Can a loner be political?

[flaminbats]

IMHO a loner can't just avoid others. A loner is treated by those who are politically active as though they have leprosy, the plague, or a strange deadly infectious stare. Perhaps many of us are shy or hate being criticized, but idealism and the willingness to hear every opinion are parts of democracy's foundation.

[bemildred]

1. Do loners respond to polls? nt

[flaminbats]

2. sure...

we back the least popular choice!

[bemildred]

3. OK, I voted. We will see what comes of it. nt

[flaminbats]

4. wow...

maybe there is no definitive answer ;)

[AgadorSparticus]

5. i may not be able to do something like cold call lists. well, maybe

if it was dire enough...like a gun to my head or something. but i can do things to be politically active within my scope of comfort. for example, i can write letters and sign petitions and occasionally go to rallies. i can send information to people i know and tell them to send it to people on their lists and on and on. for this past election, i made sure kerry was well represented in my tiny subdivision. i passed out yard signs and bumperstickers and had everyone put it on the inside of their windows in highly visible places (in our subdivision, the homes sit practically on the street. you can't help but see these signs). now try to steal them apples!!

[LWolf]

6. I have no idea how to answer that.

I guess it depends on what the criteria for "being political" are.

I can avoid others without any difficulty. :shrug:

I can read different povs on issues and come to my own conclusions without ever interacting with anyone.

I can vote without sharing my pov with anyone. I can send money, or letters, to politicians or organizations expressing my pov and/or my support, without any personal interaction. I can write a LTTE without interacting with anyone.

Are those things political?

I can even drive 3 - 6 hours round trip to hear a candidate speak, or to attend some sort of rally, without ever interacting with anyone there. I've done it several times.

Is that being "political," or not?

[flaminbats]

7. perhaps..let's ponder this

ohhh no, does this make me guilty of push polling? Nahhh, I'm just another loner participant right?...well maybe or maybe not

from Webster's Dictionary
political- 1) of or relating to government, a government, or the conduct of government..of, relating to, or concerned with the making as distinguished from the adminstration of government policy. 2) of, or relating to, involving politics and especially party politics. 3) organized in government terms ie (units) 4) involving or charged or concerned with acts against a government or political system.

You decide if "those things" can be classified as political. ;)

[LWolf]

8. I guess what I do can fall under #2;

my time and attention is usually focused on issues, rather than party, but it still works.

So, yes; as a loner I can be "political." ;-)

[supernova]

9. Well, of course you can

Yes, politics is a group sport. But the job of a loner, as I see it, is to figure out when to be alone and when to be in a group. You can do both; you just have to find the balance of alone time and group time that works for you. And you have to be clear in communicating your boundaries to others so that their expectations of you are realistic.

And you do have to pick activities that play upon your strengths, not play to your weaknesses, unless of course you just want to be slightly frustrated all the time. Cold calling might not be for you, but putting up signs might be. YOu get to drive around by yourself or maybe with one or two other people, and give signs people who are already receptive to you.

There is plenty for everyone to do something. Don't let being a loner get you down.

[flaminbats]

10. well written!

Too many loners wish to break away from politics completely, sometimes over personal disagreements or past differences with former nominees. I'm guilty of starting fights and losing my temper with fellow Democrats. But Republicans would be delighted if I, and others like me just stopped voting.

We all have an essential part to play in the next campaign, Democrats are best when they treat everyone as part of the team.