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Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office?

Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office?

  • I was elected to public office.

    Votes: 4 16.0%

  • I served in a non-elected public office.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I ran for office but did not win.

    Votes: 1 4.0%

  • I am running for office.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I HAVE considered running for office.

    Votes: 9 36.0%

  • I have NOT considered running for office.

    Votes: 8 32.0%

  • Other (Please explain)

    Votes: 3 12.0%
  • Total voters
    25
Re: Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office

Tothian said:
That's exactly WHY you SHOULD run. Would you rather only bad people run?

If bad people are going to win - it's best to cut into their support as much as you can. Because you weaken their influence and educate people through campaign and debate.

Sometimes, people like an honest politician - if you are funny enough.

Would you rather a bad politician get nominated or elected without opposition? Or would you rather them win only 80% - and know that even if 20% of the people voted for you - that you got that base of support.

For all you know, that could've inspired a future elected official who could possibly win.

It isn't for you that you run. You run because you want to offer your community something that is good for them. Because you want to show those people - even if they're only in the minority - that their views do not go unrepresented in the election. Because democracy matters and you offer them a choice. And that they have a chance at something better. Regardless of how great or small that chance is.

Because sometimes, doing the unlikely and impossible is more fun - and meaningful.
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Only bad people are going to win because the electorate doesn't want to hear the truth, they want to hear the lies told by the bad people. Nobody wants to hear that they have to be responsible and live within their means and not have their hands out all the time. That's the reality that gets in the way of the fantasy.
 
Re: Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office

Cephus said:
Only bad people are going to win because the electorate doesn't want to hear the truth, they want to hear the lies told by the bad people. Nobody wants to hear that they have to be responsible and live within their means and not have their hands out all the time. That's the reality that gets in the way of the fantasy.
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I don't agree with that. The 2010 election largely was based on the out of control government spending and the debt. It's not that people don't want to live that is the issue, it's all about breaking it down so people can understand.
 
Re: Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office

Hamster Buddha said:
I don't agree with that. The 2010 election largely was based on the out of control government spending and the debt. It's not that people don't want to live that is the issue, it's all about breaking it down so people can understand.
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I don't buy that. I wish it was the case but I don't think it is. We've spent 40 years raising people to be entitlement-happy liberals and most elections are based on who promises to hand out the most free stuff. Nobody wants to hear that they need to tighten their belt, stop living beyond their means, stop living a responsibility-free lifestyle, stop getting cheap stuff from the government, etc. That kind of politics doesn't sell in the modern world, even though without it, the financial security of the planet is doomed.
 
Re: Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office

Cephus said:
I don't buy that. I wish it was the case but I don't think it is. We've spent 40 years raising people to be entitlement-happy liberals and most elections are based on who promises to hand out the most free stuff. Nobody wants to hear that they need to tighten their belt, stop living beyond their means, stop living a responsibility-free lifestyle, stop getting cheap stuff from the government, etc. That kind of politics doesn't sell in the modern world, even though without it, the financial security of the planet is doomed.
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Then I have good news for you friends:

Debt, Gov't Dysfunction Rise to Top of Americans' Issue List

That was a poll done at the beginning of this year and it showed that the rising debt was actually #2 on the minds of most Americans. It was ahead of such issues as taxes, healthcare, even gun control and this was right around Obama starting his big push for more gun control. In fact, it was just 1% shy of tying the economy in general. So yes, the debt is an issue on most Americans minds now. The problem is with politicians not willing to have an honest conversation and catering to both bases. We need cuts on spending and serious tax reform if we are every going to get things under control, and both those issues are currently not something that either party wants to do. Thus, we are at the impasse we are at.
 
Re: Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office

Cephus said:
Only bad people are going to win because the electorate doesn't want to hear the truth, they want to hear the lies told by the bad people. Nobody wants to hear that they have to be responsible and live within their means and not have their hands out all the time. That's the reality that gets in the way of the fantasy.
Click to expand...

Then if they don't want to hear the truth - then tell them anyway. It will always anger your enemies, and your allies will support you. Don't assume people don't want to hear the truth.

People do want to hear the truth. They just get deceived very easily.
 
Re: Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office

Tothian said:
Then if they don't want to hear the truth - then tell them anyway. It will always anger your enemies, and your allies will support you. Don't assume people don't want to hear the truth.

People do want to hear the truth. They just get deceived very easily.
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One of my all time favorite tv show lines came from Babylon 5, and it applies here. You see there was this council who were having a difference of opinion. On what is not important, but a young acolyte was called in and stated her opinion. Of course she was young and they weren't going to listen. But the leader of the council still wanted it said because,

Duhkat said:
It's always best to advise someone when they're doing something stupid; at the very least, they'll know they're doing something stupid.
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Re: Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office

Hamster Buddha said:
One of my all time favorite tv show lines came from Babylon 5, and it applies here. You see there was this council who were having a difference of opinion. On what is not important, but a young acolyte was called in and stated her opinion. Of course she was young and they weren't going to listen. But the leader of the council still wanted it said because,
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Exactly.
 
Re: Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office

Tothian said:
Exactly.
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As long as you are running for the right reasons and not the wrong reasons - then it could be a good idea to be done. If you don't feel it's in your path for the sake of it not being in your path, then so be it. But regardless of whether you do it or not, let it be for the right reasons.

Sometimes the victory is in the battle itself.

If there is only bad candidates running in an election - and even if they are likely to win - sometimes you might need to run - just to show people that there is true opposition to their ideals. I could be somewhat hypocritical in this since if I were running I would not want to waste time with it if I thought I was going to lose.
 
Re: Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office

Tothian said:
As long as you are running for the right reasons and not the wrong reasons - then it could be a good idea to be done. If you don't feel it's in your path for the sake of it not being in your path, then so be it. But regardless of whether you do it or not, let it be for the right reasons.

Sometimes the victory is in the battle itself.

If there is only bad candidates running in an election - and even if they are likely to win - sometimes you might need to run - just to show people that there is true opposition to their ideals. I could be somewhat hypocritical in this since if I were running I would not want to waste time with it if I thought I was going to lose.
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What depresses me the most is that on one hand, you have all these people are raised into a "political class" that are, if not chosen, then bred to be these politicians that have the money backing them up and establishment supporting them. If you're someone new trying to break in, it could be very rough. I mean, you're life (and family's lives) are on open book. No one is perfect, and the idea that something in my past (let's say my history of Bipolar) would be used against me, that stuff discourages me from the idea of throwing my hat in. That... and the money.
 
Re: Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office

Tothian said:
I was elected to public office.
I served in a non-elected public office.
I ran for office but did not win.
I am running for office.
I have considered running for office.
I haven't considered running for office.
Other (Please explain)
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I am not eligible to become a US president, because I was not born in USA, but my frustration with this system is high, that I decided to appoint myself the American leader anyway (without elections)
 
Re: Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office

Hamster Buddha said:
Then I have good news for you friends:

Debt, Gov't Dysfunction Rise to Top of Americans' Issue List

That was a poll done at the beginning of this year and it showed that the rising debt was actually #2 on the minds of most Americans. It was ahead of such issues as taxes, healthcare, even gun control and this was right around Obama starting his big push for more gun control. In fact, it was just 1% shy of tying the economy in general. So yes, the debt is an issue on most Americans minds now. The problem is with politicians not willing to have an honest conversation and catering to both bases. We need cuts on spending and serious tax reform if we are every going to get things under control, and both those issues are currently not something that either party wants to do. Thus, we are at the impasse we are at.
Click to expand...

When people's voting actually changes and we stop electing people based on sound bytes and how they look on TV, let me know. Polls can be made to say anything, based on how the questions are asked.
 
Re: Have you ever thought of, ran for, or been elected to, or served in public office

Cephus said:
When people's voting actually changes and we stop electing people based on sound bytes and how they look on TV, let me know. Polls can be made to say anything, based on how the questions are asked.
Click to expand...

Very true. You're referring to "Push Polls".
 
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