NationStates Jolt Archive

Just thought I'd start a discussion about people's political experiences, I refer specifically to parties and how you have found participation in them etc.

Just thought I'd start a discussion about people's political experiences, I refer specifically to parties and how you have found participation in them etc.

Class President: Hated the job
Troop Leader: Hated the job
Various Job Supervisor positions: Hated the job
Club Treasurer: Hated the job

Now I avoid leadership positions and wonder why people want em.

Current Policital involvement: I'll help you get the position, but I certainly don't want the job.

I ran a website that started off well and crashed. Not exactly political but that's all the experience I've got.

I helped my parents try to alter the dog law in my town. I learned that small towns have the SCREWIEST POLITICS.

I've never yet supported a loser *knock on wood* :p

Of course, that really only means a few local candidates back East, Bush, Schwarzenegger, and Bush again, while out here. But I've got a good streak going, even if it's partly due to sticking to "red" enclaves of "blue" states.

Just thought I'd start a discussion about people's political experiences, I refer specifically to parties and how you have found participation in them etc.

Lots of political work, but the only thing party related was the one time I handed out flyers for a local republican candidate. Who lost.

I have a good friend who's a state senator. I was his campaign treasurer for his 2004 run, and I was privy to some appalling horseshit within my friend's party. He was running as a Democrat after having served 10 years in the US Army Infantry, rising from private to captain in that time. Elected office in his beloved home country was something he'd always wanted to achieve. But there was a segment just numerous enough to sway the whole of the county party organization, that is of the "grey ponytail" liberal stripe. They called my friend a murderer and baby-killer for having served in Bush's war in Iraq. Never mind that my friend had solved many local crises and conflicts while in Kosovo in the late 90s, and had served across the globe for his country, risking his life in places like Baghdad. I don't want to get into a war debate or a relative-worth-of-a-soldier's-service argument, but these overweight, overindulged, overpaid and underwhelming individuals were a disgrace to civility and integrity.

Having to sit there and smile and be polite to a bunch of people I would rather have beat the shit out of was one of the most trying efforts of self-control I've ever had to exhibit. So while it is indeed the norm to take the piss out of politics and politicians, I know from experience that there are those who run for office who truly only want to help and do something for their fellow citizens and hometowns. There are also other people who'd just as soon that people like my friend never run for office so that they might continue to have things their way.

You couldn't pay me enough to run for office.

In terms of general leadership, I've served as patrol and troop leader for Boy Scouts and currently co-lead a StarCraft clan that I've had a variety of positions in.

For mock-politics, I'm part of the National Forensics Leauge's student congress and the YMCA's youth & government programs.

In real world politics, I intend to find a major voting center and stand outside it on election day with a sign that says something similar to "Please don't make me deal with a mistake I couldn't vote on" to protest ageism. (I turn 18 five days after the election)

I was briefly a Republican before I decided that democracy is wholly illegitimate and that elected officials and their cronies are nothing more than parasites.

I vote (but that is semi-compulsory here, although I would still do it even if it wasn't) and I have improved the world several times over a glass of beer in the local pub.
I wouldn't mind to get into politics when I get older.

Political experiences?...uh...I voted in the last Provincial Election...that's it...

I've never much enjoyed Young Conservatives meetings really. I find them horrifically similar to Young Farmers meetings; insufferably Rah!, and regrettably ignorant. In this respect, I do envy young Labour members. They seem, at any rate, to be motivated by something more than unthinking herd mentality, and to have an appreciation of political theory; at any rate, the socialist amongst them do. The more Blairite of them strike me as being "anti-Tory" simply for the end of being able to prove as much.

Nothing active as of yet. Though I am turning 18 in April and will be able to vote in the November elections (Go Obama!), even if by absentee ballot.

Also my parents and I were discussing me interning or similar with some MK while I am in Israel.

I learnt at a young age to avoid discussions about politics as they had a high chance of getting my ass kicked unless they followed the 'acceptable' local opinions

Now I save them for the internet

When I was 5 I started in politics, with my dad, who helps people manage campaigns. Over the past 15 years, I have made flyers, knocked on doors, made calls, hung signs, went to events standing by politicians, and so much more. I have a lot of experience with politics.

My only experience in politics, aside from reading books and news stuff, is being disfranchised. Yes, I am a disfranchised voter. :(

One time when I was a high school freshman, I talked several seniors out of picking me up and ramming me crotch-first into a goalpost.

A previous inability to do so highlighted my pressing need to develop skill at negotiation. :p

I voted underage.

I'm a card carrying member of the NDP.

I blog about what douchewads the Conservatives are. :D