NationStates Jolt Archive

I have recently become slightly interested in the current state of affairs relating to government and such, and many of my friends try to force their beliefs on me without an ounce of objectionalism (sp?). I was wondering if anyone could be very nice and rational about politics and perhaps give me the basic information about politics and whatnot (yeah, very big subject, but don't feel the need to go very in depth) without so blatantly displaying their opinions? Thankee much!

I have recently become slightly interested in the current state of affairs relating to government and such, and many of my friends try to force their beliefs on me without an ounce of objectionalism (sp?). I was wondering if anyone could be very nice and rational about politics and perhaps give me the basic information about politics and whatnot (yeah, very big subject, but don't feel the need to go very in depth) without so blatantly displaying their opinions? Thankee much!

Heh. It's impossible.

Not everyone on NS is an extremist no matter how it may appear. I think I am a calm and rational person.

I have recently become slightly interested in the current state of affairs relating to government and such, and many of my friends try to force their beliefs on me without an ounce of objectionalism (sp?). I was wondering if anyone could be very nice and rational about politics and perhaps give me the basic information about politics and whatnot (yeah, very big subject, but don't feel the need to go very in depth) without so blatantly displaying their opinions? Thankee much!

You might get lucky and into one capable of such a feat here, they're around sometimes.

No, thats why your not suppose to discuss it in polite converstation.


But NSG isn't polite conversation:upyours: :p

I have recently become slightly interested in the current state of affairs relating to government and such, and many of my friends try to force their beliefs on me without an ounce of objectionalism (sp?). I was wondering if anyone could be very nice and rational about politics and perhaps give me the basic information about politics and whatnot (yeah, very big subject, but don't feel the need to go very in depth) without so blatantly displaying their opinions? Thankee much!-not possible-it takes years, even GWB has yet to understand politics

maybe you could narrow it down to one issue at a time then people can rationally discuss each issue on its own.

Not everyone on NS is an extremist no matter how it may appear. I think I am a calm and rational person.

Actually, I wasn't quite thinking about NS. The people I mentioned are actually friends who I see almost every day that constantly either try to sway me one way or the other, and I'd just rather make my own oppinions. It's very hard to do that when people keep turning you off by trying to make up your mind for you. You would think they'd rather have an ally that has actively chosen which one their side because they know what the opposing viewpoints are and are less likely to be swayed in the long run. Eh, digression.
But I am very ignorant in the matters of the government. Anyone feel like telling me exactly what decisions our president has made (and possibly consequences) without telling me how much they hate or love him?

The patriot act for one, has extended the poqwers of the executive branch, allowing the government to wiretap without gaining prior permission. That's all I can say without my bias tainting the result.

I have recently become slightly interested in the current state of affairs relating to government and such, and many of my friends try to force their beliefs on me without an ounce of objectionalism (sp?). I was wondering if anyone could be very nice and rational about politics and perhaps give me the basic information about politics and whatnot (yeah, very big subject, but don't feel the need to go very in depth) without so blatantly displaying their opinions? Thankee much!

So long as you narrow your field a bit, I'm sure a few people will answer your questions. It will eventually go into a debate, but you should get some good answers before then.

Do you want to know about the history of politics, state politics, national politics, international politics, regional politics, political theory, or the politics of a specific issue? There's more to politics than that, but any one of those is a good starting point.

But I am very ignorant in the matters of the government. Anyone feel like telling me exactly what decisions our president has made (and possibly consequences) without telling me how much they hate or love him?

That's rather an absurdly large request. Why not start by just regularly reading the news?

I'm not certain you're going to know whether or not you like the decision the president makes before you decide how you feel about the policies in general. This test www.politicalcompass.org can help. Though it won't solve everything, it is a good starting point.

Can anyone rationally talk about politics?

No. :)

But I am very ignorant in the matters of the government. Anyone feel like telling me exactly what decisions our president has made (and possibly consequences) without telling me how much they hate or love him?
Here's where I exit the thread. (not American)

I think you would be better off looking up something like wikipedia if you want unbiased information, don't talk to people.

I could; it really depends on the issue but I could give you a pretty unbiased rundown on economic issues.

So long as you narrow your field a bit, I'm sure a few people will answer your questions. It will eventually go into a debate, but you should get some good answers before then.

Do you want to know about the history of politics, state politics, national politics, international politics, regional politics, political theory, or the politics of a specific issue? There's more to politics than that, but any one of those is a good starting point.


Well, I have a fair idea about how it's set up, and history of politics isn't tquite what I'm after, nor the politics of a specific issue or region. I think national politics is mostly what I'm currious about, that and political theory.

That's rather an absurdly large request. Why not start by just regularly reading the news?

Well, yes it is an absurdly large request... I would try to read the news, but I get very frustrated with whats actually going on and I can't exactly ask the paper or the TV questions and my politcaly savy friends don't answer them, just tell me what they think. If that makes sense...

I could; it really depends on the issue but I could give you a pretty unbiased rundown on economic issues.

I would like that very much! :) :) :) :) :)

I have recently become slightly interested in the current state of affairs relating to government and such, and many of my friends try to force their beliefs on me without an ounce of objectionalism (sp?). I was wondering if anyone could be very nice and rational about politics and perhaps give me the basic information about politics and whatnot (yeah, very big subject, but don't feel the need to go very in depth) without so blatantly displaying their opinions? Thankee much!

i recommend this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-Political-Thought-Conceptual-Toolkit/dp/0748616802/sr=1-1/qid=1158793959/ref=sr_1_1/202-6786892-4100627?ie=UTF8&s=books) book

I have recently become slightly interested in the current state of affairs relating to government and such, and many of my friends try to force their beliefs on me without an ounce of objectionalism (sp?). I was wondering if anyone could be very nice and rational about politics and perhaps give me the basic information about politics and whatnot (yeah, very big subject, but don't feel the need to go very in depth) without so blatantly displaying their opinions? Thankee much!

Do not watch the news. Read the news. Read it from a variety of sources. After you feel like you've got a good grasp on a lot of information, and that means knowing people's names and knowing teh names of places and where they exist in the world, etc... Then start reading some opinion columns. make sure you never stop reading the news, though. Keep doing that for a while then come to places like this and start debating things. Don't be afraid to get passionate and excited about what you are debating. This is important stuff. We are debating the futures of our respective nations and cultures and our very planet here. After a few years, if you keep at it, you'll be qualified to vote. You'll be able to vote as soon as you're 18, but you're not qualified to vote until it takes more than a drop in the price of gasoline to sway your opinion.

By the way, PsychoticDan: I'm currently reading Beyond Oil by Ken Deffeyes for one of my electives at OSU. Excellent book, and definitely informative.

I think the class is "Energy Mitigation Strategies" or something to that effect.

I could; it really depends on the issue but I could give you a pretty unbiased rundown on economic issues.I don't know about unbiased, but certainly informative. :)

By the way, PsychoticDan: I'm currently reading Beyond Oil by Ken Deffeyes for one of my electives at OSU. Excellent book, and definitely informative.

I think the class is "Energy Mitigation Strategies" or something to that effect.

never read it, but I have heard him speak and have read his articles. I have a lot of respect for him. He actually worked directly with M. King Hubbert. I think he may have even been his student.