# What I want, politically **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 3, 2026, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-want-politically/1032108 "2026-08-03T05:39:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-want-politically/1032108/1 "2026-08-03T05:39:46Z")
Politically, what I want is the maximum opportunity to shape whatever we, plurally, are doing. I don’t want to be the boss of everyone else, or indeed of \*anyone\* else. I just want my participation as one individual to be given maximum impact in the decision-making process. Some would say the most democratic arrangement possible. I do have ideas but nothing akin to a blueprint. I’m not trying to get people to subscribe to my plans so much as help me create a communications environment where we can read or hear or watch each other’s messaging. I want something political, not a laboratory for testing marketing campaigns for selling of products, if that makes sense. I keep gravitating to message boards and forums that seem to match this description. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-want-politically/1032108/2 "2026-08-03T06:40:08Z")
What do you think is the difference between political decision-making and non-political decision-making? Have you tried going to political meetings? In person? ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-want-politically/1032108/3 "2026-08-03T08:20:28Z")
You might be interested in watching a judicial mediation. Sometimes you can see a good part of the process at your metro area courthouse. Diplomatic talks sometimes use mediators in a similar manner, but those are less accessable for public observers. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-want-politically/1032108/4 "2026-08-03T10:54:16Z")
Start locally? with your municipal or county or school boards? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-want-politically/1032108/5 "2026-08-08T16:47:09Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Politically, what I want is the maximum opportunity to shape whatever we, plurally, are doing. I don’t want to be the boss of everyone else, or indeed of \*anyone\* else. I just want my participation as one individual to be given maximum impact in the decision-making process. Some would say the most democratic arrangement possible. The most important thing you can do is vote. A lot of people only vote in the presidential election and don’t bother to vote any other time. Vote in both primary elections and general elections. Vote in presidential elections, midterm elections, state and local elections. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-want-politically/1032108/6 "2026-08-08T16:48:59Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > The most important thing you can do is vote. Based on my inbox, it seems that the most important thing I can do is send money. Then send more money. Then send more money. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-want-politically/1032108/7 "2026-08-16T22:50:43Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Vote in both primary elections and general elections. Vote in presidential elections, midterm elections, state and local elections. QFT. I vote in municipal elections, off-year elections, April referendums on policy affecting the county water treatment facility, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Allthegood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Allthegood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Allthegood)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-i-want-politically/1032108/8 "2026-08-17T04:13:02Z")
Ahunter3 and I go to way more political meetings than we really want to. (We both serve in various offices at various levels of our county, state and national party).