# Why don't YOU run for political office? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 26, 2010, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458 "2010-02-26T00:29:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/21 "2010-02-26T03:19:55Z")
I was a member of the John Birch Society… TWICE! Start of the 80’s & end of the 80’s. The first time lasted 2-3 years till the local chapter fizzled out. Second time a new chapter was trying to start & I stayed in for a year but soon realized I’d drifted leftwards while they’d seemed to drift even more rightwards. I’m just not interested in the mundane but important political issues. I’m an ideologue, not a pragmatist. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/22 "2010-02-26T04:22:40Z")
I’m Wiccan. And I live in sin with my boyfriend. That’ll do it, right there. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/23 "2010-02-26T05:14:55Z")
They won’t let me be God Emperor…anything less than that is, simply put, not worth my time. VIVE LA EMPEROR!! -XT ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/24 "2010-02-26T05:24:20Z")
Well, I wouldn’t vote for me. Besides, if I got elected, I might find out I liked it. Then I would have to go kill myself. It would be a real drag. ## Tris “I believe that the fundamental flaw of democracy, as a political system is its pernicious indulgence of the wide spread desire of human beings to order the lives of their fellows. Republics add to this failure, the winnowing of the common man according to the strength of that same desire, until only those who aspire to tyranny are given authority.” ~ Triskadecamus ~ ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/25 "2010-02-26T05:33:53Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > I live in Virginia, and I have publicly, vocally condemned the Confederacy as “treason in defense of slavery.” While you were at it, why not point out to all Virginia’s “direct descendants of Pocahontas” that they are lying, self-deluded sacks of shit? Then run for governor. For my part, I ran for class president once in fifth grade. The only vote I got was the one I cast. The trauma has kept me squarely in the private sector ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/26 "2010-02-26T05:34:06Z")
Professional reasons. But if that weren’t enough, I don’t believe in god and country, I’m very suspicious of causes, I don’t like gladhanding at all, I’m wary of making major ethical compromises, I don’t like dealing with old boy’s network types, and while as much as I support human rights and dignity, I also think there’s a lot of truth in the old Carlin quote, “think about how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of 'em are stupider than that.” Somewhat hypocritically, one of my ambitions in life is to get at least one write-in vote for President (from someone who isn’t me). But I don’t want to run for office myself. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/27 "2010-02-26T05:42:36Z")
Well Marley, you could always aspire to be the Mod Emperor! 😛 (Personally, and to be semi-serious…I know, out of character for me…I have no idea why people would WANT to run for public office. But then, I don’t really understand the mindset for people who aspire to become movie stars or go on those really embarrassing reality shows either) -XT ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/28 "2010-02-26T05:54:31Z")
Because I have only studied law as an aside, rather than as a primary focus. That, and my campaign would probably be over the first time I used the phrase “those fuckers” to refer to the current government. > [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > I’m **too honest** and not ambitious enough. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/29 "2010-02-26T05:57:14Z")
I think we’re all better off if I don’t have much more temporal authority than that. 😛 I do consider myself a disciple of Emperor Norton and I’ve been a card carrying Pope for more than a decade, so I’ve got that going on. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/30 "2010-02-26T06:03:18Z")
Been there, done that. I was the elected Chief Constable for a township for 3 two year terms. I also ran for much higher office. I was outspent 70 to 1 and lost 60%-40%. That was almost 20 years ago. Probably wouldn’t do it again. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/31 "2010-02-26T06:10:48Z")
I’m an anarchist. 'nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/32 "2010-02-26T06:15:39Z")
At the age of 19, I have far too sorted a history. I can only imagine that by the time I’m of electable age, it’ll be worse (far, far worse if I have anything to say about it). I’m too much of a loudmouth, who’ll say (far too readily) that someone’s a moron. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/33 "2010-02-26T06:17:09Z")
I wouldn’t enjoy the work, so what’s the point? The stress and the scrutiny and so on are bad enough, but even apart from that, it’s just not something I want to spend my time doing. I have no interest in crafting policy, managing diplomacy, campaigning to bring awareness to issues, or whatever else. That all seems really boring and drudgerous to me. Power is nice, having things my way is nice, but for a small-time position, there’s not really that much of it, and for at least _the_ big-time position… well, as The Onion recently said, being the president is the worst job in the country. (Not that I enjoy work in general. I am laziness incarnate. But at least give me something I have a chance of finding fun.) ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/34 "2010-02-26T07:50:19Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > :dubious: Yes, that’s right, your average crook is more honest than your average politician; the difference being, one group has never been caught at it and the really clever ones never do. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/35 "2010-02-26T08:23:40Z")
I don’t have the energy or charisma or the desire. But even if I did, I would want nothing to do with something which, from what I’ve seen, is a nasty, low, dishonest business. I equivocate in my own mind between feeling contempt for politicians and feeling that I am being unfair to politicians who have no choice but to pander to a contemptible electorate. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/36 "2010-02-26T08:29:58Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think we’re all better off if I don’t have much more temporal authority than that. 😛 I do consider myself a disciple of Emperor Norton and I’ve been a card carrying Pope for more than a decade, so I’ve got that going on. Someone’s read too much RAW! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/37 "2010-02-26T09:24:19Z")
Didn’t one of the Canadian Dopers have a serious tilt at becoming an MP? **matt\_mcl**? Hmm… I wonder if I can get the DWP to spring for my deposit? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/38 "2010-02-26T09:29:35Z")
I wouldn’t want to join either party. Starting an all-new party and going out and winning an election would require some amount of wealth or a name. I don’t have wealth and my blog is hardly attracting any attention, so I’m not optimistic. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/39 "2010-02-26T09:51:09Z")
On a more serious point, how many here would consider running for election as issue candidates - not because they had a reasonable chance of election but to raise the profile of issues important to them? ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458/40 "2010-02-26T12:23:46Z")
The pay is shit. Why would I want to take a pay cut? Nor do I know enough to take the kickbacks and payoffs from the right people to make it worth while. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-run-for-political-office/530458.md?page=3)