholes. Especially the republicans (see how I joke?).
But really, I’m far too cynical to put that much faith in any system or individual. From a distance, it cuts the mustard, but when you look at the blade too close, it’s jagged, rusty and ugly.
However, I find the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights to be wonderfully idealistic and mostly relevant over 200 years later. Impressive.
Plus, to me, the details of Politics and Law are painfully boring. But campaign races sure can be fun, can’t they?!
On top of it all, I’m not allowed to vote either in Canada or the US because I’m a US resident but not a citizen. So, I’m bombarded with it, but can’t do anything about it.
I hate politics. How could I do otherwise? Politicians boast about how they’ll employ coercion to give me a better life, which I find both insulting to my intelligence and immoral.
Everyone’s opinions have been decided by their prejudices since day 1. The crap that goes on day to day is just a way to justify their decision. I hate politics, I wish they’d go away. How do they not show another “the office” episode because of the stupid VP debate:mad:
The people most capable of getting themselves into positions of power, are always the people least deserving and least qualified to be in that position.
You said it better than I did, but I just told my dad the exact thing. More like, the people that should really be running the country, are the people that have no interest in the things that make politics attractive to those that end up doing it. Or something. Like I said, you said it better.
Politics, like religion, ultimately boils down to a person’s ideological beliefs. These beliefs are rarely coherent or well supported, but are completely immutable.
This makes any discussion of politics or religion (with few exceptions) an exercise either in self-absorbed wankery, or utter futility.
I’m an absolutely shameless political junkie. I watch C-Span for fun. I can’t begin my day without checking out the morning headlines out of Washington. I frequently IRL need to reign myself in to avoid boring the crap out of someone else, or worse offending them.
I also have very little patience for people who think that politics have no real effect on their life, because that demonstrates either a genuine ignorance (which is sad), or willful ignorance (which infuriates me).
