NationStates Jolt Archive

So, I enjoy playing the game here. I like making decisions about the various laws, even if I don't think any of them are what I would really do. I enjoy discussing politics and what a legislature should do or what my viewpoints are on a given political issue.

But, deep down, I hate politics. With a passion (and yes, that needs to be a different sentence). Pretty much every time I have any real interaction with politics or politicians, I get a sick feeling in my stomach that won't go away for hours.

I wrote recently to a politician about a bill he is currently championing. Well, to be more precise, I attempted to post on his blog. The bill does something very useful (although it doesn't really fund it) - establish a statewide bank for umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid, etc. for the purposes of stem cell research. Sounds great, right? But, it also includes an entirely unnecessary and misleading attack on embryonic stem cell research. Whether someone agrees or disagrees with embryonic stem cell research, there is no reason that they should misrepresent the science in order to try and make it state policy that the research itself should not be carried out (although they aren't yet trying to go to the extent of making it illegal). Anyways, he refused to post my comments on the blog, and I've just responded to the email he sent me regarding my comments and I'm feeling, in general, fed up with the whole political process.

Does anyone else actually hate politics?

I find politics, both past and present, interesting due to the huge impact a relatively minor decision from the guy at the top can make. I continue to have an interest in it as I feel it helps raise awareness for contempary issues.

I like the idea of being able to change things that matter to you. I detest the sheer nastiness of it, and how low people will sink to get their own way.

I think most people interested in it would say they have a similar love/hate relationship, really.

I don't like the way mainstream politics tends to ignore the actual mainstream opinion.

I can see why you'd hate US politics. The sheer wastefulness of all the money spent is astonishing, something Blair with his makeup doesn't come near; but at least your parties don't have stifling control over their members. Cherish yer freedoms.

You don't hate politics, just politicians.

Does anyone else actually hate politics?

I hate it at times because I care so deeply about how much of an effect it has on me and everyone around me. But I'd rather have the aggravation than be apathetic. I'm a passionate guy--nothing is worse than apathy to me.

I know the sick feeling you are speaking of, I have had it a lot more lately because the politicians in my state have been trying to pass legislation that would directly affect (and might I add negatively affect) my kids. I have been on the phone, writing letters, and sending emails for about 2 weeks over it......and now the bill is "dead" according to the chairman of the committee but I am terrified at what else dear senator might think up, because this was so.......wrong.

You don't hate politics, just politicians.

That actually may be more accurate. But the question becomes, can we have politics without the politicians? =)

I'd love to see a political process without all the backstabbing, misinformation, and party pressure. Would it work, though? Or is it that those in power are those who want power, and thus the process is inherently corrupt?


I hate it at times because I care so deeply about how much of an effect it has on me and everyone around me. But I'd rather have the aggravation than be apathetic. I'm a passionate guy--nothing is worse than apathy to me.

Indeed. I can see how apathy would be an easy solution, but I can't bring myself to it, so I end up tangled up in the process, and continually aggravated.

I know the sick feeling you are speaking of, I have had it a lot more lately because the politicians in my state have been trying to pass legislation that would directly affect (and might I add negatively affect) my kids. I have been on the phone, writing letters, and sending emails for about 2 weeks over it......and now the bill is "dead" according to the chairman of the committee but I am terrified at what else dear senator might think up, because this was so.......wrong.

Keep an eye on them. This bill died last year and has been resurrected in a different form. The science isn't as bad as it was last year - last year's bill would essentially have legally labeled an unfertilized egg as a human being, but the whole thing is ugly nonetheless. When they're trying to do something they know will be controversial, politicians always seem to try and sneak it past the public.

Honestly it makes me yearn for the days when people just lived off the land and there was no real leader. You know, when you were too busy dieing of the flu and 'dirt' pnemonia to care about much else.

I don't like most of the politics, due to all the crap aimed at total idiots.

So, I enjoy playing the game here. I like making decisions about the various laws, even if I don't think any of them are what I would really do. I enjoy discussing politics and what a legislature should do or what my viewpoints are on a given political issue.

But, deep down, I hate politics. With a passion (and yes, that needs to be a different sentence). Pretty much every time I have any real interaction with politics or politicians, I get a sick feeling in my stomach that won't go away for hours.

<snipped for brevity>

Does anyone else actually hate politics?

I don't hate politics. But then I'm not a hateful guy.

On the other hand, I am strongly opposed to the way many political/religious systems and organizations in existence operate because they so often cause a lot of harm to people. Much like I'm opposed to the way war is often carried out because it so often causes a lot of harm to people. Unlike the classic Sophistan/Frisbeeterian Dodgeball War, which was relatively harmless while being fun and economically sound.

To me, things like politics and war and religion are tools that we can either use in healthy ways or in unhealthy ways, and we so often choose the unhealthy.

But, deep down, I hate politics. With a passion (and yes, that needs to be a different sentence). Pretty much every time I have any real interaction with politics or politicians, I get a sick feeling in my stomach that won't go away for hours.

[...]

Does anyone else actually hate politics?
I do. Well, I'm not much of a "hater" but I do detest politics. Not really politicians so much (except the evil ones) as the game of politics in and of itself. Politicians have to play it if they want to achieve anything so I see them often as more a victim of the circumstances than as people to be detested.

What kills me about politics is that it's about looking out for your own agenda and since everybody is doing that it always, always, always ends up in compromise. Now, compromise is often a good thing but in politics a compromise often means just a watered down pseudo-action that doesn't really do anything.

So yeah, I would never go into politics and I don't envy those who are, because my gut feeling would tell me every day that I am a sell-out, because only by selling out part of my ideals, part of what I want to achieve, can part of it be realized at all.

I don’t hate politics, just the notion that it should only be practiced by a small cabal of elite managers.

I truly believe what Aristotle stated, that humanity is political by nature.

I don't necessarily detest politics, but I do hate the Machiavellianesque politicians in some places. I hate the way some politicians take their own interests at heart, instead of the constituents, and mostly I hate the bureacracy of it all. Politics isn't about people - it's about paperwork.

So, I enjoy playing the game here. I like making decisions about the various laws, even if I don't think any of them are what I would really do. I enjoy discussing politics and what a legislature should do or what my viewpoints are on a given political issue.

But, deep down, I hate politics. With a passion (and yes, that needs to be a different sentence). Pretty much every time I have any real interaction with politics or politicians, I get a sick feeling in my stomach that won't go away for hours.

I wrote recently to a politician about a bill he is currently championing. Well, to be more precise, I attempted to post on his blog. The bill does something very useful (although it doesn't really fund it) - establish a statewide bank for umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid, etc. for the purposes of stem cell research. Sounds great, right? But, it also includes an entirely unnecessary and misleading attack on embryonic stem cell research. Whether someone agrees or disagrees with embryonic stem cell research, there is no reason that they should misrepresent the science in order to try and make it state policy that the research itself should not be carried out (although they aren't yet trying to go to the extent of making it illegal). Anyways, he refused to post my comments on the blog, and I've just responded to the email he sent me regarding my comments and I'm feeling, in general, fed up with the whole political process.

Does anyone else actually hate politics?

There is only one worse invention: War.

It's a hate/hate relationship, similar to the one between me and my family, and me and British Rail.

I love politics. I'm utterly unappologetic about it. Politics is about knowing both the subtle, and unsubtle aspects of a very ancient game, and knowing how to use them to get the right thing done.

I don't so much like organized ideologies, but they're an unfortunate creation of human nature.

The entire process is certainly interesting, how the idea of it and government works to make all our lives better. But then the politicians of course ignore what the people want, outright lie to their constituents along with not trying to get anything done in the first place. Things don't have to move so slow but the politicos stall and they are hardly ever working anyway. How often is Congress in session anyway? Whatever it is, it isn't long enough.

So while the concept is fascinating, once you become too involved in it some kind of corruption ensnares you, so one must avoid having any direct contact with the process at all cost.

I would genuinely love to be a conservative MP, however, contemporary politics simply frustrates me. The lack of any noticeable ideology or underlying principle in either Blair/Brown or Cameron has seen British politics devolve into a crude popularity contest.

Equally, the limited timescale of any democratic leader does not appeal to me. Why bother introducing a bill when it can be abjured in the next parliament?

It's, because I hate politics so much that I might actually become a politician. It's a cesspit, and somebody has to clean it. No one seems to be doing it, so it seems it's going to have to be me. I also think I have a lot of good ideas to which- again- no one is ever going to otherwise pay attention. And I think someone needs to start running things, not for themselves or their own career, but for the poeple. -Because the people are America. Not its governement, not its cities, not the vast expanse of open space, but the people. Politicians should not vote for the good of their party- vote for the good of the nation! Don't do what's convinient; do what's right! Thus, I ask you this: Does your representative represent you?

That's why I hate politics. And that's why I will forever be a part of them.

The lack of any noticeable ideology or underlying principle in either Blair/Brown or Cameron has seen British politics devolve into a crude popularity contest.

Don't worry; that happened in American politics long ago...

There is only one worse invention: War.
If you think war is a human invention, go watch some videos on chimps. For conflict in general, any other animal will do.

i like politics but i hate the way it works in the real world. by the time it gets out of someones mind and gets turned into actions and policies it seems to be corrupted every which way because it seem that once politicians get in power they lose interest in actual politics and focus solely on the 'office politics' of government.

i like politics but i hate the way it works in the real world. by the time it gets out of someones mind and gets turned into actions and policies it seems to be corrupted every which way because it seem that once politicians get in power they lose interest in actual politics and focus solely on the 'office politics' of government.

Absolutely true! I think that, if politicians were made to live in slums, they wouldn't become so disconnected with the populace. They would know what people need, and they would finally begin to support the poor and try to fix some of the seedier aspects of their respective countries (like crime- it's not just that you want to seem "strong on crime"- you actually want to fix the damned thing- if not for your own sake and the sake of your neighbors!)

Of course, that can't happen. But hypothetically... I think it's an interesting scenario.

Absolutely true! I think that, if politicians were made to live in slums, they wouldn't become so disconnected with the populace. They would know what people need, and they would finally begin to support the poor and try to fix some of the seedier aspects of their respective countries (like crime- it's not just that you want to seem "strong on crime"- you actually want to fix the damned thing- if not for your own sake and the sake of your neighbors!)

Of course, that can't happen. But hypothetically... I think it's an interesting scenario.

Hey, it would work out great in D.C. The slums are so close to the government buildings that it wouldn't be much of a drive for the politicos. Of course the fact that such high crime rates are so near our government centers is just a little disconcerting. We have odd priorities when we have such slums to be near where our government meets...

Does anyone else actually hate politics?
Hell, yes! Mainly because the pols can't distinguish between politics and governing.

I also hate the way that politicians not only vote with their party- but, worse yet, try to get in contact with their party's base. It means you end up with two opposing sides of partisan extremists. That's good for no one (exept maybe the politicians and their parties...)

I still like, the great satirical playwrite, Sir William Gilbert's quote from H.M.S. Pinafore (Gilbert and Sullivan). The Lord High Admiral of the Royal Navy says "I grew so rich that I was sent by a pocketbearer into parliament. I always voted at my party's call, and I never thought of thinking for myslef at all. I thought so little... they rewarded me... by making me the ruler of the Queen's Navy."

Shortly thereafter, he offers the following advice "So landsmen all, whomever you may be, if you want to rise to the top of the tree- if your sould isn't tethered to an office stool, be careful to be guided by this Golden Rule. Stick close to your desks, and never go to sea, and you all may be rulers of the Queen's Navy!"

Hey, it would work out great in D.C. The slums are so close to the government buildings that it wouldn't be much of a drive for the politicos. Of course the fact that such high crime rates are so near our government centers is just a little disconcerting. We have odd priorities when we allow such slums to be near where our government meets...

They're tolerated everywhere where the rich can't see them. Out of sight, out of mind...

i like politics but i hate the way it works in the real world. by the time it gets out of someones mind and gets turned into actions and policies it seems to be corrupted every which way because it seem that once politicians get in power they lose interest in actual politics and focus solely on the 'office politics' of government.

Ever heard of Huey Long? Tammony Hall? Richard Daly (Sr.)? Eva Peron? Have you ever seen All the King's Men?

I think you'd find those very interesting (in a disgusting sort of way).

It's, because I hate politics so much that I might actually become a politician. It's a cesspit, and somebody has to clean it. No one seems to be doing it, so it seems it's going to have to be me. I also think I have a lot of good ideas to which- again- no one is ever going to otherwise pay attention. And I think someone needs to start running things, not for themselves or their own career, but for the poeple. -Because the people are America. Not its governement, not its cities, not the vast expanse of open space, but the people. Politicians should not vote for the good of their party- vote for the good of the nation! Don't do what's convinient; do what's right! Thus, I ask you this: Does your representative represent you?

That's why I hate politics. And that's why I will forever be a part of them.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, except for the actual going into politics thing. I just don't think I can handle trying to play the game. I hope that you'll be able to stick to your guns and your ideals, and still manage to succeed. Who knows? Maybe one day I'll get the chance to vote for you.

Hell, yes! Mainly because the pols can't distinguish between politics and governing.

Neither can the politicians...

So while the concept is fascinating, once you become too involved in it some kind of corruption ensnares you, so one must avoid having any direct contact with the process at all cost.

Emphasis on process. It's the political game that you get caught up in in the end...

And those who learn to play the game usually do. Thus, the mere exposure corrupts.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, except for the actual going into politics thing. I just don't think I can handle trying to play the game. I hope that you'll be able to stick to your guns and your ideals, and still manage to succeed.

I hope so too... It's impossible to tell. The political game corrupts almost everyone who plays it. It's a dangerous thing. -But I think I'm going to play anyway. Some things are too important- and freedom is one of them- to leave in the hands of those that don't care- about their preservation, their acquisition, and, above all, their neccessity. Freedom is priceless. I'll give my life for it if I have to. I just hope that isn't going to have to be the case.

So, I enjoy playing the game here. I like making decisions about the various laws, even if I don't think any of them are what I would really do. I enjoy discussing politics and what a legislature should do or what my viewpoints are on a given political issue.

But, deep down, I hate politics. With a passion (and yes, that needs to be a different sentence). Pretty much every time I have any real interaction with politics or politicians, I get a sick feeling in my stomach that won't go away for hours.

I wrote recently to a politician about a bill he is currently championing. Well, to be more precise, I attempted to post on his blog. The bill does something very useful (although it doesn't really fund it) - establish a statewide bank for umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid, etc. for the purposes of stem cell research. Sounds great, right? But, it also includes an entirely unnecessary and misleading attack on embryonic stem cell research. Whether someone agrees or disagrees with embryonic stem cell research, there is no reason that they should misrepresent the science in order to try and make it state policy that the research itself should not be carried out (although they aren't yet trying to go to the extent of making it illegal). Anyways, he refused to post my comments on the blog, and I've just responded to the email he sent me regarding my comments and I'm feeling, in general, fed up with the whole political process.

Does anyone else actually hate politics?

Politics itself? No.

Almost everyone in it? Yes.

It's a bit like fashion. I like nice clothes. It's a good thing that there are people who take the time to make clothes that do more than keep cold air from touching your skin directly.

But the "fashion industry" of designers, promoters, and worst of all, critics are the most obscene, vacuous, useless people on the face of the Earth. At least a literature or film critic must tell you what's good or bad about their subject. Fashion critics just say whether they like it or hate it and try to mock the things they don't like.

Same with politicians.

But in both cases I must ultimatly blame us. We vote for the most vitriolic and useless members of both professions. One by ratings and magazine circulation, the other by actual votes.


That said. Post his e-mail response. Who was it and what is the nonsense he is trying to tell people.

i love politics but hate politicians, go figure

Last night I watched Never Mind the Buzzcocks and the Have I Got News For You. The former filled me with glee. But the latter just consisted of Ian Hislop making crappy joke after crappy joke about so-and-so being a Brownite, and whoever being in trouble over some inane 'scandal'. I got really fed up at him and was just yelling to myself, 'get over it! None of it is actually important in any way!' So then I watched Desperate Housewives instead.

In conclusion, I do care about political things, I want to live in a free nation and all that. But the whole process of political decision-making seems pointless to me.

Also, for my intended career, I have to be avowedly apolitical. So, there's that aswell.

Politics is organized crime working behind the veil of legality.

But, deep down, I hate politics. With a passion (and yes, that needs to be a different sentence). Pretty much every time I have any real interaction with politics or politicians, I get a sick feeling in my stomach that won't go away for hours.I share your despair, and I think I know why.

We're too ignorant. Back in the late 90s I heard a scary bit of info. Around 95% of the global population's scientific illiterate. The number apparently didn't vary significantly anywhere. My source was some UN org report or other, I forget so no source for you lot. I'm dead certain of the number though, as it's been haunting me ever since.

There's been some talk over the past many years of the sum of human knowledge reaching a state of 'singularity', meaning information's generated too fast for us to handle it all. Outside the sciences, I think we reached that state in the 60s. Since that time, simply keeping informed of things that affect our societies, has required a superhuman effort.

I think the implication is that it's virtually impossible for our dear leaders to cary our rational policies. They can either do nothing at all, because they have insufficient understanding, or they can make shit up & act on it.

So yes, I hate politics. With a passion. Demockery has outlived it's use as a system of social organisation. It's stone fucking dead. We just don't want to acknowledge it.

I share your despair, and I think I know why.

We're too ignorant. Back in the late 90s I heard a scary bit of info. Around 95% of the global population's scientific illiterate. The number apparently didn't vary significantly anywhere. My source was some UN org report or other, I forget so no source for you lot. I'm dead certain of the number though, as it's been haunting me ever since.

There's been some talk over the past many years of the sum of human knowledge reaching a state of 'singularity', meaning information's generated too fast for us to handle it all. Outside the sciences, I think we reached that state in the 60s. Since that time, simply keeping informed of things that affect our societies, has required a superhuman effort.

I think the implication is that it's virtually impossible for our dear leaders to cary our rational policies. They can either do nothing at all, because they have insufficient understanding, or they can make shit up & act on it.

Or they could listen to the experts in these areas. Not the "experts" who have little to do with the subject and will say what they want to hear from an ideological point of view, but the actual experts. That's what advisors and the like are for. But I really don't see it happening.

Yes, the common person is ignorant of most of what is going on in any field not their own. If you were to go and talk to a physicist, he'd be unlikely to be able to tell you much about the state of biological research. In fact, if you were to go and talk to a molecular biologist, she'd be unlikely to be able to tell you much about the state of stem cell research, and so on. But I don't think that should hamper our efforts to proceed with either type of research.

I know that, on this particular issue, there has been an effort by many to educate the public and legislators. Strangely enough, this effort seems to have gone over better in the public than in the political arena. A recent survey in GA (GA of all places!) which was carefully regulated to include a wide variety of citizens - and included religious, ethnic, and political demographics similar to the state as a whole - found that well over 60% of the citizens of GA support embryonic stem cell research. These findings have been presented to the GA legislature, but apparently to no avail. The politicians here apparently care nothing for the opinions of the majority of Georgians, and care only about the "experts" who will tell them what they want. And it is that wish to remain willfully ignorant - and the utter failure to properly represent their constituents - that drives me crazy.

I have no problem with a person being ignorant of my field. In fact, I expect it. I've spent years studying to get where I am, and I still wouldn't consider myself an expert. I do have a problem with organized opposition to any type of research when someone is ignorant, especially when that opposition is derived from misinformation. And it just adds insult to injury when that ignorance is willful, rather than simply a lack of education on the matter.

So yes, I hate politics. With a passion. Demockery has outlived it's use as a system of social organisation. It's stone fucking dead. We just don't want to acknowledge it.

Do you have something better? With the state of knowledge as it is, no one is going to know everything. No one is going to be an expert in all areas. It would seem, then, that democracy would be the best option available. It would allow the experts in every given field to make an effort to inform those of other fields and to take part in any regulation of their field of knowledge.

Well seeing as how most modern politicians use their positions to gratify whatever organizations that gave them the most funding, I can see why alot of people "myself include" are frustrated. When your democratically elected representatives are mere mercenaries who use their positions of power over the economy to line their supporters pockets, can you really blame us?

Or they could listen to the experts in these areas. Not the "experts" who have little to do with the subject and will say what they want to hear from an ideological point of view, but the actual experts. That's what advisors and the like are for. But I really don't see it happening.Like I said, I think the reason it's not happening, is because people - politicians included - lack the background to understand the information they're presented with. Maggie T. for example, threw all her weight behind doing something about CFC emissions, and the global action that followed is very much on her (in as much as a single person can be responsible). But she'd studied chemistry. She understood the difference between pseudo-science & the real thing. Very, very few politicians do.

It's a hell of a lot easier to just accept whatever's yelled the loudest, than it is to make an effort to understand something, and when you haven't got the tools in the first place, no amount of effort will avail you.

Yes, the common person is ignorant of most of what is going on in any field not their own.I think you have your head in the clouds. Virtually nobody understands what science is, let alone how it works. The few who do are usually occupied working in one field or other & too busy to enter into politics.

I know that, on this particular issue, there has been an effort by many to educate the public and legislators. Strangely enough, this effort seems to have gone over better in the public than in the political arena. A recent survey in GA (GA of all places!) which was carefully regulated to include a wide variety of citizens - and included religious, ethnic, and political demographics similar to the state as a whole - found that well over 60% of the citizens of GA support embryonic stem cell research. These findings have been presented to the GA legislature, but apparently to no avail. The politicians here apparently care nothing for the opinions of the majority of Georgians, and care only about the "experts" who will tell them what they want. And it is that wish to remain willfully ignorant - and the utter failure to properly represent their constituents - that drives me crazy.

I have no problem with a person being ignorant of my field.I wasn't talking about specific fields. It'd be insane to expect anyone to know much about any particular field. It is, on the other hand, equally insane not to educate people to the point they'll be able to understand a scientific explanation & tell pseudo-science from the real thing. It's as important as reading in this day & age. To quote Carl Sagan: "Consider the social ramifications of fission and fusion power, supercomputers, data `highways', abortion, radon, massive reductions in strategic weapons, addiction, government eavesdropping on the lives of its citizens, highresolution TV, airline and airport safety, foetal tissue transplants, health costs, food additives, drugs to ameliorate mania or depression or schizophrenia, animal rights, superconductivity, morningafter pills, alleged hereditary antisocial predispositions, space stations, going to Mars, finding cures for AIDS and cancer."

Democracy fails when the public isn't informed (or is misinformed), and by disconnecting the population from the decision making process, the population is allowed to be uninformed.Do you have something better?Practically anything'd be better, assuming it'd make any difference at all. Personally I favour anarcho-syndicalism, because it forces everyone to participate in the decision making process & thus forces them to keep informed.

I hate the system. Put me in charge. I'd do so much better.