Getting involved in politics - worthwhile or crazy & futile?

[campbellcj]

I have been wondering a lot lately whether our country's political system is already "out of reach" to normal citizens and under a death grip by the career polticians and/or the "rich and famous". (And oftentimes I think the lines are blurred between the two.)

Has anybody here ever seriously thought about trying to personally make a difference by seeking an elected or appointed office? Perhaps as a second career or even a temporary 1-term diversion from the normal daily grind?

Do you think that objectives could be more effectively accomplished as a civilian activist or volunteer, or even perhaps as a paid civil servant in a key position?

It is one thing to chat up one's beliefs on a board such as this, and yet another thing altogether to actually "DO" something about it.

I am hoping to be able to escape the daily grind in the next 10-15 years and contribute significant time -- and perhaps money if things go extra well that way -- to some kind of worthy cause(s) (plus of course having fun with p-cars etc.) I don't know what that cause might be, or its scope i.e., local, state, federal, or global...

Is this an exercise in frustration, or can one "normal" person still make a difference anymore, amongst the thousands of PAC's, lobbiests, mass-media, and deep-pocketed privateer foundations?

[techweenie]

It all starts at the local level. There, you can definitely make a difference. I have several friends who have been mayors, city councilmen, etc. It's damned hard work, though.

[speeder]

I'll be working on a Presidential campaign this summer in the midwest, trying to register voters, making sure that thousands of seniors don't accidentally vote for Pat Buchanon again, etc...

[island911]

Originally posted by campbellcj
I have been wondering a lot lately whether our country's political system is already "out of reach" to normal citizens and under a death grip by the career polticians and/or the "rich and famous". (And oftentimes I think the lines are blurred between the two.)
. . .

Whatdaya mean. . .these guys are poster boys;

[RoninLB]

The level of humanity in politics has been detorating for years. The ability of any special interest grup to mobilize vast political power is unprecedent. For a million bucks a political campaign for any state governor is possible by any group. John Dean's campaign opened up new methods of max the ROI. A person has to be geared for the beating that awaits to be attempted. The shame is that quality people are staying away.
Good Luck.

[fintstone]

Originally posted by speeder
I'll be working on a Presidential campaign this summer in the midwest, trying to register voters, making sure that thousands of seniors don't accidentally vote for Pat Buchanon again, etc...

I wonder if the fact that unlike democrats; republicans can figure out how to vote by themselves means something?

[speeder]

I had never heard anyone claim that Democrats could not "figure out how to vote" before the last election, there's a little more to the story than that.

When people get really old and are in nursing homes, they do lose some of their sharpness and visual acuteness(?), they can be easily confused by a f**ked-up ballot form like they used in Dade and Broward County, Florida. But they still have a right to have their votes accurately counted, some of them fought in WW2, for chrisakes Fintstone. Have a little respect.

Do you remember 2000?? I know that it was a long time ago. Pat Buchanon himself, (never a big Gore supporter), said that "those are not my votes". In the precincts where P.B. got a disproportionate amount of "support", he had scored ~2% 4 yrs. earlier. Those senior citizen enclaves were heavily Jewish, one news reporter said that, "My parents live in Sunshine City, (one of the big Buchanon hotspots), and I can tell you that Yassar Afafat would have gotten more votes that Pat Buchanon".

[ronin]

lol Island, I need a button of that!

Chris, you definitely don't need to hold an elected office to make a (positive) difference. I started becoming involved about ten years ago by testifying for our state senate on matters about which I felt strongly. in this case, youth crime legislation and gun control. (against) this is something that any citizen can do. I really took to the whole political process like a duck to water and continued by becoming invloved in organizations with which I could identify and helping them further their goals. a year and a half ago, I began working with the staff of one of our state senators and helped him develop his portion of our state budget, and in writing legislation. I also have made several trips to Washington D.C. to meet with US Senators and Congresspeople to discuss higher education issues and bring back the US federal budget for disemmination at our local level. there is much more that I have done that I can't even remember, but the best part is that this work over the years led to building strong relationships with Senators and Congresspeople (both Repubs and Dems) that have lasted to this day

many Senators and Congresspeople have job shadow programs that will give you a real good idea of what their jobs entail. if you like what you see, it is very likely that someone could put you to work on a volunteer basis. this would definitely give you an idea of whether you liked it or not. contrary to popular belief, our politicians are mostly very hard-working, level-headed individuals with integrity and the will to get things done. and the process is not near as cynical as the average observer would like to think. these are serious people doing serious work on serious issues

there is a little irony here too. I currently am the head of our state organization that represents community and technical colleges at the state and federal level. last weekend our staff attended a state college conference where we were one of the presenters. our subject? how to get involved in leadership and politics

I have not yet had the desire to run for elected office, (I'm just not ready for the obligatory allegations of late-night rendezvous with certain wooly mammals ) but my involvement with state and ferderal leadership continues as an intermediary between international companies and foreign governments

btw: I didn't write this to say "geee, look at meeeee" (although it's starting to look that way ) but rather to illustrate how one person can make a difference simply by getting involved. no one ever asked me to do this, I started with no special training; only with the desire to get involved and become active in the process. there is lots of work to be done out there, and those in office are usually very receptive of those willing to help. it will definitely give you an idea of what our political process is all about and give you insight into its inner workings. if nothing else, it will definitey give you a perspective and understanding that no barstool political analyst can match

[ronin]

Originally posted by speeder
When people get really old and are in nursing homes, they do lose some of their sharpness and visual acuteness(?), they can be easily confused by a f**ked-up ballot form like they used in Dade and Broward County, Florida. But they still have a right to have their votes accurately counted, some of them fought in WW2, for chrisakes Fintstone. Have a little respect.

sooooo, are you saying that only Dem seniors have this problem? (sorry Denis, I just couldn't resist)

[fintstone]

Originally posted by speeder
When people get really old and are in nursing homes, they do lose some of their sharpness and visual acuteness(?), they can be easily confused by a f**ked-up ballot form like they used in Dade and Broward County, Florida. But they still have a right to have their votes accurately counted, some of them fought in WW2, for chrisakes Fintstone. Have a little respect.

Do you remember 2000?? I know that it was a long time ago. Pat Buchanon himself, (never a big Gore supporter), said that "those are not my votes". In the precincts where P.B. got a disproportionate amount of "support", he had scored ~2% 4 yrs. earlier. Those senior citizen enclaves were heavily Jewish, one news reporter said that, "My parents live in Sunshine City, (one of the big Buchanon hotspots), and I can tell you that Yassar Afafat would have gotten more votes that Pat Buchanon".

Yes, I remember 2000. That was the year that the democratic hacks claimed that GW was going to do away with senior citizen's Social Security and keep them from getting their medicine. One ad had Bush pushing seniors in wheelchairs off a cliff.

Since when did "helping senior citizens vote" include helping them decide who to vote for or not vote for? Call it what it is. It is certainly telling that democrats target those who "lose some of their sharpness" and "can be easily confused." It is sad that the democrats prey on the fears of the elderly and rely on the votes of those that they define as having lost "their sharpness."

A lot of elders that I know did indeed support Buchanon (who liked Bush even less than he did Gore). Of course they were pefectly competent to vote without assistance.

[rcm]

Without getting too indepth about party beliefs and political knowledge or lack there of. I belong to two commitees in town. One is the buildings and land, which we are charged with usage, care, rebuilding or building new.We are in the middle of looking into a new safety services building right now.

I also am on our hydro damn project in town. It's up and running and has been for a while. We are working on a new contract with a power company that is buying our power.

Although it is not a huge thing it is my contribution to my town. I believe if you have time and you have a belief it what happens, you should have your say, whatever the level.

[RickM]

To the original question:

I went to school with a guy who was pretty much as "normal" as they come. Having a good work ethic he applied himself to become an attorney. He started his "political career" with a local Town Council position and after a few years and a lot of hard work he was appointed the US Attorney General for NJ. I don't think he was especially connected in the beginning but was dedicated and focused. I saw him recently and he couldn't be happier.

IMO, some political positions are much more thankless than others.

[GrindingGears]

Futile....now where is that booby thread...

[nostatic]

if you're good with a 30.06 you can make a big difference in politics...

[ronin]

...or anything else for that matter

[speeder]

Fintstone, When large numbers of WW2 aged Jewish seniors accidentally vote for a Nazi when they meant to vote for Gore in a state governed by one of Bush's brothers, there is a good chance that there was a problem w/ the ballot.

I know, I know, nit-picking. But still.....

[ronin]

just making sure I understand. Denis, are you calling GW a Nazi?

[speeder]

Originally posted by ronin
just making sure I understand. Denis, are you calling GW a Nazi?

No.

Quick history especially for you: Pat Buchanon has made statements of a "Holocaust denial" nature in the past, and never disowned them. Pat Buchanon got a lot of votes in certain wards and precincts in Dade and Broward county that are overwhelmingly populated w/ elderly, (WW2 aged), Jewish seniors. Even he admitted at the time, "those are not my votes".
As the reporter that I quoted above said, "Yassar Arafat would have gotten more votes than PB in those precincts".

Each county, (precinct?), creates their own ballot in Florida, approved by the state election commisioner. (Katherine Harris in 2000, the chair-woman of the Bush/Cheney campaign in Fla.).

There were numerous complaints after the election that the ballot in some places was slightly confusing, in that the punch hole was next to instead of across from the candidate's name, etc....

Republicans claim that the seniors were "stupid" or "couldn't manage to vote", but they also tried to beat the doors down to the ballot counting rooms to stop the counting, used the courts, (successfully in the end), to stop the count, etc....

I would call Bush a frighteningly ignorant, corrupt and dishonest leader, but not a Nazi. That would be Buchanon. Sorry if I was not clear on that.

[island911]

Geez Denis, thats twice now you've quoted Pat Buchanon to bolster your argument.

Pinning him as a nazi, THEN using him as an expert to support your claim is even more entertaining.

[techweenie]

speeder; it's worth mentioning that Buchanan's own campaign manager (his sister) publicly pronounced that the number of votes counted for him in (was it West Palm Beach?) was 'impossible.'

The ballot was confusing, and complaints hit local talk radio on election day, but no action was taken at polling places.