How does one get started in forming a political opinion?

I guess you are using a 200 yr old definition of "democracy," because you certainly are not using the current definition.

 

It can be dangerous thinking for yourself. If I were you I would just ask random people that I don't know to help me figure out how I feel about what is going on out there.

 

There is quite a difference between a democracy and a republic, regardless of what you think each particular term means...

I agree with one of the previous posts. Determine your convictions - read, think, and then read some more. Vote accordingly.

 

Shouldn't this be in the poo flingin' monkey forum?

 

I would vote Democrat over Republican.

Bush ordered fake letter linking Iraq to 9/11
"A blockbuster new book from investigative journalist Ron Suskind adds another revelation to the growing canon demonstrating the lengths to which President Bush and members of his administration lied, misled and deceived the American people to pursue its invasion of Iraq."

http://killfile.newsvine.com/_news/2008/08/05/1722634-bush-ordered-fake-letter-linking-iraq-to-911

May God Bless America and George Bush, this countries savior for getting us that oil, and charging us triple for it.

I feel like an idiot posting this in a Political thread, but why is this even in the hangout. I got sick of reading about this crap when I realized the truth would get me nowhere. I'm not gonna change a thing, my vote doesn't mean a damn thing. 400,000 votes were generated in a town that only had 50,000 residents.

So yeah, go vote and waste 2 hours of your life. That's how long it took me when I did it for extra credit. Inefficiency at it's best.

It's not okay for me to say Politics is stupid, but it's okay for you to call me stupid.

To he OP, read this book, and you will have a strong political opinion.



This country is 200 years old, and it's telling countries 2,000 years old they can't have what they have, even though they never had any to begin with.

Politics is stupid.

 

i only care about protecting my best interest, which is me and my money. I don't care if it means this leader has to screw 99.9 percent of the population. i don't mind this leader using religion as some front to put more cash in my pockets. money money money money me me me me me me. screw those people, just me. thank you my next president. that is my political opinion.


i want to look out for me, but i also want to look out for the majority of the american population.


i care. I really do.

 

Usually, family and parents and education.

I would say I was nothing when I grew up, because I didn't care for politics, too much. Even when I read history books and things about politics, I just never saw how I should be so gung-ho about voting, since these jerk-offs on both sides of spectrum proved themselves to be unworthy.

I didn't think they really matter too much in the grand scheme of things...mere puppets or self-serving sycophants.

Got a little older, old enough to vote, parents didn't like it when I told them I don't vote. Decided to vote, mainly voted democratic, but with a few republicans and indies sprinkled in. No, I'd say a good bit more, though. Especially, if the candidate had strong platform and a little beyond status quo. Since, I forced myself to vote. Then, it came back ....after I heard my parents weren't so dedicated to voting, like their demands where. Hypocrites.

Now, I only vote, if I really like certain candidates, or if it is presidential election or new laws or taxes attempted to be passed. If I see someone I don't like...I give that ballot a special status (see below).

So, I guess that makes me an independent or non-affliated voter, which I am pretty comfortable with, maybe a bit radical, not too conservative, not too democractic, definitely not trying to serve or support every interest of elites, while about 40% of the time, not giving a s#it.


P.S. - I am not voting for Obama or McCain, and possibly no one in any of the indies....


The Almighty "None of the Above"

 

Ding, ding, ding!

 

And this is why I can't point at a map and call my country home.

 

You start by being generally interested in the world around you. Politics involves decisions affecting numerous facets of life- health, sex, education, business, technology, science, the arts, etc.- so if you are someone who thinks about life in general, and then starts to prioritize what is important, you will become political by nature.

When you are ready to vote, you probably should have clear in your mind what are the most important "issues" or priorities in your life- these are the "deal breakers," as we call them in my industry. For some, an issue like abortion is a deal breaker. Not for me. Doesn't mean I don't have a strong opinion about this particular issue, but I'm not basing my vote on it. I'm a small business owner, and because I believe fervently in the importance of small businesses, many of my voting decisions will be based on this. My friend, who works in a Fortune 500, cares nothing about small businesses and wishes they would go away. That's fine- he can vote how he wishes.

The one thing to remember about politics is that many individuals get way, way too intense, one-sided, narrow-minded, zealous, and just plain ridiculous when it comes to politics. Then again, I'm completely biased and one-sided against the Utah Jazz, so who am I to talk? I just have fun with politics. It is serious, but it's also a fun thing to be involved in- if it's not fun for you, if all it makes you do is get angry and anxious, don't be involved. Life's too short for that. Make your priority list.

 

Always vote for someone based on their looks or how cool their name sounds.

 

that's right, sorta. But any linguist or entymologist will tell you that the English language dictionaries are defined by common usage. So, if you want to tell me the US is not a democracy...go for it, but you'll be disagreeing with the dictionary...ie, common usage.

So, the term "democracy" is perfectly valid to use to describe the US, regardless of what <i>you</i> think the technical term means.

if you want to get technical with me with strict political science definitions, then that should be stated...which farrisdabis did not do.

sigh. let's get all technical and everything to prove how much poli sci courses we've taken.

 

Try going to the "League of Women Voters" website (www.lwv.org)

and www.vote411.org for a start

 

Project Vote Smart

 

Sounds like you should both agree not to waste your time and both not vote.

 

Whatever you do don't become an ideologue because you'll never win.

Politicians don't care.


To form an opinion read a newspaper (or equivalent) everyday and see which things get you mad.

 

Read these books:

Montesquieu: The Spirit of the Laws by Charles de Montesquieu
Two Treatises of Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration by John Locke
Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
The Republic by Plato
The Politics by Aristotle
Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville
The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton
The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
The Communist Manifesto: With Related Documents by Karl Marx
Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State by Frederick Engels
A People's History of the United States By Howard Zinn

Read the newspaper, read everything, read, read, read.

Read things you know you do not agree with to try and understand the rationale behind the alternative view. It can help you crystalize your own beliefs.

This is a good start.

If all else fails, go ask Trader_Jorge for his infinite wisdom.

 

Rashmon, you are such the elitist!!!

Why read when your gut is all you need to make your decision?

 

Travel, as much as you can. Compare different societies and governments by visiting the countries and seeing for yourself how they work. Don't depend on cable news programs with their talking heads, or the network news, or newspapers and magazines, although you should check them out, while retaining a high degree of scepticism.

You might be surprised. We aren't the only democracy in the world and we don't have the highest standard of living. We are also far better off than the vast majority residing on the planet.

Free your mind.